Sivu
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Sivu
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| birth_name = James Page
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1986}}
| birth_place = Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England
| origin = St. Ives, Cambridgeshire, England
| instrument = Vocals, piano, guitar
| genre =
| occupation = Singer, songwriter
| years_active = 2013–present
| label = *Atlantic Records
- Square Leg Records
| associated_acts = Charlie Andrew
| website = {{URL|https://sivusivu.co.uk}}
}}
James Page,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/may/30/new-band-sivu|title=New band of the week: Sivu (No 1,522)|website=The Guardian|last=Lester|first=Paul|date=30 May 2013|access-date=20 April 2023}} known professionally as Sivu (pronounced see-voo), is an English singer and songwriter. He has released two studio albums, Something on High (2014) and Sweet Sweet Silent (2017). His third studio album, Wild Horse Running, was released on 9 June 2023. The album was preceded by the singles "Wild Horse Running", "Apollo", "Choral Light" and "Overtime Lover". Sivu's longtime producer and collaborator is Charlie Andrew.{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/neu/sivu-i-quickly-learnt-i-had-to-up-my-game|title=Sivu talks about his first year as a songwriter; moving to London and discovering his own voice.|website=DIY|last=Milton|first=Jamie|date=19 February 2013|access-date=20 April 2023}}
Early life
James Page was born in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire and raised in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, a small market town in England. He attended St Ivo School.{{cite web|url=https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/22983863.st-ives-reading-leeds-festivals---former-st-ivo-pupil-james-page-talks-alter-ego-music-star-sivu/|title=From St Ives to Reading and Leeds festivals - Former St Ivo pupil James Page talks about alter ego music star Sivu|website=The Hunts Post|last=Nash|first=Lauren|date=20 July 2014|access-date=19 April 2023}}
Name origin
In a 2013 interview with the BBC, Sivu said, "I didn't like the idea of being bound by a name, I like the idea of taking it somewhere else that wasn't necessarily all about me. "Sivu" is Finnish for "Page" so that's where it came from."{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-24141729|title=Introducing... Sivu|website=BBC|last=Blake|first=Jimmy|date=27 September 2013|access-date=19 April 2023}}
Career
=2013-2015: ''Something on High''=
Sivu's first solo single was February 2013’s "Better Man Than He", described by Complex as "immediately catchy but [with] enough lyrical substance to reward multiple listens."{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2013/01/sivu-better-man-than-me|title=Sivu - "Better Man Than He"|website=Complex|last=Gardner|first=Constant|date=Jan 27, 2013|access-date=19 April 2023}} For the official music video, directed by Adam Powell, Sivu was filmed lip-synching inside an MRI scanner.{{cite web|url=https://www.feelguide.com/2013/02/03/watch-sivus-music-video-for-better-man-than-he-animated-with-mri-scans-of-him-singing/|title=Watch SIVU's Music Video For "Better Man Than He" Animated With MRI Scans Of Him Singing|website=Feel Guide|last=Lambert|first=Brent|date=3 February 2013|access-date=19 April 2023}} Sivu collaborated with Marika Hackman at the end of 2013 on the single "I Hold".{{cite web|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2013/11/26/dezeen-music-project-i-hold-by-sivu-featuring-marika-hackman/|title=Dezeen Music Project: I Hold by Sivu featuring Marika Hackman|website=Dezeen Music Project|last=Hobson|first=Benedict|date=26 November 2013|access-date=20 April 2023}} On 21 March 2014, Sivu released the single "Can't Stop Now". The digital single included a remix by Bombay Bicycle Club's Jack "Mr Jukes" Steadman.{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/5zkUxL8tW8qNB4jiJw1do6?si=vLX432zESGa4Al7DANp9vA|title=Sivu - Can't Stop Now|website=Spotify|date=21 March 2014|access-date=20 April 2023}} Sivu performed at the Reading Festival in August 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicfestivalwizard.com/festivals/reading-festival-2014/|title=READING FESTIVAL 2014|website=Music Festival Wizard|date=20 August 2014|access-date=20 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://gigwise.com/news/92302/|title=Reading & Leeds Festival add 25 new bands and artists|website=Gigwise|last=Trendell|first=Andrew|date=2 July 2014|access-date=20 April 2023}}
