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| Bio of the Artist |
Artist Information
Very Unique Existence - Story - "Runaway Fate Train"
Out of the Ashes of a destroyed engagement and after 1.5 years adventuring round the World learning about life, the universe and putting his extremely interesting childhood into perspective, Rich Latimer Singer/Songwriter for Byron's Favourite Sons The Very Unique Existence returns home to a rural palace, solace and his black cat Chinta and decides to start a band, to make sense of and to share all the lessons his journey has given him.
Rich Latimer (Guitar/Vox)
"Music has been part of my life as long as I can remember, its a release like no other. My first influences were bands like Pearl Jam, Sound Garden, Chilli Peppers at age 16. It was then I knew I was destined to make records to inspire and elevate people......The Vue for me is the simplification and consolidation of everything that music has taught me, it is a fate driven vehicle with endless possibilities all of which positive and purposeful....I'm blessed to have these friends and share these songs. It feels like Music with Meaning."-Rich
Placing an Ad in the paper and leaveing the rest to fate, Rich meets drummer Chris who had recently moved to the north coast from Sydney after leaving his prior band of 10 years (Ankh) and wanting more from the musical side of life.
Chris Boniface (Drums)
"Music is a personal moment caught forever between friends. It is an escape of reality brought to life though the collective consciousness and passed onto individuals to help bring about change... The Vue to me is all and more that I have wanted to do in a band. I have already realized a life long dream with four great mates and I'm sure that much more is yet to come."-Chris
Although coming from different musical backgrounds, Chris having a heavy & fast style and Rich playing a more blues rock genre, the two gelled immediately writing four songs on their first jam together.
Realizing the potential of their combined styles, they began to practice in earnest using every spare minute to create a new and exciting style of rock music that flowed with soulful dynamics and fluidity giving them a very unique sound all their own. Each track inspired by a thoughtful and worthy lesson to be shared with the huge audiances that would soon follow this conscious powerful music.
From here and after 4-6 months as a two-piece, and after (as a 2 piece) winning the Jim Beam Band Competition THE V.U.E. recruit Mick Harris (Australia Version of Les Claypool -Seriously!) again by advertiseing into the line-up, and asking the Gods to make it so.
Mick a genius a gentleman (rare combination), who has been studying a 3-year degree in the art form of Bass, Bass and nothing but the Bass joins this Fate Train.
Mick Harris (Bass/Vox)
"Music is my reason for living. I believe I was born onto this planet to play music, because it's what I do best, I love it more than anything....The Vue is like a second family. I have found my brothers in music and I believe in these songs"-Mick
Several weeks into the project it is discovered that Mick and Chris are actually blood related...The Vue Fate again..They had no idea, it became evident through Mick's mother browseing the bands website... The trio (now with the BLOOD CONNECTION) in late 2004 begin the task of making heir mark on the music world, recording a 7 Track Demo at Top Cat Studios with ledgend Brad Wann.
This Demo called The Vue 2004 Demo (released on itunes.com.au and via www.thevue.com.au) served it's purpose, it scored them high paying gigs where other original bands could not go and it gave fans something to hold on to. Brad Wann from www.topcastudios.com has been a mentor and friend to the band the whole way and this first record (result of winning a band comp) kick started The Very Unique Existence into EXISTENCE.
After nearly 2 years of, hard giging, touring, and promoteing the band The V.U.E. finally cut their first record "Everyone" it sported lovely unique arangements, nice powerful songs and a flavour not yet discovered... AND RADIO LOVED IT !!!
In order to re-produce the record live the band needed a Keys player.. Mick had a mate from UNI who was the prodigy of the session player Steve Russell who layed keys on the record.
Mick rang Wez Seewald to ask him to come over and listen to his band and see if he wanted to join.
On the way over to Micks Wez was singing away to one of his favorite new tunes on the Radio "Take it Easy" by The Very Unique Existence. Wez enters Micks house says "Play me your CD" the song comes on and he basically bursts his buble exclaiming "I have been listening to that for weeks and just now on the way over here".
