The announcement of Ampersand’s debut extended play (EP) follows three years of non-stop successes for the independent nu-funk/soul/retro pop-fusion band.
Ampersand is an entertaining, energetic and ever evolving group featuring two spectacular lead vocalists backed by a tight, innovative trio of keys, bass and drums.
The Noosa/Sunshine Coast locals have become their own second family in the past three years of gigging.
They effortlessly improvise and converse musically, creating their own unique sound.
Built from scratch with nothing but the team’s varied skill sets and their unshakable support of each other through thick and thin, this band’s spark has come from only ever having the humble goal of learning from their journey.
Funky and soulful, Entry Level is a collection of the group’s favourite original tunes, each selected by one of the five band members.
Off the back of performances at Caloundra Music Festival and Noosa Alive, Ampersand recorded these five tracks in a single session at Yama Nui in response to public demand.
The idea to release an EP started when Originality, Birthday Blues, Boy Bye, Drive Away and Honey Beez were written back to back over a couple of weeks in their home studio.
Two grants and a marathon studio session later, Entry Level was born.
The tracks tell personal stories drawn from the band’s individual and shared experiences with life, love, laughter and many ludicrous rehearsals.
The name Entry Level is inspired by their trademark self-deprecatory humour.
This EP is literally their entry level foray into the world of albums and extended releases and they’re owning that.
co-written and arranged by the entire Ampersand team, Originality, Birthday Blues, Boy Bye, Drive Away and Honey Beez feature vocals, lyrics and melody by Katie Brown and Isi Semmler, keyboards and chords by Jarrod Tutbury, Bass by Jed Green, drums and percussion by Orlando Hamilton-Craig and guitar by featured guest artist Doc Hamilton.
Recorded, engineered and produced by Scott Mathison and Justin Tresidder at Yama Nui Studios and mastered by Paul Blakey, this EP’s creation was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia, administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance.
Noosa Council’s Regional Arts Development Fund also assisted with the marketing, releasing, music video filming and launch show for this project.
Entry Level will be accompanied by a special music video for Drive Away with a release date to be announced.
Entry Level is available to stream on Spotify, iTunes and wherever you listen to your music from 6 June 2024.
Pre-save it to help Ampersand out with the streaming algorithms: gyro.to/EntryLevel
While you’re waiting, you can stream Originality, Birthday Blues and Boy Bye as singles on all platforms.
For more information visit ampersandbandnoosa.com
