DeVotchKa
Encyclopedia
DeVotchKa is a four-piece multi-instrumental and vocal ensemble. They take their name from the Russian
word devochka (девочка), meaning "girl". Based in Denver, Colorado
, the quartet is made up of Nick Urata, who sings and plays theremin
, guitar
, bouzouki
, piano
, and trumpet
; Tom Hagerman, who plays violin
, accordion
, and piano; Jeanie Schroder, who sings and plays sousaphone
, double bass
, and flute
; and Shawn King, who plays percussion and trumpet.
Originally a backing band for burlesque
shows, in their early years DeVotchKa also toured with fetish model Dita von Teese
. Numerous nationwide tours in support of self-released records earned the band an underground following. Their song "How It Ends" introduced the band to a wider audience after being featured in the trailer for Everything Is Illuminated
, in a Gears of War 2
trailer called "The Last Day", and in an episode of Everwood
(Season 4). Their performance at the 2006 Bonnaroo music festival was considered a breakout event. In between tours, the band was picked by first time film directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
to score Little Miss Sunshine
, a 2006
film that would go on to garner four Academy Award nominations. DeVotchKa, along with composer Mychael Danna
, composed and performed the majority of the music for the film's soundtrack
and were nominated for a 2006 Grammy Award
for Best Compilation Soundtrack. The main song, "The Winner Is", was also used in a commercial by the French-based environment and energy company Suez and the Dutch pension fund PGGM.
Arcade Fire singer Win Butler
suggested to DeVotchKa that they cover the Siouxsie and the Banshees song "The Last Beat of My Heart
". The musicians found the idea interesting and they recorded that song for the now critically acclaimed Curse Your Little Heart
EP.
The band did a world tour in support of their previous album, A Mad & Faithful Telling
(released March, 2008). The album reached #9 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and #29 on the Top Independent Albums chart. "New World" and "Head Honcho" were featured in a season 4 episode of the Showtime television show Weeds
.
DeVotchKa's latest studio album, 100 Lovers
, was released in March 2011.
In 2008, Boston newspaper The Phoenix
named them the Best New Band from Colorado. "How It Ends" reached Number 101 in the UK Singles Charts.
The band supported Muse
at the Stade de France
on June 12, 2010, playing to over 80,000 people.
Other album appearances
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
word devochka (девочка), meaning "girl". Based in Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, the quartet is made up of Nick Urata, who sings and plays theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bouzouki
Bouzouki
The bouzouki , is a musical instrument with Greek origin in the lute family. A mainstay of modern Greek music, the front of the body is flat and is usually heavily inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The instrument is played with a plectrum and has a sharp metallic sound, reminiscent of a mandolin but...
, 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...
, and trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
; Tom Hagerman, who plays violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, and piano; Jeanie Schroder, who sings and plays sousaphone
Sousaphone
The sousaphone is a type of tuba that is widely employed in marching bands. Designed so that it fits around the body of the musician and is supported by the left shoulder, the sousaphone may be readily played while being carried...
, double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
, and flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
; and Shawn King, who plays percussion and trumpet.
Originally a backing band for burlesque
American burlesque
American Burlesque is a genre of variety show. Derived from elements of Victorian burlesque, music hall and minstrel shows, burlesque shows in America became popular in the 1860s and evolved to feature ribald comedy and female striptease...
shows, in their early years DeVotchKa also toured with fetish model Dita von Teese
Dita Von Teese
Dita Von Teese is an American burlesque dancer, model, costume designer, author and actress.-Early life:...
. Numerous nationwide tours in support of self-released records earned the band an underground following. Their song "How It Ends" introduced the band to a wider audience after being featured in the trailer for Everything Is Illuminated
Everything Is Illuminated (film)
Everything Is Illuminated is a 2005 adventure/dramedy film, written and directed by Liev Schreiber and starring Elijah Wood and Eugene Hütz...
, in a Gears of War 2
Gears of War 2
Gears of War 2 is a third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games with lead design by Cliff Bleszinski, and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360. It is the second installment of the Gears of War series. The game was officially released in North America, Europe and...
trailer called "The Last Day", and in an episode of Everwood
Everwood
Everwood is an American drama television series that initially aired in the United States on The WB. The series is set in the fictional small town of Everwood, Colorado, and was filmed in Ogden, South Salt Lake, and Draper, Utah, except the series pilot which was filmed in Canmore, Alberta,...
