Hector Bizerk
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Hector Bizerk | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Scotland |
| Genres | Alternative Hip Hop |
| Years active | 2011 - present |
| Members | John Louis Audrey Tait Fraser Sneddon Jennifer Muir |
| Website | http://www.hectorbizerk.com |
Hector Bizerk is an experimental hip-hop group from Scotland comprising drummer Audrey Tait and rapper Louie.[1][2] The duo have built a solid reputation and growing fan base in Britain's live music circuit since they formed in 2011. Initially, Hector Bizerk's live show consisted of merely drums and vocals and worked as a unique selling point in garnering support for their syncopated rhythmic rap combination.
In 2012 Hector Bizerk first entered the festival circuit and bolstered their sound for outdoor shows. Fraser Sneddon (of Rio Callahan) joined the band as bassist and Jennifer Muir (of The Miss's) on synth and additional percussion. That summer saw the newly expanded quartet play at BBC Introducing stage at T In The Park and The Solus Tent at The Wickerman Festival among other Scottish festival appearances. Coverage of their first performance at T In The Park was broadcast on BBC television's festival highlights of 2012.
In 2013 Hector had established a reputation as an accomplished festival band and were invited to play at almost every Scottish festival including unprecedented return to T In The Park, this time they were selected to play on Tennents T-Break Stage. That summer also saw Hector appear at Wickerman Festival, Insider Festival, Go North, Eden, Doune The Rabbit Hole, Audio Soup, Live at Troon as well as headlining Oran Mor as part of Glasgow's West End Festival.
In 2013 front man Louie became the first Scottish emcee to play at T In The Park twice and extended his unblemished rap battle record to twelve victories with a win over England's Chris Leese. He now has a record of 14 victories and no defeats.
Hector Bizerk have since shared the stage with Wu Tang Clan, Alt-J, MF DOOM, EPMD, Immortal Technique and Jurassic 5 among other support slots.
In January 2015, Hector Bizerk were one of The Sun's Six Of The Best - a round-up of acts being tipped for big things in the next 12 months. Also featured were The Moon Kids, Model Aeroplanes, Baby Strange, Gerry Cinnamon and Vukovi. [1]
Career
Early EPs
The self-titled Hector Bizerk EP was self recorded, and released on 5th June 2011.
The initial launch of Hector Bizerk was a sold out show at 13th Note in King Street, Glasgow. Their first national radio play came as the song 'Burst Love' was picked up by Ally McCrae at BBC Radio One.[2] The track was later selected as BBC Introducing's Track of the Month.
The Living Off Rhyme EP was again self released, and came out on 8th November 2011. It features the first appearance of Jennifer Muir, as guest vocalist on 'Hiatus'.
Living Off Rhyme was officially released with a live session on BBC Introducing. The session first introduced Alt-J to Hector Bizerk who later requested Hector Bizerk to play alongside them.[3]
Drums. Rap. Yes.
In 2012, the band played the BBC Introducing stage at T In the Park.[4]
The band's debut studio recording was released on 13th August 2012. It was received well by critics, and achieved national radio play on BBC Radio 1.[5] [6]
The launch of Drums.Rap.Yes took place in King Tut's Wah Wah Hut.[7] The show was included in The Evening Times' top ten gigs of 2012.[8]
Nobody Seen Nothing
Following the release of Drums. Rap. Yes. the band were asked to play the T Break stage at T in the Park in 2013, one of around 100 live shows played that year.[9]
The band's second full length recording was released at an event the band called 'The Hectember Weekend' on 21st and 22nd September 2013.[10] To the original line up of Audrey and Louie were added Jennifer Muir (synth, vocal) and Fraser Sneddon (bass). As with Drums. Rap. Yes. the album was received well critically,[11] [12] [13] and was later shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year Award in 2014.
Later EPs
In September 2014, the band released The Fish That Never Swam (EP), followed by The Bird That Never Flew (EP) in November 2014. The titles of these EPs are a reference to Glasgow's coat of arms and the Miracles of St Mungo.
The second EP was released at an event at The Poetry Club in Glasgow. [14]
In January 2015 it was announced that the band would perform at South by Southwest 2015, with support from Creative Scotland, along with other Scottish artists including The Twilight Sad and Roddy Hart & The Lonesome Fire.[15]
Tours
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg?lang=en){kind=small} | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2013) |
Awards
The band won the 2014 Best Hip Hop Award at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards,[16] and were shortlisted for the 2014 Scottish Album of the Year Award, alongside CHVRCHES, Mogwai and Biffy Clyro[17]. Audrey was a finalist in the 2014 international Hit Like A Girl competition for female drummers, coming 12th overall. [18]
Logo and Artwork
Pearl Kinnear
The Hector Bizerk logo and Nobody Seen Nothing art work is by Scottish visual artist Pearl Kinnear. Pearl Kinnear was born in Glasgow. She studied to gain her B.A. (Hons) at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee and went on to complete an MFA at Belfast College of Art. Even though painting is her mainstay and speciality, experimenting with the process of painting and drawing has meant working within other disciplines like printmaking, artists books, mail art and sculpture in order to make her work.
