Holy Fuck
Encyclopedia
Holy Fuck is an electronica
band from Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. They were a part of Dependent Music
, a music label and artist collective that began in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
in 2004 until its closing. They are now a part of the Young Turks label.
The band uses live instrumentation and miscellaneous instruments and non-instruments (including a 35 mm film synchronizer, toy keyboards and toy phaser guns) to achieve electronic-sounding effects without the use of laptops or programmed backing tracks. According to Pitchfork Media
, "The band was formed with the intent of creating the equivalent of modern electronic music without actually using the techniques—looping
, splicing
, programming
and the like—of that music."
(supporting Brooklyn rapper Beans
who recruited the band to serve as his backing unit), the CMJ Music Marathon, the Halifax Pop Explosion
, POP Montreal, the Montreal Jazz Festival, All Tomorrow’s Parties
, Vegoose
, Evolve Festival
, Lollapalooza
, Osheaga Festival
, and the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas
in 2006, 2007 and 2008. In the summer of 2007, Holy Fuck performed at the Glastonbury Festival
, one of the largest music festivals in the world, where they were named the #3 top new act at the festival by NME
magazine. They performed at Lollapalooza
in 2008, replacing Noah and the Whale
, and returned to headline the London Ontario Live Arts Festival
. Their music can also be frequently heard in the 4th and 5th season of the Canadian comedy television series Kenny vs. Spenny
.
On August 30, 2009, Holy Fuck played the Virgin Mobile FreeFest dance stage at Merriweather Post Pavilion
, Columbia, Maryland.
Before Holy Fuck, Borcherdt was a member of the band By Divine Right, Burnt Black and Cafe' Selectronique with Doug Barron (Hal Harbour) and Phollop Willing PA.
Their debut album, Holy Fuck, recorded with Laurence Currie and Dave Newfeld (Broken Social Scene
, Apostle of Hustle
), was named one of the Montreal Mirror
' s top ten albums of 2005.
Holy Fuck have toured the United States
with Wolf Parade
, Super Furry Animals
, Enon
, !!!
, Mouse on Mars
, Cornelius
, and Do Make Say Think
. They went on a European tour with Buck 65
in early 2006.
In January 2006 they were named one of ten finalists for the $3,000 Galaxie Rising Stars Award of the CBC
, part of Canadian Music Week
's Indie Awards held in March.
The band released their second album, entitled LP
, in 2007. The album was nominated for Alternative Album of the Year at the 2008 Juno Award
s, and was also shortlisted for the Canadian Polaris Music Prize
.
In 2008 Holy Fuck added a remix
of "Nude" by Radiohead
to Radiohead's remix website, where Internet users could vote for the best remix.
They also toured venues in North America with M.I.A.
in 2007 and 2008
. In 2008 former Enon
drummer Matt Schulz
joined the band during their live performances.
In August 2008, the Ottawa Citizen
and others reported that the ruling federal Conservatives
had issued a talking points memo regarding the cancellation of the PromArt program, funding international promotional tours by Canadian artists. The memo justified the cancellation on the grounds that its recipients included, among other notables, "a rock band that uses an expletive
as part of its name", apparently referring to Holy Fuck. The band took offense at this suggestion. In an interview, the band said regarding their name: “It’s been pretty annoying, but it’s gotten us a lot of publicity, so we can’t complain about that."
Brian Borcherdt took time away from the band to support his next solo album, Coyotes, which was released on October 7, 2008.
The track 'They're Going to Take My Thumbs" appears in the first episode of Season 2 of Breaking Bad
. "Royal Gregory" was used in the 2008 video game Midnight Club: Los Angeles as well used in the official trailer for the game. The song "Lovely Allen" can be heard in a Dodge Chrysler Jeep commercial.
In 2009 Holy Fuck took part in an interactive documentary series called City Sonic
. The series, which featured 20 Toronto artists, had Brian Borcherdt reflecting on his time at Sneaky Dees.
Holy Fuck's third full-length studio album, Latin
was released May 11, 2010 through Young Turks and XL Recordings
. In the United States, the album reached #14 on the Billboard Dance charts and #40 on the Heatseekers chart. The song Latin America was featured in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
. The band have been chosen by Les Savy Fav
to perform at the ATP Nightmare Before Christmas
festival that they co-curate in December 2011 in Minehead, England.
Borcherdt & Walsh have also done production, writing and extra instrumentation on the latest album by Canadian songstress Lights.
