In 1993 while Gary and Jack were looking for band members, Kenwyn had met up with Dominic Greensmith in London and discussed forming a band. So, the foursome got together, got a house in West London and started to jam.
After recording a couple of tracks, the band spent much of 1994 touring and building up a fan base. They signed to S2, an off-shoot of Sony and supplied them with "Naked" which was used in a TV advert for the Sony Minidisc in which a record company executive hears the track on Minidisc, throws it out of the window disapprovingly, but a young man outside picks it up, listens to it and likes it (demonstrating the format's durability). It would have been very easy for Reef to cash in on this and release Naked, although they would probably have gone the way of Stiltskin and been a one-hit-wonder. Instead, they took their time and a few months later, released "Good Feeling", then "Naked" and then a non-album track "Weird". All of these singles were top 20.
In 1995 Reef released their now Gold debut album "Replenish".
"We wanted our first album, ‘Replenish’, to be a really honest statement. Four people playing in a room and getting something that’s totally their own. It was recorded in the most basic way possible. Minimal room sounds. Up until recently, all I used for effects was a wah-pedal and I only used that on two songs." Kenwyn House.
The follow up to "Replenish" was "Glow", which was more diverse, with the band using different instruments and creating a more interesting style. It spawned the hit singles "Place Your Hands", "Come Back Brighter", "Consideration" and "Yer Old" which increased Reef’s profile in the UK and abroad. On the week of its release, "Glow" went straight to number 1 in the UK album chart.
In 1999 Reef released their third album "Rides". They have even swapped instruments on some tracks with Gary and Dom playing guitar and Jack singing on one song.
"Set The Record Straight" is the highlight of Getaway (Sony, 2000), their fourth album and most commercial work yet.
In total they have had 8 UK top 20 singles.
Place Your Hands remains a party and compilation favourite many years later.
They also headlined at the Reading festival in 1999.
In 2004 Reef took a long break from their constant touring.
Gary appeared at Bristol Academy as a guest DJ on the 28th of February.
Kenwyn House formed a new band called McArthur, while Dominic Greensmith started touring with his new band, Kubb.
Gary and Jack play in rock band THEM IS ME
Gary Stringer, Jack Bessant, Kenywn House & Dominic Greensmith are back together for six live shows in April 2010.
Solid
Reef Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna take a step back
Gonna straighten it out
Because I'm solid with myself
We don't belong here
There's something wrong here
Pray all together for all that matters
Sound that make you come
You know it's in your corner
Sound that make you call
Can you see who I am
I know me better
Shut up come on
With the order that you bring
You know that you were only
Disappearing 'til
Reef's song "Solid" is a deeply introspective and empowering track that encourages listeners to focus on themselves and their own growth. The lyrics revolve around the idea of self-improvement and self-acceptance, with the singer vowing to "loosen it up" and "take a step back" in order to "straighten it out." The repetition of "I'm solid with myself" further emphasizes the importance of self-assurance and self-confidence in achieving personal goals.
The second half of the song takes a darker turn, with the singer suggesting that the world around them is not conducive to personal growth. They assert that "we don't belong here" and "there's something wrong here," calling for people to come together in prayer in order to make a positive change. The use of the word "solid" in this context is interesting, as it can be interpreted as both an affirmation of the singer's personal strength and a call for solidarity and unity among all those who feel marginalized or out of place.
The final lines of the song are somewhat ambiguous, with the singer telling someone (presumably an outsider or detractor) to "shut up come on" and insisting that they "know that you were only disappearing." It's unclear whether this is a direct response to a specific person or situation, or if it's simply a general plea for people to stop trying to bring the singer down.
Line by Line Meaning
Gonna loosen it up
I am going to relax and take things easy
Gonna take a step back
I will take a break from everything and reassess the situation
Gonna straighten it out
I am going to get everything organized and under control
Because I'm solid with myself
I am confident and comfortable with who I am
We don't belong here
This is not our rightful place or environment
There's something wrong here
There is an underlying issue or problem with the current situation
Pray all together for all that matters
Let us come together and pray for what truly matters
Sound that make you come
The music that excites and moves you
You know it's in your corner
You know that it is something you truly enjoy and support
Sound that make you call
The music that inspires you to take action and make a change
Can you see who I am
Can you truly see and understand who I am as a person
I know me better
I have a better understanding of myself than others do
Shut up come on
Stop talking and listen
With the order that you bring
Stop trying to control everything and imposing your rules
You know that you were only disappearing 'til
You were fading away until you found your true purpose and role
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kassner Associated Publishers Ltd
Written by: DOMINIC JOSEPH GREENSMITH, GARY PAUL STRINGER, JOHN DAVID BESSANT, KENWYN JOHN HOUSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind