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About emoticon;-)

"Write a biography of emoticon;-) for the web site." They said. "Where do I begin?" I said. "Try the beginning". But which beginning?

The first beginning was on a leafy street called Dinas Lane (1) between two council estates in Liverpool's Huyton. (Known to Liverpudlians as 'Two Dogs' from local rhyme 'Huyton, Huyton, two dogs fight'n one was a black one and one was a white'n). This is where singer and songwriters Dean and Gregg were born. Their early life was a balancing act between aggressive surroundings and their own developing sense of the aesthetic. A compulsive diarist Dean has always worked from the instinct of documenting his life and, at seventeen, he found his true vehicle in song writing. It has become his natural means of expression, not just in lyrics, but in his music, which somehow manages to express the full rainbow of our human experience.

Gregg started writing songs also at seventeen, quickly finding it to eclipse his earlier success as a poet (he is an Internationally published and anthologised Haiku Poet.) Both regard song writing as an art form, an obsession and the reason they formed a band together. As founders of indie band Us Being Them, they rose to prominence in Liverpool in the mid-to-late 90's. On the verge of national success the band experienced managerial and personnel problems and sadly, was to disband. Dean continued as a solo artist and, unfettered by colleagues' musical directions, eventually developed the sound he had always strived for.

Dean recorded the album There's No More Fish In The Sea in 2002 which enjoyed much critical acclaim. In 2004 the album The Sun's Out Somewhere was recorded and was released on self-owned label DayMoon Music under the name Doorway Drunks. This album was also highly praised. 2006 was the year of Polar. Released under the new name of emoticon;-) this album reached heights before unseen, 'Mountain' becoming the Number 1. 'Feel Good Track' All-Time (Indie Rock) on Garageband.com (now iLike.)

In 2007 Gregg joined Dean in emoticon;-) and they are currently recording an album with third member, Scott Welsh on engineering and programming duties. They continue to gain fans across the Internet and their group on Facebook is rapidly gaining members. Join the emoticon;-) Facebook Group here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php

Snake Sampson, DayMoon Music

(1.) Dinas Lane. (Something for trivia fans.) Across from the house where Dean grew up is Paul McCartney's Aunty Gin's old house where the first colour photograph of the Beatles was taken (Paul, John and George). Paul's 21st party was held here giving the band their first national coverage when John punched Cavern DJ Bob Wooler after he made insinuations regarding Lennon's recent holiday alone with Brian Epstein. It turns out this Lane has further musical connections. Lee Mavers, the legendary songwriter and frontman of the La's and his brother Neil the band's drummer grew up in the road and Lee still lives nearby.

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Music F
Oct 17 2008, 01:53 PM

Hey Emoticon, I really liked your song "Mountain". It should definitely be submitted to “NEW!”, this is a website that gives unsigned artists exposure to a lot of radio station sites. It’s definitely a site worth checking out. Keep up the good work! =) Its www.iheartmusic.com/new
Nov 12 2007, 05:33 AM

Song 'Mountain' is No.1 'Feel Good Track' ALL TIME in 'Indie Rock' on Garageband.com