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Wallpaper (musician)

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Wallpaper.
OriginOakland, California, U.S.
GenresHip hop, electronic, pop
Years active2005-2014
LabelsBoardwalk Records/Epic
MembersRicky Reed
Novena Carmel
Arjun Singh
Derek Taylor
Tom Peyton

Wallpaper (stylized as Wallpaper.) is an American hip hop and pop music project, fronted by producer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Eric Frederic (better known as Ricky Reed) based in Oakland, California. Wallpaper is signed to Boardwalk Records/Epic Records[1] and has played at SXSW.[2] The band is known for their lyrics, which Frederic has characterized as satire of pop music and consumer culture, as well as for their early use of exaggerated auto-tune.[3]

History

[edit]

In 2005, Eric Frederic began experimenting with music that emphasized the effects of auto-tune, an approach which was, at the time, still relatively uncommon.[3] Frederic named this solo project Wallpaper, and developed the alter-ego of Ricky Reed as Wallpaper's lead singer; Reed was described as rude, reckless, and irresponsible, and was intended to personify everything Frederic disliked about the contemporary pop music industry.[3]

As exaggerated auto-tune became more prevalent in the mainstream, Wallpaper's songs gained popularity, and their debut album DooDoo Face was released in 2009 through Eenie Meenie Records.[3][4] By 2010, Wallpaper had begun to transition away from the focus on auto-tune, and added drummer Arjun Singh as an official member of the band.[3] In December, the duo released the EP #STUPiDFACEDD, co-distributed by MTV's Hype Music and Boardwalk Records,[1] followed by a music video for the single of the same name, described as "a brash, stupid party anthem to mock all brash, stupid party anthems."[5]

In 2011, Wallpaper toured with K.Flay and Too Short,[6] and appeared at the MTV Video Music Awards.[7] Later that year, the band toured with Awolnation, then with Gym Class Heroes and Dirty Heads, closing the tour at The Grove in Anaheim, California.[6][8][9] By this time, Frederic had fully adopted the name Ricky Reed in a professional capacity, and was no longer referred to by his real name in interviews[3][7] and press releases.[1] Despite this, he had long since abandoned the idea of staying "in character" as Reed outside of Wallpaper's lyrics.[3]

Wallpaper signed to Epic Records in 2012 and expanded their lineup once more, this time to include vocalist Novena Carmel and percussionists Derek Taylor and Tom Peyton.[1] Their performance at Coachella in April received acclaim, with critics comparing it favorably to "boa constrictor-era" Britney Spears.[10][11] Following an appearance at South by Southwest,[2] Wallpaper appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Last Call with Carson Daly Tonight to perform "#STUPiDFACEDD," as well as the single "[Fucking] Best Song Everrr".[12][13]

In 2013, Wallpaper released their second full-length album, entitled Ricky Reed Is Real, to mostly positive reviews from fans and critics.[14][15][16] The following year, the band covered the theme song to the television series 21 Jump Street for the film adaptation of the same name.[17]

Throughout Wallpaper's career, Frederic occasionally produced music for other artists (such as "Anyway" by Cee-Lo Green[1]) and Wallpaper collectively shares a producer credit on Far East Movement's single "The Illest". As of 2021, all social media accounts for Wallpaper have been removed or deleted excluding their YouTube account, which has not received an update since 2014. Frederic appears to be focusing his efforts on producing for other artists and his progressive indie rock band, Facing New York.

Discography

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Albums

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List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US Heat[18]
DooDoo Face —
Ricky Reed Is Real 10

Extended plays

[edit]
Title EP details
Wallpaper.
  • Released: April 1, 2006[21]
  • Label: Five One, Inc.
  • Formats: Digital download
T Rex
  • Released: April 29, 2008[22]
  • Label: eenie meenie
  • Formats: Digital download
T REX RMXd
  • Released: December 23, 2008[23]
  • Label: eenie meenie
  • Formats: Digital download
#STUPiDFACEDD
  • Released: August 2, 2011[24]
  • Label: Epic
  • Formats: CD, Digital download

Singles

[edit]
List of singles by title, year and peak chart positions, and album
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US Dance
[18] 		US Pop
[18]
"I Got Soul, I'm So Wasted" 2009 — — — Doodoo Face
"#STUPiDFACEDD" 2011 — — — #STUPiDFACEDD
"Fucking Best Song Everrr" 2012 — 8 36
"Good 4 It" 2013 — 18 — Ricky Reed Is Real
"Hesher" 2014 — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Promotional singles

[edit]
Title Year Album
"Valentine" 2010 Non-album single
"21 Jump Street" (Main Theme) 2012 Non-album single
"Drunken Hearts" 2013 Ricky Reed Is Real

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Wallpaper. To Release New Single "Good 4 It" On iTunes Today". Sony. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  2. ^ a b "Wallpaper Interview @ SXSW 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Hafner, Josh (2010-12-02). "QandA: Eric Frederic of Wallpaper". The University Daily Kansan. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  4. ^ "Wallpaper". eenie meenie records. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  5. ^ "Wallpaper's Sleazily Funny '#STUPiDFACEDD' Video Premieres on MTV". SF Weekly. 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  6. ^ a b "Wallpaper. – #STUPiDFACEDD EP out July 26, tour dates announced". The Bay Bridged. 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  7. ^ a b Imafidon, Nadia (2011-11-10). "QandA: Wallpaper's Ricky Reed". The University Daily Kansan. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  8. ^ "Gym Class Heroes w/ The Dirty Heads and Wallpaper". Shepherd Express. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  9. ^ "Gym Class Heroes's Concert History". concertarchives.org. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  10. ^ "Coachella 2012: Wallpaper's noon-hour dance party". Buzzbands.la. 2012-04-14. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
  11. ^ "Coachella 2012: Kendrick Lamar, Wallpaper., and 5 More Acts We Missed Last Friday | SPIN | Coachella | Festival Coverage". SPIN. 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
  12. ^ Port, Ian S. (2012-03-01). "Here Is Video of Wallpaper. Performing "Best Song Everrr" on Jimmy Kimmel Live - San Francisco - Music - All Shook Down". Blogs.sfweekly.com. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
  13. ^ Mlynar, Phillip (2012-02-10). "The Park on Drinking Baileys with Wallpaper., Appearing on Carson Daly's TV Show, and What Song They'd Play for Mitt Romney - San Francisco - Music - All Shook Down". Blogs.sfweekly.com. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
  14. ^ Ham, Robert (2013-07-24). "Wallpaper. – Ricky Reed Is Real". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  15. ^ Saturday, Samantha (2013-07-23). ""Ricky Reed Is Real" by Wallpaper". The Owl Mag. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  16. ^ Veronin, Nick (2020-09-02). "Ricky Reed Gets Real on 'The Room'". SF Weekly. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  17. ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (2012-03-13). "All The Songs From The '21 Jump Street' Soundtrack Including Eminem, The Clash, N.W.A., Foster The People & More". IndieWire. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  18. ^ a b c Andy Kellman. "Wallpaper". AllMusic.
  19. ^ "Doodoo Face". iTunes.
  20. ^ "Ricky Reed Is Real". iTunes.
  21. ^ "Wallpaper - EP". iTunes.
  22. ^ "T Rex - EP". iTunes.
  23. ^ "T REX RMXd - EP". iTunes.
  24. ^ "#STUPiDFACEDD - Single". iTunes.
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