ShadowPlay

Duane, Guy and Linus have been working together since January 2000. As the creative force in Australian band Modus Vivendi, and with the help of bass player Uwe Harnisch and guitarist Con Ongarezos, they achieved some success locally, including the 2001 release of their acclaimed EP “The Power of Suggestion”.

In mid 2002, after 2 years of regular gigging, the band took a break to write new material. This period saw a few changes, including the departure of rhythm guitarist, Con Ongarezos and a change in musical direction.

By November 2002, the band had already written and recorded enough material for a full length album. Melodic, atmospheric, dark and punctuated with hints of electronica, they crafted their songs with a powerful yet haunting female voice in mind, even though they did not have a female vocalist at that time.

After an unsuccessful search for a female singer, Duane’s cousin, Alitia Atkins, agreed to sing on two of the songs. This proved to be a turning point for all involved.

Given her urban / R&B background, Alitia was an unlikely addition. However, the result of their collaboration was exceeded their expectations. Shortly thereafter, Alitia joined the band officially.

With the departure of Con, the addition of Alitia and the change in musical direction, the band decided that a name change was appropriate. In November 2002, Modus Vivendi became ShadowPlay.

In February 2003, happy with what they had recorded, and in the hope of reaching a wider audience, ShadowPlay made the decision to relocate to Manchester, UK.

Since arriving in Manchester in July 2003, ShadowPlay have been working hard to establish themselves in the local scene through gigging and doing the rounds on local radio stations. They have also been promoting themselves internationally through the “usual channels” on the Internet (e.g. download.com).

In March 2004, ShadowPlay underwent significant changes, with Michelle Adamson replacing Alitia on vocals and the departure of Uwe.

Michelle was, and still is, an exceptional performer. With a great voice and energetic stage presence, Michelle was an ideal addition to the band. Unfortunately, with the return to Australia being a possibility for Duane, Guy and Linus (due to visa restrictions), and with Michelle’s family and professional commitments tying her to Manchester, they decided that the best solution was to pursue their musical futures separately.

Following Michelle’s departure, ShadowPlay found a new singer in Mancunian Fiona Creaby.

Like Michelle, Fiona is a natural performer with a phenomenal voice and an engaging stage presence. Fiona’s past credits include fronting Manchester band Liquid Sky at the 2004 Bloodstock Indoor Festival in Derby. Perhaps most conveniently, Fiona is willing and able to move to Australia with the band, should it become necessary.

ShadowPlay are currently putting the finishing touches on their debut album “Alone” and working on new material to showcase Fiona’s exceptional voice. In the meantime, you can catch ShadowPlay at one of their gigs or download demos of their upcoming album from the audio page.