Panic Room, formed in the wake of Karnataka, readies its first album

By: Karl Schneider
Date: Friday, October 06, 2006

Panic Room was formed following the break-up of the Welsh progressive rock band, Karnataka, and features 4 members of the original award winning line-up. The band's music ranges from intimate acoustic songs to full-on multi-layered symphonic prog rock, while retaining a contemporary edge.

Karnataka were formed in 1997 by founding members Ian Jones (bass/guitars), Rachel Jones (vocals), and Jonathan Edwards (keyboards). This trio was augmented by guitarist Paul Davies and drummer Gavin Griffiths, who had both played with the other members of Karnataka in other bands or in rehearsals. Vocalist Anne-Marie Helder joined the band in 2003. The band split up in 2004 as members ventured into their own new directions. Ian Jones joined forces with songwriter Steve Evans and guitarist Ian Simmons to record an album under the moniker Chasing The Monsoon. Helder released a solo recording, an EP entitled The Contact. Rachel Jones returned to college, although she appeared on recordings from other bands and has occasionally taken the stage as well, most notably with Mostly Autumn.

Edwards, Davies, and Griffiths, along with Helder on vocals, joined forces under the name Panic Room in 2005 and are now currently finishing recording their debut album, which they have described as featuring some of their best work to date. With Panic Room's line-up the quality of the songwriting and musicianship will be familiar to fans of the original Karnataka, but Panic Room also experiments with new directions to create an original multi-faceted sound.


"For our debut album we really wanted to explore all the different kinds of music that turn us on and make something fresh and original," said Jonathan Edwards - a third of the songwriting partnership and one sixth of the creative force that was Karnataka. "Because of the common background in Karnataka that Anne, Paul, Gavin and myself shared it was inevitable that some elements of our musical past would resurface in Panic Room's music, but there are so many other influences and elements coming through as well. I'm really excited with the way that it's all turning out - I think the sound that we have created is something that is uniquely ours and we can't wait to share this music with you. At the end of the day the reason we're doing this is because we feel that we have to... we're driven to create these songs and for us it's all about making connections; musicians and audience connecting through the music. So we're looking forward to making the connection with all of you ... it just can't happen too soon."

The debut album will also feature some fantastic performances on violin from special guest, Liz Prendergast, of folk-rock legends, The Blue Horses.
Oh, and as for the original Karnataka, it was reformed in 2005 by Ian Jones along with keyboardist Gonzalo Carrera, veteran drummer Bob Dalton, guitarist Nick May (formerly of The Enid) and vocalist Alquimia. The line-up was completed with the addition of lead vocalist Lisa Fury (who had contributed vocals to Ian's Chasing The Monsoon). The resurrected Karnataka and its new line up made its debut at the Vibes From The Vines Festival in support of Cancer Research UK on August 12th, 2006. Work is ongoing on Karnataka's fourth studio album, and the first with the new line-up, to be entitled The Gathering Light.



Panic Room Official site: www.panicroom.org.uk (coming soon)

In the meantime, read up on the band at www.myspace.com/panicroomuk

Karnataka Official site: www.karnataka.org.uk


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