WMBB BIO

White Moth Black Butterfly (WMBB) is the 'experimental' creation of UK singer / songwriter Daniel Tompkins (TesseracT / Skyharbor) and Keshav Dhar (Skyharbor). With influences stemming from the likes of Massive Attack, Enigma, and Sigur Ros this cross continent studio based project emanates huge cinematic soundscapes, juxtaposed with classical, acoustic and electronically infused songs, nested with powerful vocal performances.

WMBB’s debut album ‘One Thousand Wings’ released in November 2013 (recorded, mixed and produced by both Tompkins and Dhar) has seen critical acclaim being hailed as “An absolutely essential work’ by Classic Rock Presents Prog Magazine and “Wildly experimental and curiously accessible” by Metal Hammer. In 2014 WMBB released a new video / single 'Rising Sun' which saw them nominated for a PROG award in the 'Limelight' category. Now the project is working towards their second album.

PRESS:

"An exceptional album from Dan Tompkins. An absolutely essential work. Experimental, accessible and quite brilliant. This ranks high amongst this year's progressive releases." - Classic Rock Presents Prog Magazine. 

"Wildly experimental and curiously accessible" 8/10 - Metal Hammer 

"The incredible sincere delicacy of Tompkins's vocals is a perfect compliment for the programmed beats, plaintive strings and pulsing electronics throughout this album." - Windswept Edge 

"Above all, the impression that “One Thousand Wings” gives is one of talented musicianship and a desire for sonic exploration, resulting in quite a hypnotic and memorable experience." - This is Not A Scene 

"Sublime and emotive; ‘One Thousand Wings’ is fantastic." - A Metal State of Mind

Unlike the technical one-upmanship and solid low-end groove that shroud Tompkins' metal outings, White Moth Black Butterfly strips down the man's songwriting to its most visceral form yet. The leftfield ambient project also features some of the most eminent musicians to have grazed his vocal prowess, and for all their grandiose instrumentation and spectral soundscaping on record, their aural synapse in the live domain is definitely something to look forward to - Vh1

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Midnight Rivers - WHITE MOTH BLACK BUTTERFLY

Tired Eyes - WHITE MOTH BLACK BUTTERFLY

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Certainty - WHITE MOTH BLACK BUTTERFLY

First single taken from the second full length release 'Guiding Lights' 

Guiding Lights

Evolution

Evolution - SKYHARBOR

WMBB BIO

White Moth Black Butterfly (WMBB) is the 'experimental' creation of UK singer / songwriter Daniel Tompkins (TesseracT / Skyharbor) and Keshav Dhar (Skyharbor). With influences stemming from the likes of Massive Attack, Enigma, and Sigur Ros this cross continent studio based project emanates huge cinematic soundscapes, juxtaposed with classical, acoustic and electronically infused songs, nested with powerful vocal performances.

WMBB’s debut album ‘One Thousand Wings’ released in November 2013 (recorded, mixed and produced by both Tompkins and Dhar) has seen critical acclaim being hailed as “An absolutely essential work’ by Classic Rock Presents Prog Magazine and “Wildly experimental and curiously accessible” by Metal Hammer. In 2014 WMBB released a new video / single 'Rising Sun' and saw them nominated for a PROG award in the 'Limelight' category. Now the project is working towards their second album.

PRESS:

"An exceptional album from Dan Tompkins. An absolutely essential work. Experimental, accessible and quite brilliant. This ranks high amongst this year's progressive releases." - Classic Rock Presents Prog Magazine.

"Wildly experimental and curiously accessible" 8/10 - Metal Hammer

"The incredible sincere delicacy of Tompkins's vocals is a perfect compliment for the programmed beats, plaintive strings and pulsing electronics throughout this album." - Windswept Edge

"Above all, the impression that “One Thousand Wings” gives is one of talented musicianship and a desire for sonic exploration, resulting in quite a hypnotic and memorable experience." - This is Not A Scene

"Sublime and emotive; ‘One Thousand Wings’ is fantastic." - A Metal State of Mind

Unlike the technical one-upmanship and solid low-end groove that shroud Tompkins' metal outings, White Moth Black Butterfly strips down the man's songwriting to its most visceral form yet. The leftfield ambient project also features some of the most eminent musicians to have grazed his vocal prowess, and for all their grandiose instrumentation and spectral soundscaping on record, their aural synapse in the live domain is definitely something to look forward to - Vh1

Rising Sun - WHITE MOTH BLACK BUTTERFLY

Second single taken from second album 'Guiding Lights' released via Basick Records on 7th November 2014

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Patience - SKYHARBOR

THE MESS WE'RE IN

Please support ZETA by downloading our music here - https://zetamusicuk.bandcamp.com

Introducing ZETA: the collective mind of Paul Ortiz (Chimp Spanner), Daniel Tompkins (TesseracT) and Katie Jackson. What is set to be a multi-sensory experience, The UK artists seek to push their own creative boundaries by exploring epic soundscapes that intertwine with stunning visuals. 

This unique project fuses the retro synth heavy decade of the 80s with futuristic and breathtaking imagery, bringing past and future together in a Cyberpunk-esque package. With a huge span of influences ranging from metal, future garage, retrowave, prog, classical and various game and film soundtracks, their music embraces the sounds of electronica, but with textures and layers inspired by the whole musical spectrum.

Zeta

Silent Waves

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Talking in my sleep, cursing through my teeth, sweating in the heat 
Stuck inside this dream of darkening frustration
Liars in my dream, I’m frightened and I’m weak, there’s nothing left for me
And the visions I endure are simply entertainment
Dark figures chasing me, I hear the wolf that cries, see them multiply
You’re ablaze behind the eyes; they burn into a memory
A sudden sense of hope, the virtue of my ghost, you’re another ugly host
And I can’t believe that you would just deny everything
I choose to live free
It took a second warning then I said goodbye
With tainted eyes I need to believe 
It took a little longer to sympathise
And you were hoping I would give in to you
I won't dance because you want me to
No romance; deep down I only want to be the same
Now there’s nowhere left to hide 
Game of chance; I roll the dice for you
Hopeless glance; deep down I only want to be the same
Now there’s nowhere left to hide 
The greatest thing you’ll ever learn 
Is just to love and be loved in return
I’m living such a life; therein lies your problem 
Imperfect, circular, entropy the fatal conclusion 
With a little sympathy it’ll burn inside, let the fires decide
Imperfect and circular
I won’t comfort you; no it won’t be the same
There’s nowhere left to hide 
And I won’t comfort you; no it won’t be the same
There’s nowhere left to hide 
And I won’t comfort you; no it won’t be the same
There’s nowhere left to hide 
And I won’t comfort you; no it won’t be the same
There’s nowhere left to hide

Polaris

Dystopia

Is there something I should know
Of the colours that you show?
I remember those words
In the back of my mind
There is an old phantom
It isn’t a secret this mind’s shrouded in history 
It isn’t a secret this mind spirals in disarray 
It isn’t a secret this mind shudders in mystery 
It isn’t a secret I find terror in memory
Come close. Don’t be afraid. 
It’s stranger than you think
Desperately opiate, weary
Feverish host to us, teary eyed
History hexes us
History hexes us
Don’t look. Don’t think 
Don’t feel. Don’t move. Don’t breathe
Don’t make a sound. It lives. It breathes
In my conscious mind
(Rosebud don’t change)
It isn’t a secret this mind’s shrouded in history 
It isn’t a secret this mind spirals in disarray 
It isn’t a secret this mind shudders in mystery 
It isn’t a secret I find terror in memory
I live and breathe again
These gory locks, don’t you dare forget them 
Don’t you dare.
Don’t you dare.
History hexes us
I breathe again
History hexes us
I live again

Hexes Ft. Martin Grech

Will I disappear with a vision of tomorrow?
Will I disappear?
Will I disappear with a vision of tomorrow?
Will I disappear until I can’t feel the light?
Will I disappear with a memory of your sorrow?
Will I disappear until I can’t feel the light?
Ten years of hope have past
You felt alone and pictured life a little differently
And people say that life has just begun
You waited patiently, a lotus in the sun
You radiate for me in luminescent light 
And People say that life has just begun
When you’re not a part of me I feel dead inside
Disturbed; will I disappear with a vision of tomorrow
Until I can’t feel the light?
Disturbed; when I get the feeling I've been here before 
I’m the abandoner
Ten years of sorrow passed
No pleasure in the sun 
You couldn’t cope in all honesty
The secrets of the past will come undone
Seasons of change elapse
Honour no mistrust 
Faithfully until the day you die
And People say the journey’s just begun 
When you’re not a part of me I feel dead inside
Disturbed; will I disappear with a vision of tomorrow
Or will I fall?
Disturbed, when I get the feeling I've been here before
Disturbed, will I disappear with a vision of tomorrow
Or will I fall?
Disturbed, when I get the feeling I've been here before
I’m the abandoner

