Afrosymphony in Live & Unsigned regional final

31 March 2010

ECLECTIC outfit Afrosymphony are through to the London and East final of the prestigious Live & Unsigned competition and are hoping to scoop the first prize record deal on offer, writes MATT TROLLOPE.

Linda Muriel formed the band after meeting Newham student David Shafe in East Ham High Street in 2007.

Originally from Nigeria, David, 26, had come to east London to study at Newham College several years ago, and was living with countryman Paul Ketihu, 23, who also studied with him.

Linda, who went to the now defunct St John's School in Upton Park - on the site of the hotel adjoining West Ham United's football ground - explains: "I got talking to David by chance, and found out he and Paul were musicians. I've worked as a professional singer all my life and was looking to put something together, so we took it from there."

The trio started working together and Afrosymphony was born.

A great name indeed, but Linda continues: "Although we had various other people involved along the way, I was still looking for the symphony part of the band. Then I was at The Dorchester in Mayfair one day, and I found her."

Julia Rogers, 25, a Royal Academy of Music-trained violinist from Marylebone, was performing synth violin at the hotel, and the pair hit it off immediately.

Linda is coy about revealing her age, only saying she was over 30 and under 80, so I guess it's a case of it's her band and she'll reveal her age if she wants to.

The band, now based in Barking, have gigged all over London, at the Groucho Club and China Whites in Soho, Tiger Tiger in Piccadilly Circus and the Ginglik Club in Shepherd's Bush, performing their unique blend of soul, jazz, R&B, reggae, rock and classical fusion.

They also performed at the MOBOs in 2008 at Wembley Arena as part of the pre-show entertainment, and have forthcoming gigs at Dirty Martinis in Covent Garden on Easter Sunday and at Greenwich University (on April 22) where David and Paul now study business and IT.

Then there's the latest leg of Live & Unsigned, at the Towngate Theatre in Basildon,on May 22 alongside another local band, The Poison Berries.

If Afrosymphony win through, that record deal and a live spot at an O2 concert in front of 15,000 people beckons. "We're going all out for it," adds Linda. "Rehearsing as much as possible and hopefully we can get through this last bit."

Look out for the band's new single, forthcoming on download, called Driving in My Car, recorded at the famous Britannia Row Studios in Fulham.