ESPAÑOL
En 2005 José Ángel "Yusepe" Herranz, Javier "Skunk" Gómez y Santi "Sweetfingers" Martín, sección rítmica de Celofunk, tras acompañar a Carlo Coupé en su proyecto instrumental Funxplosion, deciden montar una nueva banda con cantante solista. Recomiendan a Mayka Edjo con la que habían trabajado en Disky Wick y otros proyectos. Coupé queda asombrado cuando la ve cantar así que deciden invitarla a unirse al grupo y pronto comienzan a ensayar en formación de quinteto. La cosa empieza enseguida a funcionar y rápidamente Coupé propone grabar un single, I got you man!. Editado sólo en vinilo y bajo su pequeño sello Funkorama, se convierte en un hit de culto en la escena deepfunk underground y es pinchado por Keb Darge, Florian Keller y otros muchos DJ's reconocidos mundialmente. Todo se precipita tras la invitación al Soul Ascension Festival de Berlín en el mítico club Lovelite. The Sweet Vandals dan un concierto memorable cuya grabación es colgada por Florian Keller en su programa de radio por Internet (Party Keller). Además contactan con Henry Storch y comienzan a hablar la posibilidad de grabar un álbum para su sello Unique. En seguida se ponen a componer y empiezan las sesiones de grabación el el modesto sótano de Santi "Sweetfingers" Martín.
Tras acabar la producción del álbum Carlo Coupé abandona la banda y es sustituido por Julián Maeso. Comienza entonces un rosario de conciertos que les lleva por Alemania, Francia, Suiza, Portugal, Austria, Bélgica, Grecia, Finlandia, Turquía, México, Reunión (África) e Inglaterra entre otros lugares. Actúan en importantes festivales como el Pori Jazz Festival en Finlandia, el Ollinkan en México o el Blue Note Festival en Francia y comparten escenario con artistas de la talla de Maceo Parker, Tower of Power, Sharon Jones, Keziah Jones o Seun Kuti. Además consiguen entrar en el mundo de la publicidad en televisión musicando anuncios de Nike y Fiat. "Beautiful" se convierte en un gran éxito en los países donde se ha emitido, como Reino Unido en Italia. Son incluidos en multitud de recopilaciones para diversos sellos discográficos y licencian en Francia el álbum con la potente discográfica Differ-ant. Finalmente Julián Maeso decide abandonar la banda para centrarse en sus proyectos personales y es sustituido por Santiago Vallejo, también de la formación original de Disky Wick.
A finales de 2008 empiezan a trabajar lo que será su segundo álbum: Lovelite.
Lovelite es editado el 27 de marzo de 2009 y su premier se realiza en los estudios Maida Vale de la BBC (Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Coldplay, The White Stripes.etc). El disco, con muy buena acogida por parte de la crítica y público, profundiza y define aún más el sonido de la banda. Incidiendo sobre todo en la faceta más soul del grupo, pero sin descuidar ese raw funk que les hizo destacar del resto de bandas del estilo. Grabado íntegramente analógico, autoproducido y con colaboraciones de lujo es sin duda un paso adelante en la evolución de The Sweet Vandals. Presentan el álbum en las principales ciudades Europeas (Paris, Berlín, Colonia, Atenas, etc) y en Madrid consiguen un lleno espectacular en su presentación en la sala Caracol, dejando a gente en la calle con un sold out sin precedentes para un grupo de su estilo y sin ningún apoyo discográfico.
A mitad de 2010 comienzan a componer y a grabar lo que será su tercer trabajo, desarrollado a la par que su estudio Funkameba studios y su sello discográfico Sweet Records. Con fecha de lanzamiento a finales de mayo de 2011 se presenta como un nuevo paso en la evolución del grupo, explorando nuevos territorios sonoros pero con los mismos ingredientes de siempre, un sonido crudo y natural y todo el proceso de grabación rigurosamente analógico. Pronto tendremos un adelanto en formato single y se anunciarán las presentaciones por toda España y otros paises a lo largo del 2011.
ENGLISH
The Sweet Vandals were founded in 2005, Jose "Yusepe" Herranz, Santi "Sweetfingers" Martin and Javier "Skunk" Gomez (Celofunk, Disky Wick rhythm section) were playing with Carlo Coupe's instrumental band Funxplotion. All together decided to start a new project. They needed a singer and the first three recommended Mayka Edjole who had sung with them in the good all times of Disky Wick. Carlo was amazed and deeply impressed the first time he watched her singing so the band was ready to start the rehearsals as a quintet. Things happened fast and easy and Carlo proposed to record their first single "I Got You Man" in his small independent label Funkorama. It was released only in a 45 Vynil and it became a hit in the deepfunk scene, it was spinned by some of the most influential Djs as Keb Darge or Florian Keller. They were invited to play in the first Soul Ascension Festival in Berlin at Lovelite Club, since then everything begun to roll quickly, they rocked the venue with an unforgettable gig recorded by Jochen Stroh and uploaded by Florian in his Internet Radio Show Party Keller. They also met Henry Storch and a few months later were signed to release their first album with his label Unique Records. They went on writing and rehearsing and eventually recorded at Sweetfingers's basement in Madrid.
After producing the album Coupe left the band and Julian Maeso took his place. Then they toured constantly all through Europe; they played in Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, UK, Austria, etc… They also played in festivals like Ollinkan in Mexico DF, Pori Jazz in Finland, Blue Note in Paris, Womad in Reding or Sakifo in Reunion Island among others. They shared the stage with great artists such as Neneh Cherry, Maceo Parker, Tower of Power, Seau Kuti, Keziah Jones, Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings and so on. Their music has been chosen for commercial adverts by Fiat and Nike making a big impact in countries like Great Britain, Italy, France or Turkey. Their songs can be found in lots of compilations, their albums are licensed in several territories like in France by Differ-Ant and they have released five 45's, their first love.
After a year of hard work Julian Maeso left the band to have more time for his own projects and Santi "Diamond" Vallejo also member of Disky Wick took the Hammond.
While touring, in 2008 they started working in their second album, released on March 2009 and called Lovelite as a homage for the Berliner club where they started their international career and as a homage to all the clubs where they built up the band. The international premier was at BBC Maida Vale studios ( The Beatles, Jimmy Hendrix, Coldplay…) The album had a big impact on both the media and their audience, they opened the style to more soulful tunes without forgetting the raw, energetic funk they came from. It was recorded also 100% analogic, mixed and produced by themselves at their own new studio with great collaborations. No doubt, it was a step forward in TSV sound and writing evolution. They had release parties in several European cities such as Berlin, Paris, Athens, etc… with great response from the public and the Media and several sold outs. They also sold out in Madrid at Sala Caracol, a success without precedent for a band of their style and with no label support in their own country.
Throughout 2010 they have been focused in the writing and recording of their third album and developing their studio: Funkameba Studios and their own label: Sweet Records. The album will be released by Unique Records in May 2011 and it will go on search of their own sound, exploring new sound territories but keeping the organic, warm, pleasant and timeless analogical way of work. Real music with no digital tricks played, from real musicians for true listeners.
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