Survival

I’ll wait for you; run wild and aspire 
Thrive, burn young fire
When you say “fight back” our love won’t tire 
Unweathered and untethered light
I promise you and I will see it through
You lay dreaming
No time to sleep as I begin to weep
Life is fleeting
I tighten fast inside your tourniquet
Stop the bleeding
Your tenderness, your softened skin
All I needed
Your love is my tourniquet
Learn to rise, contain the pressure
This was supposed to be no miracle
Bow down because I’m under pressure once again 
I promise you, I promise you
Take my strength
I honour you with everything
Take my strength
I promise you and I will see it through
You lay dreaming?
The endless light you shine on me
All I needed

Tourniquet

Broken mirror on the wall, you give no reflection of me at all 
Your wicked ways I won’t understand, intoxicating weaker men
Rusting scissors in the draw pull me closer to a life no more 
Why am I so confused, unimpressed and unamused?
No, something’s not right. Open your arms to the sky. Focus the light 
It’s a combination of numbers, oh and a set of missing keys
I’ve been painting pictures but the colours disagree
And bad things come in threes
The wind is blowing, I am falling through a hurricane 
As buildings tear up from the ground 
No way of knowing where I’m going, circulating through the wildest night
Give into these sudden urges for more
Something’s not right. Open your arms to the sky. Focus the light 
I’ve been, I’ve been painting pictures
I can’t, I just can’t taste the freedom 
Stuck in a room full of voices, oh with nobody to be seen
I can sense the danger as the colours now agree
And the picture is obscene
The wind is blowing
I am falling through a hurricane as buildings tear up from the ground 
I can’t, I just can’t taste the freedom 
I’ve been, I’ve been painting pictures
Tempted and enticed, I neglected Eden
You know that I can’t, I just can’t (can’t) taste the freedom 
Give me forgiveness, total regression, remedy 
Double the vision, triple the tension, trickery 
Total division, given destruction, synergy
Double the vision now 
Give me devotion, total remission, remedy 
Double the vision, triple the tension, trickery 
Total division, given destruction, synergy
Give me devotion now 
Give me forgiveness, total regression, remedy 
Double the vision, triple the tension, trickery 
Total division, given destruction, synergy
Double the vision, how?

Utopia

You exist and you’re a friend of mine
Will we ever live in harmony?
You’re alive; it’s not the end of the line 
Will we ever learn? 
Cynical; the generations were abandoned here
No life is ever fair
When the mechanical fires are raging
The revolution’s here
I can breathe again. I choose to never let go or lose control 
See through the sights of a rifle
Live through the eyes of a child
Walk through the mind of a minor to extol
I must change because I’ve been chasing shadows 
Change. Immersed in the night, desperate and taken 
Change. Run with the pride of a lion
You exist and you’re a friend of mine
Will we ever live in harmony?
You’re alive; it’s not the end of the line 
I’m a failure; I’m the wreckage in the storm
I’m enlightened; unafraid I am reborn
Cynical; the generations were abandoned here
No life is ever fair
When the mechanical fires are raging
The revolution’s here

Phoenix

Your smile’s giving me all that you know 
I’m your design
Voices explode in the dark 
Don’t shoot the messenger; it’s not our fault 
Your words, weighing me down, smother me 
I’m your design
Do you know I’d take the empty road? But it’s too dangerous to explore 
Is your world much safer than before because I don’t feel whole? 
Destroy entire, destroy entire worlds
Enter into the sound, I’ll behave for you 
Casting fear into doubt, I was made for you
Apathetic interaction; another distraction 
A lack of compassion for the weak that you don’t see 
Hopelessly I. 
Can you see the flood? 
Can you feel the urgency?
Can you see the sunset behind the willow tree?
Apathetic interaction; another distraction 
A lack of compassion for the weak that you don’t see

