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Dirty Projectors is an American
indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...
band from
Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Kings County is the most populous Administrative divisions of New York (state)#County, county in the State of New York, ...
, New York, formed in 2002. The band is the project of singer-songwriter David Longstreth, who has served as the band's sole constant member throughout numerous line-up changes. The band's current line-up consists of Longstreth, alongside Mike Daniel Johnson (drums), Maia Friedman (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Felicia Douglass (vocals, percussion, keyboards) and Kristin Slipp (vocals, keyboards). Since its formation, Dirty Projectors has released eight full-length studio albums, with the project featuring major contributions from co-lead vocalist and guitarist Amber Coffman from 2006 to 2013. Following the release of '' Rise Above'' (2007), an album of Black Flag songs as re-imagined from memory, Dirty Projectors released their break-through album, '' Bitte Orca'' in 2009. Featuring lead vocals from Longstreth, Coffman, and Angel Deradoorian, the album received widespread critical acclaim and increased the band's exposure significantly. Its follow-up, '' Swing Lo Magellan'' (2012) was released to further acclaim. Following the departure of Coffman in 2013, Longstreth focused Dirty Projectors into a mostly studio-based project, releasing the albums, '' Dirty Projectors'' and '' Lamp Lit Prose'', in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Dirty Projectors became a full band once again in 2018 with the addition of co-lead vocalists Felicia Douglass, Maia Friedman and Kristin Slipp to tour in support of ''Lamp Lit Prose''. Inspired by the chemistry and dynamic of the band's current line-up, the group recorded and released five EPs across 2020, which were collected into the compilation, ''5EPs''.


History


Early years and ''Rise Above'' (2002–07)

While studying at
Yale Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...
, Longstreth spent part of the years 2001 and 2002 working on a number of musical ideas, together with his brother Jake. This resulted in the album, '' The Graceful Fallen Mango'', that was released in 2002 under his own name and introduced his distinctive use of song arrangements and his combination of lo-fi and hi-fi production. With the help of
Adam Forkner Adam Forkner (born March 27, 1976) is a musician/producer. Discography As Airboy Express * ''LAST STOP BREATH ART'' (2018) * ''Acrylic Sleep Museum'' (2017) * ''SUNWINTER'' (2017) As White Rainbow * ''ZOME'' (2005) * ''BOX'' (2006) * ''Sun Shi ...
of
Yume Bitsu Yume Bitsu (meaning "dream beats" in Japanese) was an American post-rock band from Portland, Oregon, active from 1995 and 2002. History Their debut ''Giant Surface Music Falling to Earth Like Jewels From the Sky'' was self-released in 1998 an ...
, Longstreth recorded and released '' The Glad Fact'' on the Western Vinyl label under the name "The Dirty Projectors" in 2003. Two years later, the band released ''
The Getty Address ''The Getty Address'' is an album by American experimental rock group Dirty Projectors. The album is a concept album and is described as "a glitch opera" about musician Don Henley, although it also explores themes like ancient Mexico, post- 9/11 ...
'', a concept album about the musician
Don Henley Donald Hugh Henley (born July 22, 1947) is an American musician and a founding member of the rock band Eagles. He is the drummer and one of the lead singers for the Eagles. Henley sang the lead vocals on Eagles hits such as " Witchy Woman", " D ...
that features extensive orchestral and choral accompaniment. The stripped-down ''
New Attitude EP ''New Attitude'' is an album by American experimental rock group Dirty Projectors. It is a combination of rock songs, orchestral songs like those on ''Slaves' Graves and Ballads Slaves' Graves & Ballads is the third album by American experiment ...
'' followed in 2006 and featured inklings of the band's later vocal interplay and guitar work. In 2007, the band released '' Rise Above'', an album of Black Flag songs as re-imagined from memory. The album introduced the band's distinctive contrast between Longstreth's vocals and the hocketed harmonies of Amber Coffman and Susanna Waiche, who was later replaced by Angel Deradoorian. In support of the album, the band performed songs for a Take Away Show acoustic video session shot by Vincent Moon.


