Biography
Equation has been labeled "the leaders of the folk brat pack." Even at their early stage of life the British five-piece drew parallels to established folk-rock acts such as Fairport Convention, Pentangle, and Steeleye Span, along with pop ensembles like 10,000 Maniacs and Fleetwood Mac. Mojo Magazine observed that "their hard-earned grasp of folk, blues, and jazz is wedded to a mainsteam sensibility," whereas British music magazine Rock 'n' Reel declared, "they're young, they're beautiful, and you get the feeling that, if they didn't exist, the music world would have to invent them."
The musicians who formed Equation initially united to cut the album 3 Piece Suit, credited to the Lakeman Brothers Band and featuring violinist Seth Lakeman alongside his guitar-playing sibling Sean. Still enrolled in high school, the Lakemans had already spent their entire lives playing in a family band. The recording also spotlighted vocalist Kathryn Roberts, who had been working alongside Kate Rusby when the brothers first encountered her at a folk festival. The rapport between the Lakeman brothers and Roberts proved so instinctive that the three decided to keep collaborating. They soon expanded the lineup by bringing in Roberts’ duo partner Kate Rusby, bassist Darren Edwards, and drummer Ian Goodall. The quintet’s melodic, hook-laden style quickly attracted notice. Immediately following their debut performance, the group caught the ear of Geoff Travis, the figure who had earlier “discovered” the Cranberries and the Smiths while also guiding careers for Beth Orton, Mazzy Star, Pulp, and Ultrasound. With Travis’s backing, Equation secured a deal with Warner Brothers. Their first single appeared on the various-artists collection Evolving Tradition. The band then laid down their debut full-length album, Return to Me, inside Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios.
The musicians who formed Equation initially united to cut the album 3 Piece Suit, credited to the Lakeman Brothers Band and featuring violinist Seth Lakeman alongside his guitar-playing sibling Sean. Still enrolled in high school, the Lakemans had already spent their entire lives playing in a family band. The recording also spotlighted vocalist Kathryn Roberts, who had been working alongside Kate Rusby when the brothers first encountered her at a folk festival. The rapport between the Lakeman brothers and Roberts proved so instinctive that the three decided to keep collaborating. They soon expanded the lineup by bringing in Roberts’ duo partner Kate Rusby, bassist Darren Edwards, and drummer Ian Goodall. The quintet’s melodic, hook-laden style quickly attracted notice. Immediately following their debut performance, the group caught the ear of Geoff Travis, the figure who had earlier “discovered” the Cranberries and the Smiths while also guiding careers for Beth Orton, Mazzy Star, Pulp, and Ultrasound. With Travis’s backing, Equation secured a deal with Warner Brothers. Their first single appeared on the various-artists collection Evolving Tradition. The band then laid down their debut full-length album, Return to Me, inside Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios.
Albums
Singles
