OLIVER CAMPANA

-------FULL BIOGRAPHY---------

Starting

Oliver Campana was born in Toulon in the south of France, where he started singing from the age of 17.
His wide panel of influences and a taste in modern production has led him to blend edgy rock music with deep soul & hypnotic grooves.

London early years 1995

After having built a solid gig experience as a lead vocalist in France by 1995, and a short venture with guitarist Frank"François" Perez

(Gene Loves Jezebel), Oliver Campana flies off to hit the London-UK Pop scene.

In 1997 he starts working with guitarist Joe Hodgson and drummer Stuart Macmillan (who later will join M.A.S.S then Hey Gravity! ).

This band called The Nervous Wrecks records
a studio E.P "Wired" produced by Phil Brown ( Steve Perry, Queensrïche, Marillion..) and gigs extensively in UK and Ireland for about 3 years.

When the band splits up in 2000, Oliver creates a brief project with american drummer Tony Natale (The Drifters, X-Ray Specs, Gwyn Ashton..), bassist Lakis Economou, and Blue Aces guitarist Lewis Fielding (Big Joe Turner, Jerimiah Marques..).

Writing days 2001

During these years, Oliver Campana spends a lot of time on the road, touring in UK, France and Germany, before relocating back in Provence in 2002 on the purpose of writing songs.

As a matter of fact, his personal life makes songwriting a vital and evergrowing priority.

In June 2002 he releases an album "Nothing changes" with french prog rock band Drop-O-Rama (Musea) led by drummer/ composer Antoine de Montremy.
Although the production budget is thin, the album gets a very welcoming feedback from the Rock press people, so the band decides to start a second record.
This comes to life in 2004 under the name "Superlove" and is including a weird cover of Britney Spears "Stronger".

Few months later the band is invited to perform
2 tracks live on France Culture.

Back to London 2004

The same year Oliver Campana is starting a new project back in London with Joe Hodgson and this leads them to producer George De Angelis (Trevor Horn's ZTT Records label, Rod Stewart,
Kim Appleby, Seal, Lee Ann Rymes, Pet Shop Boys...).

What was originally a studio project grows into a band called The Vibe first, then RIME by 2006, and the evolution takes place in studios like The Dairy (Brixton) and Abbey Road.

But once more, after 2 Irish tours, numerous London showcases (incl.The Garage), and the completion of one album "Find your own way",
working together becomes impossible and
Oliver has to leave the band in March 2007.

Simultaneously in 2006 and in order to express another side of his writing, he co-signs and performs on a bunch of songs by DAMON'S,
a french project who will stay ranked Powerpop Number 1 in France on Myspace.com for the whole year.

2007 is a very busy year for Oliver Campana as he's also releasing with Drop-O-Rama  their 3rd and most mature album: "Three at last" on Why Note / Nocturne in october.

Oliver Campana 2008

Oliver decides in 2008 that it's time for his solo project. On june th he appears live in France at the M for Music Festival ( Chateauroux) with an original line up: Phil Beltran and Flo Baldassari on guitar, Gaut Gouallec on bass, and old friend Miko Scalco on drums.

This line up is OLIVER CAMPANA 's current line up and the band enrolls EMERGENZA festival in February 2009 which stands as the world's biggest music competition for emerging bands.

The band wins the Marseille final on May 30th at the Espace Julien, and get to play the French final on June 14th at the famous ELYSEE MONTMARTRE in Paris.

OLIVER CAMPANA grabs the 3rd place of the competition ( 26 finalists) and is awarded a prize for "Best singer". A documentary about the band is produced by France 3 that day and it's programmed two days later on french national television.

 OLIVER CAMPANA is currently working on an album, there's no lack of song material, probably  the singer's best effort so far. Recording sessions have started and the band will release their debut E.P Single shortly..

Oliver has also written for other artists in 2009... but that remains a secret for now.. :o)