Jana Hunter
Encyclopedia
Jana Hunter is a Baltimore-based songwriter
and musician
. She was born in Texas
and is currently a member of Lower Dens.
She is signed to Gnomonsong
, a new record label run by Devendra Banhart
and Vetiver
's Andy Cabic
. Her solo debut album Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom
was the label's debut release.
Hunter has performed and/or recorded as a member of Jracula, Castanets, Matty & Mossy, Ejaculette, Unitus, and Krazy Nerds, and played in/recorded for Indian Jewelry
, Matteah Baim, Metallic Falcons, Phosphorescent
, and CocoRosie
.
Hunter has toured with Tara Jane O'Neil
, Devendra Banhart
, Rasputina, Viking Moses, Castanets, Deer Tick, Marissa Nadler
, Peter & the Wolf
, and Woozyhelmet, among others.
In 2005, Hunter accompanied Meadows, Lights, and Mouth of Leaves on their Summer of Golden Blood tour throughout the deep and dirty South
. In 2006, she performed at North East Sticks Together.
She has appeared at Mad Vicky's Tea House in Brooklyn, NY, owned by "Mad Vicky", Bianca Casady of the musical duo CocoRosie.
, and songs from the album were used in the soundtrack of Andrew Bujalski
's films Funny Ha Ha
and Mutual Appreciation
.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. She was born in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and is currently a member of Lower Dens.
She is signed to Gnomonsong
Gnomonsong
Gnomonsong is a record label formed by Devendra Banhart and Andy Cabic in partnership with Revolver USA. Banhart and Cabic do not deal with the business aspect of the label as much as work with the artists....
, a new record label run by Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Obi Banhart is a singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Houston, Texas and was raised by his mother in Venezuela, until he moved to California as a teenager. He began to study at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1998, but dropped out to perform music in Europe, San...
and Vetiver
Vetiver
Chrysopogon zizanioides, commonly known as vetiver , is a perennial grass of the Poaceae family, native to India. In western and northern India, it is popularly known as khus. Vetiver can grow up to 1.5 metres high and form clumps as wide. The stems are tall and the leaves are long, thin, and...
's Andy Cabic
Andy Cabic
Andy Cabic is a folk rock singer-songwriter, and lead member of the band Vetiver.He was born in Virginia and attended school at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, where he played in a band called The Raymond Brake...
. Her solo debut album Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom
Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom
Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom is a "best of" recording by Jana Hunter in 2005. It is the first release on Devendra Banhart's Gnomonsong record label. The album was recorded on two- and four-track recorders, and computers...
was the label's debut release.
Hunter has performed and/or recorded as a member of Jracula, Castanets, Matty & Mossy, Ejaculette, Unitus, and Krazy Nerds, and played in/recorded for Indian Jewelry
Indian jewelry
Indian Jewelry is a band from Houston, Texas that is known for its droning vision music and seizure-inducing stage show. Since forming in 2002 the band has gone through several touring incarnations as Hong Kong, the Turquoise Diamonds, BENZENE LOTION RASH, the Corpses of Waco, Electric Fuck All,...
, Matteah Baim, Metallic Falcons, Phosphorescent
Phosphorescent (band)
Phosphorescent is the working moniker of American multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Matthew Houck. Originally from Alabama, Houck began recording and performing under this nom de plume in 2001 in Athens, Georgia...
, and CocoRosie
CocoRosie
CocoRosie is a musical group formed in 2003 by sisters Bianca "Coco" and Sierra "Rosie" Casady. The sisters were born and raised in the United States, but formed the band in Paris after meeting for the first time in years...
.
Touring
Jana Hunter's current touring schedule is available on her Myspace page, and on the Gnomonsong website.Hunter has toured with Tara Jane O'Neil
Tara Jane O'Neil
Tara Jane O'Neil is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, audio recording engineer, and visual artist based out of Portland, Oregon.-Biography:...
, Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Obi Banhart is a singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Houston, Texas and was raised by his mother in Venezuela, until he moved to California as a teenager. He began to study at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1998, but dropped out to perform music in Europe, San...
, Rasputina, Viking Moses, Castanets, Deer Tick, Marissa Nadler
Marissa Nadler
Marissa Nadler is an American dream-folk singer-songwriter and fine artist based in Boston.-Early life:Marissa Nadler was exposed to art at a young age through her mother Pamela, an abstract painter, and her older brother Stuart, a guitarist and writer...
, Peter & the Wolf
Peter and the Wolf (band)
Peter and the Wolf is the American folk band formed by musician Red Hunter. Hunter says about his song writing, "I carry a journal everywhere with me. I will stop in the middle of whatever I'm doing to write down an idea, whether it's something I think about, hear, observe, or whatever...
