One eskimO

Typically, when you hear about the history of bands, it goes something like this: get together, maybe itâ??s a lark, kind of donâ??t know how to play instruments, learn as you go, perhaps have some success, one member takes the limelight, stagnate, grow apart, start fighting, someone decides to work with â??betterâ? musicians, split up. Hailing from the UK, One eskimO is diligently proving one rule certainly doesnâ??t fit all.  By todayâ??s standards, they are nothing if not unique, both musically and as an entity, â??a proper band.â?

With Leontiou doing most of the writing initially, and programming with Craigie Dodds, the band were very meticulous in all the sounds created for their album. They had the luxury of not being rushed, footing the expense for their recording and gigging, developing their distinctive sound and being able to present the music in the way they felt it should be.

All of the band members, Kristian Leontiou, Adam Falkner on drums, Jamie Sefton on bass & horns and Peter Rinaldi on guitar – are aware itâ??s their strength as a unit rather than as individuals that makes them an exceptional entity. That edict is never more evident then when seeing the band perform live. Drummer Falkner, experimental to a tee, triggers samples with his hands and feet, even adding a â??stomperineâ? to his gear. Sefton, remarkably playing bass and horns (at the same time!), adds an element to One eskimO that really does have to be seen to be believed.

Their self-titled debut on Shangri-La Music, brings together a real
sensibility with deep roots in ambient, acoustic, electro and rock music to create a unique sound all their own, One eskimO the sound of a band that is only just getting started.

One eskimO hooked up with animators Nathan Erasmus and Matt Latchford of Gravy Media who were able to take Kristianâ??s sketches and create a visual piece for an early One eskimO track, â??Hometime.â? Using old style animation, the video won a British Animation Award in 2008 and helped them secure financing to finish their record.  The band took up another year crafting the albumâ??s complex electronic sound and atmospheric quality before feeling truly satisfied with its outcome. It didnâ??t hurt that Toyota knew a hit when they heard it and licensed â??Hometimeâ? for its Prius campaign in the United States, giving the band a nice platform to launch the already highly anticipated record.

While â??Hometimeâ? got them noticed initially, itâ??s the massive hit â??Kandiâ? thatâ??s getting the band on shows such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show and KCRWâ??s, Morning Becomes Eclectic & WXPNâ??s-World Cafe. Reaching #1 on the Mediabase AAA charts for 4 weeks the last week of March, the song with the Candi Stanton â??He Called Me Babyâ? sample is on everyoneâ??s â??must hearâ? list.  Kandi is now crossing into Pop, Alternative and many other radio formats, as well as getting great sync licenses like TV show Bones and the Discovery Channel campaign.

With reviewers at USA Today, Billboard and Los Angeles Times raving about their debut record, the band has spent the better part of the year performing it live while living out of a tour van. With gigs opening for Gomez, Tricky, Tori Amos, Faithless, Bob Schneider, Paolo Nutini, Michael Franti and performing at festivals such as Coachella, Mountain Jam and Mile High in Denver, One EskimO is broadening their audience one gig at a time. While lyricist Leontiou misses the studio where his passion for sounds and writing isnâ??t confined to a promo schedule, the band agrees theyâ??re (finally!) having the time of their life.  Thereâ??s never a dull moment.

www.oneeskimo.com