A Silent Film formed in 2005. Fifty songs, two years and an intensive two-month recording session in northern France later, our debut EP The Projectionist was released on Xtra Mile to popular acclaim. The resulting UK tour kicked off with two magical (and sold-out) EP Release shows at the Soho Revue Bar in London (RIP) and the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford, an indie cinema. The ‘cinema gig’ was a real taste of the scale and ambition of things to come, and was made all the more special for three reasons. Firstly, BBC Introducing hosted the evening and subsequently asked the band to play their stage at Glastonbury. Secondly, a member of the audience was involved in the production of a film adaptation of Philip Pullman’s The Butterfly Tattoo and was so impressed that the band ended up playing live in the film. Thirdly – and most importantly – this was the night a relationship was struck between us and producer Sam Williams (Supergrass, Noisettes).
Building on the success of The Projectionist, Xtra Mile were keen to do an album and capitalise on the immediate creative spark between band and producer. The result was The City That Sleeps, our debut album. Produced by Sam Williams, and recorded locally at the idyllic Dungeon Studios just outside Oxford, the album perfectly captures the power and intensity of the band. It was immediately picked up by UK taste-makers like Steve Lamacq at 6music (Band of the Week), and John Kennedy at Xfm (Nominated with ‘honourable mention’ for Album of the Year, Picked in Xfm’s ‘Ones to Watch 2009), and the single You Will Leave a Mark was a ‘hot download’ in the Sunday Times, and was featured in a TV ad campaign for the launch of UKTV Watch. The band went on two UK headline tours divided by a full UK support tour playing with the multi-platinum US band One Republic.
We began to turn our eyes abroad…to Portugal. There was huge enthusiasm to release the album in Portugal, and it proved to be a wise decision with The City That Sleeps going to 3 in the album charts, and single You Will Leave a Mark going to 1 in the singles charts! We played our first festival over there at Optimus Alive playing to 5000 fans, and performed on MTV and radio. The success of 2009 has led to the recent licensing of the album to North America through US label Bieler Bros. The City That Sleeps will be released there in a re-packaged format with extra songs, new artwork and special DVD content. You Will Leave a Mark is already set to be featured on hit TV shows The Hills and House and the A Silent Film success train will be rolling in to the USA early in the New Year. Look out for it! And Happy 2010.