Chad VanGaalen
Encyclopedia
Chad VanGaalen is a Canadian
musician and artist from Calgary
, Alberta
.
(2004
) on Canadian independent label Flemish Eye
. Infiniheart, a collection of songs selected from recordings made in his bedroom/makeshift studio, was picked up in 2005 by indie label Sub Pop
. In late 2005, the album was re-released with a bonus six-song EP entitled Green Beans.
, was released in the U.S. on Sub Pop and in Canada on Flemish Eye. The album is composed of new songs as well as tracks previously released on his earlier independent recordings and features exclusive artwork and videos made by VanGaalen.
On January 17, 2007, ChartAttack reported that Skelliconnection was #31 and had been on the chart for 19 weeks.
On July 10, 2007, Skelliconnection was revealed as being on the shortlist for the 2007 Polaris Music Prize
. The winner was announced at a gala ceremony on September 24, 2007, with the prize going to the band Patrick Watson.
, was released on September 9, 2008. Soft Airplane marked a significant change for Vangaalen's songwriting as, unlike previous Vangaalen releases (where songs were collected from a vast catalogue of previous home recordings), Soft Airplane was written within the two year time span since Skelliconnection.
Soft Airplane garnered many favourable reviews internationally. It was both nominated for a Canadian Juno Award
for Alternative Album of the Year and shortlisted for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize
. Furthermore, the album maintained a #2 placement in Exclaim!
' s Top Albums of 2008 and, upon release, spent 22 weeks on !earshot' s Top 50.
Vangaalen toured Soft Airplane extensively; performing live dates throughout North America, Europe, and the UK throughout 2008 and 2009. Vangaalen opted to tour with Flemish Eye
label mates Women
for many of his performances allowing him to utilize certain bandmembers as his backing band.
In September 2009, to celebrate the success of Soft Airplane, Vangaalen released an accessory EP for free download.
VanGaalen's song "Rabid Bits of Time", off of Soft Airplane, was featured in the trailer for the 2011 indie film Norman
.
and drummer Eric Hamelin from No More Shapes.
as well as their second album. VanGaalen is also an illustrator
and animator
, and has made his own album artwork and animated music videos to accompany several of his songs, including "Clinically Dead", "Flower Gardens", "Red Hot Drops", and "Molten Light", as well as the Love as Laughter
song "Dirty Lives". He has also designed album covers for other artists, including Shout Out Out Out Out
's Not Saying/Just Saying
. VanGaalen's video for "Molten Light" was featured on Aux.tv
Black Mold
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
musician and artist from Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.
Infiniheart
Following a few scattered independent releases, done mostly on homemade CDs with hand-drawn art, VanGaalen released InfiniheartInfiniheart
Infiniheart is an album by Canadian artist Chad VanGaalen. It was originally released in 2004 on Flemish Eye and was rereleased in 2005 on Sub Pop. The album was recorded in a makeshift studio in VanGaalen's basement, and uses a diverse array of instruments and equipment, almost all played by...
(2004
2004 in music
See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
) on Canadian independent label Flemish Eye
Flemish Eye
Flemish Eye is a record label started in 2003 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The first release was Infiniheart by Chad VanGaalen, which was picked up in 2005 by indie label Sub Pop. From the success of Infiniheart, the label has earnestly developed a mandate of assisting Calgary-based musicians and...
. Infiniheart, a collection of songs selected from recordings made in his bedroom/makeshift studio, was picked up in 2005 by indie label Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
. In late 2005, the album was re-released with a bonus six-song EP entitled Green Beans.
Skelliconnection
On August 22, 2006, VanGaalen's second album, SkelliconnectionSkelliconnection
Skelliconnection is the second album by Canadian musician Chad VanGaalen. It was released on August 22, 2006 on Flemish Eye and Sub Pop . In addition to writing and recording the album, VanGaalen performed almost all of the instruments and drew the album artwork...
, was released in the U.S. on Sub Pop and in Canada on Flemish Eye. The album is composed of new songs as well as tracks previously released on his earlier independent recordings and features exclusive artwork and videos made by VanGaalen.
On January 17, 2007, ChartAttack reported that Skelliconnection was #31 and had been on the chart for 19 weeks.
On July 10, 2007, Skelliconnection was revealed as being on the shortlist for the 2007 Polaris Music Prize
Polaris Music Prize
The Polaris Music Prize is a music award annually given to the best full-length Canadian album based on artistic merit, regardless of genre, sales, or record label...
. The winner was announced at a gala ceremony on September 24, 2007, with the prize going to the band Patrick Watson.
Soft Airplane
VanGaalen's third studio album, Soft AirplaneSoft Airplane
Soft Airplane is the third album by Chad VanGaalen, released in 2008 on Flemish Eye and Sub Pop. It was VanGaalen's first album to consist entirely of songs newly recorded for the album; his prior releases compiled tracks from a library of home recordings he had made over a number of years.The...
, was released on September 9, 2008. Soft Airplane marked a significant change for Vangaalen's songwriting as, unlike previous Vangaalen releases (where songs were collected from a vast catalogue of previous home recordings), Soft Airplane was written within the two year time span since Skelliconnection.
Soft Airplane garnered many favourable reviews internationally. It was both nominated for a Canadian Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
for Alternative Album of the Year and shortlisted for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize
2009 Polaris Music Prize
The 2009 edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize was presented on September 21, 2009 in Toronto at the Masonic Temple and broadcast live online for the first time in its short history...
