The band is fronted by co-founder, DJ and producer Jamie Appleby (aka James Ash), and lead singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte. Drummer Cameron McGlinchey and guitarist Tim Henwood (of The Androids & Palace of the King) complete the live line-up of the band.
Co-founder Steve Davis and Ash's wife, Melinda Appleby, often contribute to the songwriting process but choose to stay out of the spotlight. Appleby also provided lead vocals on some pre-Bassingthwaighte materiel, including the 2002 single Give Into Me.
Ash and Davis first met in London in 1989. Before forming Rogue Traders in 2002, the duo worked together on various projects, most notably dance act Union State.
In 2003, they released their debut album as Rogue Traders, titled We Know What You're Up To. Singles Give In To Me and Stay? (the latter featuring Ash on vocals) were both minor top 100 chart tracks in Australia. However their re-working of INXS' Need You Tonight, One Of My Kind, managed to achieve considerable success, peaking at #10 in the ARIA charts and scoring them an ARIA award.
After the success of One Of My Kind, Ash and Davis decided to form a fully-fledged band and returned in 2005 with their sophomore album Here Come The Drums featuring vocalist Natalie Bassingthwaighte. Bassingthwaighte had previously risen to fame in Australia as an actress on the television show Neighbours, and her roles in critically acclaimed stage musicals such as Grease, Rent and Chicago. Davis began working solely as a songwriter for the band and hid away from the spotlight.
The band went on to have major success in Australia, becoming of the biggest pop groups in the country with a string of consecutive hit singles and tours. In 2007 they released their third album, Better In The Dark. After embarking on a sold-out tour in 2008 in support of the album, Bassingthwaighte and McGlinchey, who had met in the band and been dating for quite some time, announced they would be parting ways with the group. Bassingthwaighte went on to pursue a successful solo career and married McGlinchey in 2011.
In 2009, indie pop singer/songwriter Melinda Jackson (nicknamed Mindi, so not to be confused with Ash's wife Melinda Appleby) joined the group as their new frontwoman along with Peter Marin replacing McGlinchey on drums. They released one album, Night Of The Living Drums, but failed to meet the success of previous efforts despite receiving positive reviews and the band were subsequently dropped from the label and went on an indefinite hiatus.
In 2015, it was announced that Bassingthwaighte and McGlinchey would be returning to the band for the 10th anniversary of Here Come The Drums. The band have since been performing live at various events around Australia.
In March 2017, Bassingthwaighte revealed they were writing new music, and in early April the band hit the studio for their first recording sessions. They have since performed 3 new songs live: "To The Disco", "Love Drunk" and "We Can Move Closer".
Their first new single in 12 years, "To The Disco", was released in Feburary 2023 which interpolates "On Your Way To The Disco" from their album "Better In The Dark" with the Skatt Bros 1979 cult classic "Walk The Night". "On Your Way To The Disco" was meant to be the 4th and final single from "Better In The Dark" back in 2008, but was scrapped when Bassingthwaighte left the band.
The band have confirmed "We Can Move Closer" will be released in 2024.
Believer
Rogue Traders Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One more time what you waiting for
I just got paid I won't be lonely
So take my hand what you waiting for
I'm a believer, believer, believer, believer, believer
[Verse]
[Bridge]
You're so beautiful I can hardly breathe
Just so beautiful
You make me believe?
[Chorus]
I'm a believer, believer, believer
I'm a believer, believer, believer
I'm a believer, believer, believer
I'm a believer, believer, believer
[Verse]
[Bridge]
[Chorus]
The Rogue Traders' song "Believer" exudes a palpable sense of urgency and a bold eagerness to be loved. The chorus is heavily laden with repetitions of the phrase "I'm a believer," which suggests a desire for someone to accept the singer as they are without reservation or hesitation. The lyrics, "Just come on and say you love me, one more time what you waiting for," further speak to this sense of desperation for acceptance and companionship. The singer, feeling newly empowered after getting paid, reaches out to their potential partner, urging them to take their hand and join them in believing in their love.
The chorus's repetition serves to re-emphasize the central theme of the song, which is the singer's unshakable belief in love. Despite the fear of rejection, the singer insists that they have faith in the power of love to conquer all hurdles. The bridge, with the lyrics, "You're so beautiful I can hardly breathe, just so beautiful, you make me believe," acknowledges that the love is not just about romantic attraction but also a deep admiration and appreciation of the beloved, which is what makes the relationship meaningful.
Overall, the song is a testament to the power of love, of its ability to make us feel more alive, and of its transformative abilities. It also highlights the importance of being upfront about our feelings and not being afraid to take the bold steps required to find and keep love.
Line by Line Meaning
Just come on and say you love me
I want you to confess your love for me openly and expressively.
One more time what you waiting for
I'm urging you to reaffirm your affection for me, and I'm unsure why you're hesitant to do so.
I just got paid I won't be lonely
Now that I have income, I won't feel alone anymore because I can afford to spend money on various activities to pass the time.
So take my hand what you waiting for
I want you to take my hand and show me that you're ready to commit to me.
I'm a believer, believer, believer, believer, believer
I have utmost faith and trust in this relationship, to the point where I continuously affirm my beliefs about it.
[Verse]
This line simply indicates the start of the verse. No change in meaning is necessary.
[Bridge]
This line simply indicates the start of the bridge. No change in meaning is necessary.
[Chorus]
This line simply indicates the start of the chorus. No change in meaning is necessary.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSH HONIGSTOCK, MYRON DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind