Bonzie (musician)

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BONZIE
BONZIE at Wicker Park Fest in Chicago
BONZIE at Wicker Park Fest in Chicago
Background information
Birth nameNina Ferraro
BornRacine, Wisconsin
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano, keyboard, bass, accordion
Years active2009–present
LabelsBeevine Records (Independent)
Websitewww.bonzie.net

Nina Ferraro (known professionally as BONZIE is an American singer-songwriter and musician.[1]

The New York Times has written about BONZIE five times and said BONZIE's career was "...a career that has consistently yielded richly melodic and mysterious songs."[2][3] They named Bonzie's song "alone," one of the "Best Songs of 2020."[4] Her artistry was described by Vogue as, "talent for moving seamlessly between gentle folk-inspired verses and edgier rock-n-roll riffs."[5] SPIN Magazine said, "Feels like the work of a vet well-versed in whispered catharsis."[6] American Songwriter said, "Across her catalog folk music throbs at the heart of her work, allowing her to explore various strains of alternative music and indie."[7]

BONZIE has performed nationwide, including a show at South by Southwest, Summerfest, Lincoln Hall in Chicago, Joe’s Pub in New York City, First Avenue in Minneapolis, and as an opening artist for acts such as Iron and Wine.[8][9]

Early life[edit]

BONZIE was born in Racine, Wisconsin.

She was born into a non-musical family and started writing songs at the age of 10, after teaching herself the guitar. She wrote songs in secret as she was discouraged from pursuing it.

BONZIE went to high school in Chicago, Illinois, where she started performing with her band in the Chicago live venue circuit, eventually adopting the pseudonym “BONZIE” to release her songs under. Upon graduating high school, she attended DePaul University and Lake Forest College studying Literature and Poetry. She is fluent in Japanese and has released music in Japanese as well.

Career[edit]

Early career[edit]

In the year 2010 at age 15, BONZIE released her debut EP, The Promise, as Nina Ferraro, and began using the stage name[10] BONZIE shortly thereafter. In a 2013 interview with the Chicago Tribune, she explained her decision. "There was something about it that felt egotistical to me, and music was never that sort of pursuit. BONZIE feels a lot better to go under, not only because it's a pseudonym, but also because it doesn't subscribe to a language. There isn't a conventional definition of BONZIE, and it's more something where I can become its meaning."[8]

BONZIE wrote and co-produced her first full-length album, Rift into The Secret Of Things, which was released in August 2013 at age 17.[11][12] It was preceded by the single "Data Blockers," which premiered on Spin.com,[13] It was followed by a second single "Felix," which features The Milk Carton Kids' Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale.[14] The album's title was inspired by a passage from Henry David Thoreau's Walden.[15]

In 2016, BONZIE released a double single, "As The Surface Rose" via Under The Radar, who said it "conjures an emotive vacuum where BONZIE's voice and piano keys hover and haunt."[16]

The New York Times featured the music video for "As The Surface Rose" shortly after its release, where chief music critic Jon Pareles writes, "This song is an ambitious interlude, a statement of commitment... A guy in a skinny tie pursues her, rowing into a storm. He has a film camera, she wears a glittery dress. There are no bubbles as she breathes underwater, but she tells her story. "You won't let go," she sings."[17]

This was soon followed by another double single in 2016, entitled "How Do You Find Yourself, Love?," a 7" vinyl that premiered on BrooklynVegan.[18] It is described as a companion piece to "As The Surface Rose."[citation needed]

The live-to-track, "How Do You Find Yourself, Love?," was recorded by Steve Albini, and includes instrumental B-side "Back to an Insurmountable wall", which was produced and performed by BONZIE, and recorded by Tortoise member John McEntire. "As The Surface Rose" was backed by a lyric-free B-side,"Half Full."[19]

Zone on Nine and Reincarnation[edit]

BONZIE released the second full-length album called Zone on Nine in May 2017. The album was fully written and produced by Ferraro herself, and co-produced with Jonathan Wilson (Father John Misty, Conor Oberst) and Ali Chant (Perfume Genius, Youth Lagoon).[16]

The album was released to critical acclaim, namely two front-page articles in the Chicago Tribune[20] by the top music critic Greg Kot who called Zone on Nine "Stunning". Kot also wrote "BONZIE has shown a consistent refusal to be pinned down to a genre or simplified descriptions of the kind of music she makes."