Domino Records, ''Bitte Orca'', and ''Mount Wittenberg Orca'' (2008–11)

In April 2008, Dirty Projectors signed with
Domino Records Domino Records may refer to: * Domino Records (1916), American producer of early phonograph, from 1916 to 1917 *Domino Records (1924), American record label, from 1924 to 1933 * Domino Records (Canada), produced by the Compo Company in the 1920s a ...
, and the label announced the release of their fifth full-length album, '' Bitte Orca'', for June 9, 2009. ''Bitte Orca'' introduced additional backing vocalist/auxiliary percussionist Haley Dekle as a new member and bassist
Nat Baldwin Nat Baldwin (born February 21, 1980 in Rochester, New Hampshire) is an American bassist, improvisor, and songwriter. He's released several solo albums since 2003 and is also known for being a former member of Dirty Projectors. In 2020 he release ...
returning to the band (he previously was a member of Dirty Projectors from 2005 to 2006). That year, the band also collaborated with
David Byrne David Byrne (; born 14 May 1952) is a Scottish-American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, writer, music theorist, visual artist and filmmaker. He was a founding member and the principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of ...
on the song "Knotty Pine" for the compilation album '' Dark Was the Night'' produced by the Red Hot Organization. Byrne joined the Dirty Projectors onstage to perform this song, along with "Ambulance Man," another collaborative track not included on the compilation, at the "Dark Was the Night Live" concert at New York City's Radio City Music Hall on May 3, 2009. “Stillness Is the Move" was the first single released from ''Bitte Orca'', a West African and alternative R&B-influenced hybrid, sung by Coffman and inspired by the Wim Wenders film '' Wings of Desire''. ''Bitte Orca'' was met with positive reviews, including Rolling Stone magazine rating the album as number 6 on their best 25 albums of 2009. Dirty Projectors were to release a new EP in September 2009 titled ''Temecula Sunrise.'' While the EP was never released, two of its tracks, "Ascending Melody" and "Emblem of the World", were instead offered for free download on the Dirty Projectors website in early 2010. On May 8, 2009, members of Dirty Projectors collaborated with
Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct three-octave vocal range and eccentric persona, she has de ...
to perform an original composition by Longstreth, written for five voices and acoustic guitar, as part of a charity concert to benefit Housing Works, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter for homeless men, women, and children suffering from AIDS. The concert was held at the Housing Works Bookstore & Café in downtown New York City. On June 30, 2010, Dirty Projectors announced the release of '' Mount Wittenberg Orca'', a digital-only EP with Björk based on the artists' collaboration. ''Mount Wittenberg Orca'' was released physically by Domino Records in 2011.


''Swing Lo Magellan'' (2012–2015)

On March 30, 2012, Dirty Projectors released the first single from their sixth album, '' Swing Lo Magellan'', "Gun Has No Trigger". The album was released on July 10 in the United States and on July 9 internationally. On September 7, 2012, Dirty Projectors released a short film, directed by Longstreth, called "Hi Custodian". On November 6, 2012, Dirty Projectors released '' About to Die EP'', a digital- and vinyl-release EP featuring several new tracks. In 2015, members of Dirty Projectors made a cameo appearance as themselves in the Noah Baumbach film '' Mistress America''.


''Dirty Projectors'', ''Lamp Lit Prose'', and new line-up (2016–2019)

On September 19, 2016, Dirty Projectors began releasing videos and images on social media teasing new music. After the release of tracks "Keep Your Name", "Little Bubble" and "Up in Hudson", it was announced that the seventh, self-titled album, would be released on February 24, 2017 via Domino. The album was ultimately released three days early, on February 21, 2017. It marked a return to the group's solo roots for Longstreth (who at this point relocated to
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wor ...
,
California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...
to build a recording studio called " Ivo Shandor"), introduced a more electronic-based alternative R&B sound, and addressed his breakup with Coffman, his former bandmate and girlfriend. The following year, on July 13, 2018, Dirty Projectors released their eighth album, '' Lamp Lit Prose'', after teasing three singles, "Break Thru", "That's a Lifestyle", and "I Feel Energy". The touring of the album marked the revival of Dirty Projectors as a group project, with David Longstreth on lead vocals and guitar; returning members Nat Baldwin and Mike Daniel Johnson on bass/bass synth and drums, respectively; and introducing Maia Friedman on guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals, Felicia Douglass on percussion, keyboards, and backing vocals, and Kristin Slipp on keyboards and backing vocals. In late 2018, the band recorded a live in-studio album at New York City's Power Station to capture road-tested live arrangements of songs they had been performing on the ''Lamp Lit Prose'' tour. The album, ''Sing the Melody'' was released on December 10, 2019 on Domino Documents.


