Ulrika Spacek

Ulrika Spacek
Frontman Rhys Edwards on stage
Frontman Rhys Edwards on stage
Background information
OriginReading, Berkshire, England
GenresAlternative rock, psychedelic rock, indie rock, shoegaze, post-rock
Years active2014 (2014)–present
LabelsTough Love Records
MembersRhys Edwards
Joseph Stone
Syd Kemp
Callum Brown
Adam Beach
Past membersBen White
Rhys Williams
Websitewww.ulrikaspacek.com

Ulrika Spacek are an English alternative rock band, formed in 2014 and currently composed of singer-guitarist Rhys Edwards, guitarist Adam Beach, guitarist-keyboardist Joseph Stone, bassist Syd Kemp and drummer Callum Brown.

Edwards, Stone and White were previously members of Reading band Tripwires, with Williams having previously toured with the band as an additional guitarist[1] and releasing material under the Viscous Liquid moniker.[2]

History

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Previous projects, 2002–2014

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School friends Rhys Edwards, Joseph Stone, and Ben White have worked with each other in bands since 2002. The Enigma Project was formed in Reading, Berkshire in 2002 by Edwards, Sam Pillsbury, and George Simpson with White joining soon after. Simpson was replaced in 2005 by Joseph Stone.[3] They signed to Automator Records and released their debut single "Astronaut/Microcosm" in July 2005, plus the follow-up EP "Scenes of the 21st Century".[4]

In 2007, The Enigma Project changed its name to Tripwires and released the singles "Kings & Queens" and "Just So You Know" the following year.[5] The songs were picked up by national radio and championed by the likes of Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq. The same year the band performed on the BBC Introducing stage at Reading and Leeds Festivals.[6][7] The band began work on their debut album 'Spacehopper' in August 2010, and was set for release in April 2011 via Club AC30.[8] However, the album was scrapped and the band parted ways with the label. The band recorded a different version of the album in New York with producer Nicolas Vernhes, and it was eventually released in June 2013 via French Kiss Records.[9][10][11] They self-released their second album Watermelancholia via Bandcamp in May 2015.[12] The album was recorded in London and Berlin through 2013 and 2014.[13]

Current lineup and signing to Tough Love Records, 2014–present

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In Spring 2014, Edwards began working on new material in Berlin with Reading school friend and sometime Tripwires live guitarist Rhys Williams. On returning to England, they re-located to Homerton, East London where they completed the album at a shared house named KEN[14] with drummer Callum Brown and fellow Tripwires members Joseph Stone and Ben White. The band made their live debut in London in May 2015.[15] Soon after saw the formation of 'Oysterland', a self-curated night that combined the band's earliest live performances with a series of art exhibitions.[16] They released The Album Paranoia in February 2016[17] and embarked on a UK tour the same month.[18] In September 2016, the band released stand-alone single "Everything: All The Time".[19]

The band released their second album Modern English Decoration in June 2017, which was preceded by the single "Mimi Pretend".[20] Initial copies of the album on vinyl came with a bonus 7", which neglected to include a tracklisting. One of the tracks was later confirmed to be a cover version of a song by Parsley Sounds entitled "Ease Yourself And Glide".[21] Commenting on plans for forthcoming releases, frontman Rhys Edwards stated that "We will certainly be putting music out, it won't be a full length though. We see our first two albums as brother and sister records and think it will be nice to leave them both out there for a little while before we think about putting out another record".[22]

In November 2022, the band returned to the live arena with a gig at Bermondsey Social Club, London. At the gig the band unveiled a new lineup of the band, with former Younghusband guitarist Adam Beach replacing the now departed Rhys Williams.[23] They played 2 further gigs in January 2023 in Todmorden, West Yorkshire and London.[24]

Band members

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  • Rhys Edwards – lead vocals, guitar
  • Adam Beach – guitar
  • Joseph Stone – guitar, keyboard
  • Syd Kemp - bass
  • Callum Brown - drums

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • The Album Paranoia (February 2016), Tough Love Records
  • Modern English Decoration (June 2017), Tough Love Records
  • Compact Trauma (March 2023), Tough Love Records

EPs

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  • Suggestive Listening (April 2018), Tough Love Records

Singles

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  • "Everything: All The Time" (September 2016), Tough Love Records

References

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  1. ^ Tripwires [@Tripwires] (27 September 2014). "Our friend and sometimes live gtrist viscous liquid puts out his cassette EP 'songs for jealous lovers' today. Check it out @onenoteforever" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "FATCAT RECORDS - PUBLISHING". Fat-cat.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Strange Glue Showcase: Tripwires Interview and Music - Strangeglue - Music News, Views and Reviews". Archived from the original on 9 December 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Berkshire - Entertainment - The Enigma Project". BBC. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Tripwires — Just So You Know | Josaka". Kudosrecords.co.uk. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Reading and Leeds Festival - Tripwires Interview - RoomThirteen - Online Rock Metal Alternative Music Magazine - Reviews Interviews News Tours". RoomThirteen.com. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  7. ^ "BBC - Music - Introducing - Artist - Tripwires". Archived from the original on 16 December 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Tripwires: Hallelujah". Tinfoilskin.blogspot.co.uk. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Tripwires - All Tomorrow's Parties". Atpfestival.com. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Flowerbooking". Flowerbooking.com. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Tripwires — Frenchkiss Records". Frenchkissrecords.com. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Watermelancholia | Tripwires". Tripwires.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Tripwires - the official Tripwires website". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  14. ^ "Features | Escape Velocity | Hypnotic Loops: An Interview With Ulrika Spacek". The Quietus. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Bad Vibrations Present: Doug Tuttle (Mmoss / Trouble In Mind), Ulrika Spacek, Tv Wonder & Truism". Facebook.com. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Oysterland #3: Ulrika Spacek (Live) + JC Flowers (Live) + Mellah (Live) + Video Installation from Zoë Que". Facebook.com. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Ulrika Spacek - "The Album Paranoia" out on Tough Love / Lefse Records Feb. 5 — Lefse Records". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  18. ^ "Ulrika Spacek enter a new stratosphere on 'Beta Male'". Diymag.comm. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  19. ^ "Ulrika Spacek – "Everything: All The Time"". Stereogum.com. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  20. ^ "Ulrika Spacek announce Modern English Decoration, share new single "Mimi Pretend"". Thelineofbestfit.com. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Ulrika Spacek pay homage to Parsley Sound on "Ease Yourself And Glide"". Thelineofbestfit.com. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  22. ^ "Ulrika Spacek Interview, Tough Love Records". DrunkenWerewolf.com. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  23. ^ Toughloverecords (5 October 2022). "Ulrika Spacek Return... - Tough Love Records". Tough Love Records.
  24. ^ "Oysterland 10 W Ulrika Spacek Sold Out DEK the Golden Lion Todmorden - Gig at Leeds Brudenell Social Club".
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