Messenger

No little secrets left to compare
No feelings left for me to dare
No worries left for me to despair, only emptiness
Enticed by the familiar candlelight I see swaying up ahead 
You ask, “Was it all for nothing, do you trust in me…are you special?” 
You're the menace of the night, inquisitive to my request 
And I ask, “Do you have discretion, assiduity, freedom?” 
I knew that it was wrong to believe I was letting go
I can’t deal with the vice below
And I knew that it was wrong; I denied you all along 
You dissipate while I became an isolated fool 
I am the prisoner     
You disappear while I’m left here stuck in isolation
This is abandoned love
You dissipate. I’m full of hate without a hope and vision 
To disappear into a cage of solitude: this is abandoned love 
You dissipate without a hope and vision
You are the prisoner 
You disappear into isolation 
Build your cages.
Cage of solitude. 
Build you cages.
Cage of solitude.

Cages

Here I can breathe again 
I left it all behind to watch the days go by
Now I can breathe again 
I choose to never let go
So take your time, concentrate
Know the clock is ticking - don’t be late
Stand your ground, do your worst
Fragile frame, minor world
Take your time, prove your worth 
Don’t look behind, you’ll make it worse 
Why won’t you forgive me?
I was so alone, soaking to the bone
How could you forgive me?
Was I pitiful, unforgivable?
Unholiest, irreverent, immoral son. 
Ungodly one

Seven Names

Errai

Survival (ERRAI)

Cages (ERRAI)

Tourniquet (ERRAI)

Seven Names (ERRAI)

Buy the album here - https://zetamusicuk.bandcamp.com

Introducing ZETA: the collective mind of Paul Ortiz (Chimp Spanner), Daniel Tompkins (TesseracT) and Katie Jackson. What is set to be a multi-sensory experience, The UK artists seek to push their own creative boundaries by exploring epic soundscapes that intertwine with stunning visuals. 

This unique project fuses the retro synth heavy decade of the 80s with futuristic and breathtaking imagery, bringing past and future together in a Cyberpunk-esque package. With a huge span of influences ranging from metal, future garage, retrowave, prog, classical and various game and film soundtracks, their music embraces the sounds of electronica, but with textures and layers inspired by the whole musical spectrum.

Buy the album here - https://zetamusicuk.bandcamp.com

ZETA

Fountain of Youth

Right Time

Introducing ZETA: the collective mind of Paul Ortiz (Chimp Spanner), Daniel Tompkins (TesseracT) and Katie Jackson. What is set to be a multi-sensory experience, The UK artists seek to push their own creative boundaries by exploring epic soundscapes that intertwine with stunning visuals. 

This unique project fuses the retro synth heavy decade of the 80s with futuristic and breathtaking imagery, bringing past and future together in a Cyberpunk-esque package. With a huge span of influences ranging from metal, future garage, retrowave, prog, classical and various game and film soundtracks, their music embraces the sounds of electronica, but with textures and layers inspired by the whole musical spectrum.

The Distance

Buy the album here - https://zetamusicuk.bandcamp.com

Introducing ZETA: the collective mind of Paul Ortiz (Chimp Spanner), Daniel 
Tompkins (TesseracT) and Katie Jackson. What is set to be a multi-sensory experience, The UK artists seek to push their own creative boundaries by exploring epic soundscapes that intertwine with stunning visuals. 

This unique project fuses the retro synth heavy decade of the 80s with futuristic and breathtaking imagery, bringing past and future together in a Cyberpunk-esque package. With a huge span of influences ranging from metal, future garage, retrowave, prog, classical and various game and film soundtracks, their music embraces the sounds of electronica, but with textures and layers inspired by the whole musical spectrum.

Buy the album here - https://zetamusicuk.bandcamp.com

Lock and Key

Buy the album here - https://zetamusicuk.bandcamp.com

Introducing ZETA: the collective mind of Paul Ortiz (Chimp Spanner), Daniel Tompkins (TesseracT) and Katie Jackson. What is set to be a multi-sensory experience, The UK artists seek to push their own creative boundaries by exploring epic soundscapes that intertwine with stunning visuals. 

