Graffiti6

Graffiti6 are a duo still active today, known for a sound that refuses to sit still. Jamie Scott's voice carries every track, while TommyD builds intricate grooves from electric piano, offbeat guitar, and original breakbeats. Their music has appeared everywhere from Grey's Anatomy to FIFA 12, and their debut album Colours remains a cult favorite among fans of genre-blending pop. The duo also runs a club night called 6 at Vibe Bar in East London, keeping their connection to live audiences strong. [edit]

Graffiti6 started with a meeting that almost didn't happen. Jamie Scott was looking for a producer to repackage his solo album when a Polydor A&R executive introduced him to Tommy Danvers. Their first collaboration, "Stare Into the Sun," began as a folk idea on acoustic guitar before Danvers transformed it into something bigger. The song caught the attention of The Sun newspaper, which used it for a TV advertising campaign, effectively launching the project.

Scott grew up in London, teaching himself guitar at seven after hearing Joni Mitchell's Blue. He left school at 17, signed a publishing deal at 20, and released a solo album under Polydor. Danvers had a different path: he was a resident DJ at Ministry of Sound, produced Right Said Fred's global hit "I'm Too Sexy," and worked with Michael Jackson, Kanye West, and Adele. Their debut EP Stone in My Heart dropped in March 2010, followed by a Guardian New Band of the Day feature that summer. The name Graffiti6 came from their shared love of graffiti art, and the number 6 stuck because six musicians play in their live shows. [edit]

Graffiti6's music defies easy labels. It draws from Motown's Norman Whitfield era, the psychedelic soul of Lewis Taylor, and the production sensibilities of Mark Ronson. But where other artists sample old records, Danvers builds original breakbeats and hip-hop rhythms from scratch. The result is a sound that can shift from a Spanish-style nylon string guitar with synth flourishes to a Motown-inspired rave-up reminiscent of Jackie Wilson. Their debut album Colours showcases this range: "Free" channels Northern Soul, "Goodbye Geoffrey Drake" is pure singer-songwriter folk, and "Never Look Back" layers strings over a rock foundation. [edit]

Graffiti6 never topped charts, but their music found a home in unexpected places. "Free" appeared in FIFA 12 and Dirt 3, introducing their sound to millions of gamers. Television shows like Grey's Anatomy, Suits, One Tree Hill, and Elementary used their songs for key scenes. The film What to Expect When You're Expecting also featured their work. This steady placement in visual media built a loyal fanbase without traditional radio play. Their club night 6 at Vibe Bar in East London became a hub for fans and artists alike, blending live music with DJ sets. [edit]

Graffiti6's fans don't have an official name or lightstick, but they gather around the duo's live shows and club nights. The 6 parties at Vibe Bar in East London were a regular meeting point, where the line between performer and audience blurred. Online, fans share playlists that track the band's appearances in TV and games, and the artwork by Jimi Crayon has become a visual signature that fans wear on t-shirts and posters. [edit]

TommyD produced "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred, which hit No. 1 in the US. Jamie Scott wrote the song "Shameful" at age 13 on a piano that still sits in his mother's house; that song helped him land his first publishing deal at 20. The duo's visual artist Jimi Crayon designs all their artwork, including the bold graffiti-style logo. Scott first heard Joni Mitchell's Blue at age seven and taught himself guitar the same day. Danvers used to fly to New York just to buy records and sneakers. [edit]