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A Silent Film

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A Silent Film
A Silent Film in 2015
A Silent Film in 2015
Background information
OriginOxford, England
GenresPiano rock,[1] alternative rock[2]
Years active2005–2018
LabelsCreative Media Investments, Xtra Mile, Bieler Bros., Silent Songs
MembersRobert Stevenson
Spencer Walker
Past membersKarl Bareham
Lewis Jones
Ali Hussain

A Silent Film are an English alternative rock band[2] from Oxford. The band consists of Robert Stevenson (vocals/piano/guitar) and Spencer Walker (drums).[3] Their first album, The City That Sleeps, was released on 6 October 2008,[4][5] with one reviewer describing it as "a surefire winner".[6] One critic has said that A Silent Film's style "distinctly echoes" Coldplay, Snow Patrol and The Killers.[7] Their latest album, A Silent Film, was released in October 2015.

History

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Formation and early years

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The band formed in 2005. Three of the five members (Robert Stevenson, Spencer Walker and Lewis Jones) had been members of another band named Shouting Myke,[8] which formed in early 2000. In 2005 two members (Benn Clarke and Steve Meyer-Rassow) left the band and were replaced by Ali Hussain, whose older brother is noted classical conductor Leo Hussain. The newly formed band chose the name A Silent Film after lead singer Stevenson wrote a song using the melody from a song from a Charlie Chaplin film;[2] the band agreed they liked the style and chose the name as a reference to Chaplin's many silent films. The band released their first recording in 2007, an EP titled The Projectionist.[9] They performed on the BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury in 2007.[10]

The City That Sleeps

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Main article: The City That Sleeps

The original UK version of the album, produced by Sam Williams,[3] contains 11 tracks. A reviewer compared the album to the music of Coldplay and described it as "catchy and accessible".[5] The single "You Will Leave a Mark" was number one in the Sunday Times Culture magazine's Hottest Downloads chart.[11] It was featured as an iTunes Discovery Download and has been downloaded over 110,000 times.[12] It was also nominated for the XFM New Music Award.[13]

After the album's release, the band toured the UK and then Portugal where they quickly became popular.[12] After a matter of weeks, "You Will Leave a Mark" reached the top of the Portuguese download singles charts, followed by the album soon after.[12] The band have played and toured with OneRepublic, Scouting for Girls, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Temper Trap, Sleigh Bells, Biffy Clyro, Fitz and the Tantrums, Civil Twilight, Athlete[14] and Blue October.

In 2010, The City That Sleeps was re-released in the US with two alternate tracks,[12] "Driven By Their Beating Hearts" and "Firefly in My Window". "Aurora" was featured on Linkin Park's iTunes celebrity playlist podcast.[15] Multiple appearances on MTV's The Hills,[16] The Hard Times of R J Berger,[17] Investigation Discovery[18] and an appearance on the Rockband video game[19] all helped to raise awareness of the band in the US. "You Will Leave a Mark" topped numerous national radio most-requested playlists,[20] picking up first place at the Sirius Alt Nation awards for Best in Studio Performance and ranked No. 4 for Song of the Year behind only Mumford & Sons, The Black Keys, and Vampire Weekend.[21] The song also peaked at No. 38 on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks.[22] The band successfully performed to a capacity room at SXSW in March 2011.[23]

Sand and Snow

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Main article: Sand & Snow

A Silent Film released their album Sand & Snow on 5 June 2012. The self-produced album contains 11 tracks, with three additional songs on the bonus edition. It has been praised for its musical depth and creativity and has a notably stronger electronic influence than the band's first album.[24] The album produced two hit singles, “Danny, Dakota & the Wishing Well” and “Harbour Lights.”[25] The album peaked at No. 38 on the Top Heatseekers chart in 2013.[26] Following Sand & Snow's release, the band announced their appearance at Firefly Music Festival in Delaware alongside Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Foster The People, Vampire Weekend, and many more.

