MANN FRIDAY ROCK BAND
London, UK
Contact: Rob Burrell rob@mukuru.com +44(0)7966585985
Zimbabwean band launch attack on UK Top 40
Zimbabwean rock band, Mann Friday, are set to launch an attack on the UK Singles charts with the release of their debut single, Sunburn and Wonder on 28 April 2008. What sets this attempt apart from the majority of music occupying the airwaves is Mann Friday’s unique approach to giving themselves the best chance of chart success. By focusing all of their self-financed marketing efforts on a single week, the band hopes that the concentrated sales will ensure a chart placing and more radio play.
We have always felt that our music has widespread appeal, and if we are only given a chance, we can be up there with the best of what is around, says Rob Burrell, the group’s front man, We know that our fans want us to succeed almost as much as we do, we just needed to find a way of letting them help us do exactly that.
Since 2003, Mann Friday has spent the past four years building up this solid fan base on the London gig circuit. Frustrated by the apparent lack of industry interest in a group that was regularly selling out many of the Capital’s favourite live venues, the band decided to take an indefinite break in July 2007 to rethink their approach.
We were getting tired of our fans asking us why it hasn’t happened yet for us, and not having the answers, says bassist Ryan Koriya, The time away gave us a fresh start and we realised that we needed to make our own opportunities.
The band started researching how they could do all the things a record label would do to release a single and quickly realised that to compete on any level, extensive funding would be required. This prompted the members to knuckle down to their day jobs and busking on the Underground to save where they could. The result is an ambitious set of plans to market their single including a full page advert in NME, radio adverts on XFM, posters at carefully selected tube stations, and releasing an accompanying video on YouTube. Not wanting to show all of their cards, the band have promised some additional surprises in the run up to the launch which should create new fans and potential single sales.
We have worked hard to be able to do this and we are determined to make it a success. Hopefully the momentum gained will give us just enough radio airtime for people to hear our music and let it takes its course from there, says Burrell enthusiastically. Time will tell if Mann Friday have uncovered a new formulae for bands to raise their profile, but with this kind of self-belief in their music, success is a distinct possibility. So pass on the word to your UK friends – play a part in this fascinating story. Viva la revolution! Â
Mann Friday | Mukuru Music | Unit 1 | The Stable Yard |16a Balham Hill SW129EB |London | www.mannfriday.com | info@mannfriday.com | +44(0)7966585985 – Rob Burrell
The Single: Sunburn & Wonder
Release Date: 28th April 2008
Available from: iTunes and other digital distributors
Single launch Gig: Astoria 2 (Mean Fiddler) – 1 May 2008
Visit www.theweekyoumadeusfamous.com or www.mannfriday.com for more information.
The Video: Sunburn & Wonder
WATCH THE VIDEO
NOW!
This is a cinematic kind of video directed by London based Kobayashi. The result is a series of stunning photographic shots, aided, but not overwhelmed, by CG and post.
http://www.koba-yashi.co.uk
Mann Friday | Mukuru Music | Unit 1 | The Stable Yard |16a Balham Hill SW129EB |London | www.mannfriday.com | info@mannfriday.com | +44(0)7966585985 – Rob Burrell
Find this pic and other hi-res press images at Hhttp:www.mannfriday.com/press/
All Photography by Hughes © 2008 www.greghughes.tv Â