See Monkey Do Monkey
See Monkey Do Monkey is a record label[1] based in Cardiff, Wales, alongside its publishing arm, See Monkey Songs.[2]
See Monkey Do Monkey was set up in 2009 by Aimee Jade Hayes from Bangor, North Wales to release music by her Irish husband Richard Hayes’ band, The Method. The company has its own recording studios and rehearsal rooms at Kings Road Arts Studios in the Canton area of the city.
The label's focus is 1960s influenced and psychedelic music. The label has released music by The Method, The Broken Vinyl Club, Houdini Dax, The Keys, The Moles, Colorama and Kizzy Crawford.
Aimee also publishes the Cardiff-based online music magazine "The Miniature Music Press".[3]
The Method
The Method are a psychedelic garage influenced band with elements of reggae, soul and ska in their music. They are fronted by Richard Hayes, husband of the founder of See Monkey Do Monkey.[3] Their debut album Dissidents and Dancers was released on the label in 2011.
The Method played their last gig in London on 5 April 2012.
Houdini Dax
Houdini Dax were discovered by the record label through their Myspace site. See Monkey Do Monkey arranged a gig for the Cardiff-based band and, after watching them play an acoustic set, they were signed immediately. The band's average age is about 21. The band's songwriting has been compared by the record label to The Kinks.[3] Their debut album You Belong to Dax Darling was released on the label in 2011. The band plan to release a second album in the summer of 2013.
The Keys
The Keys include former members of Murry the Hump who had some success in the late 1990s. The band approached the record label with an album of songs they wanted to release, The Fire Inside.[3] Their follow up album Bitten By Wolves was released in 2011.
The Broken Vinyl Club
The Broken Vinyl Club were discovered on Myspace and were featured in Miniature Music Press. Their style is described by the label as "exciting ’60s rhythm ‘n’ blues and freakbeat."[3] Their debut single I Want You Girl was released on the label before the band went on to sign to Acid Jazz Records.[4]
The Moles
The Moles are the label's first non-Welsh signing, coming from Bristol. They are described as "a very classic psychedelic band" and compared to early Flaming Lips or Blur. All members play in other bands and have a Grammy award winner in bassist Billy Fuller who co-wrote Robert Plant’s Mighty Rearranger album.”[3]
This band is not to be confused with the The Moles (Australian band).
Colorama
Colorama are fronted by multi-instrumentalist / singer-songwriter Carwyn Ellis, who has collaborated with artists such as Oasis and Edwyn Collins. The band, who are described as 'psychedlic dream pop' released their album Box on the label in 2010 and followed it up with the Christmas single, Cerdyn Nadolig (Christmas Card) which garnered them the Welsh Christmas Number 1 on the BBC Radio Cymru chart.
Kizzy
Kizzy is a Bajan-Welsh singer songwriter from Merthyr Tydfil, who sings in both English and Welsh.[5] She performed her song "The Starling" live on the Bethan Elfyn show in August 2013.[6] This was then released as her debut single in November 2013 followed by her EP Temporary Zone in December.
Releases
- The Method - The Front EP
- Houdini Dax - BBC Radio Wales Sessions EP
- The Keys - Christmas EP
- The Keys - Fire Inside (mini album)
- The Broken Vinyl Club - I Want You Girl/ In My Mind (single)
- The Method - Whip Around (single)
- The Moles - The Future Sounds of Ashton (LP)
- Colorama - Box (LP)
- Colorama - Cerdyn Nadolig (single)
- The Method - We Don't Know (single)
- Houdini Dax - Robin You Lie (single)
- The Method - Dissidents & Dancers (LP)
- The Keys - Bitten By Wolves (LP)
- Houdini Dax - O.L.L (single)
- Houdini Dax - You Belong To Dax Darling (LP)
- Kizzy - Temporary Zone (EP)
See Monkey Songs
See Monkey Songs is a music publisher set up in 2013 by Aimee, Rhiannon Morgan-Bell and Charlotte Church. The remit of the publishing company is to develop and support established and emerging talent.
See also
References
- ↑ Archived June 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "See Monkey Songs". Smsongs.com. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Owens, David (2010-07-01). "There's no Monkeying around for Cardiff record label". Wales Online. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
- ↑ Bethan Elfyn. "Wales Music: Interview: Broken Vinyl Club". BBC. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
- ↑ "Kizzy". Kizzymerielcrawford.com. 2014-02-08. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
- ↑ "BBC Radio Wales - Bethan Elfyn, 03/08/2013, Kizzy Crawford - Starling". Bbc.co.uk. 2013-08-03. Retrieved 2014-07-13.