addiction
/əˈdɪkʃn/
noun
the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance or activity.
The Addictions
The Addictions
about the band
influenced by many of music’s greats, the addictions encapsulate a rebirth of retro techniques and a classic r&b sound, transforming them into a unique listening experience. amalgamating styles of funk, jazz, rock and soul, the addictions’ genre defying catalogue is sonically captivating.
based in melbourne, australia, the five piece band are constantly striving towards perfecting their craft. with two studio albums, singles and an EP in the works, the addictions are experienced in both recording and live performances.
tackling themes of love, loss and everything in between, the addictions’ personal and relatable stories hope to connect and inspire.
meet the band
brian dela rosa
(Lead Guitar)
Discovered by The Addictions on a late Thursday night in an open-mic band room, Brian Dela Rosa electrified the group with his searing yet tasteful solos, perfect tone and killer technique. Heavily inspired by many guitar greats such as B.B. King, John Mayer and Jimi Hendrix, Brian offers a unique style blending the licks of blues and rock with the funk and rhythm of disco and R&B. Whether it’s with the slinky tones of his Fender Strat or the warm hollow ringing of his ES-335, Brian never fails to deliver. From his artistic and iconic solos to his refined and exquisite rhythm guitar, Brian was the perfect final piece to The Addictions.
George dimitropolous
(Bass Guitar)
Often referred to by Ben as ‘the prodigal son’, George Dimitropolous sparked the beginning of The Addictions’ evolution both sonically and stylistically. Fluent in both the upright bass and the bass guitar, George is never shy from laying down funky lines, complimenting other instruments or leading a groove. With his suave style and a grotesque bass face, George is always keen to bring good energy and memorable music. Drawing influences from multiple genres including jazz, neo-soul and blues, George knows how to work around songs and grooves of all types. Having joined the band through a friend of a friend, he quickly cemented himself as a perfect fit for The Addictions.
angus stanyer
(Drums/Percussion)
Being the founding member of the group, Angus Stanyer continues to do what he does best (apart from eating) and that’s keeping the groove. As a drummer that can appreciate multiple genres such as rock, disco, jazz and even hip-hop, Angus has developed a sound of funk and R&B drumming that carries the band through a tight and decisive groove. With impeccable timing and attention to playing in pocket, Angus often incorporates a unique blend of hats, snares and cymbals to convey pronounced emotion in a song. Some of his biggest inspirations are Steve Jordan, Larnell Lewis, Stanley Randolph, Nate Smith and Anderson .Paak.
jamie holmes
(Piano/Keyboards/Synth)
Calling Jamie Holmes a ‘monster musician’ would simply be an understatement. As the band’s devoted keys player, it’s easy to forget that Jamie is proficient in Saxophone, Clarinet and most of all, the Shaker. Having studied at Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, Australia, Jamie is well versed in music of all genres and styles even playing in jazz quartets, jazz trios and big bands. Not only does Jamie bring emphatic and technical musical ability to the table, but Jamie’s unique writing and arranging style is constantly taking The Addictions to a new level. Sporting the iconic Nord Stage 3, Jamie brings jazz, funk and most of all, class.
ben pucci
(Vocals)
Anyone that knows Ben will have heard him say “I hate singing”, an ironic line from the group’s lead vocalist. Ben considers himself an ‘impressionist’ rather than a professional singer, constantly drawing stylistic inspiration from artists such as Stevie Wonder, Prince, Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers or whoever’s songwriting style he is trying to mimic. With an insatiable passion for music, Ben never passes up an opportunity to jam, write, arrange or perform. Having joined the band back in 2017 during High School, Ben began as both a vocalist and a keyboard player for the group, though his self-taught keys skills pale in comparison to the band’s current piano player, Jamie Holmes.
Are you addicted?
Substances are expensive. Our music is free. Get addicted to any of our original singles, EPs or albums from the link below.
projects
Him (single)
Him (single)
‘Him’ was the first piece of music ever released by The Addictions kicking off a rollout consisting of two more singles and a debut album. ‘Him’ visits the familiar concept of unrequited love with an eerie approach that toys with the idea of becoming the person of someone’s dreams. With the lyrics narrating the situation, the track uses clever and intentional instrumentation to convey the story. With musical influences ranging from Funkadelic to Dani Murcia to Prince, ‘Him’ walks a killer bassline and carries a soulful groove to execute a heart breaking concept.
