Sydney band Super Massive were awarded "Best Alternative Artist" at the 2007 MusicOz Award last week at the Enmore Thetre, for their creative and evocative synth/rock song "Fists": An impressive achievement considering that the band has not yet released a single CD, nor had a scrap of airplay.
Super Massive is the creative partnership of singer/writer Malina Hamilton-Smith and drummer/composer Glenn Abbott, best known for his work with popular Australian band Machine Gun Fellatio.
The two found a mutual interest in aiming to create the perfect symbiosis of multi-layered synthscapes and the visceral impact of a full rock band.
Inspired in equal measures by funk, pop song structures, rock, french electro, tribal rhythms and the theatrics of glam rock, Super Massive's sound is like a spectacular mirrorball that reflects many tiny pieces of influence, from Burt Bacharach to Alice Cooper to Bessie Smith and Goldfrapp via Tower Of Power, AC/DC and Basement Jaxx, yet with a sound entirely its own.
Joined by electric bass genius John D Young (Chuck Berry, Marcia Hines, Vanda & Young) and talented young guitarist Marc Malouf, the band delivers a powerful and entertaining live show.
Super Massive's debut EP, which includes the award-winning track "Fists", is due for release in January, with an east coast tour slated for late Jan. You can also catch the band at Peats Ridge Festival on Dec 29th.
For more information and music samples head to:
http://www.myspace.com/supermassivesounds
Named for modern society’s collective fascination with superlatives and for the biggest and best! of everything as much as for their wall of sound, Super Massive is a synth pop rock band with exhilarating, danceable grooves, an emphasis on melody and an engaging, energetic stage presence. The band has a unique sound and a treasure trove of songs that respond to the nature of today’s urbanised, fast-paced world.
Much of the writing was inspired by the experience of living in inner Sydney over the last couple of years. Says singer Malina Hamilton-Smith “Some of the songs are observations of society, whilst some are escapism – but escapism of a realistic kind. The sort of escapism anyone can achieve, such as trying to take life at a slower pace, living in the moment or living in your body as opposed to your head.”
Unlike many electro-heavy bands, Super Massive is a full rock band line-up, with synth elements used to add layers of texture, creating a very full and distinctive sound. Influences stretch beyond the current fashion for 80s synthpop to embrace aspects of 70s rock, glam rock, funk, French electro and big beat, building an original sound that avoids ever being purely retro.
Formed in 2005, Super Massive’s chief writers are singer/performer/writer Hamilton-Smith and drummer/composer Glenn Abbott (best known for his work in Machine Gun Fellatio). Talented bassist John D. Young (Marcia Hines, Chuck Berry, Vanda & Young) joined in 2006.
Rhythm and groove is incredibly important to Super Massive. “We want the music to move people, physically and emotionally. Glenn and John are both very funky players, and it’s awesome when they really let loose, play something intense and challenging and carry the audience away with them. They’re very good at adding tasty playing without distracting from the core structure of the song.”
One of the most popular events of the inner west’s cultural calendar, the Marrickville Road Festival is a street party that attracts over 50,000 people a year. “We’re thrilled to have been asked to play. We’re still a very new band and haven’t released any of our music yet, so it’s a lovely surprise to have been asked to join the bill of such a wonderful community spirited event. It’s great to be a part of it and we’re looking forward to a really fun day.”
]]>