Serena Maneesh
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202306295
2008-03-31T15:02:00Z
84.208.121.43
/* Biography */
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| Name = Serena Maneesh
| Img = Serena Maneesh live.jpg
| Img_capt = Serena Maneesh playing live in Australia. {{nowrap|From left:}} Eivind Schou, Einar Lukerstuen, Emil Nikolaisen, Hilma Nikolaisen, Øystein Sandsdalen
| Img_size =
| Landscape =
| Background = group_or_band
| Alias =
| Origin = [[Oslo]], [[Norway]]
| Genre = [[Indie (music)|Indie]], [[shoegaze]], [[noise pop]], [[alternative rock|alternative]]
| Years_active = 1999–present
| Label = HoneyMilk, Hype City, VME, [[PlayLouder]], TouchMe, Remote Control, Naīve
| Associated_acts =
| URL =
| Current_members =
| Past_members =
}}
'''Serena Maneesh''' (sometimes spelled '''Serena-Maneesh''' or shortened to '''S-M''') is an [[alternative music|alternative]] rockband from [[Oslo]], [[Norway]].
In an interview with ''Village Indian'', [[Emil Nikolaisen]], the songwriter of the band, explains the rather mysterious word-constellation the following way:
<blockquote>
’Serena’ is an adaptation of the Norwegian word for veil...The name came out from this veil you can see, you can see the melody through a stressful storm of noise. That’s what I love about music – you can work with this veil. There is so much stress in the world, you know? Serena could also mean serenity, serene. There are all these connotations. Then you see glints -- you see something incredible, but it’s in the moment. It’s through this veil. ‘Maneesh’ is a rewriting of the Norwegian word manesje, which is the area around a stage. Sirkus Merano, remember that? We later found out it was also the Hindu Lord of the Mind. But it is more a picture…if you look at a stage in a circus or opera, there’s an area surrounding the stage containing a lot of elements. Small, subtle elements that make the stage presence that much more powerful. That’s incredible. If you take that to the sound world…The whole thing is talking about the sound elements...For that reason, it's perfect. If ever two words conjured the elemental nature of this band’s sound, they are Serena-Maneesh.
</blockquote>
== Biography ==
The team of musicians who each contribute to the band's sound is organized around its main protagonist and songwriter Emil Nikolaisen. Emil has previously appeared as a guitarist and songwriter in the indie band [[Royal (band)|Royal]], played the drums in Norwegian punk rock band [[Silver (band)|Silver]] as well as in the retro-pop orchestra [[The Loch Ness Mouse]]. He even has a past as guitarist in the [[Heavy metal music|metal]] band [[Extol]].
Important sources of musical inspiration are amongst others [[Velvet Underground]], [[My Bloody Valentine]], [[Amon Düül]], [[The Stooges]], [[Swans]], [[Spacemen 3]], [[Spiritualized]], [[Stereolab]], [[Royal Trux]], [[Neu!]], and [[George Gershwin]]. As these names indicate, Serena Maneesh is a band built upon a love of musical tensions. Intense noise and pulsating rhythms often reveal hidden harmonies and melodies, while crooked and distorted blues-riffs are replaced by psychedelic strings and vague vibes, flutes and organs. The structure of the songs is often unorthodox. The vocals of Serena Maneesh serve as an instrument, yet the merely decipherable words reflect the tensions existing in the music itself: the struggle within a soul simultaneously threatened to be choked by darkness, despair and superficiality, yet searching for light, hope and spiritual depth.
In late 2005, the band toured [[Europe]] in support of [[The Dandy Warhols]]. In early 2006, Serena Maneesh landed the opening gig for British band [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] during its [[United Kingdom|UK]] tour. They supported [[Nine Inch Nails]] on the [[Australia]]/[[Japan]] leg of their 2007 world tour. [http://www.nin.com/tour/]
The highly acclaimed self-titled debut album was released on the Norwegian record-label HoneyMilk in the autumn of 2005. In December of the same year, the Norwegian vinyl label Hype City released an LP print featuring two exclusive tracks, and the Spanish indie distributor Touchme Records published the CD. In March 2006, the band announced its transfer to the [[PlayLouder]]-branch of the Beggars-group established in Europe ([[UK]], [[Germany]] & [[Italy]]), North America ([[USA|United States]] & [[Canada]]) and Oceania ([[Australia]]). In June 2006, the band released an international edition of its self-titled album (both CD & LP) through the international label PlayLouder.
