Republica are an English alternative rock band formed in 1994. The height of their popularity spanned from 1996 to 1999. The current line-up consists of Saffron (vocals), Tim Dorney (keyboards), Johnny Male (guitar), Conor Lawrence (drums). The Republica sound was described by the band as “technopop punk rock”. Republica released the first single “Out of This World” in 1994, followed by the single “Bloke” in March 1995. In April 1996, their single “Ready To Go” became their first to chart in the UK, when it reached Number 43. Their debut album Republica was released in July 1996 and reached No. 4 in the UK Albums Chart after being re-issued in 1997. The band added Johnny Male as an official member on guitar, with “Ready To Go” remixed as more a rock-sounding dance track. This version became their signature single and reached No. 13. The fourth single, “Drop Dead Gorgeous”, reached No. 7.
The group attracted positive press coverage. Emerging after a wave of female-fronted rock bands (such as Elastica, Lush etc.), they had, like Curve and Garbage, a notably more aggressive and electronic sound. In 1997, they contributed a cover of “Are Friends Electric?” to the Gary Numan tribute album Random. That same year, Saffron performed vocals for the Prodigy’s “Fuel My Fire” from their album The Fat of the Land.
The second album, Speed Ballads, was released in 1998 and reached No. 37 in UK Albums Chart. Its lead single, “From Rush Hour With Love”, peaked at No. 20 in UK Singles Chart. The band suffered when their label, Deconstruction Records, folded shortly after the release of Speed Ballads. Deconstruction’s back catalogue was swallowed up by BMG and Speed Ballads was never released in the United States. In 2001, Republica went on hiatus. On their official site it was posted the message “Republica are not recording at this time”. In 2002 BMG released the compilation Ready to Go: The Best Of against the band’s wishes.
In September 2008, Republica reunited at Windsor at a Contra Mundum concert. They played “Ready to Go”, “Drop Dead Gorgeous” and a cover of “You Got the Love”. In early 2010, Republica performed a string of gigs. They also issued a remixed version of “Ready to Go” entitled “Ready to Go 2010”. In June 2010 the remix was released and reached No. 1 on the Upfront Club chart. The track has been produced by Andy Gray and Alan Moulder. In October 2010, the band performed a comeback gig at O2 Academy Islington followed by several dates in Eastern Europe and the Middle East in 2011.
The band released a new EP, Christiana Obey, and also recorded a session for Brentwood radio station Phoenix FM in April 2013. A joint 20th anniversary tour with the band Space took place in the spring of 2014. In October and early November 2014, Republica toured the UK in support of the Boomtown Rats “Ratlife” tour and took the opportunity to premiere some new material. In May 2015 saw the public debut of more new material when Republica performed at the “Under The Bridge” venue in Chelsea, London, with support from Tenek and Kenelis. A deluxe edition of Republica was released in February 2020 on Cherry Red Records. In 2023, the band will be re-releasing Speed Ballads on vinyl and also releasing their third studio album, Damaged Gods.
