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Andonis Weather
"In this section, you will get to know me. Who I am, was and what I do, as well as friends of mine. You will also find my shop, which shall be open soon!"
"Lovely Dreaming" - OUT NOW! On all major streaming platforms.
Andonis is an autistic, disabled adolescent, multi-instrumentalist, creating New Wave/80s music. He is self taught in various instruments, starting from the fretless bass to the saxophone. He likes to dance, direct choreography, create art and create music and lives with 10 cats, who he's had for 4 years, and 2 gerbils, who he's had for around half a year!
He has identified as transgender since 2011 and gay since 2022 and has been known as 'Andonis Sabian-Emerson Fernando' for over a year now. He is also very accepting of many people!
He is fascinated by Japanese and Greek culture, learning both languages as of now, and hopes to travel to Shizuoka, Japan and Nicosia, Cyprus during his career.
"This journey is a long one of my life and career so far, so I hope you enjoy reading this!"
- Andonis
This obscure man's journey dates way back to February 3rd 2005.
[2005-2008]
Andonis was born Kimberley Susannah Fernando in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire to his mother Michelle and father Eric. He had two older sisters named Emily and Isobel at that time. He was raised with 80s music and television programmes such as 'The Young Ones' and 'Only Fools And Horses' in a catholic household by his mother, however Andonis would later change his religion, still keeping the love of 80s music in his heart.
Andonis now has 3 sisters: Emily, Isobel, Alex, and one brother: Nikolaos.
[2008-2016]
Over the years of his childhood, Andonis attended Our Lady & Saint Benedict Catholic Academy, where he'd become a choir member and xylophone player at age 9. This didn't last long and he only performed at Victoria Hall with the choir, the group singing a mix of songs from The Beatles to Madness' "Baggy trousers!"
[2016-2021]
During his high school years, Andonis attended St Thomas More Catholic Academy, where he'd pick up his first instrument, the electric guitar. Taking lessons at first, Andonis befriended a boy named James, who he performed with in the school for 3 years, before Covid-19 took place and Andonis left the course, not liking the guitar. During the pandemic, he exercised his vocals and taught himself to sing in various ranges rotating around high and low (he also found he could finally hit George Michael's 'high' by the first couple of months!). As well as exercising his vocals, he developed a relationship with digital art and thus started to create on ProCreate and IbisPaintX. However, due to depression and anxiety, his love for the 80s faded away for a few years."A main reason as to why my love for things faded away for so long was because my friend Melody and my Papa, my fathers father, had both passed away in the span of a week. It broke me for a while, but I'm now back on my feet!"[Andonis was also diagnosed with autism at age 14! So if you ever meet him and he seems a bit 'off', that's probably why!][2021-2022]
Fast-forward to 2021, Andonis had finished school and passed all but one of his GCSE's (by sheer luck!). He had discovered the fretted bass guitar and joined the NSCG Newcastle-Under-Lyme college to persue his music career. He met four people with whom he became friends: Celine, an artist, Josh, a guitarist, Harrison, a multi-instrumentalist and Roman, another multi-instrumentalist! He'd soon become a member of a band named "No Signal" with Josh, which didn't last long due to a toxic relationship between the two as Josh wasn't very nice.
"Josh said to me once, 'you'll never get anywhere in the industry with just a bass and vocals.' Look at me now!" - Andonis said.
[2022-2023]
When 2022 came around, Celine left the college and Josh got given the boot by the head of the building. By now, Andonis had developed the special love and interest for 80s music again by listening to Depeche Mode and Duran Duran. In fact, one of his favourite albums for over many year had become "Seven And The Ragged Tiger" (and it still is!).
He gradually discovered more bands and soon came across the band "Japan" via a video of "Swing" from The Old Grey Whistle Test. Now, Japan play a major factor in his new career, as they'd soon be painted out as Andonis' main inspiration in music. Over the next year, he would discover keyboards and synthesisers, in which he'd start teaching himself to play with the songs "Nightporter" by Japan and "Dead London (Part 1)" from Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds. He considered himself to be a solo artist at this time as he now had no friends again, like primary and high school. His original plan was to take the name "Nikki Weather" and become a solo artist in the New Wave scene that had just started to break through after decades of resting. In fact, he had an album already planned out and a collaboration with his friend 'Bon' planned too, but both got postponed.
