Chairlift (band)
Chairlift | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Boulder, Colorado, United States |
Genres | Electronic, synthpop, indie pop |
Years active | 2005–present |
Labels | Kanine Records, Terrible Records, Columbia |
Members | Caroline Polachek Patrick Wimberly |
Past members | Aaron Pfenning |
Website | chairlifted |
Chairlift is an American synthpop duo. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Chairlift consists of members Caroline Polachek (songwriting, vocals, synthesizer, drum programming, arranging) and Patrick Wimberly (drums, bass guitar, keyboard, guitar, backing vocals, production).
History
Chairlift formed initially as a project between Aaron Pfenning and Caroline Polachek at the University of Colorado in October 2005. The group intended to make background music for haunted houses.[1] Along with bassist Kyle McCabe, Chairlift recorded the beginning of Daylight Savings EP at New Monkey Studio in Los Angeles, California in April 2006. Chairlift relocated to Williamsburg, Brooklyn in August 2006 and signed to Kanine Records in June 2007. Patrick Wimberly joined the group in early 2007. After writing and recording while Polachek was still in college,[2] Chairlift released their first full-length album, Does You Inspire You, in 2008. Their song "Bruises" was featured in the 2008 Apple commercial that launched the fourth-generation iPod Nano.[3] The single "Evident Utensil" was nominated for an award in the "Breakthrough Video" category at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.[4] The album was rereleased by Columbia Records on April 21, 2009, after the band signed with the major label. The rerelease included two additional tracks not on the original release and a longer version of "Make Your Mind Up".[5] Chairlift went on their first international tour, opening for bands like Phoenix, The Killers, and MGMT.[6][7]
Pfenning left Chairlift in 2010 to pursue his solo career in Rewards.[8]
On September 7, 2011 they released the video to their single "Amanaemonesia" from their second album Something.[9] For their 2012 single "Met Before" Chairlift created an interactive, choose-your-own-adventure video that Buzzfeed awarded the number one spot on its "23 Best Music Videos of 2012" end-of-year round up.[10] Their sophomore album Something released via Columbia Records on January 24, 2012.[8] Something features production from Dan Carey and Alan Moulder.[11] After the record was released in Japan, Polachek co-directed a video for a Japanese version of "I Belong In Your Arms" with director/animator Eric Epstein.[12]
Through the time Polachek was finishing her solo record Arcadia, Chairlift continued working on their third record, "Moth". "Moth" was released January 22, 2016. On the same day as the album release, Chairlift was featured on "Sweet"'s snapchat story discussing their history, their music, and promoting their newest album. Moth features 10 new songs, including the single "Ch-Ching", which was featured on snapchat.[13][14]
Collaborations and solo projects
Chairlift collaborated with Das Racist on the song "Fashion Party", the tenth song on Das Racist's 2010 mixtape, Sit Down, Man.
In 2011, Wimberly produced multiple songs in American rap group Das Racist's album Relax.[15]
In 2013, Wimberly and Polachek collaborated with Beyoncé on the song "No Angel" from the album Beyoncé.[16]
In 2014 Polachek announced that she would release a solo LP under the name Ramona Lisa. Titled Arcadia, the album was released in April 2014 on the labels Terrible in the US, Pannonica in Europe/Japan, and Mistletone in Australia/New Zealand.[17]
Discography
Studio albums
- Does You Inspire You - Kanine Records - 11 September 2008
- Something - Columbia Records/Young Turks - 24 January 2012 (UK No. 131, US No. 184)[8]
- Moth - Columbia Records - January 2016[18]
EPs
- Daylight Savings EP – self-released, June 2007
- Chairlift at 6:15 – Young Turks, October 2012
Singles
- "Evident Utensil" (2007)
- "Bruises" (2008; UK No. 50, U.S. No. 101)
- "Amanaemonesia" (2011)
- "Met Before" (2012)
- "I Belong In Your Arms" (2012)
- "I Belong In Your Arms (Japanese Version)" (2012)
- "Ch-Ching" (2015)
- "Romeo" (2015)
- "Crying In Public" (2016)
Remixes
- Glasser - "Apply (Chairlift Remix)" (2012)
- Phoenix - "Fences (Chairlift Remix)" (2012)
- Indochine - "College Boy (Chairlift Remix)" (2013)
References
- ^ "Slant Magazine Music Review: Chairlift: Does You Inspire You". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
- ^ "Chairlift Elevates Music on Something". Pop Matters. 2012-06-04.
- ^ Suzanne Baran (September 16, 2008). "Chairlift Gets A Boost From iPod Nano Ad". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
- ^ "2009 MTV Video Music Awards: Breakthrough Video". MTV. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ "Chairlift Sign to Columbia, Re-Release Album With Bonus Tracks". Exclaim!. 2009-03-02.
- ^ "Tour HIstory 2007-2014". bandsintown.
- ^ "Rewards". Glasslands. 2013-09-11.
- ^ a b c Alex Hudson (October 13, 2011). "Chairlift announce sophomore album". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2015-10-27.
- ^ corbin (September 7, 2011). "Chairlift – "Amanaemonesia" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
- ^ Perpetua, Matthew (December 6, 2012). "23 Best Music Videos of 2012". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
- ^ Laura Studarus (October 13, 2011). "Chairlift Announce New Album, "Something"". Under the Radar. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ Evan Minsker (August 30, 2012). "Watch the Video for the Japanese Version of Chairlift's "I Belong In Your Arms"". Pitchfork Media.
- ^ "Ramona Lisa". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2014-03-06.
- ^ "About A Girl: Caroline Polachek". Urban Outfitters. Retrieved 2014-10-12.
- ^ "Das Racist Relax Details". Stereogum. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
- ^ "How Chairlift's Caroline Polachek Landed a Track on 'Beyonce'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2015-10-31.
- ^ "Chairlift's Caroline Polachek announces solo LP Arcadia as Ramona Lisa, Shares "Arcadia" Video". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
- ^ Beth Kellmurray (October 16, 2015). "Chairlift Announce New Album, 'Moth,' Share Vibrant 'Ch-Ching' Video". Diffuser. Retrieved 2015-10-17.