Nowhere To Be Found

Nowhere To Be Found (up until 2017 known as "insch), often known by the acronym NTBF, are an alternative rock band from Ericeira, Portugal. Formed in 2014, the band was founded by Manel Gomes (bass, backing vocals), Miguel Rodrigues (drums) and Tiago Duarte (lead vocals, guitar). The three high school friends have been playing together since 2006 but this was their first band as a trio, and Tiago’s first experience as lead singer. The band is known as one of the most promising groups to have come from the new Portuguese rock scene.

Nowhere To Be Found’s debut album, Safe Haven, was released in may 2016, having peaked national top 10 in its first week. Safe Haven was funded solely by the band, currently working on the follow up album, expected for the fall 2017.

1. History

1.1 Pre-NTBF (2006-2011)

1.1.1 Metta Bhavana (2006-2007)

1.1.2 Project Drizza and Daydream (2007-2011)

1.2. Early years (2014-2016)

1.3. Safe Haven (2016-2017)

1.4. Nowhere To Be Found (2017-present)

2. Artistry

2.1. Musical style and influences

2.2. Vocals and lyrics

2.3. Songwriting and recording process

2.4. Gear

3. Band members

4. Discography

5. Awards

6. References

7. Sources

8. External links

1. History

1.1. Pre-NTBF (2006-2011) [edit]

Manel, Miguel (a.k.a Migalhas) and Tiago were friends from their childhood, born and raised in Torres Vedras, a city about 30kms from Ericeira, at the time known for having a cool and exciting rock and punk vibes. Mostly self-taught, they played in several small bands all throughout middle and high school (Synapse, 4kids, Orquidea, Skaes e Gatos, etc.), having never played together up until 2006, when they formed Metta Bhavana along with childhood friend and frontman Ricardo Farinha. By now the quartet was already playing in Ericeira, to where Migalhas had moved with his family. Although promising, the band endured less than a year, as Ricardo moved to Adelaide, Australia, in early 2007, for family reasons.

*Foto dos 4 na Ericeira*

[Migalhas, Ricardo, Tiago and Manel, in their rehearsal room in Ericeira, in late 2006]

In mid-2007 the band started auditioning to find a new frontman but without having felt connection with any lead vocals, they turned Davide Silva, another childhood friend, at the time frontman for Alluminia, a well-known local hard-rock and metal cover band. Alongside with Davide, they formed Project Drizza (a cover band) and later Daydream, and split in 2011, following Davide’s move to London, England, to pursue other professional endeavors.

*Foto dos 4 no Ocean Spirit*

[Manel, Migalhas, Davide and Tiago, playing in Santa Cruz, summer of 2008]

Dismayed with the loss of yet another frontman, the trio parted ways and did not play a single show from 2011 to 2013, having focused on other personal objectives, such as finishing college and travelling.

1.2. Early years (2004-2016) [edit]

Following the two-year hiatus, in November 2013 the trio got together for a couple of unpretentious jam sessions in Migalha’s place, in Ericeira, with the sheer purpose of spending time together. Having no obvious option for vocals, and with no intention of enduring another painful search process, they agreed Tiago would do the singing, in addition to his guitarist role. After only a couple of months of weekly rehearsals, the band had already created songs like Bring Me Back, Home, It’s Yours, These Lies, Telesphorus and Spring’s Concrete, and so in early 2014 decided to formally become a band, this time as a trio.

At the time they agreed upon the name “insch”, an old Scottish Gaelic term meaning “island, haven or sanctuary” where “you can be safe from your enemies” that caught the attention of bass player Manel, and immediately was adopted by the trio, who viewed the band as their newly found safe place.