, and Woozyhelmet, among others.
In 2005, Hunter accompanied Meadows, Lights, and Mouth of Leaves on their Summer of Golden Blood tour throughout the deep and dirty South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. In 2006, she performed at North East Sticks Together.
She has appeared at Mad Vicky's Tea House in Brooklyn, NY, owned by "Mad Vicky", Bianca Casady of the musical duo CocoRosie.
Matty & Mossy
Hunter founded and played in the Houston band Matty & Mossy with Heath Flagtvedt, Matt Frey and John Hunter. Their album, Fraimers Haimey, was recorded in Athens, Georgia with Chris Bishop and released on Fleece Records.http://www.soundexchangehouston.com/fleece/catalog.html The album reached #1 on the radio charts of Rice Radio and KSPCKSPC
KSPC is a non-commercial college and community radio station based in Claremont, California, US broadcasting at 88.7 MHz on the FM band and streaming online...
, and songs from the album were used in the soundtrack of Andrew Bujalski
Andrew Bujalski
Andrew Bujalski, born April 29, 1977 in Boston, Massachusetts, is an American film director, screenwriter and actor, who has been called the "Godfather of Mumblecore."- Bio :...
's films Funny Ha Ha
Funny Ha Ha
Funny ha ha, considered the first mumblecore film, follows the exploits of recently graduated protagonist Marnie as she tries to find a temporary job and win the attention of a college friend named Alex , while trying to cut down on her beer consumption...
and Mutual Appreciation
Mutual Appreciation
Mutual Appreciation is an independent film by Andrew Bujalski who previously directed Funny Ha Ha . The script is primarily dialogue between a group of young people as they try to determine where they fit in the world. It is considered part of the mumblecore movement.-Plot:The principal characters...
.
Albums
- Carrion EP CD (GnomonsongGnomonsongGnomonsong is a record label formed by Devendra Banhart and Andy Cabic in partnership with Revolver USA. Banhart and Cabic do not deal with the business aspect of the label as much as work with the artists....
September 2007) - Carrion EP LP (WoodsistWoodsistWoodsist is an American record label founded in 2006 by Jeremy Earl of the bands Woods and Meneguar. The label specializes in bands in the lo-fi and punk genre. The label has a sister label, Fuckittapes, which releases Woodsist releases, among others, solely on the cassette format.-Discography:*...
September 2007) - There's No Home CD & LP(GnomonsongGnomonsongGnomonsong is a record label formed by Devendra Banhart and Andy Cabic in partnership with Revolver USA. Banhart and Cabic do not deal with the business aspect of the label as much as work with the artists....
April 7, 2007) - Blank Unstaring Heirs of DoomBlank Unstaring Heirs of DoomBlank Unstaring Heirs of Doom is a "best of" recording by Jana Hunter in 2005. It is the first release on Devendra Banhart's Gnomonsong record label. The album was recorded on two- and four-track recorders, and computers...
CD (GnomonsongGnomonsongGnomonsong is a record label formed by Devendra Banhart and Andy Cabic in partnership with Revolver USA. Banhart and Cabic do not deal with the business aspect of the label as much as work with the artists....
#1, October 4, 2005) - Jana Hunter / Devendra Banhart (split with Devendra BanhartDevendra BanhartDevendra Obi Banhart is a singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Houston, Texas and was raised by his mother in Venezuela, until he moved to California as a teenager. He began to study at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1998, but dropped out to perform music in Europe, San...
, Troubleman Unlimited #153, LP, 2005)
Compilations
- The Enlightened Family (Voodoo-EROS #1, CD)
- The Black and White Skins (Les Disque Du Crespuscule, CD, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) - The Golden Apples of the SunThe Golden Apples of the Sun (album)The Golden Apples of the Sun is a limited edition compilation of contemporary folk music curated by musician Devendra Banhart for the art magazine Arthur Magazine. The title comes from a Ray Bradbury short story...
(Bastet #1, CD, 2004)
External links
- Gnomonsong website
- Official website
- MySpace
- Concert photos by Laurent Orseau
- Jana Hunter's Daytrotter session
- Jana Hunter Guest List on Discollective
- Fleece Records
- Review of Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom in Dusted
- Interview and performance on Má Fama radio session
- session on Radio Campus Paris
See also
Houston Noise BandsHouston Noise Bands
Since the 1970s, Houston, TX has become one of the world's leading centers for a particular brand of dark experimental music, ranging from psych-rock to industrial to distorted, stripped-down folk songs, to dance party mayhem, but all sharing a similar aesthetic sensibility rooted in dissonance...