Needless to say Wez is the new addition (delivered by divine intervention) completeing this line-up.
Wez Seewald (Keys)
"Music allows me to express the full range of human emotions and to connect to the souls of other people....The Vue is an unbelievable opportunity to share great purposeful music and good times with the band and audience..... I think all the members of The Vue have really understood this in the way they have written and performed their music since I have recently come to be a part of this run away fate train."-Wez
So now it's 2007 and The Very Unique Existence are making huge steps in secureing a long future delivering amazing, eclectic and thoughtful music to EVERYONE and EVERYONE is loving it !
Instrumentation
THE V.U.E. (The Very Unique Existence)
The VUE is the combined musical talent and creative energy of;
- Rich Latimer (Guitar/Vox)
- Chris Boniface (Drums/Sampler)
- Mick Harris (Bass/Vox)
- Wez Seewald (Keys)
Please also see
http://www.myspace.com/thevuerock
http://www.thevue.com.au
Biography
(THE VERY UNIQUE EXISTENCE)
The V.U.E. has enclosed a complimentary copy of their 7 track debut EP 'Everyone'. The title of the EP reflects The V.U.E.'s diverse musicality, edge and appeal, genuinely providing 'something for EVERYONE'.
This debut has been accepted by all commercial and non- commercial Radio in Australia and Abroad that it has been sent to making rotational play lists.
The Very Unique Existence is a dynamic, driven Byron Bay rock outfit with a unique essence that appeals powerfully both locally and internationally. The V.U.E. is committed to delivering outstanding quality, original Australian music with global appeal and is seeking international industry / radio / licensing support and a major signing for their debut release.
The V.U.E. wish to market the EP internationally in 2007, with tracks 'Looking Down', 'Take it Easy' and 'Pop Song' proposed (but not limited to) for a play list ad across the board on commercial stations internationally and "Roll On", "Shadow Behind" and "U.K Dance Re-Mix" promoted for play list ad on high profile indie stations such as Triple J in Australia. The have the product, the runs on the board, the fans and the determination to have a long career making quality records.
The V.U.E. is: Rich Latimer (VOX/Guitar), Chris Boniface (Drums), Mick Harris (Bass) and Wes Seewald (Keys).
Snaps to date:
• The V.U.E. receive continued high level rotation on National and North Coast Commercial and Community Stations plus U.S airplay on a range of Main Stream Commercial Stations, with College Radio being serviced currently;
• AUSTEREO – Have added "Pop Song" to rotation on the Oi Oi OI show with scheduled migration to higher rotation. They fully support the band and have even gone so far as to sugest The V.U.E to labels and pluggers.
• Track 1 'Take it Easy' selected repeatedly in the listener voted Top 10 Indie Pop/Adult Contemporary and is receiving high level rotation to over 2.5 million across the U.S. Germany and Russia, on the Moozikoo and Radio X Indie networks worldwide plus online radio such as www.acousticfuel.com;
• 'Take it Easy' and track 3 'Looking Down' have maintained FM High Rotation for over 8 weeks in Northern NSW and the most requested songs for 5 of those weeks with all remaining tracks making it to the play list;
• Responses to live shows have been 'amazing', the CD has sold out in stores, gigs and in outlets throughout Northern NSW, plus indie digital distribution;
• Dance track 6 currently played in all regional night clubs by national and international DJ's with rave reviews;
• Businesses in the area are using tracks 1 and 2 for radio, TV and local cinema advertising;
• The Very Unique Existence Selected for inclusion on the Grow Your Own Upload One Compilation / MGM / Foghorn.
• Licensing interest in Japan for mobile content currently being negotiated;
• OVER 1000 COPIES OF EP HAVE SOLD IN THE LAST 10 WEEKS IN THE NORTHERN NSW REGION!
The V.U.E.'s success to date is attributable to their sheer talent, determination, huge appeal and marketability:
'We work hard rehearsing 3 - 4 times a week refining the 60+ best original songs over the last 3 years consolidating our sound and direction. The response to the Ep, live shows and Airplay has blown us away, particularly the Radio Requests.'