Her most recent exhibition is called 'Hector Sketch' in which she has paintings and mixed media pieces influenced by Hector Bizerk songs. Kinnear's work has always had a strong social consciousness which clearly lends itself to the critical thinking behind hiphop culture.
Exhibitions
"Deadline" Solo Show The Fridge Gallery, Glasgow "Inishlacken; The Last Parish", The Redhouse Arts Centre, New York Artist in Residence, Cumbernauld College, EDC Kirkintilloch 'Urban Eyes', Catalyst Arts Belfast 'Keyed' Skullduggery. Belfast 'Clearances' Auld Kirk Museum, Kirkintilloch
Discography
Hector Bizerk EP (September 2011)
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fat Cat" | |
| 2. | "For The Record" | |
| 3. | "Niche" | |
| 4. | "Burst Love" | |
| 5. | "Banksy Did It" |
Living Off Rhyme EP (November 2011)
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tsunami" | |
| 2. | "Man Up" | |
| 3. | "Hiatus" | |
| 4. | "The Rhythm Theory" | |
| 5. | "Train of Thought" |
Drums. Rap. Yes. (August 2012)
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Drums. Rap. Yes." | |
| 2. | "Burst Love" | |
| 3. | "Rabbit Punch" | |
| 4. | "Niche II" | |
| 5. | "Man Up" | |
| 6. | "Sometimes I Wonder" | |
| 7. | "Bury the Hatchet" | |
| 8. | "For the Record" | |
| 9. | "Needs Wants and Lies" | |
| 10. | "Dig it Up" | |
| 11. | "Let it Go" | |
| 12. | "What You Hoping For (Feat. Michelle Low)" | |
| 13. | "The Rhythm Theory" |
Nobody Seen Nothing (February 2014)
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Orchestrate" | 4:27 |
| 2. | "Fingerprints on the Drumkit" | 3:15 |
| 3. | "Welcome to Nowhere" | 4:40 |
| 4. | "Party at A&E" | 4:29 |
| 5. | "Waste Britain" | 3:35 |
| 6. | "Seldom a Word We Don't Say too Often" | 4:34 |
| 7. | "An Assortment of Idiots (Shut Your Mouth)" | 3:41 |
| 8. | "Milky Way" | 1:36 |
| 9. | "Columbus" | 3:50 |
| 10. | "Police State" | 3:14 |
| 11. | "My Little Bigots" | 4:17 |
| 12. | "Espagne in the Works" | 3:19 |
| 13. | "Adopt a Persona" | 7:19 |
The Fish That Never Swam EP (September 2014)
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "BT Phone Home" | 4:27 |
| 2. | "The Bigger Picture" | 3:04 |
| 3. | "Little Man Says" | 3:42 |
| 4. | "The Fish That Never Swam" | 4:11 |
The Bird That Never Flew EP (November 2014)
References
- ^ Sweeney, Chris. "Six Of The Best", The Sun, 02 January 2015.
- ^ BBC iPlayer BBC Introducing with Ally McCrae Monday 10th October 2011
- ^ citation needed
- ^ T Break: United Fruit & Hector Bizerk look back Article in The Skinny 7th March 2014, accessed 22nd January 2015
- ^ Bram Gieben The Skinny 24th July 2012, accessed 22nd January 2015
- ^ Nicola Meighan Changing Attitudes with a Hip Hop uprising 19th September 2012, accessed 22nd January 2015
- ^ Sixteen Sixteen Six Hector Revisited 17th July 2012, accessed 15th January 2014
- ^ Jonathan Geddes Jonathan Geddes' Top Gigs of 2012 27th December 2012, accessed 25th January 2015
- ^ T Break: United Fruit & Hector Bizerk look back Article in The Skinny 7th March 2014, accessed 22nd January 2015
- ^ T Break: United Fruit & Hector Bizerk look back Article in The Skinny 7th March 2014, accessed 22nd January 2015
- ^ Alan Morrisson Review in Herald Scotland 28th September 2013, accessed 22nd January 2015
- ^ Nicola Meighan Album review in The List 11th October 2013, accessed 22nd January 2015
- ^ Bram E. Gieben Review in The Skinny 7th October 2013, accessed 22nd January 2015
- ^ Jonathan Geddes Article in The Daily Record 28th November 2014, accessed 22nd January 2015
- ^ Showcasing Scotland lineup announced for SXSW 2015 Creative Scotland press release 21st January 2015, accessed 22nd January 2015
- ^ The Wee G blog 3rd August 2014, accessed 22nd January 2015
- ^ Beverley Lyons Article in The Daily Record 29th May 2014, accessed 22nd January 2015
- ^ Jonathan Geddes Article in The Daily Record 13th March 2014, accessed 22nd January 2015.
Evening Times interview Interview with National Geographic