THE SHAKER HEIGHTS   

DEBUT AA SIDE SINGLE “ MAGNA DOORS/PIGMENT IN THE RALLY” FROM INFECTIOUS NEW BRITISH BAND “ THE SHAKER HEIGHTS”  - OUT 2 JULY 2007.

  The Shaker Heights have come from the pitfalls and trapdoors of darkest Aylesbury to bring you their debut AA side single of infectious guitar music. Both songs were penned by front-man Vincent Coole, who founded the band with bass player Andy Brown. They are joined by Vincent's sister Emily Coole on Keyboards and Edd Featherstone on drums.

The epic “Magna Doors” is the title track from the band's forthcoming debut album of the same name (OUT JUL 30 2007) and is an extremely emotional and melodic song that could well be the best alternative break-up ballad of all time. It is joined by the stirring and catchy folk-rock pop of “Pigment in the Rally”.

Since the band started they have build a loyal fanbase of followers in the Oxford and Aylesbury area and are faves on BBC Radio Oxford, Vale’s Mix 96, Matchbox Radio 24, Radio Blitz 24 F.M and Radio Ison. They have also received rave reviews from Oxford bands, Toxic Pete, Nightshift Magazine, The Mag, Selectasound, crosstown traffic and more. They also boast a big online presence with over 1500 fans on Myspace. 

The single “Magna Doors/Pigment in the Rally” will be released on 2 July 2007 and the album “ Magna Doors” will be released on 30 July 2007 via Face value Records/Matchbox Recordings/Genepool and Universal music operations.

THE SHAKER HEIGHTS INTERVIEW 

1. How did you guys meet? Tell us a bit about your history and any success you've had so far?

Vincent- I met Andy years ago at school but became good friends when we 16 or 17. When my first band fell apart I looked to form a new one and although Andy couldn’t play an instrument, I felt he had a good ear for music and I asked him to join and learn the guitar. Emily started hanging out at band sessions and eventually I asked her if she wanted to try her hand at keyboards. Edd almost came from nowhere, just turning up at a gig so see us play. He knew we were getting rid of our then drummer and auditioned to be replacement. We have since played lots of cool venues around London and Oxford, built up a large catalogue of material and done lots of recording.

2. Who or what are your influences?

American & British folk music, Dylan, the Beatles, ‘Pet Sounds’, Beat Poetry, the Blues, Springsteen, Captain Beefheart, Dylan Thomas, the Velvet Underground, the Stones, 19th century Russian Novels, The Doors, Arcade Fire. 

3. What modern artists do you like? 

Arcade Fire, Radiohead, Jose Gonzalez, Anthony & the Johnsons, White Stripes, Bjork, the Libertines, Sigur Ros, June the band.

4. If you could choose to record a song with any other artist/band alive or dead who would it be and why ?

Emily - I would choose Bob Dylan myself. Dylan has influenced me in many ways. And his catalogue of music is fantastic. And even his last album was brilliant. He’s still got it.

5. What inspires you to write your music/lyrics? Who writes the songs is it a band effort or is there one main songwriter ?

 
Vincent - I write the words and music for the band. My inspiration can change all the time. Things that have inspired me to sit down and write so far are… Dylan’s lyrics, ideas derived from a novel, attempts to emulate other genre’s such as the Blues, or maybe incidents in my own life like relationships or mistakes I’ve made….

6. Name your all time fave track by another artist ?

Vincent - Gimme Shelter – The Rolling Stones, followed by Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles.
Emily - Blind Willie Mctell - Bob Dylan
Andy - A Day in the Life by the Beatles

7. What sort of sound can we expect from your forthcoming release ?

 
Andy - There are a number of styles on the record. When recording, we treat each track individually and experiment with different sounds and instruments, rather than sticking closely to one set sound or formula. The result should be an eclectic, tuneful CD that rocks and rewards repeated listening.

8. What are your ambitions for your music. Where do you see yourself in 5 years ?

Emily - I want to give up work and live as being a musician in The Shaker Heights. I definitely would like to be touring and playing the festival scene, along with releasing records. 