Five EPs (2020)

In 2020, the band announced that it would release five EPs throughout the year, with Longstreth noting: "For me, this cycle of EPs is about growth, transition, liminal space, shifting identity.
Allen Ginsberg Irwin Allen Ginsberg (; June 3, 1926 – April 5, 1997) was an American poet and writer. As a student at Columbia University in the 1940s, he began friendships with William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac, forming the core of the Beat Genera ...
had a phrase, 'first thought, best thought,' to talk about a particular kind of writing — not automatic writing exactly, but quick, spontaneous, trusting. For me, these songs are about rediscovering that place, after the stereo
ouroboros The ouroboros or uroboros () is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. The ouroboros entered Western tradition via ancient Egyptian iconography and the Greek magical tradition. It was adopted as a symbol in Gno ...
of the Ivo Shandor tudioera ('' Dirty Projectors'' & '' Lamp Lit Prose''). And I think for us — Felicia, Maia, Kristin, Mike and me — it’s about finding it for the first time: playing, writing, learning together as a new band." The first EP, ''Windows Open'' was released on March 27, 2020. The EP featured lead vocals and writing from Friedman with writing, production, and mixing handled by Longstreth. Oliver Hill from Vagabon added string arrangements to the release. The second EP, ''Flight Tower'', appeared in May. It featured lead vocals from Douglass, and was preceded by the single, "Lose Your Love". Outlets like Pitchfork praised Douglass' smooth, cool idiosyncratic vocal contributions. Early September the Bossa Nova inspired ''Super João'' appeared''.'' This was followed by the ''Earth Crisis'' EP in October, which featured lead vocals from Slipp and arrangements for string quartet and wind quintet by Longstreth. The recordings of these arrangements, which provide the backbone of the EP's sound, were initially made with Chris Taylor in 2008 as orchestral reinterpretations of 2007's ''Rise Above'', and then re-sampled by Longstreth in the production of ''Earth Crisis''. The EP was accompanied by a short film directed by Isaiah Saxon. The final installment entitled ''Ring Road'', featuring all five members, was released in November. The record company compiled all five as the 20-track album 5EPs.


Musical style

While often associated with the late 2000s New York indie rock scene, critics have linked Dirty Projectors to musicians from many genres, including new wave artists
David Byrne David Byrne (; born 14 May 1952) is a Scottish-American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, writer, music theorist, visual artist and filmmaker. He was a founding member and the principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of ...
and Squeeze, pop stars Beyoncé and
Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the ...
, and
progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. Init ...
musicians Frank Zappa and
Yes Yes or YES may refer to: * An affirmative particle in the English language; see yes and no Education * YES Prep Public Schools, Houston, Texas, US * YES (Your Extraordinary Saturday), a learning program from the Minnesota Institute for Talente ...
. In a 2009 interview, Longstreth embraced some of these comparisons but expressed a dislike for several of those musicians, commenting, " Steely Dan is a band I’m not that into," "I’m not a huge
Yes Yes or YES may refer to: * An affirmative particle in the English language; see yes and no Education * YES Prep Public Schools, Houston, Texas, US * YES (Your Extraordinary Saturday), a learning program from the Minnesota Institute for Talente ...
guy," and " Frank Zappa I fucking hate."