Sivu's debut studio album, Something on High, was released on 10 October 2014 to generally positive reviews from critics;{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/something-on-high/904023281|title=Sivu - Something on High|website=Apple Music|date=10 October 2014|access-date=19 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/12/ivu-something-on-high-review|title=Sivu: Something on High review – delicate and restrained but not entirely convincing|website=The Guardian|last=Fox|first=Killian|date=12 October 2014|access-date=19 April 2023}} Chris White, reviewing for MusicOMH, rated the album 3.5/5 stars,{{cite web|url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/sivu-something-high|title=Sivu – Something On High|website=MusicOMH|last=White|first=Chris|date=19 October 2014|access-date=19 April 2023}} and both The Guardian{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/12/ivu-something-on-high-review|title=Review - Sivu: Something on High review – delicate and restrained but not entirely convincing|website=The Guardian|last=Fox|first=Killian|date=12 October 2014|access-date=22 April 2023}} and NME gave 3/5 stars.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-various-artists-15683-324078|title=Album Reviews: Sivu - Something on High|website=NME|last=Carson|first=Dan|date=3 October 2014|access-date=22 April 2023}} Sivu then made a cameo appearance on Alt-J's second studio album, This Is All Yours, and supported the Bombay Bicycle Club on tour in December 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/bombay-bicycle-club-6-1232581|title=Bombay Bicycle Club parody '2001: A Space Odyssey' in 'Home By Now' video – watch|website=NME|last=Cooper|first=Leonie|date=28 October 2014|access-date=20 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/breaking-into-heaven-sivu-interviewed/|title=Breaking Into Heaven: Sivu Interviewed|website=Clash Magazine|last=Harper|first=Simon|date=5 November 2014|access-date=19 April 2023}} In February 2015, he released "The Nile", featuring singer Rae Morris.{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/news/sivu-unveils-brand-new-track-the-nile-featuring-rae-morris|title=SIVU UNVEILS BRAND NEW TRACK, 'THE NILE', FEATURING RAE MORRIS|website=DIY|last=Milton|first=Jamie|date=10 February 2015|access-date=20 April 2023}} An official music video was released in May 2015.{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/news/sivu-shares-video-for-the-nile-featuring-rae-morris|title=SIVU SHARES VIDEO FOR 'THE NILE' FEATURING RAE MORRIS|website=DIY|last=Boon|first=Henry|date=1 May 2015|access-date=20 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2015/02/premiere-sivu-ft-rae-morris-the-nile|title=Premiere: Sivu ft. Rae Morris - "The Nile"|website=Complex|date=10 February 2015|access-date=20 April 2023}}
=2016-2018: ''Sweet Sweet Silent''=
Sivu's second studio album, Sweet Sweet Silent, was released in 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/exclusive-video-premiere-sweet-sweet-silent-sivu|title=Exclusive Video Premiere:'Sweet Sweet Silent,' Sivu|website=Interview Magazine|last=Brown|first=Emma|date=27 June 2017|access-date=19 April 2023}} Emma Mackay, writing for The Guardian, rated the album 3/5 stars and called it an "eerie, subtle thing", opining "[t]hough Sivu’s own developments are not drastic, they’re certainly beguiling."{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jul/09/sivu-sweet-sweet-silent-review-james-page|title=Sivu: Sweet Sweet Silent review – beguiling developments|website=The Guardian|last=Mackay|first=Emma|date=9 July 2017|access-date=19 April 2023}} Sivu lives with Ménière's disease,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-40568540|title=Musician Sivu says a rare condition called Ménière's is threatening his career|website=BBC|last=Dawson|first=Jess|date=12 July 2017|access-date=19 April 2023}} which heavily impacted and inspired the recording of Sweet Sweet Silent; as explained in his album commentary,{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/3lSVrIHTh4U89AHe7c6Iz7?si=F9SHqsyTTDKHrl3PmZN9LA|title=Sivu - Sweet Sweet Silent (Album Commentary)|website=Spotify|date=6 July 2017|access-date=19 April 2023}} the track “summed up the feeling across the whole album,” and his “feelings of despair and uncertainty over his future."{{cite web|url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/sss-sivu-sweet-silent-review/|title=Today's Song: "Sweet Sweet Silent" Illuminates Sivu's Battle With Ménière's Disease|website=Atwood Magazine|last=Chan|first=Carmen|date=12 July 2017|access-date=19 April 2023}} The album included the singles "Childhood House",{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/sivu-returns-with-childhood-house-album-two-interview|title=Sivu is back with striking new single "Childhood House" - we speak to the singer/songwriter about his time away and what to expect from his return.|website=The Line of Best Fit|last=Day|first=Laurence|date=30 March 2017|access-date=22 April 2023}} "Lonesome", "Kin & Chrome"{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/sivus-kin-and-chrome-is-a-drifting-beautiful-return/|title=Sivu's 'Kin And Chrome' Is A Drifting, Beautiful Return|website=Clash|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=28 November 2017|access-date=22 April 2023}} and "Sweet Sweet Silent". In November 2017, Sivu performed at the Theatre Circo in Portugal, and at the Blue Bird Festival in Austria.{{cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/search?query=sivu|title=Sivu Setlist|website=Setlist.fm|access-date=22 April 2023}}
