View text source at Wikipedia

Is Tropical

Is Tropical
Background information
OriginLondon, England
GenresIndietronica, electronic rock, new rave
Years active2009–present
LabelsPrevious Kitsuné/Cooperative Music / Present Axis Mundi Records
MembersSimon Milner
Gary Barber
Dominic Apa
Kirstie Fleck
Websitewww.istropical.com

Is Tropical are a band from London, England, with members as of 2014 including Simon Milner, Gary Barber, Dominic Apa, and Kirstie Fleck. Formed in 2009 as a trio, in June 2011 they released their debut album Native To, preceded by the single "The Greeks", which had a music video win awards at the UK Music Video Awards. Their first EP, Flags, was released in 2013, while their second album I'm Leaving was released that year on the label Kitsuné. They have toured with bands such as Egyptian Hip Hop, and are signed to Axis Mundi Records in New York. The band's third album, Black Anything, was released in March 2016.

History

[edit]

2009-13: Native To

[edit]

Formed in London in 2009, the band released their debut single "When O’ When" on Hit Club Records in January 2010, produced by Al Al Al. They were soon signed to French music and fashion label Kitsuné. The band entered the studio in the autumn of 2010 with Jimmy Robertson to record their debut album, and released the single "South Pacific" in Jan 2011. This second release and first for their new label Kitsuné / Cooperative Music, was mixed by LEXXX. Around this time they toured the UK and Europe as special guests of Klaxons, The Big Pink, Mystery Jets, Good Shoes and also co-headlined a tour with Egyptian Hip Hop.

In June 2011 they released their debut album Native to, preceded by the single "The Greeks". "The Greeks" was accompanied by a video directed by French directors Megaforce, which quickly went viral (almost 3,500,000 plays to date on YouTube, and over 10,000,000 on Chinese YouTube)[citation needed]. The video was critically praised and has won several awards such as The Antville Music Video Awards 2011, UK Music Video Awards 2011, D&AD Yellow Pencil Award 2012, and an Artrocker Award. After the release of Native to and of single "Lies", the band spent rest of 2011 and part of 2012 touring Europe, USA (with Crystal Fighters), Japan, South America and the Far East.

2013-14: Flags and I'm Leaving

[edit]

In January 2013, Is Tropical released an EP, titled Flags, featuring artists Get People, Visions, Drugzndreamz, Goodbye Leopold and Owen Pratt.

The band released their second album I’m Leaving on 20 May 2013 on Kitsune / Pias. The album was produced by Luke Smith. The first single taken from the album is "Dancing Anymore", accompanied by a video by previous collaborators Megaforce, which gained notoriety and was removed from YouTube within hours of its release due to its graphic depiction of imagined sexual acts between a young man and naked CG characters. The second single, 'Lover's Cave' was released on 26 August 2013. The video was directed by cult New York photographer Richard Kern.

In April 2013, Is Tropical became one of the first Western bands to play in Mongolia. Their trip was filmed by Noisey with a 2 parts documentary and in an article by The Guardian.[1]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

Antville Music Video Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011 "The Greeks" Video of the Year Won
Most Fun Nominated
Best Editing Nominated
Best Visual Effects Nominated
2013 "Dancing Anymore" Nominated
Most Fun Nominated

D&AD Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2012 "The Greeks" Music Video Yellow Pencil
2014 "Dancing Anymore" Yellow Pencil

UK Music Video Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011 "The Greeks" Best Animation Won
Best Rock/Indie Video - UK Won
2013 "Dancing Anymore" Nominated
Best Animation Nominated

Discography

[edit]

LPs

[edit]

Native To

[edit]
Native To
Studio album by
Is Tropical
Released13 June 2011[2]
LabelKitsuné[3]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork Media[3]
Consequence of Sound[4]
NME[5]
Drowned in Sound[6]
BBCPositive[2]
No.TitleLength
1."South Pacific"3:40
2."Land of the Nod"2:43
3."Lies"3:26
4."The Greeks"3:39
5."What???"4:00
6."Clouds"3:40
7."Take My Chances"3:36
8."Oranges"3:57
9."Berlin"3:13
10."Think We're Alone"3:11
11."Zombie"3:53
12."Seasick Mutiny"4:10

I'm Leaving

[edit]
I'm Leaving
Studio album by
IS TROPICAL
Released20 May 2013
LabelKitsuné
No.TitleLength
1."Lover's Cave"3:36
2."Dancing Anymore"5:18
3."Lilith"3:44
4."Leave The Party"3:36
5."Cry"3:56
6."Sun Sun"2:41
7."Video"4:13
8."All Night"3:33
9."Toulouse"2:48
10."Yellow Teeth"7:01

Black Anything

[edit]
Black Anything
Studio album by
IS TROPICAL
Released11 March 2016
LabelAxis Mundi Records
No.TitleLength
1."Lights On"3:17
2."Crawl"3:33
3."Cruise Control"3:42
4."Fall"4:01
5."On My Way"5:44
6."Follow the Sun"2:54
7."Now Stop"4:09
8."Say"3:29
9."Believe"5:14
10."What You Want"3:36

EPs

[edit]

Flags EP

[edit]
Flags EP
Studio album by
IS TROPICAL
Released22 January 2013
LabelKitsuné
No.TitleLength
1."Mexico feat. Goodbye Leopold"3:49
2."Oi Peru"4:27
3."Maria's Colombia"3:44
4."Venezuela feat. Get People"3:30

Singles

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Mumford, Gwylim (17 May 2013). "No sleep till Ulan Bator!". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b Hawkins, Si (7 July 2011). "Is Tropical Native To Review". BBC. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b Harvey, Eric (8 August 2011). "Is Tropical: Native To". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  4. ^ Rearick, Lauren (24 October 2011). "Album Review: Is Tropical – Native To". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  5. ^ Wright, Lisa (14 June 2011). "Album Review: Is Tropical - 'Native To'". NME. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  6. ^ Leivers, Dannii (13 June 2011). "Release: Is Tropical Native To". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Is Tropical.

www.istropical.com