Necessary Artists
Hard-Fi
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Hard-Fi formed in 2002 and consist of Richard Archer (vocals), Ross Philips (guitar), Kai Stephens (bass), and Steve Kemp (drums).
In October 2004 Hard-Fi released the self produced “Stars of CCTV” with Necessary Records, an album which cost a few hundred pounds to record and was produced in a rented taxi office. The limited run of 1000 copies sold out instantly. The album with new artwork and three new tracks was released via Atlantic Records the following June, the result being five hit singles and the album becoming a UK number one an unprecedented six months after its release. Before the year's end, Hard-Fi earned a Mercury Music Prize nomination for Stars of CCTV. Two Brit Award nominations followed in early 2006 — for Best British Group and Best British Rock Act. The band also broke the record for having five sold out consecutive gigs at the London’s Brixton Academy.
The follow up “Once Upon a Time in the West”, was released in September of 2007 and went straight to number one in the UK album charts.
Dirty Goods
Hailing from Newport, South Wales, Dirty Goods make dirty, electronica-infused and guitar driven music, with a sound that calls upon the vocal styling of Prince, mixed up with the synth-led sounds of Chromeo and MSTRKRFT. In addition the band have a blues roots side, sighting influences such as Free and the Rolling Stones.
The band comprise of lead vocalist and guitarist Wylee (originally from Southampton but who wound up on the streets of 'the port' attending art college), Woody on bass guitar, keyboards and vocals and Mikee Greg who plays drums.
The last twelve months have been an exciting time for Dirty Goods with tours of France and the United States. The American tour saw the lads play iconic venues in New York which included Fontanas and Arlene's Grocery. In Los Angeles they appeared at Les Deux, The Rox at the Roxy and Swinghouse.
In the last year alone, their music has been featured twice on Hollyoaks, BBC 3's Off The Hook and they have enjoyed radio support from Bethan Elfyn on Radio One, BBC Radio Wales, BBC 6 Music, BBC Introducing Bristol and Newport City Radio amongst others. They have recently signed with Necessary Records and are busy working on their first album.
Maupa
Comprising David Boon (lead vocals, guitar), Lorcan Moriarty (guitar), Paddy McKeown (guitar, vocals), Matthew Smithson (bass), Adam Bishop (percussion, keyboard, vocals) and Anthony Gibbons (drums), Maupa are a gang of lifelong friends who exist in a dreamy, head-spinning orbit around the reality of North West life. Maupa won the UK leg of the first "Discoveries": Launched by Wanadoo in association with XFM, a talent contest organised across four countries - France, Spain, the UK and the Netherlands - to promote new music. Maupa signed to Necessary Records in 2003 and in February 2004 the band released their debut single, Helpless. As the single received the first of many plays on Radio 1 and XFM, the NME described Helpless as "a Mad Richard waggly foot away from genius" while The Fly magazine added "Maupa produce some of the most beautiful, haunting sounds you¹re ever likely to hear". Distophia came into existence in 2000 when Pete Dixon met bass player Sebastian Lenton, gifted drummer Tom Whitfield and lo-fi singer-songwriter John Biggs. In March 2003 the Midlands four piece entered The Vicarage Studios in Staffordshire to record their debut album. Just ten hours later they emerged with ‘Soda Lake’ – eight tracks of perfect pop welded to cascading swathes of white noise and feedback The album’s standout track ‘Joanne’ snowballed in popularity, receiving heavy rotation on Radio 1, XFM and MTV 2 while the band’s gigs became increasingly riotous. The band quickly caught the attention of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs who, having been to check out the band, described Distophia simply as “awesome”. Jetplane Landing were then so impressed by ‘Soda Lake’ that they invited Distophia to join them on tour and after just a few shows were introducing Distophia on stage as “the best band in Britain”.
Distophia
