Website:
Music Style:
Classic Rock
City:
Black Rock (Melbourne)
State:
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Band Description
Blending classical sensibilities with a twist of Indian culture, Rhett May is a powerful force when it comes to his music. His main appeals are his originality, his message and his powerful lyrics. YES SIR Rock and Roll is alive !!
Additional Band Websites
Artist Biography
The Journey of Rhett May
Rhett May owes his rare musical sound and style to the unique environment that he grew up in. Born in 1950, in Calcutta, India, he was immediately immersed in a magical, musical melting pot. Carnatic and Hindustani music and instruments such as the Sitar and Tabla were always providing melody and percussion against a daily backdrop of lifting and soaring voices of Ragas. Ragas especially played a vital part of Rhett's musical experience with their series of five or more musical notes forming melody. However, this environment of classical Indian music wasn't the only sounds floating about Calcutta in the nineteen-fifties and nineteen sixties.
By the time Rhett had begun boarding school in the Himalayan foothills; western music had also begun an invasion. The cinemas featured musical movies from The Monkees, Cream, or Jimi Hendrix. Elvis and Ricky Nelson's pop also pulsated through the airwaves. Sixties - Seventies - Success…
Rhett's formed his first band, The Wooly Bullys, at the age of 15. Their first taste of fame came in 1966, when they won Battle of the Bands. They became such a hit that they performed many of the venues that were hot at that time, such as Trincas, The Park Hotel and Mocambo's. The Wooly Bullys evolved into a band called The Flint Stones.
The Flint Stones became India's most successful pop group, being featured on the cover of many of the music magazines. The Flint Stones recorded a successful single in “Be Mine (Happy by My Side)” with HMV/EMI and even attracted the attention of former Beatle George Harrison and Apple Records. The band was asked to come to the UK, and was double billed with the likes of legendary jazz guitarist Charlie Bird.
This was a very successful time for Rhett who accompanied his band to play a private concert for the Queen of Bhutan and her family.
This was not the end of May's musical growth, however, only the beginning.
The nineteen sixties were blossoming musically with the addictive melodies and varied styles that were precisely what Rhett loved.
Rhett states, “The sixties got me hooked on bands like The Yardbirds, Steppenwolf, The Beatles, Herman's Hermits … and the list goes on!”
Rhett would carry this heavy influence of the nineteen sixties into his musical future as the underpinning of his musical style. A Saturday Night In “Oz”…
Rhett left his native India in 1969, and would start his music career anew in Australia.
As a solo artist, he would win the Perth Talent Quest whole performing backed by the Troupadours in 1971. However, he wouldn't remain simply a solo artist; Rhett would recreate the same group success he had in India all over again in Australia.
Rhett states, “I got a totally new group of musicians together in 'Oz' - we were doing the 'garage' thing.” This garage band would develop into a successful band which evolved from the “Shakespeare Sarani” to “Prodigy”, and eventually they changed their name to “Lucifer.”
As the decade of the seventies progressed, they opened for bands like QUEEN and Ray Charles.
Rhett's success was about to be changed forever by the “fever” of Saturday Night Fever. The Disco era came suddenly, and it would force Rhett and his band mates to move out of music. The gigs dwindled almost overnight from 13 a week to perhaps one a month and the dance floors became filled with DJs and Disco lights. Rhett's musical career was about to be turned upside down.
Rhett May owes his rare musical sound and style to the unique environment that he grew up in. Born in 1950, in Calcutta, India, he was immediately immersed in a magical, musical melting pot. Carnatic and Hindustani music and instruments such as the Sitar and Tabla were always providing melody and percussion against a daily backdrop of lifting and soaring voices of Ragas. Ragas especially played a vital part of Rhett's musical experience with their series of five or more musical notes forming melody. However, this environment of classical Indian music wasn't the only sounds floating about Calcutta in the nineteen-fifties and nineteen sixties.
By the time Rhett had begun boarding school in the Himalayan foothills; western music had also begun an invasion. The cinemas featured musical movies from The Monkees, Cream, or Jimi Hendrix. Elvis and Ricky Nelson's pop also pulsated through the airwaves. Sixties - Seventies - Success…
Rhett's formed his first band, The Wooly Bullys, at the age of 15. Their first taste of fame came in 1966, when they won Battle of the Bands. They became such a hit that they performed many of the venues that were hot at that time, such as Trincas, The Park Hotel and Mocambo's. The Wooly Bullys evolved into a band called The Flint Stones.
