Resonaxis
About Us
Resonaxis brings music of the sacred and secular renaissance and baroque together with progressive rock, pop, jazz and dance music, which forms music that, as yet, cannot be categorised.
The musical concept came about when lead singer/songwriter, Brooke Shelley thought some renaissance and baroque music should be heard by non-classical music listeners. She took to writing pop/rock songs that were influenced by “old music” and reignited a musical collaboration with guitarist, Michael Sheridan (MaxQ, Peril, NO), who she met in 1994 when they were both enrolled in a Bachelor of Music degree, majoring in Composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Internationally renowned organist, David Drury, was asked to join Brooke and Michael to help create a sound that illustrated these interwoven musical ideas. Brooke met David when she was a choral scholar at St James’ Church, King Street, Sydney, and David was the newly appointed Director of Music. Drury’s broad musical tastes (which include prog rock and dance) infiltrate his playing, showing that the humble pipe organ can, in fact, be a ‘rocking beast’! (However, this restricts Resonaxis’ performing venues to those with pipe organs, and which are usually churches.) David recommended his nephew, Matt Roberts (bside, Petulant Frenzy), to take charge of the rhythm section and so the core of Resonaxis was formed.
Resonaxis’ live performances are rare, due it part to the logistics of performing in venues that house pipe organs. The band launch was held in St James’ Church, King Street Sydney in 2006 and they performed at St Stephen’s Church, Newtown as part of the goth festival, Under the Blue Moon in 2007. In 2008, Resonaxis was asked to perform in the World Youth Day Youth Festival on 16 July in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House.
Following the 2007 release of their EP, Videntes stellam Magi, Resonaxis’ debut CD, Resonaxis, features music that draws inspiration from ancient chants, church psalms, renaissance polyphony, baroque musical forms, dance music, Scandinavian metal and jazz. Guest performers on the CD include renowned bassist Steve Elphick, Theorbo player Tommie Andersson, and baroque string musicians from the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.
Resonaxis received the highest level ("Vette Krent") for CD reviews in the Dutch progressive rock subscription magazine, iO Pages. Paul Rijkens rounded up the review by saying the CD is “one of those unique albums we have to cherish.”