9. How would you describe your music and what genre do you think it fits into ?

 
Vincent – Because a lot of the songs have their own individuality and sound, it’s difficult to describe our music overall. I’d call it alternative folk-rock pop.

10. Where is your forthcoming release being recorded and who is producing ?

 
Andy – Most of the recording has been done over the last year at Area 18 studios in London and in a home studio, which Edd’s brother Russell kindly lent us while working abroad. The Record was mixed at Area 18 with Richard Bignell and Mastered by Neil Pickles at Estudio Bano in London.

11. Who are The Shaker Heights? Who plays what and how old are you all ?

Vincent Coole (25) – Guitar & Lead Vocals 
Emily Coole (22) – Keyboards, Vocals
Andy Brown (24) – Bass Guitar
Edd Featherstone (21) – Drums, Vocals 

12. Where does the name come from? What exactly is a shaker height and do your fans have a special name like shakers or something ?

 
Vincent - The name comes from a small town in America that I spotted in an Atlas. I liked the tie between the grandiosity of ‘Heights’ and the rock’n’roll link of ‘Shaker’
Andy – A Shaker Heights fan is a ‘Shakerite’

13. What is a Magna Door ? 

Vincent - A Magna Door is my description of opportunity, a new outlet or way of life. I took the Latin for ‘Great’, which is ‘Magna’.

14. We have heard rumours that one of your band members puts on gigs in Oxford and runs a promotion company. Tel us all about it and can you offer gigs to other bands ? If so how do they apply ? 

Emily - I set up little promotion company called ‘Slippery Stage Promotions’ because I’m doing a university course in ‘Music Industry Management and live production’. I set it up with a friend and started putting on Monthly gigs at the Bullingdon in Oxford on the last Wednesday of every month. We named them Slippery Wednesdays. We have put on acoustic acts at the Port Mahon and more recently put on a showcase at the White Room, High Wycombe Student Union. All the information is put on www.myspace.com/slipperystage . Any bands interested in playing can email slipperystage@hotmail.com  

15. Do you have a band motto or master plan? Are you trying to fit into any specific genre ?

Emily - People make their own judgments about what genre we might fit into. We’ve been likened to bands like Echo and the Bunnymen and the Velvet Underground, and also described as having an Americana feel. In my opinion we aren’t trying to fit into any one genre and I can’t honestly put us in a genre that I specifically agree with. We have our own unique sound, which I hope will attract diverse listeners. The bands motto is to work hard and do what we enjoy: performing and recording great music. 

16. Tell us about your debut CD release through Face Value Records. What can we expect ? 

Andy – Our debut releases will be an AA single followed by a 10-track album. For us, the songs are a mixture of old and new; we’ve been playing some of them live for 2 or 3 years, and some were written in early 2007. Our aim is for every song to stand alone. There will be something for everyone on our release and we strongly recommend that people buy it.

17. We noticed there are 2 Coole's in the band Emily and Vincent. Are they related or is it just coincidence?  

Both ( ha ha -Ed )  


18. You guys seem to have an image in the way you wear cool clothes and scarves and things on stage. Is this on purpose? Are you trying to seperate yourself from the boring jeans and t shirt bands who don't have a presence or are you just naturally glamorous Indie rock n' rol l?

 
Andy – Erm, I guess we have some idea of how we want to look. Vincent wears neckerchiefs for example. Current popular trends just don’t suit our band and we have a nightmare trying to buy decent clothes in Aylesbury.

LIVE DATES 

You can catch the band live at the following dates:

31^st May 2007 – The Jericho Tavern, 56 Walton Street, Oxford, OX2 6AZ.

3^rd June 2007 – Rock Garden, 6/7 The Piazza, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8HA

14^th June – Port Mahon, 82 St. Clements Street, Oxford, OX4 1AW..

30^th June – The Good Ship, 289 Kilburn High Road, London, NW6 7JR.

6^th July – Album Launch @ The Jericho Tavern, 56 Walton Street, Oxford, OX2 6AZ.

2^nd September – The Port Mahon, 82 St. Clements Street, Oxford, OX4 1AW

For more info contact: daleo@matchboxrecordings.co.uk or call 01865 741 802