The Qemists are an English electronic music group, hailing from
Brighton, England. They are signed to Amazing Record Co., an
indie record label
An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...
based in the UK. The band have a separate deal with Beat Records for distribution in Japan and with Detroit-based label
FiXT Music
FiXT (pronounced "fixed") is an American independent media company with several divisions including a record label, an online music store, and a film/TV/video game music licensing arm. FiXT was founded and is owned by Klayton, the sole member ...
for North America.
History
The Qemists were originally the drummer, bassist and guitarist in a rock band where they spent a lot of time touring UK and Europe as well as spending a lot of time in the studio. During this time in the rock band in the late 1990s, they acquired an interest in
drum and bass
Drum and bass (also written as drum & bass or drum'n'bass and commonly abbreviated as D&B, DnB, or D'n'B) is a genre of electronic dance music characterized by fast breakbeats (typically 165–185 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-ba ...
and some of the group's early efforts started to get airplay. For many years they were performing in the rock band as their day job whilst producing and DJing
drum and bass
Drum and bass (also written as drum & bass or drum'n'bass and commonly abbreviated as D&B, DnB, or D'n'B) is a genre of electronic dance music characterized by fast breakbeats (typically 165–185 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-ba ...
at night, and this conflict of interests led to the fusion of the two styles to form The Qemists sound that is known today.
They had previously worked as live sound engineers for
Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx are an English electronic music duo consisting of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe. The pair got their name from the regular club night they held in Brixton, London, UK. They first rose to popularity in the underground house scene ...
,
Kano and
Lady Sovereign.
Their debut release on
Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune is an English independent record label based in London. It has a satellite office in Los Angeles. It was founded by Matt Black and Jonathan More (better known as Coldcut) and managed by Peter Quicke and others.
Inspired by a visit ...
was a remix of
Coldcut
Coldcut are an English electronic music duo composed of Matt Black and Jonathan More. Credited as pioneers for pop sampling in the 1980s, Coldcut are also considered the first stars of UK electronic dance music due to their innovative style, ...
's "Everything Is Under Control" which was supported by
Zane Lowe
Alexander Zane Reid Lowe (born 7 August 1973) is a New Zealand radio DJ, live DJ, record producer, and television presenter.
After an early career in music creation, production and DJing, he moved to the UK in 1997. He came to prominence thro ...
,
Coldcut
Coldcut are an English electronic music duo composed of Matt Black and Jonathan More. Credited as pioneers for pop sampling in the 1980s, Coldcut are also considered the first stars of UK electronic dance music due to their innovative style, ...
and
Pendulum
A pendulum is a weight suspended from a wikt:pivot, pivot so that it can swing freely. When a pendulum is displaced sideways from its resting, Mechanical equilibrium, equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that ...
.
Their first single, "Stompbox", appeared on the soundtrack for the film ''
Jumper''. "Dem Na Like Me" and "Your Revolution" were used in Clay Porter's mountain bike movie ''3 Minute Gaps'' (2011). "Stompbox" and "Tom Cat" appeared in the action movie ''
Blitz (2011)''.
In 2009, they supported
Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari (stylised as enter: shikari and occasionally as ΣΠΤΣ℞ SΗΦΚ∆℞Φ) are a British rock band formed in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England in 1999 by bassist Chris Batten, lead vocalist and keyboardist Rou Reynolds, and dru ...
on their World tour, and underwent their own headlining UK tour.
In November 2015, they signed to Amazing Record Co., planning the release of ''
Warrior Sound'', their third studio album, on 4 March 2016.
Members
* Bruno Balanta – vocals (MC)
* Oliver Simmons – vocals
* Liam Black – guitar
* Dan Arnold – bass, synth programming
* Leon Harris – drums
Former members
* Matt Rose – vocals
Musical style
With the band's origins in
heavy rock music and their fusion of electronic rock and drum and bass, The Qemists are often compared to bands such as
Pendulum
A pendulum is a weight suspended from a wikt:pivot, pivot so that it can swing freely. When a pendulum is displaced sideways from its resting, Mechanical equilibrium, equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that ...
and
The Prodigy.
Discography
Studio albums
*''
Join the Q
''Join the Q'' is the debut studio album from British band the Qemists. The album was released on 2 February 2009 under record label Ninja Tune.
Track listing
Personnel
;The Qemists
* Dan Arnold − bass
* Leon Harris − drums
* Liam Black � ...
