PAYOLA
About PAYOLA from Auckland
PAYOLA combine the minor keys of classic soul music and the grit, swagger, and inventiveness of epic rock'n'roll, perfectly bridging the gap between Aretha Franklin and Led Zeppelin.
Their live performances epitomize the sexually charged revues of Ike and Tina Turner with the charisma and feel good nature of Sly and The Family Stone. Ms Sophia's wild 'fro and honey laden tones are the perfect foil for Solomon Cole's primal electric. All this anchored by the weight of a barreling rhythm section makes PAYOLA's mission clear, to have you hung from the rafters, your feet moving in rapid succession and taking you where you need to go.
And so it goes...
NZ's premiere download site 'Amplifier' placed their EP 'Dirt and Stars' in the Top 20 releases of 2007 alongside Tiki and Liam Finn. The title track from the E.P and 3 other songs is featured in series 4, episodes 5,7,9 & 12 of the highly popular local drama 'Outrageous Fortune' and the new compilation released Oct 2008.
They recently kicked off the hugely successful Home-Grown Festival 2008 in Wellington chosen by Riccardo Bell of The Rock FM who stated,
"Payola just had that bit extra, that little something different; their song 'Oscillator' just sounds like it should be on a Quentin Tarantino soundtrack"
Well who can argue with that
'Dirt and Stars' is a genre-hopping mix of Parliament styled sci-fi funk fused with alt-country gospel tunes and furious guitar fueled metal soul all wrapped up in a sound so live and vital it'll pin you to the back wall, steal your cigarettes and waltz off with whoever you had your eye on.
As well as touring the country 2009 sees the band in the studio recording their second full length album "Black Swan" that they hope will garner them recognition abroad. In the meantime look for first single 'Vibrator' on TV and radio .
"Be good to yourself and let them in!