Ian Svenonius
Ian Svenonius | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Ian Folke Svenonius |
Born | Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[1] | June 1, 1968
Genres | Punk rock, post-punk, indie rock |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Vocals Trumpet |
Years active | 1980–present |
Labels | Dischord Records Drag City K Records Southern Records |
Ian Folke Svenonius
His first band, Nation of Ulysses, which released its first record in 1990, was highly influential in the punk scene but dissolved in 1992. After a short-lived side-project called Cupid Car Club, Svenonius formed the Make-Up in 1995, who combined garage rock, soul, and liberation theology to make a new genre they dubbed "Gospel Yeh-Yeh".[4] The Make-Up disbanded early in 2001, and a year later, Svenonius formed the band Weird War, who were also known briefly as the Scene Creamers. Later Svenonius led the band Chain and the Gang. Currently, Svenonius is the leader of the group Escape-ism.
In 2021, Svenonius co-released a feature film called "The Lost Record," named for the Escape-ism LP of the same name.
Svenonius' solo work includes the 2001 album Play Power under the fictional pseudonym of David Candy,[5] the books The Psychic Soviet,[6] Supernatural Strategies for Making a Rock 'n' Roll Group, Censorship Now!!, & Against the Written Word, and as host of Soft Focus on VBS.tv.[7]
Musical projects
Nation of Ulysses
Svenonius' first musical group was
In 1990, before the band released any official albums, Svenonius was featured as teen-oriented Svenonius stated that the Nation of Ulysses' intent was "to create a space of liberation where anything’s possible". He criticized "traditional rock-and-roll" groups as a "corrupt medium." The contest was reportedly a "nationwide search for the most perfect boyfriend material a girl could ask for", and Svenonius was among 150 entries.
Nation of Ulysses was known for their extremely physical performances,[citation needed] during which Svenonius recalls many injuries,[citation needed] including breaking his arm, his leg, and his skull on numerous occasions. Audience members were also hurt during some performances.[citation needed]
The group disbanded in the fall of 1992 having failed to complete their third album (the finished tracks were later released as
The Make-Up
The Make-Up formed in 1995, consisting of Svenonius, Canty, and Gamboa from Nation of Ulysses, and with the addition of
As the Make-Up's frontman and mouthpiece, Ian Svenonius often contextualized the band's music in terms of larger socio-political themes, typically describing the band and its gospel attitude in Marxist and socialist terms, in opposition of what he saw as the capitalist, bourgeois, machismo paradigm of rock and roll.[18][19][20] The band's aversion to American culture was expressed through their self-styled musical genre "Gospel Yeh-Yeh," a belief system through which they advocated to their audience to "get theirs" and to "off the pigs in all their forms".[21] The Make-Up intended to create ad-lib performances to re-energize what they saw as the stale, bland and formal ritual of rock and roll.[15] Appropriating gospel music's use of the congregate as a "fifth member," the Make-Up incorporated audience participation through call and response vocals, lyrical "discussion" techniques, and destruction of the fourth wall by physical transgression.[15]
The Make-Up dissolved in 2000, reportedly "due to the large number of counter-gang copy groups which had appropriated their look and sound and applied it to a vacuous and counter-revolutionary forms".[15] Between projects, Svenonius released a solo album under the pseudonym David Candy.[5]
Weird War
After the Make-Up disbanded, Svenonius formed the group Weird War in 2001, joined by Make-Up members Michelle Mae and Alex Minoff. While the current lineup appears on the group's first release I'll Never Forget What's His Name, the group's first full-length, eponymous release featured Neil Hagerty and Jessica Espeleta on guitars, and Steve McCarty on drums.[22]
These collaborators soon left to pursue other projects, and the band briefly changed its name to The Scene Creamers, with Svenonius on vocals, Michelle Mae on bass, Alex Minoff on guitar, and Blake Brunner on drums. In this incarnation, the band released I Suck on that Emotion, through
Chain and the Gang
Svenonius' musical project, Chain and The Gang, has released the albums
Escape-ism
Formed as a solo project, Escape-ism encompasses a more lofi-electronic sound compared to Svenonius' band oriented projects. The band has featured Alexandria Cabral and Sandi Denton as live members and contributors. Live shows consist of programmed drum machines, sparse jagged guitars, and stream of conscious lyrics. [24]
Other projects
Throughout his career, Svenonius has disc jockeyed at clubs such as Cold Rice in Washington, D.C.[1][15] In 1993 Svenonius and Nation of Ulysses/Make-Up members James Canty and Steve Gamboa were involved in the short-lived project Cupid Car Club, which released only one EP on Kill Rock Stars Records entitled Join our Club.[25] In 2001 Svenonius collaborated with the English conceptualist/producer Mike Alway of If.. Records to create the record Play Power under the pseudonym David Candy. The album was released through Jet Set Records, Siesta Records, and If.. Records. Play Power was part of a series of "Magazine-Style Records" which included other imaginary acts such as Death by Chocolate, Maria Napoleon, and Lollipop Train.[5]
Svenonius wrote an afterword for
In 2021, Svenonius co-released the feature length film The Lost Record, named for the Escape-ism record of the same title.