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
band from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. They were a part of Dependent Music
Dependent Music
Dependent Music was a Canadian independent record label, owned and operated by the artists that were a part of the collective. Dependent Music was formed by Brian Borcherdt in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1994...
, a music label and artist collective that began in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Yarmouth is a town and fishing port located on the Gulf of Maine in rural southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Yarmouth County. The town is located in the heart of the world's largest lobster fishing grounds and has Canada's highest lobster catch.- History :The townsite may...
in 2004 until its closing. They are now a part of the Young Turks label.
The band uses live instrumentation and miscellaneous instruments and non-instruments (including a 35 mm film synchronizer, toy keyboards and toy phaser guns) to achieve electronic-sounding effects without the use of laptops or programmed backing tracks. According to Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
, "The band was formed with the intent of creating the equivalent of modern electronic music without actually using the techniques—looping
Music loop
In electroacoustic music, a loop is a repeating section of sound material. Short sections of material can be repeated to create ostinato patterns...
, splicing
Reel-to-reel audio tape recording
Reel-to-reel, open reel tape recording is the form of magnetic tape audio recording in which the recording medium is held on a reel, rather than being securely contained within a cassette....
, programming
Programming (music)
Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
and the like—of that music."
History
Since their formation in 2004, Holy Fuck have performed at CoachellaCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a three-day annual music and arts festival, organized by Goldenvoice and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley...
(supporting Brooklyn rapper Beans
Beans (rapper)
Beans hails from White Plains; a suburb of New York City. He is one of the founding members of New York's legendary Antipop Consortium, who disbanded in 2002 but have since reformed: new material was released in the form of the group's 2009 album Fluorescent Black on Big Dada Records.With his...
who recruited the band to serve as his backing unit), the CMJ Music Marathon, the Halifax Pop Explosion
Halifax Pop Explosion
The Halifax Pop Explosion is a music festival that takes place every fall, two weeks after Thanksgiving, in Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada.-History:...
, POP Montreal, the Montreal Jazz Festival, All Tomorrow’s Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....
, Vegoose
Vegoose
Vegoose was an annual Halloween music and arts festival that took place in 2005, 2006, and 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Unlike the Bonnaroo Music Festival — put on by the same organizers, Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment — Vegoose does not offer on-site camping...
, Evolve Festival
Evolve Festival
Evolve Festival is an annual music and cultural festival near Antigonish, dedicated to the promotion of sustainable living and environmental awareness. The festival uses renewable energy sources, recycled and biodegradable products and endeavours to limit solid waste...
, Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
, Osheaga Festival
Osheaga Festival
The Osheaga Music and Arts Festival is a multi-day rock festival in Montreal, Quebec, that is held annually at Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène every summer. The 2006 festival attracted a crowd of around 25,000 people. The second edition was held on September 8 and 9, 2007...
, and the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
in 2006, 2007 and 2008. In the summer of 2007, Holy Fuck performed at the Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
, one of the largest music festivals in the world, where they were named the #3 top new act at the festival by NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
magazine. They performed at Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
in 2008, replacing Noah and the Whale
Noah and the Whale
Noah and the Whale are an English indie folk band from Twickenham, London, England formed in 2006. The band consists of Charlie Fink , Tom Hobden , Matt "Urby Whale" Owens , Fred Abbott , and Michael Petulla .-Early years and Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down...
, and returned to headline the London Ontario Live Arts Festival
London Ontario Live Arts Festival
The London Ontario Live Arts Festival also known as LOLA fest, takes place every year in London, Ontario Canada, the third week of September, in its downtown core. The festival is not a music festival but a hugely imaginative live arts festival from well-known and emerging artists...
. Their music can also be frequently heard in the 4th and 5th season of the Canadian comedy television series Kenny vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny is a Canadian comedy reality television series about Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice, who face each other in various competitions. The loser of the episode must perform an act of humiliation, usually selected by the winner. Hotz and Rice helped create the series, and it was typically...
.
On August 30, 2009, Holy Fuck played the Virgin Mobile FreeFest dance stage at Merriweather Post Pavilion
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Merriweather Post Pavilion is an outdoor concert venue located within Symphony Woods, a 40-acre lot of preserved land in the heart of the planned community of Columbia, Maryland. It was named for the American Post Foods heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post...
, Columbia, Maryland.
Before Holy Fuck, Borcherdt was a member of the band By Divine Right, Burnt Black and Cafe' Selectronique with Doug Barron (Hal Harbour) and Phollop Willing PA.