== Band members ==
Current members:
*[[Emil Nikolaisen]], vocals and guitar.
*[[Hilma Nikolaisen]], bass.
*[[Eivind Schou]], viola.
*[[Einar Lukerstuen]], drums.
*[[Øystein Sandsdalen]], guitar.
*[[Tommy Akerholdt]], drums.
* [[Anders Møller]], percussion
Previous members:
*Sondre T. Midttun, guitar.
*[[Ann Sung-An Lee]], vocals, percussion and organ.
*Lina Holmstroem, vocals, percussion and organ.
* Håvard Krogedal, organ and cello
* Marco Storm, Drums
== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
*''[[Serena Maneesh (album)|Serena Maneesh (bonus)]]'' - 2LP
** ([[December 20]], [[2005]]) {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Hype City Recordings]] HCR-011
** ([[May 9]] [[2006]]) {{flagicon|Canada}} Playlouder Recordings/Beggars Group PLAYR4LP
** ([[May 23]] [[2006]]) {{flagicon|USA}} Playlouder Recordings/Beggars Group PLAYR4LP
** ([[June 23]] [[2006]]) {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Indigo (disambiguation)|Indigo/Beggars Group]] 80041
** ([[June 24]] [[2006]]) {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Beggars Group|Remote Control Records/Beggars Group]] PLAYR4LP
** ([[June 26]] [[2006]]) {{flagicon|UK}} [[Beggars Group|Playlouder Recordings/Beggars Group]] PLOU42
** ([[June 27]] [[2006]]) {{flagicon|France}} [[Beggars Group|Naïve Records/Beggars Group]] PLAYR4LP
*''[[Serena Maneesh (album)|Serena Maneesh]]'' - CD
** ([[Aug 29]] [[2005]]) {{flagicon|Norway}} [[HoneyMilk Records]] HONEY020
** ([[December 11]] [[2005]]) {{flagicon|Spain}} [[TouchMe Records]]
** ([[May 9]] [[2006]]) {{flagicon|Canada}} {{flagicon|USA}} Playlouder Recordings/Beggars Group PLAYR4CD
** ([[June 23]] [[2006]]) {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Indigo (disambiguation)|Indigo/Beggars Group]] 80042
** ([[June 24]] [[2006]]) {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Beggars Group|Remote Control Records/Beggars Group]] PLAYR4CD
** ([[June 26]] [[2006]]) {{flagicon|UK}} [[Beggars Group|Playlouder Recordings/Beggars Group]] PLOU41
** ([[June 27]] [[2006]]) {{flagicon|France}} [[Beggars Group|Naïve Records/Beggars Group]] PLAYR4CD
=== EPs ===
*''[[Zurück|Zurück: Retrospectives 1999-2003]]'' - ECD ([[June 20]], [[2005]]) {{flagicon|Norway}} HoneyMilk Records HONEY019
*''[[Fixxations|Fixxations (bonus)]]'' - 12" ([[September 22]], [[2003]]) {{flagicon|Norway}} Hype City Recordings HCR-005
*''[[Fixxations]]'' - CD (December, [[2002]]) {{flagicon|Norway}} HoneyMilk Records HONEY002
=== Singles ===
*''[[Drain Cosmetics|Drain Cosmetics (bonus)]]'' - ECD ([[June 12]] [[2006]]) {{flagicon|UK}} Playlouder Recordings PLAYR7CD
*''[[Drain Cosmetics|Drain Cosmetics (Pt.2)]]'' - 7"SP ([[June 12]] [[2006]]) {{flagicon|UK}} Playlouder Recordings PLAYR7S
*''[[Drain Cosmetics|Drain Cosmetics (Pt.1)]]'' - 12"SP ([[May 23]] [[2005]]) {{flagicon|USA}} Playlouder Recordings PLAYR7T
=== Splits ===
*''Serena Maneesh / Blood On The Wall'' - 7" (February, [[2006]]) {{flagicon|USA}} [[Insound]]
: '''Sapphire Eyes (Serena-Maneesh Refix)''' 3:12
