THE SWEET VANDALS

Bio:

En 2005 José Ángel "Yusepe" Herranz, Javier "Skunk" Gómez y Santi "Sweetfingers" Martín, sección rítmica de Celofunk, tras acompañar a Carlo Coupé en su proyecto instrumental Funxplosion, deciden montar junto a él una nueva banda con cantante solista. Ellos le recomiendan a Mayka Edjo con la que habían trabajado en Disky Wick y otros proyectos. Coupé queda asombrado cuando la ve cantar así que deciden invitarla a unirse al grupo y pronto comienzan a ensayar en formación de quinteto. La cosa empieza enseguida a funcionar y rápidamente Coupé propone grabar un single, I got you man!. Editado sólo en vinilo y bajo su pequeño sello Funkorama, se convierte en un hit de culto en la escena deepfunk underground y es pinchado por Keb Darge, Florian Keller y otros muchos DJ's reconocidos mundialmente. Todo se precipita tras la invitación al Soul Ascension Festival de Berlín en el mítico club Lovelite. The Sweet Vandals dan un concierto memorable cuya grabación es colgada por Florian Keller en su programa de radio por Internet (Party Keller). Además contactan con Henry Storch y comienzan a hablar la posibilidad de grabar un álbum para su sello Unique. En seguida se ponen a componer y empiezan las sesiones de grabación el el modesto sótano de Santi "Sweetfingers" Martín. Tras acabar la producción del álbum Carlo Coupé abandona la banda y es sustituido por Julián Maeso. Comienza entonces un rosario de conciertos que les lleva por Alemania, Francia, Suiza, Portugal, Austria, Bélgica, Grecia, Finlandia, Turquía, México, Reunión (África) e Inglaterra entre otros lugares. Actúan en importantes festivales como el Pori Jazz Festival en Finlandia, el Ollinkan en México o el Blue Note Festival en Francia y comparten escenario con artistas de la talla de Maceo Parker, Tower of Power, Sharon Jones, Keziah Jones o Seun Kuti. Además consiguen entrar en el mundo de la publicidad en televisión musicando anuncios de Nike y Fiat. "Beautiful" se convierte en un gran éxito en los países donde se ha emitido, como Reino Unido en Italia. Son incluidos en multitud de recopilaciones para diversos sellos discográficos y licencian en Francia el álbum con la potente discográfica Differ-ant. Finalmente Julián Maeso decide abandonar la banda para centrarse en sus proyectos personales y es sustituido por Santiago Vallejo, también de la formación original de Disky Wick.

A finales de 2008 empiezan a trabajar lo que será su segundo álbum: Lovelite. Lovelite es editado el 27 de marzo de 2009 y su premier se realiza en los estudios Maida Vale de la BBC (Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Coldplay, The White Stripes...etc). El disco, con muy buena acogida por parte de la crítica y público, profundiza y define aún más el sonido de la banda. Incidiendo sobre todo en la faceta más soul del grupo, pero sin descuidar ese raw funk que les hizo destacar del resto de bandas del estilo. Grabado íntegramente analógico, autoproducido y con colaboraciones de lujo es sin duda un paso adelante en la evolución de The Sweet Vandals. Presentan el álbum en las principales ciudades Europeas (Paris, Berlín, Colonia, Atenas, etc) y en Madrid consiguen un lleno espectacular en su presentación en la sala Caracol, dejando a gente en la calle con un sold out sin precedentes para un grupo de su estilo y sin ningún apoyo discográfico.

