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Taxiride

From Alfawiki
Taxiride
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1997 in Melbourne, Australia
FounderTim Watson, Tim Wild
Headquarters
Melbourne
,
Australia
ProductsMusic albums, singles
Websitewww.taxiride.com

Taxiride is a rock group originating from Melbourne, Australia, founded by singer-songwriters Tim Watson and Tim Wild. They were soon joined by Jason Singh and Dan Hall. The band achieved significant success with two back-to-back albums that reached number one and earned platinum status, alongside nine singles entering the top 40 charts. Their notable hits include Get Set (written by Tim Wild), Everywhere You Go (co-written by Tim Watson and Tim Wild), and Creepin' Up Slowly—the most frequently broadcast Australian track on radio in 2002—composed by Dow Brain, Brad Young, and Taxiride.

Prior to establishing Taxiride, Hall, Singh, Watson, and Wild performed in various cover bands across Melbourne. They initially released an EP promoted through a friend who worked as a taxi driver, which inspired their band name after passengers heard their music during rides. The group caught the attention of a Warner Music Group executive, leading to a contract with Warner. Their debut album, Imaginate, was released in 1999, followed by Garage Mahal in 2002. Both records received platinum certification from the ARIA. However, their 2005 release, Axiomatic, did not match the commercial impact of its predecessors.

Taxiride’s musical direction transitioned from a blend of pop and pub rock with harmonies reminiscent of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to a more robust sound in later works. Throughout their career, multiple members contributed as lead vocalists and songwriters. The band remained active in live performances until 2008.

In 2015, the original lineup reunited for performances at Australian festivals and public events. Following a trademark dispute resolved in 2024 involving Jason Singh and fellow founding members Tim Wild and Tim Watson—as well as long-term members Sean McLeod and Andy McIvor—two distinct versions of Taxiride currently tour within Australia.

Formation and early years (1996–1999)

Before coming together as Taxiride, Tim Watson, Tim Wild, Jason Singh, and Dan Hall were involved in various Melbourne cover bands. Watson and Wild started collaborating on songwriting in late 1995 while in Camberwell, Melbourne. In 1996, Jimmy Christo joined them briefly before Singh became part of the group in 1997; Christo departed that same year. Subsequently, they invited Hall—whom Wild had encountered while busking—to join their ensemble. Initially intending to name themselves TAXE, they changed it upon discovering another band with that name already existed. The final choice of Taxiride was influenced by a taxi-driving friend who played their early tracks to passengers. They recorded a demo at Secret Sound Studios in Melbourne which led to a deal with Warner Music Australia. Additionally, a contact forwarded their material to an executive at Sire Records in the United States who signed them despite their relative obscurity.

Commercial breakthrough (1999–2002)

In 1998, Taxiride moved to Ocean Way Recording studios in Los Angeles to collaborate with producer Jack Joseph Puig on their first album. Their debut record, Imaginate, was released on 1 June 1999 in the U.S. and on 18 October in Australia, where it topped the ARIA Albums Chart. The lead single "Get Set" reached number eight on the ARIA Singles Chart, number 41 in New Zealand, and number 36 on the U.S. Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart. "Get Set" earned the 1999 ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist - Single and received a nomination for Best Pop Release; meanwhile, Imaginate was nominated for Breakthrough Artist - Album and Highest Selling Album categories in 2000. The album achieved double platinum certification with sales exceeding 140,000 copies.

Most tracks on Imaginate were developed collectively within the studio based on individual member contributions. Critical reception was moderate; Allmusic awarded it three stars and described it as a polished attempt aimed at pop radio success. Reviewers highlighted The Beatles’ influence alongside Puig's production quality and noted the distinctive sitar used on "Get Set." To support the album’s release, Taxiride toured extensively across Australia, the United States, Japan, and Europe, enjoying strong international sales. Despite this momentum, Dan Hall departed to focus on personal projects such as Airway Lanes due to dissatisfaction with the band's increasingly pop-oriented style.

