James Frost
Encyclopedia
James Martin Frost is the guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist of Welsh band The Automatic
, and guitarist and backing vocalist for Cardiff based band Effort. As well as his musical duties for The Automatic, Frost has also directed two of the bands music videos and their tour video daries. He currently resides in Cardiff, Wales.
into music and the bass guitar
, Frost and Hawkins along with friend Iwan Griffiths
formed the band White Rabbit, which later with the addition of Alex Pennie became The Automatic. After several years of touring, Alex Pennie departed from the band, leading to Paul Mullen from Yourcodenameis:Milo
to join the band. Frost and Mullen are both simply stated as guitarists for The Automatic, neither being specifically rhythm or lead. Paul and Frost also provide synthesizers on various tracks, as well as backing vocals.
After the release of the bands debut album Not Accepted Anywhere
, James was voted #20 in NME
's cool persons list, beating his at-the-time band mate Alex Pennie
.
DJ Jen Long formed the Cardiff
based band Effort in 2010. In early 2011 the band recorded demos at Long Wave Studios with producer Romesh Dodangoda. Their debut 3 track EP 'No Effort' was released for free on March 28, 2011 through bandcamp.
and specifically guitarist Graham Coxon
, his favorite Blur album is 13
.
For live performances - since the departure of synthesizer player & vocalist Alex Pennie
in 2007, Frost inherited performance duties of the Alesis Micron - which during the recording and performance of debut album Not Accepted Anywhere
was one of 3 synthesizer keyboards used, later on This Is a Fix
it was also used as well as the Paul Mullen controlled microKORG
. The sounds created on the Alesis Andromeda and Roland Juno-106
for Not Accepted Anywhere since Pennies departure are recreated live on the microKORG and Alesis Micron, to control some tracks whilst playing guitar, Frost uses a Boss RC-50 Loop Station
, which enables partial foot pedal control of the sounds available on the Alesis Micron. Frost uses band-mate Rob Hawkins
Fender USA Jazz Bass
live when performing "High Time".
Frost also uses a range of guitars for both live and recording, during the recording and touring of debut album Not Accepted Anywhere
the then only guitarist of The Automatic used various models of the Gibson Les Paul
as well as a Fender 1972 Thinline Telecaster in Two-Tone Sunburst
, Fender Mustang
2005 Reissue in Olympic White, and in various music videos used a could be seen using a Gordon Smith
GSII in Black, which he broke in 2007, and an Gibson ES-335
. With the release of second album This Is a Fix
and joining of second guitarist Paul Mullen, Frost began incorporating the use of Fender Telecaster Deluxe
's.
For Digital Delay, Frost uses a Boss DD-6 pedal and a Line 6 DL4 Modeler stompbox, as well as using MXR M-106 6-Band Graphic EQ, and a number of Electro-Harmonix
effects including an Electro-Harmonix POG, Holy Stain and Holy Grail, whilst using an Orange Channel Footswitch. During the recording of Not Accepted Anywhere, the album sleeve states that Frost uses both Orange and Marshall
guitar amplifiers.
The Automatic
The Automatic , are a Welsh rock band. The band is composed of Robin Hawkins on vocals, bass and synthesizers, James Frost on guitar, synthesizers, backing vocals and occasional bass, Iwan Griffiths on drums and Paul Mullen on vocals, guitar and synthesizer - since 2007...
, and guitarist and backing vocalist for Cardiff based band Effort. As well as his musical duties for The Automatic, Frost has also directed two of the bands music videos and their tour video daries. He currently resides in Cardiff, Wales.
The Automatic (2005-present)
Frost began playing guitar at a young age, and after introducing band mate Robin HawkinsRobin Hawkins
Robin Hawkins, commonly known as Rob is the primary vocalist and bassist for Welsh band The Automatic.-Personal life:Rob studied at Cowbridge Comprehensive School, completing his A-levels and going on to take a chance with The Automatic in his gap year...
into music and the bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Frost and Hawkins along with friend Iwan Griffiths
Iwan Griffiths
Iwan Griffiths is drummer for Welsh rock band The Automatic, Iwan originates from Cowbridge in Wales, and currently resides in a house with band mates Robin Hawkins and James Frost.-Musical career:...
formed the band White Rabbit, which later with the addition of Alex Pennie became The Automatic. After several years of touring, Alex Pennie departed from the band, leading to Paul Mullen from Yourcodenameis:Milo
Yourcodenameis:milo
-External links:**...
to join the band. Frost and Mullen are both simply stated as guitarists for The Automatic, neither being specifically rhythm or lead. Paul and Frost also provide synthesizers on various tracks, as well as backing vocals.
