Bradford Cox
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Bradford Cox | |
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Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
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Years active | 2001–present |
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Bradford James Cox (born May 15, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Deerhunter. He also pursues a solo career under the moniker Atlas Sound.[6]
Cox formed Deerhunter with drummer Moses Archuleta in 2001. The band has released eight studio albums along with several singles and EPs. Atlas Sound is a name Cox has used since he was ten to refer to his own music. Cox has released three full-length productions under this name. Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel (2008), Logos (2009), and Parallax (2011). Cox's method of creating music is stream of consciousness, and he does not write lyrics in advance.[7]
He made his film acting debut in 2013's Dallas Buyers Club.[8]
Music career
Deerhunter
Cox founded Deerhunter with bassist Paul Harper and drummer Dan Walton (who named the band) in early 2001. The band expanded after Cox met a teenage transient, Moses Archuleta, who was sleeping on the floor of Cox's friends. Archuleta initially played
Atlas Sound
Atlas Sound is the musical solo project of Cox, although he has used the name to represent his music since he was a child. He had access to a cassette player with two tape decks, which he used to layer guitar and drum sounds, and his own voice. In listening to some of these old tapes (of which Cox believes he has over five hundred in storage) he found "Some of it is absolutely, terrifyingly bad, but sometimes I'm just like, 'Wow, that's cool.' That's actually how some Deerhunter songs happened. 'Spring Hall Convert' [from
Cox began Atlas Sound in the wake of his work with Deerhunter because "I have ideas that I can't make work with a five piece rock band...There's kind of this palette of sounds that I use that I don't necessarily get to use with Deerhunter."[11] Because the music Deerhunter makes is a collaborative effort, Cox does not want to assert himself as its principal songwriter. "I might have an idea for a fragment of a song, but I want to leave it skeletal so the guys can fill it out. Whereas with Atlas Sound, everything is done in an hour." Cox created the music for his first record in the software Ableton Live, using an array of computer-based instruments, as well as his own live recordings.[12]
To date, there have been four major releases by Cox as Atlas Sound: Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel (2008), Logos (2009), a four-album set of previously unreleased songs called Bedroom Databank (2010), and finally Parallax in 2011. The lyrics of Let the Blind Lead are autobiographical in nature, reflecting life experiences of Cox.[12] In discussing his second album, Cox characterized his first as being a "bedroom laptop type thing" and "Very introverted." In contrast, Logos was written in several parts of the world, and is "not about me. There are collaborations with other musicians. The lyrics are not autobiographical. The view is a lot more panoramic and less close-up. I became bored with introspection."[13] An unfinished version of Logos was leaked onto the internet in August 2008, over a year before its release date.[14] In response, Cox almost ceased production on the record, later saying "I did not react well to the leak, in retrospect. It became the kind of internet-fueled drama that I was quickly learning to despise."[13]
In late 2010, Cox published four volumes of demos on his blog, entitled "Bedroom Databank". These demos were taken down from
Other work
Cox has also recorded as part of other bands, such as the short lived "Wet Dreams", an otherwise all-girl garage / noise band in which he played drums. He also recorded several tracks on the Black Lips second album We Did Not Know the Forest Spirit Made the Flowers Grow, playing drums on the song "Notown Blues" from that album.
He also is a part of the "Avant-Garage" band Ghetto Cross, with Cole Alexander from Black Lips, Frankie Broyles, and Asha Lakra.
Cox contributed to the Karen O-scored soundtrack for the 2009 film Where the Wild Things Are.[18]
In November 2012, it was announced that Cox would portray Jared Leto's lover in the feature film, Dallas Buyers Club, co-starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner; this is Cox's film debut.[19]
Equipment
Guitars
For the most part, Bradford favors vintage and modern
- Fender Jaguar (1964 Fiesta Red, Formerly owned by Stereolab's Tim Gane)
- Fender Jazzmaster (1966, Block Inlays Originally white, has aged to a yellow color)
- Fender Stratocaster[21]
- '74 Gibson Les Paul Signature[22]
- Fender Bronco (70s stripped natural finish)
- Teisco Del-Rey EV-2, Humbuckers, Blue (possibly modified)
- Various Gibson Acoustics
- EKO 60's 12 String Acoustic
- Epiphone Small Body Acoustic strung in "Nashville Tuning"
Effects and amplifiers
Bradford Cox's Deerhunter Pedalboard as of 2016 Tours
1966 Fender Jazzmaster into – (signal chain as follows)
- Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner
- Fairfield Circuitry Unpleasant Surprise (Used for Lead Parts, Noise)
- Henretta Engineering Chord Blaster (Used For Overdrive)
- Eventide PitchFactor
- Behringer Reverb Machine RV600
- Ibanez CF7 Chorus / Flanger (Rarely Used)
- Ibanez DE7
- Line 6 DL4
- Boss Noise Suppressor
Out to Fender Hot Rod DeVille 4x10
Cox Also Uses an Exposed Spring Reverb Tank / Filter Unit for Noise and Effects
Vocal Effects Pedal Board Beyerdynamic M69 Mic Into:
- Digitech DigiVerb (through Mic for Backwards Vocals Only)
- Digitech DigiDelay (through Mic for Vocal Loops Only)
- Eventide Mixing Link Pre Amp / FX Loop
- Amps