New Year

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Main article: New Year (A Silent Film EP)

On 21 April 2015, A Silent Film released their EP New Year. The EP was self-produced, in collaboration with Matt Wilcox, and was mixed by The City that Sleeps producer Sam Williams. Recorded in a rustic studio on a pecan farm just outside El Paso, Texas, New Year expands on the cinematic alternative rock of 2012's Sand & Snow and 2010's The City that Sleeps. The song "Tomorrow" has been praised for its strong storytelling quality, depth, and power.[27]

After the EP's release, the band started their Secret Rooms tour, giving 12 intimate performances in non-traditional venues throughout the U.S., revealed to ticket buyers just days before each show. The tour completely sold out. Using only production elements designed and hand-crafted by the band themselves, A Silent Film transformed unique spaces such as a historic recording studio, an abandoned warehouse, and even an old silent movie production studio, into unique, in-the-round concert venues. With only 50 guests each night, the band was within arms reach of every audience member, allowing for a high level of intimacy and interaction between the band and fans. The entire tour was documented by noted videographer Luca Venter and videos of the performances were posted for those who couldn't attend.

A Silent Film

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Main article: A Silent Film (album)

A Silent Film announced their return on 16 October 2015 with the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Sand & Snow: the new full-length studio album A Silent Film. The self-titled album will be released on the band's own label, Silent Songs. Produced by the band's Robert Stevenson and Spencer Walker, with assistance from Matthew Wilcox (Foster the People, Bethel Music), the 11-track album was recorded in A Silent Film's hometown of Oxford, UK over a five-week period.

Hiatus

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In 2018, with over 20 million streams of their songs, Stevenson and Walker decided to take an indefinite break from the band to pursue other creative and personal priorities.

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details
The City That Sleeps
  • Released: October 2008 (UK), November 2010 (US re-release)
  • Label: Xtra Mile Recordings (UK), Bieler Bros. (US re-release)
  • Formats: CD, Digital download
Sand & Snow
  • Released: 5 June 2012
  • Label: Creative Media Investments LLC (CMI).
  • Formats: CD, Digital download
A Silent Film

EPs/Singles

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Title Album details
The Projectionist (EP)
  • Released: July 2007
  • Label: Xtra Mile Recordings
  • Formats: CD
You Will Leave a Mark
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Xtra Mile Recordings
  • Formats: CD
Tomorrow (Single)
New Year (EP)
  • Released: 2015
  • Label: Silent Songs
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Lightning Strike (Single)
  • Released: 2015
  • Label: Silent Songs
  • Formats: CD, digital download

References

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  1. ^ "A Silent Film's biography – INTERVIEW". 6lyrics. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "A SILENT FILM – INTERVIEW". The405. Archived from the original on 6 August 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  3. ^ a b "A Silent Film". Safe Concerts. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  4. ^ "A Silent Film Sync Placements". tunefind.
  5. ^ a b "A Silent Film: The City That Sleeps". Penny Black Music. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Album Review: A Silent Film – The City That Sleeps". absolutepunk.net. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  7. ^ "Album Review: A Silent Film – The City That Sleeps". Alter the Press!. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  8. ^ "Shouting Myke". Gigs Unlimited. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  9. ^ "A Silent Film". 100 XR. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ "A Silent Film – The LampLight". BBC. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  11. ^ "A Silent Film – The City That Sleeps (Xtra Mile)". dailymusicguide. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  12. ^ a b c d "A Silent Film re-release The City That Sleeps album". Buzzin Music. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  13. ^ "XFM New Music Award 2009". XFM. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  14. ^ "A Silent Film". Disappear Here Mag. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  15. ^ "Linkin Park on iTunes Celebrity Playlist Podcast". Mike Shinoda Clan. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  16. ^ "A Silent Film". Sam Williams Music. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  17. ^ "A Silent Film". Leeds Music Scene. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  18. ^ "Investigation Discovery promo featuring A Silent Film's "You Will Leave A Mark"". Zoofs.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  19. ^ "A Silent Film". Rockband.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  20. ^ "A Silent Film". Reverb Nation. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  21. ^ "U.K. Buzz Band A Silent Film Relocates to Phoenix". Phoenix New Times. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  22. ^ "The City That Sleeps – A Silent Film : Awards". AllMusic. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  23. ^ "A Silent Film Will Leave A Mark!". Best New Bands. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  24. ^ "A Silent Film – Sand & Snow Review". Stitched Sound. 10 March 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  25. ^ "A Silent Film – Sand & Snow Review". The Rock Revival. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  26. ^ "A Silent Film – Sand & Snow". All Music. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  27. ^ "Tomorrow Review". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
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