Origene

Origene
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres
  • Electronic
  • dance
Years active2002 (2002)–2005 (2005)
Labels
Past members
  • Brian Canham
  • Ben Grayson
  • Matilda White

Origene were an Australian electronic and dance music group formed in 2002 by Brian Canham (of Pseudo Echo) on keyboards, Ben Grayson (of the Bamboos) on keyboards, computers and Matilda White on lead vocals. Their debut single, "Suddenly, Silently" (March 2002) reached No. 51 on the ARIA singles chart. Canham and Grayson also produced the group's work. Their second single, "Sanctuary" (August 2002), reached No. 13 on Billboard's Dance Radio Airplay chart in 2004.

History

Brian Canham of Pseudo Echo had met Ben Grayson at a nightclub in Melbourne in the late 1990s.[1] Grayson had learnt jazz and classical piano; he ran his own recording studio and developed associated computer technology.[1][2] Canham is Pseudo Echo's founding mainstay lead singer and main songwriter; during their hiatuses his side projects included dance/pop music groups and producing other artists.[1][3] Grayson, on keyboards, joined Pseudo Echo in late 1999;[3] he was a founding organist of funk music group, the Bamboos in 2000.[4]

Canham and Grayson began writing ambient music as a side project, Origene.[1] They were joined by Matilda White on lead vocals by 2002.[1][5] Canham named the group, Origene, in homage to Jean-Michel Jarre's "Oxygène (Part IV)" (January 1977).[6] Origene's debut single, "Suddenly, Silently" was issued in March 2002.[1][7] The group were signed with Ministry of Sound, which included that track on their compilation, Club Nation America (September 2002).[8]

Their second single, "Sanctuary" (August 2002) appeared in the ARIA Club,[9] Dance and Hitseekers charts.[10] It was issued as their first international single in 2004, which peaked on Billboard's component chart: Dance Radio Airplay, at No. 13.[11] Their third single, released in 2003, is a cover version of Maxi Priest's "Close to You". "Design", their fourth and final single, appeared in 2005. As well as working with Origene, Canham performed with Pseudo Echo and Grayson continued with the Bamboos.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Nimmervoll, Ed. "Origene". HowlSpace. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Origene Biography". Mushroom Music. Archived from the original on 29 January 2004. Retrieved 15 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ a b c
    • Online 1st Edition: McFarlane, 'Pseudo Echo' entry. Archived from the original on 18 February 2004. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
    • 2nd Edition: McFarlane, Ian (31 March 2017). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Pseudo Echo'". The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Jenkins, Jeff (Foreword) (2nd ed.). Gisborne, VIC: Third Stone Press (published 2017). p. 379. ISBN 978-0-9953856-0-3.
  4. ^ a b Ore, Adeshola (7 November 2013). "The Bamboos Talk New Influences, Expanding on the Funk, & Bringing It Back to the Band". Tone Deaf. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Origene". Music Australia. Archived from the original on 13 October 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ Canham, Brian (17 June 2021). "Love Letter to a Record: Brian Canham on Jean-Michel Jarre's 'Oxygène'". musicfeeds.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ Kellaghan, Ronan (24 June 2002). "Week Commencing ~ 24th June 2002 ~ Issue #643" (PDF). The ARIA Report (643). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA): 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2002. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  8. ^ Billboard Staff (6 August 2002). "Bedingfield, Blige, Res Visit Club Nation". Billboard. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  9. ^ Kellaghan, Ronan (19 August 2002). "Week Commencing ~ 19th August 2002 ~ Issue #651" (PDF). The ARIA Report (651). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA): 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  10. ^ Kellaghan, Ronan (2 September 2002). "Week Commencing ~ 2nd September 2002 ~ Issue #653" (PDF). The ARIA Report (653). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA): 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  11. ^ Billboard Staff (11 August 2004). "B&E: Letter Kills, Origene". Billboard. Retrieved 17 December 2024.