Ladybear's Catch 22 situation (From Elmbridge Guardian)

Ladybear's Catch 22 situation

5:00pm Thursday 26th November 2009

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With a father who has worked with The Who, and a brother who has played with bands including Muse and The Streets, it is perhaps unsurprising that Twickenham’s Amy Nicholls has also ended up in the music business, writes Claire Fox.

Last week her band, Ladybear, launched their debut album, Catch 22. Their music is described as having the hard and exciting elements of modern rock without compromising on emotional content.

So how much help can such a successful father and brother provide, between them having worked with some of the biggest acts in the business?

Nicholls says: “My brother is away alot but, when he’s around, he tries to give us constructive criticism. He is still a local, still a Richmondite.

“They try to steer me in the right direction, particularly with the business side of things.”

Ladybear’s origins go back to Twickenham’s Orleans Park School, where Nicholls met fellow bandmate and long-term partner Louis Mathews.

The pair began writing together and eventually teamed up with third and final bandmate, John Martin.

Nicholls says: “John was a gift from a friend. We put the call out that we needed a drummer and they suggested John.

“He has been an absolute rock and kept us all together, as a good drummer should.

“There are also lots of people who have helped us along the way but they are are all in other bands, too, so we have to rotate them.

“Jonny Barnard, from The Fades, is also on this recording of the album.”

Ladybear launched the album last Friday at The Troubadour, in Earl’s Court.

Nicholls explains: “The album has been 18 months in the making.  We have worked really hard trying to fit it in with busy schedules but suddenly it is all done.

“I am very pleased with it. I didn’t think it was ever going to sound as good as it does.  “At first, I was going to try to get signed and go the traditional route and then I thought, no, I’m going to do it myself, the hard way. It just felt right doing it this way.

“Plans for the future are to plough straight on with a second album. I will definitely get back to writing. I might give the band a little break first, though.” 

Catch 22, Ladybear’s debut album, will be available for download through the band’s website, ladybear.co.uk

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