Artist description Phokus is the first wave of Pulse and the next full force wave of rock/pop/alternative music. With an original sound with influences from all around we cover too many genres of music for our own good.

Music Style P.U.L.S.E.

Musical Influences Marc Almond, Live, Dream Theatre, Beatles, Squeeze, Tool, Def Tones

Similar Artists We haven't been able to decribe who we sound like. We feel that we are very original. You tell us.

Artist History Phokus was formed by Dizzy and friend/guitarist Abe Schaeffer in late '99/early 2000. The three of them had been playing together for about 2 years in an earlier project called HumanRace. With the disbanding of HumanRace, Dizzy and Abe had decided to take another shot at it. Abe knew Andy and had spoken with him about the new project, and Andy was somewhat interested and came out the following practice. Andy brought out a small keyboard with him and the sounds were bad... yet his talent was incredible. He made that little old, beat-up keyboard sound amazing. They asked him that night to join the band; he said yes. Leaving his current project behind, Andy stepped out into this new movement of alt/rock. Andy then suggested a bass player and friend he had been working with for some time. Derby showed up to practice with no bass, due to the fact his was stolen. Instead, he used Andy's bass for a while. He played with heart and passion like no bass player we had ever heard before; he was awe-inspiring. They asked him to join that night. He said he would think about it. Two practices later, he joined. Now the band line up, only missing a live drummer. Dizzy phoned a drummer he knew of. Not real sure what to expect, Dizzy called him. Excited about the chance to play again, he jumped at the audition. The following weekend Bob came out. Now Phokus was complete, and ready. New promo shots were done, the music was practiced, and the album recording began. In August of 2000, Phokus released their debut cd entitled "Eve Of Change", and the album sold better than they had expected it to. In a club that fit around 120 people, they had sold nearly 200 tickets. The cd release party came and the band shined. The music was unfaltered and flawless. After the release of the album, Abe made the choice to leave and peruse a band less interested on touring. And again, Phokus needed to find a new band member. This time a guitarist. The band decided that the new guitarist would go through a rough "3 tries" audition. They had some great musicians try out, from solo artists to band players. In the end, they went with a 19-year-old guitarist named Aaron, whose talent is in full bloom and is just what they were all looking for. Now with Phokus on the rise, all has begun for their careers. On December 7th, "Love Shouldn't Hurt" was played on Seattle's 92.5 KLSY. On August 9th, 2001 once again they sold out the release party for their new cd “P.U.L.S.E.”. The band moved from a club to a bowling alley this time. They jam- packed the alley with over 250 people. This self-organized and promoted show featured 3 other locals acts and Phokus as the headliner. With the re-recording of a few of the older songs, to all new music this album is without a doubt the best recording of Phokus available.

Group Members Dizzy - Lead Vocals Aaron - Guitars Derby - Bass, Backing Vocals Andy 'Jammin Panda'Mayor - Keyboards Bob - Drums

Instruments Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard, Bass, Drums

Albums Eve Of Change (Demo CD); P.U.L.S.E.