After the release of the bands debut album Not Accepted Anywhere
Not Accepted Anywhere
Not Accepted Anywhere is the debut album from Welsh rock band The Automatic, originally released on June 19, 2006. Working with producers Stephen Harris, Richard Jackson and Ian Broudie on different tracks at a variety of studies around the United Kingdom the album was released through a joint deal...
, James was voted #20 in NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
's cool persons list, beating his at-the-time band mate Alex Pennie
Alex Pennie
Alexander Gregor Pennie is the lead vocalist of Welsh Hardcore punk band Goodtime Boys. Pennie was previously in Welsh band The Automatic, where he provided backing vocals as well as playing synthesizers and keyboards for the act...
.
Effort (2010-present)
Frost, along with BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ Jen Long formed the Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
based band Effort in 2010. In early 2011 the band recorded demos at Long Wave Studios with producer Romesh Dodangoda. Their debut 3 track EP 'No Effort' was released for free on March 28, 2011 through bandcamp.
Musical equipment and style
Frost often states his main musical influence to be BlurBlur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
and specifically guitarist Graham Coxon
Graham Coxon
Graham Leslie Coxon is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and painter. He came to prominence as the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of rock band Blur, and is also a critically acclaimed solo artist, having recorded seven solo albums...
, his favorite Blur album is 13
13 (Blur album)
13 is the sixth album by English band Blur, released in March 1999. The album reached number one in the UK Albums Chart and number 80 in the US Billboard 200. 13 spawned three hit singles: "Tender", "Coffee & TV" and "No Distance Left to Run"...
.
For live performances - since the departure of synthesizer player & vocalist Alex Pennie
Alex Pennie
Alexander Gregor Pennie is the lead vocalist of Welsh Hardcore punk band Goodtime Boys. Pennie was previously in Welsh band The Automatic, where he provided backing vocals as well as playing synthesizers and keyboards for the act...
in 2007, Frost inherited performance duties of the Alesis Micron - which during the recording and performance of debut album Not Accepted Anywhere
Not Accepted Anywhere
Not Accepted Anywhere is the debut album from Welsh rock band The Automatic, originally released on June 19, 2006. Working with producers Stephen Harris, Richard Jackson and Ian Broudie on different tracks at a variety of studies around the United Kingdom the album was released through a joint deal...
was one of 3 synthesizer keyboards used, later on This Is a Fix
This Is a Fix
This Is a Fix is the second album by Wales based band The Automatic. It was released on 25 August 2008. The band worked with producer Don Gilmore in Los Angeles, but were disappointed with these sessions, and instead worked with Butch Walker at Sage and Sound Recording in Los Angeles then back in...
it was also used as well as the Paul Mullen controlled microKORG
MicroKORG
The microKORG is a MIDI-capable virtual analog synthesizer/vocoder from Korg featuring high-quality DSP analog modelling. The synth/keyboard is built in such a way that it is essentially a Korg MS-2000 with programmable step arpeggiator , a less advanced vocoder , lack of motion sequencing The...
. The sounds created on the Alesis Andromeda and Roland Juno-106
Roland Juno-106
The Roland Juno-106 was a hybrid digital/analogue polyphonic synth manufactured by Roland Corporation in 1984. It featured Digitally controlled oscillators for tuning stability and digital envelope generation along with analog filters and signal path....
for Not Accepted Anywhere since Pennies departure are recreated live on the microKORG and Alesis Micron, to control some tracks whilst playing guitar, Frost uses a Boss RC-50 Loop Station
Boss Corporation
Boss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
, which enables partial foot pedal control of the sounds available on the Alesis Micron. Frost uses band-mate Rob Hawkins
Robin Hawkins
Robin Hawkins, commonly known as Rob is the primary vocalist and bassist for Welsh band The Automatic.-Personal life:Rob studied at Cowbridge Comprehensive School, completing his A-levels and going on to take a chance with The Automatic in his gap year...
Fender USA Jazz Bass
Fender Jazz Bass
The Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...
live when performing "High Time".
Frost also uses a range of guitars for both live and recording, during the recording and touring of debut album Not Accepted Anywhere
Not Accepted Anywhere
Not Accepted Anywhere is the debut album from Welsh rock band The Automatic, originally released on June 19, 2006. Working with producers Stephen Harris, Richard Jackson and Ian Broudie on different tracks at a variety of studies around the United Kingdom the album was released through a joint deal...
the then only guitarist of The Automatic used various models of the Gibson Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
as well as a Fender 1972 Thinline Telecaster in Two-Tone Sunburst
Sunburst
Sunburst is a type of finish for musical instruments such as electric and acoustic guitars and electric basses. At the center of a sunburst-finished surface is an area of lighter color that darkens gradually towards the edges before hitting a dark rim...