Other reviews for Zone on Nine included VICE[21] who wrote "Her intricately layered music taps into personal connections — the relationship you have with yourself, the connection between the body and the mind... [it has a] gorgeous sonic palette that's hard to pinpoint but instantly alluring".

Paste Magazine[22] wrote about the album ""The way certain notes bend on the Chicago songwriter's latest tune only draw you in closer as you wonder 'What's that sound?'".

In September 2020, BONZIE released a single and animated music video for a song entitled "alone". It was written by BONZIE and co-produced with DJ Camper. NPR[23]'s All Songs Considered premiered the track, writing "brilliantly talented. The atmospherics in this song are stunning." In the All Songs Considered podcast, NPR's Bob Boilen also announced a forthcoming full length album. The music video for "alone" was animated by Japanese hand-paint artist Miyo Sato and won a number of international film festival awards.[24] The New York Times also wrote about the song remarking that "the isolation is palpable,"[25] and named it one of the Best Songs of 2020.[26]

The third full-length album entitled Reincarnation was released in March 2021.[27] In a feature long-form article in The New York Times, Jon Pareles wrote "It would be the continuation of a fully independent career that has consistently yielded richly melodic and mysterious songs."[28] Pareles reviewed the album and included portions of an interview with BONZIE, as well as Steve Albini, who said "I was impressed by her drive and her seriousness at a very early age". The article appeared in print in the Arts section of The New York Times.[29]

2003 – Present[edit]

In December 2023, BONZIE released her first single since 2021 called, “Spiritual Violence.”[30] The new single was followed by “Citrus,” which was released January 24, 2024.[31] In March 2024, BONZIE release an EP titled Live at EastWest, which featured two live recordings of her recent single “Spiritual Violence” and her 2020 single, “alone.” With the release of Live at EastWest, BONZIE teased her fourth album would be released in 2024.[32][33]

Discography[edit]

