Palma Violets

Palma Violets were an English band from Lambeth, London. The band formed in 2011, based on the musical partnership of frontmen Samuel Fryer and Chilli Jesson.

Not to be confused with Parma Violets.

Palma Violets
Palma Violets performing in 2013
Palma Violets performing in 2013
Background information
Also known as'The Violets' and 'the Palmas'
OriginLambeth, London, England
GenresIndie rock, garage rock
Years active2011–2016
LabelsRough Trade
Past membersSamuel Fryer
Alexander Jesson
Jeffrey Mayhew
William Doyle
Paul Band[1]

The band's musical output is primarily in the indie rock genre, with some garage rock and psychedelic influences. Palma Violets' first single, "Best of Friends", was voted NME's song of the year for 2012, and their debut album 180 was released on 25 February 2013.

Much like The Libertines, the band gained a substantial fan base online before the release of their first single – with multiple live videos of their gigs being uploaded by fans. The band are signed to Rough Trade Records. Palma Violets appeared on the 2013 NME Awards Tour, along with Miles Kane, Django Django and Peace. Since that time they have been heavily promoted by NME and have appeared in numerous magazine editions.

On 9 December 2012, the BBC announced that the band had been nominated for the Sound of 2013 poll.[2]

Biography

Palma Violets were formed by bassist/vocalist Alexander "Chilli" Jesson, guitarist/vocalist Samuel Thomas Fryer, keyboardist Jeffrey Peter Mayhew and drummer William Martin Doyle (not to be confused with East India Youth). On 10 January, the band premièred their track, "Step Up for the Cool Cats" on BBC Radio 1. Having been selected as Zane Lowe's Hottest Record in the World, the Steve Mackey-produced track was released on to iTunes shortly after; serving as the second single to be taken from 180 following the Rory Attwell produced debut single, and winner of NME's 'Track of the Year 2012', "Best of Friends".[3][4]

On 16 February the band premiered the track "Danger in the Club" on BBC Radio 1. The next day they announced the release of their new album Danger in the Club, produced by John Leckie would be released 4 May via Rough Trade Records.

In December 2015, the band released a Christmas song called "Last Christmas on Planet Earth" with a release on 7" vinyl which featured on the B Side a rendition of "All the Garden Birds", sung by The Rhythm Studio Kids Choir.[5]

Following the release of Danger in the Club, there was a noted silence from the band on social media leading to speculation that the band had split up.[6] This was confirmed in an interview by Matt Wilkinson with guitarist Sam Fryer on 11 July 2018. All the members of Palma Violets bar Chilli Jesson are currently in a new band called Gently Tender with Celia Archer of The Big Moon. Of the affair he noted "We didn't fall out or anything like that. We just changed as people. We were 18 when we started the band and everything is quite easy to get on the same page, write the same kind of music all the time. Whereas when you hit 24 after 5 years of touring, I think you just become different people and we naturally just moved on"[7] Chilli Jesson went on to form the band Crewel Intentions,[8][9] before going solo to release singles such as "Love Is A Serious Mental Illness",[10] "St. Vitamin"[11] and "Circles".[12][13]

Discography

Studio albums
Album Details Peak positions Certification
UK
[14]		 SWE
[15]
180 1152
Danger in the Club 25–

EPs
Title Details
Invasion of the Tribbles

Singles
Title Year Album
"Best of Friends"/"Last of the Summer Wine"[18] 2012 180
"Step Up for the Cool Cats"[19] 2013
"We Found Love"
"Danger in the Club" 2015 Danger in the Club
"English Tongue"
"Peter and the Gun"
"The Jacket Song"
"Last Christmas on Planet Earth" Non-album single
"Coming Over to My Place" 2016 Danger in the Club
"Matador"
"Secrets of America"

Filmography
Year Television show Performing Description
2012 Later... with Jools Holland "Best of Friends"
"Last of the Summer Wine"
&
"Tom the Drum"		 Series 41, Episode 10[20]

Awards and nominations
Year Organization Award Work Result
2012 BBC Sound of 2013[2] — Nominated
NME Awards 50 Best Tracks of 2012[21] Best of Friends Won
2013 Best New Band[22] — Won
Q Awards Best New Act[23] — Nominated
2014 NME Awards Best British Band[24] — Nominated
Best Live Band[24] — Nominated
Ivor Novello Awards Best Song Musically and Lyrically[25] Best of Friends Nominated

References
  1. Jenkins, Mark (8 May 2013). "Music". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013.
  2. "Sound of 2013 Profiles: Palma Violets". BBC. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  3. "Hear Palma Violets' new single 'Step Up for the Cools Cats'". Contact Music. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  4. "Albums and Tracks of the Year 2012". NME. 6 October 2016.
  5. "Palma Violets – Last Christmas on Planet Earth | Palma Violets". Roughtraderecords.com.
  6. "Palma Violets fans are worried the band have split up". NME. 27 October 2016.
  7. "Listen to "An Interview with Gently Tender" posted by Matt Wilkinson on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com.
  8. "Crewel Intentions: Chilli Jesson's Post-Palma Violets Band Release Second Track, 'Cruel Intentions'".
  9. "Meet Crewel Intentions: The post-Palma Violets project of Chilli Jesson that's embracing emotion and Spaghetti Western atmospherics". NME. 10 November 2018.
  10. "Chilli Jesson has shared his new single, 'Love is a Serious Mental Illness' | Dork". 4 March 2022.
  11. "Chilli Jesson shares new single 'St. Vitamin'". 25 November 2021.
  12. "BBC Radio 6 Music - Steve Lamacq, New music from Chilli Jesson".
  13. "BBC Radio 6 Music - Steve Lamacq's Roundtable, with Dana from Porridge Radio, comedian Angela Barnes & Hot Chip's Joe Goddard".
  14. "Archive Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  15. "Palma Violets discography page". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  16. "Palma Violets – '180' – Digital Download". iTunes. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  17. "Palma Violets – Invasion of the Tribbles". Rough Trade Records. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  18. "Palma Violets – "Best of Friends"/"Last of the Summer Wine" – Digital Download". iTunes. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  19. "Palma Violets – "Step Up for the Cools Cats" – Digital Download". iTunes. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  20. "Later... with Jools Holland – Series 41, Episode 10". BBC. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  21. "50 Best Tracks of 2012". NME. 20 November 2012. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  22. "NME Awards 2013 winners list in full". The Independent. London. 27 February 2012. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  23. "The Q Awards 2013 Nominations Announcement". Record of the Day. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  24. "NME Awards 2014: All the nominees in full". Digital Spy. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  25. "The 59th Ivor Novello Awards nominees revealed". M Magazine. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
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