Willoughby

from Sargent Records: Willoughby’s debut album I Know What You’re Up To is the product of Gus Seyffert, who performed and produced all the tracks on the album, with a few friends stopping by to help along the way. The result is a delicate masterpiece that was a lifelong dream fulfilled for Seyffert, “I had wanted to make my own record for a number of years but was always working on other projects. Recording the whole thing to tape was really important to me – I really wanted to capture the organic, analog sound of all the great records I love – by people like Harry Nilsson, Sparklehorse, The Zombies and Chet Baker.” Those other projects he refers to have included recording and performing with musicians such as Inara George, The Bird and The Bee, Sia, and Michael Andrews.

Flavorpill summed Willoughby up as well as anyone when they said, “Willoughby is a quiet band — but "quiet" as in the old saw about watching out for the quiet ones. Their tintinnabulating melodies have both a Brit-pop, downtempo optimism and an intriguing speakeasy manner, tempered with the dusty funkiness of a saloon band. Onstage, their winsome live presence — crafted from dreamy, salty balladeering, starry percussion, and gently swaying rhythm guitar — will spirit you away.”

Seyffert recently dueted with Inara George on “Tonight You Belong To Me” on the latest EP from The Bird & The Bee, while Willoughby are featured on the track Not Enough on the new Junkie XL album.

The band recently wrapped up a West Coast US tour, and in November 2007 toured North America as the guest of Sia. Summer touring plans are being finalized and will be announced shortly. The band has received strong radio support from KCRW, Indie 103.1 and KROQ in Los Angeles, and SomaFM, KEXP and MPR (Minneapolis) among others.

Led by multi-instrumentalist and composer Gus Seyffert, Willoughby released its first album, I Know What You're Up To, in 2008. While the album did feature input from outside collaborators, Willoughby's unique blend of classic analog rock like the Zombies and Harry Nilsson, and more modern sounds like Inara George and Brit-pop was all Seyffert. But Willoughby was not the only venue for Seyffert's talent, as he collaborated with the aforementioned George on an EP with the Bird and the Bee, as well as an appearance -- as Willoughby -- on a Junkie XL release. In addition to the album release and other collaborations, Willoughby spread its magic with a series of tours, including a 2007 jaunt with Sia and an all-encompassing North American tour in 2008. ~ Chris True, All Music Guide