(Season 4). Their performance at the 2006 Bonnaroo music festival was considered a breakout event. In between tours, the band was picked by first time film directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris are a team of American music video directors, also husband and wife, that received critical acclaim for their feature film directorial debut, Little Miss Sunshine....
to score Little Miss Sunshine
Little Miss Sunshine
Little Miss Sunshine is a 2006 American comedy-drama film. The road movie's plot follows a family's trip to a children's beauty pageant.Little Miss Sunshine was the directorial film debut of the husband-wife team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. The screenplay was written by first-time writer...
, a 2006
2006 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006...
film that would go on to garner four Academy Award nominations. DeVotchKa, along with composer Mychael Danna
Mychael Danna
Mychael Danna is a Canadian film composer.-Life and career:Mychael Danna is the brother of fellow composer Jeff Danna. He has been scoring films since his 1987 feature debut for Atom Egoyan's Family Viewing, a score which earned Danna the first of his thirteen Genie Award nominations. He has won...
, composed and performed the majority of the music for the film's soundtrack
Little Miss Sunshine (Soundtrack)
The soundtrack for Little Miss Sunshine is a mix of indie rock and folk music that fits the scenes and overall feel of the film. DeVotchKa provides the majority of the music on the soundtrack, and also the score, which they did with Mychael Danna. There are also selections from Sufjan Stevens, Rick...
and were nominated for a 2006 Grammy Award
Grammy Awards of 2007
The 49th Annual Grammy Awards was a ceremony honoring the best in music for the recording year beginning September 15, 2005 and ending September 14, 2006 in the United States. The awards were handed out on Sunday February 11, 2007 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dixie Chicks...
for Best Compilation Soundtrack. The main song, "The Winner Is", was also used in a commercial by the French-based environment and energy company Suez and the Dutch pension fund PGGM.
Arcade Fire singer Win Butler
Win Butler
Win Butler is the lead vocalist and songwriter of the Montreal-based indie rock band Arcade Fire. His wife Régine Chassagne and his brother William Butler are both members of the band.-Life and career:...
suggested to DeVotchKa that they cover the Siouxsie and the Banshees song "The Last Beat of My Heart
Peepshow (album)
Peepshow is the ninth studio album by the English band Siouxsie and the Banshees and their first as a quintet. With the arrival of multi-instrumentalist Martin McCarrick, Peepshow was one of their most musically complex albums, including the singles "Peek-a-Boo" and "The Last Beat of My...
". The musicians found the idea interesting and they recorded that song for the now critically acclaimed Curse Your Little Heart
Curse Your Little Heart
Curse Your Little Heart is an EP from the band DeVotchKa, released by Ace Fu in 2006. Five out of the six tracks are cover versions of other bands' songs, with the title track first appearing on the album SuperMelodrama.-Track listing:...
EP.
The band did a world tour in support of their previous album, A Mad & Faithful Telling
A Mad & Faithful Telling
A Mad & Faithful Telling is the fifth album from the band DeVotchKa. It was released by ANTI- Records on March 18, 2008. The band's largest tour to date, in support of A Mad & Faithful Telling, began on April 26, 2008 at the Coachella Music Festival....
(released March, 2008). The album reached #9 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and #29 on the Top Independent Albums chart. "New World" and "Head Honcho" were featured in a season 4 episode of the Showtime television show Weeds
Weeds (TV series)
Weeds is an American television comedy created by Jenji Kohan and produced by Tilted Productions in association with Lionsgate Television. The central character is Nancy Botwin , a widowed mother of two boys who begins selling marijuana to support her family after her husband dies suddenly of a...
.
DeVotchKa's latest studio album, 100 Lovers
100 Lovers
100 Lovers is the sixth studio album from the band DeVotchKa. It was released by ANTI- Records on February 28th, 2011.-Reception:The Allmusic review by James Christopher Monger awarded the album 3.5 stars stating "It’s a melting pot to be sure, and the band has a tendency to go heavy on the...
, was released in March 2011.
In 2008, Boston newspaper The Phoenix
The Phoenix (newspaper)
The Phoenix is the name of several alternative weekly newspapers published in the United States by Phoenix Media/Communications Group of Boston, Massachusetts including the Boston Phoenix, the Providence Phoenix, the Portland Phoenix and the now-defunct Worcester Phoenix...
named them the Best New Band from Colorado. "How It Ends" reached Number 101 in the UK Singles Charts.
The band supported Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
at the Stade de France
Stade de France
The Stade de France is the national stadium of France, situated just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. It has an all-seater capacity of 80,000, making it the fifth largest stadium in Europe, and is used by both the France national football team and French rugby union team for...
on June 12, 2010, playing to over 80,000 people.
