Swoop (Australian band)

Swoop were an Australian seven-piece rock, funk and disco band established in 1991 as a funk and rap duo by Joshua Beagley on guitar and keyboards and Roland Kapferer on lead vocals (rapping, MCing).[1][2] They had met as students at Marryatville High School, Adelaide in 1987 before relocating to Sydney.[3] The duo were joined by "an ever-changing line-up that has featured a collection of rappers, DJs, musos and dancers".[1][3] The band released two early singles "Positivity's Groove" (May 1992) and "Jelly Funk" (August).[1][3]

Fiona Ta'akimoeaka joined Swoop on lead vocals befoer August 1992 and by November the other members of the seven-piece were Chris Brien on drums, Armando Gomez on percussion, Alex 'Gob' Hewetson on bass guitar and Breadman St Ledger III on keyboards.[1][4] Their third single "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" appeared in November.[1][3] Rebecca Lang of The Canberra Times described their sound, "Drawing on the '70s funk, dipping into '90s acid jazz and adding a blend of '80s rap."[3] In August 1993 the group issued "Do It" and followed with their debut studio album, Thriller in October.[1] Later members include percussionist Terepai Richmond, drummer Calvin Welch and keyboard player Tetsushi Morita. Ta'akimoeaka left the band in 1995 and was replaced by Rebekah Jane as lead vocalist.[1]

In October 1994, Swoop released "Neighbourhood Freak", which became the group's first charting single, peaking at number 62 on the ARIA Charts. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1994 Swoop were nominated for ARIA Award for Best New Talent.[5] During 1994 and 1995 the group played regular gigs in the Gershwin Room at St Kilda's Esplanade Hotel.

In 1995 Swoop released Rock Dog" and in October, "Apple Eyes" which peaked at number 9 on the ARIA Charts and was certified gold by ARIA for 35000 shipments.[6] In November 1995, Swoop released their second studio album The Woxo Principle[1] Two further singles were released from the album, including the cover of Captain & Tennille's "Do That to Me (One More Time)". At the ARIA Music Awards of 1996 they were nominated for ARIA Award for Song of the Year and ARIA Award for Best Video for "Apple Eyes", and ARIA Award for Best Pop Release for The Woxo Principle.[7][8]

In 1998, Swoop released "Remedy" and "Blood Runs Hot", the lead singles from their third studio album Be What You Is which was released in January 1999.[1] Late in 1999 Swoop disbanded.[4]

After Swoop, Beagley, Kapferer and Welch formed Professor Groove & the Booty Affair; with Sam Dixon on bass guitar and Robert Woolf on keyboards and vocals (later replaced by Richard Stanford on keyboards).[9][10] They released their debut album, And so Funketh the Wise Man in 2001.[9][11]

Brien became a live and recording session musician, drum clinician and teacher; in November 2006 he relocated to Hong Kong.[4]

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.