The V.U.E. is characterised by its quality musicianship, powerful lyrics and unique sound (shaped by eclectic song writing, rare equipment selection and extensive industry experience).
The V.U.E.'s fan base is extensive through the band's marketing, touring, gigging, multimedia promotions and airplay. With a database worldwide of 1500 growing steadily at 15 sign-ups a day.
Contact: rich@thevue.com.au or the web site:
www.thevuecom.au
THE V.U.E: Key Notes
• Austereo have played "Take It Easy" on their "Oi Oi Oi" segment and will shortly interview the band and launch "Pop Song " incorporating this release into mainstream daytime segments in 2007. "Take it Easy" is also up for play list selection along with 2 other tracks from the debut in 2007 with MR WORKS and Austereo;
• In the United States The Very Unique Existence will be heard on Radio X in L.A, KERX, 95.3 FM, in Ft. Smith, AR; WAMX, 106.3 FM, in Huntington, WV; WEGW, 107.5 FM, in Wheeling, WV; and WHBR, 103.1 FM, in Parkersburg, WV on the Undiscovered Radio show. Approaching College Radio presently, it is inevitable that The V.U.E.'s music will make it onto play lists worldwide.
• In France The Very Unique Existence is getting rotation via the Rock Radio Networked Hub FERRA ROCK servicing a large number of stations.
• Selected for the renown 10years running Grown Your Own /Upload One Compilation CD, serviced to Radio and Press Nationally, out through MGM and Foghorn Records.
• 100.9 Triple Z and 104.7 2GFM Fm Pop/Adult Contemporary Commercial Radio for the Covering the whole North coast region have put the first 3 tracks straight into A level rotation 3 times a day and into the Top 30, and Hit prediction and chose to feature the whole release over a 2 week promo with each and every track making it into the play list! "Take it Easy" has maintained highest requested song for 5 weeks running now topped by 'Looking Down';
• POWER FM Commercial Radio in S.A and Southern NSW are trialing "Looking Down" and MR WORKS has started a 30 station Trial with "Take it Easy"
• The V.U.E. has won the East Coast Jim Beam Band Competition, the Meet Sony/BMG Competition 2004 (told great potential come and see us in 2007 with the product) and Sunshine Studios Competition plus a host of Sonic Bids opportunities including selection for US film licensing companies and airplay;
• QPIX and Cutting Edge Television (company that produced Big Brother 06) are producing their video clip with The V.U.E. EP as soundtrack;
• The V.U.E. have played with Wolfmother, Betchadoopa, Kevin Borich, Dirty Skanks (Nathan Cavaleri), Vegas Kings, Ian Rilen, The Black Keys , The Rich and Famous, to name just a few…
• The V.U.E. has regular airplay on 5 U.S. stations: Acoustic Fuel Radio, Radio X, Moozikoo Radio, Desert Radio, My Radio and featured on www.thefaction.com.au #4 Podcast (In top ten of most downloaded on Itunes.com.au), plus in consideration with MR Works for commercial network airplay on release date;
• EP voted consistently in Top 10 Best of Indie Pop/Adult Contemporary on Moozikoo Radio U.S, Germany, Russia 2.5 million listeners 4 times running (equivalent to a 4 month period);
• OVER 1000 COPIES OF THE EP HAVE SOLD IN THE LAST 12 WEEKS IN NORTHERN NSW. They have a global database of 5000+ with 15 sign ups a day.
• The V.U.E. has played 350+ paid performances in 2.5 years, drawing 250+ fans to paying gigs in primary gigging areas Byron Bay, Brisbane and Gold Coast. The V.U.E. has played at The 'Espy' in Melbourne and Bondi Hotel in Sydney with huge success. The V.U.E. recently headlined the Byron Bay New Year's Eve Festival performing to several thousand fans;
• The V.U.E. has been asked to tour Japan and Europe by U.S. company IRL Group, and have been approached for Representation at MIDEM by www.evomarketing.com also a U.S. music marketing firm;
• The V.U.E.'s website www.thevue.com.au and myspace www.myspace.com/thevuerock receive 1000-1800 unique listens a day collectively with most coming from www.thevue.com.au they have over 1500 fans on their mailing list and receive 15 new fans a day.
