Mamas Gun

Mamas Gun is a five-piece London based band who are currently working on their as yet untitled fourth album. Their third album, “Cheap Hotel”, was released in September 2014 on their independent label Candelion. Their first album “Routes to Riches” successfully broke them in Japan where they became the most played international artist on Japanese radio in 2009. They have since toured and performed all over the world, particularly broadening their profile in South East Asia in places such as South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore. They have supported the likes of Level 42, Beverley Knight, Raphael Saadiq and Ben l'Oncle Soul. Since the release of "Routes to Riches", they have released two more albums. The Life and Soul (2011) and Cheap Hotel (2014).

The band is named after Erykah Badu album Mama's Gun. ^[1]

History

Formation

The band was formed by Andy 'AP' Platts, the lead singer/composer/producer in 2007 and was joined by bassist 'Professor' Rex Horan, keyboardist Dave 'Eighties' Oliver, Terry 'Spiller' Lewis and drummer 'Union' Jack Pollitt after placing an ad on Myspace.com seeking musicians.

Andy Platts was born in a military hospital in Kowloon, Hong Kong, to a nomadic father who had landed in the Far East as a police recruit in their battles with underground triad organisations, Platts soaked up the musical ether that surrounded him (which included the Beatles, the Doors and ELO from his father, and a Filipino mother who played Spanish-influenced guitar), attending countless schools in the process before winning a place at Paul Mc Cartney's Liverpool based LIPA institute. Subsequently, Platts played on Corinne Bailey Rae’s hugely successful debut album and then, in 2006, landed his own publishing deal with Zomba Music. This led to collaborations with an extraordinary song-writing A-list that included Rod ‘Thriller’ Temperton, John Oates, Jed Leiber (son of hit-making legend Jerry) and former Gil Scott-Heron collaborator Brian Jackson before founding Mamas Gun in 2007.^[2]

In addition to their activities with Mamas Gun, the band members continue to work in various other capacities ranging from songwriting to studio sessions and touring work. Since 2011 Platts has enjoyed further chart success in South East Asia penning number 1 hits “Shine Your Light” for Korean singer Park Hyo Shin, “Falling” for Korean singer John Park and “Your Step’ for singer Tomohisa Yamashita's Japanese number 1 album 'YOU'. More recently Platts has enjoyed success writing the lead single 'Do It All Again' from Dutch soul singer Steffen Morrisson's recent EP 'Just Another Man'. Keyboard player David ‘Eighties’ Oliver is currently the musical director for Lisa Stansfield’s working both in the studio and on the road. Terry ‘Spiller’ Lewis who also plays guitar for Lisa Stansfield on the road has played for US songwriter / artist Leon Ware, Lewis Taylor, The Impressions, The Valentine Brothers and Jamie Woon.

Music

UK Releases

Mamas Gun first single, "Pots of Gold", was released in August 2008 on Candelion Records and was playlisted on BBC Radio 2 with Chris Evans championing the track. Following its success, Mamas Gun recorded their debut album and released their next playlisted single "Let's Find A Way" in June 2009. In September 2009, Mamas Gun released their third single "You Are The Music" and their debut album "Routes To Riches" followed in October 2009. The album was co-produced by Producer/Engineer Julian Simmons at his private studio Din in East London, mixed by Producer/Engineer Jack Joseph Puig at Ocean Way, Los Angeles and mastered by Bob Ludwig. In February 2010 Mamas Gun released double A-side "Finger On it / Wishing" from the same album, which was playlisted on BBC Radio 2, Jazz Fm and Smooth Radio. In June 2011 Mamas Gun released The Life And Soul produced by Martin Terefe and Andreas Olsson recorded at Kensal Town Studios in West London. It yielded the singles "On a string", "Reconnection" and "Only One" (featuring Beverley Knight) and saw the band opting for more of a live '70s' band sound. In 2014 followed Cheap Hotel. Featuring a much more collaborative approach and also the first record to feature new bassist Cameron Dawson after the departure of Rex Horan, it spawned the singles Red Cassette - playlisted and played heavily on UK, German and Japanese radio, Hello Goodnight and lastly Cheap Hotel. The album charted at number 29 in the Independent UK album chart. Most recently the band released the Room Service EP via a Pledge exclusive and are currently working on Album 4.

Japan Releases

Routes To Riches, released in November 2009, achieved a number 3 sales position on the Japanese Billboard charts. The lead single from this album, House on a Hill, was a number 2 hit on the Japanese Hot 100 singles chart and the most played song on Japanese radio in 2009. First single 'Red Cassette' from third album Cheap Hotel received good radio play in Japan but failed to emulate past successes after peaking at 67 on the Japanese Hot 100 chart.^[3]

Korea Releases: Tour Edition

Other Side of Mamas Gun featuring demos, unreleased tracks and live versions was issued in December 2011 by the band's South Korean label Sail Music to coincide with their Asian tour.

01.Kill The DJ (Delrosario Remix)
02.Baby I Love You
03.Yesterday's News
04.Karma
05.House On A Hill (Demo Version)
06.You Are The Music (Radio Edit)
07.Let's Find A Way (Mitsu the Beats Remix)
08.The Art (BBC Cambs)
09.Pots Of Gold (Feat. Tete - French Version)
10.Reconnection (Acoustic)*
11.Inferno (Acoustic)*
12.Only One (Feat. Beverley Knight – Video)

• Recordings from 3FM Radio Show in the Netherlands

Discography

Albums

Singles

Videography

• "You Are the Music" (2009)
• "Let's Find a Way" (unofficial video) (2010)
• "Finger On It" (2010)
• "Pots of Gold" (2010)
• "On a String" (2011)
• "Reconnection" (2011)
• "Only One" (live) ft. Beverley Knight (2011)
• "Cheap Hotel" (2014)
• "Joy Rides" (2014)
• "Hello Goodnight" (2014)
• "Cheap Hotel" (2014)

Critical reception

Mamas Gun have received almost universal good reviews in the press. Uncut (magazine) gave Routes to Riches four stars, saying "[It's a] masterclass in blue-eyed bubblegum soul, as heart-warmingly catchy as anything from Stevie Wonder's '70s purple patch". The Guardian said the band perform "gorgeous, melting soft rock” and “redolent of Young Disciples' long-lost 90s Brit-soul classic Apparently Nothin'". They were also featured in The Times' Why you must hear feature.

Their third album, Cheap Hotel, received very positive reviews. The Independent called it "a retro delight" and Soul Tracks called it "a unique blend that is both inviting and, at times irresistible".

References

External links

• Mamas Gun Official Website