DiElle - Singer-songwriter
“A very mature song writing style” (Tom Hess).
I am DiElle, a songwriter from Portsmouth and currently have a self-named band which performs my material in the pop / rock genre. I also write acoustic pop material for female vocals which we are currently recording.
This coming April, I have organised a number of live performances across the South of England of my acoustic album “Beautiful Monday”, as part of the Oxjam Festival 2009. Our objective is to raise enough money to provide a grain bank and water storage facilities for two African villages, ensuring a reliable source of food and safer, cleaner water for these people. When we reach this target, we will travel to these villages and perform for the community.
I began singing at the age of 8, and have enjoyed live performance in a variety of vocal groups ever since. I began writing my own material in 1994, and have continued to develop this passion. Having had a single ‘Lou’s Song’ published by Acorn Music Group in 2008, I have gone on to study the song writing craft at University Of Chichester. In my formative years I became interested in charitable organisations, and have completed a placement in rural Sri Lanka teaching and doing social work for one year, as well as other shorter projects in Madagascar and South America. These experiences have colourfully influenced my song writing.
The “Beautiful Monday” tour is a wonderful opportunity for me to combine my passion as an artist with my desire to help those less fortunate than myself.
Damiain Lodrick is my producer and keyboard player. He brings his vast experience from 20 years in live performance, and 10 years as a professional sound technician to the sculpting and production of my material. His cousin Dan Stagg is DiElle’s guitarist, who contributes emotional honesty and creativity to our sound.
In the future, we plan to complete the recording of our full length band album “Strangers”, the EP of which “Just One Day” was independently released in November 2008. These tracks have enjoyed radio airplay in UK, Europe and USA. On the completion of this project, we plan to tour “Strangers” in the UK and Europe. I am currently writing for a second album, and will always continue to develop my craft and musicianship.
“Beautiful Monday” is an opportunity to raise awareness of and funds for people living in poverty. It is a privilege to be able to do this through performing my songs. “good song material...superb lead vocals” Jim Liddane, Songwriter Magazine
dielle@diellemusic.com
Damo - Producer; keys
Damo has played piano since he was seven years old when he consistently avoided any practice and his teacher insisted he should give up lessons. At this point his passion for music flourished.
At 16 he took up bass, ran out of strings and moved on to the electric guitar by 18. By the age of 23 he was a full time guitar teacher and regularly gigging in various bands taking turns on all three instruments.
After a stint as a live sound engineer, the call of the warmth of the studio beckoned, and recording and producing the Damo way was born! He has produced and recorded various artists and groups and is currently the main producer for DiElle.
damo@diellemusic.com
Dan - Acoustic guitar; electric guitar; backing vocals
Dan has been playing guitar since his teens, and is a natural musician.
'I started playing when I was about 15 and can still remember those stage sets in my parents’ living room where Damo and I would pretend to be rock stars!! My heroes in those days were all those space heads from the 60's/70's electric blues era, Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac) in particular, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Toto, Dire Straits, Floyd and so on. I love all styles of guitar playing, blues and Jazz in particular.
My first guitar as Damo will remember was the trusty old Marlin, it was great, every time you used the wammy bar you would have to retune every string!! All character building stuff though. I have had some really crappy guitars over the years but my favourite is my Ibinez, which I have had for over 20 years now and it still sounds and feels as good as new! Well done to all the Ibinez Team!! I have just bought a Line 6 Variax 600 electric and POD XT Live floor pedal. It’s a fantastic guitar simulator and I'm having hours of fun with it. '
dan@diellemusic.com
Jemmmmmmmm - Drums
Jemmmmmmm is a drummmmmer, and has been playing for 13 years. He has studied with Paul Elliott at Drumtech, Lawrence Hall former head of ACM and with Kevin at The Drum Garden.
Jem has played on numerous projects covering various styles of music and has graced the stages of Earls Court, The Jazz Café and Bournemouth International Centre. He has played support gigs for The Average White Band, Jools Holland, Courduroy, James Taylor Quartet and Gil Scott Heron.
Jem has recorded on a number of projects, notably, acid soul band Shine, pyschobilly rock band The Krewmen and The Artful Dodger's dance project Bangstick. He continues to be active in the recording/ playing scene and counts recording for independent films, playing shows and depping for jazz big bands amongst his most challenging yet rewarding musical experiences.
jemmm@diellemusic.com
Greg - Bass guitar
Classically trained from age 9 on Double bass, Greg played in many Youth Orchestras (Dorset Youth Orchestra, Wessex Youth Orchestra etc). He progressed through the Royal Academy of Music exams under the supervision and instruction of Double Bassist, Mr Barry Glynn. Greg also began to play (self-teaching) the Electric Bass Guitar at age 13. Starting his Electric Bass gigs in an Acid Funk Jazz band at school, he developed his style to playing with many varied bands including 60’s / 70’s covers band, Icarus. After his GCSE exams, he studied A-Level music at Bournemouth College; it was here that his love of the bass & music really grew into his passion today. After College, Greg filled the bass slot in heavy progressive rock band, Empty Cage. This took him to Minneapolis to record with Todd Fitzgerald (Engineer for Artists such as Sting, Sheryl Crow, and Willie Nelson). In the States Greg also met up with American singer-song writer Tamrah Aeryn, for which he now plays occasionally on her visits to the UK.
Greg joined DiElle in February 2008, bringing his experience and creativity to the mix.
greg@diellemusic.com
So how did we get together....?
Damo and Jemmmm first crossed paths as tutors about five years ago, and have gigged together in various different line-ups since.
Dan was there when Damo was born, being his big big cuz. The two have been playing together since their teenage years, when they used to set up their amps, guitars, keyboards and drum machines in Dan's mum's living room.
DiElle first met Damo in 1998 when she took her first official guitar lessons from him as an A-Level student. They went on their way when she left college. After about seven years, they randomly bumped into each other in the gym, got talking, and created DiElle as it is today.
When DiElle were left without a bass guitarist in December 2007, Greg responded to an advert we put out. We met, we talked, we played some tunes, and he is now a member of the DiElle family.