The Flint Stones became India's most successful pop group, being featured on the cover of many of the music magazines. The Flint Stones recorded a successful single in “Be Mine (Happy by My Side)” with HMV/EMI and even attracted the attention of former Beatle George Harrison and Apple Records. The band was asked to come to the UK, and was double billed with the likes of legendary jazz guitarist Charlie Bird.
This was a very successful time for Rhett who accompanied his band to play a private concert for the Queen of Bhutan and her family.
This was not the end of May's musical growth, however, only the beginning.
The nineteen sixties were blossoming musically with the addictive melodies and varied styles that were precisely what Rhett loved.
Rhett states, “The sixties got me hooked on bands like The Yardbirds, Steppenwolf, The Beatles, Herman's Hermits … and the list goes on!”
Rhett would carry this heavy influence of the nineteen sixties into his musical future as the underpinning of his musical style. A Saturday Night In “Oz”…
Rhett left his native India in 1969, and would start his music career anew in Australia.
As a solo artist, he would win the Perth Talent Quest whole performing backed by the Troupadours in 1971. However, he wouldn't remain simply a solo artist; Rhett would recreate the same group success he had in India all over again in Australia.
Rhett states, “I got a totally new group of musicians together in 'Oz' - we were doing the 'garage' thing.” This garage band would develop into a successful band which evolved from the “Shakespeare Sarani” to “Prodigy”, and eventually they changed their name to “Lucifer.”
As the decade of the seventies progressed, they opened for bands like QUEEN and Ray Charles.
Rhett's success was about to be changed forever by the “fever” of Saturday Night Fever. The Disco era came suddenly, and it would force Rhett and his band mates to move out of music. The gigs dwindled almost overnight from 13 a week to perhaps one a month and the dance floors became filled with DJs and Disco lights. Rhett's musical career was about to be turned upside down.
Fast Forward Thirty Years…
Rhett is now a resident of Australia…living by the beach in Black Rock…Melbourne.
The passion and creativity has returned with a vengeance.
Rhett teamed up with Platinum Producers of Musik and Film to create a new EP "Insatiable". in 2013.
There’s no doubt Rhett May is back to his best…with ’Cocktails and Cannabis’, ‘Insatiable’, ‘Hey Peter’ and his latest single ‘Jenny’….setting fire to music charts across the globe….the harbinger of a new era in music that is unique and a breath of fresh air !
NOW.....
Rhett's new album 'Fast Cars and Sitars'...will take you to another level of his passion and creativity.
His guitar led songs are infused with the sounds of the Indian streets, giving his music a different flavour to the majority of current, cookie-cutter rock music.
By blending classic sensibilities with a twist of Indian culture, he has created a string of upcoming singles, the first of which is 'The Violence of Ice'...followed by 'Rich Bitch' ...'Drifting Dreaming'....So Delicious'....WOW !!
As one scribe puts it…”It’s hypnotic…it’s infectious…love songs with an edge that go round and round inside your head….very Haight Ashbury”….
Rhett is now a resident of Australia…living by the beach in Black Rock…Melbourne.
The passion and creativity has returned with a vengeance.
Rhett teamed up with Platinum Producers of Musik and Film to create a new EP "Insatiable". in 2013.
There’s no doubt Rhett May is back to his best…with ’Cocktails and Cannabis’, ‘Insatiable’, ‘Hey Peter’ and his latest single ‘Jenny’….setting fire to music charts across the globe….the harbinger of a new era in music that is unique and a breath of fresh air !
NOW.....
Rhett's new album 'Fast Cars and Sitars'...will take you to another level of his passion and creativity.
His guitar led songs are infused with the sounds of the Indian streets, giving his music a different flavour to the majority of current, cookie-cutter rock music.
By blending classic sensibilities with a twist of Indian culture, he has created a string of upcoming singles, the first of which is 'The Violence of Ice'...followed by 'Rich Bitch' ...'Drifting Dreaming'....So Delicious'....WOW !!
As one scribe puts it…”It’s hypnotic…it’s infectious…love songs with an edge that go round and round inside your head….very Haight Ashbury”….
