Echobelly
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Sonya Madan, Glenn Johansson |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
| Website | echobelly |
Echobelly is a British rock group that made their initial appearance in 1994 with the album Everyone's Got One. Their sound was frequently likened to that of Blondie and the Smiths, with notable fans including Morrissey.
Career
Sonya Madan, the band's lead vocalist, was born in Delhi, India, and relocated to England when she was two years old.
The formation of the band began in 1992 when Madan connected with guitarist Glenn Johansson. They soon enlisted bassist Alex Keyser and drummer Andy Henderson, who had previously played with PJ Harvey. In 1994, guitarist Debbie Smith, formerly of Curve, joined their lineup. The name Echobelly symbolized their ambition for achievement. Madan and Johansson composed the tracks for their debut EP Bellyache, which was released on the independent label Pandemonium in late 1993.
Following favorable reviews of the EP, Echobelly secured a deal with Rhythm King, a subsidiary of Epic. In June 1994, they introduced the single "I Can't Imagine the World Without Me". Their first album, Everyone's Got One, subsequently reached number eight on the UK Albums Chart. Additionally, the track "Insomniac" was featured on the soundtrack for Dumb and Dumber.
As their reputation expanded, Echobelly garnered attention from prominent figures in the music industry; for instance, Madonna attempted to sign them to Maverick Records but was prevented due to existing contractual obligations. The band also received an invitation from R.E.M. to serve as a supporting act during their tour. Their sophomore album, On, released in 1995 and produced by Sean Slade and Paul Kolderie—who were known for their work with Hole and Radiohead—further established their presence.
Madan's songwriting on tracks such as "King of the Kerb" and "Dark Therapy" delved into intricate subject matter. She sought to challenge her lyrical abilities by focusing more on introspection rather than political commentary. The album successfully combined weighty themes with a hopeful tone, as demonstrated by "Great Things", which highlighted themes of ambition and self-awareness. The record performed well commercially in the UK, yielding three singles that entered the top 30 and nearly doubling sales compared to their debut, surpassing 150,000 copies sold.
Nonetheless, between 1995 and 1996, health complications and legal challenges hindered their progress. During an international tour, Madan battled a significant thyroid illness but eventually recovered. Amid creative disagreements, bassist James Harris replaced Keyser. The group encountered difficulties with Rhythm King following its acquisition by Arista but continued under Epic's label. During this period, Madan also collaborated outside Echobelly with the club project Lithium. Prior to releasing their third album Lustra in November 1997—produced by Gil Norton—Smith left the band. The single "The World is Flat" was released ahead of the album.
After a hiatus lasting four years, Echobelly resurfaced in 2001 with the Digit EP and their fourth studio album People Are Expensive, produced by Ben Hillier and issued through their independent label Fry Up. Singles from this era included "Tell Me Why" along with a remixed version of "Kali Yuga".
Their fifth album, Gravity Pulls, came out in 2004 via Fry Up as well, featuring production by Ian Grimble.
2009 acoustic performance and subsequent developments
In July 2009, Madan and Johansson delivered an acoustic set at MoHo Live in Manchester, showcasing a blend of fresh compositions alongside classic Echobelly numbers. The new pieces introduced during this performance were later developed into two mini-albums under the Calm Of Zero moniker, featuring Alex Reeves on drums. The first installment, Acoustic Sessions 1, debuted in January 2011, followed by Acoustic Sessions 2 in October 2012. Additionally, the track "Molotov" was made accessible on Echobelly's official Myspace profile that same January.
July 2014 saw independent label 3 Loop Music issue expanded two-disc editions of Everyone's Got One and On, enriched with b-sides, live recordings, radio sessions, and previously unreleased material. The band made a live comeback in October 2015 with a sold-out show at London's Scala. Their sixth studio album, Anarchy and Alchemy, was unveiled in May 2017, succeeded by the compilation album Black Heart Lullabies in 2018.
Band members
- Sonya Aurora Madan – lead vocals, guitar (1992–2004, 2009–present)
- Glenn Johansson – guitar, backing vocals
- Former members
- Andy Henderson – drums, percussion
- Alex Keyser – bass guitar, piano
- Debbie Smith – guitar
- James Harris – bass guitar
- Additional contributors
- Ruth Owen – bass guitar
- Julian Cooper
- Oliver McKiernan – bass guitar
- Ash Hall – drums
Studio albums
- Everyone's Got One (1994)
- On (1995)
- Lustra (1997)
- People Are Expensive (2001)
- Gravity Pulls (2004)
- Anarchy and Alchemy (2017)
Compilation albums
- I Can't Imagine the World Without Me (2001)
- The Best of Echobelly (2008)
- Black Heart Lullabies (2018)
Singles
- "Bellyache" (November 1993)
- "Insomniac" (March 1994) UK No. 47
- "I Can't Imagine the World Without Me" (June 1994) UK No. 39
- "Close… But" (October 1994) UK No. 59
- "Great Things" (August 1995) UK No. 13
- "King of the Kerb" (October 1995) UK No. 25
- "Dark Therapy" (February 1996) UK No. 20
- "The World Is Flat" (August 1997) UK No. 31
- "Here Comes the Big Rush" (October 1997) UK No. 56
- "Digit" (January 2001)
- "Tell Me Why" (May 2001) UK No. 111
- "Kali Yuga" (October 2001) UK No. 175