Their debut album, Holy Fuck, recorded with Laurence Currie and Dave Newfeld (Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene is a Canadian indie rock band, a musical collective including as few as six and as many as nineteen members, formed in 1999 by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. Most of its members currently play in various other groups and solo projects, mainly based around the city of Toronto...
, Apostle of Hustle
Apostle of Hustle
Apostle of Hustle is a Canadian indie rock group, formed in 2001 by Andrew Whiteman.-History:The band is more or less the brainchild of Andrew Whiteman, who has been in such groups as Bourbon Tabernacle Choir and Que Vida. He released a solo effort titled Fear of Zen in 1995. He is also the lead...
), was named one of the Montreal Mirror
Montreal Mirror
Montreal Mirror is a free English language alternative newsweekly based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with a circulation of 70,000, and reaches a quarter of a million readers per week. It is published by Communications Gratte-Ciel Ltée....
Holy Fuck have toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with Wolf Parade
Wolf Parade
Wolf Parade is an indie rock band formed in 2003 from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The band is currently on an indefinite hiatus as of May 31, 2011.-History:...
, Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band that lean towards psychedelic rock and electronic experimentation. Since their formation in Cardiff, Wales in 1993, the band has consisted of Gruff Rhys , Huw Bunford , Guto Pryce , Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band...
, Enon
Enon
Enon was an indie rock band founded by John Schmersal, Rick Lee and Steve Calhoon. Currently, Enon is situated in Philadelphia, though the band is known for being part of the New York music scene.-Biography:...
, !!!
!!!
!!! is a dance-punk band that formed in Sacramento, California, in 1996. Members of !!! came from other local bands such as The Yah Mos, Black Liquorice and Popesmashers...
, Mouse on Mars
Mouse on Mars
Mouse on Mars is a duo from Germany who have been making electronic music since 1993. Their music is a sometimes quirky blend of IDM, krautrock, disco, and ambient with a heavy dollop of analog synth sounds and cross-frequency modulation...
, Cornelius
Cornelius (musician)
Cornelius is a Japanese recording artist and producer.-Career:Oyamada's first claim to fame was as a member of the pop duo Flipper's Guitar, one of the key groups of the Tokyo Shibuya-kei scene...
, and Do Make Say Think
Do Make Say Think
Do Make Say Think is a Canadian instrumental post-rock band from Toronto, Ontario. Their music combines jazz style drums, distorted guitars and wind instruments, as well as a prominent use of the bass guitar.-Biography:...
. They went on a European tour with Buck 65
Buck 65
Richard Terfry , who uses the stage name Buck 65, is a Canadian experimental artist, MC and turntablist. Underpinned by an extensive background in abstract hip hop, his more recent music has extensively incorporated blues, country, rock, folk and avant garde influences.Terfry is also a radio host,...
in early 2006.
In January 2006 they were named one of ten finalists for the $3,000 Galaxie Rising Stars Award of the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, part of Canadian Music Week
Canadian Music Week
Canadian Music Week is an industry conference and music festival held over four days in various venues throughout Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
's Indie Awards held in March.
The band released their second album, entitled LP
LP (Holy Fuck album)
LP is the second album from lo-fi improvisational electronica band Holy Fuck. The album was nominated for Alternative Album of the Year at the 2008 Juno Awards and was nominated for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize. Owen Pallett contributed to the album, playing the violin part on 'Lovely Allen'...
, in 2007. The album was nominated for Alternative Album of the Year at the 2008 Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
s, and was also shortlisted for the Canadian Polaris Music Prize
Polaris Music Prize
The Polaris Music Prize is a music award annually given to the best full-length Canadian album based on artistic merit, regardless of genre, sales, or record label...
.
In 2008 Holy Fuck added a remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of "Nude" by Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
to Radiohead's remix website, where Internet users could vote for the best remix.
They also toured venues in North America with M.I.A.
M.I.A. (artist)
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam , better known by her stage name M.I.A. , is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, painter and director of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her compositions combine elements of hip hop, electronica, dance, alternative and world music. M.I.A...
in 2007 and 2008
People Vs. Money Tour
The People vs. Money Tour was a 2008 M.I.A. concert tour in support of her studio album Kala. Concerts also featured songs from her debut album Arular. It began on 26 April 2008 and ended on June 13 in Manchester, Tennessee....
