David Usher
Encyclopedia
David Usher is a British-born Canadian singer-songwriter
. Formerly the frontman for the alternative rock
band Moist, he embarked on a solo career beginning in the late 1990s.
, England
to a Thai Buddhist
, artist Samphan Usher, and a Jewish Montrealer, Dan Usher, who is a professor of economics at Queen's University. He has lived in various places such as Malaysia, New York City
, California
and Thailand
since early childhood, before his family settled in Kingston, ON. He attended high school at Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute
. Usher attended Simon Fraser University
in Burnaby, British Columbia
, majoring in political science. His degree would later influence his music career. Usher is a humanist
, and has been involved in such causes as War Child Canada
, White Ribbon Campaign and Amnesty International
. Usher is featured in the acclaimed 2001 MuchMusic
special Musicians in the WarZone, a humanitarian documentary produced by War Child Canada, directed by filmmaker Liz Marshall. In it Usher journeys to the northern border of Thailand to visit a large Burmese refugee community.
Usher married Sabrina Reeves, photographer and co-artistic director
for the Bluemouth Inc. performance theatre company, in 1997. They have two daughters, Coco born January 10, 2003, and Océane Danayia born April 28, 2008.
, in 1996, Mercedes 5 and Dime
in 1999 and Machine Punch Through
, a collection of singles, in 2001.
, Usher's debut solo album, shines in its acoustic simplicty. Little Songs
was released in April 1998 during Moist's hiatus following the release of Creature.
Following Moist's Mercedes 5 and Dime, Usher revived his solo career and released the highly successful Morning Orbit
in the summer of 2001. It contains the hit singles "Alone in the Universe", as well as "Black Black Heart
" which was co-produced by Jeff Martin, former frontman for the Canadian rock group The Tea Party
. Other "special guests" on Morning Orbit
include rapper Snow, Jagori Tanna
and Bruce Gordon
from I Mother Earth
as well as Gord Sinclair from The Tragically Hip
.
In 2003, he released another solo album entitled Hallucinations, which features a cover track by Manic Street Preachers
entitled "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
", as well as a bonus disc which includes live tracks and one remixed track.
After Hallucinations, Usher left EMI
in favour of a smaller record company MapleMusic, moved his family to New York, and released the predominantly acoustic If God Had Curves
in 2005. This effort featured a collaboration with Tegan Quin, on the track "Hey Kids", as well as a guest guitar performance by Bruce Cockburn
on the track "Long Goodbye". That same year Usher released a DVD entitled "Walk.Don't.Run", which gives us a look into the making of If God Had Curves
.
Usher's fifth solo album, released in March 2007, is titled Strange Birds
. It contains the popular song The Music.
Wake Up and Say Goodbye is the second single and title track from Usher's latest album released on September 23, 2008.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. Formerly the frontman for the alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Moist, he embarked on a solo career beginning in the late 1990s.
Biography
David Usher was born in OxfordOxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to a Thai Buddhist
Buddhism in Thailand
Buddhism in Thailand is largely of the Theravada school. Nearly 95% of Thailand's population is Buddhist of the Theravada school, though Buddhism in this country has become integrated with folk beliefs as well as Chinese religions from the large Thai-Chinese population.Buddhist temples in Thailand...
, artist Samphan Usher, and a Jewish Montrealer, Dan Usher, who is a professor of economics at Queen's University. He has lived in various places such as Malaysia, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
since early childhood, before his family settled in Kingston, ON. He attended high school at Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute is a secondary school in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1792 by Reverend John Stuart based upon a grant for secondary education in the colony of Upper Canada, it moved to its present location in 1892. It is considered the oldest public secondary...
. Usher attended Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
in Burnaby, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, majoring in political science. His degree would later influence his music career. Usher is a humanist
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
, and has been involved in such causes as War Child Canada
War Child (charity)
War Child is a non-governmental organisation founded in the UK 1993, which focuses on providing assistance to children in areas of conflict and post-conflict. They use their film and entertainment background to raise money for aid agencies operating in former Yugoslavia...
, White Ribbon Campaign and Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
. Usher is featured in the acclaimed 2001 MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
special Musicians in the WarZone, a humanitarian documentary produced by War Child Canada, directed by filmmaker Liz Marshall. In it Usher journeys to the northern border of Thailand to visit a large Burmese refugee community.
Usher married Sabrina Reeves, photographer and co-artistic director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
for the Bluemouth Inc. performance theatre company, in 1997. They have two daughters, Coco born January 10, 2003, and Océane Danayia born April 28, 2008.