=2023: ''Wild Horse Running''=
On 1 February 2023, Sivu returned with the single "Wild Horse Running". "[The song] grew from this yearning to escape, whether mentally or physically I’m still unsure – but to me the image of a wild horse running is the epitome of freedom and conjures so many feelings of strength, resilience and really a triumph in physical evolution. From there the song just grew in my mind, with an almost cinematic view in my head." On 8 March 2023, he released the single "Apollo", and announced that his third studio album, titled Wild Horse Running, would be released in June 2023.{{cite web|url=https://thedailymusicreport.com/music-news-releases/sivu-apollo-03082023/|title=British Songwriter Sivu Shares New Single 'Apollo' and Announces His Upcoming LP Wild Horse Running|website=The Daily Music Report|date=8 March 2023|access-date=19 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SiVUsignals/status/1633418491398090753?s=20|title=Hi everyone, I can finally announce my third album 'Wild Horse Running' will be released on Friday 9th June 2023!|website=Twitter|date=8 March 2023|access-date=19 April 2023}} On the same day, Sivu announced he would be performing in a one-off headline show at the Courtyard Theatre, London on 14 June 2023 in celebration of his album release;{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SiVUsignals/status/1633481148306268161?s=20|title=To celebrate the release of my third album, I'm going to be playing a very special London headline show at @CourtyardHoxton on the 14th of June (this is not a solo show)!!|website=Twitter|date=8 March 2023|access-date=25 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://dice.fm/event/lobbb-sivu-14th-jun-the-courtyard-theatre-london-tickets?lng=en|title=Sivu The Courtyard Theatre|website=Dice FM|access-date=25 April 2023}} he announced the show's support act, Meadowlark on 13 April 2023.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SiVUsignals/status/1646614867275571201?s=20|title=Chuffed to have @meadowlarkHQ and Badhead Hyland joining me on the 14th June at @CourtyardHoxton Tickets on sale now|website=Twitter|date=13 April 2023|access-date=25 April 2023}} Sivu released a new single, "Choral Light", on 19 April 2023.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SiVUsignals/status/1648667714699837440?s=20|title=Allow me to introduce you to new song called 'Choral Light'|website=Twitter|date=19 April 2023|access-date=19 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/choral-light-single/1680195191|title=Sivu - Choral Light (Single)|website=Apple Music|date=19 April 2023|access-date=19 April 2023}} Upon the release, he shared, "I wrote "Choral Light" just before the birth of my little boy, so I was generally quite overwhelmed with a mixture of emotions [...] This song grew from this ruminating thought I had about what I traits I would pass on to my child and how some would be good and some not and how these things would potentially stay with him for the rest of his life."{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/sivu-releases-brand-new-single-choral-light|title=Sivu – British songwriter James Page – shares a new single from his forthcoming third studio album Wild Horse Running.|website=The Line of Best Fit|last=Kelly|first=Tyler Damara|date=19 April 2023}} The album's fourth preceding single, "Overtime Lover", was released on 24 May 2023.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/overtime-lover-single/1680195832|title=Sivu - Overtime Lover|website=Apple Music|date=24 May 2023|access-date=24 May 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SiVUsignals/status/1661305237049573379?s=20|title=Please to share a new song called 'Overtime Lover' which was produced by my lovely friend @PaulTSaunders|website=Twitter|date=24 May 2023|access-date=24 May 2023}} Clash called the song "lush [...] ambitious" and "pop at its most sincere".{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/sivus-overtime-lover-is-pop-at-its-most-sincere/|title=Sivu's 'Overtime Lover' Is Pop At Its Most Sincere|website=Clash|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=25 May 2023|access-date=26 May 2023}} Wild Horse Running was released on 9 June 2023. Sivu released the single "Constant Flux" on the same day.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/constant-flux-single/1680195180|title=Sivu - Constant Flux - single|website=Apple Music|date=9 June 2023|access-date=9 June 2023}} The Spill Magazine rated the album 4/5 stars, opining that "Sivu bring[s] up an excellent, modern take on what [the] singer songwriter genre should sound like."{{cite web|url=https://spillmagazine.com/spill-album-review-sivu-wild-horse-running/|title=Spill Album Review - Sivu - Wild Horse Running|website=The Spill Magazine|date=9 June 2023 |access-date=14 June 2023}}