The band’s first live show would occur in June 2014, in their birth town Torres Vedras, a 35 minutes gig with only seven songs, to an audience essentially consisting of the trio’s friends. The next months were filled with shows, mainly in the Lisbon area, starting to draw the industry’s attention and a small but consistent crowd of eager followers. In March 2015 they met Nuno Chanoca, in a weekend described by the band as “the single most important couple of days” in their career. Nuno, a seasoned industry professional with experience in labels as Polygram, BMG, Universal and Valentim de Carvalho had previously been involved in launching some of Portugal’s biggest bands and by then was out of the musical scene, for family reasons, but agreed to spend a weekend in Ericeira for a “music industry crash course”. By the end of it, Nuno had fell in love with the project and the trio saw in him the very much needed guidance to take the band to the next level, and so Nuno became NTBF’s Manager and a close friend of the trio. The following year, under Nuno’s wing, NTBF would play every major stage in Lisbon and Porto, as well as a live DVD recording and the music video for “Bring Me Back”, the band’s first single. Bring Me Back was also NTBF’s first song to hit the local radios, such as rock reference Super FM Radio, and to be featured in a national television ad.

*Foto dos 4 na Ericeira*

[Tiago, Nuno, Miguel and Manel, the weekend they met, March 2015]

By the end of 2015, NTBF took the spotlight by being considered “2015 band of the year” by BalconyTV Lisbon, a worldwide platform dedicated to showcase new artists, after performing “Home”. Around the same time, New In Town (NiT) listed the band as one of the “8 unknown artists you really should start listening”.

1.3. Safe Haven (2016-present) [edit]

Safe Haven was recorded in Ericeira all throughout October 2015 but its pre-production started months earlier. Around April that same year, Nuno introduced the band to António Côrte-Real, a well-rounded producer and guitarist for UHF, one of the most influential old school bands in the Portuguese rock history, who brought to the table his co-producer, Wilson Silva, an incredibly versatile musician mostly known for his work as drummer for More Than A Thousand. From April to October, they worked fiercely in a set of 9 songs the band had previously created and slowly but methodically stripped them down and built them up again, some of them into almost entirely new songs, Telesphorus being the best example. The band and the producer António weren't always in agreement as to where the songs should evolve, as António kept pushing them to commercial grounds and the trio to an alternative approach, and wearing discussions were frequent. At last, mid September, the songs were ready to be recorded but the band had one more challenge for the producers: to fully record the album in their rehearsal room in Ericeira, where they felt the songs would be captured more honestly and in their true vibe. António and Wilson agreed and October would be fully dedicated to the recording of 10 songs, as Komorebi had been finished in late September and all agreed this was the perfect song to open the album.

After a couple of months of mixing and a couple more of contract negotiation, the band signed with Farol Música (digital distribution) and Media Capital Entertainment (publishing), having opted for an author's edition for the physical distribution, after a brief connection to Premiere Music. The album was officially released May 6th and entered directly to Portugal's Top10 sales chart in its first week.

*Foto dos 7 na Ericeira*

[Tiago, Miguel, Wilson, Nuno, Manel and António in Ericeira, March 2015]

2. Artistry

2.1. Musical style and influences

Nowhere To Be Found have always claimed influences from various genres, with musical references diversifying within the trio. Their sound has been described as alternative rock, post-grunge and alternative metal.

Mainstream music critics Música em DX wrote "NTBF ("insch") are a kind of refreshing balm for the 90's grunge, the rebirth of a rock sound thought lost in Seattle's studios" as metal critics Metalimperium added "We don't have anything against alternative rock, specially when it presents itself with as much power as Safe Haven does."

NTBF's main musical backgrounds span from indie to alternative rock, ska-punk, pop, grunge and metal. Manel's has stated his main influences to be Nine Inch Nails, Tool and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Miguel's are Mad Caddies, Jamiroquai and Dave Mathews Band, and Tiago's are Nirvana, Deftones and Incubus, just to name a few.

2.2. Vocals and lyrics

NTBF's lyrics are mostly personal and biographical, having been described by the band as "inspired in specific events" in the trio's life and growth experiences, although not intended to be descriptive but merely emotionally suggestive.

