Biography
There are at least two artists under the name of Somerled:
1. Somerled is the Neo-Psychedelic project of Australian songwriter, musician and visual artist James McDonald. Biasing a mixture of No Wave, Industrial and Bristol Trip Hop, Somerled is part 1969 and part 1992, curious and unassuming. Early influences of Somerled’s include an array of artists such as Sonic Youth, Portishead, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Radiohead, Björk and Nine Inch Nails. Raw experimentation sits alongside more contemplative moods in this organic, challenging music. The Somerled tracks The Way of the Dogs and The Day is Here have had airplay on Sydney’s FBI Radio 94.5FM during 2009. In addition, the video for the first single, Fish, has been shown nationally on ABC’s Rage. Somerled’s debut album was recorded and mastered during the nine month period leading up to the birth of McDonald’s first child. Aptly then, the album was titled Baby Making Music. The debut features a unique blend of styles that becomes a satisfyingly unusual album. Amiable melodies layer above industrial rhythms throughout the fourteen varied tracks. Baby Making Music is currently available through iTunes, at concerts, through the band's MySpace site and from selected record stores. Somerled’s second release, The Skeletal EP, is both a follow up and a companion piece to the debut album. The EP contains stripped back versions of several songs from the album – rearranged for guitar and vocals, to better represent the Somerled live experience. The Skeletal EP will be available through the same outlets from the 29th of November, 2009. The Skeletal EP will be celebrated at an EP Launch leading up to the release date and followed up by a number of gigs. In between performances, McDonald will be returning to the studio to continue recording and mixing the second Somerled album. Tentatively titled Posthumous Execution - the follow-up to Baby Making Music can be expected early 2010.
2. Somerled as the alias of the "amateur composer" J. Maïna, who creates within the confines of mostly emotive ambiance and experimental. With broad influences from electronic as a whole, as well as contemporary classical, Somerled aims to mesh what seem to be on his mind at the point of creation.
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