Sivu

Last updated

Sivu
Birth nameJames Page
Born1986 (age 37–38)
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England
Origin St. Ives, Cambridgeshire, England
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano, guitar
Years active2013–present
Labels
Website sivusivu.co.uk

James Page, [1] known professionally as Sivu (pronounced see-voo), is an English singer and songwriter. He has released two studio albums, Something on High (2014) and Sweet Sweet Silent (2017). His third studio album, Wild Horse Running , was released on 9 June 2023. The album was preceded by the singles "Wild Horse Running", "Apollo", "Choral Light" and "Overtime Lover". Sivu's longtime producer and collaborator is Charlie Andrew. [2]

Contents

Early life

James Page was born in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire and raised in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, a small market town in England. He attended St Ivo School. [3]

Name origin

In a 2013 interview with the BBC, Sivu said, "I didn't like the idea of being bound by a name, I like the idea of taking it somewhere else that wasn't necessarily all about me. "Sivu" is Finnish for "Page" so that's where it came from." [4]

Career

2013-2015: Something on High

Sivu's first solo single was February 2013’s "Better Man Than He", described by Complex as "immediately catchy but [with] enough lyrical substance to reward multiple listens." [5] For the official music video, directed by Adam Powell, Sivu was filmed lip-synching inside an MRI scanner. [6] Sivu collaborated with Marika Hackman at the end of 2013 on the single "I Hold". [7] On 21 March 2014, Sivu released the single "Can't Stop Now". The digital single included a remix by Bombay Bicycle Club's Jack "Mr Jukes" Steadman. [8] Sivu performed at the Reading Festival in August 2014. [9] [10]

Sivu's debut studio album, Something on High, was released on 10 October 2014 to generally positive reviews from critics; [11] [12] Chris White, reviewing for MusicOMH , rated the album 3.5/5 stars, [13] and both The Guardian [14] and NME gave 3/5 stars. [15] Sivu then made a cameo appearance on Alt-J's second studio album, This Is All Yours , and supported the Bombay Bicycle Club on tour in December 2014. [16] [17] In February 2015, he released "The Nile", featuring singer Rae Morris. [18] An official music video was released in May 2015. [19] [20]

2016-2018: Sweet Sweet Silent

Sivu's second studio album, Sweet Sweet Silent, was released in 2017. [21] Emma Mackay, writing for The Guardian , rated the album 3/5 stars and called it an "eerie, subtle thing", opining "[t]hough Sivu’s own developments are not drastic, they’re certainly beguiling." [22] Sivu lives with Ménière's disease, [23] which heavily impacted and inspired the recording of Sweet Sweet Silent; as explained in his album commentary, [24] the track “summed up the feeling across the whole album,” and his “feelings of despair and uncertainty over his future." [25] The album included the singles "Childhood House", [26] "Lonesome", "Kin & Chrome" [27] and "Sweet Sweet Silent". In November 2017, Sivu performed at the Theatre Circo in Portugal, and at the Blue Bird Festival in Austria. [28]

2023: Wild Horse Running

On 1 February 2023, Sivu returned with the single "Wild Horse Running". "[The song] grew from this yearning to escape, whether mentally or physically I’m still unsure – but to me the image of a wild horse running is the epitome of freedom and conjures so many feelings of strength, resilience and really a triumph in physical evolution. From there the song just grew in my mind, with an almost cinematic view in my head." On 8 March 2023, he released the single "Apollo", and announced that his third studio album, titled Wild Horse Running, would be released in June 2023. [29] [30] On the same day, Sivu announced he would be performing in a one-off headline show at the Courtyard Theatre, London on 14 June 2023 in celebration of his album release; [31] [32] he announced the show's support act, Meadowlark on 13 April 2023. [33] Sivu released a new single, "Choral Light", on 19 April 2023. [34] [35] Upon the release, he shared, "I wrote "Choral Light" just before the birth of my little boy, so I was generally quite overwhelmed with a mixture of emotions [...] This song grew from this ruminating thought I had about what I traits I would pass on to my child and how some would be good and some not and how these things would potentially stay with him for the rest of his life." [36] The album's fourth preceding single, "Overtime Lover", was released on 24 May 2023. [37] [38] Clash called the song "lush [...] ambitious" and "pop at its most sincere". [39] Wild Horse Running was released on 9 June 2023. Sivu released the single "Constant Flux" on the same day. [40] The Spill Magazine rated the album 4/5 stars, opining that "Sivu bring[s] up an excellent, modern take on what [the] singer songwriter genre should sound like." [41]