, Fender Mustang
Fender Mustang
The Fender Mustang is an electric guitar by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, introduced in 1964 as the basis of a major redesign of Fender's student models then consisting of the Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic. It was produced until 1982 and reissued in 1990.In the 1960s, it was used in Surf...
2005 Reissue in Olympic White, and in various music videos used a could be seen using a Gordon Smith
Gordon Smith Guitars
Gordon-Smith Guitars create hand made electric guitars, basses and mandolins from a small workshop in Partington near Manchester, England.The company was founded in 1979 by Gordon Whitham and John Smith who combined parts of their names for the company name. Only the Smith part of the partnership...
GSII in Black, which he broke in 2007, and an Gibson ES-335
Gibson ES-335
The Gibson ES-335 is the world's first commercial thinline arched-top semi-acoustic electric guitar. Released by the Gibson Guitar Corporation as part of its ES series in 1958, it is neither hollow nor solid; instead, a solid wood block runs through the center of its body...
. With the release of second album This Is a Fix
This Is a Fix
This Is a Fix is the second album by Wales based band The Automatic. It was released on 25 August 2008. The band worked with producer Don Gilmore in Los Angeles, but were disappointed with these sessions, and instead worked with Butch Walker at Sage and Sound Recording in Los Angeles then back in...
and joining of second guitarist Paul Mullen, Frost began incorporating the use of Fender Telecaster Deluxe
Fender Telecaster Deluxe
The Fender Telecaster Deluxe is a solid-body electric guitar originally produced from 1972 to 1981, and since re-issued by Fender in 2004 as the '72 Telecaster Deluxe.-History:...
's.
For Digital Delay, Frost uses a Boss DD-6 pedal and a Line 6 DL4 Modeler stompbox, as well as using MXR M-106 6-Band Graphic EQ, and a number of Electro-Harmonix
Electro-Harmonix
Electro-Harmonix is a New York-based company that makes high-end electronic audio processors. The company was founded by Mike Matthews in 1968. They are most famous for a series of popular guitar effects pedals introduced in the 1970s and 1990s....
effects including an Electro-Harmonix POG, Holy Stain and Holy Grail, whilst using an Orange Channel Footswitch. During the recording of Not Accepted Anywhere, the album sleeve states that Frost uses both Orange and Marshall
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
guitar amplifiers.
Discography
| Band | Title | Release | Other notes |
| The Automatic The Automatic The Automatic , are a Welsh rock band. The band is composed of Robin Hawkins on vocals, bass and synthesizers, James Frost on guitar, synthesizers, backing vocals and occasional bass, Iwan Griffiths on drums and Paul Mullen on vocals, guitar and synthesizer - since 2007... |
Not Accepted Anywhere Not Accepted Anywhere Not Accepted Anywhere is the debut album from Welsh rock band The Automatic, originally released on June 19, 2006. Working with producers Stephen Harris, Richard Jackson and Ian Broudie on different tracks at a variety of studies around the United Kingdom the album was released through a joint deal... |
2006 | Guitar Guitar The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... , vocals |
| Yourcodenameis:Milo Yourcodenameis:milo -External links:**... |
Print Is Dead Vol 1 Print Is Dead Vol 1 Print Is Dead Vol 1 is the first side project album by Yourcodenameis:Milo. The album was released on 6 November 2006 via V2 Records. Each song on the album features Yourcodenameis:Milo collaborating with guests from current British bands.... |
2006 | Producer Record producer A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... , guitars |
| The Automatic | This Is A Fix This Is A Fix This Is a Fix is the second album by Wales based band The Automatic. It was released on 25 August 2008. The band worked with producer Don Gilmore in Los Angeles, but were disappointed with these sessions, and instead worked with Butch Walker at Sage and Sound Recording in Los Angeles then back in... |
2008 | Guitar, vocals, synthesizer Synthesizer A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... |
| The Automatic | Tear the Signs Down Tear the Signs Down Tear the Signs Down is the third album by Wales-based band The Automatic. It was released on 8 March 2010 in the United Kingdom, and then on 12 April 2010 for the rest of the world. Tear the Signs Down was the first album released by the band on their own Armoured Records after being splitting with... |
2010 | Guitar, vocals, synthesizer |
| EFFORT | No Effort | 2011 | Guitar, programing |
Filmography
| Director | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2009 | Something Else | Music video |
| 2010 | Cannot Be Saved Cannot Be Saved Cannot Be Saved is the third single by Welsh rock band The Automatic, taken from their third album Tear the Signs Down. The single was released on 20 June 2010 as a digital download.-Composition:... |
Music video |