Hadouken! are a British Grindie rock band from the south east of England. Formed in October 2006 in Leeds, their popularity stems from MySpace and YouTube. NME named the band one of their "NME Breaking Bands" following a gig at the Baby Grand in Manchester
and they have worked their recent success into a contract with the British division of Atlantic Records.
They are also signed to a distribution deal with French label Kitsuné Music.
The band's name comes from a special move - a throwing fireball attack called "the Hadouken" - in the video game "
Street Fighter".
Their music is said to fall under the Grindie genre, a combination of indie rock and grime. However, the band have faced criticism from the grime scene. They also incorporate techno into their sound and samples from Nintendo Game Boy sounds.
The band, along with Klaxons are considered to be a part of NME's New Rave (or Nu Rave) genre.
Thematically, two of Hakouden!'s songs and lyrics focus on the band's desire to fill the dance floor with creative and well-mannered dancers, mocking those who are too concerned with their image to dance.
[http://myspace.com/hadoukenuk]. Other songs deal with subjects such as binge drinking, the commercial appropriation of underground music, relationships and debt.
[NME Albums of 2008 Feature]
History
Beginnings (2006)
Hadouken! were formed in Leeds in the summer of 2006 by vocalist and songwriter James Smith. They played their first gig at the Dirty Hearts Club in Southend on September 16, and played their debut London gig the following week with Pull Tiger Tail and Folk/Hip Hop band Adventure Playground in Camden. They recorded demos and spent their first six months playing gigs predominantly in Leeds and London with acts including Example, Prinzhorn Dance School and Cajun Dance Party. In December of 2006, Hadouken! recruited a fifth member, bassist Chris Purcell.
Gaining popularity (2006-2007)
The band first began getting noticed more widely in 2006, particularly online. It was 2007 though, when success properly came to the band. In January 2007 Mike Skinner of The Streets gave the band one of their first radio plays, he played future single 'That Boy That Girl' on BBC Radio 1 whilst guest presenting Zane Lowe's new music show, describing the band as 'a great new band.' In February 2007 the band released what is said to be an internet phenomenon
, described as "a savage, snarling work of genius", by
NME.
single double a-side "That Boy That Girl/Tuning In" through the band's own label, Surface Noise Records. A video was also made for the track by friend of the band Bobby Harlow, which charted successfully in the MTV Two/NME chart. The latter, "Tuning In" appeared as a remix on Kitsuné Music's compilation album,
Kitsuné Maison Compilation 4, titled "Tuning In
Re-rub". The remix also was used as a b-side on the 10-inch single from Kitsuné Music, released on 7 May 2007.
Hadouken! played as a support act alongside Example and Professor Green for Plan B throughout his February/March 2007 tour. Before the tour, Hadouken! produced a remix of Plan B's "No More Eatin'". The remix can be found on the band's secondary MySpace account,
"Hadouken! Remixes".
Throughout 11-21 March 2007, Hadouken! played alongside Ali Love, I Say Marvin and headliners Pull Tiger Tail on the first ever "MySpace Bleep Bleep Tour". Dates were held in a number of venues across the UK, featuring rotating line-ups.
Liquid Lives was released as the band's second single release on 25 June 2007.
The song received moderate airplay on MTV2, and charted successfully in the NME Chart Show. The band released a new video for the track, as well as an exclusive live video recorded as part of "MTV2 Live". "Liquid Lives" marked Hadouken!'s first move into the UK Singles Chart, reaching #36 on 1 July.
[mixtape or EP includes three new songs previously not released before and one new remix of a Bolt Action Five song, as well as some older songs that have been re-recorded, the mixtape was released on November 12, 2007.]
Throughout September, October and November 2007 they played a UK tour with support from fellow Leeds band Shut Your Eyes and You'll Burst Into Flames as well as Manchester based The Whip, The Ghost Frequency and Late of the Pier. The tour coincided with their third single release "Leap of Faith" and their new mixtape Not Here To Please You. The mixtape was released on November 12 and is only available in the USB format.
On The 17th of November 2007 Hadouken performed 'Leap of Faith' live on Sound, a BBC music Program For Annie Mac.
On the 31st December 2007 Hadouken performed at the Amersham Arms in New Cross with special guests Does It Offend You, Yeah? and The Whip.
On the 8th January 2008, James and Dan (Pilau) DJed on Radio One, filling in for Zane Lowe.
Future plans and debut album }
EPs
- Mixtape (2007)
- Not Here to Please You (2007) Atlantic Records
Singles
Awards & Nominations
References
External links
English musical groupsGrime artistsHadouken!Musical groups with siblings
Hadouken!Hadouken!