This unique project fuses the retro synth heavy decade of the 80s with futuristic and breathtaking imagery, bringing past and future together in a Cyberpunk-esque package. With a huge span of influences ranging from metal, future garage, retrowave, prog, classical and various game and film soundtracks, their music embraces the sounds of electronica, but with textures and layers inspired by the whole musical spectrum.
credits

Buy the album here - https://zetamusicuk.bandcamp.com

Fires in the Snow

Gates of Hell

Elysian Fields

AWARDS and HONOURS:

Prog Award - Male Vocalist Of The Year 2015 - Nomination
Rolling Stone - Best Album 2015 (Critics Choice) Skyharbor
Rolling Stone - Best Song 2015 ‘Evolution’ (Critics Choice) Skyharbor
Prog Award (2014) – Artist of the year Nomination – TesseracT
Prog Award (2014) – Breakthrough Nomination – Skyharbor
Prog Award (2014) – Limelight Nomination – White Moth Black Butterfly
Metal Hammer (2014) – Golden God Nomination ‘Global Metal Band’ Skyharbor 
Jack Daniel’s (2013) - Band of the year – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2013) - Band Of The Year (Critics Choice) – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2013) - Best Album (Critics Choice) – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2013) - Best Song ‘Dots’ (Critics Choice) – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2013) - Band Of The Year (Popular Vote) – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2013) - Best Album (Popular Vote) – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2013) - Best Song ‘Dots’ (Popular Vote) – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2012) - Best Song ‘Maeva’ – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2012) - Best Emerging Artist – Skyharbor
Prog Award (2012) - New Blood Award – TesseracT (One)
Kerrang! (2011) –  5K Live Review @Sonisphere Festival – TesseracT
Metal Hammer (2011) - Golden God Nomination – Best New Band – TesseracT

BIOGRAPHY:

Daniel Tompkins is an award winning and innovative British singer / songwriter from Nottinghamshire in The East Midlands. More widely recognised as the singer for TesseracT with his unique live performances and unmistakable dramatic soundscapes on the highly acclaimed albums ‘One’ and 'Polaris'. Since 2009 Daniel has established himself as a highly respected vocalist with a dedicated worldwide fan base. Arguably one of the busiest collaborative vocalists, Daniel’s voice has been celebrated as one of the best in modern progressive rock and metal.
 
Daniel has released a diverse catalogue of records to date and in doing so demonstrated a natural ability to marry his distinct voice to various genres and yet remain in mesmerising control of his audience. However, much more than a recording artist, he is an accomplished performer who has earned a host of awards and honours having toured the world, sharing the stage with artists such as Iron Maiden, Gojira, Lamb of God, Devin Townsend, Meshuggah, Senses Fail, Animals As Leaders, No Use For A Name, Periphery and Protest The Hero
 
Looking to the future Daniel now balances his time between TesseracT and White Moth Black Butterfly and his various collaborations continuing to create a strong impression within the music industry. 
 
PEER AND PRESS QUOTES:

“Dan has a hell of a voice!!!” – DEVIN TOWNSEND 
 
“Check out the awesome vocals of Dan Tompkins, the man can sing YEAH!!’ – JON GOMM
 
“The dramatic soundscapes Dan Tompkins creates really are on another level, standing above the current crop of vocalists out there. Tesseract are destined for great things with a frontman leading the charge like this…one of the best vocals in modern metal” – SCUZZ TV (UK)
 
“An exceptional album from (White Moth Black Butterfly) Dan Tompkins. An absolutely essential work. Experimental, accessible and quite brilliant. This ranks high amongst this year’s progressive releases.” – Classic Rock Presents Prog Magazine
 
“There are so many musicians out there who jump from genre to genre and experiment with different kinds of sound but not all of them are able to pull it off. Out there, a bunch of them have the ability to make things so awkward, you’d just want to question what they were thinking. But then again, there are the special ones, the ones who shine in the dark and shine even brighter against the sun. The One’s who fully understand and are able to control their capabilities and of course the ones who actually know how to take things to the next level. They have this gift in whatever they do, it just works. One man who’s got this gift is UK-based vocalist, Daniel Tompkins – PULP MAGAZINE (MANILA)

Daniel Tompkins

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