The Psychic Soviet & Other Writing
In July 2006, Svenonius released a book of 19 essays entitled the Psychic Soviet (
The "Instructions" that preface the book state that it "should clear up much of the confusion regarding events of the last millennium – artistic, geo-political, philosophical, et al." and encourages the reader to "refer to the book in case of ethical quandaries, arguments, and social feuds".
After The Psychic Soviet, Svenonius released the books "Supernatural Strategies for Making a Rock 'n' Roll Group"(2012), "Censorship Now!!" (2015), & "Against the Written Word" (2023). He also publishes a newsprint periodical of essays, art, and poetry called "The Cellophane Flag" through Radical Elite Press.
Discography
Nation of Ulysses
- 13-Point Program to Destroy America (Dischord) (1991)
- Plays Pretty for Baby (Dischord) (1992)
- The Embassy Tapes(Dischord) (2000)
The Make-Up
- Destination: Love – Live! At Cold Rice(Dischord) (1996)
- After Dark (Dischord) (1997)
- Sound Verite (K Records) (1997)
- In Mass Mind (Dischord) (1998)
- Save Yourself(K Records) (1999)
- I Want Some (singles compilation) (K Records) (1999)
- Untouchable Sound (Drag City/Sea Note) (2006)
Weird War
- Weird War (Drag City) (2002)
- I Suck on that Emotion(as Scene Creamers) (Drag City) (2003)
- If You Can't Beat 'Em, Bite 'Em (Drag City) (2004)
- Illuminated by the Light (Drag City) (2005)
Chain and The Gang
- Down With Liberty... Up With Chains! (K Records) (2009)
- Music's Not For Everyone (K Records) (2011)
- In Cool Blood (K Records) (2012)
- Minimum Rock n Roll (Radical Elite Records) (2014) [34]
- Experimental Music (Radical Elite Records) (2017)
- Best of Crime Rock (In The Red) (2017)
David Candy
- Play Power (Jet Set/Siesta/If Records) (2001)
Cupid Car Club
- Join our Club (Kill Rock Stars) (1993)
XYZ
Escape-ism
- Tour tape (Flat Black Studios) (2017)
- Introduction to Escape-ism (Merge Records) (2017)
- Iron Curtain (split 7" w/ Light Beams) (Lovitt Records) (2017)
- "Crime Wave Rock" Live at Third Man (Third Man Records) (2018)
- The Lost Record (Merge Records) (2018)
- Bodysnatcher b/w Where Does One Kiss End? (Waaghaals Records) (2019)
- Alphabet Reform 7" (Experimental Jetset Records) (2019)
- The Silent Record (Radical Elite Records) (2021)
- Rated Z (Radical Elite Records / Monotone Records) (2021)
Too Much
- "Patent Leather" 45 b/w "Dyslexia" (2018)
- Club Emotion (Radical Elite Records) (2020)
Filmography
- Half-Cocked (film) (independent release) (1994)
- Plaster Caster (Xenon Pictures) (2001)
- Soft Focus (VBS.tv) (host, 2007–2010)
- The Seduction of Paolo Hewitt (Ooga Booga) (2008)
- The Launching of the Dream Weapon (Ooga Booga) (2008)
- What is a Group? (Strawberry City Films) (2013)
- Teenage Surrealism (2018)
- The Lost Record (Rated Z Films) (2022)
Writings
- Afterward of ISBN 0-9641916-6-0) (Burning Flags Press) (2005)[27]
- The Psychic Soviet (ISBN 0-9656183-9-0) (Drag City Press) (2006)
- Introduction of Glen E. Friedman's Keep Your Eyes Open – The ISBN 0-9641916-8-7) (Burning Flags Press) (2007)[27]
- "Supernatural Strategies for Making a Rock 'n' Roll Group" (ISBN 978-1-61775-130-1)(Akashic Books)(2013)
- "Censorship Now!" (ISBN 1617754099)(Akashic Books)(2015)
- "Against the Written Word" (Akashic Books) (2023)
- "The Autobiography of Ian F Svenonius" (Akashic Books) (2023)
- The Cellophane Flag (Radical Elite Press) (2021)
References
- ^ a b Danger Mike, Jesse Rockoff (DJ Mark Foley), Ian Svenonius (2006-10-30). "10-3-06 Ian Svenonius / The Make-Up". The Make-Up. Washington, D.C. Radio CPR. 97.5 FM.
