Sizenine

Sizenine formed in 2003. Tired and bored of the same old indie guitar bands and whining lyrics, Breezy (vocals), Ross (drums), Matt (bass) and Lewis (guitar) hooked up in South London's Scream Studios and the journey began. They soon realised that they had stumbled into something a little bit special and a little bit different.

When Joe (keys) joined the band a few months later, the rhythm section was completed. Bit by bit they gained recognition for outgrooves and original songs.

Sizenine have always had a problem with genre, some funk, a bit of reggae, some pop, a dash of rock and even some classical on occasion. For some reason they don't know, this always makes record labels cower in fear but the crowds in the clubs and festivals love it.

Whereas most bands will spend an entire album coming up with the same flows, Sizenine love to take you on a genre-twisting journey in a single set. Because of this the reception on the party circuit is always ecstatic.

Matt the bassman said:“"We understand that not everyone loves the funk, but then they might like some ska, or some latin, or some D&B, er, or some burlesque style weird music, have what you want really."

Sizenine did the whole pub gig thing for a couple of years, honing their sounds and stage craft. Along the way they picked up a sax player (Chesca) and a trombone (Felix). Joe also remembered he could play a bit of horn, so did.

It's probably important to tell you a bit about the lead singer now. As the shining light that the band revolves around and probably worships as little short of the reincarnation of the Mousai...the Greek goddess of music (you have my account number Breeze x). She does command the stage and the mic with a style and soul that is as exquisite as it is rare.

Breezy (her real name, nothing but realness here), grew un in South London and didn't have the easiest of times to put it mildly, but music gave her the release and direction she needed and she metamorphosed into the stage goddess you see before you.

She's been compared to every new singer that comes out and a lot of very good old ones. She writes all the lyrics and the melodies. At times she is sweet like a summers afternoon, and at other times she can be very bad. If she doesn't like it she'll tell you; and believe me, she will tell you. On balance though, when you've got such a powerful backing band you need to have something extra so as not to get sidelined by the instrumentalists.

Anyway, the story continues, the next chapter begins in a dingy cellar in Shoreditch, East London, and a crazy French guy called Yvan Serrano. Early in 2006 we played at Favela Chic for the first time at an audition for Raison d'etre, described by Time Out as "London's Premier Swingin Party".

Again, a little magic occured and Yvan took the band on to play places like Cargo, the Jazz Cafe, KOKO, we've played Glasto twice with Yvan and stomped all over last year's Stokefest to an audience of thousands on a beautiful summer's day.

Yvan is Sizenine's Godfather, along with his exquisite partner in crime, Crystal. A man of his word and a man entirely devoted to the propagation of good music and the best parties. These are not qualities you find very often in the music industry and it is a testament to Raison d'Etre's openness and faith that they are still here and still Funking out.

During the last couple of years Sizenine have added a few new members to the family. Hannah, our very own Amazon queen trumpeter; Amanda, our blond bombshell Saxophonist joined international man of mystery, Felix 'the bone collector' Shepherd to complete the Natural Horn Killers, who we think are the UK's only mixed-sex horn section.

Then James 'BabyJ' O'Keefe shredded his way into our hearts and records. At 19 years old, the best all-round guitarist in London and getting better every day. He'll make you cry with his playing and could probably snap you in two with his bare hands.

A slightly inebriated Felix at a gig, when asked if he thought another band's guitarist was better than James: "Let anyone try and steal our instruments, go on, I dare them."

Sizenine are and always will be a live band and they're at their best when doing just that. They have, however, recorded a few times over the years.

The first good one was with the legend that is Gwyn Mathias. This is a guy that recorded Marley and a whole load of big '70s and '80s bands. They stayed pretty close to an original '70s sound, but some of the energy that typifies the live show was lost somewhere along the way.

After that, they worked with Matt 'Sketch' Nicholson at his very own Stormont studios. Here they went for a more commercial sound and Matt wrote some beautiful string arrangements that added the icing to the cake.

Something's Afoot was well received by the fans, and a couple of excellent remixes by Blue Movies and Louis Subsoul have been released. There are even rumours that Pokes and Mala of Dubstep fame are working on a remix of 'How wrong'.

Sizenine are currently working on a new 14 track album produced by Yvan Serrano and recorded at the antique Gizzard Studios in Bow with soundman Ed. It's due out in the next few months.

They've been lucky enough to have the UK's premier percussionist, mark 'Snowboy' guest on a couple of tracks. Snowboy was the original Incognito percussionist and has worked with everyone from the James Taylor Quartet to Mark Ronson. A certain Miss Hinda Hicks also dropped into help with the backing vocals. A huge talent, she had success in the '90s as an R&B singer but is now persuing a more jazz-influenced groove.

SIZENINE ARE

Breezy Elthalion - lead vocals
Joseph Shepherd - vocals, trumpet, keys
James O'keefe - electric guitar
Matt Summerfield - bass guitar
Hannah Shepherd - vocals, trumpet, baritone sax
Amanda Houghton - sax
Felix Shepherd - trombone
Ross Clark - drums

More information about Sizenine can be found on their website: www.sonicbids.com/sizenine