Personal life

Sivu has a son and, as of 2023, lives in London. [42]

In 2013, Sivu was diagnosed with Ménière's disease, a condition of the inner ear. He later wrote an article for the HuffPost : "Right now, who knows what the future holds for me? There is a possibility that I could end up being completely deaf, unable to sing or play my guitar anymore but I try not to think about it and take each day as it comes." [43]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details
TitleDetails
Something on High
  • Released: 10 October 2014
  • Label: Atlantic Records
  • Format: Digital download, CD, vinyl
Sweet Sweet Silent [44]
  • Released: 7 July 2017
  • Label: Square Leg Records Ltd
  • Format: Digital download, CD, vinyl
Wild Horse Running
  • Released: 9 June 2023
  • Label: Square Leg Records Ltd
  • Format: Digital download, CD

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details
TitleDetails
This Unfruitful Love [45]
  • Released: 16 February 2018
  • Label: Square Leg Records
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

List of singles as lead artist, showing year released and originating album
TitleYearAlbum
"Better Man Than He"2013Something on High
"I Hold" [46]
(featuring Marika Hackman)		Non-album single
"Can't Stop Now"2014Something on High
"Miracle (Human Error)"
"I Lost Myself"Non-album singles
"The Nile"
(featuring Rae Morris)		2015
"Childhood House"2017Sweet Sweet Silent
"Lonesome"
"Kin & Chrome"
"Sweet Sweet Silent"
"Four Leaf Clover Love"2018This Unfruitful Love /
Sweet Sweet Silent: Deluxe Edition
"Trickle"
"Wild Horse Running"2023Wild Horse Running
"Apollo"
"Choral Light"
"Overtime Lover"
"Constant Flux"
"Lost Ones"
(with AK Patterson)		2024Non-album single

Guest appearances

TitleYearAlbum
"Come Together"
(Laurel featuring Sivu) [47] 		2014Holy Water
"Skin"
(Marika Hackman featuring Sivu) [48] 		2015We Slept at Last

