Happyness (band)

Last updated

Happyness
Happyness Live at Cakeshop, NYC.jpg
Background information
Origin London
Genres Alternative rock
Years active2013 - present
LabelsWeird Smiling, Moshi Moshi, Bar/None
MembersJon E E Allen
Ash Kenazi
Past membersBenji Compston
Paul Abderrahim
Website facebook.com/happynessmusic

Happyness are an English alternative rock band based in London, England, consisting of Benji Compston (guitar / bass / vocals) and Paul Abderrahim (drums).

Contents

Their debut album Weird Little Birthday was released on 16 June 2014, later to be re-released in 2015 by Moshi Moshi Records in the UK / Bar/None Records in the USA, accompanied by four bonus tracks, including the previously excluded fan favourite "Montreal Rock Band Somewhere".

History

2013 - 2015: Weird Little Birthday

Initially meeting during educational pursuits, the core members of Allan, Compston and Kenazi shuffled in and out of various projects before making Happyness their primary output. Stripping their name out of the Brute Force song “Hello Moscow”, [1] the band have explained the misspelling as a tribute to the Happy Shopper brand of convenience goods; “It's probably more of a 'satisfied with the quality and standard of...' kind of happy. Like Happy Shopper.” [2] [3]

Happyness at Treefort Music Fest in 2015 2015 Happyness-Linen Building-Treefort2015-Credit-Kasey Elliott (16922099616).jpg
Happyness at Treefort Music Fest in 2015

Performing their first show at The Square, Harlow in November 2013, the group self-released the Happyness EP soon after through their own Weird Smiling label. Recorded at their base of Jelly Boy Studios, the EP was mixed by Ed Harcourt and mastered by Adam Lasus, two collaborators who would also contribute to their full length effort, Weird Little Birthday, which followed on 16 June 2014; Harcourt contributing vocals to Pumpkin Noir, and Lasus taking over mixing duties. Grammy Award winner Greg Calbi also helmed the mastering process.

Before long, the group managed to attract attention from a variety of labels who were keen to re-release their first effort. Both Moshi Moshi Records (UK) and Bar/None Records (USA) signed the group, commissioned a series of additional tracks and presented the record in its debut vinyl form in March 2015, which acquired further acclaim from NME, [4] The Guardian, [5] Sunday Times, Q, Uncut and Stereogum [6] among others.

Festival appearances followed, with Reading and Leeds Festivals, Green Man Festival, Bestival, South by Southwest and End of the Road Festival playing host to the group, plus tours alongside Mac Demarco, Speedy Ortiz and Suede.

The group also won an award for Best Lyric at the 2015 NME Awards for the line "I'm wearing Win Butler's hair / there's a scalpless singer of a Montreal Rock Band Somewhere", lifted from the song of the same name. [7]

2016 - 2018: Write In

After touring in excess, the group reconvened at Jelly Boy Studios and spent close to twelve months assembling their follow-up. During this time, Compston and Kenazi battled with health issues which ultimately delayed the process, but returned with "SB's Truck" on 5 May 2016 - the first glimpse of new material ahead of upcoming EP Tunnel Vision On Your Part. Another single followed, "Anna, Lisa Calls", during which time the group toured Europe with The Dandy Warhols, eventually celebrating the release with a one-off headline show at Vauxhall City Farm.

After several further months of recording, their follow-up LP Write In was announced on 10 January 2017, accompanied by "Falling Down". During this period, the band toured with Twin Peaks (band), The Wytches, Fazerdaze and Her's.

Shortly after the completion of their second record, the lease of Jelly Boy Studios expired and the property was sold - therefore closing the studio for good.

2019 - 2020: Departure of Compston and third album

It was announced on 12 February 2019 that founding member Benji Compston had left the group to focus on his family and new solo project, Jelly Boy.

On May 1, the group released their third record, Floatr.