Press Release
Rhett May – ‘Fast Cars and Sitars’
by Skope • December 28, 2015
Rhett May has put together his best effort yet, in my opinion, with ‘Fast Cars And Sitars’ where the recording quality is top of the line. Vocally & musically, Rhett May has outdone himself on his latest release. ‘Fast Cars and Sitars’ is pure perfectionwhere Rhett’s Indian roots meet Rock & Roll fever. Whether you like guitars or sitars, John Lennon or Ravi Shankar—in the words of Billy Joel “It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me”. And Rhett May does a beautiful job of blending the two worlds together on ‘Fast Cars And Sitars’.
All songs were recorded and produced by Rhett May & James Payne and all vocals & instruments were provided by Rhett May and James Payne. There are 10 songs featured on ‘Fast Cars And Sitars’ and honestly every single song is phenomenal. I can’t pick out stand-out tracks here because each song is great in its own right and each has its own unique flavor. Overall, I’d say this album is an awesome throwback to the classic rock scene where the listener will hear groovin’ rhythms, psychedelic elements and steady rock tones ‘n’ beats. Many of the tracks on ‘Fast Cars And Sitars’ have a slowed-down rock tempo that was originally made famous by the one and only Pink Floyd.
“Rich Bitch” Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSd24mXyjsA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSd24mXyjsA
My overall reaction to this record is that the music is infectious & captivating to the point where the total sound will stick to you like crazy glue! It’s cool, it’s hip, it’s catchy, it’s classic, it’s convincing and it’s powerful; Rhett May has got you covered from beginning to end. The first single off of ‘Fast Cars And Sitars’, “The Violence of Ice”, has done extremely well since being released where the song won Best Rock Ballad by Akademia
(http://www.theakademia.com/november2015_bestsong_rockballad4.html) and “The Violence of Ice” also picked up two awards by Beat100.com for Top Production, Music Video and Song Quality. I couldn’t agree more with these accolades as “The Violence of Ice” is a potent anthem that brings awareness to the dangers of this drug. Primarily targeting women and children and the harm & damage that Ice causes, Rhett May has created a world here that is both melancholy and rockin’ all at the same time. Throw in some rad voice/audio effects on “The Violence of Ice” and you have yourself one complete & dynamite tune. And it’s worth nothing that the music video for “The Violence of Ice” is approaching 65,000 views on YouTube! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO1QgUu9oxw)
(http://www.theakademia.com/november2015_bestsong_rockballad4.html) and “The Violence of Ice” also picked up two awards by Beat100.com for Top Production, Music Video and Song Quality. I couldn’t agree more with these accolades as “The Violence of Ice” is a potent anthem that brings awareness to the dangers of this drug. Primarily targeting women and children and the harm & damage that Ice causes, Rhett May has created a world here that is both melancholy and rockin’ all at the same time. Throw in some rad voice/audio effects on “The Violence of Ice” and you have yourself one complete & dynamite tune. And it’s worth nothing that the music video for “The Violence of Ice” is approaching 65,000 views on YouTube! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO1QgUu9oxw)
The next track and single is “Rich Bitch” where you’re getting a real 70s-styled rocker that’s loose and so much fun to listen to. And the music video for “Rich Bitch” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=ZSd24mXyjsA) is just as good where it will be sure to stimulate your senses of sight and hearing. “Drifting Dreaming” is the third installment on ‘Fast Cars And Sitars’ and has such a catchy, calm & cool tone that will put your mind, body and soul at ease. Not to mention the voice/audio effects are so appealing and pop out at you helping bring “Drifting Dreaming” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=ZSd24mXyjsA) to life. “So Delicious” dishes out a very appetizing style of sound that is radio-friendly all the way while Track 8, “Grim Reaper”, is one rock and roll gem that provides a WOW factor. That heavy Indian influence comes through loud & clear on “Cute Calcutta Boy” and also on track nine, “I Am Everywhere” that also displays some super sweet melodies ‘n’ harmonies. You get one hell of a groove on “My Baby’s Got Style” that hooks you in immediately and comes across as one sharp dressed song. Rhett May closes in style on “Black Widow” strumming out some overly catchy guitar riffs that stand out in a BIG way and prove that Rhett May is a BAD man!
‘Fast Cars And Sitars’ and Rhett May have been featured & spotlighted on 3000 Records, which is an independent record company. Rhett should be very proud of this album as I think it’s his best work to date and an absolute pleasure to hear. Everything works on this record from A-Z as Rhett May and James Payne created pure magic & lightning in a bottle here. ‘Fast Cars And Sitars’ should be heard and appreciated by millions with 10 rock-solid songs that are way too good to pass by.
No hay comentarios:
Deja tu comentario: