Sohodolls

The Record
Debut album 'Ribbed Music for the Numb Generation' is a twelve-track trawl through an electro-tinged rock 'n' roll underworld. An album about strippers, violence, paranoia and police car chases was actually recorded in a barn in Cornwall, England, surrounded by horses, sheep and summer berries in bloom."

The band's eclectic influences have conspired to create a multi-textured debut: "We love rock 'n' roll, electro, glam, '77-british punk, jazz and hip hop," says Maya the bands lead singer. "All these extremes make our music ribbed. We don't fit easily into pigeon-holes - not in music and not in life. We feel our generation has been cheated. Modern life has conspired to make us dumb, numb and un-questioning. We want people to tap into their primal senses again: lust, anger, love, fear, , happiness and humour. Lyrically and musically the songs on this album express all of these feelings and instincts."

And the band's favourite tracks? "'My Vampire' is one," says Toni, "with its hypnotic dubby bass, twangy guitars and haunting vocals. `Trash The Rental' is Asbo Glam Punk for both narcissistic glam rockers and chavs. It's a racy joy ride through London with the police on our tails. There are some nasty guitars, ballistic synths and antagonising vocals. Finally we all especially love `I'm Not Cool' - an electro/rockabilly/old jazz track. It's basically Marilyn Monroe having the Stray Cats and Soft Cell over for dinner."

Other highlights include ‘Bang Bang Bang Bang’ which is already getting played on K-ROQ thanks to Rodney Bingenheimer championing the band, and last year's acclaimed `No Regrets' ("a flamboyant homosexual marriage between Dr Dre and Marc Almond," said Maya at the time) - and longstanding club favourite `Prince Harry'. Not to mention the rather seminal debut `Stripper'.

The Releases
The band’s first two singles, Prince Harry and Stripper caused enough of a stir to reach #7 and #’12 in the UK indie charts. These were followed by last year’s classic ‘No Regrets’, which won acclaim from The Fly to Clash and NME.

Sohodolls have just completed a 34-date headline UK tour to promote their just-released debut album Ribbed Music for the Numb Generation (September & October 2007). The album was produced by Robert Harder (Sunshine Underground, Whitey, Polar Bear) and Steve Lyon (Depeche Mode and The Cure) and has received rave reviews from the NME, Artrocker and a myriad of online music magazines (see below for cuttings). The lead single off the album Right and Right Again achieved considerable UK regional playlisting and the brilliant accompanying remix of Trash the Rental by Crystal Castles is a big hit at electro clubs worldwide.

The Shows
Sohodolls’ UK profile increased considerably this year after they supported Daft Punk and The Klaxons at the London and Leeds O2 Wireless festivals last summer. The band’s powerful and energetic live performances were broadcast on British terrestrial TV. Popular UK music webzine IlikeMusic.com listed their London performance as one of the top 12 festival highlights of 2007 alongside Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys and Daft Punk. Sohodolls also played the Secret Gardens Party festival and the NME reported that they were one of the top 5 bands on the bill alongside The Noisettes and New Young Pony Club – full live review below. The band also gained more German fans this year after playing to packed out venues in Cologne and Berlin as part of British Music Week with IAMX. Sohodolls tracks were playlisted on numerous German fm and internet stations.

This brings us to the heart of the band. Sohodolls is all about doing it live. Period. Sohodolls have played headline shows in Moscow, LA, Istanbul, Rome, Berlin, Paris, Barcelona, Vienna, Brussels, Milan, Turin, Hamburg, Madrid, Piza, Köln, Oslo, Munich – as well as every town and city in the UK.

With a list of international dates forever on the horizon, Maya’s face lights up when asked about their live performances: “The gigs! Playing to 3500 people at the O2 Festival in London was victorious! The cheers of the crowd between the songs were so loud it was deafening. And to see so many people clapping and moving to our music was amazing.’’

Most memorable gig before that? ‘The Water Rats, where I stage-dived. Toni climbed on the monitor but ended up on the floor with half a broken pint glass stuck in his back. We hadn’t realised and by the end of the gig we were both covered in blood until our manager sent us back stage for first aid.

Finally, which bands do Sohodolls all love? “Marilyn Manson, Marilyn Monroe, Nirvana, Elvis, Led Zepelin, Grace Jones, Suicide, Soft Cell, Kraftwerk, Marlene Dietrich, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Lords of the New Church, Hanoi Rocks, The Pogues, Grand Master Flash, Dr Dre, Blur, Depeche Mode, Missy Elliot, Vanessa Paradis, Elza Soares, Fairouz, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Visage, Notorious B.I.G., Nick Cave, Mr Human Riff, Louis Armstrong, The Who, The Clash, Thee Hypnotics, Smashing Pumpkins, Rammstein, Russian Red Army Choir, The Nomads, The Cure, The Damned, The Kinfe.”