Members
- Nick Urata – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, pianoPianoThe 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...
, trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, thereminThereminThe theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
, bouzoukiBouzoukiThe bouzouki , is a musical instrument with Greek origin in the lute family. A mainstay of modern Greek music, the front of the body is flat and is usually heavily inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The instrument is played with a plectrum and has a sharp metallic sound, reminiscent of a mandolin but... - Tom Hagerman – violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, pianoPianoThe 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...
, MelodicaMelodicaThe melodica, also known as the "blow-organ" or "key-flute", is a free-reed instrument similar to the melodeon and harmonica. It has a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. Pressing a key opens a hole,... - Jeanie Schroder – sousaphoneSousaphoneThe sousaphone is a type of tuba that is widely employed in marching bands. Designed so that it fits around the body of the musician and is supported by the left shoulder, the sousaphone may be readily played while being carried...
, upright bass, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Shawn King – drumsDrum kitA 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 ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
Discography
- SuperMelodramaSuperMelodramaSuperMelodrama is the first album from the band DeVotchKa, released by Dago Records in 2000.-Members:DeVotchka had a different line up of members for this first recording...
(2000) - Triple X TangoTriple X TangoTriple X Tango was a self-produced live recording from the band DeVotchKa. It is now out of print....
(2002) - Una VoltaUna VoltaUna Volta is the third album from the band DeVotchKa, released by Cicero Recordings, Ltd. in 2003.-Track listing:# "C'est Ce La" – 1:19# "The Oblivion" – 5:00# "Death by Blonde" – 3:34# "Queen of the Surface Streets" – 5:30# "One Last Vow" – 4:56...
(2003) - How It EndsHow It EndsHow It Ends is the fourth album from the band DeVotchKa, released by Cicero Recordings, Ltd. in 2004. The song "How It Ends" reached Number 101 in the UK Singles Charts.-Track listing:# "You Love Me" – 4:02# "The Enemy Guns" – 4:21...
(2004) - Curse Your Little HeartCurse Your Little HeartCurse Your Little Heart is an EP from the band DeVotchKa, released by Ace Fu in 2006. Five out of the six tracks are cover versions of other bands' songs, with the title track first appearing on the album SuperMelodrama.-Track listing:...
(EP) (2006) - Little Miss Sunshine (soundtrack)Little Miss Sunshine (Soundtrack)The soundtrack for Little Miss Sunshine is a mix of indie rock and folk music that fits the scenes and overall feel of the film. DeVotchKa provides the majority of the music on the soundtrack, and also the score, which they did with Mychael Danna. There are also selections from Sufjan Stevens, Rick...
(2006) - A Mad & Faithful TellingA Mad & Faithful TellingA Mad & Faithful Telling is the fifth album from the band DeVotchKa. It was released by ANTI- Records on March 18, 2008. The band's largest tour to date, in support of A Mad & Faithful Telling, began on April 26, 2008 at the Coachella Music Festival....
(2008) #29 Independent Albums Chart/ #9 Heatseakers (Billboard U.S.) - I Love You, Philip Morris (soundtrack) (2009)
- 100 Lovers100 Lovers100 Lovers is the sixth studio album from the band DeVotchKa. It was released by ANTI- Records on February 28th, 2011.-Reception:The Allmusic review by James Christopher Monger awarded the album 3.5 stars stating "It’s a melting pot to be sure, and the band has a tendency to go heavy on the...
(2011) #74 U.S.
Other album appearances
- Nightmare RevisitedNightmare Revisited- Personnel :1. "Overture"2. "Opening"3. "This Is Halloween"4. "Jack's Lament"- Personnel :1. "Overture": Produced by DeVotchKa: Mixed by Greg Macrae2. "Opening": Produced by Danny Elfman: Narration recorded and mixed by Noah Snyder...
- "Overture" (2008) - Live at KEXP Vol.5 - "How It Ends" (2009)
- Starbuck's Sweetheart - "Hot Burrito #1" (2009)
- "Songs From The Point !" - Harry Nilsson cover album (2009)
External links
- Official site
- Myspace
- DeVotchKa's artist page at Ace Fu Records
- DeVotchka interview and performance with Nick and Tom for The Current
- Mikel Jollett of Filter magazine reviews the CD How It Ends on NPR's "All Things Considered"
- Soundcrank Podcast Hosted by Shawn King
- Devotchka, Artistas Destacados - Billboard En Español