Shapeshifter
are loved the world over for their unique and unprecedented merging of human energy
and electronic influence and their explosive and exceptional live show. Known
for their extensive list of accolades and awards, their platinum selling albums
and regular news of sold-out shows across NZ, Australia, Europe and UK, Shapeshifter
are currently preparing for the Australian release of their new album, 'The System
Is A Vampire'.
'The System Is A Vampire' is an engaging and enchanting epic,
a voyage from uplifting and anthemic stadium energy to moments of haunting, slow
burning soul. It is a stargazing pacific dream with a twist of reggae influence
and a captivating live intensity. Released in New Zealand in November 2009, the
reaction was immediate. The first single 'Dutchies' shot straight to #1 on the
New Zealand iTunes chart and unsurprisingly it has remained in the top 10 since,
helping the album achieve Platinum sales status (and climbing…). Spring boarding
off the release, the band has been on the road, for their album launch tour across
NZ, performing to a phenomenal 26,000 people in one week alone.
Having formed
in Auckland in 1999, band members Sam Trevethick (keyboards, guitar, percussion),
Paora 'PDigsss' Apera (vocals), Devin Abrams (synths, saxophone), Nick Robinson
(bass, keyboards) and Johnny Hooves on drums (who replaced Redford Grennell in
2009) stormed onto the New Zealand music scene with the killer debut LP 'Realtime'
in 2001. The release became a hit and won 'Best Electronic Release' at the BNet
NZ Music Awards in 2002. It also later garnered a nomination for 'Best Electronic
Album' at the RIANZ NZ Music Awards.
The band followed up with an equally
impressive second LP titled 'Riddim Wise' in 2004 which was so well embraced by
fans that it achieved gold sales status - the second independently distributed
Drum'n'Bass album to do so globally. They also picked up the 'Best Electronic
Release' for their video of 'Long White Cloud' at the 2005 Juice TV Music Awards.
2006
saw the release of the band's third album 'Soulstice'. Smashing expectations,
it took 'Soulstice' only three weeks to reach Gold sales status in New Zealand,
then went on to achieve Platinum sales. The album won a total of three NZ BNet
Music Awards including gongs for 'Best Live Act', 'Song of the Year' for their
smash hit 'Bring Change' and 'Album of the Year'. This success translated across
the Tasman with the first run of 'Soulstice' in Australia selling out in only
five days. The album's UK release was a deluxe edition with remixes by D-Bridge
(Exit Records), Hospital's soulful star Nu:Tone, The Upbeats and The Nextmen.
Music Week described the album as "A Treat For Drum'n'Bass addicts requiring
emotional substance" with Knowledge Magazine describing it as "Warm
bouncing bass and yearning vocals over tight shuffling beats". In 2008 their
single 'One' was released on vinyl on Nu:Tone's Brand Nu label and was remixed
by legendary producer D-Bridge (founder of Drum'n'Bass outfit Bad Company), which
has become an underground classic receiving internationals radio play including
Radio One.
Paris, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Scotland, England and Australia
were all caught up in the Shapeshifter storm. Show after show sold out well in
advance, with fans scaling the walls they were so caught up in the frenzied euphoria
of the live show. Having rocked most of the major festivals including Parklife
and Big Day Out, they were even hand selected to support Tool in Melbourne, playing
to a massive sold out crowd of over 15,000. Taking their show into new territory,
they created an unforgettable experience when they performed with leading Symphony
orchestras, later capturing this live energy and making it available to all those
unlucky sods that had not been to see them live with the release of 'Shapeshifter
Live' in 2007. No wonder they are known as New Zealand's Best Live Act.
Having
released three consecutive number one independent albums on their own label, Truetone
Recordings, Shapeshifter have proved that they not only have a world class ability
of creating classics in the studio but also to deliver it with impact on stage.
"Polished, tight and non-stop, they showcase a unique live dance music experience"
MTV UK
"Off-the-scale good live drum and bass" Inthemix.com
www.shapeshifterlive.com
/ www.myspace.com/shapeshifterlive
Making
of system is a vampire (part 1)
Making
of system is a vampire (part 2)
'The System Is A Vampire'
is available now.