*''Serena Maneesh / The Parkas: Singles Club #4'' - 7" ([[2004]]) {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Low Transit Industries]] LTID012
: '''Drive Me Home The Lonely Nights''' 3:13
=== Compilations ===
*''Counter Culture 05'' - 2CD
** ([[February 17]], [[2006]]) {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Rough Trade Shops|Pinnacle I/Rough Trade Shops]] VVR1037732
** ([[January 23]], [[2006]]) {{flagicon|UK}} [[Rough Trade Shops|V2/Rough Trade Shops]] VVR1037732
: '''Drive Me Home The Lonely Nights''' 3:13
*''The Pet Series Volume 1'' - CD ([[July 20]], [[2002]]) {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Sally Forth Records]] SF1059
: '''Leipziger Love Life''' 8:02
*''Ŏya Festivalen: Oslo 08-10 Aug 2002'' - CD ([[May 1]], [[2002]]) {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Øya Festival]]
: '''Blues Like Beehive''' 3:23
=== Digital Singles ===
*''Drain Cosmetics'' - MP3/WMA/AAC ([[February 12]], [[2006]]) {{flagicon|UK}} [[Beggars Group|PlayLouder]]
: '''Drain Cosmetics promo video (Podcast)''' 3:16
=== Serena-Maneesh LP promo ===
*[[Drain Cosmetics|Drain Cosmetics (promo video)]] - ([[June 4]] [[2006]])
=== Fixxations EP promo ===
*[[Zurück|Drive Me Home The Lonely Nights (promo video)]] - ([[May 1]], [[2003]]) written & directed by [[Ola Bratt]]
== Media links ==
Serena Maneesh LP
*[http://media2.7digital.com/motion/Serena_Maneesh_Drain_Cosmetics_High.mov Drain Cosmetics promo] Hi-Fi QuickTime for Win/Mac
Drain Cosmetics SP
*[http://www.ampunited.com/ecards/serena-maneesh/download/Sapphire_Eyes_(Serena-Maneesh_refix).mp3 Sapphire Eyes (Refix)] legal MP3
Fixxations EP
*[http://yannickbarcelo.free.fr/catosalsaexperience/more/premium/downloadroom.serena_maneesh.html# Blues Like Beehive] legal MP3 (DowloadRoom! from GrandRockStation.tk)
*[http://yannickbarcelo.free.fr/catosalsaexperience/more/premium/downloadroom.serena_maneesh.html# Drive Me Home The Lonely Nights promo] Quicktime for Win/Mac (Reactive Flyer from GrandRockStation.tk)
== External links ==
*[http://www.serena-maneesh.com/ Official website]
*[http://urbanpollution.com/music/serena_maneesh/articles/11214 Urban Pollution Interview]
*[http://www.draincosmetics.com/ Drain Cosmetics PodCast]
*[http://www.draincosmetic.com/ Drain Cosmetic official fanpage]
*[http://www.myspace.com/serenamaneesh Official Myspace]
*[http://www.subculturemagazine.com/reviewdetails.php?id=243 Subculture Magazine's review of "Serena Maneesh"]
*[http://www.honeymilk.no/serena_index.html Serena Maneesh@HoneyMilk (domestic label)]
*[http://www.hypecity.no/serena.htm Serena Maneesh@HypeCity (domestic label)]
*[http://www.beggars.com/us/serena-maneesh/index.html Serena Maneesh@Beggars US (USA label)]
*[http://www.indigo.de/unser_programm/titel/8004/ Serena Maneesh@Indigo/Beggars Group (German label)]
{{Serena Maneesh}}
[[Category:1990s music groups]]
[[Category:Shoegazing musical groups]]
[[Category:Norwegian musical groups]]
[[Category:Rock music groups]]
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