The brainchild of Nikolas Kolya, Geeq are the culmination of many years of experimenting behind the scenes with different approaches, band line-ups and even sounds. At one time being a more eloquent Avant-Garde/Rock outfit, it has taken a few years to finally channel all the experiments into who they are now, and what they sound like.
The stop-start nature of the band in the early days meant that they never gigged nor recorded past demo stage, due to the imperfection of perfection which in truth, does not exist. Only in the last 2 years, with Nikolas Kolya finally deciding to dedicate energies to fronting the band, have Geeq managed to finally get their act together.
Having studied at the Bartlett school of architecture in the 90's, Nikolas Kolya shared the same space of creativity that Brett Anderson and others have, yet never quite finding true settlement in the world of architecture. During these years of studies, Nikolas Kolya also attended The Guitar Institute in Acton - drawing influence from players and musicians as Al Di Meola, Vernon Reid, Archie Shepp and Robert Fripp amongst others - all being quirky, proficient and unique souls. This was to include the usual gigging and playing in many bands at college and around London.
During some years of being lost in translation and further experimentation, NK studied an MA in Audio Production with Allan Fisher (performer with Cabaret Voltaire, and producer and engineer with Bjork, Boy George, 808 State, Take That), mixing Marvin Gaye and Cypress Hill amongst other songs and artists (sessions also included Igor Outkine who played accordion with Nikolas Kolya on acoustic guitar for the film Pearls by the sea - a remix session will be released in the near future) and arguing the state of the music and creative world with Mateij Dimlic and other intellectuals. These arguments and debates earned him a merit for his thesis, and hence went into the world of music he has always been on the outskirts of, even more confused than before!
After many years sessioning and even producing 2 albums for jazz fusion artists The Shez Raja Collective and Matt Joplin, he eventually realised that he band that had always been calling for the most attention, was in fact Geeq. Nikolas Kolya chose to do a year of acting at the City Lit in London, and while also taking vocal lessons from Oleg Lapa (Old School Of Bel Canto) amongst others, he managed to get his voice up to a level at least good enough to convey the anger, frustrations and raw energy that was swirling in that little brain of his to front Geeq.
Many years of sessioning in London as a guitarist for acts ranging from Avant-Garde Free Jazz to Live rock/hip-hop, jazz fusion to experimental, and also writing scores for an Award winning Documentary (Pearls By The sea, Audience Choice Award, Grenzland Film Festival) meant the demos for Geeq were being worked out of many years of songs that had accumulated over the years. Again, what was the direction to follow? Geeq became a power trio, harnessing rock and metal with a punk attitude.
In 2010, after a round of London gigs with Nikolas Kolya now fronting the band, it was obvious that the confidence and energy were there to take the band a lot more seriously. This meant a search for the right musicians to record an album, and in April of 2011 the recording of Geeqs debut "A Turquoise Clock" started. Recording was fraught with technical issues throughout the year, but finally the music was ready to be mixed by Grammy winner Cameron Craig in December 2011.
The music is a colourful spectrum of songs, all laced with a metal/punk sensibility and romantic view of life to boot. The name of the album was taken from a line in a poem by Nikolas Kolya's 8 year old sister and embraces elements of Rock, Metal and strong Groove with the energy and ferocity associated with a more punky attitude, all wrapped up in songs. Never dismissing the strength of love, war and aggression, A Turquoise Clock is due for release in 2012.
The Band have yet to decide how to release the album - whether independently or through a record label. This debate only exists due to the fact that the music world seems quite disparate and un-connected, something that Geeq need to think carefully about before assuming their position.
Geeq are only just starting out, armed with a debut album and the strength that only experience and good musicianship can provide; hopefully 2012 will be a geeq year.
