The Qemists are an English

electronic rock Electronic rock (also known as electro rock and synth rock) is a music genre that involves a combination of rock music and electronic music, featuring instruments typically found within both genres. It originates from the late 1960s when rock b ...

group, hailing from

Brighton Brighton ( ) is a seaside resort in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age Britain, Bronze Age, R ...

, Sussex. They are signed to Amazing Record Co., an

indie record label Indie is a short form of "independence" or "independent"; it may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media *Independent media, media free of influence by government or corporate interests *Indie art, fine arts made by artists independent of commer ...

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 o ...

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 (commonly abbreviated as DnB, D&B, or D'n'B) is a genre of electronic dance music characterised by fast Break (music)#Breakbeat (element of music), breakbeats (typically 165–185 Tempo, beats per minute) with heavy Bass (music) ...

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 while producing and DJing

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 (born 30 April 1970) and Simon Ratcliffe (born 28 November 1969). The pair got their name from the regular club night they held in Brixton, London, UK. They first ros ...

Kano Kano may refer to: Places *Kano State, a state in Northern Nigeria *Kano (city), a city in Nigeria, and the capital of Kano State ** Kingdom of Kano, a Hausa kingdom between the 10th and 14th centuries ** Sultanate of Kano, a Hausa kingdom betwee ...

and

Lady Sovereign Louise Amanda Harman (born 1985), better known by the stage name Lady Sovereign, is a British rapper, best known for the songs "9 to 5" and " Love Me or Hate Me". She was signed to Def Jam in 2005 by Jay-Z. Early life and family Harman grew ...

. Their debut release on

Ninja Tune Ninja Tune is an independent record label based in London, with a satellite office in Los Angeles. It was founded in 1990 by musicians Matt Black and Jonathan More, known collectively as Coldcut. The label was established as an outlet for Col ...

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 Reed Lowe (born 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 through pr ...

and

Pendulum A pendulum is a device made of a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. When a pendulum is displaced sideways from its resting, equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate i ...

. Their first single, "Stompbox", appeared on the soundtrack for the film ''

Jumper Jumper or Jumpers may refer to: Clothing *Jumper (sweater), is a long-sleeve article of clothing; also called a top, pullover, or sweater **A waist-length top garment of dense wool, part of the Royal Navy uniform and the uniform of the United St ...

''. "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 are a British Rock music, rock band formed in St Albans in 1999 by bassist Chris Batten, lead vocalist and keyboardist Rou Reynolds, and drummer Rob Rolfe. In 2003, guitarist Rory Clewlow joined the band to complete its current li ...

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

and

The Prodigy The Prodigy are an English electronic music band formed in Braintree, Essex, in 1990 by producer, keyboardist, and songwriter Liam Howlett. The original line-up also featured Rapping, MC and vocalist Maxim (musician), Maxim, dancer and occasi ...

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 ''Spirit in the System'' is the second studio album from British band The Qemists. The album was released on 7 July 2010 under record label Ninja Tune. On 26 May 2010, the band announced the album was complete. The album artwork was created by ...

'' (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, songwriter, producer, and voice actor, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock bands Faith No More and Mr. Bungle. He has also fronted and/or played with Tomahawk, The ...

) (2008) *"On the Run" (feat.

Jenna G Un-Cut were a British group from Manchester, England, composed of Darren Lewis and Iyiola Babalola from the music production duo Future Cut, and vocalist Jenna Gibbons (Jenna G). Prior to forming Un-Cut, their first collaboration was in 2001 ...

) (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.

) (2011) *"No More" (2013) *"Run You" (2016) *"Anger" (feat. Kenta Koie of

Crossfaith Crossfaith ( Japanese: クロスフェイス) is a Japanese metalcore band from Osaka that was formed in 2006, which currently consists of vocalist Kenta Koie, guitarists Kazuki Takemura and Daiki Koide, drummer Tatsuya Amano, and keyboardist T ...

) (2016) *"Takeover" (with

Zardonic Federico Augusto Ágreda Álvarez, best known as Zardonic, is a Venezuelan synthesist, DJ, composer, producer and remixer primarily known for his heavy electronic dance music, dubbed as Venezuela's top DJ act and one of the Top 10 best DJ mas ...

) (2018) *"Crevasse" (2019) *"Feel Alive" (with Prolix) (2019) *"Deep Scars" (with 3D Stas) (2019)

Remixes

– "Everything Is Under Control" – (2005) * Dr. Octagon – "Trees" – (2006) *

– "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 succ ...

feat. Rodney P – "Swords in the Dirt" – (2007) *

The Count & Sinden "Beeper" is the debut single by British music duo the Count & Sinden, featuring vocals from American hip hop artist Kid Sister. The song was released via Domino Records in April 2008. Background and release "Beeper" was released on Switch and S ...

feat.

Kid Sister Melissa Lauren Young (born July 3, 1980), known professionally as Kid Sister, is an American rapper and singer based in Chicago. She is known for her single " Pro Nails", which features Kanye West, and for her covert work as a member of the Bri ...

