New Young Pony Club

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New Young Pony Club
NYPC live at Fopp in Camden
NYPC live at Fopp in Camden
Background information
Also known as NYPC
Origin London, England
Genre(s) Dance punk
Post-punk revival
Electropop
New Rave
Alternative Dance
Years active 2004–present
Label(s) Modular Recordings
Website http://www.wearepony.com/
Members
Tahita Bulmer
Andy Spence
Lou Hayter
Igor Volk
Sarah Jones

New Young Pony Club are a five piece Rock band from London, England, containing members from London, Hereford, Cambridge, Bromley and Kiev in Ukraine. Taking influences from post-punk and New Wave, they are perhaps more deserving of the "Nu Rave" tag than many other bands in the sub-genre. However, like other bands associated with the label, they are quick to dismiss it.[1]

The band are keen to take their cues from a whole range of sources, and try not to risk becoming too close to the sound of any one other band. [2] Their own take on their music is “We marry the dance ethic with the pop ethic, and make something that you can dance to and sing along to.”[3]

Contents

[edit] Forming and signing

Mutual friends introduced now London-based vocalist Tahita Bulmer and producer Andy Spence, who shared a love of punk rock and dance music. The founding pair began writing together, originally only for Tahita to perform. Andy later assumed a larger role when they decided to form a proper band, so the duo recruited the single-monikered Lou (keyboards), Igor (bass), and Sarah (drums). [4] The band formed in 2005 [5], and released two limited edition 7” singles ("The Get Go" and cult hit "Ice Cream") on indie label Tirk Recordings [6] before being discovered by more established Australian label Modular Recordings, and signing a worldwide deal. They share their label with successful Australian rock band Wolfmother and fellow indie-dance acts Cut Copy and The Presets.

The band’s name came from lead singer Tahita Bulmer’s desire to be part of a club or team at school. Her original idea for the band name was the more concise “Pony Club”, which she describes as “quirky and kinky and fun”. A pre-existing Irish band had already claimed the name, and the prefix “New Young” was added to reflect that the band are “a newer, younger and kinkier Pony Club (band)”.[7]

[edit] Live shows

The band toured extensively in 2006 and 2007. A support tour with Lily Allen was followed by a place on the 2007 "NME Indie Rave Tour” along with CSS, The Sunshine Underground and Klaxons. The band went on to their first headline tour to promote their debut album, Fantastic Playroom. The sold-out tour launched on May 30 at The ####### in Leeds, and concluded at Winter Gardens in Eastbourne on June 9, 2007.[8] The band continued to play festivals throughout 2007. The band brought in the 2008 new year at the famous Rhythm & Vines festive in Gisborne, New Zealand. Their performance was considered a success.

The band’s live shows have a party atmosphere, with the emphasis on dancing and having fun. The main source of stage presence is frontwoman Tahita Bulmer, whose energetic performance and dancing encourages the crowd. She’s in contrast to the other, more reserved members of the band, in particular keyboard player Lou Hayter, who stays almost perfectly still while playing.

[edit] Success

The band has enjoyed cult success in their early years. Their highest chart placing for a first release was number 47 for second official single “The Bomb”, though a re-release of Ice Cream reached number 40. They put their lack of chart success down to not having the “desire to make really radio friendly singles”, but also claim that they “don’t want to be the biggest band in the world”.[2] Indeed, many of their records are hard to find, and tracks appear on iTunes only fleetingly.[9] New Young Pony Club have been successful in Australia, the home of their label, where they have received airplay on radio station Triple J.

The band’s debut album, Fantastic Playroom, was released on Modular Recordings on 9 July 2007[10] in the UK and 28 August in the US. The band apparently had an album’s worth of songs when they signed to Modular, but decided it would be more ambitious to write a whole new album for the label, which has resulted in it being delayed for over a year.[9]

Since its release, Fantastic Playroom has received excellent reviews from the music press in Britain. Mixmagawarded it Album of the Month in its July issue. On 17 July Fantastic Playroom was shortlisted for the 2007 Mercury Prize.

