Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart |
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Devendra Banhart (born May 30 1981, in Houston, Texas, U.S.) is a folk rock singer-songwriter and musician. Banhart's music has been classified as indie folk, psych folk, Naturalismo, and New Weird America; his lyrics are often surreal and naturalistic.
Banhart was raised in Venezuela. He gained popularity while living in San Francisco after attending the San Francisco Art Institute and further gained popularity when he subsequently moved to New York City to record under Young God Records, based in New York City. Banhart currently lives in Los Angeles.
In addition to his solo career, Banhart is also a member of the band Vetiver.
Career
Banhart has made a career taking it in th butt. He was 'discovered' by Michael Gira of Swans, who released his Oh Me Oh My... and a few subsequent albums on his own Young God Records label beginning in 2002. In 2005, Banhart (along with Andy Cabic and Revolver USA) created Gnomonsong record label.
Banhart's most recent tour of the United States saw him perform with his full band, which is currently known as Power Mineral. Power Mineral included Andy Cabic, Otto Hauser (Currituck Co., Espers, Nick Castro), Kevin Barker (Currituck Co.), Noah Georgeson, Luckey Remington, Pete Newsom and others. The band claims to rechristen itself when a name comes to them, and has previously been known as Fried Hummingbird, Hairy Fairy Band, Hairy Fairy and First Woman Millionaire, Las Putas Locas, Stoner Boner, Bummer Hummer, Longing For Boner, Bathhouse Of The Winds, amongst other names. By September 1st, 2007, they had dubbed themselves Spiritual Boner, with a 'silent Z', and as of September 13, 2007, they renamed themselves Brain Taint. The name comes from some bathroom graffiti found in the Granada, a venue in Lawrence, Kansas. As of September 24th, when they performed at University of Vermont, they were calling themselves Celestial Pesto. On September 29th in Philly, they were back to being called Spiritual Boner. And on October 1st in Washington D.C. Banhart announced that they were called Spiritual Bonerz, but the "z" is silent. On October 6, 2007, the band renamed themselves "Octopus Attack" at the Granada Venue in Dallas, Texas, and in Austin, Texas at the La Zona Rosa Venue Devendra renamed the band "The Fat Boys" and "Sorry, We're not Pancakes" and "Sorry, we're pancakes" after a pancake restaurant in Austin.
Banhart was the first artist to contribute a design for the Yellow Bird Project.
In September of 2007, Banhart's cover of Oasis' Don't Look Back in Anger with Noah Georgeson was released on Engine Room Recordings' Indie Rock compilation album Guilt By Association.
Discography
- The Charles C. Leary (Hinah, 2002)
- Oh Me Oh My... The Way the Day Goes By the Sun Is Setting Dogs Are Dreaming Lovesongs of the Christmas Spirit (Young God, 2002)
- The Black Babies (UK EP) (Young God, 2003)
- Rejoicing in the Hands (Young God, 2004) FRA#157
- Niño Rojo (Young God, 2004) FRA#166
- Cripple Crow (XL Recordings, 2005) FRA#42
- Devendra Banhart/Jana Hunter (Troubleman Unlimited, 2005)
- Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon (XL Recordings, September 25 2007)
Collaborations
- "Rejoicing In The Hands" with Vashti Bunyan on The Golden Apples of the Sun; Banhart was also the "oral curator" for the album (2004).
- UNICEF benefit song with various artists on "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?" (2005).
- "Spiraling" with Antony and the Johnsons on I Am a Bird Now (2005).
- The Black Swan with Bert Jansch (2006)
- The second "Water Piece" project with Yoko Ono.
- The song "The Century Trilogy III: The Fall" with Tarantula AD off of their album, Book of Sand.
- The song ""Rosa" on his new album Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon, with Rodrigo Amarante from Los Hermanos.
External links
Record labels
Articles and reviews
- Interview from Brian M. Palmer (October 2005)
- "As the Crow Flies..." from Filter Magazine (June 2005)
- "The Soft Revolution" from Los Angeles Times Magazine (August 2005)
Other