Singer Adam Kittredge conceived of the name Jets Overhead while observing air traffic patterns in London, England. Jets Overhead was formed in 2003 by Kittredge, guitarist Piers Henwood, bassist Jocelyn Greenwood, and the band's first drummer, Brendan Pye. Soon after, vocalist Antonia Freybe-Smith joined, and Pye was replaced by Luke Renshaw, their current drummer. The band's first release was 2003's self-titled EP, Jets Overhead, which charted No. 42 on the CMJ music charts.
Bridges: Early adoption of voluntary purchase model
In 2006, Jets Overhead made their first full-length album, Bridges, available for free download on their website under a voluntary purchase model, over a year before British rock group Radiohead eventually popularized this model with In Rainbows. Jets Overhead were eventually recognized as one of the first bands who attempted to address the challenges presented by digital music distribution and online trading, with the band's website stating at the time that: "new systems for distributing music should be driven by the public rather than by existing paradigms which no longer apply to the digital world." Bridges was produced by Neil Osborne, lead singer of Canadian rock group 54-40, and mixed by Warne Livesey. Bridges explores themes about island living and the west coast of Canada. It eventually led to the band's first Juno nomination in 2007.
No Nations
Jets Overhead did not repeat its original voluntary purchase model for the 2009 release of No Nations; however, elements of the album were made available on the band's website under a Creative Commons license. No Nations was also produced by Neil Osborne, and was mixed by Grammy winner Malcolm Burn. The album was primarily recorded at a remote location on Hornby Island, and deals with themes of individuality and community. "Heading For Nowhere", the first single from No Nations, charted nationally at Canadian rock radio, and saw regular play on KCRW in Los Angeles. During the No Nations touring cycle, Jets Overhead made debut performances at prominent US festivals including Coachella and Bonnaroo. Prior to the release of No Nations, singers Adam Kittredge and Antonia Freybe-Smith were married. No Nations marked the band's first US release on Vapor Records.
Jets Overhead songs have been featured on the television shows House, Bones, Pretty Little Liars, Love Bites, Whistler, Falcon Beach, Jozi-H, Godiva's, The Best Years, and ReGenesis. They have also been featured in the film The Last Time, and a commercial for Brazilian subsidiary of mobile phone carrier Telecom Italia Mobile.
Collaborations and compilations
Antonia Freybe-Smith co-wrote and contributed vocals to the DJ Phynn track "Hello Love," which was released in 2010 on the Black Hole Recordingslabel, along with a remix by Mr. Pit. In 2006, Grammy nominated producer and DJ Morgan Page remixed Jets Overhead song "All The People." In 2007, Jets Overhead contributed a cover of the Buffalo Springfield song "Mr. Soul" to ', in support of the Bridge School. "Get It Right" was featured on the Canadian 2006 War Child benefit compilation ', along with Coldplay, Radiohead, City & Colour, and other artists.
Bassist Jocelyn Greenwood plays a 1978 Rickenbacker 4001 bass through an Ampeg SVT cab, an Electro-HarmonixHot Tubes pedal, and a Fender Blues Junior guitar amp. Her equipment provides the distinctive fuzzy bass sound on "Heading For Nowhere" and many of the band's recordings. On the album No Nations, Adam Kittredge and Luke Renshaw are both credited as playing an ARP Solina synthesizer, considered a very rare synth.
