Gunship (band)
Gunship is a British synthwave band formed in 2014 by Dan Haigh and Alex Westaway; they were later joined by drummer Alex Gingell.[1]
Gunship | |
|---|---|
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Genres | Synthwave |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels | Horsie in the Hedge |
| Members | Alex Westaway Dan Haigh Alex Gingell |
| Website | gunshipmusic |
History edit
After Westaway and Haigh's other musical act, Fightstar, went on hiatus in 2010, the pair decided to focus on other musical ventures, including forming Gunship, eventually joined by Gingell. Their debut release, self-titled Gunship, was released in 2015 to positive reviews. Their follow up, Dark All Day, was released on 5 October 2018.
In 2019, Gunship appeared in the documentary film The Rise of the Synths, which explored the origins and growth of the Synthwave genre. Westaway, Haigh and Gingell appeared alongside various other composers from the scene, including John Carpenter, who also starred in and narrated the film.
In May 2021, tattoo artist and model Kat Von D collaborated with Haigh on her debut album, Love Made Me Do It.[2]
On 10 July 2023 the band announced their third studio album titled Unicorn. The album was released on 29 September 2023.[3]
Equipment and gear edit
Gunship has a large collection of synthesizers, including the Juno 106, DSI Prophet 12, DSI Prophet 6, MOOG Minimoog, MOOG Mother 32, and various Oberheim units.[4]
Collaborations edit
"The Video Game Champion" is a collaboration with the guitarist Thomas McRocklin, while "Ghost" is a collaboration with Melbourne synthwave duo Power Glove. The single "Monster in Paradise" features saxophonist Tim Cappello and vocals from Milkie Way, lead singer of Wargasm. A full list of collaborators on each album follows.
Gunship edit
The first Gunship album featured collaborations with:[4]
- Lou Hayter (New Young Pony Club, Tomorrows World)
- John Carpenter (director/composer)
- Charlie Simpson (Fightstar, Busted)
- Martin Grech
- Stella Le Page was featured on 'Fly For Your Life'[5]
Dark All Day edit
The second Gunship album featured collaborations with:
- Tim Cappello (The Lost Boys)
- Richard K. Morgan (Author – Altered Carbon)
- Kat Von D
- Wil Wheaton
- Indiana
- Stella Le Page was featured on "Art3mis & Parzival"
- Una Healy
Unicorn edit
The third Gunship album featured collaborations with:
Members edit
- Alex Westaway – vocals, multi-instruments
- Dan Haigh – multi-instruments
- Alex Gingell – multi-instruments
Discography edit
Studio albums
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [7] | UK Dance [7] | UK Indie [7] | FIN [8] | GER [9] | SCO [7][10] | US [11] | US Dance [12] | US Heat [13] | US Indie [14] | ||
| Gunship | 2015 | — | 30[15] | 40[16] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dark All Day | 2018 | 34 | 1[17] | 6[18] | — | — | 19 | 184 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
| Unicorn | 2023 | 26 | — | — | 49 | 36 | 16 | — | — | — | — |
Collaborations and other releases
- Collaborated with Metrik on the track "Electric Echo" (2016)
- Remixed a track for Lionface's No Hope State (2017)[19]
- Collaborated with Lazerhawk on the track "Feel the Rush Tonight" (2017)
- Included the track "Vale of Shadows" on the album Rise of the Synths EP2 official companion album. (2017)
- Released the single "Art3mis & Parzival" (2018)
- Collaborated with Tim Cappello and Indiana for the single "Dark All Day" (2018), which features on their album of the same name.
- Included the track "Cthulhu" on the album Fangoria Presents: Hollydoom (Original Magazine Soundtrack) (2019)[20]
- Collaborated with Tyler Bates and Dave Lombardo for "Berserker" on the Dark Nights: Death Metal Soundtrack[21]
References edit
- ^ "Metropolis Music Publishing announce the signing of Fightstar's Dan Haigh and Al Westaway's new synth wave project, GUNSHIP". www.recordoftheday.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ Chan, Anna (14 May 2021). "Kat Von D Announces Debut Album". Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ https://music.mxdwn.com/2023/07/13/news/gunship-announces-new-album-unicorn-for-sept-2023-release/
- ^ a b Damme, Jean-Pierre Van. . Archived from the original on 20 October 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
- ^ "GUNSHIP - Facebook". Facebook. 28 February 2017.
- ^ "Empress of the Damned (feat. Lights)" https://gunshipmusic.bandcamp.com/album/unicorn
- ^ a b c d "Gunship". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Albumit 40/2023" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ "Discographie von Gunship". offiziellecharts.de (in German). Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 12–18 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Top 200 Albums". Billboard. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "EDM Music & Dance Albums Chart". Billboard. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Heatseekers Albums: Up and Coming Musicians Chart". Billboard. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Independent Albums". Billboard. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. 31 July – 6 August 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 31 July – 6 August 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. 12–18 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 12–18 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "GUNSHIP's Remix of Lionface's "No Hope State" is Dreamy '80s Synthwave (Premiere)". Nerdist. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
- ^ "Cthulhu, by Gunship feat. Corin Hardy". Lakeshorerecords.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ GUNSHIP & Tyler Bates - Berserker (feat. Dave Lombardo) (Dark Nights: Death Metal Soundtrack), retrieved 8 August 2021