Primary (band)

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Primary
OriginSydney, Australia
GenresElectronic rock
Years active1995–2003
LabelsWarner
Past members
  • John Bousfield
  • Jamie Fonti
  • Sean Fonti
  • Connie Mitchell
  • Paul Wheeler
  • Justin Leef
  • Jason Howard

Primary were an Australian electronic rock band which formed in 1995 the Fonti brothers: Jamie on keyboards and Sean on bass guitar (both ex-Caligula), and Connie Mitchell on lead vocals. According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, the group were "Dominated by South African-born [Mitchell]'s hyperactive and full-frontal vocals, with thunderous electronic rock underpinning the music, Primary sounded like a techno Skunk Anansie. Jamie Fonti coined the phrase 'Hybrid Electronica Rock' in order to describe the band's sound." The group released two albums, This Is the Sound (June 1999) and Watching the World (28 May 2001). They disbanded late in 2003.

History[edit]

Primary was formed as a techno rock group in 1995 in Sydney by the Fonti brothers, Jamie on keyboards and Sean on bass guitar (both ex-Caligula),[1] and Connie Mitchell on lead vocals.[2] The Fontis had played in My Heart Bleeds for You,[1] a mid-1980s punk, hardcore band, then in Caligula from 1989 to 1994. Sean was also in Massappeal[1](1988–90), and Def FX (1995–97). The Fonti brothers had met Mitchell in a recording studio in 1994, while they recorded demo tracks for Caligula.[3] When that project finished Jamie and Mitchell started writing tracks together while Sean was a member of Def FX.[3] Their first musical project was a contribution to the soundtrack of the 1997 Australian film Blackrock.[4][5][6]

Primary's first recording, a five-track extended play, Vicious Precious,[7] produced by Paul McKercher and Ollie J, was released in March 1998,[2] and featured Paul Wheeler (ex-Icehouse) on drums.[8] and John Bousfield on guitar. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1998, "Vicious Precious" was nominated for ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist – Single.

Nick Launay produced the band's first full-length album, This Is the Sound, which appeared in June that year on WEA/Warner.[2] Airplay for the lead-in singles had been confined to the Triple J network,[9] and the album peaked in the ARIA Albums Chart top 40.[10] Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, felt it was "an accomplished album that boasted state-of-the-art production values, and a batch of reverberating tracks."[2] He described how the group were "Dominated by South African-born [Mitchell]'s hyperactive and full-frontal vocals, with thunderous electronic rock underpinning the music, Primary sounded like a techno Skunk Anansie. Jamie Fonti coined the phrase 'Hybrid Electronica Rock' in order to describe the band's sound."[2]

Jason Howard replaced Bousfield on lead guitar and made his performance debut in April 1999.[2] They became known for their energetic live shows, with Mitchell's on-stage presence and costumes a talking point. Their second album, Watching the World, was released on 28 May 2001.[11] Australian music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll, declared it to be his Album of the Week: "they kept the focus on the songs. In the end Primary offer music with many layers of interest. [Mitchell]'s lyrics are a strong counterpoint to the depth of the band's music."[12]

The band announced on their website on 24 April 2002 that they were recording demos for a proposed third album.[13] The band eventually recorded enough material for another album, in a more straightforward rock sound, but the band broke up before it could be released.[14] They played a final gig in November 2003 at the Annandale Hotel.[15] Mitchell joined Sneaky Sound System in 2004 ahead of their self-titled album.[16]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
Top 100
[10] 		AUS
Australasian
 AUS
Alternative
This Is the Sound
  • Released: June 1999
  • Label: Warner (3984269762)
  • Format: CD
 33 — —
Watching the World
  • Released: 28 May 2001
  • Label: Warner (8573878462)
  • Format: CD
 — 14 [17] 17[17]

Extended plays[edit]

List of EP, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[10]
Vicious Precious
  • Released: March 1998
  • Label: Warner (3984227292)
  • Format: CD
 84

Singles[edit]

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS Top 100
[10] 		AUS
Alternative
"Brasil" 1997 — — Vicious Precious
"Vicious Precious"/"Brasil" 1998 — —
"Young"/"This Is the Sound" 1999 89 — This Is the Sound
"Supposed to Be Here" 72 —
"In Your Hands" 2000 — — Watching the World
"Not for Me" 2001 — 17[18]

Awards and nominations[edit]

ARIA Music Awards[edit]

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
1998 "Vicious Precious" ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist - Single Nominated [19]
1999 Nick Launay for "Supposed to Be Here", "24000", "This Is the Sound" and "Come to Take You Home" ARIA Award for Producer of the Year Nominated [20]
ARIA Award for Engineer of the Year Won

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Caligula" (PDF). Semper Floreat. 1 November 1991. p. 46. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Primary'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 9 August 2004. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Artists :: Primary". Australian Music Online. Archived from the original on 21 November 2005. Retrieved 5 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ Blackrock (1997) - Soundtracks - IMDb, retrieved 27 June 2023
  5. ^ Metason. "Primary". ArtistInfo. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  6. ^ "blackrock - Review - Photos - Ozmovies". www.ozmovies.com.au. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  7. ^ Primary (2001), Vicious Precious, Warner, destra Media (Distributor), retrieved 5 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia
  8. ^ "Paul Wheeler". Yamaha Music Australia. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  9. ^ Eliezer, Christie (10 July 1999). "Global Music Pulse". Billboard. p. 55. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
  11. ^ "Watching the World by Primary". iTunes Store. 28 May 2001. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  12. ^ Nimmervoll, Ed (25 May 2001). "Album of the Week: Primary – Watching the World". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 26 January 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Primary: Watching the World out now!". Primary Official Website. Archived from the original on 11 February 2003. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  14. ^ "Primary Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  15. ^ Attlee, Mathew (2008). "Music News: November 2003". Aus Music Scrapbook. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  16. ^ Nimmervoll, Ed. "Sneaky Sound System". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 26 January 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  17. ^ a b Watching the World: "The ARIA Report No. 590 – Week Commencing 18 June 2001" (PDF). Retrieved 10 July 2023 – via Trove (original document published by ARIA). N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
  18. ^ Not For Me: "The ARIA Report No. 587 – Week Commencing 28 May 2001" (PDF). Retrieved 10 July 2023 – via Trove (original document published by ARIA). N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
  19. ^ "1998 ARIA Awards Winners".
  20. ^ "1999 ARIA Awards Winners".
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