Acacia (band)

Acacia
Origin	London, England
Genres	Pop Synthpop
Years active	1994–1997
Labels	Radar Records (1995-1996) Warner Music UK (1996-1997)
Associated acts	Imogen Heap, Frou Frou, Hexdragon, The Blackmoth
Past members	Alexander Nilere Guy Sigsworth Talvin Singh Ansuman Biswas Maurizio Anzalone Luca Ramelli Eshan Khadaroo Imogen Heap
Notable instruments
voice, keyboards, sampler, electric guitar, tabla, percussion, drums, santoor

Acacia was a multi-cultural British experimental pop band active during the mid-1990s. The band is most notable for helping to launch the subsequent musical careers of several of its members, most notably keyboard player/producer Guy Sigsworth, singer Alexander "Blackmoth" Nilere and associate vocalist Imogen Heap (later a solo artist, half of Frou Frou and a collaborator with Urban Species and Jeff Beck). Though never commercially successful, Acacia attracted a good deal of underground attention during their existence and were notable for their eclectic musical approach and for Nilere's unorthodox, polysexual image.

Other musicians who played with Acacia were drummer Eshan Khadaroo (Cirque Du Soleil, Blue Man Group, Psapp, Bow Wow Wow), guitarists Luca Ramelli and Maurizio Anzalone, and percussionist/world instrument player Ansuman Biswas (better known as a performance poet). Talvin Singh was also a member during the early days of the group.

The band should not be confused with the Detroit-based techno artist Acacia a.k.a. Kelli Hand.

Acacia's music combined elements of synthpop, electronica, sampling, nu-soul, thrash metal, indie rock, R'n'B and club music. Core Acacia members Sigsworth and Nilere had originally bonded over a mutual interest in John Cage and , but retained their parallel (and more commercial) interest in "pop melodies with very strange arrangements." Nilere had first learned to play the guitar to Chinese and Balinese scales (before being introduced to R'n'B forms) and the band's songs were strongly influenced by this factor.

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