For The Art it began in Newtown, Sydney where singer Azaria and bass player KJ shared a house and started a band, establishing themselves quickly within the local underground scene under the name of ‘The Follow’. Their edgy, fast paced live shows gained not only local success, but also caught the attention of Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) who produced their first album and invited them to tour Australia with Sonic Youth.
Riding on an early wave of success, The Follow decided to test the waters and try their luck in moving to America. With the move came new members, a new name and sound. Changing their name to The Art the band independently recorded and released a self titled EP, produced by Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Silverchair, INXS, Yeah Yeah Yeah's, etc.) They then took the road, playing SXSW and 40 dates coast to coast across the US. The Art’s ever increasing fanbase saw them regularly selling out venues in LA such as The Troubadour, The Viper Room, Whiskey A Go Go, The Roxy and Spaceland. Under great guidance from manager Richard
Bishop ( 3AM ) and LA booker and ex Guns N' Roses manager, Vicky Hamilton, who fell in love with the band a year earlier when she booked them for their very first show on Hollywood Blvd, The Art were invited on their second US tour later that year (15 dates) starting in St Louis, to NY and finishing in Austin Texas, where they stayed to record their first album as The Art with producer Frenchie Smith (Jet, Trail of Dead, The Dandy Warhols).
Now armed with a new album ‘Here Comes The War’. The Art came back to Australia in late 2009 to nationally support Marilyn Manson, followed on to play the Big Day Out and open for Them Crooked Vultures. Without missing a beat they scored the national Australian and NZ tour with one of their biggest influences, The Pixies on the ‘Dolittle’ 20 year Anniversary Tour. The band stayed on the road throughout the year supporting 30 Seconds to Mars and The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, in conjunction with their first headlining tour of Australia
as The Art.
The Art are more then happy to be back home and have wasted no time signing a deal with Silverback Records and Insomnia Management and put the wheels into motion for the release of their new album “Here Comes The War’ in February 2011. Fresh off another international band tour support across Australia with Linkin Park late 2010, The Art are focused and ready to take over the new decade.
THE ART -
Azaria – vocals and guitars, KJ– bass and vocals, Jak – Guitars, Yoshi – Drums