. THE SWEET VANDALS “SO CLEAR” La buena música es algo universal, por eso no es extraño que la música de the Sweet Vandals lleve tanto tiempo girando dentro y fuera de España. En apenas 6 años de historia como grupo ya han tenido varias cimas: actuaciones para la BBC, múltiples giras por toda Europa compartiendo cartel con artistas de la talla de Maceo Parker, Sharon Jones, Neneh Cherry, the New Mastersounds o Femi Kuti, discos licenciados en Japón, Francia, Alemania, Brasil,… una carrera llena de cimas que se han mantenido inexplicablemente casi secretas hasta la edición de “So Clear”, el tercer disco del combo madrileño. Porque mientras en el resto del globo el nombre de the Sweet Vandals crecía como una gran bola de nieve, aquí seguía siendo un secreto a voces. Unas voces cada vez más elevadas que en este su tercer LP deberían resonar como los aullidos de emoción que ya pueden escucharse en sus directos desde el primer día. “So Clear” sigue la senda de sus anteriores trabajos: los ritmos trotones del deep funk más crudo, el demoledor groove que lleva rompiendo zapatos desde 2005, pero añade profundidad de campo, echando la vista atrás y dejándose mecer por el soul más clásico, sin miedo a mirar cara a cara a monstruos como Otis Redding (de quien versionan “I love you more then words can say”). Todo sin perder nunca de vista la pureza de la interpretación en directo, terreno donde the Sweet Vandals son auténticos maestros. Para ello han vuelto a grabar en analógico, todos juntos, en su propio estudio (Funkameba Studios) con las mismas herramientas de siempre: personas tocando instrumentos, contagiándose mutuamente, con la máxima honestidad posible y con el simple –y tan difícil- propósito de hacer buena música. Música con alma. Puntos destacados: .”So Clear” es el tercer disco de the Sweet Vandals . Grabado en los estudios analógicos de la banda, Funkameba Records, siguiendo la misma filosofía Old School de sus inicios . En el disco participan el trompetista Raúl Gil, el saxofonista y flautista británico Chip Whickham, (colaborador de bandas como The New Mastersounds, Lack of Afro y miembro de Malena y The Fire Eaters), Rebeca Rods, Alicia Arguiñano y Natalia Calderon en los coros (cada una líder de sus proyectos en la escena Jazz y Funk madrileña) y un cuarteto de cuerdas liderado por el prestigioso violinista Sahar Rosenthal. . Pese a que sus discos están editados en países como Francia, Alemania, Reino Unido, Brasil o Japón, sus anteriores trabajos nunca fueron editados en España. Para este tercer trabajo, editado por el prestigioso sello alemán Unique, lo han licenciado a través de su propio sello, Sweet Records.


When the spanish soul/funk band The Sweet Vandals started their mission a decade ago nobody could possibly imagine that a soul connection between Madrid and Düsseldorf would emerge. The second album of the Sweet Vandals, who have naturally grown out of a mixture of classic Soul, Raw Funk and authentic groove, emphasizes and reflects the changes that the Soul and Funk genre underwent in that decade in Germany an Spain. The Sweet Vandals would not be the Sweet Vandals without Mayka Edjole, a pure bundle of energy and the voice, heart and soul of the band. But without Santiago Vallejo alias "Diamond" who brings us the raw and dauntless sound of the monster-funk-instrument known as the Hammond organ, the funky bass of Santi "Sweetfingers" Martin, drum dominator Javier "Skunk" Gomez and guitar veteran José "Angel" Herranz the Vandals would be missing the Sweet. All members together form a perfect symbiosis that creates that spiritual deep funk (Mayka’s Gospel experience definitely adds to it) that is typical for the Sweet Vandals. They will decisively play a big role in the future of the genre. The secret of the Sweet Vandals’ typical sound lies in the analogue recording technique. This technique creates the pure, warm, honest, soulful sound with a rough and gnarly touch. All members of the Vandals employ authentic instruments and microphones of the different Soul eras which are recorded and mixed on analogue equipment. That gives their sound and music a consistent and unique signature that can be found throughout the album. Furthermore their album has been mixed at their own "Funkameba Studios- Analog Heaven". During the last couple of years the groovy funk formation, that always deploys a straightforward, authentic and down-to-earth interaction with their audience, had been restless with performances in Spain, France, Portugal, Switzerland and Germany. "Dirty Club Sound" is what the Vandals call their unique, surpassing sound. Especially the DJ scene loves and appreciates the spanish band because their music just fills the dancefloors in no time. With their natural, friendly and hardworking attitude and character the Sweet Vandals have become an insider tip for Soul brothers and sisters around the globe. Not for nothing have the Vandals played in Mexiko and Africa. "We try to find our own sound" said Javier "Skunk" Gomez years ago, not knowing they would hit exactly that spot with their self-titled debut album two years ago. In 2006 the Sweet Vandals performed at the "Lovelite" club in Berlin where they met Henry Storch - founder of Düsseldorf’s legendary Soul, Funk and Groove label Unique Records. The idea for the first record published on Unique records was born. Many of the Vandals’ songs could be found on countless compilations before finally in 2007 their debut album "The Sweet Vandals" was to be published by Unique Records. That album caused a furor being one of the roughest, most honest and deepest albums the funk and soul scene has had the pleasure to be part of. A milestone. Moreover the gig at the "Lovelite" was such a great success that it inspired the band to name their new record after the location - "Lovelite" - an homage to the legendary Vandals’ gig in Berlin. "Lovelite" is a warm, rough but nevertheless determined piece of music full of energy funk and deep black soul surrounded by a touch of groove. Songs like "Funky Children" or " What about Love" seem to reflect the magic of Dusty Springfield in Mayka’s voice. Songs like "Againstupidity" evoke the spirit of Soul -and Funk- godfather James Brown. "Every Woman Is A Diva" highlights the band’s uniqueness and their charming ability of self-irony. Another especially tasty piece of music is "I Hate To Hate You", structured like a classic Sixties-Motown-Song but decorated with a certain roughness that is typical to the Vandals’ sound - raw funk sound. "Lovelite" is an eleven-song-trip through the basic foundations of Soul and Funk. A pure record to commemorate the good old analogue world - a powerful Funk-medium that will help keep the black music connection of Spain and Germany prolific as hell. "I have a damn good time and enjoy my work with the Sweet Vandals "Santiago 'Diamond' Vallejo" confesses. Mayka supports this saying: "We love what we do". To be honest - you can hear and feel that love in every part of their soulful music, in every breath they take on their new record "Lovelite".


