Jets to Zurich

The band were formed by lifelong friends singer/guitarist Dale Hawkins and drummer Shea Jones in the autumn of 2008, and were originally a three piece with the addition of Dale's brother bassist Simon Hawkins. The band spent their first year playing locally in the South Wales area while they honed their craft and gathered material. Their first release was the self produced three track EP titled An Everyday Motion. With its low budget production and basic sound it was greeted with a mixed response upon its release in January 2009.

Over the next six months the band continued to gig extensively while writing what would become their first full-length release. In this time they supported bands such as Sucioperro, Exit International and Henry's Funeral Shoe. Their next release was a collection of demos released in June 2010, titled Atmospheric Sound Cycles. It was seen as a sign of further progression for the group and was greeted with a better response than previous releases. Generally it was seen as an improvement but still received criticism. In reviews on indie magazines like Cardiff's Miniature Music Press the feedback was mixed.[4]

In mid-2010 the band recorded with producer Gethin Pearson on what would become the band's first two official singles, "Crimson Tide" and "The Downward Spiral". Both singles were released through indie label Catalyst Records to critical praise. It was during this time that the band began to enjoy unexpected success in the Middle Eastern country of Qatar, with debut single "Crimson Tide" peaking at number 4 on the QBS Alternative Rock Top 40 in December 2010.[5]

At the start of 2011 the band became a four piece with the addition of guitarist James Carey. In June 2011 the band's second single "The Downward Spiral" became their first number one single in the Middle East on the QBS Chart.[6] On the back of this the band received media attention from South Wales magazines and newspapers including the South Wales Echo.[1]

Throughout the rest of the year the band worked on what would become their second album and supported bands like Johnny Foreigner, Lafaro, and My Red Cell. After the band parted ways with label Catalyst Records they released the single "Pyramids". On 20 February 2012 the song became the band's second number one in Qatar; they became the only Welsh band to achieve two number ones on the chart.[7]

The band then released the single "Vertigo Red" via Tone Burn Records in the UK and Rickie Rocks Records in the Middle East. The single peaked at number 15 on the QBS Alternative Top 40.[8]

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