Superorganism (band)
Superorganism | |
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![]() Superorganism whale logo | |
Background information | |
Origin | London, England |
Genres | |
Years active | 2017–present |
Labels | Domino Hostess (Japan) |
Members |
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Website | www |
Superorganism is an indie pop band, formed in early 2017[1][2][3][4][5] and based in London.[6] The group consists of eight members, including lead vocalist Orono Noguchi, alongside Emily, Harry, Tucan, Robert Strange, Ruby, B, and Soul.[7]
Their self-titled debut album, Superorganism, was released on 2 March 2018 through Domino Recording Company and Hostess Entertainment.[8][9]
Career
Superorganism initially started as a casual recording project with members based in multiple countries, across the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia.[10] Most of the members of Superorganism had met online in music forums and via mutual friends over a number of years.[11] At the time of Superorganism’s formation, the majority of the members had been living in London since 2015 and decided to embark on a musical project together.[12]
Four of the members – Mark Turner (Emily), Christopher Young (Harry), Timothy "Tim" Shann (Tucan), and Blair Everson (Robert Strange), had previously met Orono Noguchi when they were touring Japan in another band called The Eversons. Noguchi, at the time a high school student from Maine, had first discovered The Eversons via her YouTube recommendations, thereafter becoming a fan of the group. During a 2015 summer trip to Japan, her country of origin, Noguchi found The Eversons to be performing a gig nearby and attended. It was there and then that the group became friends,[13] bonding over their shared interest of internet memes.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Superorganism_%2838833475730%29.jpg/220px-Superorganism_%2838833475730%29.jpg)
External videos | |
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After discovering Noguchi could sing (she had been regularly posting covers on SoundCloud)[14], the group then sent a message to Noguchi, asking if she wanted to add lyrics and vocals to a demo they had been working on at the beginning of 2017.[15] The demo came to be Superorganism's first single "Something For Your M.I.N.D.", which was later featured on the soundtrack of FIFA 18.
Having graduated from John Bapst Memorial High School[16][17] in June, seventeen-year-old Noguchi relocated to London. "Ever since I was little I had two big goals," says Noguchi, "One of them was to be a musician or an artist of some sort, and the other was to go to college in the States. That’s why I made the decision to go to Maine by myself when I was fourteen." In regards to college, she said, "[Forming Superorganism] was a really big decision but you don’t get to decide when opportunities come. So I'll do this, and I can go to college any time I want."
While Ruby and B are known for their roles as background singers, they are also capable of playing instruments. For instance, Ruby is competent on the strings.[18] Robert Strange is Superorganism’s visual artist.[12] As of late 2017, seven out of eight band members live together in a large terraced house in East End that doubles up as a live-in, 24-hour studio.[19]
The eighth member, South Korean background vocalist Soul (Earl Ho[20]), is the only member to live apart from the group, residing in Sydney, Australia.[12] An enlarged image of Soul's face often takes his place in group photographs. Going by the project name "CHI", Soul has also released material to a Bandcamp account of his own, playing the guitar and keyboard himself.[21][22][23][24]
In June 2018, Superorganism covered Utada Hikaru's "Phakchi no Uta" (パクチーの唄, "Coriander Song") as promotion for the release of her album Hatsukoi (2018).[25]
Artistry
The group consists of members from England, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. They create original internet-age electronically-tinged indie pop music.