- ^ Zachary Lipez (20 November 2017). "Ian Svenonius, Rock N' Roll Insurrectionist". Vice Magazine. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "ULYTHIUM". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ a b Gale, Thomas (2005). "The Make-Up Biography". eNotes. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
- ^ a b c Ashlock, Jesse. "David Candy". Epitonic Records. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
- ^ Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
- ^ a b "NEW YORK – Soft Focus With Ian Svenonius". Vice. 2006-09-16. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Who are the Nation of Ulysses?". Southern Records. Archived from the original on 2009-07-18.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Cheslow, S. "Nation of Ulysses interview – 1989". Interrobang?! #1 (1989). Archived from the original on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
- ^ Dundas, Zach (January 1993). "The Nation of Ulysses". Mumblage #1 (January 1993). Archived from the original on 2005-10-27. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
- ^ "IAN SVENONIUS, PUNK PHILOSOPHER AND SASSY MAGAZINE'S BADDEST BOY". Washington Post. 1990. Archived from the original on 2015-05-09. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
- ^ "New York Night Train One-Year Anniversary". New York Night Train. 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
- ^ "Steady Diet fanzine – April 98". Steady Diet, April 1998. Archived from the original on May 10, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
- ^ "Make-Up biography". Southern Records. Archived from the original on 2009-04-24.
- ^ a b c d e "Make Up – A Biography" (PDF). Drag City. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 24, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
- ^ "Make-Up discography". Southern Records. Archived from the original on 2008-02-23. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
- ^ "Make-Up and "Gospel Yeh-Yeh"". Southern Records. Archived from the original on 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
- ^ Svenonius, Ian and James Schneider (2006). In Film/On Video (DVD). Dischord Records.
- ^ "Damn You Fanzine". Southern Records, Damn You Fanzine. Archived from the original on 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
- ^ "The Hedonist –- February 1998". Southern Records, The Hedonist. Archived from the original on 2007-12-22. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
- Allmusic. Archived from the originalon 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
- Allmusic. Archived from the originalon 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
- ^ a b "Not Going to Mars". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
- ^ https://www.weirdomusicforever.com/weird-news-and-interviews//ian-svenonius-dives-deep
- ^ "Cupid Car Club". Kill Rock Stars. Archived from the original on 2007-06-09. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
- ^ "glen E. friedman's – idealist propaganda – The Latest". Burning Flags Press. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
- ^ a b c Marshall, Craig (2005). "biography". Burning Flags Press and Consafos Press. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
- ^ Gee, Ess (2006-09-26). "Vice TV". Archived from the original on 2006-11-30. Retrieved 2007-01-14.
- ^ "Ian MacKaye on Soft Focus w/ Ian Svenonius". Dischord Records. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
- Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2007-06-04.
- Pitchfork Media. Archived from the originalon 2008-06-10.
- ^ a b c d Twerdy, Saelan. "Illuminated by the Light". DiSCORDER. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-08.
- ^ Svenonius, Ian. "David Candy – Jetset records". Jetset Records. Archived from the original on 2003-08-08. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
- ^ "Chain and the Gang - Minimum Rock N Roll (RE001)". Dischord Records. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ "XYZ - XYZ - LP - Vinyl". Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
- ^ "(1) XYZ". archive.today. Archived from the original on 2014-04-12.
External links
- Band/Project homepages
- Nation of Ulysses on Southern Records
- The Make-Up on Southern Records
- Weird War
- David Candy on Jet Set Records (Archived here)
- Cupid Car Club on Southern Records
- Interviews