Kosheen are an Anglo-Welsh electronic music group based in Bristol. The group originally consisted of singer-songwriter Sian Evans, songwriter-producer Markee Ledge and producer-songwriter Darren Beale. Currently it consists of Evans, songwriter-producer Ron McElroy and drummer Mitchell Glover. The bandname Kosheen is inspired by the name of the North American Apache warrior, Cochise.
History Resist (1999–2002) Their first album, Resist, was released in September 2001 on Moksha Recordings/BMG and reached number eight in the UK album chart.
Kokopelli (2003–2005) Their second album, Kokopelli—released in August 2003 on Moksha Recordings/Sony and named after a mythical Native American spirit—focused less on drum and bass beats and more on guitar riffs and darker-toned lyrics. It outperformed its predecessor in the UK album chart by reaching number seven, and the single "All In My Head" also reached number seven, but it did not sell as well as its predecessor.
Damage (2007–2008) Their third album, Damage, was released in Europe via Moksha/Universal Germany in March 2007. The UK edition of Damage, featuring two new tracks—"Analogue Street Dub" and "Professional Friend" (not included on the European edition)—was released via Moksha Recordings in September 2007.
The first single from Damage was "Overkill", released in March (Europe) and August (UK) 2007.
Independence (2012–2013) In 2010, Kosheen set up their own label, Skeleton, with its first release, "Warning", released on 27 September. On 19 December 2010, they posted the first track, "Belladonna", from Independence, on their Facebook page, along with three more tracks ("Waste", "Enter" and "You Don't Own Me") on their SoundCloud page.
On 25 October 2011, fresh from the success of Sian Evans collaboration with DJ Fresh "Louder" which had reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in July, Kosheen confirmed an album release in May 2012, and a single, titled "Get a New One", on 13 February. The second single, "Holding On", features Susie Ledge as the guest vocalist. An announcement was made by the band on their official website that Independence would be released at the end of September 2012. It was released on 1 October 2012. "Mannequin" was later released as the third single from the album. Other songs on the album include "Waste", "Spies", "Addict" and "Tightly".
Solitude (2013–2016) On 8 November 2013, Kosheen debuted a video for the song "Harder They Fall" as an introduction to their fifth studio album, Solitude. Four days later, the band uploaded the artwork to Solitude along with a release date of 25 November 2013.
The band disbanded in 2016. According to Evans, the band fell apart due to creative differences: "[Ledge and Beale] wanted to go down a much darker, more underground route. I think that they took it real hard that the drum and bass world wasn’t particularly responsive to our music, and they wanted to be in the underground drum and bass scene, and I wanted to write beautiful songs". The breakup was followed by a legal dispute over the band identity.
Reunion (2019–present) In 2019 the band, consisting of Evans and two new members, Ron McElroy and Mitchell Glover, started touring. No plans have been announced for new albums.
Solo projects In September 2015, Markee Ledge announced he was releasing a solo album, Elevate, featuring Susie Ledge on the title track.
As of 2017, the members were working on their solo projects.
Discography Studio albums Year Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUKAUSAUTBELGERNLFINSWIUS Elec.2001Resist Released: 17 September 2001 Label: BMG / Moksha Formats: CD, LP829188452536—15 BPI: Platinum2003Kokopelli Released: 11 August 2003 Label: BMG / Moksha Formats: CD, LP, digital download76761016——3040 BPI: Gold2007Damage Released: 10 September 2007 Label: Moksha Formats: CD, LP, digital download95—187548——23352012Independence Released: 1 October 2012 Label: Kosheen Records / Ledge Productions / Sony ATV Formats: CD, LP, digital download——37————41—2013Solitude Released: 25 November 2013 Label: Kosheen Records / Active Distribution Formats: CD, LP, digital download—————————
Extended plays Year EP details2008Berlin Live EP Released: 4 August 2008 Label: Moksha Formats: Digital download
Singles Year Single Peak chart positions Album UK AUS AUT BEL(FLA) GER FIN NED SWE USDance1999 "Yes Men" — — — — — — — — —Non-album singles "Dangerous Waters" — — — — — — — — —2000 "Hide U" / "Empty Skies" 73 78 — 3 — — 5 — —Resist "Catch" / "Demonstrate" 94 — — 5 — — 20 — —2001 "(Slip & Slide) Suicide" 50 — — 34 — — 80 — — "Hide U" (Remix) 6 23 — — 77 — — 39 15 "Catch" (re-release) 15 27 — — 19 13 — 52 222002 "Hungry" 13 53 — 68 79 10 — — — "Harder" 53 — — — — — — — —2003 "All in My Head" 7 37 — 54 — — — — 18Kokopelli "Wasting My Time" 49 — — — — — — — — 2004 "Avalanche" (download only) — — — — — — — — —2007 "Overkill (Is It Over Now?)" — — 60 — 70 — — — —Damage "Guilty" (European download only) — — — — — — — — —2012 "Get a New One" — — — — — — — — —Independence "Holding On" (feat. Susie Ledge) — — — — — — — — —Non-album single "Mannequin" — — — — — — — — —Independence "Addict" — — 59 — — — — — — 2013 "Harder They Fall" — — — — — — — — — Solitude
Music videos Year Single Director 2001"Hide U"Jason Smith"Catch"Jeff Thomas"Hide U" (US version)"(Slip & Slide) Suicide"Cody Burridge2002"Hungry""Harder"Sven Harding2003"All in My Head""Wasting My Time"Mike Lipscombe"Catch" (BCDJ's Lounge Mix)Jeff Thomas2007"Overkill""Guilty"2012"Get a New One"Global Fire"Holding On""Mannequin"Global Fire2013"Harder They Fall"Global Fire
References
External links kosheen.com Moksha Records website Kosheen.tv, YouTube site for videos and live footage Kosheen Twitter for Resist, Kokopelli and Damage albums