2.3. Songwriting and recording process

2.4. Gear

Manel plays mostly with Fender and Ibanez basses, although one of his favorites is a Fernandes, a 90's japanese Fender replic. He uses Orange amp-heads with Ashdown cabs and a set of pedal effects from Boss, RAT, Electro Harmonix, TC Electronic, Ashdown and Artec.

Miguel plays on a Taye drum set, with Remo drum heads and Zildjian A-Custom cymbals, being a Remo and Zildjian formal endorser. He also uses Zildjian drums sticks, mostly 5A.

Tiago uses Fender and PRS guitars, Seymour Duncan pickups and Marshall amps. Being an effect's pedals enthusiast, Tiago uses a Pedaltrain pedalboard with a vary of effects from Boss, Morley, Electro Harmonix, Ibanez, Artec, Dunlop, MXR, Digitech, TC_Helicon and Voodoo Lab.

All three use Shure microphones, SM58 and Beta 58 A, and both Manel and Tiago play with Dunlop Tortex picks.

*Foto dos 4 na Ericeira*

[Migalhas, Ricardo, Tiago and Manel, in their rehearsal room in Ericeira, in late 2006]

In mid-2007 the band started auditioning to find a new frontman but without having felt connection with any lead vocals, they turned Davide Silva, another childhood friend, at the time frontman for Alluminia, a well-known local hard-rock and metal cover band. Alongside with Davide, they formed Project Drizza (a cover band) and later Daydream, and split in 2011, following Davide’s move to London, England, to pursue other professional endeavors.

*Foto dos 4 no Ocean Spirit*

[Manel, Migalhas, Davide and Tiago, playing in Santa Cruz, summer of 2008]

Dismayed with the loss of yet another frontman, the trio parted ways and did not play a single show from 2011 to 2013, having focused on other personal objectives, such as finishing college and travelling.

1.2. Early years (2004-2016) [edit]

Following the two-year hiatus, in November 2013 the trio got together for a couple of unpretentious jam sessions in Migalha’s place, in Ericeira, with the sheer purpose of spending time together. Having no obvious option for vocals, and with no intention of enduring another painful search process, they agreed Tiago would do the singing, in addition to his guitarist role. After only a couple of months of weekly rehearsals, the band had already created songs like Bring Me Back, Home, It’s Yours, These Lies, Telesphorus and Spring’s Concrete, and so in early 2014 decided to formally become a band, this time as a trio.

At the time they agreed upon the name “insch”, an old Scottish Gaelic term meaning “island, haven or sanctuary” where “you can be safe from your enemies” that caught the attention of bass player Manel, and immediately was adopted by the trio, who viewed the band as their newly found safe place.

The band’s first live show would occur in June 2014, in their birth town Torres Vedras, a 35 minutes gig with only seven songs, to an audience essentially consisting of the trio’s friends. The next months were filled with shows, mainly in the Lisbon area, starting to draw the industry’s attention and a small but consistent crowd of eager followers. In March 2015 they met Nuno Chanoca, in a weekend described by the band as “the single most important couple of days” in their career. Nuno, a seasoned industry professional with experience in labels as Polygram, BMG, Universal and Valentim de Carvalho had previously been involved in launching some of Portugal’s biggest bands and by then was out of the musical scene, for family reasons, but agreed to spend a weekend in Ericeira for a “music industry crash course”. By the end of it, Nuno had fell in love with the project and the trio saw in him the very much needed guidance to take the band to the next level, and so Nuno became NTBF’s Manager and a close friend of the trio. The following year, under Nuno’s wing, NTBF would play every major stage in Lisbon and Porto, as well as a live DVD recording and the music video for “Bring Me Back”, the band’s first single. Bring Me Back was also NTBF’s first song to hit the local radios, such as rock reference Super FM Radio, and to be featured in a national television ad.

