Sekiden
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | Simon Graydon, Mirko Vogel, Seja Vogel |
| Defunct | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Brisbane , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
Sekiden was a pop trio originating from Brisbane, Queensland, formed in 1998 by Simon Graydon (lead guitar, vocals), Mirko Vogel (drums), and his sister Seja Vogel (keyboards, lead vocals). The group produced two full-length albums, Junior Fiction (2003) and Sound Instincts (2006), before their dissolution in 2007. Subsequently, Seja Vogel toured with Regurgitator between 2007 and 2009 and pursued a solo career, releasing two albums: We Have Secrets But Nobody Cares (2010) and All Our Wires (2013).
History
Sekiden came together in Brisbane in 1998 with Simon Graydon handling guitar and vocals, Mirko Vogel on drums, and Seja Vogel managing keyboards and lead vocals. Mirko started playing drums at the age of ten and formed his initial band, Vapour, during primary school years. After recording a demo at Super Radiotron studio, the band secured a contract with Modular Recordings.
Their first EP, Better Music Through Mathematics, a five-track release, appeared in 2000 under Modular Recordings. It garnered favorable critiques for its infectious pop style and the dynamic interplay of male and female vocalists. The follow-up EP, Love Songs for Robots released in June 2001 with six tracks, reached number 25 on the ARIA Alternative Singles Chart. Critics highlighted its diverse combination of distorted synthesizers and gritty guitar sounds.
In May 2003, Sekiden signed to Perth's Redline Records and launched their debut album Junior Fiction on 25 August 2003. The record was created at Brisbane’s Blackbox Studio with producer Magoo, notable for collaborations with Regurgitator, Skunkhour, and Shihad, alongside engineer Matt Maddock. This album showcased a transition toward a US college rock-inspired style while maintaining their electro-pop roots. Following its release, Sekiden toured extensively throughout Australia, Japan, the United States, and Canada.
Mirko explained that their songwriting process focused on crafting lively tracks designed to uplift listeners. Their sophomore studio album, Sound Instincts, released on 3 April 2006, received praise for its skillful blend of modulated melodies with guitar-driven fuzz-pop textures.
The band parted ways in 2007. Afterward, Seja Vogel joined Regurgitator as a touring keyboard player before launching her solo career. She also supported acts such as Dave McCormack, Heinz Reigler, the Mess Hall, and Spod. Her solo releases include We Have Secrets But Nobody Cares (2010) and All Our Wires (2013).
Members
- Simon Graydon – guitar, vocals (1998–2007)
- Mirko Vogel – drums (1998–2007)
- Seja Vogel – keyboards, vocals (1998–2007)
Albums
- Junior Fiction (25 August 2003) – Redline Records/Shock Records (RED018)
- Sound Instincts (3 April 2006) – Valve Records/MGM Distribution (V71) Bad News Records (Japan)
Extended plays
- Better Music Through Mathematics (2000) – Modular Recordings
- Love Songs for Robots (June 2001) – Modular Recordings/EMI Records (MODEP003) AUS Alt: No. 25
Singles
- "1+1=Heartache" (released 16 June 2003) – issued by Redline Records
- "Up in the Air" (2006) – distributed through Valve Records
External links
- preserved version of the original website as of 30 August 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
- Artist profile on Bad News Records