[edit] Follow-up to Fantastic Playroom

According to a MySpace Blog post on New Young Pony Club's profile, Tahita and Andy are in the studio writing more music.

[edit] Band members

  • Tahita Bulmer - Vocals
  • Andy Spence - Guitar and Production
  • Lou Hayter- Keyboard
  • Igor Volk - Bass
  • Sarah Jones - Drums

[edit] Trivia

 Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (January 2008)
  • Their song "Ice Cream" is featured in a commercial for Intel Core 2 processors, in episode 4 of Secret Diary of a Call Girl, and in a majority of the Gossip Girl (TV Series) commercials for ITV 2. It also featured in the legal drama series Shark: "Here Comes the Judge", when Julie Stark drinks at a party. Also in the Grandparents seduction scene in Wedding Daze (US title: For the Pleasure of your Company) and a commercial for the Nissan Cube automobile.
  • Singer Tahita Bulmer featured at No.15 in NME's 2006 Cool List, and is also a vegetarian.
  • Guitarist and band Producer Andy Spence was the Music Composer for the indie Tibetan movie, Dreaming Lhasa.
  • Lou Hayter has recently been seen at No. 35 in the NME Cool List 2007 and also is founding member of spin off band the New Sins
  • Andy and Tahita often like to summon cat spirits when working in the studio.
  • New Young Pony Club come from a long line of bands with Pony Club in the name. 'The Pony Club' is the name of an Irish urban soul outfit while 'The Young Knives' were 'Pony Club' for a short time in their infancy.
  • It was announced in March 9 that Sarah Jones will also be drumming on tour with Bat For Lashes
  • Andy Spence is producing the new UK band My Tiger My Timing
  • Their song "The Bomb" was featured in a commercial for the LG Xenon

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

  • "Get Lucky" (20 March 2006)
  • "Ice Cream" (18 September 2006)
  • "The Bomb" (19 March 2007) UK #47
  • "Ice Cream" (2 July 2007) (re-release) UK no. 40
  • "Get Lucky" (29 October 2007) (re-release)

[edit] Remixes (by NYPC)

  • "Tears Dry On Their Own" - Amy Winehouse (August 2007) (on 7" Clear Vinyl - Limited Edition)
  • "Jealous Girls" - Gossip (New Young Pony Club 7" Vinyl Remix)

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Play Louder Interview". http://playlouder.com/feature/+class-of-2007-ne/. Retrieved on 2007-06-12. 
  2. ^ a b "My Brum Interview". http://www.mybrum.co.uk/birmingham/fe-music_interview-new-young-pony-club.htm. Retrieved on 2007-06-12. 
  3. ^ "Wessex Scene Interview". http://www.wessexscene.co.uk/article.php?sid=1871. Retrieved on 2007-06-12. 
  4. ^ "Spin Article". http://www.spin.com/features/band_of_the_day/2006/12/061215_newyoungponyclub/. Retrieved on 2008-01-27. 
  5. ^ "Band of the Day profile". http://www.bandoftheday.com/cards/451-NewYoungPonyClub.swf. Retrieved on 2007-06-12. 
  6. ^ "Tirk Recordings Discography". http://www.tirk-recordings.com/discography.htm. Retrieved on 2007-06-12. 
  7. ^ "Peta2.com/uk interview". http://www.peta2.com/uk/uk-nypc.asp. Retrieved on 2006-11-17. 
  8. ^ "New Young Pony Club website". http://www.nypc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/nypc/tourdates.htm).. Retrieved on 2007-06-12. 
  9. ^ a b "I Like Music Interview". http://www.ilikemusic.com/interviews/New_Young_Pony_Club_Tahita_Bulmer_interview-3675. Retrieved on 2007-06-12. 
  10. ^ "Play.com Predorder Information". http://www.play.com/Music/CD/6-/Search.html?searchstring=new+young+pony+club&searchtype=cdartisttitle&searchsource=0. Retrieved on 2007-06-11. 

[edit] External links

[edit] Interviews

[edit] Print media

[edit] Radio

[edit] Web

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