Staircase Bio

 

Staircase is a three piece band - Steven Swinnen (lead singer, guitar), Kristof Bauwens (drums, electronics) and Nick Martinet (bass, backing vocals) – which some compare to The Killers, Placebo, Arcade Fire and/or Snow Patrol. 

In 1999 Staircase gets on stage for the very first time. Only two years later, cheered at by a crowd of dedicated fans, Staircase makes it to the Belgian finals of the European music contest Emergenza, where the band is awarded “best singer”. Staircase will win seven rock contests in the next two years. 

In 2003 the band sings its first record deal. Eagerly they start working on their debut album with producer Mario Goossens (TriggerFinger, The Black Box Revelation) and sound engineers Paul Van Bruystegem (TriggerFinger, ex-BJ Scott) and Filip Goris. The album is finally released in 2005 and is called “Superorganism”, referring to the cohesion that is so distinctive for the band. 

In 2006 Staircase meets Dutch producer Huub Reijnders (Green Day, Kaiser Chiefs, U2, …). Under his expert guidance they record ten new songs. The songs are mastered by Grammy winner Darcy Proper (REM, Kane, Smashing Pumpkins, …).  

Staircase accepts the invitation of the Midpoint Music Festival in Cincinnati and end 2007 they head for the US. Before playing the scheduled shows in Cincinnati and Columbus, Staircase makes a stop in New York. Within 12 hours after their arrival, they – unexpectedly – climb the stage of the Rockwood Music Hall in Manhattan, one of the emotional highlights in the life of the band. That same year Staircase is invited to perform at the International Youth Festival in Ankara (Turkey).  

In 2008 Staircase plays shows in Belgium (including in the Handelsbeurs in Ghent) and the Netherlands. In total the band has now played 140 gigs. 

In the beginning of 2009 Staircase asks Yannick Fonderie to remix one of their songs (Y&M Kissin’). John Davis (known from his collaborations with Snow Patrol, Stereophonics, Bloc Party, Artic Monkeys, …) takes care of the mastering of the tape at the Metropolis studio in London. Record company Sony is interested in the material and soon Staircase signs a record deal with the major. Y&M Kissin’, a song about the unforgettable nature of that very first real kiss, is the first result of this new alliance. 

With this new single Staircase stick to their tradition: bringing their own characteristic songs, sometimes fragile, sometimes devastating.