Elfin-faced and built like a sparrow (although she used to be a kickboxer), Sonya Aurora Madan first met Swedish guitarist Glenn Johansson in a pub, and the pair soon teamed up with bass guitarist Alex Keyser and drummer Andy Henderson (who had previously played with PJ Harvey’s band) as Echobelly.
Guitarist Debbie Smith (formerly of Curve) came on board in 1994.
The group debuted in 1994 with the album Everyone’s Got One, which included the single Insomniac and reached #8 on the UK Albums Chart. They returned to the studio in 1995 to create their next album, On
Delhi-born Madan had a divine voice and sang in an unusually precise style, with a decided Morrissey influence.
Unfortunately, health and legal issues interrupted Echobelly’s progress in 1995 and 1996. Madan had a severe thyroid problem during their world tour that was potentially life-threatening, but was later cured.
Bass guitarist James Harris joined after Keyser defected because of personal and artistic differences. Debbie Smith also left the band before the release of the third album, Lustra (1997).
The group then took a four-year hiatus, returning in 2001 with the Digit EP and their fourth album, People Are Expensive.
In 2004, Echobelly released a fifth album, Gravity Pulls.
The band made their live return in 2015, playing a sell-out gig at the Scala in London. Their sixth studio album, Anarchy and Alchemy., was released in May 2017.
Sonya Aurora Madan
Vocals Glenn Johansson
Guitar, vocals Debbie Smith
Guitar Alex Keyser
Bass Andy Henderson
Drums James Harris
Bass
You May Also Like
Hole Hole's debut LP Pretty On The Inside, was hard work - and melody certainly took a beating…
Vanilla Ice It's understandable why Robert Van Winkle chose not to use his real name when embarking upon…
Darling Buds, The Although they generated reams of coverage in the late-80s weekly music press, Newport's Darling Buds never…
Episode Six Episode Six formed in Harrow, Middlesex, in 1965. The initial lineup consisted of Andy Ross on…
Extreme Extreme formed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1985 around Gary Cherone (vocals), Nuno Bettencourt (guitars and keyboards),…
Hummingbirds, The Formed in Sydney, Australia, in 1986, The Hummingbirds comprised singer/guitarist (and principal songwriter) Simon Holmes, singer/guitarist…
Soul II Soul London-based Soul II Soul was one of the most innovative dance/R&B outfits of the late '80s,…
Earl Preston and the TT's Formed in Liverpool in 1961, the TT's were originally known as The Tempest Tornadoes and served…
