Karnataka (band)
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The Welsh progressive rock band Karnataka were formed in 1997 by founding members Ian Jones (bass/guitars), Rachel Jones (vocals) and Jonathan Edwards (keyboards). The three had previously worked together for some time before going their separate ways with various local bands based around the Swansea area, then finally regrouping due to a desire to record some of the songs they had written together. Ian built a home studio and bought a mixing desk so that the trio could start recording.
Debut Album
The embryonic band were augmented by guitarist Paul Davies and drummer Gavin Griffiths, who had both played with the other members of Karnataka in other bands or in rehearsals. Enjoying an instant rapport, the five-piece Karnataka recorded what became their debut album, Karnataka. In the beginning, the band had no thought of actually releasing the album — they made the recording for their own pleasure. As they started to play live shows in their new configuration, however, word of mouth ensured that an increasing number of people started asking for copies.
It was recommended to the band that they send a copy of the album to Martin Hudson at the Classic Rock Society. Martin gave the band their first break by positively reviewing the album in the society's magazine, and then offering them a gig for the Classic Rock Society in Rotherham, supporting the Genesis covers band Re-Genesis in 1999. The show was a success and Karnataka were offered another support with Jump in October 1999. Encouraged, the band had already started writing the material that would eventually appear on their second album, The Storm.
The Storm
The Storm was recorded between August-November 1999, usually in the evenings and at weekends, since most of the band still had day jobs. The album was then mixed over a period of five days at Rockfield Studios in Mounmouthshire, Wales—a studio used by such notable bands as Rush, Hawkwind, Queen and Clannad. While the album was well received, the band still felt it did not accurately reflect their live sound. Embarking on a more rigorous touring schedule, the band toured the UK extensively with the new album, culminating in a show before an audience of die-hards at London's Mean Fiddler, which was filmed and subsequently released on DVD under licence to Classic Rock Productions. The DVD, entitled simply In Concert, was well received by fans but frustrated the band, who still felt that the results did not fully reflect their acclaimed live performances.
The DVD did, however, feature some new material the band was working on for their third album, although the songs were destined to change a little before they were recorded in the sessions for what was to become the band's breakthrough album, Delicate Flame Of Desire. While working on the album, the band worked harder on the arrangement of backing and harmony vocals, which eventually led them to take on vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Anne-Marie Helder as a full-time member of the band, expanding the line-up to a six-piece.
Overseas Performances
Karnataka were invited to play their first shows overseas: indeed one of their first shows in the US was filmed and released on DVD as Live In The USA, again through Classic Rock Productions. The band were also working on more new material, some of which was premiered over the course of 2003 and 2004, as the band continued to expand their fanbase and received increasingly positive reviews. A double live album, Strange Behaviour, was released in mid-2004 to accompany what was to be the band's final tour with the existing line-up.
Dissolution
Although another tour of the UK was in the early planning stages, in August 2004 the band's website was updated with a notice that due to unforeseen personal circumstances, the band had decided not to continue. There followed a period of inactivity, during which the members of the band embarked upon new musical projects. Helder released her first solo recording, The Contact EP, whilst Ian Jones joined forces with songwriter Steve Evans and guitarist Ian Simmons to record an album under the moniker Chasing The Monsoon, whose first album is due to be released in late 2009. Rachel Jones decided to take time out from the music business and returned to college, although she appeared on recordings from other bands and occasionally took to the stage as well, most notably with Mostly Autumn. She has recently joined Swansea-based rock band The Reasoning as a vocalist.
Edwards, Davies, Griffiths and Helder joined forces under the name Panic Room, with new bassist Alun Vaughan.
Resurrection (2005 - 2007)
Karnataka was then resurrected as a band when Ian Jones' work with keyboardist Gonzalo Carrera took on a life of its own. The pair were joined by veteran drummer Bob Dalton (previously of It Bites), guitarist Nick May (formerly of The Enid) and vocalist Alquimia, and in summer 2005 the Karnataka website announced this to be the new line-up of Karnataka itself, subsequently completed with the addition of lead vocalist Lisa Fury (who would also contributed vocals to Ian's Chasing The Monsoon project).
For various reasons, Dalton felt unable to commit to the project, and he was replaced by Louis Palmer. Alquimia and Nick May also departed due to musical differences, only to work together under the name Whimwise. Alquimia was not replaced initially, whilst guitar duties were taken up by Italian jazz & blues guitarist Enrico Pinna. This new line-up of the band toured in Spring 2007 in order to maintain some measure of the band's previous profile, playing a selection of fan favourites and four or five new songs to provide a flavour of the work in progress. The band had also booked a handful of festival dates, aiming to bring their music to new audiences, but many of these summer dates had to be cancelled after Palmer decided to leave the band to pursue other interests.
The Gathering Light (2008 - )
Auditions were held for a new drummer, the position finally being taken by veteran Ian Harris, who had previously played with a multitude of acts, including Chris Rea and Nitin Sawney.
Work remained ongoing on The Gathering Light, though the demands of a full-time job, Karnataka and his other project Chasing The Monsoon meant that Ian Jones' time was divided more than he may have preferred. As 2008 drew to a close, Jones decided to take Karnataka back out on the road in the UK once again to reassure their fans that the band were still busily working on their new record. This time the old favourites took a back seat to a slew of new material, showcasing the band's confidence in their post-split writing. The tour was very well received, resulting in strong voting for the band and the individual musicians in 2008's Classic Rock Society awards, even though the band had yet to release any recordings with the new line-up.
The fourth Karnataka studio album, The Gathering Light, was finally released in February 2010, although fans who had pre-ordered a special edition of the album received their copies slightly earlier. The band are about to embark on a string of live dates to promote the album, which has already received some exceptionally positive reviews.
"The Gathering Light stands true to Karnataka's heritage, yet illustrates significant artistic growth since the former lineup's Delicate Flame of Desire release six years ago. Progressive rock influences are more apparent [...] While their fans have waited a long time for this release, the care taken in the writing, recording and production of The Gathering Light has delivered an outstanding progressive rock album..." [1]
Discography
Albums
- Karnataka (2000)
- The Storm (2001)
- Delicate Flame of Desire (2003)
- Strange Behaviour: Live (2004)
- The Gathering Light (Forthcoming, 2010)
Video
- In Concert (DVD - 2002)
- Live in the USA (DVD - 2003)