Shejus Greedy album reflects talent

Natural World is the first album of local blues band Shejus Greedy.

It features strong and sultry songs that rock from blues to funk, from soul and r&b; to folk and back to rock, with an honest and raw sound, thanks to the analogue retro recording. It's an album sure to go a long way.

Shejus Greedy was first thought of in 2009 when local diva Delayne Ututaonga and singing songwriter Grant Haua, beer in hand, talked of teaming up to start a new hot blues band. Rob Paterson joined them, and Mickey Ututaonga was keen to jump on board soon after.

Mickey is a well-respected drummer as well as Delayne's uncle, and he has played with the likes of Renee Geyer, Nathan Haines, Mark Williams, The Ladykillers, Sir Howard Morrison, Dame Malvina, The Aaron Saxon Band and others.

For those who remember, Mickey and Rob were in the resident band Cairo at Rotorua's hotspot The Tudor Towers during the 80s.

Delayne has been solid in several local trios and duos, like Sister Soul and Isis, all the while freelancing with various big bands, as well as her latest side project, playing guitar with the all-girl band The Kougar Sisters.

The reasoning behind the name Shejus Greedy is that Delayne has acquired such heavyweight musicians simply to satisfy her hunger for the best.

"By 2010, we had enough material for an album so we pulled it together and started recording at Revolver Studio in Waiuku late September where we laid the fundamentals for 10 songs," she says.

"Later, we took the master copy to local man Tim Cooper at C-Block Studios and added more layers of guitar, changed things, and added new songs. There were plenty of hurdles along the way and it took over a year to complete the album, but we are happy with the result."

The launch will be on Friday 31st August at Brewers Bar at Mount Maunganui, followed by Rotorua and Auckland later this year. Visit www.shejusgreedy.co.nz for more info about this up and coming local band.