Chayka

CHAYKA formed around the hub of creativity and talent that are Riccardo Panza and Sean De Burca, who hail from Leixlip, Co. Kildare. Riccardo has always been involved in music of one type or another, busking around Dublin and Galway at weekends throughout school and college, and writing and recording with his school and college friends. Sean, a classically trained and highly competent guitarist, has been friends with Riccardo since their teenage years, and provided intricate and interesting riffs to complement and enhance Riccardo's lyrical style.

Having played and written together since their early twenties - Sean playing electric and acoustic guitar and Riccardo doubling up as lyricist and acoustic guitarist - the duo made the decision to expand to a trio in 2005, and began to search for a bassist. Ken Richmond, former guitarist with 'The Draft' and a close friend of both Sean and Riccardo, joined the band as bassist in 2006, and has proven himself to be an asset to the group. Ken's guitar-playing background adds a highly melodic twist to his bass-lines, adding depth and dynamism to the overall group sound. Various drummers came and went, but none provided the subtle, yet multifarious style that would truly complement the increasingly cohesive nature of Chayka's music.

In early 2007 the group began to seek out a singer to front the group. Orlaith Gilcreest, from Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, joined the group as singer and multi-instrumentalist. Her unusual vocal style and natural musicality add subtle nuances to the overall tone of the music. Now numbering four, the band began to refine their musical style, and soon found themselves fitting comfortably into the laidback Soul/Rock genre.

Shortly before Christmas 2007, Chayka began recording their E.P. 'Looking For An Enemy' with Fergal Davis of Suite Studios, using Jay Ogelsby as a session drummer. Jay's drumming style gelled well with the overall sound, and formed a solid basis for the rest of the group to work from. The addition of singer Stevie Byrne - the vibrant frontman of the Sugar Junkies - added another strong, clear voice to the line-up, and boosted the group's sound. By late February 2008, recording of the E.P. had been completed. Now all that remained was to find a worthy drummer.

Riccardo turned to another close friend, Jonny Kelly, also of the Sugar Junkies. As teens, Riccardo and Jonny had played music together at school, and had spent their evenings playing and recording music in Jonny's bedroom. As the son of a musician and the grandson of a drummer, Jonny took to the drumkit with apparent ease. Likewise, he took to Chayka immediately, injecting some much needed percussive rhythm into the music, and using his unique and artful drumming style to add subtle shades and keen distinctions to the overall sound that defines Chayka.