The V.U.E. appreciates your time. We look forward to hearing from you.
Rich Latimer, Chris Boniface, Mick Harris and Wes Seewald.
Website
http://www.thevue.com.au
Discography
7 Track Debut "Everyone" Shopping Release 2007 (National & International Commercial, Community & Internet Airplay)
www.thevue.com.au
(1400 Listens a Day)
www.myspace.com/thevuerock
(1500 Listens a day)
The Vue 2004 Demo
7 Track Demo "The Vue Demo" Digital Release 2004
Sold strongly and still selling was never intended for release but by request we listed it for digital distribution.
www.itunes.com.au
Beat Review
“The Vue have created something that first grabs a hold of you tight & close then all of a sudden lifts you to dizzy heights. Some times you are blasted back by the groves & then catapulted high into the air, at others your left to float and glide and then out of the blue dropped plummeting back to ground to be caught a second before impact. 70’s influences could be heard so can 60’s, 80’s and 90’s but The Vue haven’t followed suit with revivalists and just reinvented this, they have a sound and it’s THE VUE. Their debut release titled "Everyone" shows without a doubt this band is going places and it’s all up”-Beat
Who The Vue are you?
PULSE FRONT COVER interview
They’re local lads taking rock around the country, Tabatha Fulker discovers…”They get the whole place pumping”
ANY road trip between Lismore and the coast shows evidence of The Vue. Posters layered over the backs of street signs; overshadowing the cost of bananas in fruit shops; blinking at you from coffee shop windows. Their marketing might throw their name at your feet, but the question remains — just who are The Vue?
The retro rockers are a 4 pice of Lismore/Byron Bay lads who are starting to cause a scene in c a p i t a l cities. They play a huge range of original material with one common thread "Audience Enjoyment". “We make sure the whole pub has a great time,” the band’s guitarist and singer said. “We're about vibing and give great energy and messages to people.”
The Vue have been together three years, travelling the coast and out west with their drumkit as footrest on the long gigging road. Chris Boniface on drums and Mick Harris on bass, and recent addition Wez Seawald on Keys and front man Rich Latimer on Guitar and Vocals make up the group.
For Rich, the road to rock and roll glory has been much longer. Growing up ‘out in the mountains, with dope most people’s income’ Rich got a 72 Gold Top guitar at 17 and learnt how to play by fire. “I was going to bikers’ parties and playing guitar in "interesting situations",” he said with just as interesting grin. “If I wasn’t any good I knew they’d rip the bloody Gold Top right off me and many tried. This was my step into the music world. It sounds romantic but at the time it was far from it. I knew I would make a record one day that would be about lifting people”
Recently returned from playing shows at the infamous Espy Hotel in St Kilda, Rich is aware his rock big break sits close at hand. “We’re stepping it up,” he said. “Melbourne was so different (to play). People crave live music there. They live for it. “We arrived at the Espy and it was like a shrine — glowing; I think I heard an angel’s tones. “People were lining up the stairs to get in and I’m thinking ‘there must be like a club downstairs, a trance room, DJs, and there’ll be room for a band squeezed in somewhere in a back room if anyone even bothers to come in’. “But no, it was all live music. They filled that room ‘til we couldn’t breathe. It was just so good.”
More shows in Melbourne and Sydney at the Bondi Hotel Easter Saturday Night (They we're there the night of the riots) and the lads have been led back home. Now it’s nose back to the grindstone, to prepare to make their debut release "EVERYONE".
