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==Early life and career==
==Early life and career==
Brannan was born 1982 in Texas in a middle-class family and grew up as the son of a petroleum engineer and a teacher.<ref name=NYT061008>{{cite news|last=Bernstein|first=Fred A.|title=Living Small, Thinking Large|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=October 8, 2006|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/realestate/08habi.html|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref><ref name=AMG>{{cite web|last=Leggett|first=Steve|title=Jay Brannan - Biography|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p881291|pure_url=yes}}|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref><ref name=Dazed>{{cite news|last=Hoad|first=Phil|title=Film: Jay Brannan|publisher=''[[Dazed & Confused (magazine)|Dazed & Confused]]''|page=42|date=December 2006}}</ref> He described his family as conservative [[Baptist]]s and mentions their beliefs on homosexuality.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bruni|first=Frank|title='Shortbus' Cast Didn't Study for This in Acting Class|publisher=''The New York Times''|date=September 24, 2006|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/movies/24brun.html?pagewanted=all|accessdate=August 11, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Dumenco|first=Simon|title=Half Boyfriend|publisher=''Zoo Magazine''|date=April 2007|format=PDF|url=http://jaybrannan.com/images/brannan%2013-03.pdf|accessdate=July 16, 2011}}</ref> Brannan went to college for one semester in [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]], and went to California, first to [[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]] and later to [[Los Angeles]], trying to become an actor.<ref name=NYT061008 /><ref name=Dazed /> In 2002, he was shown a casting notice and, after the end of a relationship, moved to New York City and submitted an audition tape.<ref name=NYT061008 /> He also worked as a proofreader of legal documents for a translation company.
Brannan was born 1982 in Texas in a middle-class family and grew up as the son of a petroleum engineer and a teacher.<ref name=NYT061008>{{cite news|last=Bernstein|first=Fred A.|title=Living Small, Thinking Large|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=October 8, 2006|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/realestate/08habi.html|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref><ref name=AMG>{{cite web|last=Leggett|first=Steve|title=Jay Brannan - Biography|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p881291|pure_url=yes}}|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref><ref name=Dazed>{{cite news|last=Hoad|first=Phil|title=Film: Jay Brannan|publisher=''[[Dazed & Confused (magazine)|Dazed & Confused]]''|page=42|date=December 2006}}</ref> He described his family as conservative [[Baptist]]s and mentions their beliefs on homosexuality.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bruni|first=Frank|title='Shortbus' Cast Didn't Study for This in Acting Class|publisher=''The New York Times''|date=September 24, 2006|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/movies/24brun.html?pagewanted=all|accessdate=August 11, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Dumenco |first=Simon |title=Half Boyfriend |publisher=''Zoo Magazine'' |date=April 2007 |format=PDF |url=http://jaybrannan.com/images/brannan%2013-03.pdf |accessdate=July 16, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713092456/http://jaybrannan.com/images/brannan%2013-03.pdf |archivedate=July 13, 2011 |df= }}</ref> Brannan went to college for one semester in [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]], and went to California, first to [[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]] and later to [[Los Angeles]], trying to become an actor.<ref name=NYT061008 /><ref name=Dazed /> In 2002, he was shown a casting notice and, after the end of a relationship, moved to New York City and submitted an audition tape.<ref name=NYT061008 /> He also worked as a proofreader of legal documents for a translation company.