The Sweet Vandals are back! This alone would be enough reason to cheer but they bring us a brand new album that is going to funk you away-ayay. Throughout 2010 The Sweet Vandals have been focusing on writing and recording their third album "So Clear". Real music without any digital tricks, played by real musicians for true listeners. The Sweet Vandals, who have naturally grown out of a mixture of classic Soul, Raw Funk and authentic groove will give the listeners something to talk about. Like on their second album "Lovelite" the Sweet Vandals attempted to go a step further without breaking with what they truly are. For the recording they have used Fender Rhodes, Strings and Flutes (which were all new instruments for them) together with horns and background vocals which were used on both former albums. It was their goal to achieve just the perfect arrangement and an individual sound for each song. On "So Clear" you can find 10 songs and an instrumental track that the Sweet Vandals usually play live. "Burning" was recorded in one take including Mayka's vocals, no overdubs nor punches. All of the rhythm sections are one take live recordings and so are all the mixes. With the mixes only a few processors were used and since it has always been recorded in one "live" session it's impossible to create the same piece of music exactly like that. This way, each track is a unique piece of music. Many madly talented musicians have been brought in to help record this album. Santi Vallejo from the Sweet Vandals has played the trumpet on this album. Top-notch musicians like Chip Wickham, a British Sax and Flute player, have helped to make this album a special treat for funk souls. The background singers have their own successful projects in the Jazz & Funk scene of Madrid and the string quartet are mainly playing in the national Spanish Orchestra. The Sweet Vandals call their unique, surpassing sound "Dirty Club Sound" which pretty muchs nails it. If possible you should try to see them live. They will blow you away with high energy performances and a genuine music experience. For the last couple of years the Sweet Vandals have been performing in many parts of the globe incl. whole Europe, Mexico and Africa. "I have a damn good time and enjoy my work with the Sweet Vandals" Santi "Sweetfingers" Martin confesses. Mayka supports this saying: "We love what we do". .. ..
So Clear Official video!!!!
<[[[[iframe]]]] src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31193831?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen>..

The Sweet Vandals - Change from Gomez Javier on Vimeo.

<[[[[[iframe]]]]] width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cxZYi6DD0Co" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxZYi6DD0Co

Member Since:

October 26, 2006

Members:

MAYKA EDJO: Lead Vocals / JOSE "Yusepe" HERRANZ: Guitar / SANTI "Sweetfingers" MARTÍN: Bass / JAVI "Skunk": Drums / SANTIAGO "diamond" VALLEJO: Hammond /
Change - official video!!! <[[[iframe]]] src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31193831?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen>..

The Sweet Vandals - Change from Gomez Javier on Vimeo.

THE SWEET VANDALS LIVE AT ROCKPALAST (WDR TV)




PRESENTACIÓN LOVELITE CARACOL 22/5/2009

Influences:

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home!/group.php?gid=358721356089&ref=mf

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Record Label:

Unique/Sweet Records