Breaks Co-Op

Following the release of the Breaks Co-Cop debut album Roofers in 1997, a benchmark in local electronic music in their native New Zealand, Zane Lowe and Hamish Clark decided to take far too long to make another record. While Zane went and sank his teeth into the UK media scene (where he is an influential DJ on BBC Radio 1 and VJ on MTV2 UK), Hamish wandered the earth like Kane from Kung - Fu. Forever mindful that they still had the musical bug, whenever the two met they would batter the sampler about in the hopes of replicating the sound of Roofers. Aware that people were starting to look sideways at them, they dug deep into their shared love of music and realized there was only one thing for it…live instrumentation! Having made this quantum leap they soon saw the future of the band lay in songs. This may seem obvious, but for two hip hop kids suckled on the breast of early nineties’ beats, putting yourself out there artistically (minus the posturing) took some getting used to. Sessions at their small home studio affectionately known as “Groove Holmes” were rife with tension. Days full of failed experiments, bent mic stands, temperamental computers and ridiculously derivative downbeat tracks.

Witness a standard studio dialogue; “Is it any good?” “It’s good I tell you”, “Yeah, but really, is it any good?” “Shut up”. With songs being written, Zane started singing guide vocals and the pair realized they needed to draw in all their influences and pay homage to them the best way they knew how. From Marvin Gaye and Crosby, Stills and Nash to Sebadoh and Tortoise, they imbibed a wealth of harmonic and melodic inspiration, threw in the breaks, the vinyl and the tough drums and…before they knew it (8 months to be precise), their new sound was born. Shamelessly pillaging seventies’ record-speak, they arrived at a name for their new album before they had even made it. The next twelve months would be dedicated to The Sound Inside.

Around this time Hamish and Zane were introduced to the talents of an undiscovered soul great and chain smoker, Andy Lovegrove. A producer and vocalist, Andy was busy building a reputation with his band The Away Team when his manager played the Breaks a demo of him singing. They both decided on the spot that this was a voice that was born to sing on their music. After swapping ideas, Andy chose the one tune Hamish and Zane told him not to write for (they had reserved it for another mate) and crafted something special - 'The Otherside' - a benchmark during the recording process, this tune forged Andy’s mastery of harmony with Zane and Hamish’s production, reaffirming their love of music and giving the album a backbone that laid all their fears to rest.

Realizing the fortune that had befallen them, Breaks asked Andy to be a full time member of the crew and enlisted the services of The Away Team to begin mixing their record at The Courtyard, a residential studio just outside Oxford. In between ham, egg and chips down the local pub, songs and friendships were developed and by the end of the summer 2004, Breaks Co-Op had found The Sound Inside.

Released last year in New Zealand, The Sound Inside has been a double-platinum selling hit, with ‘The Otherside’ being the #1 airplay hit of 2005 and winner of ‘Song Of The Year’ at the NZ Music Awards. Inspired by all this local success the boys put together an amazing live band, touring the country to great acclaim. Similar success was mimicked in the UK where “The Otherside” reached #9 on radio airplay nationwide as the live band toured the country relentlessly, building a strong following. From conscious folk rock to earthy electronica, The Sound Inside wears its heart on its sleeve. Its influences are immediately apparent, yet subtly work together to create the sound that is uniquely Breaks Co-Op. This is music born from a deep love of life’s magic moments.