Moist
David Usher met his Moist bandmates in 1992 while in university and their 1994 debut release, Silver, went quadruple platinum in Canada. Moist went on to release their multi-platinum follow-up, CreatureCreature (album)
Creature is the second studio album by Canadian alternative rock band Moist, released in 1996. It featured the singles "Leave it Alone", "Resurrection", "Tangerine", and "Gasoline".-Track listing:All songs written by Moist.# "Hate"-3:47...
, in 1996, Mercedes 5 and Dime
Mercedes 5 and Dime
Mercedes 5 and Dime was the third and final album released by the Canadian alternative rock band Moist. Released in Canada in 1999 and in the United States a year later, it includes the hits "Breathe" and "Underground". The album was released with different album covers for the Canadian and United...
in 1999 and Machine Punch Through
Machine Punch Through
Machine Punch Through: The Singles Collection was a greatest hits CD by the Canadian alternative rock band Moist, released in 2001. The album featured one new song, "Sunday Comes," previously issued on the "Breathe" remix single....
, a collection of singles, in 2001.
Solo career
Recorded in Usher's kitchen in three 10-day stretches, Little SongsLittle Songs
- Track listing :# "Trickster"# "St. Lawrence River"# "Jesus Was My Girl"# "Unholy, Dirty and Beautiful"# "Forest Fire"# "Babyskin Tattoo"# "F Train"# "Million"# "Final Thoughts and the Last Day on Earth"# "Mood Song"-Singles:* * Jesus Was My Girl*...
, Usher's debut solo album, shines in its acoustic simplicty. Little Songs
Little Songs
- Track listing :# "Trickster"# "St. Lawrence River"# "Jesus Was My Girl"# "Unholy, Dirty and Beautiful"# "Forest Fire"# "Babyskin Tattoo"# "F Train"# "Million"# "Final Thoughts and the Last Day on Earth"# "Mood Song"-Singles:* * Jesus Was My Girl*...
was released in April 1998 during Moist's hiatus following the release of Creature.
Following Moist's Mercedes 5 and Dime, Usher revived his solo career and released the highly successful Morning Orbit
Morning Orbit
Morning Orbit is the second solo album released by Canadian musician David Usher. It was released on July 31, 2001. The album was certified Platinum by the CRIA in April 2002.-Track listing:#"How Are You?"#"Too Close to the Sun"#"Black Black Heart"...
in the summer of 2001. It contains the hit singles "Alone in the Universe", as well as "Black Black Heart
Black Black Heart
"Black Black Heart" is a single by David Usher from the 2001 album Morning Orbit. The female vocal is provided by Kim Bingham, while the chorus samples The Flower Duet as a hook...
" which was co-produced by Jeff Martin, former frontman for the Canadian rock group The Tea Party
The Tea Party
The Tea Party is a Canadian rock band with blues, progressive rock, Indian and Middle Eastern influences, dubbed "Moroccan roll" by the media. Active throughout the 1990s up until 2005 when the band broke up, The Tea Party released eight albums on EMI Music Canada, selling 1.6 million records...
. Other "special guests" on Morning Orbit
Morning Orbit
Morning Orbit is the second solo album released by Canadian musician David Usher. It was released on July 31, 2001. The album was certified Platinum by the CRIA in April 2002.-Track listing:#"How Are You?"#"Too Close to the Sun"#"Black Black Heart"...
include rapper Snow, Jagori Tanna
Jagori Tanna
Jagori Tanna is a Canadian musician. Together with his brother, Christian Tanna, he formed I Mother Earth around 1990. He wrote almost all of I Mother Earth's music, and produced much of it as well...
and Bruce Gordon
Bruce Gordon (musician)
Bruce Gordon is a Canadian rock musician, best known as the bassist for I Mother Earth.He was born to parents of Scottish and German heritage. He immigrated to Canada with his family at the age of six...
from I Mother Earth
I Mother Earth
I Mother Earth, or IME, was a Canadian alternative rock band. The band was at the peak of its popularity in the mid-to-late 1990s; its members have moved on to other projects.-Early years:...
as well as Gord Sinclair from The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip, often referred to simply as The Hip, is a Canadian rock band from Kingston, Ontario, consisting of Gordon Downie , Paul Langlois , Rob Baker , Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay . Since their formation in 1983 they have released 12 studio albums, two live albums, and 46 singles...
.
In 2003, he released another solo album entitled Hallucinations, which features a cover track by Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
entitled "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
"If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" is a song by the Manic Street Preachers, released as the first single from their fifth studio album, This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours, with lyrics written by Nicky Wire , and music written by James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore...
", as well as a bonus disc which includes live tracks and one remixed track.