*Foto dos 4 na Ericeira*

[Tiago, Nuno, Miguel and Manel, the weekend they met, March 2015]

By the end of 2015, NTBF took the spotlight by being considered “2015 band of the year” by BalconyTV Lisbon, a worldwide platform dedicated to showcase new artists, after performing “Home”. Around the same time, New In Town (NiT) listed the band as one of the “8 unknown artists you really should start listening”.

1.3. Safe Haven (2016-present) [edit]

Safe Haven was recorded in Ericeira all throughout October 2015 but its pre-production started months earlier. Around April that same year, Nuno introduced the band to António Côrte-Real, a well-rounded producer and guitarist for UHF, one of the most influential old school bands in the Portuguese rock history, who brought to the table his co-producer, Wilson Silva, an incredibly versatile musician mostly known for his work as drummer for More Than A Thousand. From April to October, they worked fiercely in a set of 9 songs the band had previously created and slowly but methodically stripped them down and built them up again, some of them into almost entirely new songs, Telesphorus being the best example. The band and the producer António weren't always in agreement as to where the songs should evolve, as António kept pushing them to commercial grounds and the trio to an alternative approach, and wearing discussions were frequent. At last, mid September, the songs were ready to be recorded but the band had one more challenge for the producers: to fully record the album in their rehearsal room in Ericeira, where they felt the songs would be captured more honestly and in their true vibe. António and Wilson agreed and October would be fully dedicated to the recording of 10 songs, as Komorebi had been finished in late September and all agreed this was the perfect song to open the album.

After a couple of months of mixing and a couple more of contract negotiation, the band signed with Farol Música (digital distribution) and Media Capital Entertainment (publishing), having opted for an author's edition for the physical distribution, after a brief connection to Premiere Music. The album was officially released May 6th and entered directly to Portugal's Top10 sales chart in its first week.

*Foto dos 7 na Ericeira*

[Tiago, Miguel, Wilson, Nuno, Manel and António in Ericeira, March 2015]

2. Artistry

2.1. Musical style and influences

Nowhere To Be Found have always claimed influences from various genres, with musical references diversifying within the trio. Their sound has been described as alternative rock, post-grunge and alternative metal.

Mainstream music critics Música em DX wrote "NTBF ("insch") are a kind of refreshing balm for the 90's grunge, the rebirth of a rock sound thought lost in Seattle's studios" as metal critics Metalimperium added "We don't have anything against alternative rock, specially when it presents itself with as much power as Safe Haven does."

NTBF's main musical backgrounds span from indie to alternative rock, ska-punk, pop, grunge and metal. Manel's has stated his main influences to be Nine Inch Nails, Tool and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Miguel's are Mad Caddies, Jamiroquai and Dave Mathews Band, and Tiago's are Nirvana, Deftones and Incubus, just to name a few.

2.2. Vocals and lyrics

NTBF's lyrics are mostly personal and biographical, having been described by the band as "inspired in specific events" in the trio's life and growth experiences, although not intended to be descriptive but merely emotionally suggestive.

2.3. Songwriting and recording process

2.4. Gear

Manel plays mostly with Fender and Ibanez basses, although one of his favorites is a Fernandes, a 90's japanese Fender replic. He uses Orange amp-heads with Ashdown cabs and a set of pedal effects from Boss, RAT, Electro Harmonix, TC Electronic, Ashdown and Artec.

Miguel plays on a Taye drum set, with Remo drum heads and Zildjian A-Custom cymbals, being a Remo and Zildjian formal endorser. He also uses Zildjian drums sticks, mostly 5A.

Tiago uses Fender and PRS guitars, Seymour Duncan pickups and Marshall amps. Being an effect's pedals enthusiast, Tiago uses a Pedaltrain pedalboard with a vary of effects from Boss, Morley, Electro Harmonix, Ibanez, Artec, Dunlop, MXR, Digitech, TC_Helicon and Voodoo Lab.

All three use Shure microphones, SM58 and Beta 58 A, and both Manel and Tiago play with Dunlop Tortex picks.