Damien Jurado
Damien Jurado is an American singer-songwriter from Seattle, Washington, United States. Over the years, he has released albums on Sub Pop, Secretly Canadian and currently on Mama Bird Recording Co.[2] and Loose.[3]
Damien Jurado | |
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Jurado performing at the Peabody Opera House in St. Louis, Missouri in February 2015 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Seattle, Washington, United States |
Genres | Indie rock |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instruments | Acoustic guitar, electric guitar |
Years active | 1995–present |
Labels | Mama Bird Recording Co., Loose |
Associated acts | Coolidge,[1] Hoquiam |
Website | damienjurado |
Personal history and influences
Jurado's mother's family were devout Mormons; at the age of 8 or 9, Jurado denounced and renounced the religion.[4] Jurado spent part of his childhood in Arizona, and during this period his mother "was really heavily into, she was in UFO committees" and would attend New Age meetings, to which she would bring her son.[4] During those years he was engrossed in television series such as The Twilight Zone; Elvira, Mistress of the Dark; Kung Fu; and The Outer Limits. Those influences, along with listening to conspiracy theory and paranormal phenomena broadcaster Art Bell and listening to recordings of Buckminster Fuller and Jesus Movement figure Lonnie Frisbee, influenced his later music.[4]
Music career
Jurado's solo career began during the mid-1990s, releasing lo-fi folk based recordings on his own cassette-only label, Casa Recordings. Gaining a local cult following in Seattle, he was brought to the attention of Sub Pop Records by Sunny Day Real Estate singer Jeremy Enigk. After two 7-inch releases (Motorbike and Trampoline) Sub Pop issued his first full album, Waters Ave S. in 1997. His second album Rehearsals for Departure, was released in 1999, produced by Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, Big Star, R.E.M.).
He often makes use of found sound and field recording techniques, and has experimented with different forms of tape recordings. In 2000 he released Postcards and Audio Letters, a collection of found audio letters and fragments that he had found from sources such as thrift store tape players and answering machines. Also released in 2000 was Ghost of David, Jurado's bleakest and most personal sounding record to date. I Break Chairs (2002) was produced by long-time friend, Pedro the Lion's David Bazan. It was his last album for Sub Pop, and was a much rockier, electric affair.
After signing for the Indiana-based label Secretly Canadian, Jurado reverted to his trademark folk ballad-based style, releasing four more albums: Where Shall You Take Me? (2003), On My Way to Absence, (2005) And Now That I'm in Your Shadow (2006) and the rockier Caught in the Trees (2008).[5]
In 2009, Jurado teamed with his brother Drake to issue an LP under the moniker Hoquiam, released on February 23, 2010. The album preceded Damien's next solo release, dubbed Saint Bartlett, which was released May 25, 2010 and was produced by label mate Richard Swift.[6] After touring the album with Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, Jurado began work on his next album. On February 21, 2012 he released his 10th studio album, Maraqopa, his sixth for Secretly Canadian.[7] In January 2014 Jurado released Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son[8] an album which marked the third straight collaboration with producer Richard Swift. In March 2016, Jurado released Visions of Us on the Land, and in December of the same year he and Swift released a collection of covers from 2010, Other People's Songs, Volume 1.[9] In September 2016 he was forced to cancel an Australian tour due to health issues.[10]
Collaborations and contributions
Jurado appears on the tracks Almost Home and The Dogs on Moby's album Innocents.[11]
He is also featured in an episode of the BYUtv music documentary series Audio-Files.[12]
Jurado's song "Everything Trying" appeared in the NBC series The Blacklist (Season 1, episode 12), in the 2013 Best Foreign Film Oscar film The Great Beauty, in the Fox series "House M.D." (Season 7, Episode 14), and in the 2011 film "The Dillema".
In the 2014 Joe Carnahan directed crime thriller "Stretch", Jurado's song "Let Us All In" plays during the end last scene at Corky's Diner and into the credits.
In the 2015 romantic comedy, Tumbledown, Jurado contributes to many songs on the soundtrack.[13]
He duets with Lotte Kestner on her song "Turn the Wolves" on the 2013 album The Bluebird of Happiness.
He has collaborated extensively with Richard Swift.
Jurado's track "A.M. AM" from his "Visions of Us on the Land" is prominently featured in Episode 3 as well as "Cloudy Shoes" from "Saint Bartlett" in Episode 6 of the 2018 Netflix documentary series Wild Wild Country.