Discography

LPs

TitleTitle
Weird Little Birthday
  • CD, digital
  • Released: 16 June 2014
  • Label: Weird Smiling
Weird Little Birthday (re-release)
Write In
Floatr
  • CD, digital, vinyl
  • Released: 1 May 2020
  • Label:

EPs

TitleAlbum Details
Happyness EP
  • CD, digital
  • Released: 25 November 2013
  • Label: Weird Smiling
Tunnel Vision On Your Part
  • Vinyl, digital
  • Released: 8 October 2016
  • Label: Moshi Moshi

Singles

TitleYearAlbumFormat
"Great Minds Think Alike, All Brains Taste The Same"2014Weird Little Birthday7", Digital
"Montreal Rock Band Somewhere" / "It's On You"2015Weird Little Birthday (re-release)Digital
"A Whole New Shape"2015Weird Little Birthday (re-release)Digital
"SB's Truck"2016Tunnel Vision On Your PartDigital
"Anna, Lisa Calls"2016Tunnel Vision On Your PartDigital
"Falling Down"2017Write InDigital
"Through Windows"2017Write InDigital
"Bigger Glass Less Full"2017Write InDigital
"Uptread / Style Raids"2017Write InDigital

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Strokes</span> American indie rock band

The Strokes are an American rock band formed in New York City in 1998. The band is composed of lead singer and primary songwriter Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture, and drummer Fabrizio Moretti. They were a leading group of the early-2000s post-punk revival and garage rock revival movements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happy Mondays</span> English alternative rock band

Happy Mondays are an English rock band formed in Salford in 1980. The original line-up consisted of brothers Shaun Ryder (vocals) and Paul Ryder (bass), Gary Whelan (drums), Paul Davis (keyboard), and Mark Day (guitar). Mark "Bez" Berry later joined the band onstage as a dancer and percussionist. Rowetta joined as a second vocalist in 1990. They were initially signed to Tony Wilson's Factory Records label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun Kil Moon</span> American folk rock act

Sun Kil Moon is an American folk rock act from San Francisco, California, founded in 2002. Initially a continuation of the defunct indie rock band Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon is now the primary recording moniker of vocalist and guitarist Mark Kozelek. The project is named after the Korean super flyweight boxer Sung-Kil Moon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloc Party</span> English indie rock band

Bloc Party are an English rock band that was formed in London in 1999 by co-founders Kele Okereke and Russell Lissack. They are joined in the band's current iteration by Louise Bartle and Harry Deacon. Their brand of music, whilst rooted in rock, retains elements of other genres such as electronica and house music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Kozelek</span> American singer

Mark Edward Kozelek is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer and occasional actor. He is the vocalist and primary recording artist of the indie folk act Sun Kil Moon and founding member of the indie rock band Red House Painters, with whom he recorded six studio albums from 1988 until 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skindred</span> Welsh metal band

Skindred is a Welsh band that fuses heavy metal with other genres, most notably reggae. Formed in Newport in 1998, they are well known for their energetic and involving live performances and have won several awards including "Best Live Band" at the 2011 UK Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards and the "Devotion Award" at the 2011 Kerrang! Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot Chip</span> British electronic music band

Hot Chip is an English synthpop band formed in London in 2000. The group consists of multi-instrumentalists Alexis Taylor, Joe Goddard, Al Doyle, Owen Clarke, and Felix Martin. They are occasionally joined by former member Rob Smoughton for live performances and studio recordings. The group primarily produces music in the synth-pop and alternative dance genres, drawing influences from house and disco.

Lo-Fi-Fnk is a Swedish electropop band formed in 2001 consisting of Leonard Drougge and August Hellsing. They have released two EPs, We Is in 2002 and ...And the JFG? in 2005. On April 24, 2006, they released their first studio album, Boylife. Since then they started touring the world, and in 2008, they started working on their second album, The Last Summer, which was released in August 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dananananaykroyd</span> Scottish band

Dananananaykroyd was a Scottish six-piece, self-dubbed 'Fight Pop' band formed in 2006 in Glasgow. Their name is a play on the name of Canadian-American actor Dan Aykroyd. They announced via Facebook and Twitter on 29 September 2011 that they would be disbanding after one farewell tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deerhunter</span> American rock band

Deerhunter is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2001. The band currently consists of Bradford Cox, Moses Archuleta, Lockett Pundt, Josh McKay (bass) and Javier Morales.

