Biography
Scream Sophie first took shape in 1999 as a modest garage act on the fringes of Birmingham, Alabama, assembled by Curt Granger, the former guitarist and songwriter for Pyrate. Having resumed writing and demoing original songs, Granger judged the moment right to assemble a new unit. Seeking a style built on intense emotion, forceful rhythms, and strong melodic hooks, he enlisted his ex-Pyrate bandmate Timmi "G" Ward to split lead vocal responsibilities. Ward’s magnetic delivery and energizing presence secured, the search began for a permanent drummer. The arrival of the youthful and prodigiously gifted Jeremy Paul supplied the required powerhouse behind the kit. Refining their approach, the group developed a dense, propulsive sound anchored by distortion-heavy guitars and gleaming vocals. Completion arrived when Gary Sanders joined on bass, charged with making “the low frequency spectrum of the Scream Sophie machine even more ferocious.” Comparisons have linked their style to Fuel, Nickelback, King’s X, Creed, and Godsmack. A professional image and working-class ethos set them apart from routine bar bands. Their prospects remain strong, their sound offering relief from the late-’90s dominance of vocal teen-pop acts. The members hold that their abilities enable them to craft music for their own pleasure, free of any need to chase passing trends. The independent release of their debut full-length, Offerings, presents material merging classic hard rock with metal accents and contemporary industrial textures. Experimental impulses drive much of the work, allowing Scream Sophie to present audiences with a post-grunge and alternative-rock hybrid. In their early years the band accumulated several distinctions, including semifinalist placement in the Big Deal $100,000 Music Search sponsored by Mars Music. Their first D.A.M. recording, Rhythmic Tribal Ritual, issued on mp3, has ranked as Alabama’s top-selling CD since the opening of 2001. The Offerings track “Resurrected” was chosen for www.mp3.com’s Best Alternative Rock on the Net compilation.
Albums
