The Jezabels are an Australian indie rock band formed in Sydney in 2007. It consists of lead vocalist Hayley Mary, guitarist Sam Lockwood, pianist and keyboardist Heather Shannon, and drummer and percussionist Nik Kaloper.[1]
The Jezabels | |
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![]() The Jezabels performing in 2012 L–R: Hayley Mary, Nik Kaloper, Sam Lockwood; Heather Shannon is out of shot. | |
Background information | |
Origin | Sydney, Australia |
Genres | |
Years active | 2007–2017; 2022–2024 |
Labels |
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Members |
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Website | thejezabels |
From 2009 to 2010, the group released three EPs, The Man Is Dead, She's So Hard, and Dark Storm—all produced and engineered by Lachlan Mitchell. Two of their releases have reached the ARIA Singles Chart Top 40: the Dark Storm EP (October 2010) and the single "Endless Summer" (August 2011).
The Jezabels released their debut studio album, Prisoner, on 16 September 2011. It peaked at No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart and won Best Independent Release at the ARIA Music Awards of 2012. Their second album, The Brink, came out on 31 January 2014. Synthia, their third record, was issued on 12 February 2016.
The band went on indefinite hiatus in December 2017[2] and reunited for a concert tour in 2022.
History
editFormation and EP trilogy: 2007–2010
editThe Jezabels formed in 2007 after the four members met as students at the University of Sydney.[1][3] Their music was described by the national radio station Triple J as a blend of alternative rock, indie rock,[4][5] and disco-pop.[6] The band's Facebook page describes their genre as "intensindie".[7] Their name is based on the biblical character Jezebel, whom Mary perceived as being "misunderstood or misrepresented".[1][5] Hayley Mary and Heather Shannon both went to Byron Bay High School and had performed together as a folk duo in Byron Bay.[8][9] Samuel Lockwood grew up in Bangalow and attended the same school.[10] Lockwood recognised Mary and Shannon when he saw them at university and invited them to join a band for a competition.[3] Mary recalled: "It was a combination of four individual desires to play music and taking whatever opportunities we could find – which happened to be each other ... From there the process has pretty much been one of reconciling musical differences. But we're getting closer".[3]
On 3 February 2009, the Jezabels' debut EP, The Man Is Dead, was released independently via MGM Distribution.[11][12][13] It was recorded at Megaphon & Production Ave Studios and produced by the Jezabels and Lachlan Mitchell.[14][15] On 6 November of that year, the band followed with a second EP, She's So Hard, which included the tracks "Easy to Love" and "Hurt Me".[16][17][18] Both EPs received significant radio airplay, including on Sydney's FBi Radio[19] and Triple J. They also received airplay in the US, where in August, "Disco Biscuit Love" reached No. 96 on CMJ.[14] On 22 December, the Jezabels were the Triple J Unearthed featured artist, described as "[d]ramatic, energetic, uplifting, indie rock with a commanding lead singer. We've picked them to play Field Day – a great way to start the new year!"[4] She's So Hard was the No. 3 most added on US college radio for 2009.[20]
On 1 October 2010, the Jezabels released the third EP, Dark Storm,[21] which peaked in the top 40 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[22] The Age's Peter Vincent felt "[t]heirs is a timeless sound that is radio-friendly: moody female vocals soaring over strong percussion and slow-building guitar and piano/keyboard lines".[23]
Debut album: 2011–2013
editIn August 2011, the Jezabels released a new single, "Endless Summer",[24] which peaked in the top 40 of the ARIA Singles Chart.[22]
On 16 September, they published their debut studio album, Prisoner, which reached No. 2 on the ARIA Album Chart.[22] It was recorded at Sydney's Attic Studios, with Mitchell producing and Peter Katis mixing.[25] Vulture's Anna Moull described it in a review: "a dramatic gothic epic, with a twist of 80's power-house rock. Jezabels singer Hayley Mary sums up their sound perfectly as 'Bronte-esque gothic (and) melodramatic'. Channelling Kate Bush, Freddie Mercury and Cyndi Lauper, Mary's vocals are a force to be reckoned with".[25] The website gave Prisoner 7 out of 10 points. By 31 December 2011, the album was certified gold by ARIA for the sale of 35,000 units.[26]
The Brink, Synthia, and hiatus: 2013–2017
editIn late 2013, the Jezabels released a song titled "The End" as the first single from their second album, The Brink, which came out on 31 January 2014.[27]
Synthia, the band's third album, was published on 12 February 2016. Reviewing the record song for song, XS Noize's Sandra Blemster compared Mary to Kate Bush and Chrissie Hynde. She wrote: "On listening to Synthia, I feel like I've paid a visit to the cinema and watched a gripping, extraordinary film. You know when a film captures you that much and you come out, it's daylight and your eyes hurt from the sun? That's how this album felt. Intoxicating stuff: maybe it's a full moon".[28] The Sydney Morning Herald's Jenny Valentish wrote, Synthia was "everything fans love the band for: volatile, provocative and intelligent."[29]
The band entered a hiatus following the tour in support for Synthia. In October 2021, they announced their reunion, with a commemorative ten-year anniversary tour for Prisoner, starting in June 2022.[30]
Touring and side projects
editTh Jezabels toured nationally to promote the release of She's So Hard in 2009.[31] In November and December 2010, they undertook another national tour after launching Dark Storm.[32] They also supported Canadian pop-rock sister duo Tegan and Sara on their 2009 Australian tour.[33]
In October 2010, they played a 13-date tour of North America as the supporting act for Two Hours Traffic.[34]
In August 2012, they performed at Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Chicago,[35] and appeared at the Osheaga Festival in Montreal, Canada.[36]
The band appeared as special guests on Depeche Mode's Delta Machine world tour in the UK and Ireland in November 2013.[37]
The Jezabels had to cancel their 2016 world tour shortly before Synthia was released, as Shannon needed immediate treatment for an ovarian cancer that had been diagnosed three years before.[38] In July 2016, the band announced that Shannon was "feeling strong again after her treatment" and that they would start touring again in September. Shannon had used the pause from tour life to collaborate with Midnight Oil's Peter Garrett on his solo debut, A Version of Now.
