Hey Champ’s roots can be traced outside of Chicago in nearby Rockford, where band members Saam Hagshenas (Vocals, Guitar) and Jonathan Marks (Drums) discovered their love of music at a young age. After Saam’s graduation from law school, Jon’s fellow Princeton chum Pete Dougherty (Synths) set sail for Chicago, cementing the line-up of the group. They were discovered by Lupe Fiasco in the fall of 2008, who took them on a nation-wide tour, and are now signed to Seattle based indie, Turnout Records.
Their music incorporates influences from disco, house and indie rock to the power-pop of Rockford’s hometown heroes Cheap Trick and the synth-heavy productions of Giorgio Moroder and Trevor Horn. Their infectious sound has garnered fans and made them blog and radio darlings from Portland to Paris to Porto Alegre.
Hey Champ will be releasing its “Anything At All EP” on May 10th, 2011. Produced by Eliot James (Two Door Cinema Club, Bloc Party, Kaiser Cheifs), the new EP represents an exciting new direction for the band. While retaining the elements of pop, rock and dance music that have become Hey Champ’s signature, the “Anything At All EP” also harnesses the live energy that led to them being named the “Best Discovery of Lollapalooza” by SPIN magazine. |
