This is Devotees Alternative power pop/rock focusing above all on The Song: Three-part harmony vocals, a playfully thumping rhythm section and as-hard-rocking-as-possible guitarwork are the main ingredients, with Buddy Salomonson's lead vocals giving the melodic guitar-based songs just that little bit extra.
Early Beginnings Buddy (lead vocals, guitar) and Martin van Schaik (bass) laid the foundation for Devotees way back in the 1980's, exploring the fine line between indie and electronica as a wave-duo-cum-drumcomputer. Halfway during the 1990's, 'Roland' was replaced by Thijs Gouwerok (drums, backing vocals), whose Bonham-influenced handling of the sticks brought a (guess what...) heavier rock-sound to Buddy & Martin's music.
A New Millennium It’s 2004, and Buddy's mate Rasjad Addison (guitar, backing vocals) arrives in The Netherlands from Christchurch, New Zealand, bringing his songwriting skills to the band soon to be called Devotees. What followed was a year of hard work and great fun, creating a new repertoire and sound; mostly at the rehearsal rooms of The Jam in Amsterdam, but sometimes also acoustically in Thijs' living room, giving the band a chance to get 'up close & personal' with the songs and to make sure each song would get the sound and arrangement it deserved. Next up were some gigs, acoustically as well as plugged IN (very much so...), with Devotees having the honour to be the very first band to play the new Patronaat in Haarlem in August 2005.
Forging Ahead On a misty Sunday in November 2005, three songs were recorded at Studio Peggy51 in Ouderkerk a/d Amstel for a first demo CD, showcasing the kind of music Devotees can and wants to play: The epic thunder of 'Look BeforeYou Leap', the staccato power pop of 'She's In Love' and the semi-acoustic semi-ballad 'Run Away' make up the first part of what is to become a full album of 10 to 12 songs, to be released in the summer of 2006. For the time being, the first EP, called 'Look Before You Leap', and the second called 'No Divide' are available for free. Enjoy!