. In 2008 former Enon
Enon
Enon was an indie rock band founded by John Schmersal, Rick Lee and Steve Calhoon. Currently, Enon is situated in Philadelphia, though the band is known for being part of the New York music scene.-Biography:...
drummer Matt Schulz
Matt Schulz
Matt Schulz is an American drummer in the past member of Enon, Lab Partners, Let's Crash, and currently active as a member of Holy Fuck, STOCH, and Aperiodic....
joined the band during their live performances.
In August 2008, the Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
and others reported that the ruling federal Conservatives
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
had issued a talking points memo regarding the cancellation of the PromArt program, funding international promotional tours by Canadian artists. The memo justified the cancellation on the grounds that its recipients included, among other notables, "a rock band that uses an expletive
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
as part of its name", apparently referring to Holy Fuck. The band took offense at this suggestion. In an interview, the band said regarding their name: “It’s been pretty annoying, but it’s gotten us a lot of publicity, so we can’t complain about that."
Brian Borcherdt took time away from the band to support his next solo album, Coyotes, which was released on October 7, 2008.
The track 'They're Going to Take My Thumbs" appears in the first episode of Season 2 of Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White , a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series...
. "Royal Gregory" was used in the 2008 video game Midnight Club: Los Angeles as well used in the official trailer for the game. The song "Lovely Allen" can be heard in a Dodge Chrysler Jeep commercial.
In 2009 Holy Fuck took part in an interactive documentary series called City Sonic
City Sonic
City Sonic is a documentary series about Toronto-based musicians and the places that influenced their music. The first five City Sonic films were previewed at Toronto's 2009 North by North East Music and Film Festival.-Films:...
. The series, which featured 20 Toronto artists, had Brian Borcherdt reflecting on his time at Sneaky Dees.
Holy Fuck's third full-length studio album, Latin
Latin (album)
Latin is the third album from improvisational electronic band Holy Fuck. It was placed on the Long List for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize. In the United States, the album reached #14 on the Billboard Dance charts and #40 on the Heatseekers chart....
was released May 11, 2010 through Young Turks and 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...
. In the United States, the album reached #14 on the Billboard Dance charts and #40 on the Heatseekers chart. The song Latin America was featured in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a 2010 comedy film directed by Edgar Wright, based on the graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O'Malley. The film is about Scott Pilgrim , a young Canadian musician, meeting the girl of his dreams, Ramona Flowers , an American delivery girl...
. The band have been chosen by Les Savy Fav
Les Savy Fav
Les Savy Fav is a New York City indie rock band. Their style is influenced by art rock and post-hardcore. The group is known for the stage presence of lead singer Tim Harrington...
to perform at the ATP Nightmare Before Christmas
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....
festival that they co-curate in December 2011 in Minehead, England.
Borcherdt & Walsh have also done production, writing and extra instrumentation on the latest album by Canadian songstress Lights.
Current
- Brian Borcherdt – keyboards, effects
- Graham Walsh – keyboards, effects
- Matt "Punchy" McQuaid – bass
- Matt SchulzMatt SchulzMatt Schulz is an American drummer in the past member of Enon, Lab Partners, Let's Crash, and currently active as a member of Holy Fuck, STOCH, and Aperiodic....
– drums
Former
- Kevin Lynn – bass
- Mike Bigelow – bass
- Loel Campbell – drums
- Glenn Milchem - drums
- Brad Kilpatrick – drums
- Aidan Fletcher T Wats - Smokes
Albums
- Holy Fuck (2005)
- LPLP (Holy Fuck album)LP is the second album from lo-fi improvisational electronica band Holy Fuck. The album was nominated for Alternative Album of the Year at the 2008 Juno Awards and was nominated for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize. Owen Pallett contributed to the album, playing the violin part on 'Lovely Allen'...
(2007) - LatinLatin (album)Latin is the third album from improvisational electronic band Holy Fuck. It was placed on the Long List for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize. In the United States, the album reached #14 on the Billboard Dance charts and #40 on the Heatseekers chart....
(2010)
EPs and singles
- Holy Fuck EP CD and 7" vinyl (2007)
- 12" split vinyl with CelebrationCelebration (band)Celebration is a psychedelic soul band based out of Baltimore, Maryland.-History:Celebration is composed of singer Katrina Ford, multi-instrumentalist Sean Antanaitis and drummer David Bergander, with a number of additional rotating members: Walker Teret plays bass, sometimes guitar, percussion and...
(2007) - Lovely Allen 7" and 12" vinyl (2008)
- 12" split vinyl with Foals (2008)
- + Ghost (2010)