. Furthermore, the album maintained a #2 placement in Exclaim!
Exclaim!
Exclaim! is a monthly Canadian music magazine that features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with special focus on Canadian and cutting-edge artists...
Vangaalen toured Soft Airplane extensively; performing live dates throughout North America, Europe, and the UK throughout 2008 and 2009. Vangaalen opted to tour with Flemish Eye
Flemish Eye
Flemish Eye is a record label started in 2003 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The first release was Infiniheart by Chad VanGaalen, which was picked up in 2005 by indie label Sub Pop. From the success of Infiniheart, the label has earnestly developed a mandate of assisting Calgary-based musicians and...
label mates Women
Women (band)
Women are an art rock band from Calgary, Canada. Their debut album Women was released on VanGaalen's label Flemish Eye on July 8, 2008 in Canada and on Jagjaguwar in the United States on October 7, 2008...
for many of his performances allowing him to utilize certain bandmembers as his backing band.
In September 2009, to celebrate the success of Soft Airplane, Vangaalen released an accessory EP for free download.
VanGaalen's song "Rabid Bits of Time", off of Soft Airplane, was featured in the trailer for the 2011 indie film Norman
Norman (film)
Norman is a 2011 drama film directed by Jonathan Segal. It stars Dan Byrd, Emily VanCamp, and Richard Jenkins. It airs at limited locations on October 21, 2011.-Plot:...
.
Black Mold
On August 11, 2009, VanGaalen released a full-length album Snow Blindness is Crystal Antz under the alias Black Mold. The album features the organic instrumental and electronica-oriented sound merely hinted at on his other releases. Snow Blindness is Crystal Antz was released with a download code to 100 plus minutes of glitchy odds and ends, unfinished ideas, analogue improvisation, and experimental manipulation.Live shows
VanGaalen is sometimes assisted live by bass player Mathew Flegel of the indie rock band WomenWomen (band)
Women are an art rock band from Calgary, Canada. Their debut album Women was released on VanGaalen's label Flemish Eye on July 8, 2008 in Canada and on Jagjaguwar in the United States on October 7, 2008...
and drummer Eric Hamelin from No More Shapes.
Other activities
In 2008 VanGaalen recorded the debut album of WomenWomen (band)
Women are an art rock band from Calgary, Canada. Their debut album Women was released on VanGaalen's label Flemish Eye on July 8, 2008 in Canada and on Jagjaguwar in the United States on October 7, 2008...
as well as their second album. VanGaalen is also an illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
and animator
Animator
An animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...
, and has made his own album artwork and animated music videos to accompany several of his songs, including "Clinically Dead", "Flower Gardens", "Red Hot Drops", and "Molten Light", as well as the Love as Laughter
Love as Laughter
Love as Laughter is an American indie band. The band was formed in 1994 by vocalist and guitarist Sam Jayne as a solo project following the break-up of his previous band, Lync. The band currently features Ivan Berko on bass, Nic Gonzales on drums, Andy Macleod on guitar and Robbie Lee on keyboards...
song "Dirty Lives". He has also designed album covers for other artists, including Shout Out Out Out Out
Shout Out Out Out Out
Shout Out Out Out Out is a Canadian dance punk/electro group from Edmonton, Alberta. Their debut album Not Saying/Just Saying, released in 2006, quickly garnered significant airplay on Canadian campus radio and on CBC Radio 3. The album debuted at #11 on Canada's national campus radio chart,...
's Not Saying/Just Saying
Not Saying/Just Saying
Not Saying/Just Saying is the debut album from indie dance band Shout Out Out Out Out. It was released in Canada on July 26, 2006 on Nrmls Wlcm Records.The album's cover art was designed by Chad VanGaalen.- Awards :...
. VanGaalen's video for "Molten Light" was featured on Aux.tv
Discography
- 2004: InfiniheartInfiniheartInfiniheart is an album by Canadian artist Chad VanGaalen. It was originally released in 2004 on Flemish Eye and was rereleased in 2005 on Sub Pop. The album was recorded in a makeshift studio in VanGaalen's basement, and uses a diverse array of instruments and equipment, almost all played by...
- 2005: Green Beans EP
- 2006: SkelliconnectionSkelliconnectionSkelliconnection is the second album by Canadian musician Chad VanGaalen. It was released on August 22, 2006 on Flemish Eye and Sub Pop . In addition to writing and recording the album, VanGaalen performed almost all of the instruments and drew the album artwork...
- 2006: Skelliconnection EP
- 2008: Soft AirplaneSoft AirplaneSoft Airplane is the third album by Chad VanGaalen, released in 2008 on Flemish Eye and Sub Pop. It was VanGaalen's first album to consist entirely of songs newly recorded for the album; his prior releases compiled tracks from a library of home recordings he had made over a number of years.The...
- 2009: Soft Airplane EP
- 2011: Your Tan Looks Supernatural EP
- 2011: Diaper IslandDiaper IslandDiaper Island is the fourth studio album by Canadian musician Chad VanGaalen, scheduled for release May 17, 2011 on Flemish Eye in Canada and Sub Pop in the United States.-Background:...
Black Mold
- 2009: Snow Blindness is Crystal Antz