Music Style Synthpop

Musical Influences Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, A-ha

Artist History Shades of Grey is a hypnotizing band whose combination of pulsing beats, warm electronics, powerful songs, and raw energy has thrust them to the forefront of the "synthpop" subculture. Formed in Southern California by brothers Tim and Tom Kramer, whose common fascination with music, synthesizers, and computers molded the band's forward path, Shades of Grey has professed a unique style which continues to excite music fans around the globe. Though the concepts and idealism behind Shades of Grey had long been developing in the hearts and minds of the brothers Kramer, the actual recording didn't begin until early 1992, when the newly christened Shades of Grey took their first batch of songs and headed for Knottypine Studios in San Bernardino, California. Here the band's debut release, "Background," was recorded and assembled. Released in May of 1992, "Background" was an underground hit in the Southern California area with songs like "Boys and Girls" and "The Red Hill." After playing a series of live shows in the Los Angeles and Inland Empire areas, Shades of Grey once again headed back to the studio in 1993 with producer Cole Coonce. Here the band was introduced to several recording and production techniques which would, in the long run, contribute to the unique sound Shades of Grey has become known for. The untitled release featured "Goodbye" and "Emotional," Shades of Grey's most popular songs to date. Garnering regular rotation play from some of Southern California's hottest radio stations, both "Goodbye" and "Emotional" became minor hits in the Southern California club scene. Shades of Grey spent the following two years writing new material and experimenting with equipment and recording techniques, including the temporary addition of guitarist Ronnie Velasco. In early 1997, after refining their sound and direction, the brothers were approached by David Lin of the newly formed Synthphony Records in New York and offered a record deal. The band happily agreed and in September of the same year released their first full-length album, "The Longest Day." The album features re-workings of several hits from the past, as well as new songs such "Glory," "The Longest Hour," and "Nothing More To Say." Shades of Grey followed up their debut Synthphony release with a song contributed to the compilation "Untied Synthpop of America, Volume I." "Perfect Wine," the band's most romantic song to date, was a standout on an album featuring such bands as Cosmicity, Agnes Poetry, and Darklight. The following two years were spent recording several songs which appeared on various compilations, including "The Future's Over" and a cover of Camouflage's "Heaven, I Want You," after which the band entered the arena of remixing. Lead by Tom's programming and production wizardry, Shades of Grey's remixes of bands such as Red Flag, Echoing Green, and Intact over the next few years would set the level to which other remixers would try to attain. 2001 saw Shades of Grey's second release, the highly anticipated EP "All I Have To Give." Featuring remixes by Cause and Effect, Persona, and Intact, among others, "All I Have To Give" is, according to the band, their most complete song to date. Also featuring the songs "New Year's Day" and "Pure," "All I Have To Give" was followed up by Shades of Grey's performance at SynthCon 2001. More recently, the brothers have once again remixed Red Flag for the "Who Are The Skulls?" project, as well as recorded the song "Face to Face" for DJ Ram's Virtual Server effort. Currently, Shades of Grey are working on their next full-length album, due to be released in late 2002.

Group Members Tim Kramer - Vocals Tom Kramer - Synths, Programming

Location Highland, CA - USA

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