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ILLIYUN
Press: Live Review
With a stage presence that’s so often lacking in upcoming bands, Illiyun groove their way through their rock-funk-rock repertoire, and it’s a true pleasure. Each member of the band has their own identity – they’re comfortable, happiest on stage and clearly can’t get enough. And neither can the audience. Whether it’s the catchy pop of ‘Tattoos’, reminiscent of No Doubt at their swaggering best; or the metal-tinged rugged guitars and juxtaposing emotive singalong chorus of ‘He Does It Better Than You, Illiyun’s performance is as tight as their production. But it is the driving energy of ‘Vendetta’ that is Illiyun at their best: a perfect marriage of Sammy’s moreishly sultry vocals and the band’s taut, crisp composition. You’ll go back time and again – but make it fast before this band makes it big; it’s only a matter of time!
Loriann Luckings
Editor: Swell Music Music Editor: Fresh Direction Contributor: Kruger Magazine, www.gigwise.com, Blowback Magazine, MusicWeek
- UK press
Discography
ILLIYUN release their EP 'Vendetta' in the Spring. Songs currently available on Myspace and Video for Vendetta plus behind the Scenes footage can be found on both youtube and myspace
Photos
Bio
ILLIYUN is made up of four contrasting individuals from varying cultural and musical backgrounds. Sammy Jay (songwriter / producer), born and bred in South Wales was living London when she started the band with Leonn Meade. Both bored with pop music in general, they decided to take out their aggression in the way of a heavy rock outfit. After having tried out several bassists and guitarists they finally found Ryan Haberfield, also from South Wales and Pete Cherry (from Nottingham). With a common goal in mind, they fused their influences together: Sammy from a singer songwriter background who had written and produced many pop/Rnb artists in the UK and Japan; Leonn is from a Gospel background, his father having founded the London Community Gospel choir and as a session drummer played for the likes of Natasha Beddingfield and Jay Sean; Ryan is a metal head with a jazz degree; and Pete a funk bassist with a history degree from Oxford! The four of them wanted to create an edgy, sexy, hard hitting rock band that sounded slick in the studio but tore it up on stage. With influences as diverse as Sheryl Crow, Blondie, Lamb Of God, Dream Theatre and Foo Fighters and Michael Jackson (!), they continue to do exactly that and after a year of gigging in the UK, toured in Los Angeles Summer 2007 headlining at classic Hollywood rock venues such as the Viper Room and The Whisky A GoGo. They all now live between London and LA and have just completed a new video 'Vendetta' and a new EP. Having been hailed as the new Blondie with balls, ILLIYUN are coming to a town - or a hard drive (!) near you!!
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