Brain Slaves

Origin| Auckland, New Zealand
Genres| Neo-psychedelia
Garage rock
Pop
Years active| 2006–2010
Labels| Currently unsigned
Members| Sasha Frantz (vocals)
Elliott Serjeant (guitar, synths, vocals)
Jordan Morris (guitar)
Rob Champion (drums, vocals)
Jack Smylie (synths, vocals)

Brain Slaves were a band from Auckland, New Zealand, formerly called The Coshercot Honeys. They were acclaimed for their unique sound, which combines neo-psychedelia with garage rock, pop hooks, and syncopated grooves.

## History

[edit]

After forming in late 2005 through The Coshercot Honeys performed shows throughout Auckland, and following some personnel changes in 2006 (the addition of second guitar and a new keyboardist, though still without a bass guitar[1]), the band began to gain wider attention with high energy live shows[2] and more experimental song writing. Reviewer Joanna Hunkin compared them with Franz Ferdinand.[1]

In April 2007 the song "We're All Lions" was played on Auckland student radio station 95bfm and other student radio throughout the country. The song rose to #1 on the 95bFM Top Ten chart[3] and was nominated for three bNet awards including "Best Song" and "Best Pop Song".[1] To follow up the single they released an E.P. of the same name distributed by Rhythm Method, which rose to #18 in the Independent New Zealand Charts. They released a video to accompany the single shot by Trophy Wife Productions [2]. In 2008 the band played a number of support slots including The Veils, Matt Costa and a national tour with Collapsing Cities. They also played alongside The Mint Chicks and The Checks at Vodafone Homegrown on the Wellington Waterfront.

The band played at the Rhythm and Vines festival on 30 December 2008[4] alongside Franz Ferdinand, Late of the Pier, Santogold, and Public Enemy, and played again at the Vodafone Homegrown festival in March 2009.[3]

## Name change

[edit]

On 12 November 2008, New Zealand indie music website Cheese on Toast revealed the band had officially changed their name to Brain Slaves.[4] This was confirmed on the band's myspace page. Brain Slaves explained they had been thinking about a name change for some time. About the same time as this occurred, new material in the form of small song snippets and videos appeared on Myspace and Youtube.

## Breakup

[edit]

On 10 February 2010, the band announced that they had broken up, saying "The five of us have been the tightest crew, but we feel now that it is time to cut loose and experience life as individuals, not as five parts of one personality."[5] The news was broken by a blogger on Isaaclikes.com Archived 18 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine, although the Brain Slaves asked him to withhold this information. They went on to say "Brainslaves were a band, but always will be five silly f***ers who love music and mayhem." They will release a free download pack with all their songs, the two music videos they made, and other footage.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Hunkin, Joanna (18 December 2006). "Young bands don't disappoint". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
2. ^ Skipwith, David (30 November 2007). "Gig Preview – The Coshercot Honeys". Spare Room. Archived from the original on 5 December 2007. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
3. ^ "The Coshercot Honeys new EP". Undertheradar. 10 December 2007. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
4. ^ "Line-up 2008: Daily schedule". Rhythm and Vines. 30 November 2007. Archived from the original on 28 October 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
5. ^ Brain Slaves' Final Blog . Myspace. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2010.

## External links

[edit]

* Brain Slaves' MySpace page