When playing live with Deerhunter, Bradford previously used Univox U-1226 Head into a vintage Marshall 4x10 Cabinet. He has also used a Marshall JCM800 half-stack, and occasionally a 1970s Peavey Classic combo amplifier. He Currently uses a Fender Hot Rod DeVille 410.[20]
Songwriting
Cox describes his mode of songwriting as 'automatic or stream-of-consciousness'. "Usually I go into a sort of trance and I'll have five or six songs afterwards", he said, speaking to Victoria Segal of
Personal life
Cox was born with the genetic condition Marfan syndrome.[2] As a teenager, he dropped out of high school (although he later earned a GED) and his parents divorced, leaving him "to live in my childhood home alone. I literally lived in this large suburban house by myself." Cox has called his changing musical taste while growing up reflective of his life and mental state. Around the age of ten, his Marfan syndrome began to affect his body in more visible ways; this is the point at which he "first started looking awkward." With no friends, Cox became interested in how music could sound "heartbreaking or nostalgic or melancholy"; he identified with the title character of the film Edward Scissorhands, and especially enjoyed the soundtrack, which was composed by Danny Elfman. Cox's tastes shifted to music that was more "monotonous or hypnotic", such as the Stereolab album Transient Random-Noise Bursts with Announcements. Around twenty years of age, his life situation brought about "a period", during which he became "only interested in this certain sort of suburban psychedelic pastoral thing. It was escapism. I didn't want as much emotional manipulation. It's kind of the opposite of Edward Scissorhands."[26]
Cox has described himself as gay,
In December 2014, Cox was hospitalized after being hit by a car.[34]
Discography
With Deerhunter:
- 2005 Turn It Up Faggot
- 2007 Cryptograms
- 2008 Microcastle
- 2008 Weird Era Cont.
- 2010 Halcyon Digest
- 2013 Monomania
- 2015 Fading Frontier
- 2019 Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared?
As Atlas Sound:
- 2008 Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel
- 2009 Logos
- 2011 Parallax
With Cate Le Bon
- 2019 Myths 004[35]
References
- Pitchfork. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
- ^ Allmusic. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
- ^ "The 50 Best Rock Bands Right Now". Spin. October 16, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
- Rhapsody. Archived from the originalon March 24, 2010.
- ^ Goodman, William (November 11, 2009). "Deerhunter Frontman Goes Acoustic". Spin. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
- ^ "Interview: Atlas Sound". pitchfork.com. Pitchfork. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "Toxic Concepts: An Interview With Deerhunter's Bradford Cox". thequietus.com. The Quietus. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- ^ "Jared Leto and Deerhunter's Bradford Cox Play Lovers in AIDS Drama". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- ^ Klingman, Jeff (February 2, 2008). "Atlas Sound: Interview". Prefix Magazine. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
- ^ Cox, Bradford. ATLAS SOUND in series: SXSW – All Roads Lead to Austin 2008. Dig For Fire, Vimeo. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
- Pitchfork Media. Archived from the originalon July 30, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
- ^ Pitchfork Media. Archived from the originalon December 18, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
- ^ Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
- Pitchfork Media. Archived from the originalon October 4, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
- Pitchfork Media. November 29, 2010. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
- Pitchfork Media. November 30, 2010. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
- ^ "ATP curated by Animal Collective – All Tomorrow's Parties". Atpfestival.com. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ "Karen O and the Kids: The Rockers of "Where the Wild Things Are"". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
- Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Deerhunter – Bradford Cox Guitar Rig Gear and Equipment". Uberproaudio.com. June 5, 2009. Archived from the original on August 18, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
- ^ "Deerhunter Live @ Noise Pop 2009". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
- ^ "Deerhunter – Nothing Ever Happened (live)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
- ^ "Atlas Sound : Kid Klimax @ The Bottom Lounge". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
- ^ "Pitchfork Music Festival 2012 – Saturday". YouTube. July 1, 2012. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- Q magazine, November 2010. Q & A. Halcyon Digest album review. p. 113.
- Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
- ^ Aaron, Charles (2008). "Pretzel Logic". Spin Magazine (April 2008). Spin Media LLC: 76–82.
- ^ "Search | Creative Loafing". Clatl.com. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ Logan K. Young. Deerhunter @ Trouser Press. – ...a non-practicing homosexual.
- ^ "Bradford Cox press tour continues. Says he is no longer 'asexual', now 'queer.' | Hipster Runoff". www.hipsterrunoff.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ Abad, Mario (October 1, 2016). "Deerhunter's Bradford Cox Says He Is Asexual And A Virgin – PAPER". Papermag.com. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ "Bradford Cox Is the Weirdest Queer in the Music Industry". www.out.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ Cox, Bradford [@DeerhunterMusic] (July 23, 2019). "I am non-binary and asexual" (Tweet). Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via Twitter.
- Pitchfork. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
- ^ Minsker, Evan (September 24, 2019). "Cate Le Bon and Deerhunter's Bradford Cox Announce New EP, Share Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 24, 2019.