Solex

Solex

Internationally acclaimed sample-act from Amsterdam.
Full biography

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Members

Elisabeth Esselink   sampler, toetsinstrumenten, zang

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Former members

Gerard Atema   klarinet
Jeroen Kramer   klarinet, saxofoon
Robert Lagendijk   drums
Geert de Groot   achtergrondzang, basgitaar, cello, piano
Nicolette Lie   drums

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News archive

Solex in de Studio (video) (4/9/10) 

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Biography Solex

Internationally acclaimed sample-act from Amsterdam.

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1992

Guitar band Sonetic Vet is formed. Singer with the band is Liesbeth Esselink.

Sonetic Vet

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1994

The band is signed by Play It Again Sam and records a mini-album.

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1995

Sonetic Vet releases the single Suppose So. BBC DJ John Peel discovers the band and plays the record in his radio show.

Bitchcock

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1996

Sonetic Vet records its last demo under the name Dash.

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1997

Sonetic Vet/Dash breaks up and Esselink goes solo under the name Solex. The music she creates is a mixture of samples and loops with lyrics that are partly spoken and partly sung. Esselink signs a deal with the American Matador label. Both John Peel and New Musical Express are very enthusiastic about Solex.

Sonetic Vet

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1998

Solex Vs. The Hitmeister, on which each track has the word Solex in its title, is released. The album is welcomed with great enthusiasm by the press. Solex plays at Lowlands festival and embarks on a tour of the American West Coast. When performing live Esselink is backed by a four-piece band.

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1999

In July Solex plays the Roskilde Festival in Denmark and goes on tour in the U.S. supporting Cibo Matto. A second album, Pick Up, is released.

Claw Boys Claw Geert de Groot

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2000

American band The Walkabouts covers the song Solex In A Slipshod Style. In the Maida Vale Studios in London Solex records a live set for BBC DJ John Peel, which can be heard on the BBC's internet site throughout the month September. Progeria Records (US) releases a split-single of Solex and The 1985.

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2001

Solex works on her new album Low Kick And Hard Bop, which is released on 11 September. In the meantime Esselink remixes material for bands like Malaria (German new wave), Remington Super 60, Shinju Gumi and Ruby, and she also sings as a guest vocalist on records of Australian band Gerling and French band Little Rabbits. In September Solex again records a Peel-session.

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2003

The track Look, No Fingerprints is the theme music to a worldwide advertising campaign for mobile phones provider Motorola. Due to financial problems and staff cuts, In March Solex is dropped by its label Matador. With the track Shady Lane, Solex is featured on the double album Everything Is Ending Here - A Tribute To Pavement.

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2004

Esselink signs a new US deal with Arena Rock, home of Calla, Pilot To Gunner and Japan's Mono. Ironically her September-released album is called The Laughing Stock Of Indie Rock. The new album album is released on Esselink's own Discmeister label. Guest vocalist is Australian singer Stuart Brown. Esselink also has licensing deals with Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South America. In October Solex goes on an promotional tour of the US but without Robert Lagendijk and Geert de Groot. Instead, Esselink invites Caesar drummer Marit de Loos to tour with her. Solex provide the music and sound effects for VPRO Children's TV. Esselink closes her second hand record shop C&D, as she can't combine it any longer with her Solex activities.

Caesar

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2005

Solex provides a remix for the 7-inch limited edition single of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's Crunchy.

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2006

The friendship with Jon Spencer and his wife Christina Martinez results in new songs after jams in Solex's Amsterdam-based home studio. On Spencer's recommendation Solex asks New Yorker Mike Ladd for rap contributions on a few tracks. Stuart Brown, guest singer on The Laughing Stock Of Indie Rock, also contributes to Bang Your Buck, the solo debut by Overeasy, the sample pop project by drummer Robert Lagendijk on Solex's Discmeister label. Solex contributes to the album Nacht, De Soundtrack ('Night, The Soundtrack') by Henny Vrienten.

Henny Vrienten Overeasy

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2007

Solex contributes to the album Proof Of Youth of British band The Go! Team. She records new music and sound effects for a special viewing of the film Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf on 20 March.

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2008

Under the name Solex Ahoy, Solex travels by boat to the twelve Dutch provinces for a special project for which she and musician and captain Bart van Poppel invite musicians to improvise with a tapeloop. The sessions are used in twelve new songs.

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2009

Solex and Henny Vrienten compose music for Ik Wil Alles! (I Want It All), a children's show. The show can be seen starting April. Solex is support act for the only Dutch show of British band My Bloody Valentine on 25 May at club Effenaar in Eindhoven.

Bob Fosko Henny Vrienten

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2010

The album Amsterdam Showdown, King Street Throwdown (March) is the result of a collaboration between Solex and American musicians Cristina Martinez and Jon Spencer.

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Discography Solex

In the discography you will find all recordings that have been released listed chronologically. We restrict ourselves to the title, the type of audio, year of publication or recording, label, list of guest musicians, plus any comments on the issue.

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Photos Solex

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