Controller.controller

{{Short description|Canadian indie rock band}} {{Lowercase title}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = controller.controller | image = ControllerController_2.jpg | image_size = 200 | caption = | alias = | origin = Toronto, Ontario, Canada | genre = Indie rock, dance-punk | years_active = 2002-2006 | label = New Romantic | associated_acts = | website = | current_members = Nirmala Basnayake<br />Colwyn Llewellyn-Thomas<br />Scott Kaija<br />Ronnie Morris<br />Jeff Scheven }} '''controller.controller''' are a Canadian indie rock band from Toronto, Ontario. The band consisted of vocalist Nirmala Basnayake, guitarists Colwyn Llewellyn-Thomas and Scott Kaija, bassist Ronnie Morris and drummer Jeff Scheven. The band took its name from a song by Shotmaker.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carlson |first1=Jen |title=Controller.Controller Interview and Review |url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/controllercontroller-in |website=gothamist.com |date=13 October 2004 |publisher=The Gothamist |access-date=2021-07-30}}</ref>

==History== The band formed in 2002, and played their first shows using the name The Prefix. Their rhythmic post-punk style had been compared by critics to Joy Division, The Slits and Public Image Ltd.

Their debut album, ''History'', was released on Paper Bag Records in 2004.<ref name=postcity>[http://www.postcity.com/Eat-Shop-Do/Do/February-2015/ControllerController-reunites-for-Wavelengths-Music-Festival-talk-future-and-the-time-Bahamas-opened-for-them/ "Controller.Controller reunites for Wavelength, talk future and that time Bahamas opened for them"]. ''Post City'', February 11, 2015.</ref><ref name="Inc.2004">{{cite book|title=Reviews|work=CMJ New Music Report|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cTNQMU8LegEC&pg=PA5|date=14 June 2004|publisher=CMJ Network, Inc.|pages=5–|issn=0890-0795}}</ref> The follow-up album, ''X-Amounts'', was released October 11, 2005.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150403004824/http://www.chartattack.com/news/2006/10/06/nirmala-basnayake-leaves-controller-controller/ "Nirmala Basnayake Leaves Controller.Controller"]}}. ''ChartAttack'', October 6, 2006.</ref><ref name="Inc.2005">{{cite book|author=Rebecca RAber|title=Abridged Too Far: Reviews in brief|work=CMJ New Music Monthly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tCoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA50|year=2005|publisher=CMJ Network, Inc.|pages=50–|issn=1074-6978}}</ref> Also in 2005, Basnayake participated in Ladeez Quire, an improvisational music show that also featured Sook-Yin Lee and Elisha Lim.<ref>[https://nowtoronto.com/music/clubs/quire-practice/ "Quire Practice"]. ''NOW'', December 15, 2005.</ref>

After the release of ''X-Amounts'', the band went on a tour around North America and the UK to support the album.<ref name=now>[https://nowtoronto.com/music/ronnie-morris-recovery/ "Ronnie Morris Recovery"]. by Kevin Ritchie May 21, 2015</ref><ref>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/controller-controller-have-reunited-and-it-feels-so-good/ "controller.controller Have Reunited And It Feels So Good"]. ''Noisey'', Cam Lindsay Jan 8 2015</ref>

In October 2006, Basnayake decided to leave the band,<ref>[http://music.cbc.ca/#!/blogs/2006/10/Interview-Nirmala-Basnayake-Talks-About-Leaving-controllercontroller "Nirmala Basnayake Talks About Leaving controller.controller"]. CBC Radio 3, October 3, 2006.</ref> and this resulted in its disbanding.<ref name=now /> Members Jeff Scheven and Ronnie Morris formed the new band Lioness with vocalist Vanessa Fischer in 2007,<ref name=noisey>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/controller-controller-have-reunited-and-it-feels-so-good/ "controller.controller Have Reunited And It Feels So Good"]. ''Noisey'', January 8, 2015.</ref> while Scott Kaija formed the new band Medallions with vocalist/guitarist John Hunter, drummer Mick Jackson and Daniel Brooks.<ref name=noisey/> Basnayake remained an occasional contributor to one-off musical projects, most notably Toronto band Stop Die Resuscitate's 2009 single "Measurements".<ref>[http://music.cbc.ca/#!/blogs/2009/5/L-Communication-Whats-Up-With-Nirmala "L Communication: What's Up With Nirmala?"]. CBC Radio 3, May 20, 2009.</ref>

The band reunited in February 2015 for a reunion show at Sneaky Dee's, as part of the 15th anniversary of Toronto's influential Wavelength concert series.<ref>[http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/controllercontroller-sneaky_dees_toronto_on_february_13 "controller.controller — Sneaky Dees, Toronto ON, February 13]. ''Exclaim!'', February 14, 2015.</ref> Shortly thereafter Morris suffered a disabling stroke.<ref name=now /><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150923015007/http://www.chartattack.com/news/2015/09/16/toronto-musicians-band-together-to-support-controller-controller-bassist-ronnie-morriss-stroke-recovery/ "Toronto musicians band together to support Controller.Controller bassist Ronnie Morris’s stroke recovery"]}}. ''Chart Attack'', Richard Trapunski - Sep 16, 2015</ref>

The band reunited again in February 2024 for a show at Drake Hotel, curated by Brendan Canning. Morris has rejoined the band after recovering from strokes.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Exclaim|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/controller-controller-reunite-for-first-show-in-nine-years|title=controller.controller Reunite for First Show in Nine Years|date=February 9, 2024|last=Hudson|first=Alex}}</ref>

==Discography== *''History'' (2004) *''X-Amounts'' (2005)

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== *[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p646881|pure_url=yes}} AllMusicGuide Entry]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Controller Controller}} Category:Musical groups established in 2002 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2006 Category:Canadian indie rock groups Category:Musical groups from Toronto Category:Paper Bag Records artists Category:2002 establishments in Ontario Category:2006 disestablishments in Ontario