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References

  1. ↑ Lester, Paul (30 May 2013). "New band of the week: Sivu (No 1,522)". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  2. ↑ Milton, Jamie (19 February 2013). "Sivu talks about his first year as a songwriter; moving to London and discovering his own voice". DIY. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  3. ↑ Nash, Lauren (20 July 2014). "From St Ives to Reading and Leeds festivals - Former St Ivo pupil James Page talks about alter ego music star Sivu". The Hunts Post. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  4. ↑ Blake, Jimmy (27 September 2013). "Introducing... Sivu". BBC. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  5. ↑ Gardner, Constant (27 January 2013). "Sivu - "Better Man Than He"". Complex. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  6. ↑ Lambert, Brent (3 February 2013). "Watch SIVU's Music Video For "Better Man Than He" Animated With MRI Scans Of Him Singing". Feel Guide. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  7. ↑ Hobson, Benedict (26 November 2013). "Dezeen Music Project: I Hold by Sivu featuring Marika Hackman". Dezeen Music Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  8. ↑ "Sivu - Can't Stop Now". Spotify. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  9. ↑ "READING FESTIVAL 2014". Music Festival Wizard. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  10. ↑ Trendell, Andrew (2 July 2014). "Reading & Leeds Festival add 25 new bands and artists". Gigwise. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  11. ↑ "Sivu - Something on High". Apple Music. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  12. ↑ Fox, Killian (12 October 2014). "Sivu: Something on High review – delicate and restrained but not entirely convincing". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  13. ↑ White, Chris (19 October 2014). "Sivu – Something On High". MusicOMH. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  14. ↑ Fox, Killian (12 October 2014). "Review - Sivu: Something on High review – delicate and restrained but not entirely convincing". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  15. ↑ Carson, Dan (3 October 2014). "Album Reviews: Sivu - Something on High". NME. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  16. ↑ Cooper, Leonie (28 October 2014). "Bombay Bicycle Club parody '2001: A Space Odyssey' in 'Home By Now' video – watch". NME. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  17. ↑ Harper, Simon (5 November 2014). "Breaking Into Heaven: Sivu Interviewed". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  18. ↑ Milton, Jamie (10 February 2015). "SIVU UNVEILS BRAND NEW TRACK, 'THE NILE', FEATURING RAE MORRIS". DIY. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  19. ↑ Boon, Henry (1 May 2015). "SIVU SHARES VIDEO FOR 'THE NILE' FEATURING RAE MORRIS". DIY. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  20. ↑ "Premiere: Sivu ft. Rae Morris - "The Nile"". Complex. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  21. ↑ Brown, Emma (27 June 2017). "Exclusive Video Premiere:'Sweet Sweet Silent,' Sivu". Interview Magazine. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  22. ↑ Mackay, Emma (9 July 2017). "Sivu: Sweet Sweet Silent review – beguiling developments". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  23. ↑ Dawson, Jess (12 July 2017). "Musician Sivu says a rare condition called Ménière's is threatening his career". BBC. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  24. ↑ "Sivu - Sweet Sweet Silent (Album Commentary)". Spotify. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  25. ↑ Chan, Carmen (12 July 2017). "Today's Song: "Sweet Sweet Silent" Illuminates Sivu's Battle With Ménière's Disease". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  26. ↑ Day, Laurence (30 March 2017). "Sivu is back with striking new single "Childhood House" - we speak to the singer/songwriter about his time away and what to expect from his return". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  27. ↑ Murray, Robin (28 November 2017). "Sivu's 'Kin And Chrome' Is A Drifting, Beautiful Return". Clash. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  28. ↑ "Sivu Setlist". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  29. ↑ "British Songwriter Sivu Shares New Single 'Apollo' and Announces His Upcoming LP Wild Horse Running". The Daily Music Report. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  30. ↑ "Hi everyone, I can finally announce my third album 'Wild Horse Running' will be released on Friday 9th June 2023!". Twitter. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  31. ↑ "To celebrate the release of my third album, I'm going to be playing a very special London headline show at @CourtyardHoxton on the 14th of June (this is not a solo show)!!". Twitter. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  32. ↑ "Sivu The Courtyard Theatre". Dice FM. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  33. ↑ "Chuffed to have @meadowlarkHQ and Badhead Hyland joining me on the 14th June at @CourtyardHoxton Tickets on sale now". Twitter. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  34. ↑ "Allow me to introduce you to new song called 'Choral Light'". Twitter. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  35. ↑ "Sivu - Choral Light (Single)". Apple Music. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  36. ↑ Kelly, Tyler Damara (19 April 2023). "Sivu – British songwriter James Page – shares a new single from his forthcoming third studio album Wild Horse Running". The Line of Best Fit.
  37. ↑ "Sivu - Overtime Lover". Apple Music. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  38. ↑ "Please to share a new song called 'Overtime Lover' which was produced by my lovely friend @PaulTSaunders". Twitter. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  39. ↑ Murray, Robin (25 May 2023). "Sivu's 'Overtime Lover' Is Pop At Its Most Sincere". Clash . Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  40. ↑ "Sivu - Constant Flux - single". Apple Music. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  41. ↑ "Spill Album Review - Sivu - Wild Horse Running". The Spill Magazine. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  42. ↑ Murray, Robin (February 2023). "Sivu Breaks His Silence With 'Wild Horse Running'". Clash. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  43. ↑ "Being A Songwriter With Hearing Loss". HuffPost. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  44. ↑ "Sivu - Sweet Sweet Silent (Deluxe Edition)". Apple Music. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  45. ↑ "Sivu - This Unfruitful Love". Spotify. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  46. ↑ Martin, Brontë (28 November 2013). "Sivu – I Hold (Ft. Marika Hackman)". Indie Shuffle. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  47. ↑ "Laurel - Holy Water (EP)". Apple Music. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  48. ↑ Milton, Jamie (9 February 2015). "MARIKA HACKMAN COLLABORATES WITH SIVU ON NEW TRACK, 'SKIN'". DIY . Retrieved 20 April 2023.
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