NEW
GIG ANNOUNCED
Our assault of
Stockholm continues on 16 July at the Black Carpet.
Check
www.blackcarpetstockholm.se
for full details.
May 2014
HOS TO
ROCK PUB ANCHOR We are delighted
to say we will once again be playing the finest rock bar
in Stockholm, the always awesome Pub Anchor on 12 June
2014. Be there, its as simple as that.
REHEARSALS STILL ONGOING Such is the dedication to
making our upcoming gigs this year the best we can
deliver we are still deeply ensconced in the rehearsal
room.
^ RAWWWKKKKK!!!!!
^ Anders doing his finest
Nigel Tufnel impression.
March 2014
In case you don't follow us
on
the
book of face (if so why not?) then here's an
overview of what's been happening so far in 2014.
REHEARSALS IN PROGRESS
We have just started live rehearsals for live dates in
2014.
If you are in the vicinity of Stockholm, Sweden in July this year, you don't wanna
miss this festival!
So book now! Along with bunch of other great bands,
we'll promise you a vacation you'll never forget!!
"PAY TO
PLAY" REVIEWS STILL COMING IN...
Rocktopia posted a
new and very nice review for "Pay to Play"!
By Carl Buxton "An album House Of Shakira can be proud of."
"The title track has a double meaning with their veiled
tongue-in-cheek attack on the current music business
where bands have to buy onto tours or gigs..."
The legendary Janne Stark (THE walking encyclopaedia
of Swedish rock and metal) reviewed PTP on his blog page
"All in all this actually turns out to be one of the
strongest HoS albums to date, in my opinion. A perfect
mix of melody and riffing, a great crispy mix, performed
with excellence."
USA, WE WILL BE IN YOU IN 2014!
We are delighted to announce that we will be playing at
Melodic Rock Fest 4 in Chicago on 4 October 2014.
Keep upto date with latest band additions etc @
http://www.facebook.com/melodicrockfest
HOS
WILL ROCK VASBY ROCK FESTIVAL 2014
We are also delighted to announce we will playing at
Vasby Rock Festival in 2014, full info/tickets etc
@
http://www.vasbyrockfestival.se
INTERVIEWS
Andreas has the pleasure of discussing "Pay To
Play" with the delightful people at Rock United.com,
read it all @
http://www.rockunited.com/hos_ptp.htm
October 2013
THIS
MONTH'S HAPPENINGS
What's been happening for
HOS since the last update?
As the Autumn nights draw in and the temperatures begin
to drop more great reviews for "Pay To Play" continue to
come in...
HOUSE OF
SHAKIRA SIGN TO BOOKING/MGMT COMPANY DOT MUSIC:
We are proud to announce a
new deal with Booking and management company DOT Music
in Sweden Enquiries and bookings to:
niclas@dotmusic.se
NEW ALBUM
"PAY TO PLAY" OUT THIS MONTH!
Our awesome new album "Pay
To Play" is released on 23rd September via MelodicRock
Records with a digital release to follow 2 weeks later
on 7 October 2013.
"There is a call to
action feeling of each track. Most of the songs are
upbeat and fun, and that makes you want to bang your
head and tap your foot. “Draw the Line” has very good
riffs and such an anthem-like sound with the combination
of the members singing the lyrics. “Dog Eat Dog” is
another amazing track that makes you instantly want to
sing along. The riff catches your attention, and then,
the song continues to build to keep your appeal. The
“hey, hey, hey, hey” within the lyrics keep the buoyant
sound alive by making you want to thrust a fist into the
air as you sing along. “Talk of the Town” starts out
with a higher pitch of voices singing, and there is an
initial riff that gets more and more intense as the song
plays on. The voices lose the higher pitch and the
attitude of the song sets in. It continues to give the
album the attraction that has been expected by this
expert band. Overall, each song does the album justice.
There is not a song that doesn't disappoint the classic
rock roots or the new sounds you hear today. There is
something enjoyable on this album for everyone. The
sound is right, the instruments provide the right amount
of balance, and the lyrics are amusing and fit well in
combination. This is definitely a recommended album." 8/10 ~ Jenn Carbaugh, Hard Rock Haven
www.hardrockhaven.net/online/2013/09/house-of-shakira-pay-to-play-cd-review
"House of Shakira are part of the Melodic Rock scene
since 1997. Their albums “Lint” and “III” were some of
the best Scandinavian Melodic Rock albums released in
the late 1990's. Due to some label- and line-up problems
the band got out of step in the last years, but with the
new album the band finally picks up some courage. “Pay
To Play” can't keep up with the aforementioned albums,
but with good songs like “Bending The Law”, “Dog Eat
Dog” or “Talk Of The Town” the band is back on track
again! Give HOS a second chance and give “Pay To Play” a
try… " Marco Spath, AOR Heaven
Newsletter.