'' (2009)
*''
Spirit in the System'' (2010)
*''
Warrior Sound'' (2016)
Compilations
*''
Soundsystem'' (2011)
Singles
*"React" (2004)
*"Summer Son" (2004)
*"Iron Shirt" / "Let There Be Light" (2006)
*"Stompbox" (2007)
*"Dem Na Like Me" (feat. Wiley) (2008)
*"Lost Weekend" (feat.
Mike Patton
Michael Allan Patton (born January 27, 1968) is an American singer, producer, film composer and voice actor, best known as the lead vocalist of the alternative metal band Faith No More. Noted for his vocal proficiency, diverse singing techn ...
) (2008)
*"On the Run" (feat.
Jenna G) (2009)
*"Drop Audio" (feat. I.D.) (2009)
*"Your Revolution" (feat. Matt Rose) (2010)
*"Hurt Less" (feat. Jenna G) (2010)
*"Renegade" (feat. Maxsta & MC I.D) (2010)
*"Take It Back" (feat.
Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari (stylised as enter: shikari and occasionally as ΣΠΤΣ℞ SΗΦΚ∆℞Φ) are a British rock band formed in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England in 1999 by bassist Chris Batten, lead vocalist and keyboardist Rou Reynolds, and dru ...
) (2011)
*"No More" (2013)
*"Run You" (2016)
*"Anger" (feat. Kenta Koie of
Crossfaith) (2016)
*"Takeover" (with
Zardonic) (2018)
*"Crevasse" (2019)
*"Feel Alive" (with Prolix) (2019)
*"Deep Scars" (with 3D Stas) (2019)
*"Crevasse" (2019)
Remixes
*
Coldcut
Coldcut are an English electronic music duo composed of Matt Black and Jonathan More. Credited as pioneers for pop sampling in the 1980s, Coldcut are also considered the first stars of UK electronic dance music due to their innovative style, ...
– "Everything Is Under Control" – (2005)
*
Dr. Octagon – "Trees" – (2006)
*
Coldcut
Coldcut are an English electronic music duo composed of Matt Black and Jonathan More. Credited as pioneers for pop sampling in the 1980s, Coldcut are also considered the first stars of UK electronic dance music due to their innovative style, ...
– "True Skool" – (2006)
*Backini – "Radio" – (2006)
*
Roots Manuva
Rodney Hylton Smith, better known by his stage name Roots Manuva (born 9 September 1972), is a British rapper and producer. Since his debut in 1994, he has produced numerous albums and singles on the label Big Dada, achieving commercial success ...
feat. Rodney P – "Swords in the Dirt" – (2007)
*
The Count & Sinden feat.
Kid Sister
Melissa Young (born July 3, 1980), known professionally as Kid Sister, is an American rapper based in Chicago, Illinois. She is known for her single "Pro Nails", which features Kanye West, and for her work as a member of the British music collec ...
– "
Beeper" – (2008)
*
DJ Kentaro – "Rainy Day" – (2008)
*
Coldcut
Coldcut are an English electronic music duo composed of Matt Black and Jonathan More. Credited as pioneers for pop sampling in the 1980s, Coldcut are also considered the first stars of UK electronic dance music due to their innovative style, ...
– "Atomic Moog" – (2008)
*
Innerpartysystem – "
Die Tonight Live Forever
Die Tonight Live Forever is the second single of the debut album by Innerpartysystem
Innerpartysystem (often stylized as InnerPartySystem) is an American electronic rock band. The group consists of Patrick Nissley, Jared Piccone and Kris Ba ...
" – (2008)
*
Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari (stylised as enter: shikari and occasionally as ΣΠΤΣ℞ SΗΦΚ∆℞Φ) are a British rock band formed in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England in 1999 by bassist Chris Batten, lead vocalist and keyboardist Rou Reynolds, and dru ...
– "
No Sleep Tonight" – (2009)
*
Steve Aoki
Steven Hiroyuki Aoki (, ; born November 30, 1977), best known as Steve Aoki, is an American DJ, record producer, music programmer, and record executive. – "
I'm in the House" – (2010)
*
The Damned – "
Smash It Up" – (2010)
*
South Central – "The Day I Die" – (2011)
*
In Flames
In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band, formed by guitarist Jesper Strömblad in Gothenburg in 1990. Alongside At the Gates and Dark Tranquillity, In Flames pioneered the genres known as Swedish death metal and melodic death metal.
During t ...
