Vaults was a British electronica band from London, England, composed of Blythe Pepino, Barney Freeman, and Ben Vella. The band split up in 2017.
Vaults | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2013–2017 |
| Labels | |
| Past members |
|
History
editThe band was founded in 2013, after Pepino was recruited to provide vocals on Freeman and Vella's musical project.[1] Their first track as a group, "Cry No More", was posted to SoundCloud independently in 2013; it gathered 100,000 plays within its first week.[2]
Their debut single, "Premonitions", was released in 2014 by independent record label National Anthem.[3] They released their first EP, Vultures, later in the same year.[2] After being signed to Virgin EMI in 2014, Vaults released debut major-label single "Lifespan", followed by "Vultures". During the summer of 2014, Vaults performed at the Lovebox, T in the Park, and Reading and Leeds festivals.[4]
In 2015, they released single "One Last Night", which later appeared on the motion picture soundtrack for Fifty Shades of Grey.[5][6] This was followed by a re-issue of "Cry No More". They released their second EP, also titled Cry No More, on 31 July 2015.[7][8] Pepino appeared on Gorgon City single, "All Four Walls", in March 2016.[9]
Vaults' single "Midnight River", released in July 2016, was named Single of the Week by The Guardian.[10]
The London Evening Standard reported in April 2016 that Vaults' music videos had gathered a combined 20 million views without having released an album.[11]
They also performed the music for the 2016 John Lewis Christmas advert, with a cover of Randy Crawford's "One Day I'll Fly Away".[12]
The band collectively announced the decision to split on 25 May 2017 on their official Facebook page, citing the loss of a creative spark for the band.[13]
"Dear Vaulters, it is with a heavy heart we post this today, but after much discussion we have decided to go our separate ways. The last few years have been equally amazing and very challenging, both on personal and professional levels. After caught in still was released we took some much needed time off, but when we discussed how we might go forward it became clear that the spark you need to make a band work had gone. We leave on good terms, with some amazing memories and feeling very proud of the record we put out. Thanks from the bottom of our hearts to everyone that ever came to a gig, caught us at a festival, or bought a record, and everyone from management to label to live team that's ever worked with us. It's meant the world to us. Much love BB&B x"
— Vaults
Pepino now performs with the band Mesadorm (originally founded in 2015), who released debut album, Heterogaster, on 11 May 2018,[14] while Ben Vella formed the band Child of the Parish, with his brother Tom and the artist Pius Bak.[15]
In June 2024, 38-year-old Blythe Pepino was credited with her first solo hit[16] after the Sonny Fodera's track "Mind Still", on which she is the featured vocalist, moved into the Top 75 at number 74.[17][18]
Personal lives
editIn early 2016, Pepino was interviewed about her polyamorous relationship with boyfriend Tom Jacob by The Independent.[11][19]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Caught in Still Life |
|
Extended plays
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Vultures |
|
| Remixed |
|
| Cry No More |
|
Singles
editAs lead artist
edit| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [21] |
SCO [22] | |||
| 2014 | "Premonitions" | — | — | Caught in Still Life |
| "Lifespan" | — | — | ||
| 2015 | "Cry No More" | — | — | |
| 2016 | "Midnight River" | — | — | |
| "Hurricane" | — | — | ||
| "One Day I'll Fly Away" | 53 | 15 | ||
As featured artist
edit| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | UK Dance | |||
| 2016 | "All Four Walls" (Gorgon City featuring Vaults) |
85 | 21 | Escape |
References
edit- ^ "Vaults - Biography". Billboard. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- ^ a b "The Interview: Vaults". Hunger. 3 February 2015. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- ^ Hawkins, Shane (8 October 2015). "Video Premiere: Vaults - "Premonitions"". Wonderland. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ Dingwall, John (17 June 2015). "T in the Park organisers announce new acts to play the BBC introducing stage". Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ DeVille, Chris (15 July 2014). "Vaults – "Lifespan" (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 27 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- ^ Singleton, Micah (11 February 2015). "The Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack is one of the best albums of 2015". The Verge. Archived from the original on 25 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- ^ Murray, Robin (9 June 2015). "Vaults Introduce 'Cry No More' EP". Clash. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- ^ Stanley, Sean (25 June 2015). "Vaults share video for 'Cry No More'". DIY. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- ^ Brown, Harley (18 March 2016). "Gorgon City Share Stirring New Track Featuring Vaults, 'All Four Walls'". Spin. Archived from the original on 23 July 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ Golby, Joel (8 July 2016). "Midnight River by Vaults – the best of this week's new music". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 July 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ a b Foster, Alistair (13 April 2016). "Vaults singer: I'm a bit kinky but I think most people are". London Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ White, Jack (7 November 2016). "This year's John Lewis Christmas advert will be a cover of One Day I'll Fly Away performed by Vaults". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 10 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ "Vaults". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
- ^ "Mesadorm". Babylegs Records. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- ^ "Child of the Parish - Thread The Needles Eye (Official Audio)". YouTube. 24 November 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ "Charts analysis: Eminem's Houdini stays ahead of Espresso on singles rundown | Analysis | Music Week".
- ^ "Sonny Fodera Ft Blythe". Official Charts.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts". Official Charts.
- ^ Hamilton, Chloe (4 February 2016). "Vaults' lead singer Blythe Pepino on her polyamorous relationship". The Independent. Archived from the original on 4 July 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ "Caught in Still Life by Vaults on Apple Music". iTunes. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ^ "VAULTS - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Chart Top 100 - Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2016.