Passion Pit

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Passion Pit
Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit performing live
Background information
Origin	Cambridge, Massachusetts, Buffalo, New York
Genres	Indie rock, electronica, Alternative dance, Wonky pop
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Frenchkiss Records Columbia UK
Website	Official Website MySpace Facebook
Members
Michael Angelakos Ian Hultquist Ayad Al Adhamy Jeff Apruzzese Nate Donmoyer
Former members
Thom Plasse Adam Todd Lavinsky

Passion Pit is an American electronic band from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Formed in 2007^[1], the group consists of Michael Angelakos (lead vocals/keyboards), Ian Hultquist (keyboards/guitar), Ayad Al Adhamy (synth/samples), Jeff Apruzzese (bass/synth bass) and Nate Donmoyer (drums).

Contents 1 History 1.1 Name 1.2 Formation 1.3 Chunk of Change (2007–2008) 1.4 Manners (2009–present) 1.5 Live shows and recognition 2 Discography 2.1 Albums 2.2 EPs 2.3 Singles 3 References 4 External links

[edit] History

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[edit] Name

The slang Passion Pit is derived from traditional Variety-speak used in the Hollywood industry publication. The trade used the slang to refer to drive-in theatres, because of their privacy and romantic allure for teenagers.^[2] Michael Angelakos came up with the "project" name because he thought it was funny, but little did he know that this "project" would be his most successful one and that the name would stick.

[edit] Formation

Passion Pit was originally formed in late 2007 by Michael Angelakos in Buffalo, as a project to write a few songs for his girlfriend as a Valentine's Day present. The band is now based in Boston. Michael Angelakos actually burned copies of the songs in his room and sold them on campus for $4 a pop. The idea for the project happened when Michael performed the songs alone at school with his laptop. Ian caught his performance and thought the songs would sound great performed live by a band. The seed was planted and then the project progressed from there to form Passion Pit.

[edit] Chunk of Change (2007–2008)

The band's debut EP Chunk of Change was released on September 16, 2008.^[3] The first four tracks were an anniversary gift from Angelakos to his then-girlfriend that became popular throughout Emerson College, which Angelakos was attending. Tracks 5 and 6, "Sleepyhead" and "Better Things," were added to the commercial release.^[4] The song "Sleepyhead" contains samples of the song "Óró Mo Bháidín" by Irish singer and harpist Mary O'Hara.^[5] "Sleepyhead" has gained media exposure through its use in a US Palm Pixi advertisement, a Canadian PSP advertisement, a commercial for comedy movies in the U.K., as well as in MTVs 'What the Flip?' campaign.^[6] Pitchfork included the "Sleepyhead" music video, directed by The Wilderness, in its top 40 music videos of 2008 list. "Sleepyhead" was also used as the music in Five USA/Fiver Promo – Seriously Funny Movies Advert in 2009.^[7]

On February 24, 2009, the American iTunes store released "Sleepyhead" as a discovery download song.

Following the band's exposure on the BBC's Sound of 2009, Sleepyhead has started to receive airplay on NME TV in the UK.

Sleepyhead has also been featured in an advertisement for Palm and is used as the title theme song for Max and Jason: Still Up on Current TV.

[edit] Manners (2009–present)

The band's first full-length studio album, Manners, was released on May 18, 2009 in the UK and May 19, 2009 in the United States and Canada.^[8] In celebration, the band played their record release party on the 18th in New York City on a Rocks Off boat cruise. ^[9] In a preview article, ClashMusic.com commented that the album "has every chance to rank as one of the year’s best" and that "it reveals additional nuances with each visit: a sure-fire sign of an album with true longevity". ^[10]

The album's single "The Reeling" was a surprise success on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in the Fall of 2009, where it peaked at #29 in October^[11].

The song "Sleepyhead" from the album has appeared in several ads, most notably the Palm Pixi ^[12]

The song "Moth's Wings" was used in a season 3 episode of the CW teen-drama Gossip Girl, as well as FIFA 10.

[edit] Live shows and recognition

Passion Pit's live performances have been well-received, leading them to open for bands such as The Killers, Death Cab for Cutie, RJD2, Girl Talk, and These New Puritans.^[13]

In 2008, after playing only a handful of shows, they were voted Best New Act in the The Boston Phoenix's Best Music Poll.^[14] Soon thereafter the band was signed to the New York City-based Frenchkiss Records and Columbia in the UK. ^{[15] [16]} CMJ Music Marathon 2008 named Passion Pit one of the top bands^[17] resulting in an MTV feature.^[18] Passion Pit placed ninth in BBC's Sound of 2009 list of up-and-coming acts.^[19]

On April 21, 2009, Passion Pit released the official video for "The Reeling", the first single from Manners, on their YouTube page. The band is slated to appear in Josh Schwartz's online show 'Rockville' in 2009 which will air exclusively on TheWB.com.^[20]

On June 11 2009, they performed live at the 2009 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, TN.

On June 22 2009, they performed live at the Hard Rock Calling Festival at Hyde Park in London, supporting The Killers^[21].

On July 6 2009, Passion Pit performed a live performance at the iTunes Festival '09 alongside Franz Ferdinand.^[22]

On July 31, 2009 EA Sports announced that Passion Pit's song "Moth's Wings" will be featured on the latest release of the popular soccer game "FIFA 10".

Also in July 2009 Passion Pit recorded their hit song, "Sleepyhead" on Myspace Transmissions, and performed in Chicago, Illinois at Lollapalooza 2009.

On September 13, 2009, Passion Pit performed at the Monolith Music Fesitval in Morrison, Colorado

On October 4, 2009, Passion Pit performed at the Austin City Limits music festival in Austin, Texas.

On October 18, 2009, Passion Pit performed at the Treasure Island Music Festival in San Francisco, California.

On November 11, 2009, Passion Pit's song Sleepyhead started appearing in commercials for the new Palm Pixi.

On November 18, 2009, Passion Pit performed at the MTVu Woodies at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City.

Passion Pit's song Let Your Love Grow Tall appears in the BBC's Christmas ad.

Passion Pit will also be touring throughout Australia and New Zealand in January, performing as a main act in the world renowned Big Day Out festival.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

• Manners (May 18, 2009) #19 AUS ^[23], #51 USA^[24], #55 UK ^[25]

[edit] EPs

• Chunk of Change (September 16, 2008)

[edit] Singles

• "Sleepyhead" (2008) #71 Billboard Hot Digital Songs, #105 Billboard Hot 100, #9 Billboard Hot Heatseekers Songs
• "The Reeling" (2009) #29 Billboard Hot Alternative Songs^[11]
• "To Kingdom Come" (2009)
• "Little Secrets" (2009)^[26]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Passion Pit

• Official Website
• Passion Pit sites directory

v • d • e Passion Pit Michael Angelakos · Ian Hultquist · Ayad Al Adhamy · Jeff Apruzzese · Nate Donmoyer Thom Plasse · Adam Todd Lavinsky Studio albums Manners Extended plays Chunk of Change Singles "Sleepyhead" • "The Reeling" • "To Kingdom Come" • "Little Secrets"