Hayley Mary appeared on the Birds of Tokyo track "Discoloured", from their 2016 album Brace. On 14 October 2019, she released her debut solo single, "The Piss, the Perfume". She has since issued three EPs, and her first full-length album is set to come out on 25 October 2024.[39]
Band members
edit- Nikolas Stephan Kaloper – drums, percussion
- Samuel Henry Lockwood – guitars
- Hayley Mary – lead vocals
- Heather Gail Shannon – keyboards, piano
Discography
editAlbums
editTitle | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
---|---|---|---|
AUS [22] | |||
Prisoner |
|
2 | |
The Brink |
|
2 | |
Synthia |
|
4 |
EPs
editTitle | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
---|---|---|---|
AUS [22] | |||
The Man Is Dead[11][12][13] |
|
— | |
She's So Hard |
|
— | |
Dark Storm |
|
40 |
|
Singles
editSingle | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS [22] |
AUS Indie [22] | ||||
"Endless Summer" | 2011 | 39 | — |
|
Prisoner |
"Trycolour" | — | — | |||
"Rosebud" | 2012 | — | — | ||
"City Girl" | 80 | — | |||
"The End" | 2013 | 81 | 5 | The Brink | |
"Look of Love" | 2014 | — | — | ||
"Angels of Fire" | — | — | |||
"Time to Dance" | — | — | |||
"All You Need" | — | — | |||
"Come Alive" | 2015 | — | — | Synthia | |
"Pleasure Drive" | 2016 | — | — | ||
"The Others" | 2017 | — | — | Non-album single |
Awards and nominations
editAIR Awards
editThe Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote, and celebrate the success of Australia's independent music sector.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2010[43][44] | Dark Storm | Best Independent Single/EP | Nominated |
themselves | Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
2011[44] | Dark Storm | Best Independent Single/EP | Won |
themselves | Independent Artist of the Year | Won | |
2012[44][45] | Prisoner | Best Independent Album | Nominated |
themselves | Independent Artist of the Year | Won |
APRA Awards
editThe APRA Awards have been presented annually since 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association, "honouring composers and songwriters".[46]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Nikolas Kaloper, Samuel Lockwood, Hayley McGlone, Heather Shannon | Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year | Nominated | [47] |
2012 | "Endless Summer" | Song of the Year | Shortlisted | [48] |
2015 | "The End" | Rock Work of the Year | Nominated | [49] |
ARIA Awards
editYear | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2011[50][51] | Dark Storm | Single of the Year | Nominated |
Breakthrough Artist – Single | Nominated | ||
Best Independent Release | Nominated | ||
2012[52][53] | Prisoner | Album of the Year | Nominated |
Best Group | Nominated | ||
Best Independent Release | Won | ||
Best Rock Album | Nominated | ||
Prisoner album launch | Best Australian Live Act | Nominated | |
Prisoner – Lachlan Mitchell | Producer of the Year | Nominated | |
Engineer of the Year | Nominated | ||
Prisoner – Christopher Doyle | Best Cover Art | Nominated |
Australian Music Prize
editThe Australian Music Prize is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The prize commenced in 2005.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2011[54] | Prisoner | Australian Music Prize | Won |
J Awards
editThe J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | themselves | Unearthed Artist of the Year | Nominated |
2011 | Prisoner | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated |
National Live Music Awards
editThe National Live Music Awards are a broad recognition of Australia's live music industry. The awards commenced in 2016.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2017[55][56] | Jezabels | Live Act of the Year | Nominated |
References
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