16 Down

Debut-albums always give a good indication for qualities and identity of new bands. 16Downs firstborn Headrush has brought quite some people in surprise, They showed their subtle and sensitive side with their radiohits Subtle Movements and Heaven still cries, but they suddenly change settings and overwhelm you with dynamic, in your face guitar rocksongs. This diversity brought the band a lot of media attention, as Subtle Movements has been the song with highest airplay-rates for weeks on National Radio. On stage, 16Down impressed on the bigger Dutch outdoor festivals like Lowlands, Parkpop and Bospop; with their variety of songs they succeeded in pleasing the big crowds. Their new album was due to release spring 2003, but the band had to reschedule their recording sessions. Dutch rockstar Anouk asked 16Down to do supports during her Graduated Fool Tour, visiting 17 sold-out venues across Holland. Second Surprise: Andreas Ahlenius, known for his production on Saybias the Second you Sleep, has been introduced to 16Down and joined singer/guitarist Marco Hovius as a co-producer. October 2003, the new album Life in a Fishbowl has been released. The album is a balanced result of influences, character and variety, emphasizing the strong elements of 16Down: dynamics, melody, surprise and renewal. The album has been pre-announced by feature-single The Day that I met You. After some weeks, this single brings again a great radio-success for 16Down. All eminent radiostations have had the song on rotation, as well as major videochannels like The Box and MTV. MTV also broadcasted a special on the band. With their new album Life in a Fishbowl, 16Down proves to be ready for the step ahead. They have convinced themselves that not only budget and image are important, but more or less talent, craftsmanship and self-esteem are the elemental keys to success. Their blueprint has been enforced, as well as their identity. More variety and dynamics in their liveshows, more and more people visit the shows. In 2004, 16 Down has moved forward, with the second part of their clubtour and presence at many summer festivals. Most surprising was their performance at Mysteryland Dance Festival, collaborating with rising star DJ Don Diablo. This collaboration showed a brillant mix of rock and dance music, showing their highly musical skills and ability to cross musical borders. His excellent musical skills are also shown during his interactive workshops for students, as well as his solo acoustic performances. Apart from this, Marco has started working on a new 16Down-album, which will be released in 2006. In the meantime, you can be surprised when you watch a German Tv channel, as Marco has composed 2 commercial tunes for the renowned beer brand Becks. Theres no way you wont recognize this voice