Moving Days (single)
Moving Days (single)
A track that blends the fondness of distant memories and easy listening, ‘Moving Days’ brings a tasteful soundtrack to the joy of reminiscing. With smooth keys and soulful guitar, the song transports the listener to simpler times filled with youth and carelessness. ‘Moving Days’ was the first song from the group to feature vocals from both Ben Pucci and the band’s co-vocalist at the time, Steven Regalo. With music written by Jeremy Mendel, one of the band’s guitarists at the time of release, paired with lyrics by Ben, the track became their second single of all time.
I tell myself (single)
I tell myself (single)
Steven Regalo debuted his unique writing skills with the band’s third single ‘I Tell Myself’. Steven takes both the lead vocals and guitar on this track and delivers a bluesy, groove filled track with undertones of neo-soul and rock. Featuring one of his signature solos and uplifting lyrics, ‘I Tell Myself’ acted as a perfect final single in the album’s rollout. Drawing on inspirations both musically and thematically from songs like ‘Sweet Little Angel’ (B.B. King) and ‘Moving On and Getting Over’ (John Mayer), the track offered an up-beat take on self motivation and powering through.
Establishing Shot | (Album)
‘Establishing Shot’, aptly titled as The Addictions’ debut studio album, served as a perfect demonstration of the band’s versatility both stylistically and dynamically. With a twelve song track list the album shifts genres and styles from funk-pop with tracks like ‘Zara’ and ‘Floccinaucinihilipilification’ to bluesy rock songs like ‘Clairvoyant’ and ‘I Tell Myself’ all the way to jazz infused R&B/Soul tracks such as ‘I Miss My Friend’, ‘Anger’ and ‘I Think I Love You’. Heavily inspired by the sounds of the 70s, ‘Establishing Shot’ features the Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Mellotron and Leslie Organ with every track being recorded live in studio.
With such a heavily influenced sound and approach to recording, the band had several inspirations to draw from such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers and even some more modern acts like John Mayer, Anderson .Paak and Daniel Caesar. Certain tracks featured more refined and specific influence such as ‘Anger’ drawing heavily from Stevie Wonder’s ‘Evil’, ‘Warm Loving’ baring similarities to Hall & Oates’ ‘She’s Gone’ and ‘Them Say’ resembling the music of Bob Marley. Artists like Billy Joel, Prince and Bobby Caldwell were also big influences.
Systematic | (Album)
Roughly one year after the band’s ambitious debut album, The Addictions returned with ‘Systematic’, a nine track concept album with a heavier R&B and neo-soul influence. Lead by a narrative about the loss of a loved one, the album both asks and answers difficult questions about death, moving on and living the most unrequited love of all. Pairing these themes with some of the group’s best instrumental work, ‘Systematic’ features tasteful and memorable solos from each of the band members, including two new additions at the time, (Abby Youl and Ruby Huntington on vocals).
Advertised throughout the rollout as ‘Her Gift’, ‘Systematic’ features the title track ‘Systematic Love’ split into two parts which act as hard covers to the story being told in between them. ‘Red Blues’ tackles the question of where to put a burning love when one of the flames has died and ‘Want You Back Or Not/Away’ carefully approaches the idea of whether to celebrate a loved one resting in a better place or mourning them with selfish hopes. The album’s final track features one of the band’s greatest examples of their musicality with three style changes, a medley of the entire album, solos from each member and a breakdown, almost all of which were recorded live in studio.
music video
Red blues
music video
ambiguity
Pedal Faster (single)
Pedal Faster (single)
One of the two singles recorded solely by the band’s vocalist, Ben Pucci, ‘Pedal Faster’ dissects the tale of a young man riding home to his dying girlfriend. With lyrics penned from the perspective of a wiser man talking to his younger self, the song repeats the phrase ‘You’ve got time’ as a cruel way to poke fun at an ignorant boy taking his love’s dying breathes for granted. With a steady and simple groove, warm synths, haunting vocals and sporadic piano faintly layered into the background, ‘Pedal Faster’ expresses a personal story through a mellow song.
music video
pedal faster
You killed me (single)
You killed me (single)
The second of Ben’s vocal/keys tracks, ‘You Killed Me’ carries the listener through similar concepts previously visited on ‘Pedal Faster’ and ‘Want You Back Or Not/Away’. The song asks the question of whether to respect the resting of those who have passed on or wish them back into a life of sickness and pain. ‘You Killed Me’ also expands on the cliché idea of a couple never hurting each other in a relationship by revealing that one has delivered the ultimate blow in the form of their passing. This is conveyed in the repeated line, ‘You killed me the day you died’.