Discography
Albums
- Waters Ave S. (Sub Pop – January 1997)[14]
- Rehearsals for Departure (Sub Pop – March 1999)
- Postcards and Audio Letters (2000, Made in Mexico)
- Ghost of David (Sub Pop – September 2000)[15]
- I Break Chairs (Sub Pop – February 2002)[14][16]
- Where Shall You Take Me? (Secretly Canadian – March 2003)[17]
- This Fabulous Century (Burnt Toast – October 2004)
- On My Way to Absence (Secretly Canadian – April 2005)
- And Now That I'm in Your Shadow (Secretly Canadian – October 2006)[18][19]
- Caught in the Trees (Secretly Canadian – September 2008)
- Saint Bartlett (Secretly Canadian – May 2010)
- Live at Landlocked (Secretly Canadian – April 16, 2011)[20]
- Maraqopa (Secretly Canadian - February 21, 2012)
- Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son (Secretly Canadian - January 21, 2014) UK #100, US #101
- Visions of Us on the Land (Secretly Canadian - March 18, 2016)[21]
- Other People's Songs, Volume 1 (Secretly Canadian - December 2, 2016)
- The Horizon Just Laughed (Secretly Canadian - May 4, 2018)
- In the Shape of a Storm (Mama Bird Recording Co. / Loose - April 12, 2019)
- What's New, Tomboy? (Mama Bird Recording Co. - May 1, 2020)
EPs
- Motorbike (1995, Sub Pop)
- Trampoline (1996, Sub Pop)
- Vary (1997, Tooth & Nail)
- Gathered in Song (1998, Made in Mexico)
- Four Songs (2001, Burnt Toast Vinyl)
- Holding His Breath (2003, Acuarela)
- Just in Time for Something (2004, Secretly Canadian)
- Traded for Fire/Ghost of David Split with Dolorean (2006, Secretly Canadian)
- Gathered in Song (2007, Made in Mexico; re-release with bonus tracks)
- LEM: Volume 1, January 2010 (2010, Flannelgraph Records/Crossroads of America)
- Our Turn to Shine EP (2010, Secretly Canadian; the Saint Bartlett bonus EP is exclusive to Amazon UK)
- Diamond Sea/Pentagrams (Part of The Maraqopa Sessions) (2012, Secretly Canadian)
- Clouds Beyond/Let As All In (Part of The Maraqopa Sessions) (2012, Secretly Canadian)
- Wyoming Songbirds/Ghost of David (The Return) (Part of The Maraqopa Sessions) (2012, Secretly Canadian)
- The Maraqopa Sessions EP (2012, Secretly Canadian; bonus EP to celebrate the inclusion of Maraqopa on Rough Trade's Best Album 2012 list)
- Recorded Live at Little Elephant (2017, Little Elephant)
Singles
- "Halo Friendly" (1997, Summershine)
- "Chevrolet" (1998, UK only, Snowstorm)
- "Letters & Drawings" (1998, UK only, Ryko)
- "Big Let Down / Make Up Your Mind" (2002, Secretly Canadian)
- "Ohio" (2014, Filous Remix)
- "Exit 353" (2015)
Tour-only releases
- Walk Along the Fence (2004)
- Untitled 6 song EP (2006)
- The Trees Tour EP (2007)
- European Tour CD-R (2009)
- Tour CD-R (2011)
Compilation appearances
- "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" – Bifrost Arts' Come O Spirit (Sounds Familyre, 2009)
Badlands - Wages Of Sin w. Rosie Thomas ″Tooth and Nail″ Rock Sampler Vol 1 -= Frustration 1997
″'78 Ltd″ - Thirty 6
″Songs From The Big Top″ - Ashes
″The Unaccompanied Voice″ - An Accapella Compilation - Dance Hall Places
″It Goes Without Saying″ - aka Maremont - Kicking Steve Risley
Like Others Need Oxygen - Mr Brown
For the Kids Three - Small as Me
SC100 - Upstate
Unearthed - The Heron and The Fox
Live at KEXP Vol 8 - Working Titles
The Walking Dead Songs of Survival - I Will Still Be Dead
It Happened Here - Kansas City
Guest Appearances
Lotte Kestner The Bluebird of Happiness - duet on Turn The Wolves.
Rosie Thomas These Friends of Mine
Lampshade Lets Away (vocals 2 tracks)
Thomas Johnsson Denver First In Line EP - harmonica
Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden - vocals on In The End
Bosque Brown Plays Mara Lee Miller - backing vocals
Husbands Love Your Wives - Tender Stories in Song Between Tender Friends / Live At The Triple Door - vocals and guitar.
Producer on Other Artists Albums
Naomi Wachira S/T 2013
Shelby Earl Swift Arrows 2013
Joel Walter Nowhere In Fiction EP 2011
Joel Walter Bitter Lake Reservoir 2015
Ben Fisher Does The Land Remember Me 2018
References
- "Discography". Pedrothelion.org.
- Huey, Steve. "Damien Jurado | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- "Loose - Damien Jurado Announces New Album… On Loose!". Loosemusic.com. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- Woodbury, Jason P (May 21, 2016). "Damien Jurado :: The Aquarium Drunkard Interview". The Aquarium Drunkard. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- Thiessen, Brock."Damien Jurado Gets Personal", Exclaim!, September 2008.
- "damien jurado | splash". Saintbartlett.com. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- "New Damien Jurado Album, Maraqopa, February 21st! Download "Nothing is the News" MP3 Blog". Secretly Canadian. November 16, 2011. Archived from the original on November 20, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- "Read Father John Misty's Incredible Essay About Damien Jurado's New Album". Spin.
- "Review: Damien Jurado, 'Visions Of Us On The Land'". NPR.org. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- "Sick Damien Jurado cancels upcoming shows". Hollywood.com. August 22, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- "innocents - new album from moby". Moby.com.
- "BYUtv". BYUtv. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
- Davis, Edward. "Exclusive: Listen To 'Tumbledown' Soundtrack Cuts From Damien Jurado And Daniel Hart". The Playlist. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- Reno, Brad (2002). "Damien Jurado and Gathered in Song: I Break Chairs (review)". Trouser Press. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
- Keast, James (October 2000). "Damien Jurado: Ghost of David (review)". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2007.
- Keast, James (May 2002). "Damien Jurado and Gathered in Song: I Break Chairs (review)". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2007.
- Keast, James (February 2003). "Damien Jurado: Where Shall You Take Me? (review)". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2007.
- Ritter, Travis (October 19, 2006). "Damien Jurado: And Now That I'm In Your Shadow (review)". Houston Press. Retrieved November 27, 2007.
- Khanna, Vish (November 2006). "Damien Jurado: And Now That I'm in Your Shadow (review)". Record Store Day. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2007.
- "SpecialRelease". Record Store Day. June 13, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- Stephen, Thompson (December 15, 2015). "Song Premiere: Damien Jurado, 'Exit 353'". NPR. Retrieved December 16, 2015.