  • Live at EastWest, EP, 2024
  • "Citrus," single, 2024
  • "Spiritual Violence," single, 2023
  • Reincarnation, album, 2021
  • "Lethal," single, 2020
  • "alone," single, 2020
  • Zone on Nine, album, 2017
  • "Combback," single, 2017
  • "Fading Out," single, 2017
  • "How Do You Find Yourself, Love?," double single, 2016
  • "As The Surface Rose," double single, 2016
  • Rift into The Secret Of Things, album, 2013
  • "Felix," single, 2013
  • "Data Blockers," single, 2013
  • The Promise, EP, 2010 (as Nina Ferraro)
  • "Let It Go," single, 2009 (as Nina Ferraro)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Taylor, John (July 1, 2013). "Discovery: Bonzie". Interview. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  2. ^ Bonzie Longs for a Post-Pandemic ‘Reincarnation’ at The New York Times; published March 25, 2021; retrieved May 16, 2024
  3. ^ Pareles, Jon (March 14, 2014). "SXSW 2014: The Music Plays On After a Somber Scene". nytimes.com (blogs). The New York Times Company. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  4. ^ The Best Songs of 2020 at The New York Times; by Jon Pareles; published December 7, 2020; retrieved May 16, 2024
  5. ^ Praise for Singer Nina Ferraro's Debut Rift into the Secret of Things at VOGUE; by Jacob Brown; published August 16, 2013; retrieved May 16, 2024
  6. ^ Hear Bonzie’s Furious Six-Minute Confessional ‘Data Blockers’ at SPIN; by Kyle McGovern; published February 28, 2013; retrieved May 16, 2024
  7. ^ BONZIE Expands Sonic Template With New Album ‘Reincarnation’ at American Songwriter; by Jason Scott; published March 17, 2021; retrieved May 16, 2024
  8. ^ a b Downing, Andy (July 13, 2013). "Local Q&A: Bonzie". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  9. ^ Fragassi, Selena (August 15, 2013). "Meet Bonzie, the 18-Year-Old Indie Songwriter Already Being Compared To Cat Power". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  10. ^ Garrison, Matt (July 24, 2013). "Bonzie Rift Into The Secret Of Things". The Aquarian. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  11. ^ Brown, Jacob (August 16, 2013). "Praise for Singer Nina Ferraro's Debut Rift into the Secret of Things". Vogue. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  12. ^ "MPM at 3PM: Bonzie". Magnet. April 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  13. ^ Chattman, John (April 4, 2013). "A-Sides with Jon Chattman: Listen to Courtney Jaye and Bonzie Now; Thank Me Later". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  14. ^ Orr, Dacey (June 5, 2013). "Song Premiere: Bonzie feat. The Milk Carton Kids". Paste Magazine. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  15. ^ "New Release Tuesday 8/13/13". Jigsaw Magazine. August 13, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  16. ^ a b Steinberg, Charles (December 5, 2016). "Premiere: BONZIE: "As the Surface Rose" and "Half Full" Double Single Sophomore Album Zone on Nine Due Out in Early 2017". Under The Radar 2. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  17. ^ Pareles, Jon (February 10, 2017). "Katy Perry Dances Till the World Ends and M.I.A. Starts a New Wave". The New York Times. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  18. ^ Sacher, Andrew (December 13, 2016). "Stream BONZIE's Steve Albini-recorded single "How Do You Find Yourself, Love?"". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  19. ^ Tinkham, Chris (November 20, 2013). "Premiere: Bonzie — "How Do You Find Yourself, Love?" MP3 Stream Chicago's Nina Ferraro recorded new track with Steve Albini". Under the Radar. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  20. ^ Kot, Greg (May 19, 2017). "Bonzie's unbridled ambition works like a charm on 'Zone on Nine'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  21. ^ Kaplan, Ilana (April 4, 2017). "introducing the first single from bonzie's second album, an introspective dream track". VICE. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  22. ^ McNett, Jared (April 21, 2017). "Exclusive: Hear Bonzie's Alluring Folk Tune". Paste Magazine. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  23. ^ Boilen, Bob (September 15, 2020). "New Mix: Kevin Morby, Adrianne Lenker, Jeff Tweedy, Cautious Clay, More". NPR. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  24. ^ "'alone' video film festival awards". April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  25. ^ Pareles, Jon (October 16, 2020). "Stevie Wonder Demands Justice, and 12 More New Songs". The New York Times. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  26. ^ Pareles, Jon (December 7, 2020). "Best Songs of 2020". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  27. ^ "Reincarnation - Album by BONZIE". March 16, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  28. ^ Pareles, Jon (March 25, 2021). "Bonzie Longs for a Post-Pandemic 'Reincarnation'". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  29. ^ "The New York Times in-print". The New York Times. March 29, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  30. ^ Bonzie Releases New Single 'Spiritual Violence' With Teo The Artist at Broadway World; by Michael Major; published December 5, 2023; retrieved May 16, 2024
  31. ^ BONZIE Creates an Immersive 3D World with New Single “Citrus” at Flood Magazine; by Mike Lesuer; published January 24, 2024; retrieved May 16, 2024
  32. ^ How Artist BONZIE is Winning Indie Music Hearts with Latest Single at Millennial Magazine; by Britt Hysen; published April 24, 2024; retrieved May 16, 2024
  33. ^ Step Inside BONZIE’s Surreal Pop World at The New Nine; by Samantha Fong; published March 5, 2024; retrieved May 16, 2024

External links[edit]

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