"The recruitment of ex-Mind's Eye singer Andreas
Novak has been an inspired move for these Swedes. Pay To
Pay is the group's seventh album in total, their second
with Novak. With songs that mock industry injustice,
peer plagiarism and the usual relationship issues, it's
a spirited, playful and irresistible romp."
8/10 ~ Dave Ling, Classic Rock
Magazine.
In addition on the release
day we have a release party booked. All are welcome.
PAY
TO PLAY RELEASE PARTY DETAILS
Date: Monday, 23 September 2013
Time: 19:00 in UTC+02
Location: Obaren, Stureplan, Stockholm, Sweden
Doors open: 19.00
Stage show: 21.30
Admission: No charge at the door!!!
Special release price for new album "Pay to Play" at
event.
Also very special price for all other merchandise.
It's not yet 18 months since
their critically acclaimed House Of Shakira album "HoS"
hit the market, but the band has been working on a
sequel ever since. It's about time to let the new opus
"Pay to Play" see the light of day. And MelodicRock
Records is going to be the label to deliver this new
classic to the masses.
The upcoming seventh studio release marks the second CD
with lead singer Andreas Novak, and is accordingly their
best album so far. The band chose a small label, in
order to maintain highest priority throughout the
process, instead of falling between the lines in the
hands of a bigger label.
Says frontman Andreas Novak: "MelodicRock Records is
our weapon of choice, whose enthusiasm we trust with our
lives. I'm proud to say this is by far the best release
I've ever been involved in. This album has been a true
pleasure and walk in the park to compose, since we're
immune to pressure. It's all for the love of good music.
Fame and fortune should not be anybody's goal - then it
becomes an obstacle instead. We just wanna play."
March 2013
NEW ALBUM IN THE WORKS
Ok it's been a while since
the last update but we can confirm we haven't been
slacking off in that time, instead we've been working on
the next album which should see release in 2013.
More details to come soon. In the meantime check out
some live action from last year.
September 2012
LIVE AT
LAST ON A LEGENDARY NIGHT!
House of Shakira got the
honour of opening for Legends - Voices of Rock (Steve
Augeri, Bill Champlin, Fergie Fredriksen) in Stockholm
on 24 of August.
Venue Kägelbanan has a nice, cosy club feeling to it and
the placed was crammed with enthusiastic music lovers.
The roof took off as the band opened with "Brick Wall
Falling" from their latest album "HoS". A smiling,
cheering crowd made it all an unforgettable gig. 30
minutes and 8 songs later, House of Shakira left the
stage on fire, for the following headlining legends.
Some images from the
night...
Anders about to bribe Steve Augeri for Neal
Schon's guitar secrets.
Live and in yer face.
Andreas nailing mic stand pose #71
...before sliding effortlessly into mic stand
pose #134
You won't like Basse when's he's angry.
Mr Larsson is there on drums in the sea of red
light.
Andreas finding time to admire Kägelbanan's fine
interior architecture.
Sammy Hagar might think there's only one way to
rock, here HOS give you three.
Mats showing off his custom guitar.
Vocal harmonies? Yep we got 'em.
Mats remembering the need for a stomp box
change.
Quasi devil horns at a HOS gig? cool :)
"Fall to your knees and repent if you please".
The home stretch...
August 2012
LIVE DATE
CONFIRMED
Its been a long time coming
but we are pleased to announce a new live date.
House of Shakira will
proudly open for Legends - Voices of Rock on August 24
in Stockholm, along with three other Swedish rock bands.
You don't wanna miss it!
UNRELEASED TRACK FEATURED ON MELODICROCK.COM COMPILATION
We are pleased to have
contributed the unused track from the "HoS" sessions to
the new melodicrock.com MRCD9 compilation "15 Years
Later".
Like what you hear? Head over the store and put a copy
in your shopping cart.
