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Sekiden
OriginBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
Genres
  • Pop
  • jazz
  • blues
Years active1998 (1998)–2007 (2007)
Labels
Past members

Sekiden were an Australian three-piece pop band formed in Brisbane, Queensland in 1998 by Simon Graydon on lead guitar and vocals, Mirko Vogel on drums and his sister Seja on keyboards and lead vocals. They released two studio albums, Junior Fiction (2003) and Sound Instincts (2006), before disbanding in the following year. Seja Vogel was a touring member of Regurgitator from 2007 to 2009 and then worked as a solo artist to issue two albums, We Have Secrets But Nobody Cares (2010) and All Our Wires (2013).

History

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Sekiden were formed in Brisbane in 1998 by Simon Graydon on guitar and vocals, Mirko Vogel on drums and his sister, Seja Vogel on keyboards and vocals.[1][2][3] Mirko recalled starting to drum as a ten-year-old and forming his first band, Vapour, while in primary school, "At first there were about 14 people in this band, like there were about 10 guitarists and stuff and I was the only one left so I was like, well I guess I'll play drums."[4] Sekiden recorded a demo disc at Super Radiotron, which enabled them to sign with Modular Recordings.[5]

In 2000 they released a five-track debut extended play, Better Music Through Mathematics, via Modular.[6][7][8] Matt Attlee of Aus Music Scrapbook opined, "[it] has got me hooked, even if it seems that the 5 pop gems are over before they begin – but such is the sign of a great release that leaves you yearning for more. The stand out track would be 'Anywhere', blasting its way out of your speakers ... and making full use of the alternating boy/girls vocals."[9] BrisPop.com's Andrew Tuttle felt, "[it] consists mainly of tracks from their Super Radiotron demo, but the sound on this EP is far more professional... 'Anywhere', my personal favourite, was in my opinion one of the highlight tracks of 2000. This track mixes punky fuzzed-up guitars with cutesy love song lyrics and fat synths. The keyboard explosion sounds in the bridge are a delight to hear, especially with headphones on."[5]

Sekiden's second EP, Love Songs for Robots (June 2001) with six tracks, was launched at The Healer, where Joanne Bell of BrisPop.com observed, "their sound was chock-full of implausibly crunchy guitar, fuzzy synth, odd machine noises, and elaborate but inobtrusive drumwork. So much push that there's no aural trigger to wonder about the absence of a bassplayer... Highlights for my money were Mirko's highly amusing drum solos, Simon's Leapingest Guitarist action, Seja&Mirko's keyboard duet."[10] The EP peaked at No. 25 on the ARIA Alternative Singles Chart.[11] MediaSearch's Carmine Pascuzzi felt, "[its] a very intoxicating sound from an eclectic group from Brisbane who thrive on bringing something new from past synths exponents. This is their second release and it contains fuzzy pop gems... There's plenty to look forward to from this act."[12]

In May 2003 Sekiden signed with Perth-based label, Redline Records.[13] The group's debut album, Junior Fiction, appeared on 25 August 2003 via Redline.[14] It was recorded in October 2002 at Blackbox Studio, Brisbane, with Magoo producing (Regurgitator, Skunkhour, Shihad)[4][15] and Matt Maddock as audio engineer.[14] Jasper Lee of Oz Music Project noticed, "The face of Australian geek electro-pop, Sekiden bring their sound back to their indie rock roots in their long awaited debut album... [their] sound now orientated to a US college rock with electro trimming, Team Sekiden are able to broaden their scope in tracks through the eleven songs of the album. The electro influences still permeate through the woodwork albeit with less scope. The effect is mixed as there are some songs seem a bit exposed in places."[16] Sekiden toured Australia, Japan, the United States and Canada.[13][17][18]

