Astronauts is the solo musical project of the UK songwriter, Dan Carney. He is signed to London-based imprint

Lo Recordings Lo Recordings is a label founded in 1995 by Jon Tye. They are noted for their strong visual style thanks to Non-Format, with whom they work very closely and won a D&AD award for several of their releases sleeves. Musical style Lo recordings m ...

History

Carney initially conceived the project in 2013, following the end of his previous band Dark Captain, and while recuperating from a badly broken leg. After the first Astronauts songs were uploaded to SoundCloud in November 2013, a deal was signed with Lo Recordings. The debut Astronauts single, "Skydive", was released in June 2014, receiving support from

BBC Radio 6 Music BBC Radio 6 Music is a British digital radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It primarily plays a wide range of alternative music, from established and emerging artists and bands. In 2002 it was the first national music radio station t ...

Tom Ravenscroft Thomas James Dalglish Ravenscroft (born 6 February 1980) is a British radio presenter and disc jockey. He previously hosted a BBC Radio 6 Music show featuring new and unsigned music. He is the son of the late DJ John Peel. Career Working initi ...

Gideon Coe Gideon Jon Quantrill Coe (born 22 September 1967) is a radio DJ, presenter, sportscaster, voiceover artist and journalist. Early career He began his broadcasting career in 1976 as a child presenter on the BBC One TV programme '' Why Don't You? ...

Cerys Matthews Cerys Elizabeth Matthews (; born 11 April 1969) is a Welsh singer, songwriter, author, and broadcaster. She was a founding member of Welsh rock band Catatonia and a leading figure in the " Cool Cymru" movement of the late 1990s. Matthews now ...

, and

Steve Lamacq Stephen Paul Lamacq (born 16 October 1964), sometimes known by his nickname Lammo (given to him by John Peel), is an English disc jockey, currently working with BBC Radio 6 Music. Lamacq was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire ( ...

, as well as BBC Radio Scotland's Roddy Hart, and

Huey Morgan Hugh Thomas Diaz Morgan (born 7 August 1968) is an American musician best known as the former frontman of rock/hip hop band Fun Lovin' Criminals. Morgan performs both vocals and guitar and combines rock, hip hop, jazz, reggae, and funk influences ...

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, earning Carney comparisons with

Elliott Smith Steven Paul Smith (August 6, 1969 – October 21, 2003), known as Elliott Smith, was an American musician and singer-songwriter. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and lived much of his life in Portland, Oregon, whe ...

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, and

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, and making

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charts. The video for the song was devised and directed by London-based Irish artist Michelle Deignan. The debut album, ''Hollow Ponds'', named after an area of

Epping Forest Epping Forest is a area of ancient woodland, and other established habitats, which straddles the border between Greater London and Essex. The main body of the forest stretches from Epping in the north, to Chingford on the edge of the Lond ...

near where Carney lives, and was hospitalised following his leg fracture, was released in July 2014. The collection featured musical contributions from Firestations' Michael Cranny (who co-authored a number of tracks), London alt-folk singer Jess Bryant and cellist Nicole Robson (

Bat For Lashes Natasha Khan (born 25 October 1979), known professionally as Bat for Lashes, is an English singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. She has released six studio albums: '' Fur and Gold'' (2006), ''Two Suns'' (2009), '' The Haunt ...

, Stats), with Sputnik Music describing the sound as "often bleak and highly contemplative indie-folk". The second album 'End Codes' was released in May 2016.

Miscellaneous

Carney appears on ''There Are No Goodbyes'', the 2009 album from Robin Proper-Sheppard's Sophia, playing guitar and providing vocal harmonies on the song "Storm Clouds". The album was released by the

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label. He also has a PhD in developmental psychology, and has authored a number of research papers examining cognitive processing and memory in a number of developmental disorders. Using developmental trajectories to examine verbal and visuospatial short-term memory development in children and adolescents with Williams and Down syndromes, and executive function in Williams and Down syndromes.

Discography

Singles

*"Skydive" (2014, Lo Recordings) *"In My Direction" (2015, Lo Recordings) *"Civil Engineer" (2016, Lo Recordings) *"You Can Turn It Off" (2016, Lo Recordings) *"Breakout" (2016, Lo Recordings)

EPs

*"Four Songs" (2014, Lo Recordings)

Albums

*''Hollow Ponds'' (2014, Lo Recordings) *''End Codes'' (2016, Lo Recordings)

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Astronauts Year of birth missing (living people) 2013 establishments in England Musical groups established in 2013 Living people