Holly Miranda
Encyclopedia
Holly Miranda is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Besides being trained in piano, Holly is a self-taught guitar and trumpet player. In 2001, she recorded "High Above The City", a 20-track solo album available only at shows. In the fall of 2003, Holly met and teamed up with Alex Lipsen, producer and keys player. The project evolved into The Jealous Girlfriends
, a four piece band based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
. Her music has attracted praise from the likes of Kanye West
and Scarlett Johansson
.
, dropping out of high school and finishing her degree through correspondence. She scored a record deal by the time she was 17, recording with major label BMG
, but the end result was less than thrilling.
"I ended up walking away from [it]", Miranda said. "It's, like, in a safe somewhere and no one's ever heard it."
. The Jealous Girlfriends toured with Nada Surf
and Delta Spirit
, and had their songs featured on the TV shows like CSI: Miami
, The L Word
and Grey's Anatomy
. The band received critical acclaim, but is currently on a break, Miranda said, but all continuing on their own musical pursuits.
went on hiatus, Holly Miranda decided to release a solo album with help from her producer friend TV on the Radio
's Dave Sitek. The Magician's Private Library
was recorded in 2008. Miranda's publisher Chrysalis Music
financed the album, but it wasn't formally released until 2010 after Miranda was signed to XL Recordings
. The Magician's Private Library received positive reviews from critics; according to the music review aggregation of Metacritic, it garnered an average score of 68/100. The album peaked at #40 on the U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers
, becoming her first album to chart on any Billboard chart. "Forest Green, Oh Forest Green
" was released as the album's lead single, followed by "Waves".
In support of The Magician's Private Library, Holly Miranda toured as the opening act on Tegan and Sara
's US tour. Miranda also toured as a supporting act on the Xx Tour by the xx
, and the Lungs Tour
by Florence and the Machine
.
Holly moved to Los Angeles in August 2010. She is currently working on her next album.
The Jealous Girlfriends
The Jealous Girlfriends is a rock band based in Brooklyn, New York. Their music video for "How Now", directed by Sarah Soquel Morhaim, won first place for the iPod Music Video Contest.-Biography:...
, a four piece band based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
. Her music has attracted praise from the likes of Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
and Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson is an American actress, model and singer.Johansson made her film debut in North and was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Manny & Lo . She rose to further prominence with her roles in The Horse Whisperer and Ghost World...
.
1983–2000: Early life
Miranda grew up singing in church, learning piano at age 6 and picking up the guitar at 14, around the time she began writing songs. At the age of 16, she moved to New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, dropping out of high school and finishing her degree through correspondence. She scored a record deal by the time she was 17, recording with major label BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
, but the end result was less than thrilling.
"I ended up walking away from [it]", Miranda said. "It's, like, in a safe somewhere and no one's ever heard it."
2001-2007: Career beginnings, The Jealous Girlfriends
After moving New York, she met the people she'd eventually refer to as bandmates for The Jealous GirlfriendsThe Jealous Girlfriends
The Jealous Girlfriends is a rock band based in Brooklyn, New York. Their music video for "How Now", directed by Sarah Soquel Morhaim, won first place for the iPod Music Video Contest.-Biography:...
. The Jealous Girlfriends toured with Nada Surf
Nada Surf
Nada Surf is an American alternative rock band. Formed in 1992, the New York band consists of Matthew Caws , Ira Elliot and Daniel Lorca .-Early years:...
and Delta Spirit
Delta Spirit
Delta Spirit is a band from San Diego, California. The group combines unconventional instruments such as trash cans lids and orchestral bass drums, multi-instrumentalism and spiritually themed lyrics into a hybrid of rock and northern soul...
, and had their songs featured on the TV shows like CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation....
, The L Word
The L Word
The L Word is an American co-production television drama series originally shown on Showtime portraying the lives of a group of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their friends, family and lovers in the trendy Greater Los Angeles, California city of West Hollywood...
and Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
. The band received critical acclaim, but is currently on a break, Miranda said, but all continuing on their own musical pursuits.
2008-present: Return to solo career, The Magician's Private Library
After the Jealous GirlfriendsThe Jealous Girlfriends
The Jealous Girlfriends is a rock band based in Brooklyn, New York. Their music video for "How Now", directed by Sarah Soquel Morhaim, won first place for the iPod Music Video Contest.-Biography:...
went on hiatus, Holly Miranda decided to release a solo album with help from her producer friend TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....
's Dave Sitek. The Magician's Private Library
The Magician's Private Library
The Magician's Private Library is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Holly Miranda, released 23 February 2010 in the United States by XL Recordings...
was recorded in 2008. Miranda's publisher Chrysalis Music
Chrysalis Music
Chrysalis Music is a British independent music publisher.The company's roots started in west London in 1967 when Chris Wright and Terry Ellis formed the Ellis-Wright Agency. It was formed to manage and book the bands Ten Years After, and Clouds. Ten Years After was managed by Wright, while Clouds...
financed the album, but it wasn't formally released until 2010 after Miranda was signed to XL Recordings
XL Recordings
XL Recordings is a British independent record label owned by Richard Russell. It originated as a 1989 offshoot of Beggars Banquet Records.Though only releasing an average of six albums a year, XL Recordings has worked with The Prodigy, Radiohead, The White Stripes, Dizzee Rascal, M.I.A., Vampire...
. The Magician's Private Library received positive reviews from critics; according to the music review aggregation of Metacritic, it garnered an average score of 68/100. The album peaked at #40 on the U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
, becoming her first album to chart on any Billboard chart. "Forest Green, Oh Forest Green
Forest Green, Oh Forest Green
Forest Green, Oh Forest Green is the first single by American singer-songwriter Holly Miranda from her album The Magician's Private Library, released 9 Novemnber 2009 in the UK and 17 November 2009 in the United States by XL Recordings....
" was released as the album's lead single, followed by "Waves".
In support of The Magician's Private Library, Holly Miranda toured as the opening act on Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara are a Canadian indie band composed of identical twin sisters Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin . Both Tegan and Sara play guitar and keyboard and write songs.-History:...
's US tour. Miranda also toured as a supporting act on the Xx Tour by the xx
The xx
The xx are an English indie pop band, formed in London in 2005. The band's members met while studying at Elliott School, the same school that produced Hot Chip, Burial and Four Tet. They became a trio when their second guitarist and keyboardist, Baria Qureshi, departed in late 2009. In September...
, and the Lungs Tour
Lungs Tour
-Support acts:* Golden Silvers * The XX * Parallels * Voicst * Frankie & The Heartstrings...
by Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine is the recording name of English musician Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide music for her voice. Florence and the Machine's sound has been described as a combination of various genres, including rock and soul...
.
Personal life
Miranda is a lesbian, but she doesn't like to label herself when it comes to being talked about as a musician. "I have no problem being out, but I don't think it has anything to do with my music", Miranda said. "I like who I like. I don't want people to not listen to my music because of that and I don't want people to listen to my music because of that. I haven't had to deal with it in a professional way very much yet."Holly moved to Los Angeles in August 2010. She is currently working on her next album.
Albums
- High Above the City: Evolution (2004)
- The Magician's Private LibraryThe Magician's Private LibraryThe Magician's Private Library is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Holly Miranda, released 23 February 2010 in the United States by XL Recordings...
(2010)
The Jealous Girlfriends
- Comfortably Uncomfortable (2004)
- The Jealous GirlfriendsThe Jealous Girlfriends (album)-References:...
(2007)