In multiple bands, he had been a session bassist, but was mainly based in a band named "Not A Clue". However, he was replaced in April by a new bassist.
"It hurt when I was replaced, as they did it without say. I was only informed at their gig in an actual venue, in which they then told me I was out."
During Christmas time of 2022, Andonis would be gifted a fretless bass, which he'd name "Mr Apollo" and would use it as his main instrument.
[2022 - 2023 ~ RELIGION]
Taking a small break from music, Andonis had been researching Greek Mythology since 2022, being fascinated by the story. In that time, he was an atheist, leaving the Catholic religion in 2016. By April 2023, Andonis had finally found what religion he finally felt safe and comfortable in and became Helenic, taking part in traditions and praying to the God's with his brother, who was a Pagan at the time but soon became Helenic. After contacting Aphdorite for the first time, he quickly cleared out his room at his father's and used an old art desk as his alter, which still stands as the alter today. Over time, he decorated it with rose incense, fake roses and flowers, contacting candles and a candle a friend of his picked.
"The friend of mine is a spirit who had started protecting me before I found out I was Helenic. He's still with me today, but doesn't want to be known."
[2023-2024]
In June 2023, Andonis dabbled with art involving clay at home and continued to embark on his first solo gig at the college, where he prepared by picking up the acoustic guitar, his mother's acoustic, and coming up with random chord progressions just a few weeks prior to the performance. He performed 3 songs; "Jean The Birdman" by Sylvian&Fripp, "Sensitive" by Mick Karn and "European Son" by Japan. Only many months later would he be told he'd created a blues performance of the songs, which are all originally New Wave/Rock/Avante Garde. Hearing this impressed Andonis as he didn't think he was capable of changing genres for a performance.
After this gig, he met a man named "Hugo" who, at the time, fascinated Andonis with his hair as it was split dyed. One time he remembers it split dyed half black, half green. Hugo would quickly become a friend of Andonis' and they'd start to bond over Japan and The Cure. Having a new friend sparked Andonis to return to his original dream as a child; to form his own band.
During the summer break, Andonis posted on his social media that he'd like to form a New Wave band with anybody close by in the area. The only one who responded to this would be Hugo and the two started working together in a nameless duo band. Andonis was originally the front man, vocalist, bassist and synth/keyboard player, Hugo playing guitar and vocals. At some point, Andonis invited Roman into the band to play guitar with Hugo, however he didn't stay in the band for long as he left the college to work in tech at a local music venue.
After Roman's absence from the band, Andonis and Hugo decided they'd circle back to working as a duo band. However, their roles changed: Andonis now working on vocals, bass, keyboards/synths and drum programming, Hugo would work on vocals, guitar, synths and drum programming, however they didn't know how they'd fit drums into their music yet.
Together, they mapped what they want to sound like and who their main inspirations were; Japan, The Cure, Nik Kershaw and Depeche Mode.
After debating and knocking about a few ideas for a band name, Hugo jokingly suggested "Schwimmbad", which translates to "Swimming Pool" in German, which Andonis loved and so, they went with that. Not long after, Andonis jokingly said their 'mascot' should be a cat, in which Hugo agreed and thus, the name and logo were decided.
Fast forward to around October 2023, Andonis went on a 'little adventure' to Birmingham. Why? And how is this relevant? May I introduce to you, "Doctor Kahn"! Andonis had named this mystery machine after Mick Karn, the 'doctor' inspired by the Sisters Of Mercy. Now, who is the mystery machine? A Roland Drum Machine!
"I travelled to the Yamaha store, got lost on the way 4 or 5 times before finding the road! And to reward myself on spending over £300 on a new band member, I visited a Duran Duran landmark! Where JT grew up!"In early January, Schwimmbad started drafting lyrics for their first A and B Side. After going over multiple drafts, the two decided the sides and would start deciding on where to record.
