CHRISTMAS has come early for five Birdwell lads who have not only bagged a record deal but are being mentored by a pop legend and produced by one of Yorkshire’s most successful musicians.
Just over a year ago Frazer were a bunch of working lads whose dreams of success seemed as far off as the distant Derbyshire peaks.
Now the young guitar band, with a lot of talent, a bit of attitude and a strong local following, are poised to hit the charts in 2018.
Frazer - Ashley Clarke, Harvey Fletcher, AJ Battey, Matt Marsh and Alex Owen - are about to have a taste of life in the fast lane having signed to NUA Entertainment, a record label owned by one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs, London-based but South Yorkshire born-and-bred Neil Utley.
Neil’s record label is run by pop legend Paul Hardcastle who has enjoyed massive critical and commercial success in a career spanning more than 30 years.
His groundbreaking 1985 single ‘19’ went to number one in 13 countries, won him an Ivor Novello award and was the catalyst for Simon Fuller’s 19 Management company that spawned among other things Pop Idol, Simon Cowell and the Spice Girls.
The Grammy-nominated musician, who wrote and produced for the Spice Girls in their heyday and is still enjoying solo success with five number one albums on the US billboard charts in recent years, has been brought in to mentor Frazer and steer them to success and his influence is already propelling them into the limelight.
Tomorrow the band play in Birdwell to a sell-out crowd - a homecoming gig that rounds off a whirlwind year for the band. The Birdwell Venue famously hosted the Arctic Monkeys in 2005 a few months after they had also signed to a major record label, and the obvious comparisons don’t stop there.
With an exciting sound, distinct vocals courtesy of front man Ashley Clarke, catchy tunes and a steely edge that defines their South Yorkshire roots, Frazer are cast from the same mould as the Arctic Monkeys but are keen to shrug off suggestions that they are set to fill the gap left locally by the indie-rockers.
The lads are currently recording material for their debut album with Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers, The Who, Milburn) and Richard McNamara from Embrace, who, with three number one albums and 18 top 40 singles, is one of Yorkshire’s most successful musical exports.
McNamara knows what it takes to make it in the music business and says Frazer are ones to watch in 2018. He said: “It’s a tough business where playing live really matters and Frazer are one of the most exciting live bands I’ve seen in years.”
Hardcastle agreed, saying next year could be their moment to shine. He said: “Frazer are great to watch live with a raw energy that’s infectious, and I am certain that 2018 will be their year.”
