Lyonheart
Lyonheart (formerly known as Senadee) is the pseudonym of singer, music producer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Sena Verdi.
Lyonheart | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sena Verdi |
| Also known as | Sena Verdi Senadee |
| Born | 13 December 1981 Tehran, Iran |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Indie Alternative Pop |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels | Black Hole, Perfecto, Armada, Sony BMG, Warner Music, CR2, Recoverworld, Prosumer Records |
| Associated acts | Paul Oakenfold, BT, Chicane, Aqualung, Akira Kiteshi, MYNC, 16 Bit Lolitas, Moones, |
| Website | facebook |
Background
Verdi was born in Tehran, Iran two years after the Iranian Revolution on 13 December 1981. His family left the country sometime around the mid-1980s to pursue a life in the United Kingdom. After spending around 8 months in Paris, the family moved to the South-East London suburb of Thamesmead. It was on the Maran Way estate that Sena spent most of his childhood years.
In 1994, Verdi's family relocated from Thamesmead to the suburbs of Chorleywood, Hertfordshire. He attended St. Clement Danes School and it was here that his interest in music began. Verdi drew inspiration from bands such as The Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis, The Stone Roses, Radiohead and U2. Unable to pay for music tuition fees, Verdi became a self-taught musician. By age 15, he had acquired the skills to play guitar by ear, and within a couple or years he had become proficient at playing the piano.
Verdi enrolled in a music college, where he would eventually become a guitarist and principal songwriter for Watford-based rock/pop outfit Paraya (later reforming as The Toys). After writing and producing the debut-album, Verdi landed the group a management deal. He left the band in May 2004 to pursue a career as a producer/songwriter.
Over the next couple of years, Verdi worked with various artists within the fields of hip hop and R&B, including MOBO Award-winning rapper Akala, as a producer, writer and instrumentalist.
Alongside his production duties in hip-hop and R&B, Verdi was involved in a sideline bedroom project that was to form the basis for his career as Senadee.
The beginning
Verdi's writing continued and was not confined to any style or genre. Having had no formal training or real encouragement to pursue his interest in music, he found himself in many styles from Pop, R&B, Rock and hip hop, with the latter two being his most apparent influences. The name Senadee came from his days as MC Sena-D (the last letter implying his surname at the time, which was later changed to Verdi).
One of Verdi's songs, "My Fault", caught the attention of producer Ben Gold. Gold used a sample of the song to produce what became a big underground dance tune, "Say the Words". The track was signed to Flux Delux, a sub-label of Recoverworld Records. The song was showcased by Armin van Buuren and received rotation on Radio One by dance DJ's Judge Jules and Dave Pearce.
Although not technically a singer, and with no formal training as one, Verdi nevertheless sang on all his early demos merely due to the absence of anyone else to sing them for him.
Verdi has worked with various people around the world on songs in the world of dance music, most notably artist and producer BT, producer & DJ Paul Oakenfold, Chicane, Akira Kiteshi, Dutch production duo 16 Bit Lolitas, Ben Gold, Bissen, Matt Hardwick and house production duo MYNC.
In May 2011, he signed to Paul Oakenfold's Perfecto Records. The song "Life Support Machine" was his debut outing on the imprint. The song was released on 5 March 2012 and gained worldwide airplay, including on London's Kiss FM and national BBC Radio 1.
Verdi appears on BT's ninth studio album, A Song Across Wires, on the track "Lifeline", which he co-wrote and sang.
On 25 May 2014, Verdi was featured on dance legend Chicane's comeback single "No More I Sleep", which is the lead single from the album The Sum of Its Parts.
Signing with Black Hole Recordings
On 7 March 2014, Verdi signed with the Dutch dance label Black Hole Recordings for a multi-album deal. He then released the single "Robot Love" later that year. A year later, Verdi changed his pseudonym to Lyonheart, and released his next single, "Amelia", afterwards. He released two extended plays, along with a single, "Running" (with Aqualung) since then.
Band work
In 2017, Verdi became a guitarist, vocalist and pianist for the band RALE. Their song "Glisten" was released on 31 March 2017. He is also collaborating with musician Tariq Keyboard Khan in the music project Other Nature, with an extended play, Theodore's Law, being released on 7 December 2018, and two singles being released: "The Throne" (released on 8 November 2018) and "Walking a Wall" (released on 31 May 2019).
Solo discography
Albums/EPs
- No Brakes EP (2017)
- No Blueprint EP (2018)
Singles
- "Life Support Machine" (as Senadee) (2012)
- "Robot Love" (as Senadee) (2014)
- "Amelia" (as Lyonheart) (2015)
- "Running" (with Aqualung) (as Lyonheart) (2018)
Featured singles
- Ben Gold (feat. Senadee) – "Say the Words" (2008)
- John Askew (feat. Senadee) – "Nothing Left Between Us" (2008)
- Ben Gold (feat. Senadee) – "Today" (2009)
- Thomas Datt & Chris Hampshire (feat. Senadee) – "Speed of Light" (2010)
- Aly & Fila vs Philippe el Sisi (ft. Senadee) – "Without You [the Never Knowing]" (2011)
- Matt Hardwick (feat. Senadee) – "In My Mind" (2011)
- MYNC & Senadee – "No Place Like Home" (2012)
- Ørjan Nilsen (feat. Senadee) – "Hands" (2013)
- BT & Senadee – "Lifeline" (2013)
- Chicane (feat. Senadee) – "No More I Sleep" (2014)
- [Dylhen] (feat. Lyonheart) – "Gravity" (2019)
- [LTN] (feat. Lyonheart) – "All Fall Down" (2019)
- Dave Winnel (feat. Lyonheart) – "Spark" (2020)