Sierra Alpha are a Welsh pop/rock band formed in Llanelli in August 2007. The band consists of Martin Goddard (Vocals, Guitar), Andrew Harries (Keyboards, Vocals), Stuart Davies (Bass, Vocals), Andrew ‘Raul’ Evans (Guitar, Vocals) and Simon Beecher (Drums, Vocals).

Formation and early years (2007–2009)

It was only when songwriter Martin Goddard was prompted by current keyboard player and long-term friend Andrew Harries that he ever involved himself with the idea of fronting a band. Initially setting out as a songwriter, Goddard said: “I set out with the idea of writing songs for bands and artists’; performing was never really a thought.” Sierra Alpha toured exhaustively during their first two years on the circuit and playeded some of the greatest venues in the UK, including The IndigO2 at The O2 Arena. They also sport impressive support slots with Mexicolas

Mexicolas

Mexicolas are a rock band from Birmingham, England, formed by Jamie Evans in 2004 and signed to Midlands based In Exile Records. Mexicolas were featured in a documentary series for Channel 4 entitled '4-Play'...

 and Jack Peñate

Jack Peñate

Jack Fabian Peñate is an English musician and singer-songwriter signed to XL Recordings.-Early life:Jack Peñate attended St. Olave's Preparatory School, New Eltham until he left to attend Alleyn's School when he was 18 years of age...

.
The band got their name from the phonetics of their post code, as in, 'SA'.

Inspiration

The band were wholly inspired by the early works of eccentric and lonely drummer/producer Owain Rees, who now splits his time between London, New York and Five Roads after selling his recording studio empire in the South Wales area.

Another inspiration was Martin Goddard's long term friend Aled Evans, know most for his portrayal of Polish Pop Star, Aledov Evanov. Many believe that the character's cover of Sierra Alpha 'Come Hither' was the sole reason for the band success.

Superhero EP and Pure Heroes (2009)

On June 1, 2009, Sierra Alpha released their debut Superhero EP on iTunes

ITunes

iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....

iTunes Homepage through independent label ‘Major-G Records’. Their limited-edition physical CD copy of the EP completely sold out within three weeks of sale. The lead single from the EP, "Superhero

Superhero

A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...

", peaked at No. 86 in the iTunes Chart and has been included on the new version of the iPod Touch

IPod Touch

The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...

 and iPhone

IPhone

The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...

’s most popular game Tap Tap Revenge 3

Tap Tap Revenge 3

Tap Tap Revenge 3 was the number 1 application in the App Store within the first 24 hours of its release and stayed there for over 2 weeks.Once released as a free application in the App Store, it rose to the 2nd most downloaded application in the App Store within 24 hours with 300,000 new members...

. Following the release of Superhero EP, Goddard had the idea of stripping the band down and recording an acoustic EP to show show off their versatility and live sound. Pure Heroes included three tracks from their EP with new arrangement which included trumpet

Trumpet

The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...

, saxophone

Saxophone

The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...

, French horn, violin

Violin

The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

 and cello

Cello

The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...

. They recorded it live at University of Glamorgan, 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...

. With the new arrangements so popular amongst fans, the band offered it as a free download from [Amazon.com] and [Amazon.co.uk]. As it increased in popularity, both UK and US Amazon made it ‘Single of the Day’.

EP1 and EP2 (2010)

As 2010 dawned, the critical consensus held that alternative pop music would dominate the year's musical landscape. In light of this, the band hit the studio ground running and recorded a brand new EP simply titled, EP2. They also re-issued 'Superhero EP' with extra songs, re-titling it, EP1. Physical copies of the EPs have SOLD OUT and are due for release online September 2010.

Superhero EP - UK Track listing

1. "Spending On You" (M. Goddard/S. Davies) – 2:57
2. "World Machine" (M. Goddard) – 4:17
3. "Superhero" (M. Goddard/A. Harries) – 3:26
4. "Take It To Dance" (M. Goddard/A. Harries) – 3:57
5. "Come Hither" (M. Goddard) – 3:13

Pure Heroes EP - UK Track listing

1. "Superhero" (M. Goddard/A. Harries) – 3:57
2. "Take It To Dance" (M. Goddard/A. Harries) – 4:21
3. "Spending On You" (M. Goddard/S. Davies) – 3:22

EP1 - UK Track listing

1. "Spending On You" (M. Goddard/S. Davies) – 2:57
2. "World Machine" (M. Goddard) – 4:17
3. "Take It To Dance" (M. Goddard/A. Harries) – 3:57
4. "Weekend Lover" (M. Goddard) - 2:59
5. "Come Hither" (M. Goddard) – 3:13
6. "Superhero" (M. Goddard/A. Harries) – 3:26
7. "Piece By Piece" (M. Goddard/S. Davies) - 3:06
8. "I'll Wait" (M. Goddard) - 3:46

EP2 - UK Track listing

1. "All I Want (All She's Got)" (M. Goddard) – 3:31
2. "Loco" (M. Goddard) – 3:28
3. "Disco Balls at Funerals" (M. Goddard) – 2:55
4. "I See Light" (M. Goddard) - 4:45
5. "Caught Up In Something" (M. Goddard) – 3:28
6. "Say It Isn't So" (M. Goddard) – 4:01
7. "One More God" (M. Goddard) - 3:17
8. "Friend" (M. Goddard) - 4:33

Other Tracks

1. "Rainbows and Butterflies" (M. Goddard) – 3:57
2. "Fall In To Place" (M. Goddard) – 2:40
3. "Feel Love Again" (M. Goddard) – 2:58

Disbandment 2010

Sierra Alpha played a vital part at the forefront of the rejuvenation of the live music scene in their home-town of Llanelli. Not content with consecutively brimming local venues and frustrated with licensing and age restrictions at music hot spots, they also toured the local Schools and Colleges in South Wales.

In support of their ever-expanding fanbase, the band sold out their hometown theater, Theatr Elli on 31 July 2010. The only unsigned act to do so in the theaters 30 year history.

Later in 2010 the band mutually agreed to "take a break from the music scene as we know it". ”

During the summer of 2011 it was rumored that the band are to reform in 2012.

Discography

1. • Superhero EP (Major-G/InGrooves) (2009)
2. • Pure Heroes (Acoustic EP) (Major-G/InGrooves) (2009)
3. • EP1 (2010)
4. • EP2 (2010)