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Spanish rock group Sidonie, comprised of Marc Ros (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Jesus Senra (vocals, bass, sitar), and Axel Pi (drums, percussion), formed in 1997. The group originally assembled to play the hits of their favorite groups, including the Doors, the Velvet Underground, and the Rolling Stones. As the bandmembers put their own personal touch on each song they played, they soon developed a desire to write and record their own material. Demonstrating a variety of influences, Sidonie released their debut CD, Dragonfly. The five-track disc -- described as a mixture of psychedelia, Hindu music, surrealism, and Spanish rock rolled into one -- was released by the independent Bip Bip Records. The record was well enough received that the band soon had enough clout to record a full-length album. The self-titled project was released in 2001, and opened up channels to international touring. Sidonie's unique sound began to earn them a following in the underground and avant-garde European rock scene. When the time came for Sidonie's sophomore CD, they recorded it with Sony/BMG; the 2003 release Shell Kids was their final project written and recorded in English. The bandmembers opted for the first time to write in Spanish for their third disc, 2005's Fascinado, and that decision limited British touring, previously a strong base for the group. Sidonie instead directed their efforts toward Spain, leading up to their 2007 release, Costa Azul. Hitting shelves that summer, Costa Azul earned Sidonie a spot on national charts within the first few weeks of its release. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez