Alchemista

Alchemista are a Coventry-based five-piece band playing their own songs with a smooth and sophisticated blend of folk, jazz and rock. Caroline Luxton-White (Vocals), Bob Fisher (Guitar), Paul Jayes (Piano and Guitar), Mark Nisbet (Bass) and Colin Halliwell (Drums) were magically brought together through their passion for well-crafted songs with big choruses, hooky grooves and poetic lyrics.  Alchemista was originally formed with a family nucleus of partners Caroline and Colin with b...

Alchemista are a Coventry-based five-piece band playing their own songs with a smooth and sophisticated blend of folk, jazz and rock. Caroline Luxton-White (Vocals), Bob Fisher (Guitar), Paul Jayes (Piano and Guitar), Mark Nisbet (Bass) and Colin Halliwell (Drums) were magically brought together through their passion for well-crafted songs with big choruses, hooky grooves and poetic lyrics.  Alchemista was originally formed with a family nucleus of partners Caroline and Colin with brother Ray Halliwell on guitar.  When Ray died suddenly in 2015, the shock of his death brought a temporary halt in activity while Caroline and Colin tried to find a way forward.  However, to their delight, a one-off Bandmix advert for a guitarist was answered by a full range of musicians including keyboards and bass, and Alchemista was relaunched in October 2015.  Who do we sound like?  Some have said we sound a little like Fleetwood Mac.  Maybe we do, but like Fleetwood Mac we’ve all brought our own songs and strengths to the band, along with a quintessential ingredient. Alchemista was named in memory of its late guitarist, Ray Halliwell who used the name ‘Ray Alchemista’ for his Facebook page. So Ray will always be there, and if he were still here he would be very pleased about how things are shaping up.