Biography
Neko Neko (aka Graham Shortland) showed an interest in music at a very early age, playing his dads records and sneaking a radio into bed with him at night. First picked up a guitar at a very early age but broke a string, embarrassed i didn't play again untill i was 13 and i've never put it down since. By the time he had turned 13 he was playing the guitar and joining bands at school. By age 15 he had picked up the drums and bass showing a keen interest in playing multiple instruments, composing and recording his ideas.
After saving up his pennies, aged 15 Graham brought a battered old tascam 4 track tape machine, which still gets used today, and delved into recording his ideas and experimenting more. By his 16th birthday he had recorded over 10 tapes of material and started recording his friends bands.
By the time had turned 17 he started to experiment with computers, synthesizers and weird and wonderful instruments. By this age he had also learned how to DJ and got the vinyl bug, soaking up more and influences and had also started to play the piano. In 2006 at aged 19 Graham self released his debut EP, sporks and foons. Praised for being different from your average electronica album and having distinctive sound. The EP also showed Grahams love for different or instruments from different cultures and homemade percussion aswell as more traditional instruments. It was about this time that Neko Neko started to use a laptop to perform, remixing and transforming the songs live so they are more upbeat. He made his live debut at Manchester's futuresonic festival 07.
In late 2006 Graham started writing his full first full length album, My favourite sound is orange. Over 40 songs have been written and has taken took 2 years on and off working to finish. The album was set for release in summer 2008 but due to financial difficulties had been delayed untill November 2008, although the first singles are expected in late September.
Whilst finishing off My favourite sound is orange Neko Neko began rounding up a crack team of musicians to perform Neko Neko songs as a live band. Coming from a band background it was only natural for Neko Neko to want play live as a band, although the laptop sets have had a overhall and sound much less like sequenced music and much more "live". That's all for now, we will see what the future holds.
Neko Neko has also been known to be a painter and decorator who paints masterpieces on peoples walls and then paints over them with B&Q white emulsion.
