LOST YET FREE

 

PICTURES OF SHANGHAI:

 

I focused 14 years playing gigs, writing and recording the guitar in two bands, of which I committed my youth and early twenties. Drifting through my school years without academic direction or focus, my cultural and personal development always centred around creating music. I met my oldest friends on the first day of secondary school in September 1999. A year later we were to start a band that almost lasted a decade.

 

During the years 2000 to 2009, the first band evolved considerably. We started as twelve year old kids who had no understanding of how to create any tolerable sounds from our instruments - or lack of (our drummer started out hitting chairs and boxes). Periodically during the bands initial year, we would record our attempts on a tape machine and transform practices into amateur showcases to tone-deaf school kids and elderly neighbours.

 

Roughly three years later (2003), we would record our first official demo (Jul 03) and play our first proper show (Feb 03). This spiralled into years of extensive gigs, squeezing onto any bill around the country that was possible. Just three months following our first gig (May 03), we had a date booked at the Tunbridge Wells Forum (Kent, England), a venue that eventually became a second home. Throughout seven years of shows, the band played here more than 40 times and in 2009 it was here that we performed our last (Jul 09).

 

Winning a battle of the bands in 2004 (judges from Lighthouse Family, Anti-Nowhere League), we were awarded with studio time and a grant for our school's music department. Following this event (Apr 04) and subsequent recording session, the band gained interest from a music technology student (who was helping engineer at both the gig and studio). Soon, he was to become an additional member. We played our first gig as a four piece just four months later (Aug 04).

By the end of the year, the music began to benefit rapidly with input from a second guitarist and additional vocals. Wanting to capture the progression of new songs and a much improved sound, we arranged to record over three days at a professional studio in London (Nov 04). Although sufficient for the moment, prior studio time had been restricted to one day sessions, working with mismatched engineers. With this new experience, the band had made a record that would help exposure and open up more opportunities.

 

Through the course of the first five years, the sound of the band evolved beyond early punk rock influences. The band became louder and more intense on stage whilst maturing in song writing. In the mid-2000s, a style shift and name change transitioned the band from the aggressive post-hardcore genre to radio-friendly pop rock.

Personal illness in 2005 forcibly changed the bands approach to practices, song writing and gigging. We had to function as a three piece for much of the year, these circumstances led to the last gig (Apr 05) under our previous name and started a completely new direction. Back to full health and keeping all four members, we played our first gig as Pictures of Shanghai (supporting 4ft Fingers) in June 2005.

 

The band continued to play dates across England, heavily gigging in London and surrounding counties, self-booking and managing everything. Notable dates included opening for Enter Shikari and MC Lars, as well as performing multiple dates with Fastlane and The Fight.

We played gigs with bands such as thisGIRL, Canterbury and Howards Alias, whilst also becoming part of a small scene of bands that regularly shared nights together (Chaser, Fleeing From Finales, The Riverclub/One Above Nothing, Klaus Says Buy The Record, Supercar, Furniture Sound, Haemostatic Picnic Races, Seven Story Down and Breakfast In Bed/The Accident).

 

A significant year for the band was 2006, we put on more than 30 shows (our highest per year) and co-ordinated our first and only independently booked tour (Aug 06). We managed to get Chaser (Punktastic Recordings) on each night of the tour, as well as select dates with Fleeing From Finales, one show with Out of Sight and another with the Misnomer.

The band recorded three EPs during 2006 and continued to spend time in the studio. By the end of the year, we had begun working on what was our most significant record.

 

As well as endless gigging, we continued to take a strong interest working in the studio, completing seven studio EPs throughout the life of the band. We recorded multiple releases with engineer and producer Lester Woodward at Ignition Studios (Finsbury Park/Archway, London). Woodward became hugely influential and key to the development of the band. Working with Woodward in the studio was a significant highlight.

Recorded over seven days, 'Stand Up and Be Proud' (released Jan 07) was our most important record. This marked our fourth time working with Woodward at Ignition. Mastered by Tim Turan of Turan Audio in Oxford, it was an honour to be featured on a client list full of prestigious artists as well as smaller bands that directly inspired us (Jimmy Eat World, Less Than Jake, underOATH). After playing many dates in London to promote the record, the band gained repeated interest from Fierce Panda Records (Coldplay, Death Cab For Cutie) but unfortunately never squeezed onto their roster.

Our final EP was recorded later that year (Jun 07) which concluded with the band headlining both nights at the Hop Farm (Paddock Wood, Kent) fireworks display.

 

In 2008 and 2009 the band ran at half speed. We were attending different universities and because of a shift in priorities, only booked a handful of shows per year.

We were young and unfortunately gave it up just as we became marketable.

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For now, listen to tracks at:

Pictures of Shanghai