Following Hall’s exit, drummer Sean McLeod and bassist Andy McIvor—who had been collaborators since 1997 and 1998 respectively—joined as permanent members. Work commenced on their sophomore album Garage Mahal, which was released on 5 August 2002. This album spawned three singles that entered Australian charts: "Creepin' Up Slowly" (peaking at number six), "How I Got This Way," and "Afterglow." "Creepin' Up Slowly" also attained number 19 on New Zealand charts. Both the album and its lead single received platinum certification from ARIA.

Much of Garage Mahal was composed while touring, resulting in a sound that diverged from their debut effort. Writing sessions primarily occurred at Mount Macedon in Victoria and Palindrome Studio located in Venice Beach, California. Producer Fred Maher collaborated closely with mixers David Way and Mike Shipley during production. Although this album embraced a heavier musical style, Taxiride continued to be categorized within the pop genre—a classification Australian Musician magazine attributed to their overseas focus. PopMatters commended the album’s consistent craftsmanship and memorable lyrics particularly evident in "Creepin' Up Slowly." However, The Sydney Morning Herald criticized its formulaic lyrics and mainstream appeal tailored toward American radio audiences.

Independent phase and acoustic exploration (2003–2008)

After Tim Watson's departure from Taxiride in 2004, the group commenced work on a new record. Parting ways with Warner Music, they opted for an independent release, dedicating a year to recording at Wild's residence in Melbourne. During this time, collaborations included vocalist Chris Bailey of The Saints and Dan Hall, who temporarily set aside his commitments with Airway Lanes. The band unveiled their third studio album, Axiomatic, on 5 September 2005; its lead single "Oh Yeah" peaked at number 40 on the Australian charts. To support the album, Taxiride toured India as part of VH1's Rock Rumble event.

Following Axiomatic, Wild and Singh, along with Hall, began crafting new songs. Their inaugural acoustic effort, Electrophobia, was released on 16 September 2006 through Liberation Music. This album contains stripped-back renditions of tracks from their first three albums, recorded on 26 May 2006 inside a Melbourne church. Rob John, recognized for his production work with Led Zeppelin and The Tea Party, oversaw the production process.

Reunion and recent developments (2015–present)

The original members reunited in 2015. In July 2017, Dan Hall stepped away to concentrate on other ventures such as South Side Rebel and Interlocker. Post-COVID-19 pandemic, the ensemble regrouped featuring Tim Watson, Tim Wild, Sean McLeod, Andy McIvor, and guitarist Ripley Smith. Founders Watson and Wild filed for the Taxiride trademark; however, Jason Singh challenged this claim. The dispute concluded in 2024 with all three—Watson, Wild, and Singh—sharing ownership of the name. Presently, two separate versions of Taxiride tour across Australia: one including Watson, Wild, McLeod, McIvor, and Smith; the other fronted by Singh.

Musical style

Taxiride is chiefly identified as a pop rock outfit drawing inspiration from pub rock. Ed Nimmervoll of Allmusic observed that the band distanced themselves from typical boy band conventions, likening their sound to that of Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. Steve Kurutz connected their debut album Imaginate to pop influences reminiscent of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Everly Brothers, making it well-suited for pop radio formats.

Mike Zwerin from the International Herald Tribune highlighted the band's distinctive characteristic of having "four lead singers, four potential front men," emphasizing that their collective vocal approach was a key strength on Imaginate. Regarding Garage Mahal, Singh noted that the presence of three active singer-songwriters brought strong individual perspectives that occasionally conflicted but were ultimately harmonized by prioritizing the band's shared objectives.

Band member timeline

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bar:Sean text:"Sean McLeod"
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bar:Dan from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2008 color:bass
bar:Dan from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2017 color:bass
bar:TimW from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/2004 color:vox-gui
bar:TimW from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2024 color:vox-gui
bar:Sean from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2008 color:drums
bar:Sean from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2024 color:drums
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Discography

Studio albums

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards celebrate outstanding achievements and creativity within the Australian music industry each year. Since its inception in 1987, Taxiride has been honored with:

! |- |rowspan="2"|1999 |rowspan="2"| "Get Set" | Breakthrough Artist - Single | |rowspan="2"|[1] |- | Best Pop Release | |- |rowspan="2"|2000 |rowspan="2"| Imaginate | Breakthrough Artist - Album | |rowspan="2"|[2] |- | Highest Selling Album |


External links

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