School band ready to storm the charts (From This is Hampshire)

School band ready to storm the charts

5:13pm Monday 20th July 2009 in

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By Emma Darling

IT started off as a joke between teachers and pupils at a Hampshire school – but could lead to a hit single in the UK top 40.

The Modes – all youngsters from Redbridge Community School – have just released their first single, called Take Me Away.

The band consists entirely of pupils: vocalists Shane Wheeler- Osman, 14, Charley Macaulay, 15, Shannon Bennion, 15, guitarists Jack Wilson, 15, Matt Shenton, 16, Simon Hunt, 15, bassist Dan Kelly, 15, and drummer Mitchell Scanlon, also 15.

The single was originally produced as part of the students’ BTEC music course and jokes with teachers about it being a hit quickly turned serious.

“We all decided, as a group, that we wanted to do something different for our BTEC module,”

they said.

“So we formed a band of the best musicians in the school, and got to work.”

The Modes have been working with the Creative Partnerships organisation and Gift Music, some teachers from the school and even some professional artists – including Stu Rodda and Ricky Tart.

They have already composed and recorded the song and the accompanying track, In Denial, and have even produced their own music video.

To hit the top 40 they need to sell 8,000 copies in the first week of release and although the single is available in local shops the band believe iTunes sales will be the key to achieving their dream.

As an attempt to promote their idea and single, The Modes will be performing the track in various locations around Southampton and have posted their music video onto YouTube to promote it.

“Our main message is to kids like us, just starting out with their own bands and projects,”

they said.

“It’s about enjoying yourself on the journey to whatever you want to do.”