Blending rock, soul, blues and gospel, OffWorld is new musical output from Hard-FI’s Richard Archer and acclaimed musicians; Krysten Cummings, Wolsey White, Smiley Barnard and Dale Davis.
Speaking about the new single, Archer says “We originally conceived and wrote ‘I Found Out’ after the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson and the subsequent protests that broke out across the country. The track features dialogue from emergency service radio heard during the confusion of the following days. I recall Krysten improvising the chorus and what you hear is her first, improvised take – pouring out her anger and frustration.”
Krysten Cummings adds, “These lyrics were written 5 years ago but sadly mirror what is happening today and has been happening since – “Struggling To Breathe In St Louis”.
We didn’t conceive ‘I Found Out’ as a ‘single’ – it is over seven minutes long and we don’t really see it as such, we just felt strongly that it should be available at this time.
“We are bleeding, this constant feeling, The Holy Father has left the building.”
The previous OffWorld release the ‘Brave To Be Alive EP’ includes singles ‘Brave To Be Alive’ and ‘Burnt Out Star’. ‘Brave To Be Alive’ was accompanied by a video (premiered on NME) inspired by brave women all over the world. Footage taken from demonstrations filmed in Chile, El Salvador, Mexico, Spain and Italy of women performing the global feminist Hymn created by Las Tesis. Their Hymn condemns the judicial system’s failure to protect women and their rights around the globe, and raises awareness on the culture of violence against women.
Watch the video to Brave To Be Alive HERE – https://youtu.be/kAYbbknsV5Y
Watch the video to Burnt Out Star HERE – https://youtu.be/-fWhG0_z6f8
‘Undeniable’ – Q Magazine
“(Brave To Be Alive) fuses blues, gospel, funk, and rock into a dense fuzzed out arrangement that nevertheless sparkles with a sophisticated pop sheen.” – Under The Radar
Currently based in West London and Philadelphia, OffWorld are:
Richard Archer – Vocals/Electric Piano.
Known for fronting Mercury and twice Brit Award nominated Hard-Fi. Hard-Fi had two multi platinum number 1 albums; they were first band to sell out 5 Brixton Academy shows in a row on a debut album. They were also the most played band of 2006 on Radio 1. Since Hard-Fi last recorded, as well as working on OffWorld, Archer has been writing with and producing various artists including Axwell/Ingrosso, Ratboy, The Rasmus, Redfaces, Ady Sulemain, 660 and Japanese prog rockers Hello Sleepwalkers.
Krysten Cummings – Vocals.
Krysten received nominations for both The Laurence Olivier and The Dora Mavor Moore awards for ‘Best Actress in a Musical’ for her role as Mimi Marquez in the Toronto and London West End productions of the groundbreaking musical ‘Rent’ before taking the part to Broadway. As well as starring on stage and screen, Krysten is also an accomplished singer/songwriter and has featured on countless house and techno tracks as a top line singer and writer. Archer met Cummings when she was working with The Clash’s Mick Jones and she contributed backing vocals on a number of Hard-Fi recordings.
Wolsey White – Guitar.
AKA The Phil Spector of Lo-FI, White was a founding member of seminal post grunge noise core outfit Supermodel. Since then he has guested on guitar with many of the UK’s most regarded bands as well as building up a reputation as a producer with his own distinctive sound. White produced and mixed Stars Of CCTV and has worked on all Hard-Fi albums to date. Co-producing with Archer, White had a number 1 in Japan with Hello Sleepwalkers.
Steve ‘Smiley’ Barnard – Drums.
Smiley has worked with many of the UK’s leading artists, most notably Joe Strummer, playing with The Mescaleros on two world tours. He is currently drumming for Archive and The Alarm and is a respected writer and producer in his own right.
Dale Davis – Bass.
Davis was musical director, bassist and friend of multi Grammy award winning artist Amy Winehouse, working with her from 2004 until her death in 2011. Davis has worked with many of the UK’s top artists including Mark Ronson and Emile Sande. He also recorded and toured with Norman Cook’s Freakpower and has played on various film soundtracks.
OffWorld has already played a series of low-key, yet sold out gigs, whilst their early track demos saw them get a nod in Q Magazine.
Inspired by the space-suited pictography found on the pre-historic walls of the Corinto Caves (Morazán – El Salvador) and the wonderful idea that intelligent life forms, not of this earth, may have contributed to the birth of various human civilisations.
What if those beings were still amongst us? What music would they be listening to? What music would they make? Are they here still, meeting up in dive bars to play Extra-Terrestrial Blues?
OffWorld began jamming old gospel, soul and funk numbers in Archer’s West London studio. Working in breaks between schedules, the debut album ‘Burnt Out Star’ slowly coalesced. Influenced by soul, blues, gospel, funk, jazz and rock. No limits or constraints were imposed.
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