My Passion

My Passion

My Passion is a British electronic rock and screamo band from Hitchin, Hertfordshire. The group forms in 2006 and is active until 2012. Its line-up is Laurence René on vocals and guitar, Jonathan Gaskin on vocals, synths and guitar, John Be on guitar, Simon Rowlands on bass, and Jamie Nicholls on drums.

Style and formation

The band builds a sound described as electronic-influenced metallic punk, combining DIY ethics with a theatrical live approach. The members are childhood friends with a shared intention to make a big, aggressive sound and a performance style that matches it. Their name reflects the idea of working with passion and self-direction.

Recording and releases

My Passion records its debut album, Corporate Flesh Party, with producer John Mitchell, who works with acts including Enter Shikari, You Me At Six and Funeral for a Friend. The album is made in Reading after the band meets Mitchell at a headline show, and it receives critical acclaim. The band later prepares a follow-up album and releases the synth rock single “Day Of The Bees”, followed by “Crazy & Me”.

Live work and touring

Live performance is central to the band’s profile, and My Passion plays almost 500 shows. It tours extensively in the UK and Europe, including dates with Kill Hannah, Innerpartysystem, Jeffree Star, All Time Low, The Blackout and Young Guns. The band also shares bills with The Automatic, The Faint, Lacuna Coil and Dead By April. One tour is interrupted when an early-morning bus explosion in the Swiss Alps destroys most of the band’s possessions, but the group continues the run with its instruments and equipment intact enough to keep performing.

The band also plays a 30-date UK headline tour around Corporate Flesh Party, beginning with a rooftop show in central London and ending with a performance to 500 fans on a stage it builds in a church in Camden Town.

Festivals, media and recognition

My Passion appears at Liverpool Sound City, Camden Crawl, Download, T in the Park, Underage Festival and Stagedive Dayout in Sweden. It gains strong support through MySpace, where the band runs its own page. Its online presence and live reputation help it build a large following without outside backing.

The band receives attention from Kerrang!, Rock Sound, Big Cheese, Disorder and Metal Hammer. It places in Kerrang!’s readers’ poll for best of 2008, reaches number one in Rock Sound, appears in the top 10 MySpace acts to watch in 2009, and is nominated for Best British Newcomer at the 2009 Kerrang! Awards. “Day Of The Bees” also reaches the top 10 on Kerrang! and Scuzz television playlists and receives radio play on BBC Radio 1’s Rock Show, XFM and BBC 6 Music, with Bruce Dickinson championing it.

Merchandise and visual identity

Alongside music and touring, the band develops its own merchandise brand, My Passion Fashion, which sells online and at live shows across Europe. It later works with Hot Topic for a UK launch and models exclusive ranges. My Passion also gains support from companies including Red Bull, Hughes & Kettner, EBS, Blackstar, Roland, Korg, Vigeur Basses, Stagg and Cort Guitars.

Split

In 2012, My Passion announces that it has broken up after seven years on the road.