Brannan was cast in 2003 for the movie ''[[Shortbus]]'' and worked as a proofreader and in other jobs to support himself.<ref name=TST061020>{{cite news|last=Hartl|first=John|title=Willing to go along for a long, circuitous ride|publisher=''[[The Seattle Times]]''|date=2006-10-20|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2003312892_shortbusint20.html|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref> He contributed the song "Soda Shop" to the film's soundtrack, which he stated was his "first professionally recorded track".<ref name=TST061020 /> The song was also released on [[Team Love Records]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Visakowitz|first=Susan|title=Billboard Bits: Trey Anastasio, Foxy Brown, Jay Brannan, Brendan Canning|publisher=''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''|date=2005-05-05|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045633/billboard-bits-trey-anastasio-foxy-brown-jay-brannan-brendan-canning|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref> Brannan began to record sparse music videos for [[YouTube]], accompanying himself on the guitar, and built an international fan base without corporate sponsorship, using [[MySpace]] and [[Blogger (service)|Blogspot]].<ref name=TBG080714>{{cite news|last=Reed|first=James|title=Brannan charms with naive vulnerability|publisher=''[[The Boston Globe]]''|date=2008-07-14|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2008/07/15/brannan_charms_with_naive_vulnerability/|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref><ref name=TAJ080718>{{cite news|last=Eldredge|first=Richard L.|title=PEACH BUZZ: Fans buy into singer's way with words|publisher=''[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]''|date=2008-07-18|url=http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/stories/2008/07/18/buzz.html|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref> In 2007, he appeared in the movie ''[[Holding Trevor]]'' as the promiscuous best friend of the protagonist, and released a limited-edition [[Extended play|EP]] with fours songs named ''disasterpiece'' or ''Unmastered'', adding two additional songs for a 2008 re-release.<ref name=AMG /><ref>{{cite news|last=Holden|first=Stephen|title=Desperately Seeking Sex and Identity, With Snark|publisher=''The New York Times''|date=2008-07-04|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2008/07/04/movies/04trev.html|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref>
Brannan was cast in 2003 for the movie ''[[Shortbus]]'' and worked as a proofreader and in other jobs to support himself.<ref name=TST061020>{{cite news|last=Hartl |first=John |title=Willing to go along for a long, circuitous ride |publisher=''[[The Seattle Times]]'' |date=2006-10-20 |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2003312892_shortbusint20.html |accessdate=2009-08-11 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130180138/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2003312892_shortbusint20.html |archivedate=2009-11-30 |df= }}</ref> He contributed the song "Soda Shop" to the film's soundtrack, which he stated was his "first professionally recorded track".<ref name=TST061020 /> The song was also released on [[Team Love Records]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Visakowitz|first=Susan|title=Billboard Bits: Trey Anastasio, Foxy Brown, Jay Brannan, Brendan Canning|publisher=''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''|date=2005-05-05|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045633/billboard-bits-trey-anastasio-foxy-brown-jay-brannan-brendan-canning|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref> Brannan began to record sparse music videos for [[YouTube]], accompanying himself on the guitar, and built an international fan base without corporate sponsorship, using [[MySpace]] and [[Blogger (service)|Blogspot]].<ref name=TBG080714>{{cite news|last=Reed|first=James|title=Brannan charms with naive vulnerability|publisher=''[[The Boston Globe]]''|date=2008-07-14|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2008/07/15/brannan_charms_with_naive_vulnerability/|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref><ref name=TAJ080718>{{cite news|last=Eldredge|first=Richard L.|title=PEACH BUZZ: Fans buy into singer's way with words|publisher=''[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]''|date=2008-07-18|url=http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/stories/2008/07/18/buzz.html|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref> In 2007, he appeared in the movie ''[[Holding Trevor]]'' as the promiscuous best friend of the protagonist, and released a limited-edition [[Extended play|EP]] with fours songs named ''disasterpiece'' or ''Unmastered'', adding two additional songs for a 2008 re-release.<ref name=AMG /><ref>{{cite news|last=Holden|first=Stephen|title=Desperately Seeking Sex and Identity, With Snark|publisher=''The New York Times''|date=2008-07-04|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2008/07/04/movies/04trev.html|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref>