In December 2023, Andonis and Hugo, known now as "Schwimmbad", would perform for the first time together, Andonis performing on keyboards for the first time. Together, they covered "Nightporter" and "Last Christmas" by Wham and had a special guest too.
"Our special guest was a Peter Murphy paper cube we had made out of sheer boredom, the picture used being his mugshot. We couldn't perform with Dr Kahn with us like our original plan as our drum beats had messed up, so to apologise for that I held the cube up proudly and introduced him... safe to say, everybody loved him."
[2024-present]
New Years, a bright one as Andonis states. He finally had a band that was going forward and had a bright career ahead of him. In fact, even a tarot reading said so! Andonis soon met a man named George, a good friend of Hugo's, who would quickly be hired as Schwimmbad's producer, and the band started recording quickly. He then quickly picked up the saxophone, learning Dexy's Midnight Runners' "Geno" in a matter of 2 days and has now been titled a possible sax player for the band as well.Andonis for now is mainly focusing on band business, however, both musicians have agreed that they'll also have a separate solo career each. Andonis has been offered a record deal, as well as being invited to work with Philip Pendleton, a man who has been recently working with Steve Jansen and Rob Dean, ex members of Japan!He will also change his name legally in July 2024, from his dead name to the sprouting "Andonis Sabian-Emerson Brennan-Fernando".Schwimmbad's singles release date is April 26th 2024, he hopes you enjoy it. ♡
"Lovely Dreaming" - OUT NOW
Released May 3rd 2024 to all major streaming platforms
Written, arranged, composed and produced by Andonis Weather
Recorded by George Meakin
In late 2022, Andonis discovered a shop in Hanley named "Rubber Soul Records". Being fascinated by records and retro items, he ventured inside and met a lovely man named Rob.
The first vinyl Andonis bought was "Now That's What I Call Music NO.1" from the shop, which would soon start Andonis' love for vinyl and retro items and would begin his collection (which is now 323 vinyl, including 7", 10" and 12"!)"Rob is a huge fan of the band already- we haven't even released anything! But I already know he's gonna be one of our biggest fans. He's a great friend, I've known him for a while now, and he is happy to see new and familiar faces! He tells me 'remember me when you're big and famous', which I most definitely will. He's impacted me so many in ways he doesn't even know", Andonis states.
Andonis is a photographer with polaroids and dark themes. Varying from memorials to religion to music and tours, Andonis enjoys showcasing his photography via platforms for the media eye to witness.
GUITARS:
"Sylvian" - Les paul Sunburst electric guitar
(4.3.16)
"Nikolai" - Gibson Les Paul black electric guitar
(4.3.16)
"Melvoin Tsuchiya" - Japanese white electric guitar
(6.6.23)
"King" - electric acoustic guitar (named after Paul King)
(20.05.24)
BASS':
"..." - acoustic bass
(1.9.21)
"Richard Galactica" - 'space themed' custom jazz fretted bass
(12.10.21)
"Mr Apollo" - fretless jazz bass
(25.12.22)
DRUM MACHINE:
"Dr. Kahn" - Roland TR-8 Rhythm Performer drum machine
(4.11.23)
SYNTHESISERS/KEYBOARDS:
"Rhodes" - Roland XP-10 synthesiser
(10.10.23)
"Barbarella" - Yamaha...
(5.4.20)
"The Starter" - Casio keyboard (his first keyboard!)
(3.3.10)
"..." - Casio VL-1 keyboard
OTHERS:
"Cornwall" - alto saxophone
(12.11.23)
"Strudel" - Casio melodica
(5.3.10)
"Michael" - harmonica (named after his Irish grandfather)
(6.7.05)
"Loudmouth" - kazoo
(1.3.17)[Note: These are the items 'birthdays', but not accurate to the actual dates (minusing the years) Andonis received/bought them apart from "Mr Apollo" and "King".]
You can find Andonis' Merch Store here: