Article One Biography

Article One is a pop/rock band from London, Ontario. They have a unique sound, which incorporates Matt's exceptional violin playing and three-part vocal harmonies, yet remains accessible thanks to Nathan's undeniably gifted songwriting. They are arguably one of the best kept secrets in Canadian music today. In May, that fact may change as Article One will be going full-time. Coinciding with this decision, is a self-titled national album release and 30-date Cross-Canada tour.

Here's the long story...

Everything began with Nathan and Matt Piche. As brothers, they grew up doing everything together. Whether it was baseball teams in the summer or bands at church, it always seemed like they did better when they worked together. With both parents being music teachers, Nathan and Matt were brought up in a home filled with music. At young ages, each of them began classical lessons with some of the city's finest teachers. Nathan studied piano and Matt studied violin. As time passed, their interests broadened and Nathan began branching out to both bass and guitar and Matt began exploring other styles such as jazz and old time fiddling.

By the end of highschool, after playing in a couple of different bands, Nathan and Matt believed that once again, they could probably be better if they worked together and started their own group. In the summer of 2003, they recorded a five-song EP, named themselves Appertain Display, and started performing around London. That fall they put together a band and while they continued to go to school, performed numerous concerts.

A year later, they were asked to go on a fall tour with The Elms. Because of the extended commitment, Nathan and Matt had to find other musicians and invited Dave DeSmit (drums), Jeff House (saxophone), and Alex Fleck (bass) to come on tour. Each of these guys had known Nathan and Matt before the tour, and it was that friendship that helped the band solidify itself so quickly. Things clicked, and by the end of the tour, Appertain Display was now a five-piece group. In June of 2005, the band released its full-length self-titled CD.

As the opportunities started increasing, so to did the band's success. In 2005, they played more shows than ever, won the Kingdom Bound International Talent Search, and performed at Six Flags, Darien Lake. At the same time, discussions about going full-time began and by the end of the year, it was obvious things were going to change as Jeff and Alex both decided to leave the band and finish their university degrees.

While some may question Nathan, Matt and Dave's decision to pursue music full time, you need to be close to the band to understand their level of commitment to not only their music, but also their careers. While we would shy away from using the word "genius", Nathan is one of the most remarkable musicians to enter the music scene in a long time. Creatively, he is the biggest force in Article One's sound. In addition to writing most of the music and singing lead vocals, Nathan also plays almost all of the guitar, piano and bass parts on the album.

Matt is also an incredibly gifted musician and performer. On stage, he wields his violin with a skill that few can surpass and as a result, Matt is constantly being invited to guest on different recording projects. Behind the scenes, Matt plays the critical role of making things happen. In a sense, he's the springboard that turns ideas into reality. Whether he's booking tours (his first tour had over 30 dates across Canada over a 7 week period) or letting Nathan bounce song ideas off him, Matt has a way of getting things done and getting them done right.

Dave's role is probably most likened to icing on a cake. For some people, coming on board after a band has been around for a year and a half might seem difficult, but for Dave, he fit in almost immediately. Nathan says, "After a couple rehearsals we knew we had found an incredible talent with Dave. His drumming style was exactly what we needed, and his tenor voice blends incredibly well with Matt and me. Right from the beginning we knew things were going to work out".

Together, Nathan, Matt and Dave are in a unique position - they are easily poised as one of Canada's most talented up and coming rock bands. With their talent, commitment and hard work, Article One is clearly a band to watch for and remember.

The name "Article One" comes from the first article in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It states, "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."

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