In July 2008, Brannan released the album [[Goddamned (album)|''Goddamned'']] through his own label, Great Depression Records, and toured ten dates, a departure from his previous practice of short tours of about four concerts.<ref name=TBG080714 /><ref>{{cite web|title=Feature - Jay Brannan|publisher=''Billboard''|date=2008-08-13|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044455/jay-brannan|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref> The same year, Brannan left his proofreading job and sustained himself with earnings from concerts and merchandise.<ref name=TAJ080718 /> His second album, ''[[In Living Cover]]'', was released in 2009 and reached number ten on the ''Billboard'' [[Top Heatseekers]] chart for the week of July 25, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title= In Living Cover – Chart Listing For The Week Of Jul 25 2009|publisher=''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''|date=|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=jay brannan|chart=all}}|accessdate=2009-07-29}}</ref> Brannan promoted the album in an interview on [[ABC News]]'s ''Now'' in July 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=ITunes Chart Climber Jay Brannan|publisher=[[ABC News]]|date=July 29, 2009|url=http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8203758|accessdate=November 26, 2010}}</ref>
In July 2008, Brannan released the album [[Goddamned (album)|''Goddamned'']] through his own label, Great Depression Records, and toured ten dates, a departure from his previous practice of short tours of about four concerts.<ref name=TBG080714 /><ref>{{cite web|title=Feature - Jay Brannan|publisher=''Billboard''|date=2008-08-13|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044455/jay-brannan|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref> The same year, Brannan left his proofreading job and sustained himself with earnings from concerts and merchandise.<ref name=TAJ080718 /> His second album, ''[[In Living Cover]]'', was released in 2009 and reached number ten on the ''Billboard'' [[Top Heatseekers]] chart for the week of July 25, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title= In Living Cover – Chart Listing For The Week Of Jul 25 2009|publisher=''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''|date=|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=jay brannan|chart=all}}|accessdate=2009-07-29}}</ref> Brannan promoted the album in an interview on [[ABC News]]'s ''Now'' in July 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=ITunes Chart Climber Jay Brannan|publisher=[[ABC News]]|date=July 29, 2009|url=http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8203758|accessdate=November 26, 2010}}</ref>

Revision as of 02:28, 20 April 2017

Jay Brannan
Brannan performs in Edinburgh, Scotland, in August 2008
Background information
Born (1982-03-29) March 29, 1982 (age 42)[1]
Occupationsinger-songwriter
Instrument(s)singing, guitar
Years active2006–present
LabelsGreat Depression Records Nettwerk[2]
Websitejaybrannan.com

Jay Brannan (born March 29, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. He was born in Texas and briefly studied in Ohio, but moved to California to become an actor. Brannan appeared in the 2006 movie Shortbus, which included one of his songs in its soundtrack, and began to build a fan base by performing on YouTube. He released an EP and acted in Holding Trevor in 2007. Since then, he has toured and released three albums.

Early life and career

Brannan was born 1982 in Texas in a middle-class family and grew up as the son of a petroleum engineer and a teacher.[3][4][5] He described his family as conservative Baptists and mentions their beliefs on homosexuality.[6][7] Brannan went to college for one semester in Cincinnati, Ohio, and went to California, first to Palm Springs and later to Los Angeles, trying to become an actor.[3][5] In 2002, he was shown a casting notice and, after the end of a relationship, moved to New York City and submitted an audition tape.[3] He also worked as a proofreader of legal documents for a translation company.

Brannan was cast in 2003 for the movie Shortbus and worked as a proofreader and in other jobs to support himself.[8] He contributed the song "Soda Shop" to the film's soundtrack, which he stated was his "first professionally recorded track".[8] The song was also released on Team Love Records.[9] Brannan began to record sparse music videos for YouTube, accompanying himself on the guitar, and built an international fan base without corporate sponsorship, using MySpace and Blogspot.[10][11] In 2007, he appeared in the movie Holding Trevor as the promiscuous best friend of the protagonist, and released a limited-edition EP with fours songs named disasterpiece or Unmastered, adding two additional songs for a 2008 re-release.[4][12]

In July 2008, Brannan released the album Goddamned through his own label, Great Depression Records, and toured ten dates, a departure from his previous practice of short tours of about four concerts.[10][13] The same year, Brannan left his proofreading job and sustained himself with earnings from concerts and merchandise.[11] His second album, In Living Cover, was released in 2009 and reached number ten on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart for the week of July 25, 2009.[14] Brannan promoted the album in an interview on ABC News's Now in July 2009.[15]