– " Beeper" – (2008) *

DJ Kentaro Kentaro Okamoto (born c.1982), better known as DJ Kentaro, is a Japanese musician and DJ.''Tuff Kuts'' review, ''The Wire'', 2008, vol. 293-298, p. 70 He won third place in the Technics category of the DMC World DJ Final in 2001 and won it in 200 ...

– "Rainy Day" – (2008) *

– "Atomic Moog" – (2008) *

Innerpartysystem Innerpartysystem (often stylized as InnerPartySystem) is an American electronic rock band. The group consists of Patrick Nissley, Jared Piccone and Wuki, Kris Barman. The band is well known for their live performance lighting largely by Andrew ...

– "

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 Wuki, Kr ...

" – (2008) *

– " No Sleep Tonight" – (2009) *

Steve Aoki Steven Hiroyuki Aoki ( , ; born November 30, 1977) is an American DJ and record producer. In 2012, Pollstar designated Aoki as the highest-grossing electronic dance music artist in North America from tours. In 2024, Gold House recognized him as ...

– " I'm in the House" – (2010) * The Damned – "

Smash It Up "Smash It Up" is a song by English punk rock band The Damned (band), the Damned, released as a single on 12 October 1979 by Chiswick Records. It is considered the band's unofficial anthem. The single was the second release from the band's third ...

" – (2010) * South Central – "The Day I Die" – (2011) *

In Flames In Flames is a Swedish Heavy metal music, heavy metal band, formed by guitarist Jesper Strömblad in Gothenburg in 1990 out of the Swedish death metal, Swedish death metal scene. Their lineup has changed several times, with vocalist Anders Frid ...

– "Where The Dead Ships Dwell" – (2011) *

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) *

– "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 principal vocalist Johnny Gioeli. Crush 40 is best known for producing most soundtracks for the Sonic The Hedgehog series in the 2000s. ...

– "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'' (standing for "Snowboard Supercross") is a series of Snowboarding video games, snowboarding video games Video game publisher, published by EA Sports, created by Steve Rechtschaffner, who is the inventor of the Olympic Games, Olympic snow ...

'' – "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 ''Forza Motorsport 3'' is a 2009 in video gaming, 2009 racing video game developed for Xbox 360 by Turn 10 Studios. It is the sequel to ''Forza Motorsport 2'' and the third installment in the ''Forza'' series. The game includes more than 400 cus ...

'' – "Lost Weekend", "On the Run", "S.W.A.G (Instrumental)" *'' MotorStorm: Arctic Edge'' – "Lost Weekend" *'' Need for Speed: Shift'' – "Lost Weekend" *''

Crackdown 2 ''Crackdown 2'' is a 2010 action-adventure game developed by Ruffian Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released for the Xbox 360 in July 2010 and is a direct sequel to the 2007 video game '' Crackdown''. A sequel, ''Crackdown ...

'' – "Dem Na Like Me", "Smash It Up (The Qemists Remix)", "Affliction", "The Demand" *'' F1 2010'' – "On the Run" *'' F1 2011'' – "Tropicana", "Planet Terror" *''

Forza Motorsport 4 ''Forza Motorsport 4'' is a 2011 racing video game developed by Turn 10 Studios and published by Microsoft Studios for the Xbox 360. It is the fourth installment in the ''Forza'' series. It is the first title in the series to support the Kinect ...

'' – "Take It Back", "Dirty Words", "Your Revolution" *'' GT Racing 2'' - "Don't Lose It", "S.W.A.G" *''

Need for Speed Rivals ''Need for Speed Rivals'' is a 2013 racing video game developed in collaboration between EA Gothenburg, Ghost Games and Criterion Games, and published by Electronic Arts. It is the twentieth installment in the ''Need for Speed'' series, and the ...

'' – "No More" *'' Asphalt 8: Airborne'' – "Be Electric" *''

OlliOlli ''OlliOlli'' is a 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 Windows, OS X and L ...

'' – "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'', the seventh instalment in the ''Forza'' series, and the series' first multi-console instalmen ...

'' – "Renegade" *'' Madden 17'' – "New Design" *''

Gran Turismo Sport ''Gran Turismo Sport'' is a 2017 sim racing video game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. It is the twelfth game in the ''Gran Turismo (series), Gran Turismo'' series. One of ''G ...

'' – "Run You" *''

Onrush ''Onrush'' (stylised as ONRUSH) is a 2018 racing video game developed by Codemasters and published by Deep Silver for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Online servers officially shut down on 30 November 2022. Gameplay ''Onrush'' is an arcade-st ...

'' – "Crevasse" *''

Shadow Generations is a 2024 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. It is the second ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' game to feature Shadow as the protagonist, following ''Shadow the Hedgehog'' (2005). Its story runs parallel to ''Sonic Generations'' ( ...

'' – "Doom Zone"

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Qemists 2004 establishments in England British drum and bass music groups Musical groups established in 2004