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Artist(Band):Republica
In a "front room in the dregs of
the Earth" amidst drug dealers and gun runners is how
Republica's vocalist Saffron describes the band's first
working location in South London, as she joined Tim
Dorney and Andy Todd in their quest to return clever
lyrics, identifiable melodies, and relentless, driving
upbeat music to London's stagnating club scene.
"It had fragmented into the opposite of
everything it was meant to stand for," says the fiery
singer. "We were getting pissed off with all the music
we heard. No lyrics, no proper melodies."
Born
in Nigeria with an exotic blend of Portuguese, Chinese
and English ancestry, Saffron had done stints with N-Joi
and The Shamen and worked with Jah Wobble and Mark
Moore, before finding kindred spirits in the songwriting
partnership of Dorney and Todd. As the primary
songwriter with British media darlings
Flowered
Up, Dorney had achieved some success with a 12-inch
record called "Weekender" and an accompanying 20 minute
film. Todd's credits include producing songs from Bjork
to Barbara Streisand.
Republica's message came
through loud and clear on the first track they finished,
"Out of This World" (reworked on the album under the new
title "Out of the Darkness") as the group was signed to
the U.K. indie alternative/dance label, DeConstruction
on the strength of that track alone. Saffron had
previously worked with the label when she sang with
N-Joi.
With cynicism and a wry sense of humor,
Republica has succeeded in turning the tables on the
London club scene, with what Saffron describes as
"techno-pop punk rock."
Working long hours in
their own studio now in a more desirable part of London,
the anthemic "Ready to Go" is a good example of how
Republica songs come together.
"One day Johnny
had the bright idea for the chorus," elaborates Saffron.
"I filled in the gaps and we all got around to writing
the rest of it. A lot of our songs get written over long
periods of time."
"We all write all the songs
together," Saffron explains. "The guys do most of the
music. My role is lyrics and melody, but we all write
the lyrics. It's a band consciousness. Nothing would get
past if we didn't all like it."
Audiences and
critics were quick to respond. "Saffron converts
tonight's 10,000 crowd to Republica's brand of euphoric,
upbeat music with unnerving ease," reported Vox
Magazine. Music Week praised Saffron's "vocals with real
attitude" and said her delivery was "an inspiring
backlash against the soaring house divas."
"More
guts than the rest of the charts put together" raved the
Daily Record . NME is predicting sales in the millions
and praised Republica's "simply excellent set," while
Melody Maker calls them "simply fantastic."
With
their debut self-titled album recorded, Republica is now
ready to go to this side of the Atlantic.
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