<i>Cardiology</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Good Charlotte

Cardiology is the fifth studio album by American rock band Good Charlotte. Within a year of releasing Good Morning Revival, Benji and Joel Madden had begun working on new material in early 2008. Pre-production started in early 2009 and tracking commenced in August with producer Howard Benson. Problems arose during this period; Benji Madden hesitated to work with Benson. Having completed the majority of the recording, Madden felt uncomfortable and realized the band was working with the wrong person after Benson removed two crucial verses from a track. After hearing rough mixes, Madden preferred the demo versions. Discussing this with producer Don Gilmore, he suggested the band start over in Vancouver, Canada. Following a meeting with the rest of the band, they relocated to Vancouver at the start of 2010. Recording sessions took place at the Armoury and Warehouse Studios before moving to Studio Can Am in Tarzana, California. Recording concluding in April 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Karlsson (DJ)</span> DJ and record producer

Lars Christian Karlsson, also known by his stage name Bloodshy, is a Swedish DJ, percussionist, record producer and remixer known for his work with the musical groups Bloodshy and Avant, Miike Snow, Ingrid, and Galantis. He started his international music career as one half of the electro pop duo Bloodshy & Avant with Pontus Winnberg, producing and co-writing tracks for pop stars such as Madonna, BoA, Kylie Minogue, and Katy Perry. Bloodshy & Avant notably co-wrote and produced Britney Spears' single "Toxic", which earned them a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2005. While continuing to work with Bloodshy and Avant, Karlsson also became a member of the indie pop band Miike Snow around 2007. Miike Snow, the group's debut album, was released in 2009, and peaked at number 11 on the Top Electronic Albums chart in the United States. Miike Snow won the 2011 European Border Breakers Award, and their second album Happy to You reached No. 1 on the Belgian Heatseekers Albums Chart and 43 on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer Camp (band)</span>

Summer Camp were a British indie pop duo, formed in October 2009 by married couple multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Warmsley and vocalist Elizabeth Sankey. They are signed to the Moshi Moshi label on which they have released all four of their full-length albums, as well as three EPs and a film soundtrack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bastille (band)</span> English indie pop band

Bastille are an English indie pop band formed in 2010. The group began as a solo project by lead vocalist Dan Smith, but later expanded to include keyboardist Kyle Simmons, bassist and guitarist Will Farquarson and drummer Chris "Woody" Wood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peace (band)</span> English indie rock band

Peace are an English indie rock band, formed in Worcester. The band currently consists of brothers Harry and Sam Koisser. The band began to receive critical acclaim in early 2012, from publications such as The Guardian and NME, who compared them to The Maccabees, Foals, Wu Lyf and Vampire Weekend. They were considered part of the B-Town movement, along with bands such as Swim Deep, Jaws and Superfood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolf Alice</span> British alternative rock band

Wolf Alice are an English rock band from London, England. Formed in 2010 as an acoustic duo comprising singer Ellie Rowsell and guitarist Joff Oddie, Wolf Alice have also featured bassist Theo Ellis and drummer Joel Amey since 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joanna Gruesome</span> Welsh band

Joanna Gruesome were a five-piece noise pop band from Cardiff, Wales. The name of the group is a reference to musician Joanna Newsom. They released two albums and a number of singles, were known for their energetic live shows, as well as their forthright feminist and anti-homophobic views.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galantis</span> Swedish electronic music act

Galantis are a Swedish electronic music act consisting of producer Christian "Bloodshy" Karlsson. Formerly, they were a duo, alongside rising musician Style of Eye, until he decided to part ways with the project shortly after their sophomore album The Aviary in 2017. However, he made appearances in live performances and music videos as part of the project up until 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PINS (band)</span> English rock band

PINS are an English rock band, formed in Manchester in 2011. The group consists of singer/guitarist Faith Vern, guitarist Lois MacDonald and bassist Kyoko Swan. Singer Faith Vern cites bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Jesus and Mary Chain, and Hole as influences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flamingods</span>

Flamingods are a four-piece alternative rock band from London and Bahrain founded by Kamal Rasool in 2010. The band's other members are Karthik Poduval, Sam Rowe and Charles Prest.

References

  1. "Happyness - want to know where we got our name ? | Facebook". facebook.com. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  2. Taylor, Rob. "Interview: "Cowboys, pancakes, kissing and holding hands" Happyness talk to Soundblab". Soundblab. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  3. "Happyness Interview: "Easy Listening Sex Rock" - Overblown". Overblown. 13 March 2015. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  4. "Who Should be Nominated for the Mercury Prize? NME Writers' Picks | NME.COM". NME . Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  5. Hann, Michael (12 June 2014). "Happyness: Weird Little Birthday review – charming UK slacker-rock". theguardian.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  6. DeVille, Chris (10 June 2014). "Band To Watch: Happyness". stereogum.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  7. "NME Awards 2015: 5 Seconds of Summer named worst band as Kasabian win". The Independent. 19 February 2015. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.