On 9 August 2024, Sivu released the EP Perfect Life. The EP was preceded by singles "Lost Ones" (featuring AK Patterson) and "Little Hurricane".{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/6jjoXYLlMohPhfIfulPgfg?si=BS_YMGwERdGgppebWYF0jw|title=Sivu - Perfect Life EP|website=Spotify|date=9 August 2024|access-date=10 August 2024}} Sivu tweeted about the release of the EP, "This EP was built upon small ideas and the approach of working on something quietly and as simply as possible."{{cite web|url=https://x.com/SiVUsignals/status/1821842280006685154|title=Perfect Life is out! This EP was built upon small ideas and the approach of working on something quietly and as simply as possible. I hope you like it|website=X|date=9 August 2024|access-date=31 August 2024}}
Personal life
Sivu has a son and, as of 2023, lives in London.{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/sivu-breaks-his-silence-with-wild-horse-running/|title=Sivu Breaks His Silence With 'Wild Horse Running'|website=Clash|last=Murray|first=Robin|date= February 2023|access-date=19 April 2023}}
In 2013, Sivu was diagnosed with Ménière's disease, a condition of the inner ear. He later wrote an article for the HuffPost: "Right now, who knows what the future holds for me? There is a possibility that I could end up being completely deaf, unable to sing or play my guitar anymore but I try not to think about it and take each day as it comes."{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/sivu/being-a-songwriter-with-h_b_17402556.html|title=Being A Songwriter With Hearing Loss|website=HuffPost|date=6 July 2017|access-date=20 April 2023}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:19em;"| Details |
| scope="row"| Something on High
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| Sweet Sweet Silent{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/sweet-sweet-silent-deluxe-edition/1418650379|title=Sivu - Sweet Sweet Silent (Deluxe Edition)|website=Apple Music|date=24 August 2018|access-date=19 April 2023}}
|
|
| scope="row"| Wild Horse Running
|
|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ List of extended plays, with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:19em;"| Details |
| scope="row"| This Unfruitful Love{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/0tIPlTHsMlsvlWIkw18Pr7?si=mamh20NwRsKPOQtYZlGR_g|title=Sivu - This Unfruitful Love|website=Spotify|date=16 February 2018|access-date=19 April 2023}}
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| Perfect Life
|
|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ List of singles as lead artist, showing year released and originating album ! scope="col" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" | Album |
| scope="row"| "Better Man Than He"
|rowspan="2"| 2013 | Something on High |
|---|
| scope="row"| "I Hold"{{cite web|url=https://www.indieshuffle.com/sivu-i-hold-ft-marika-hackman/|title=Sivu – I Hold (Ft. Marika Hackman)|last=Martin|first=Brontë|date=28 November 2013|website=Indie Shuffle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505090329/http://www.indieshuffle.com/sivu-i-hold-ft-marika-hackman/|archive-date=5 May 2019|url-status=live|access-date=5 May 2019}} (featuring Marika Hackman) | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"| "Can't Stop Now"
|rowspan="3"| 2014 |rowspan="2"| Something on High |
| scope="row"| "Miracle (Human Error)" |
| scope="row"| "I Lost Myself"
| rowspan="2" {{N/A|Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"| "The Nile" (featuring Rae Morris) | 2015 |
| scope="row"| "Childhood House"
|rowspan="4"| 2017 |rowspan="4"| Sweet Sweet Silent |
| scope="row"| "Lonesome" |
| scope="row"| "Kin & Chrome" |
| scope="row"| "Sweet Sweet Silent" |
| scope="row"| "Four Leaf Clover Love"
|rowspan="2"| 2018 |rowspan="2"| This Unfruitful Love / |
| scope="row"| "Trickle" |
| scope="row"| "Wild Horse Running"
|rowspan="5"| 2023 |rowspan="5"| Wild Horse Running |
| scope="row"| "Apollo" |
| scope="row"| "Choral Light" |
| scope="row"| "Overtime Lover" |
| scope="row"| "Constant Flux" |
| scope="row"| "Lost Ones" (with AK Patterson) |rowspan="2"| 2024 |rowspan="2"| Perfect Life |
| scope="row"|"Little Hurricane" |
=Guest appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" | Album |
| scope="row"| "Come Together" (Laurel featuring Sivu) {{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/holy-water-ep/947115204|title=Laurel - Holy Water (EP)|website=Apple Music|date=15 December 2014|access-date=20 April 2023}} | 2014 | Holy Water |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Skin" (Marika Hackman featuring Sivu) {{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/news/marika-hackman-collaborates-with-sivu-on-new-track-skin|title=MARIKA HACKMAN COLLABORATES WITH SIVU ON NEW TRACK, 'SKIN'|website=DIY|last=Milton|first=Jamie|date=9 February 2015|access-date=20 April 2023}} | 2015 | We Slept at Last |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{allMusic|id=mn0003055508}}
{{authority control}}
Category:21st-century English male singers
Category:English singer-songwriters
Category:British indie pop musicians