Dommin
Encyclopedia
Dommin is an American alternative rock
band from Los Angeles, California, consisting of Kristofer Dommin on vocals and guitar, Billy James on bass, Konstantine on keyboards, and Cameron Morris on drums. Dommin released their major label debut album, Love is Gone
, on February 2, 2010 on Roadrunner Records
.
In 2005, Kristofer would unknowingly have one of their demos reach the ears of producer, songwriter and manager, Lucas Banker, who has a production company with his partner Logan Mader, known for his involvement in Machine Head
and Soulfly
. It wasn't long before Dommin was in the studio. With some professionally recorded songs, Kristofer began to showcase his music on the social networking site, MySpace. It was through MySpace
that Kristofer signed his publishing deal with Reverb, an independent UK publisher in June 2006. Through the efforts of Reverb Publishing and Dirty Icon Productions, Dommin's music was shopped to various labels and management.
In late 2006, Dommin's efforts caught the eyes and ears of Monte Conner, Head of A&R at Roadrunner Records and signed with them in June 2008. In February 2010, their major label debut Love Is Gone was released. Prior to the album's release, Dommin toured festivals like The Warped Tour in the United States, The Rock Am Ring/Rock Im Park festivals in Germany and the opened the Main Stage at the Download Festival in the United Kingdom.
The band's first single was "My Heart, Your Hands". The song was featured as iTunes free 'Song of the Week' in February 2010, where it received over 300,000 downloads. The second single of the album was "Tonight." A third video was self-directed and produced for the song "Closure." The band used photos and videos submitted by their fans with live footage of their tour in November 2010 for the video.
In the summer of 2010, Dommin received nominations as Best New Band and Best New International Artist at both of UK's Metal Hammer Awards and Kerrang Awards, respectively.
says "The words and music are there for those misunderstood people who need to know that there is someone out there who feels the same."
as well as Type O Negative
. He stated in an interview with Sonic Excess, "Vocally, I have been influenced by everyone from Glenn Danzig
to Keith Caputo
of Life of Agony
, and from Elvis Presley
to Jim Morrison
. Those are the guys who appealed to me. They have that deep masculine tone. That's what I listened to growing up." When asked if he's been influenced by anything outside of rock he said, "I'm a huge fan of all those old crooners from the 40's. By everyone from Vaughn Monroe
to Dean Martin
and Frank Sinatra
."
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from Los Angeles, California, consisting of Kristofer Dommin on vocals and guitar, Billy James on bass, Konstantine on keyboards, and Cameron Morris on drums. Dommin released their major label debut album, Love is Gone
Love Is Gone (album)
Love is Gone is the second studio album by American rock band, Dommin, released 2 February 2010 in the US and 15 February 2010 in the UK. Although it is their debut album under the Roadrunner Records label, Mend Your Misery, released four years prior, is their debut studio album overall...
, on February 2, 2010 on Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
.
History
The origins of Dommin can be traced back to 1999, when Kristofer formed the band in the East San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles. He would demo his songs with his older brother, Stephen, playing the drums. He added Billy James, childhood friend and a previous bandmate as keyboardist in late 2002. Billy eventually switched to bass when Konstantine joined the band in 2006. The last member to join Dommin was drummer Cameron Morris, who auditioned for the band and joined Dommin in 2008 to replace the vacancy left by Kristofer's older brother who went on to focus on his career and family.In 2005, Kristofer would unknowingly have one of their demos reach the ears of producer, songwriter and manager, Lucas Banker, who has a production company with his partner Logan Mader, known for his involvement in Machine Head
Machine Head (band)
Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...
and Soulfly
Soulfly
Soulfly is a heavy metal band formed in 1997 based in Phoenix, Arizona. The original lyrical content revolved around spirituality and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, hatred and anger. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max...
. It wasn't long before Dommin was in the studio. With some professionally recorded songs, Kristofer began to showcase his music on the social networking site, MySpace. It was through MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
that Kristofer signed his publishing deal with Reverb, an independent UK publisher in June 2006. Through the efforts of Reverb Publishing and Dirty Icon Productions, Dommin's music was shopped to various labels and management.