Members

Current members * David Longstreth – lead vocals, guitar, various instruments (2002–present) * Mike Daniel Johnson – drums (2012–2013; 2017–present) * Maia Friedman – guitar, keyboards, lead and backing vocals (2018–present) * Felicia Douglass – percussion, keyboards, lead and backing vocals (2018–present) * Kristin Slipp – keyboards, lead and backing vocals (2018–present) Former members *
Adam Forkner Adam Forkner (born March 27, 1976) is a musician/producer. Discography As Airboy Express * ''LAST STOP BREATH ART'' (2018) * ''Acrylic Sleep Museum'' (2017) * ''SUNWINTER'' (2017) As White Rainbow * ''ZOME'' (2005) * ''BOX'' (2006) * ''Sun Shi ...
– drums (2002–2005) * Jake Longstreth – backing vocals (2002; 2016) * Yasemin Schatz – flute (2004) * Rostam Batmanglij – flute, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals (2004–2005) * Larkin Grimm – backing vocals (2004–2005) * Jona Bechtolt – keyboards, drums (2004–2005) * Ezra Koenig – saxophone, guitar, electric piano, backing vocals (2004–2005; 2016) * Anneli Chambliss – backing vocals (2005) * Emily Cheeger – backing vocals (2005) * Alex Farrill – keyboards, drums, backing vocals (2005) * Spencer Kingman – guitar, backing vocals (2005–2006) * Charlie Looker – guitar, backing vocals (2005–2006) * Will Glass – drums (2005–2006) *
Nat Baldwin Nat Baldwin (born February 21, 1980 in Rochester, New Hampshire) is an American bassist, improvisor, and songwriter. He's released several solo albums since 2003 and is also known for being a former member of Dirty Projectors. In 2020 he release ...
– bass, keyboards (2005–2006; 2007–2013; 2016; 2017; 2018–2019) * Susanna Waiche – backing vocals (2006) * Brian McOmber – drums (2006–2012) * Amber Coffman – co-lead and backing vocals, guitar (2006–2013) * Sharon Nakhimovsky – violin (2007) * Jessica Pavone – viola (2007) * Angel Deradoorian – co-lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass (2007–2012; 2013) *
Jordan Dykstra Jordan Dykstra is an American film music and chamber music composer and violist from Sioux City, Iowa. Academically, Dykstra studied composition at CalArts with Michael Pisaro, Wolfgang von Schweinitz, and Ulrich Krieger; privately with ...
– viola (2008–2009) * Haley Louise Dekle – percussion, backing vocals (2008–2013) * Olga Bell – keyboards, backing vocals (2011–2013; 2017) * Jenn Wasner – guitar, backing vocals (2012) * Clarice Jensen – viola (2012; 2017) * Nadia Sirota – viola (2012; 2017) * Steve Marion – guitar, backing vocals (2013) * Tyondai Braxton – keyboards (2017) * Mauro Refosco – percussion (2017) * Francisco Javier Paredes – percussion (2017) * Teresa Eggers – backing vocals (2017)


Discography


Studio albums

* '' The Glad Fact'' (2003) * '' Morning Better Last!'' (2003) * '' Slaves' Graves and Ballads'' (2004) * ''
The Getty Address ''The Getty Address'' is an album by American experimental rock group Dirty Projectors. The album is a concept album and is described as "a glitch opera" about musician Don Henley, although it also explores themes like ancient Mexico, post- 9/11 ...
'' (2005) * '' Rise Above'' (2007) * '' Bitte Orca'' (2009) * '' Swing Lo Magellan'' (2012) * '' Dirty Projectors'' (2017) * '' Lamp Lit Prose'' (2018)


EPs

* '' New Attitude'' (2006) * '' Mount Wittenberg Orca'' (2010) (with
Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct three-octave vocal range and eccentric persona, she has de ...
)
* '' About to Die'' (2012) * ''Windows Open'' (2020) * ''Flight Tower'' (2020) * ''Super João'' (2020) * ''Earth Crisis'' (2020) * ''Ring Road'' (2020)


Compilations

* ''5EPs'' (2020)


Live albums

* ''Sing the Melody'' (2019)


References


External links

*
Dirty Projectors Domino Records page


*
Dirty Projectors in concert on NPR Music

Dirty Projectors
o
''Beyond Race Magazine'' (''BRM'')

Dead Oceans Page

Dirty Projectors & Björk on the Rob da Bank show
{{Authority control Indie rock musical groups from New York (state) Musical groups established in 2002 Musical groups from Brooklyn Musical groups from Los Angeles Musical groups from New York City 2002 establishments in New York City Domino Recording Company artists Dead Oceans artists Western Vinyl artists