Claudia Gonson
Encyclopedia
Claudia Miriam Gonson, is an American music
ian best known for her work with The Magnetic Fields
. She occasionally provides the band lead vocals as well as performing the piano
or drums
. She is also currently the band's manager.
While in high school at Concord Academy, Gonson performed in her first band, the Zinnias, in which Stephin Merritt
wrote or co-wrote most of the band's material with John Gage. The band broke up when Gonson left to attend Columbia University
. Gonson later returned to the Boston area to attend Harvard University
, and joined the three-piece girl group Lazy Susan.
She has since performed on many of Merritt's albums, including the critically acclaimed 1999 album 69 Love Songs
, and frequently appears with him live as part of the usual quartet that constitutes The Magnetic Fields.
Gonson has been Merritt's longtime manager since the beginning, a job involving all aspects of music management including licensing songs to films, ads and TV, creating theater shows, and all aspects of album production and touring. She also appears extensively in Strange Powers
, the 2009 documentary by Kerthy Fix and Gail O'Hara
about Merritt and the Magnetic Fields.
As well as her work with Stephin Merritt, Gonson also plays drums in the cult band Tender Trap
. She has written and performed her own music with Shirley Simms and Michael Hearst
(who she also helps manage) and has collaborated with author Rick Moody
. She has also played drums in Providence, Rhode Island
-based cult band Honey Bunch and performs as the lead vocalist in Merritt's Future Bible Heroes
project. She sang on Neil Gaiman
's song "Bloody Sunrise"
, Gonson famously remarked:
In that interview, Gonson noted that she feels that Merritt's songs are predominantly about "Loneliness, isolation, and the need to be recognized by another person." She believes that if homophobia
were not so prevalent, these experiences "would be less rampant instead of being so associated with the gay personality." Gonson believes that many LGBT youth and straight young females turn to The Magnetic Fields for "words of wisdom."
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
ian best known for her work with The Magnetic Fields
The Magnetic Fields
The Magnetic Fields is the principal creative outlet of singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt...
. She occasionally provides the band lead vocals as well as performing the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
or drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. She is also currently the band's manager.
Career
Gonson met Stephin Merritt in high school in the early 80's, and the pair have worked together ever since.While in high school at Concord Academy, Gonson performed in her first band, the Zinnias, in which Stephin Merritt
Stephin Merritt
Stephin Merritt is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles , best known as the principal singer and songwriter in the band The Magnetic Fields...
wrote or co-wrote most of the band's material with John Gage. The band broke up when Gonson left to attend Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. Gonson later returned to the Boston area to attend Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, and joined the three-piece girl group Lazy Susan.
She has since performed on many of Merritt's albums, including the critically acclaimed 1999 album 69 Love Songs
69 Love Songs
69 Love Songs is a three-volume concept album by The Magnetic Fields released in 1999. As its title indicates, the album is composed of 69 love songs, all written by Magnetic Fields frontman Stephin Merritt.-Conception and live performance:...
, and frequently appears with him live as part of the usual quartet that constitutes The Magnetic Fields.
Gonson has been Merritt's longtime manager since the beginning, a job involving all aspects of music management including licensing songs to films, ads and TV, creating theater shows, and all aspects of album production and touring. She also appears extensively in Strange Powers
Strange Powers
Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields is a 2010 American documentary film by Kerthy Fix and Gail O'Hara that documents the work and life of the American cult songwriter, Stephin Merritt and his primary group.-Film info:...
, the 2009 documentary by Kerthy Fix and Gail O'Hara
Gail O'Hara
Gail O'Hara is a US editor, writer, photographer, recording label owner, and filmmaker. She lives in Portland, Oregon. O'Hara attended Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, where she worked for WVCW radio and the Commonwealth Times...
about Merritt and the Magnetic Fields.
As well as her work with Stephin Merritt, Gonson also plays drums in the cult band Tender Trap
Tender Trap
Tender Trap is an indie rock/twee pop band, based in London , formed in 2001 by three of the five members of Marine Research - Amelia Fletcher, Rob Pursey, and John Downfall....
. She has written and performed her own music with Shirley Simms and Michael Hearst
Michael Hearst
Michael Marcus Hearst is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and writer. His musical instruments include claviola, theremin, guitar, piano, drums and bass...
(who she also helps manage) and has collaborated with author Rick Moody
Rick Moody
Rick Moody is an American novelist and short story writer best known for the 1994 novel The Ice Storm, a chronicle of the dissolution of two suburban Connecticut families over Thanksgiving weekend in 1973, which brought widespread acclaim, became a bestseller, and was made into a feature film of...
. She has also played drums in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
-based cult band Honey Bunch and performs as the lead vocalist in Merritt's Future Bible Heroes
Future Bible Heroes
Future Bible Heroes is one of several musical groups led by Stephin Merritt, best known for his work with The Magnetic Fields. He shares vocal duties with Claudia Gonson, who sings on the entirety of 2002's Eternal Youth...
project. She sang on Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
's song "Bloody Sunrise"
Sexuality
Stephin Merritt's openly gay identity as singer and song-writer of the Magnetic Fields has led some fans to humorously dub The Magnetic Fields' genre as "gay synth-pop." In an interview with The AdvocateThe Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
, Gonson famously remarked:
- '"When we started Magnetic Fields we purposely had one lesbian, one gay guy, one straight woman, and one straight man. The audience could identify with whomever they wanted. I hang out with more gay women now, but I guess I'm more of a fag hag than a lezzie hag."
In that interview, Gonson noted that she feels that Merritt's songs are predominantly about "Loneliness, isolation, and the need to be recognized by another person." She believes that if homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
were not so prevalent, these experiences "would be less rampant instead of being so associated with the gay personality." Gonson believes that many LGBT youth and straight young females turn to The Magnetic Fields for "words of wisdom."
Trivia
Claudia tried out as a drummer for the Pixies in 1986. She opted to attend college instead, and drumming duties went to David Lovering.External links
- Interview with drummergirl.com
- http://www.unmoveablefeast.com/issue1interviews.html with Unmoveable Feast