In late 2006, Dommin's efforts caught the eyes and ears of Monte Conner, Head of A&R at Roadrunner Records and signed with them in June 2008. In February 2010, their major label debut Love Is Gone was released. Prior to the album's release, Dommin toured festivals like The Warped Tour in the United States, The Rock Am Ring/Rock Im Park festivals in Germany and the opened the Main Stage at the Download Festival in the United Kingdom.
The band's first single was "My Heart, Your Hands". The song was featured as iTunes free 'Song of the Week' in February 2010, where it received over 300,000 downloads. The second single of the album was "Tonight." A third video was self-directed and produced for the song "Closure." The band used photos and videos submitted by their fans with live footage of their tour in November 2010 for the video.
In the summer of 2010, Dommin received nominations as Best New Band and Best New International Artist at both of UK's Metal Hammer Awards and Kerrang Awards, respectively.
Lyrical Theme
Dommin's lyrics have a theme of heartbreak, recovery, and self discovery. "It's about finding love, losing love and personal reflection" Kristofer explains. "The majority of the music concerns love and relationships". Kristofer describes himself as "a storyteller..." Bassist Billy JamesBilly James
Billy James is a publicist and talent scout; best known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s discovering and developing musical talent for record companies such as Columbia, Elektra, and RCA Records....
says "The words and music are there for those misunderstood people who need to know that there is someone out there who feels the same."
Musical Influences
According to Kristofer his style has been influenced by Depeche ModeDepeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
as well as Type O Negative
Type O Negative
Type O Negative was a gothic metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. The band also incorporated elements of doom metal and thrash metal. Their dramatic lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four"...
. He stated in an interview with Sonic Excess, "Vocally, I have been influenced by everyone from Glenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig (born Glenn Allen Anzalone; June 23, 1955 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, entrepreneur, and a progenitor of the horror punk subgenre of music. He is a founder of bands the Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig...
to Keith Caputo
Keith Caputo
Keith Mina Caputo is the lead singer and a founding member of the New York heavy metal band Life of Agony.-Career:Caputo started Life of Agony in 1989 with guitarist Joey Z and bassist Alan Robert. Drummer Sal Abruscato was recruited soon afterwards. After signing with Roadrunner Records, they...
of Life of Agony
Life of Agony
-Formation and River Runs Red :The band was formed in the summer of 1989 by singer Keith Caputo, bassist Alan Robert and guitarist Joey Z. After playing with several drummers, they enlisted Type O Negative drummer Sal Abruscato before recording the debut album River Runs Red after they signed to...
, and from Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
to Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
. Those are the guys who appealed to me. They have that deep masculine tone. That's what I listened to growing up." When asked if he's been influenced by anything outside of rock he said, "I'm a huge fan of all those old crooners from the 40's. By everyone from Vaughn Monroe
Vaughn Monroe
Vaughn Wilton Monroe was an American baritone singer, trumpeter and big band leader and actor, most popular in the 1940s and 1950s. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for recording and radio.-Biography:...
to Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
and Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
."
Band members
- Kristofer Dommin - vocals/guitar
- Billy James - bass
- Konstantine - keyboards
- Cameron Morris - drums
Discography
- Mend Your MiseryMend Your MiseryMend Your Misery is the first studio album of American rock band, Dommin, released in December 2006. Their 2010 release Love Is Gone is commonly considered their debut, but it is just their major record label debut, where this was their independent release debut.-Track listing:...
(independent demo) (December 2006) - Dommin E.P.Dommin E.P.Dommin E.P. is an extended play released by American rock band, Dommin, promoting their Roadrunner Records debut album, Love Is Gone, which was released seven months later. The album was released exclusively through Hot Topic and ShockHound.com....
(July 7, 2009) - Love Is GoneLove Is Gone (album)Love is Gone is the second studio album by American rock band, Dommin, released 2 February 2010 in the US and 15 February 2010 in the UK. Although it is their debut album under the Roadrunner Records label, Mend Your Misery, released four years prior, is their debut studio album overall...
(February 2, 2010)
External links
- Dommin on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Dommin on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- Dommin on TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
- Dommin's profile on Roadrunner RecordsRoadrunner RecordsRoadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...