Style

Jay Brannan in Hamburg, Germany, in 2009

Brannan is a tenor.[3] Allmusic described his style as contemporary singer-songwriter and compared him to female artists, including Ani DiFranco, Lisa Loeb, Sinéad O'Connor, and Liz Phair.[4] Goddamned was described as lo-fi and Brannan compared his concerts to intimate performances in his home.[11][16] He has performed with Terra Naomi and both were compared in style and described as performing indie folk.[16] The New York Times stated in 2006 that Brannan was sometimes compared to singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright and that Brannan saw himself as echoing the angry and sad sound of female singers like Tracy Chapman and Joni Mitchell.[3]

Awards and nominations

Discography

Studio Albums

Extended Plays

  • 2007: Unmastered (re-released in 2008 with additional songs)
  • 2013: Around the World in 80 Jays
  • 2016: "New York, New York"[18]

Singles

Year Single Album
2007 "Body's a temple" Unmastered EP
2008 "Housewife" Goddamned
"Can't Have It All"
2009 "Beautifully" In Living Cover
(also included later in Rob Me Blind)
"The Freshmen" In Living Cover
2012 "Greatest Hits" (Promotional single) Rob Me Blind
"Beautifully"[19]
"Rob Me Blind"[20]
2014 "Blue-Haired Lady" Always, Then, & Now
"Square One"
Songs
  • "Soda Shop" (track on the 2006 Shortbus soundtrack)
  • "Lower My Gun" (track on the 2008 Holding Trevor soundtrack)
  • "My Love, My Love" and "Takeoff" (two tracks on the 2011 Cloudburst soundtrack)[21]

Videography

  • "Body's a Temple"
  • "Housewife"
  • "Can't Have It All"
  • "Greatest Hits"
  • "Beautifully"
  • "Rob Me Blind"
  • "Blue-Haired Lady"
  • "Square One"

Filmography

References

  1. ^ Brannan, Jay (March 29, 2010). "welp. it's the 29th here i ..." Twitter. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Label | Current Roster". Nettwerk. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e Bernstein, Fred A. (October 8, 2006). "Living Small, Thinking Large". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-08-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ a b c Leggett, Steve. "Jay Brannan - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  5. ^ a b Hoad, Phil (December 2006). "Film: Jay Brannan". Dazed & Confused. p. 42. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Bruni, Frank (September 24, 2006). "'Shortbus' Cast Didn't Study for This in Acting Class". The New York Times. Retrieved August 11, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ Dumenco, Simon (April 2007). "Half Boyfriend" (PDF). Zoo Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 13, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b Hartl, John (2006-10-20). "Willing to go along for a long, circuitous ride". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2009-11-30. Retrieved 2009-08-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Visakowitz, Susan (2005-05-05). "Billboard Bits: Trey Anastasio, Foxy Brown, Jay Brannan, Brendan Canning". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-08-11. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ a b Reed, James (2008-07-14). "Brannan charms with naive vulnerability". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2009-08-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ a b c Eldredge, Richard L. (2008-07-18). "PEACH BUZZ: Fans buy into singer's way with words". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2009-08-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ Holden, Stephen (2008-07-04). "Desperately Seeking Sex and Identity, With Snark". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-08-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ "Feature - Jay Brannan". Billboard. 2008-08-13. Retrieved 2009-08-11. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ "In Living Cover – Chart Listing For The Week Of Jul 25 2009". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-07-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ "ITunes Chart Climber Jay Brannan". ABC News. July 29, 2009. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
  16. ^ a b Peitzman, Louis (2009-07-23). "Jay Brannan and Terra Naomi: Getting close". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-08-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ a b IMDb.com Jay Brannan Awards page
  18. ^ "Twitter". Twitter.
  19. ^ "Jay Brannan - Beautifully". YouTube. January 16, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012. ... Jay Brannan's forthcoming album, Rob Me Blind, ...
  20. ^ "Jay Brannan - Rob Me Blind". YouTube. June 27, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2012. ... Jay Brannan's "Rob Me Blind" from album of same name
  21. ^ IMDb.com: Cloudburst Soundtrack page
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