SKAMP are a perfect example of the quality music that is storming out of the new EU countries. Producer Vee Diawara, singer / lyricist Erica Jennings & rapper Vilius Alesius teamed up to bring us finely crafted, thoughtful lyrics and catchy melodies.
A delicious cocktail blending well together, Vilius grew up in Lithuania; Erica studied singing and dance in her hometown of Dublin and Vee was raised in Mali by artistic parents. Though most of their lyrics are in English, the trio have released tracks mixing in French, German, Lithuanian, Russian & Bambara.
SKAMP burst onto the Lithuanian music scene in May 1998 with a hip-hop cover version of George Gershwin's Summertime mixing the summer classic with french and lithuanian rap. The song shot straight to the top of the charts proving that their blend of cultural and musical styles worked. Much success, many hits, late-nights, tours and fans followed. Since then, the group have gone on to release 6 albums, (they' ve sold over 80,000 units) and they’ve set up their own record company (Tabami Records). SKAMP are today one of the most respected live bands in the Baltics having won a long list of music awards along the way. They have also supported acts such as: The Black Eyed Peas, Macy Gray, Reamonn, Robert Plant, Wheatus, The Bomfunk MC’s and many more.
Since 2003 Skamp have started working with several established producers from the UK & the US (Oliver Leiber & Dave Gamson, Jez Coad, Stuart Brown, Jon Kingsley Hall and George Stewart). Thanks to those collaborations SKAMP’S fifth studio album “Reach”, made in London & Wales, is a solid pop rock creation. The album has some great hit tracks like “Split the atom (Na Na Na)” and “Calling after me”.
Their latest album “Deadly” has been recorded in Mali & Lithuania fulfilling an old dream to mix African musical elements with the typical SKAMP sound. Many people say SKAMP are to be the next “big thing” to emerge from the new EU countries.
Whilst recording they’ve been playing a few concerts in Erica’s birthplace Ireland. Here’s what the Irish press have said:
“... right from the first song the crowd are with them. And within one song I my Irish friend are with them too. They're fresh, they're lively, they have umph. Most importantly they really enjoy themselves...Believe me. I've been Skamp’d”
Sunday Independent (02 / 05 / 2004)
“A kind of cross between The Fugees, Faithless and the Chilli Peppers, with a strong pop sensibility and metallic edge”
Hotpress Magazine (11/02/2004)
“Having conquered the Baltics SKAMP have set their sights on Ireland, the UK and Europe..”
The Irish Times (12 / 02 / 2004)
“She’s enjoyed a string of chart-topping singles, plays to packed houses and consistently outsells Britney Spears and Madonna… that’s because the 23 year old is the head-turning lead singer of SKAMP who are massive in the former soviet states… ”
Ireland on Sunday (15 / 02 / 2004)
Awards
The Radiocentras Awards
(Voted for by the listeners of the largest radio station in Lithuania)
Best Debut: 1998
Best Song: 1998 “Summertime”,
Best Top-20 Song: 2001 “You got style”
Best Album: 2000 “Green”, 2001 “Skempinlige”& 2004 “Reach”
Band of the Year: 2004 & 2005
Best Female Artist: 2001 “Erica Jennings”
The Bravo Awards
(Voted by a commission of Industry people in Lithuania)
Best Debut: 1998
Best Song: 2001 “You got style”
Best Group: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004
Best Pop Group: 1999
Best Album: 2000 “Green”, 2001 “Skempinlige”
Best Producer: 2000 “Vee Diawara”
Best Female Artist: 2001 & 2002 “Erica Jennings”
4 Just Plain Folks Awards including “Band of the year 2004”
(Just Plain Folks Awards are voted by a commission of Industry people in the USA)
Band of the Year: Skamp
Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year: „Skempinlige“
Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year: „U Cannot F,,K wit this“
Dance Album of the Year: „Le Boom Chick“
A grant from the Lithuanian Prime Minister in 1998
The Grand Prix Award in Latvia for the 35th “Liepajas Dzintars” festival in 1999
The Best Show Award from the prestigious Annual Kaunas Jazz Festival 2000
5 Gold Discs from the radio station M-1 for reaching the coveted number 1 Spot
Gold Disc for the Single “You got style” 2001
Platinum Disc for Album “Skempinlige” 2001
Platinum Disc for Single “Musu dienos…” 2002
SKAMP supported:
The Black Eyed Peas, Macy Gray, Reamonn, Robert Plant, Wheatus, Kraftwerk, Terrorvision, Bomfunk MC’s, Gorki Park, Agata Kristi, Hiriam Bullock, 5 Sterne Deluxe, Kingsativa, Brainstorm, Time After Time…
Festivals and Tours:
Culture Jam Festival 2006 (Germany)
“Deadly Live Tour” 2005 (UK, Ireland, Germany, Lithuania)
EU Accession Days 2004 (UK, Germany, Lithuania)
“The Reach Tour” 2003-2004 (USA, Ireland, UK, Austria, Germany)
Estonian Music Awards 2002 (Estonia)
Firenight Festival 2001 (Estonia)
Andrius Mamontovas Tour 2001 (Lithuania)
“Skempinligė Tour” 2001 (Lithuania / Latvia)
Eurovision Song Contest 2001(Denmark)
Baltic Song Festival 2001(Sweden)
Kaunas Jazz Festival 2000, 2003 & 2004 (Lithuania)
Riga Forte 2000 (Latvia)
Bildes 2000 (Latvia)
Parama 2000 (Lithuania)
“The Green School Tour” 2000 (Lithuania)
Klaipėda Sea Festival 1999 & 2000 (Lithuania)
Liepaja Dzintars 1999 / 2000(Latvia)
The „Cool“ Rock Tour 1998 (Lithuania)
Biggest Audiences:
- Many festival gigs as Headliners throughout the Baltics with an audience attendance reaching over 25.000. Many of these events were televised live.
- Their own out-door gigs had audiences of up to 10,000.
- Eurovision Song Contest 2001 - 30.000 (Parken Stadium - Copenhagen) / over 150 million via TV
- Numerous TV appearances in the Baltics such as Prime Time programmes, Award ceremonies, live televised concerts, morning shows etc.
- SKAMP “Unplugged” 2001
- Erica Jennings “Coming Home for Christmas” concert televised on Christmas Eve and New Years 2002