After Hallucinations, Usher left EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
in favour of a smaller record company MapleMusic, moved his family to New York, and released the predominantly acoustic If God Had Curves
If God Had Curves
If God Had Curves is the fourth album by David Usher, released in 2005 . The album includes the first single, "Love Will Save the Day", as well as 10 other new songs.Guest musicians on the album include Bruce Cockburn and Tegan Quin....
in 2005. This effort featured a collaboration with Tegan Quin, on the track "Hey Kids", as well as a guest guitar performance by Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
on the track "Long Goodbye". That same year Usher released a DVD entitled "Walk.Don't.Run", which gives us a look into the making of If God Had Curves
If God Had Curves
If God Had Curves is the fourth album by David Usher, released in 2005 . The album includes the first single, "Love Will Save the Day", as well as 10 other new songs.Guest musicians on the album include Bruce Cockburn and Tegan Quin....
.
Usher's fifth solo album, released in March 2007, is titled Strange Birds
Strange Birds
Strange Birds is the fifth album by David Usher, released on March 20 2007. The album released four singles: "The Music", "Ugly Is Beautiful", "Some People Say", and "So Far Down".-Track listing:...
. It contains the popular song The Music.
Wake Up and Say Goodbye is the second single and title track from Usher's latest album released on September 23, 2008.
Moist
- Silver (1994)
- CreatureCreature (album)Creature is the second studio album by Canadian alternative rock band Moist, released in 1996. It featured the singles "Leave it Alone", "Resurrection", "Tangerine", and "Gasoline".-Track listing:All songs written by Moist.# "Hate"-3:47...
(1996) - Mercedes 5 and DimeMercedes 5 and DimeMercedes 5 and Dime was the third and final album released by the Canadian alternative rock band Moist. Released in Canada in 1999 and in the United States a year later, it includes the hits "Breathe" and "Underground". The album was released with different album covers for the Canadian and United...
(1999/2000) - Machine Punch ThroughMachine Punch ThroughMachine Punch Through: The Singles Collection was a greatest hits CD by the Canadian alternative rock band Moist, released in 2001. The album featured one new song, "Sunday Comes," previously issued on the "Breathe" remix single....
(2001)
Solo
- Little SongsLittle Songs- Track listing :# "Trickster"# "St. Lawrence River"# "Jesus Was My Girl"# "Unholy, Dirty and Beautiful"# "Forest Fire"# "Babyskin Tattoo"# "F Train"# "Million"# "Final Thoughts and the Last Day on Earth"# "Mood Song"-Singles:* * Jesus Was My Girl*...
(1998) - Morning OrbitMorning OrbitMorning Orbit is the second solo album released by Canadian musician David Usher. It was released on July 31, 2001. The album was certified Platinum by the CRIA in April 2002.-Track listing:#"How Are You?"#"Too Close to the Sun"#"Black Black Heart"...
(2001) - Hallucinations (2003)
- If God Had CurvesIf God Had CurvesIf God Had Curves is the fourth album by David Usher, released in 2005 . The album includes the first single, "Love Will Save the Day", as well as 10 other new songs.Guest musicians on the album include Bruce Cockburn and Tegan Quin....
(2005) - Strange BirdsStrange BirdsStrange Birds is the fifth album by David Usher, released on March 20 2007. The album released four singles: "The Music", "Ugly Is Beautiful", "Some People Say", and "So Far Down".-Track listing:...
(2007) - Wake Up and Say GoodbyeWake Up and Say GoodbyeWake Up and Say Goodbye is the sixth album by solo artist David Usher, released on September 23, 2008. Was nominated for a Juno award in 2009 for "Pop Album of the Year".-Track listing:# "The River"# "We Are Wolves Here "# "And So We Run"...
(2008) - The Mile End SessionsThe Mile End SessionsThe Mile End Sessions is the seventh album by solo artist David Usher. It was released on September 14, 2010 and is composed mostly of previously released songs re-recorded in acoustic arrangements...
(2010)
Videography
- Appears in Building a Mystery from Sarah MclachlanSarah McLachlanSarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
's Surfacing (1997) - Forestfire from Little Songs (1998)
- Jesus Was My Girl from Little Songs (1998)
- St. Lawrence River from Little Songs (1998)
- Alone in the Universe from Morning Orbit (2001)
- Black Black Heart V 1.0-2.0 from Morning Orbit (2001)
- A Day in the Life from Morning Orbit (2002)
- My Way Out from Morning Orbit (2002)
- Time of Our Lives from Hallucinations (2003)
- Surfacing from Hallucinations (2003)
- Love Will Save The Day from If God Had Curves (May 2005)
- The Music from Strange Birds (2007)
- Ugly is Beautiful from Strange Birds (July 2007)
- Kill the Lights from Wake Up and Say Goodbye (November 2008)
- Je repars from The Mile End Sessions (August 2010)