Mirko described his song writing, "Sad music is really easy to make, cos it's easy to be depressed. Writing happy songs that don't sound like you're taking the piss can be pretty hard. Basically that's our aim, to make songs that are happy and that make people feel good about themselves when they come to see us."[4] The group's second studio album, Sound Instincts (3 April 2006), had Mess+Noise's Adrian Trajstman declare, "[they] can't put a foot wrong. Picture pitch-perfect showdowns between modulated sawtooth melodies and charmingly tidy guitar chug, making for dense, forthright fuzz-pop. Expertly executed!"[19] Sekiden disbanded in 2007 with Seja Vogel joining Regurgitator as an auxiliary musician on keyboards.[20] She was a backing musician for other artists, Dave McCormack, Heinz Reigler, the Mess Hall and Spod, before starting her solo career.[20] She has issued two albums, We Have Secrets But Nobody Cares (2010) and All Our Wires (2013).[21][22]

Members

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  • Simon Graydon – guitar, vocals (1998–2007)
  • Mirko Vogel – drums (1998–2007)
  • Seja Vogel – keyboards, vocals (1998–2007)

Discography

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Albums

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Extended plays

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Singles

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References

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  1. ^ Lion, Patrick (16 March 2006). "Dumbest things can be quite catchy for Sekiden". The Courier Mail.
  2. ^ Gregg, Natalie (16 June 2005). "Trio find a niche where pop is top". The Courier Mail.
  3. ^ Mengel, Noel (8 September 2000). "Everybody's happy nowadays". The Courier Mail.
  4. ^ a b c McNeill, Rebecca M (April 2004). "Interview: Sekiden One of Brisbane, Australia's most established and loveable bands". In Music We Trust (65). Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b Tuttle, Andrew (3 May 2001). "Brisbane Bands, Brisbane Music, Brisbane Gigs – Sekiden – Better Music Through Mathematics". BrisPop.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2004. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  6. ^ a b Sekiden (2001), Better Music Through Mathematics: [album], Modular Recordings/destra Media (Distributor), retrieved 7 January 2018
  7. ^ "Sekiden back in town". City News. Brisbane. 6 September 2001.
  8. ^ Fraser, Mark (October 2001). "Sekiden's Sweetly Serrated Synth Sounds". redbackrock.com. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  9. ^ Attlee, Matt. "CD Review: Better Music Through Mathematics Sekiden". Aus Music Scrapbook. Archived from the original on 5 March 2002. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  10. ^ Bell, Joanne (17 June 2001). "Brisbane Bands, Brisbane Music, Brisbane Gigs – Sekiden CD Launch - 16 June 2001 (with Peabody and Klinger)". BrisPop.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2004. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Week Commencing ~ 11th June 2001 ~ Issue #589" (PDF). The ARIA Report (589). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA): 12. 11 June 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2002. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  12. ^ Pascuzzi, Carmine (2009). "Love Songs for Robots". MediaSearch. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  13. ^ a b Eliezer, Christie (20 May 2003). "Business News: Redline Signs Sekiden". themusic.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 February 2004. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  14. ^ a b Serra, David. "Junior Fiction – Sekiden Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  15. ^ Holmgren, Magnus. "Lachlan 'Magoo' Gould". hem2.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 12 November 2004. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  16. ^ Lee, Jasper "Jaz". "Sekiden – Junior Fiction – Redline". Oz Music Project. Archived from the original on 6 August 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  17. ^ Santer, Vanessa (19 May 2006). "Seja raises her voice". Sydney MX.
  18. ^ Spann, Craig (11 July 2003). "Let's get fuzzy". The Courier Mail.
  19. ^ Trajstman, a.k.a. JustLikeHoney, Adrian (1 March 2006). "Sounds Instincts". Mess+Noise. Junkee Media. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  20. ^ a b Levin, Darren (6 April 2010). "Seja: The Synth Whisperer". Mess+Noise. Junkee Media. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  21. ^ Carew, Anthony (19 March 2010). "New career synthesised in stitches". The Age. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Q&A with Seja Vogel". Artisan. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  23. ^ Sekiden (2006), Sound Instincts, Brisbane, Qld: Valve Records, retrieved 7 January 2018
  24. ^ Zuel, Bernard (10 November 2000). " review". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  25. ^ Hart, Jon (7 June 2001). " review". Adelaide Advertiser.
  26. ^ Sekiden (2001), Love Songs For Robots, Modular Recordings, retrieved 7 January 2018
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