The VIRTUAL STRANGERS's music ranges in style from the mainstream to the avante garde; representative of the variety of experience, personalities and cultures within the band.
They follow no trends and as such their fearless muses are unfettered by whimsical popular culture.
The strangers are located throughout the UK, USA and Europe; using Internet technologies and Protools to communicate and collaborate on their sublime compositions.
Virtual Strangers was founded by Guy Pople in 2003 after a chance meeting with American bass virtuoso Eric Sands. The band's signature sound soon began to take shape as the pair began developing ideas from their remote studios- Eric being based in Atlanta (USA), Guy in Lancashire (UK). Fernando Diez, Evva Mizerska, John Gibson and Paul Cheneour were next to join the team, contributing Drums/percussion, Cello, Clarinet and Flute respectively. From this solid foundation, the extraordinary outfit continued to write and expand until in 2006, the fully formed 'cyberband' released debut album PRELUSION on Darkhalo Records via Itunes.
MUSICA UNIVERSALIS was their follow-up album, released in 2008. This album introduced the vocal talents of Lara Martelli, Maya Sapone and Lydia Filipovic. LOST, the first single from the album, was released on Mon 5th November, 2007 featuring the angelic voice of Lara Martelli. Co-produced/ enhanced by Mark Jones of MJMRecording / Tugmusic (Peter Gabriel, Black Grape) and mastered by Rodney Mills of Rodney Mills Masterhouse (Pearl Jam, REM), the signature elements of the Virtual Strangers sound are all clear and present: memorable melodies, sublime harmonic content, sophisticated arrangements, infectious grooves, emotional depth and tasteful musicianship.
With Musica Universalis completed, work has now begun on an extended conceptual sonata entitled CURSE OF THEIR KIND, relating the journeys of a cursed tribe seeking absolution from the blight of their perennial misfortune. This epic will also introduce some new and talented strangers on a variety of exotic instruments.
The Virtual Strangers are also known for the inimitable bespoke fractal artwork gracing Prelusion and Musica Universalis. Both pieces are courtesy of talented digital artist Marion Kenning. The Musica cover was inspired by an early demo version of the track Beyond Aphelion (Aphelion: the point in the orbit of a comet at which it is farthest from the sun). This attention to aesthetics also continues with forthcoming releases. Clint Langley (Slaine Books of Invasions) is to bring his sublime craft to bear on the Curse Of Their Kind cover; and fans of legendary fantasy artist Rodney Matthews (Yes, Asia) will be impressed to know that it was he who created the bands extraordinary coat-of-arms.