Ellery (duo)
Encyclopedia
Ellery, formerly known as Dividing the Plunder, are a musical group from Cincinnati founded by married couple Tasha and Justin Golden. They changed the name to "Ellery" after finding it in a book at a shop in Iowa. http://www.jumper.it/pagina.php?idsection=musichall&page=artist&art=ellery&lang=eng
They began work as Ellery in 2005. Their style has been compared to that of Sarah McLachlan
, Ben Folds
, and alternative folk. The couple wrote, recorded, and released the Make Your Troubles Mine EP which they recorded with the help of producer and guitarist Ric Hordinski (formerly of Over the Rhine). Their debut was received with positive reviews in local newspapers, and their local public radio station, WNKU, put them in regular rotation. After a feature in Performing Songwriter Magazine, Virt Records
contacted the band, signed them, and sent them back into the studio to turn the EP into a full-length album. The result, Lying Awake, was released in 2006.
In late 2009, Justin and Tasha began a series of in-house concerts in the midwest as a part of the Ellery Stimulus, created to help raise money for their next record, due in early spring 2010. In winter 2009, Ellery released a Holiday EP titled Down, Down, Down.
Although they are normally described as a duo
, backing music is provided by Ric Hordinski (electric guitars, loops, keyboards), Amos Heller (bass), and Josh Seurkamp (percussion, drums).
, wurlitzer
, and electric, acoustic, and tenor guitar
as well as electric mandolin
.
They began work as Ellery in 2005. Their style has been compared to that of Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah 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...
, Ben Folds
Ben Folds
Benjamin Scott "Ben" Folds is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and television personality. From 1995-2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Since the group disbanded, Folds has performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world...
, and alternative folk. The couple wrote, recorded, and released the Make Your Troubles Mine EP which they recorded with the help of producer and guitarist Ric Hordinski (formerly of Over the Rhine). Their debut was received with positive reviews in local newspapers, and their local public radio station, WNKU, put them in regular rotation. After a feature in Performing Songwriter Magazine, Virt Records
Virt Records
Virt Records is an independent record label based in Seattle, USA.Virt artists are primarily singer/songwriters.-Artists signed to Virt Records:Current*Ellery*The Bittersweets*Shane Nicholson*Brenda Weiler*Beth Boucher*Rachel GaudryFormer...
contacted the band, signed them, and sent them back into the studio to turn the EP into a full-length album. The result, Lying Awake, was released in 2006.
In late 2009, Justin and Tasha began a series of in-house concerts in the midwest as a part of the Ellery Stimulus, created to help raise money for their next record, due in early spring 2010. In winter 2009, Ellery released a Holiday EP titled Down, Down, Down.
Although they are normally described as a duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
, backing music is provided by Ric Hordinski (electric guitars, loops, keyboards), Amos Heller (bass), and Josh Seurkamp (percussion, drums).
Style and sound
Their unique sound has a lot to do with Tasha Golden's vocals, but also the bands use instruments such as pianoPiano
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...
, wurlitzer
Wurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
, and electric, acoustic, and tenor guitar
Tenor guitar
1932 Martin 0-18 T Sunburst Tenor Guitar|thumb|rightThe tenor guitar or four-string guitar is a slightly smaller, four-string relative of the steel-string acoustic guitar or electric guitar. The instrument was developed so that players of the four-string tenor banjo could double on the guitar...
as well as electric mandolin
Electric mandolin
The electric mandolin is an instrument tuned and played as the mandolin and amplified in similar fashion to an electric guitar.As with electric guitars, electric mandolins take many forms:...
.
Discography
- So Faithful 2000 (as Dividing the Plunder)
- The OrdinaryThe OrdinaryThe Ordinary an album by husband and wife duo Dividing the Plunder . They released it independently in 2003. They were aided by the talents of Steve Mason and Matt Slocum...
2003 (as Dividing the Plunder) - Make Your Troubles Mine (six song EP) 2005
- Lying AwakeLying AwakeLying Awake is Ellery's first album. They released it independently in 2006. After Ellery signed with small label Virt Records in 2006.-Track listing:# Anna# Be Like This# Song For Lovers# Arizona# Long Coat On...
released by Virt RecordsVirt RecordsVirt Records is an independent record label based in Seattle, USA.Virt artists are primarily singer/songwriters.-Artists signed to Virt Records:Current*Ellery*The Bittersweets*Shane Nicholson*Brenda Weiler*Beth Boucher*Rachel GaudryFormer...
2006. (All eleven songs on this album were written by Tasha and Justin) - "Anna" from Lying Awake was featured on Paste Magazine Sampler CD #21
- What I've Said Out Loud (live album) 2007
- December Days EP, released via Ellery's Myspace page and www.ellerychristmas.com as a free download. 2007
- You Did Everything Right EP, 2008
- "Down, Down, Down: A Holiday EP", 2009
- "This Isn't Over Yet", 2010
External links
- http://www.ellerymusic.com/ Ellery website
- http://www.myspace.com/ellerymusic
- http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dividingplunder
- http://cdbaby.com/cd/ellerymusic2
- Info from the Ectophiles' Guide
- http://www.dividingtheplunder.com/musicstuff.html
- Interview with Justin and Tasha on Jumper
- http://www.ellerychristmas.com
- http://ellerystimulus.com/