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Leaf-Fat
P r e s e n t a t i o n |
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SHORT BIOGRAPHY
The band was formed in June 2001. They took off as a high-school punk-rock band,
trying to have fun and play some music. After fooling around and changing a
few members at the beginning, they finally found the winning combination with
the current line-up in February 2002 and hit the stage with it in April 2002
for the first time.
Punk-rock is what they were sworn to in the beginning, but
after a few turning points, the music took a shift in direction towards screamo,
which is what their first album "Underworld Kingdom" sounds like (punk
- rock / screamo), and post hardcore. However, it is hard to label this band
with a certain genre, as their music is quite versatile.
The first breakthrough for them came with their first video
for "Winter Song" at the end of 2004, followed by their debut album
"Underworld Kingdom" in 2005. The band became international after
winning second place among 92 bands at a European festival in Graz, Austria,
called "Newcomer" in May 2005. That guaranteed them a place on stage
alongside huge bands like Soulfly, Mad Caddies, The Real McKenzies...
Leaf-fat is highly regarded in other aspects as well: their
music is / will be featured on a Elan (ski / snowboard company) promo DVD and
on a California based production team DPC Films; their album was also voted
in the top ten at a Slovenian alternative radio station; they were featured
on www.europunk.net as band of the month
(March 2006).
All in all, Leaf-fat are the kind of live act that won’t leave
you indifferent. Their energy and power, devotion and self-confidence on stage
will convince anyone who is willing to see them play, lend them an ear and give
them a listen.
LONG BIOGRAPHY
The story of this band began unfolding in the year 2001. Jaka and Matej, being
schoolmates, quickly hooked up with the idea of forming a band. Both being guitarists
at the time, they were looking for new members among their friends with an equal
ambition. Luckily, Miha "Crash" fitted the description perfectly,
both musically and otherwise. However, after failing to find a drummer, it became
obvious that Jaka would have to kick in with his drumming skills. Now, being
a three piece company of punk-rock fanatics, it was time to find the missing
member(s) of crew and get the whole thing started. As it turned out, the haste
was not quite the best answer. They found a bassist and yes, they could finally
start practicing. But the pick didn't result quite the way they had hoped, so
the first bassist departed within abut half a year. Shortly after, a new one
joined. He was a guitarist prior to that, determined to learn bass. Just as
he picked up the first few riffs, he decided his music career would not interfere
with his school plans, so he quit. At the time, Matej was still the singer.
So with no bassist and questionable leading vocals, it was pretty much obvious
major changes were going to have to take place to make some serious progress.
Fortunately enough, Robert's ex band had just split up and the wish from both
sides to get together and play some serious music came to life shortly thereafter.
About the same time (3 days earlier actually) the other Miha (Medo) joined as
the final bassist, thus the current line-up was formed and is the same to this
day.
The first time these five music enthusiasts got together was
in February 2002. Determined to bring something new to the local scene, they
started practicing hard for their first gig in April. Performing in a packed
club of thrilled high-school kids was just the boost the band needed to start
off. New gigs followed up quickly and they started to gain experience through
live performances. Throughout the next two years, up to 2004 when they decided
to hit the studio for their debut, that is how the band was developing. Playing
gigs and practicing is what they love to do and making new songs is how they
learn. In these two years, after the record was recorded, there were quite a
few turning points that stirred up their paradigm about punk rock and shifted
their perception of music. Eventually, that meant a redirection towards screamo.
The plan was not to come to the studio with 10 songs and record
an album, but to visit it with a bundle of at least 20 and choose the best bunch.
As mentioned above, the punk-rock beginning and the later screamo influences
amounted to a record with both genres mingled. I guess screamo / punk rock is
what it can be called, although the band itself has been known to say many times
that they do not position themselves in any frame of genre, nor do they care
if anyone else labels them for this or that. They have had many influences and
some of them sure show in the music, but they have always strived to be different
and they intend to follow that principle in the future.
The first time Leaf-fat appeared in front of a wider audience
was in September 2004, when they released their first video for "Winter
Song", shot back in March the same year. They began recording their album
a bit earlier though, in July 2004 to be precise. At first it went moderately
smooth, but in the following couple of months a few previously unseen problems
showed up and delayed the outcome of the album for almost a year, which is a
perfect example of how hard it is for a newcomer to issue an album. Finally,
in the beginning of June 2005, the album, "Underworld Kingdom", came
out. Since then, they have toured Slovenia, played shows abroad and engraved
their name into numerous ears. The next step will be recording a new video for
the song "Individual happiness".
Throughout their existence, Leaf-fat have shared the stage
with many international stars like Soulfly, Mad Caddies, The Real McKenzies,
Antimaniax...; their music was used in the promo DVD of one of the biggest ski/snowboard
companies Elan and will also be featured on the next DVD of a California-based
production team DPC Films; they won second place at an international festival
"Newcomer" in Graz (among 92 bands), Austria; the album "Underworld
Kingdom" was also elected among the top ten albums of 2005 at a Slovenian
alternative radio station; they were featured on www.europunk.net
as band of the month (March 2006).
Many people have said that Leaf-fat are a live band and they
take that as a compliment. Playing shows is what they love best and their energy
and power, devotion and self-confidence on stage certainly confirms that.
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"Underworld Kingdom" (2005) |
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Management & booking:
Andrej Tezak
Tel.: 031/673-585 (+386-31-673-585)
tesky@kurz.si |
Promotion:
Zavod Kurz
Resljeva 26, 1000 Ljubljana
www.kurz.si |
CPZ Records:
(Cela Pametna Založba)
Zavod Kurz
Resljeva 26, 1000 Ljubljana
www.kurz.si |
Contact for Europe:
J.M.E.
Milan Jaksa / CH
jaksam@bluewin.ch |
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