Describing the creation of Superorganism's songs, Orono Noguchi says, "It usually starts with us listening to music and talking about music, art, and all kinds of stuff in the kitchen. Then, one of us would come up with a very basic idea for a song. We'd then send the file back and forth among the group and add on some random ideas that we have. We'd keep working on it until we have a final product."[13]
"We've got the guy making the videos downstairs, mixing in the other room, [and] singing going on [elsewhere]," Harry says in regards to their live-in studio. "We've created this kind of warped version of a pop production house.[12]
Members
- Orono Noguchi,[26] also known as "OJ"[27] – vocals, writing, painting
- Emily[28] (Mark David Turner) – writing, production, synths
- Tucan,[29] or Dr. Tucan Taylor Michaels[29] (Timothy "Tim" Shann) – writing, production, mixing, drums
- Robert Strange[30] (Blair Everson) – visual arts, staging
- Harry[31] (Christopher Young) – writing, production, guitar
- B[32] – background vocals, background dancing, background musician
- Ruby[33] – background vocals, background dancing, background musician
- Soul[34] (Earl Ho) – background vocals, background dancing, background musician
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS [35] |
BEL (FL) [36] |
BEL (WA) [36] |
JPN Oricon [37] |
NLD [36] |
NZ Heat. [38] |
SCO [39] |
UK [40] |
US Heat. [41] | ||
Superorganism | 56 | 86 | 116 | 145 | 89 | 4 | 19 | 25 | 4 |
Singles
Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BEL (WA) [36] |
JPN [42] |
JPN Over. [43] |
MEX Air. [44] |
US Alt. [45] | |||
2017 | "Something for Your M.I.N.D." | — | — | — | — | — | Superorganism |
"It's All Good" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Nobody Cares" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2018 | "Everybody Wants to Be Famous" | 25 | 83 | 6 | 11 | 29 | |
"Reflections on the Screen" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Night Time" | — | — | — | 45 | — | ||
"The Prawn Song" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"—" denotes a title that did not chart or was not released. |
Music videos
Year | Title | Album |
---|---|---|
2017 | "It's All Good" | Superorganism |
"Nobody Cares" | ||
"Something for Your M.I.N.D." | ||
2018 | "Everybody Wants to Be Famous" | |
"Reflections on the Screen" | ||
"Night Time" | ||
"The Prawn Song" |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Push | Superorganism | Nominated | [46] |
References
- ^ McDermott, Patrick D. (11 October 2017). "The Real Story of Superorganism". The Fader. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ Smith, Thomas (15 September 2017). "Superorganism: 2017's Buzziest, and Most Mysterious New Band, Interviewed". NME. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ Bassil, Ryan (3 May 2017). "Superorganism: The New Band Who'll Fuck with Your Brain and Turn It Inside Out". Noisey. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ Carson, Dan (14 February 2017). "Transatlantic Pop Machine Superorganism are 2017's First Big Pop Curveball, but Who Are They Really?". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ Wright, Lisa (13 December 2017). "Class of 2018: Superorganism". DIY Magazine. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ "Top 25 Albums of 2018 (So Far)". Consequence of Sound. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- ^ "Superorganism". Genius. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Superorganism Announce Debut Album Details, Released 2nd March 2018". Domino Recording Company. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ Superorganism | Hostess Entertainment Unlimited (in Japanese; retrieved 2 March 2018)
- ^ ""We started this project for our own amusement: DiS meets Superorganism". Drowned in Sound.
- ^ ""Superorganism on coming together via the web". Channel 4.
- ^ a b c d McDermott, Patrick D. (11 October 2017). "The Real Story of Superorganism". The Fader.
- ^ a b "An interview with Superorganism's Lead Singer Orono Noguchi Talks About Leaving Japan to Go to High School in Maine, Ripping Off Stephen Malkmus, and Starting a Band". Radio Milwaukee.
- ^ "Orono's Soundcloud". Soundcloud.
- ^ Flynn, Niall (6 September 2017). "Meet Superorganism: Part-Pop Group, Part-Cult, Full Hivemind". Dazed. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ "SUPERORONO-ISM". Down East.
- ^ "John Bapst Facebook account congratulating Orono Naguchi". Facebook.
- ^ "Instagram post by Soul". Instagram.
- ^ "Superorganism". Domino Recording Company. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ "Instagram". Soul's Instagram account.
- ^ "Soul's Bandcamp account". Bandcamp.
- ^ "Instagram post by Soul". Instagram.
- ^ "Instagram post by Soul". Instagram.
- ^ "Instagram post from Soul". Instagram.
- ^ "宇多田「初恋」特設サイトで小袋らと座談会、Superorganismは「パクチーの唄」カバー" [Utada's special site for Hatsukoi features with Obukuro and more, Superorganism covers "Phakchi no Uta"] (in Japanese). Natalie. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- ^ "Orono's account". Instagram.
- ^ "Tweeting birds, cash register bells make new group's music trippy". Entertainment.mb.com.
- ^ "Emily's Instagram account". Instagram.
- ^ a b "Tucan's account". Instagram.
- ^ "Robert Strange's Instagram account". Instagram.
- ^ "Harry's Instagram account". Instagram.
- ^ "B's Instagram account". Instagram.
- ^ "Ruby's Instagram account". Instagram.
- ^ "Soul's Instagram account". Instagram.
- ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #463". auspOp. 10 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ a b c d "DISCOGRAFIE SUPERORGANISM". ULTRATOP & Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
- ^ "スーパーオーガニズム". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- ^ "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 09 March 2018 - 15 March 2018". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
- ^ "Artist Chart History – Superorganism". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
- ^ "Heatseeker Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ Peak positions for Superorganism's singles on Billboard Japan Hot 100:
- For "Everybody Wants to Be Famous": "Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ^ Peak positions for Superorganism's singles on Billboard Japan Hot Overseas Chart:
- For "Everybody Wants to Be Famous": "Hot Overseas". Billboard (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ^ "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard.biz.
- ^ "Alternative Songs: March 24, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
- ^ "Camila Cabello, Ariana Grande, Post Malone Lead 2018 MTV EMA Nominees". Billboard. 4 October 2018.