Press Reviews "I've never been to a show I liked better..."-jwwarlock " ...one of the most awesome shows I have seen in a long time!! I skipped Ozfest to come and see you Guys!"-dizzyrules420 " A wide range of shifting emotion, mature lyrics, masterful instrumental execution, and raging energy converged into a swirling vortex of a show."-Texas_Simplicity " I have not seen or felt a more energetic show in some time. The lyrics and music were both enthralling and very original."- b30wulf2000 NEW PRESS REVIEWS: JOHN "SWAMI" BENSON'S ALBUM REVIEWS Phokus - Eve of Change 4-Track Sampler Phokus are a group of 5 from the Seattle area who are not yet signed. However, this band has so much potential, it wouldn't surprise me if they've been picked up by the time you read this review. I know that every band in existence likes to say that they have their own unique sound that no other band can or has produced, but a good majority of the bands out there can't really say that with a straight face. Phokus are an exception. Their style is diverse, yet so entirely original. They explain on their webpage (http://www.phokus.org) that they create music of the newer genre "pulse", but if you absolutely must label this band, put them in the Phokus section. They are one of the few bands that you can really give their own identity. Somehow not following the paths of recognized modern or post-modern groups, Phokus set out on their musical journey, which gains a larger and larger selections of fans as the days go by. It's actually a little scary that Eve of Change is their first album, and even moreso, that it's self-produced! The sound quality is amazing for a first try, and the songs themselves are of a quality so high that many well-known bands can't even touch. For me, Love Shouldn't Hurt is the standout track on this EP, with Twilight Lover clocking in right behind it. The former is an emotional track about Dizzy's wife, and her not-so-fantastic past. It ends off with an amazing piano outro. I swear, when I first heard this song, I could not turn it off for days...maybe weeks! It got stuck in my head, and I found myself singing it everywhere I went. If they could only get this track played on radio stations worldwide (not just in Seattle), there's no doubt in my mind that it would get them a record deal, and enough of a cashflow to support all five of them, plus their families for the rest of their careers, if not their lives. Dizzy has said himself that he's not too proud of this record, but I have enormous trouble seeing what he could possibly be unhappy with. His voice is amazing on all 4 tracks, and his bandmates are playing at what seems to the listener, to be their best ability. We've got a static-y fuzz guitar effect on the track So Young, which reminds me a lot of Type o Negative's guitar sound. If I had to pick out my least favorite track, it would have to be Show Me how to Feel. Now, I say least favorite, but even at that, Show Me how to Feel easily blows away anything I've heard out of any unsigned band. And, I've heard a lot of unsigned material. Hardly anyone can hold a candle to this band. I love the track, but it's just not quite the epic that the other three are. It comes damn close though! Remember the name, because soon enough, you'll be reading "Phokus" all over the TV screen and magazine covers. Rating: 9/10 John "Swami" Benson is a vocalist/musician from Canada. I was told that this was going to be amazing. I was not lied to! P.U.L.S.E. is an 8-track album, made up of new recordings of 3 songs from Eve of Change and 5 songs new to CD (save for Crystal Dream). Show Me how to Feel was my least favorite on the Eve of Change sampler, but something's been done to it on here that makes it one of my favorites. There are backing vocals on it which fit right in, and Dizzy sounds a lot more confident in his voice. That's not unique to this song though. Dizzy seems to be very much in control of his vocal range and capabilities throughout the entire record. This album has a much crisper, cleaner sound to it. You can hear Bob smackin' the shit out of those drums much better on here than you could on their previous effort. One thing I must say is that I prefer the earlier version of Love Shouldn't Hurt to this one. Maybe it's just me, but the new one just doesn't capture the emotions of the listener as well. I'm not sure which version of So Young I prefer. Both of them are so damn good, it's truly a challenge beyond all challenges to try to select one to call "better". Now, onto the new stuff!!! On the first listen, my favorite track was, without question, Dreams of Yesterday. Amazing song on every possible level. The tone of Dizzy's voice on this one makes it sound very much like a track out of Soul Asylum. Phokus has this amazing ability to write songs that demand that you sing along with the chorus. Catchiness ahoy with this band! Crystal Dream required me to listen to it several times before really getting into it. I'm much more appreciative of it now, after the forced overkill. Crystal Dream has the same problem for me that Show Me how to Feel did on Eve of Change. It's a fine track, nothing to be ashamed of, but it simply doesn't stand out like the others seem to. Still quite enjoyable, but it probably won't be in my top three Phokus songs list at any time. Now, here's the track that blew my mind and almost brought me to tears (something very few songs have ever done)! The Deep is king. KING!!! I didn't ever think I'd find a Phokus track I enjoyed more than Love Shouldn't Hurt, but I may have just met that very track! Vocals, piano, lyrics, method of delivery, EVERYTHING about this song made me say, "Meatloaf?" Anyone whose heard Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell will know what I'm talking about. This track is the seller! WHY AREN'T YOU GUYS SIGNED, DAMMIT?!?!?!? You wrote The Deep! That should do it! God Himself couldn't write a better song! Way to close off the album, Phokus! This track really amazes me. It's going to take several miracles before these guys write a song better than this one. The scary thing is, I'll bet you they will. They'll outdo this somehow, and I'll fall over dead in sheer dumbfoundedness. P.U.L.S.E. is fully deserving of a 10, but I'm going to be an ass and give it 9.5 - just so that you guys have something to strive for ;) JOHN "SWAMI" BENSON'S ALBUM REVIEWS Phokus - P.U.L.S.E. John "Swami" Benson is a vocalist/musician from Canada

Additional Info Fan Club: http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/phokus

Location Seattle, WA - USA

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