– "Where The Dead Ships Dwell" – (2011)
*
DJ Kentaro feat. DJ Krush – "Kikkake" – (2012)
*
Hybrid
Hybrid may refer to:
Science
* Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding
** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species
** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two diff ...
– "Be Here Now" – (2014)
*
The Heavy – "How You Like Me Now?" – (2014)
*
Crossfaith – "Kill 'Em All" – (2017)
*
Crush 40
Crush 40 is a Japanese-American hard rock band. The group consists of guitarist and composer Jun Senoue and vocalist Johnny Gioeli, although Senoue has featured other lead vocalists on a Crush 40 album. Crush 40 is best known for their contri ...
– "Green Light Ride" – (2019)
Miscellaneous
*Let There Be Light
(from Stompbox EP) – (2007)
*Lost Weekend (VIP)
(from Lost Weekend EP) – (2008)
*Dem Na Like Me (VIP)
(from Dem Na Like Me EP) – (2008)
*Play With Fire
(from on the Run EP) – (2009)
*Renegade (VIP)
(from Renegade EP) – (2010)
*Take It Back (VIP)
(from Take It Back EP) – (2011)
*Dirty Words (VIP)
(from Take It Back EP) – (2011)
Other appearances
*''
MotorStorm: Pacific Rift'' – "Stompbox", "On the Run (VIP Mix) / Speed Freak"
*''
Midnight Club: Los Angeles'' – "Stompbox"
*''
Pure'' – "Stompbox", "Drop Audio"
*''
Blur'' – "Stompbox (Spor Remix)", "On The Run (VIP Mix) / Speed Freak", "S.W.A.G", "Let There Be Light", "Dem Na Like Me (VIP Mix)"
*''
Need For Speed: Undercover'' – "Stompbox", "Stompbox (Spor Remix)"
*''
SSX
''SSX'' is a series of snowboarding and skiing video games published by EA Sports. It is an arcade-style racing game with larger-than-life courses, characters, and tricks. While the general focus of the series is racing and performing tricks on ...
'' – "Stompbox (Spor Remix)", "Lifeline", "Bones" ft. Kellermensch, "Deadly Rocks", "People's Gravity", "People's Air"
*''
Colin McRae: Dirt 2'' – "Lost Weekend"
*''
Dirt: Showdown'' – "Take It Back"
*''
Forza Motorsport 3'' – "Lost Weekend", "On the Run", "S.W.A.G (Instrumental)"
*''
MotorStorm: Arctic Edge'' – "Lost Weekend"
*''
Need for Speed: Shift'' – "Lost Weekend"
*''
Crackdown 2'' – "Dem Na Like Me", "Smash It Up (The Qemists Remix)", "Affliction", "The Demand"
*''
F1 2010
The 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 64th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. Red Bull Racing won its maiden Constructors' Championship with a 1–2 finish in Brazil, while Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel won the ...
'' – "On the Run"
*''
F1 2011
The 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 65th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. The original calendar for the 2011 Formula One World Championship consisted of twenty rounds, including the inaugural running of the Indian Gr ...
'' – "Tropicana", "Planet Terror"
*''
Forza Motorsport 4'' – "Take It Back", "Dirty Words", "Your Revolution"
*''
GT Racing 2
''GT Racing 2: The Real Car Experience'' is a delisted 2013 racing video game developed by Gameloft Bulgaria and published by Gameloft. It was the sequel to ''GT Racing: Motor Academy''.
Gameloft quietly delisted and closed online servers of the g ...
'' - "Don't Lose It", "S.W.A.G"
*''
Need for Speed Rivals'' – "No More"
*''
Asphalt 8: Airborne'' – "Be Electric"
*''
OlliOlli
''OlliOlli'' is a side-scrolling skateboarding video game developed and published by Roll7. It was released for PlayStation Vita on 21 January 2014 in North America, and on 22 January 2014 in Europe.
The game received a port for Microsoft Windo ...
'' – "Society"
*''
Forza Horizon 2
''Forza Horizon 2'' is a 2014 racing video game developed for Microsoft's Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles. It is the sequel to 2012's ''Forza Horizon'' and the seventh instalment in the ''Forza'' series. The Xbox One version of the game was deve ...
'' – "Renegade"
*''
Madden 17
''Madden NFL 17'' is an American football sports video game based on the National Football League and published by EA Sports for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One and Xbox 360. As the 28th installment of the '' Madden NFL series'' ...
'' – "New Design"
*''
Gran Turismo Sport
''Gran Turismo Sport'' is a 2017 racing video game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. It is the 13th game in the ''Gran Turismo (series), Gran Turismo'' series, the seventh game i ...
'' – "Run You"
*''
Onrush'' – "Crevasse"
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Qemists
2004 establishments in England
British drum and bass music groups
Musical groups established in 2004