She & Him
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
She & Him | |
---|---|
The Mercy Lounge in Nashville, TN, 31 July 2008 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
Genres | Indie pop, alternative country, indie folk[1] |
Years active | 2006–present |
Labels | Merge, Double Six, Columbia, Fantasy |
Members | |
Website | www |
She & Him is an American musical duo consisting of Zooey Deschanel (vocals, piano, ukulele[2]) and M. Ward (guitar, production). It was formed in 2006 in Portland, Oregon.[3] Their first album, Volume One, was released on the independent label Merge Records on March 18, 2008.[4][5] They are commonly associated with the twee, indie-folk resurgence of the mid-2000s, which music critic and professor Eric Harvey described in Stereogum as "childlike, whimsical, earnest, acoustic Starbucks-friendly music like Feist, the Decemberists, Regina Spektor, and Jose Gonzalez."[6]
History
Formation
Deschanel and Ward met on the set of the film The Go-Getter, in which Deschanel had a starring role. Martin Hynes, the director, introduced them to each other and asked them to sing a duet for the film's end credits. They performed the song "When I Get to the Border" by Richard and Linda Thompson.[7] The two bonded over a shared interest in albums produced by George Martin and Phil Spector, as well as certain Ralph Peer groups such as the Carter Family.[8]
Ward heard Deschanel sing in the film Elf. He was surprised to learn that, although she wrote songs, she hadn't pursued a career in music. Deschanel commented in an interview with Venus Zine: "I always thought I would be able to sing and act; but, at a certain point, it became difficult for me to share the music part. So I was writing a ton of music, but not really doing anything with it. I didn't really know exactly who to collaborate with until I met Matt, and everything seemed to fall into place.”[9] Deschanel had done years' worth of home demos, but she was shy about becoming a big-name celebrity.[10] On a whim, she sent them to Ward.[8] Ward called her a short time later telling her that he would like to record her songs properly. Deschanel said in an interview: "I always have loved music, ever since I was really little. I just loved to sing."[11]
2006–2008: Collaboration and Volume One
For
Ward and Deschanel recorded in Portland, Oregon, in December 2006 and February to March 2007. Volume One was completed in three sessions. They also recorded in
They took a break after that, as Ward was on tour and Deschanel was filming a movie. Volume One was released on March 18, 2008. Their first public appearance as a band was a year and two months earlier at the Sundance screening of The Go-Getter. They performed at other events and began their first tour in summer 2008. Paste named She & Him's debut the No. 1 album of the year.[12]
She & Him performed at the South by Southwest festival in March 2008[13][14] and went on tour during July and August 2008. Becky Stark of the band Lavender Diamond provided backup vocals.[15]
2010: Volume Two
On March 17, 2010, She & Him released their second album, Volume Two.[16] The album features eleven original songs written by Deschanel and covers of NRBQ's 1977 single "Ridin' in My Car" and Patience and Prudence's "Gonna Get Along Without You Now", as well as a guest appearance from the indie pop group Tilly and the Wall on the track "In the Sun".[17]
They performed concerts throughout the United States including the music festivals
2011–2013: A Very She & Him Christmas and Volume 3
Deschanel confirmed on Twitter that a new album would be released in early 2013.
2014–present: Record label change and Classics
On June 27, 2014, it was announced that She & Him had left independent label Merge Records and had joined major label Columbia Records, with their fifth studio album, Classics, scheduled to be released later in the year.[24][25] The next month, Deschanel and Ward were photographed with Brian Wilson in the studio recording his forthcoming album No Pier Pressure which features Deschanel as a guest vocalist on the cha-cha-esque track "On the Island".[26] On September 15, 2016, She & Him announced the forthcoming release of their second holiday album, Christmas Party, in October of that year.[27]
Awards and honors
- Grammy Award nomination: Best Song Written for Visual Media for "So Long" in Winnie the Pooh (2012)
Members
- Zooey Deschanel – lead vocals, tambourine, piano, ukulele
- M. Ward – guitar, backing vocals, piano, production
Discography
- Volume One (2008)
- Volume Two (2010)
- A Very She & Him Christmas (2011)
- Volume 3 (2013)
- Classics (2014)
- Christmas Party (2016)
- Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson (2022)
References
- ^ "March Best-Selling Albums on Amazon (UK, US, DE, FR)". The Independent. April 2010. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (12 July 2010). "The Flaming Lips, She And Him Pound Out Some Joy At The Forecastle Festival". Archived from the original on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ Scaggs, Austin. "Smoking Section: Modest Mouse, Zooey Deschanel, Kings of Leon" Rolling Stone, February 5, 2008.
- ^ Solarski, Matthew. "M. Ward/Zooey Deschanel Album Details Surface" Archived 2009-01-14 at the Wayback Machine Pitchfork Media, January 11, 2008.
- ^ Hasty, Katie. "Ward Helps Deschanel Find Her Voice" Billboard, January 31, 2008.
- ^ "20 Essential Freak Folk Songs". Stereogum. 2024-03-28. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
- ^ "Breaking Artist: She and Him". Rolling Stone. March 5, 2008. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
- ^ a b c "She & Him, Jenny Lewis, Jakob Dylan". Spectacle. Season 1. Episode 11. 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-05-04.
- ^ "Venus Zine: Hottt List: She & Him" Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine Venus Zine Winter 2008 Issue
- ^ a b Ryzik, Melena (2008-04-16). "On a New Album, Not Merely Acting Like a Singer". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
- ^ "She & Him | Pitchfork". 19 January 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-01-19. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ^ "Signs of Life 2008: Best Music :: Music :: Features :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
- ^ Solarski, Matthew. "M. Ward, Zooey Deschanel Reveal She & Him LP Details" Archived 2008-02-06 at the Wayback Machine Pitchfork Media, January 22, 2008.
- ^ "She & Him perform live from SXSW | The Current from". thecurrent.org. Minnesota Public Radio. Archived from the original on 27 Oct 2016. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
- ^ Maerz, Melissa (2008-06-23). "Zooey Deschanel to be joined by Lavender Diamond's Becky Stark on the road this summer". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
- ^ "She & Him – Volume Two". Discogs.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (2011-09-08). "She & Him Reveal Christmas Album | News". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2011-11-30. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
- ^ "Amazon.com Press Release 29 December 2011". Phx.corporate-ir.net. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ^ "Twitter / ZooeyDeschanel: Very excited to say @sheandhim". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
- ^ "She & Him Announce New Album, Tour | News". Pitchfork. 2013-01-29. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
- ^ Kane, Tyler (2013-01-29). "She & Him Announce Volume 3, Tour Dates". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
- ^ Shirley Halperin; Andy Gensler (27 June 2014). "She & Him Signs With Columbia Records". Hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ^ "Twitter". Retrieved 2014-08-12.
- ^ Fine, Jason (July 18, 2014). "Brian Wilson's Girl-Powered LP: In the Studio With the Beach Boy". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
- ^ Guilbault, Kristy (September 15, 2016). "She & Him Announce Second Holiday Album, Christmas Party". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved September 21, 2016.