Biography
An indie trio delivering fierce yet melodic rock & roll shaped by vintage punk and alternative influences, Street Chant originated in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2007. Guitarist-vocalist Emily Littler and bassist-vocalist Billie Rogers, both teenage devotees of the genre who repeatedly crossed paths at local gigs while complaining about the uninspired quality of area acts—one of which included Rogers, who was seeking fresh opportunities—eventually became acquainted. Although they frequently floated the idea of collaborating, their first actual session revealed a shared preference for concise, structured songs rather than loose improvisation, prompting them to rehearse consistently. Initially operating under the name Mean Street, the group only began to gel in early 2009 after their founding drummer departed and percussionist Alex Brown joined, at which point they adopted the moniker Street Chant.
Work on a debut album followed, yet repeated attempts to capture material themselves using a four-track recorder in their rehearsal room proved disappointing. They then enlisted producer and engineer Bob Frisbee, whose enthusiasm for their style led him to assist in sharpening their studio sound. Assembled in brief segments across several months, the resulting full-length Means appeared on Arch Hill Records during summer 2010 and drew strong notices from critics in New Zealand as well as Australia and the United States. The release also secured support slots with the Dead Weather. In 2011 the trio traveled to the United States, performing at the South by Southwest Music Festival that spring and participating in a dedicated showcase of New Zealand acts at the College Music Journal conference that fall.
Work on a debut album followed, yet repeated attempts to capture material themselves using a four-track recorder in their rehearsal room proved disappointing. They then enlisted producer and engineer Bob Frisbee, whose enthusiasm for their style led him to assist in sharpening their studio sound. Assembled in brief segments across several months, the resulting full-length Means appeared on Arch Hill Records during summer 2010 and drew strong notices from critics in New Zealand as well as Australia and the United States. The release also secured support slots with the Dead Weather. In 2011 the trio traveled to the United States, performing at the South by Southwest Music Festival that spring and participating in a dedicated showcase of New Zealand acts at the College Music Journal conference that fall.
Albums
Singles
