| Siena Root | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Genres | Hard Rock, Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock |
| Years active | 1997 - Present (2004 according to the band) |
| Labels | Nasoni, Transbustans, MIG, Root Rock, Gaphals, Cleopatra |
| Associated acts | Øresund Space Collective, West, Space and Love, Chainsaw, |
| Website | Siena Root Official |
Siena Root are a Swedish rock collective based out of Stockholm. With roots derived from late sixties and early seventies rock, Siena Root bases their sound on heavy organs, howling guitars, big drums, bluesy soulful vocals and psychedelic vibes. The band is also noted
with its roots in late '60s and '70s rock music. The group was founded in Stockholm in the late '90s. Their sound is based on heavy organ, howling guitars, bass riffing and big drums. It is also often enriched with bluesy soulful vocals, various guest musicians and psychedelic vibes. The band utilizes classical rock and re-interprets it, especially in their live performances with a wide range of sounds and guest performers. Along with earning a reputation as a revered live act the band has released seven studio albums to date.
The name Siena Root is derived from a color-coding of the band's sound. The band felt their sound is akin to the warm color of Siena (A city based in Italy) and a deep rooted sound.
History[]
Siena Root would begin sometime in 1997 though details on the band's earliest years are relatively unknown, barring the release of three demos through the late 1990s. The band's earliest known live shows would take place in the Fall of 2002[1] and would sign with English label Rage of Achilles and Germany label Nasoni. The lineup of founding members Love Forsberg, Sam Riffer, KG West and Oskar Lundström would release A New Day Dawning in 2004, touring Germany and Sweden to support the album.
In the summer 2005, Siena Root went through a reshaping. Sanya stepped in behind the microphone when Oskar decided to take an early retirement. Lead guitarist KG West became the one to also step in behind the Hammond. Now Siena Root was ready to release a new vinyl single, this time in cooperation with Nasoni records in Berlin. Recording at Studio Ovett, the band would release their sophomore album Kaleidoscope on 20 February 2006. A release party would be hosted on 13 May 2005 at Scenario in Stockholm. More frequent gigs would follow, including a November tour through Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands.
Signing with Swedish label Transubstans (CD) and Headspin (Vinyl) two albums would follow in back-to-back years: Far From The Sun (5 March 2008) and Different Realities (29 August 2009), all the while performing all over Europe and branching out to festivals such as the 2010 edition of Duna Jam. In 2011 the band would host a three-night residency from 19 May to 21 May 2011 at Walla Scen to record a live album, leading to Root Jam seeing release the same year. The band would remain active in a live capacity the next couple years, including appearances at Muskelrock and Heavy Days in Doomtown to name a few events. Longtime member KG West would leave the band in 2013.
Signing to Swedish label Gaphals and working with a quintet lineup of Forsberg, Riffer, Jonas Åhlén, Matte Gustafsson and Erik Petersson Pioneers would see release on 7 November 2014 to a generally positive reception. The band toured heavily through 2015, including their first shows in England and appearances at Freak Valley Festival and Desertfest Belgium to name a few. Following sporadic touring and an appearance at Höstsabbat in 2016 work would begin on a sixth album. A Dream of Lasting Peace would see release via MIG Records on 26 May 2017, with the band touring the next month to support it, along with appearances at Aqua Maria and Lake on Fire Festival. Following a touring cycle in the Spring on 2018 and sporadic mini-tours in 2019 work would begin on an eighth record.
Siena Root would release their eighth album The Secret of Our Time on 20 March 2020 right into the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and having only performed a handful of shows leading up to the album's release. Nonetheless the album had attained a positive reception.
Discography[]
Studio Albums[]
- A New Day Dawning (2004, Rage of Achilles; Nasoni Records)
- Kaleidoscope (2006, Nasoni Records)
- Far From The Sun (2008, Transubstans; Headspin)
- Different Realities (2009, Transubstans; Headspin)
- Pioneers (2014, Gaphals)
- A Dream of Lasting Peace (2017, MIG)
- The Secret Of Our Time (2020, MIG)
Other Releases[]
- The Siena Root (MiniAlbum) (1999, Self-Released)
- Demo 2001 (Demo) (2001, Self-Released)
- IV (Demo) (2003, Self-Released)
- Demo 2004 (Demo) (2004, Self-Released)
- Mountain Songs (7" Single) (2005, Nasoni Records)
- Kalejdoskop - Live At ROJ (Live DVD) (2010, Root Rock)
- Root Jam (Live Album) (2011, Transubstans)
- Conveniently Blind (7" Single) (2013, Transubstans)
- In The Fire (7" Single) (2019, Root Rock)
Members[]
Current Lineup[]
- Matte Gustavsson - Guitar
- Erik Petersson - Organ
- Sam Riffer - Bass
- Love Forsberg - Drums
- Johan Borgström - Guitar
- Lisa Lystam - Vocals
- Zubaida Solid - Vocals
Past Members and Guests[]
- Lisa Lystam - Harmonica, Vocals
- KG West - Guitar, Organ, Sitar
- Samuel Björö - Vocals
- Jonas "Joe Nash" Åhlén - Vocals
- Sanya - Vocals
- Oskar Lundström - Organ, Vocals
- Sartez Faraj - Guitar, Vocals
- Martin Linder - Guitar
- Chrissi Jost - Vocals
- Maxi Dread - Guitar, Vocals
- Cecilia Ringkvist - Vocals
- Evami Ringkvist - Vocals
- Anna Myrsten - Vocals
- Erik Lundin - Flute, Guitar
- Jackan - Guitar
- Janet Jones Simmonds - Vocals
- Jonas Myrenberg - Mandolin
- Tängman - Hurdy-Gurdy
- Anna Sandberg - Wind Instruments
- Krister Karlsson - Harmonica
- Stian Grimstad - Sitar
- Martin Stensson - Violin
- Martin Budiskovschi - Monolord
- Mikaela Samuelsson - Vocals
- Anurag Choudhari - Bansuri
- Tia Marklund - Guitar, Vocals