May 2012
CARRY MY
LOAD PROMO VIDEO
Second of three promo videos
over the coming weeks is now available, share at will.
ANDREAS
NOVAK INTERVIEW ON METAL MESSIAH RADIO
Andreas spoke to
DJ Syn of Metal Messah Radio all about his entry to the
band, not to mention a few words on the new album and
his desire to support Van Halen. Here it in its
entirety at
http://djsyn2.podomatic.com/entry/2012-03-17T13_14_48-07_00
ZODIAC MANIAC PROMO VIDEO
The first of three
promo videos over the next three months is unveiled.
Enjoy and please spread!
April 2012
PROMO
VIDEOS IN THE WORKS
The past weekend (14-15
April) has seen us shoot 3 promo videos for tracks from
the current "HoS" album. The first will be ready
for unveiling in a few weeks time but until then we'll
keep you guessing on what tracks are getting the
treatment.
Andreas prepares his "moves" for shooting.
Mats felt that 1 amp and guitar wasn't quite
"Tap" enough.
Anders also felt the need to go a little "Tufnel".
Rabbit caught in the headlights impression?
Check.
Andreas prepares for the money shot!
Drummers.... what can you say?
GREAT REVIEWS CONTINUE TO COME IN
Like this one from the world famous journalist Janne
Stark
On the 26th of January 2012, House of Shakira threw a
release party to celebrate their new album "HoS". The
album has received stunning reviews and the band proved
why, as hundreds of old and new fans showed up and
supported them at Pub Anchor in Stockholm, Sweden.
We performed the majority of
the album live, and the CD was sold at very special
price. Also previous members showed up and shared the
evening, such as Andreas Eklund, Per Schelander Tony
Andersson, Bernt Ek and Michael "Zifa" Ericson. The band
enjoyed signing the CD, talking to the guests and
actually had a beer or two…
Andreas Novak comments, “It was a pleasure to meet
and greet new and old fans, especially to talk to some
of the guys that was in the band way before me. Trying
out the new tracks live, in front of an enthusiastic
crowd was a real kick, thanks everybody that showed up!”.
Mats Hallstensson added, “We were a bit nervous of
how people would react on the “new HoS” but everything
went fine and it was a great evening. It was very fun
playing with the newcomers, I really enjoyed myself."
January 2012
RELEASE PARTY REPORT
A big thanks to
everyone that showed up at the release party last
night!! We had a blast and hope that everybody enjoyed
it. The new album is now out, see you out there in a
near future.
NEW ALBUM 'HOS'
NOW ON ITUNES & CDBABY
The digital
version of the new album is now available on all leading
digital platforms.
NEW
WEBSITE UNVEILED AND NEW ALBUM RELEASE PARTY!
Welcome to the new House of Shakira website. Most
of the basics are present and more features will be
added over the course of time. If there is
anything you want to see that's missing fire us an
email.
NEW
ALBUM RELEASED 27-01-2012
Yes the wait is over. Our new album featuring new
members Andreas Novak, Basse Blyberg and Martin Larsson
sees release on 27 January 2012 via Lion Music. We
are delighted with the results and superb press is
coming all the time.
INTERVIEWS + PRESS Look out for
interviews in Sweden Rock magazine, Rock It magazine
(Germany), Rock Tribune (Benelux), Fireworks (UK) and
many more webzines.
Some excerpts from
leading rock/metal webzines:
An
album that I am sure will make a few year end best of
lists. Fans of the band are in for a treat and if you
have never tried this band before, what are you waiting
for?
www.getreadytorock.com
Hopefully it won’t be forgotten
when it comes time for websites and magazines to make up
their top ten releases of 2012 as it surely will be one
of them.
www.hardrockhaven.net
It’s a “gotta own album” if you
are just like me; weak for melodic rock with a lot of
guitars, marvellous melodies, clean high male vocals and
perfect production. www.powerofmetal.dk
This the sound of a band
revitalised and perhaps with a point to prove in 2012.
Fans of honest hard rock with a strong dose of melody
are well advised to check this out pronto. A contender
for melodic rock album of the year already.
www.virtuosityone.com
HoS is a welcome return to form
for House of Shakira. Here's a strong and diverse album
of edgier melodic hard rock from a fine band.
Recommended. www.dangerdog.com
Pay To Play
MelodicRock Records
23 September 2013 (CD)
7 October 2013 (DIGITAL)