“Our new producer has told us we could be huge with some work,” Rich said. “We created all our songs instantly, but our producer’s taken the elements to pieces and put them back together. “We’ve always written on the spot, with the aim to get crowds pumping and it’s worked. But he’s taught us to realise that what works in a pub doesn’t work pumping out of stereos in people’s homes. A home is not a dancefloor.”
Make Room for THE VUE
Seven FRONT COVER Interview
TO BE a successful band you’ve got to have a vision. You have to believe in where you’re going, why you’re going there, and most importantly, who you are going with. For Rich Latimer from the Vue, the last year has been about crystalising plans and cutting a path. Latimer has been looking back to 80’s trailblazers like INXS for inspiration. ‘I’ve been reading the INXS biography, trying to work out how they got to be the biggest band in the world, and their ideology on touring is what I really clicked with – in their first year they just hammered the circuit relentlessly – we did it locally and we were exhausted but it worked, this year being our second year we are doing the same thing interstate and will be touring Sydney Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth and the third year we go international.’
For the Vue, the commitment is very much to audience enjoyment, something that Rich sees as an 80’s music value, shying away from the floor-staring grunge of the nineties. ‘Let’s all just have a good time as much as we can... We want to get out there live and make people have a good time – that’s why we do 3 hour live shows of all originals.’
Rich credits fate as playing a big role in the band’s development. ‘When we lost our first bass player (I panicked, did he die or did he actually get lost Spinal Tap style after a gig?? Turns out he just left) we advertised in the paper and we found a young fella Mick Harris, and he’s coming to rehearsal and then he asks the drummer, what’s your surname and he said is it Boniface? And he said yes, and it turns out that they are blood related, cousins or whatever. Then the producer that is working with us now, by chance, he met us at the Great Northern, he met us through Cheyne Murphy at Music Oz, his name is Karl Hemmings he went home to decide whether he was going to work with us and he pulled a tarot card and he was listening to 30 songs on a demo tape, he was like, are you guys for real? He pulled ‘intensity’ from the Osho cards... it comes into play later in the story, he then rings me one day to arrange a rehearsal and we get chatting about life in general. He mentions he has recently moved here from Sydney and is looking for somewhere to stay and 5 minutes before that my flatmate had told me she was leaving and so I said I have a room in my house which was perfect because he was going to be working on the album.
Everyone around us decided we should do an EP fi rst. I reluctantly agreed, because I wanted to do a double album debut ... Karl comes upstairs and puts the list down, and says, this is what me and the people I have consulted think are the strongest songs. Then he almost screams and picks up a card from the table, and he said what’s that doing there? I said, that’s one of my girlfriend’s Osho cards and she left it here. And he told me he’d pulled that card 3 weeks before, ‘intensity’ in relation to working with us...
That’s definitely a very intense story. Rich admits that the band works very intuitively. ‘When I told this guy that we wrote these songs in the same amount of time it takes to play them, he said: You haven’t done any workshopping? And we said nup, we just put them down on pure inspiration. So he’s doing what a producer does I suppose and it’s really cool – he’s like a soldier, he’ll get up at 3 am, have a carrot juice and then work on our songs for 7 hours. He goes through it all line by line but essentially he just emphasised whats was allready there – it’s kind of cool, we always knew that there was going to be huge radio potential, but now you can just hear it. I realise we are doing what you might call, Rock Dance, where we have a bit of naive funk kicking in with retro rock and that’s what our thing is, because we learnt if you don’t get people having a good time on the dance floors of the club you just won’t get them back. He (Karl) has taken that mentality and slowly made us understand that people’s home stereos aren’t their dance floors.’
The Vue is a grinding rock and funk 3 piece featuring Michael Harris on Bass, a player that Rich credits as ‘Being a freak of a kid. He’s doing a 4 year degree in bass. He can play Beethoven up and down the neck. I call him the Golden Child... and Chris Boniface, he’s like a beast from somewhere... he’s originally from the heavy metal scene, and he’s amazing...’ So far, what has been the greatest rock and roll moment? ‘Basically when your audience is completely connected to you and you know it and they know it and they know that you know it...’ |
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