Maldroid
Encyclopedia
Maldroid is an electropop band based in Oakland, California
.
, founded Maldroid in March 2006, hand-picking local musicians had worked with from now defunct local bands Solemite and "The K.G.B.
" (not to be confused with the Finnish
group KGB). The band made its first EP
later that year produced by guitarist Johnny Genius, the other core member. The production team of Divine Genius (Ryan Divine and Johnny Genius) first met Sean and Jerry during the production of the Soundboy record "Private Party". They produced several hits on the record including "Cold Blooded" and "Never My Love".
Their first video, "He Said, She Said," is a combination of simulated live performance, background subway scenes from the BART
rail system, and graphic novel
-style cartoons hand-animated over the course of several months by Divine. The video was inspired by Take on Me
, a popular 1985 song and video by the Norwegian
band a-ha
. The live portion was surreptitiously filmed on borrowed cameras in abandoned warehouses.
The single became popular on local San Francisco modern rock
station Live 105, after which the video went on to win YouTube
's first-ever music contest, "The Youtube Underground." That earned them an appearance on Good Morning America
and interest from various record label
s.
On February 14, 2007, a 5,000-word cover story was published in a local alternative-weekly newspaper chronicling the group's roots, evolution, and rapid rise to become perhaps the first ever indie rock group launched solely on music videos. http://news.eastbayexpress.com/2007-02-14/news/video-made-the-radio-star Unlike OK Go
, who was already signed to a major label by the time it was boosted to mainstream popularity through its viral music videos, Maldroid experienced music video fame before it had released a single song for sale or played a single live show.
Maldroid's first three videos are all animations created by lead singer Ryan Divine. Their EP was produced at a cost of $50, which the band claims was spent mostly on food and alcohol, at a studio where two band members work. The "Heck No" video is animated on a Lite-Brite
art toy. In You Can Have It All a video, Ryan Divine takes apart a bluescreen jigsaw puzzle
, which is played backwards. (He is also a jigsaw champion).
It was announced at the 2007 South By Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas that Maldroid was signed to a recording contract with the upstart San Francisco record label Fuzz Artists, Inc.
Maldroid opened at the Live 105 "Not so silent night" concert, on December 7, 2007, after winning a local band contest. The concert included similar, but more famously known bands Paramore
, Spoon
, Jimmy Eat World
, Angels & Airwaves
, and Modest Mouse
.
Maldroid played Every Thursday Night In August and September at the Stork Club in Oakland, California
Former Smash Mouth
/Cake
/Bourgeois Tagg/Cracker
drummer Michael Urbano
has been filling in on various gigs for the band.
Reto Peter(Green Day
, The Network
, Modest Mouse
) entered the studio to engineer and co-produce several songs for upcoming full length due out APRIL 2008.
Maldroid will embark on their first nationwide tour(April 15-may 30th) with Oakland's own The Phenomenauts and former Fueled by Ramen
artist The A.K.A.s.
Maldroid goes through a massive line-up change. With the departure of both guitarists, Johnny Genius and Todd Brown, Maldroid brings ex River City Rebels
guitar player Patti Botox in to the fold. Now with a 5 man line-up Maldroid begins recording their follow up record. New songs such as "Almost Pleasureable", "Get To You" and "Murder at The Disco" show a significant change in style.
Maldroid will embark on their fourth tour of their short career in October 2009 with Portland's Punk Group.
Due to a family emergency, Patti Botox is forced to move back to New York. Todd Brown returns to his original spot as lead guitar player. Maldroid begins their much anticipated follow up.
Ryan Divine shot a pilot for an unreleased VH1
show called "Shoot To Kill" which revolves around young video directors. Drew Barrymore
and The Strokes
drummer Fabrizio Moretti
were producers for the show. They hand picked Ryan after viewing Maldroid's music videos. The episode has yet to air on VH1
, although the music is harder edged, more personal, yet less experimental than late 'Beatles. The band also has New Wave
and Indie rock
overtones, and pays homage to Devo
, The Hives
, Daft Punk
, Beck
, and Iggy Pop
. Recent recordings have shown a sudden change in style. Now adopting a more electropop approach Maldroid shows similarities with such bands as LCD Soundsystem
, MGMT
, Hot Chip
and Friendly Fires
.Maldroid has added a new drummer, Brandon Bradshaw from the band Varona.
Lead Guitarist Johnny Genius attended San Francisco School of the Arts, is currently attending culinary academy and is in two other bands. Bass Player Sean Shippley and Synth Player Prince J were also members of PopSmear Records band "Soundboy".
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.
History
Lead singer Ryan Divine, born and raised in Santa CruzSanta Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, founded Maldroid in March 2006, hand-picking local musicians had worked with from now defunct local bands Solemite and "The K.G.B.
The K.G.B.
The K.G.B. was a band formed in the 1990s in Oakland, California, which was signed briefly with Dreamworks Records and was a member of the East Bay All Stars .-History:...
" (not to be confused with the Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
group KGB). The band made its first EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
later that year produced by guitarist Johnny Genius, the other core member. The production team of Divine Genius (Ryan Divine and Johnny Genius) first met Sean and Jerry during the production of the Soundboy record "Private Party". They produced several hits on the record including "Cold Blooded" and "Never My Love".
Their first video, "He Said, She Said," is a combination of simulated live performance, background subway scenes from the BART
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit is a rapid transit system serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The heavy-rail public transit and subway system connects San Francisco with cities in the East Bay and suburbs in northern San Mateo County. BART operates five lines on of track with 44 stations in four counties...
rail system, and graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
-style cartoons hand-animated over the course of several months by Divine. The video was inspired by Take on Me
Take on Me
"Take on Me" is a song by the Norwegian pop band A-ha. Written by the band members, the song was produced by Alan Tarney for the group's first studio album Hunting High and Low, released in 1985...
, a popular 1985 song and video by the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
band a-ha
A-ha
A-ha were a Norwegian pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. The band was founded by Morten Harket , Magne Furuholmen , and Pål Waaktaar...
. The live portion was surreptitiously filmed on borrowed cameras in abandoned warehouses.
The single became popular on local San Francisco modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
station Live 105, after which the video went on to win YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
's first-ever music contest, "The Youtube Underground." That earned them an appearance on Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
and interest from various record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s.
On February 14, 2007, a 5,000-word cover story was published in a local alternative-weekly newspaper chronicling the group's roots, evolution, and rapid rise to become perhaps the first ever indie rock group launched solely on music videos. http://news.eastbayexpress.com/2007-02-14/news/video-made-the-radio-star Unlike OK Go
OK Go
OK Go is a rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois, USA, now residing in Los Angeles, California, USA. The band is composed of Damian Kulash , Tim Nordwind , Dan Konopka and Andy Ross , who joined them in 2005, replacing Andy Duncan...
, who was already signed to a major label by the time it was boosted to mainstream popularity through its viral music videos, Maldroid experienced music video fame before it had released a single song for sale or played a single live show.
Maldroid's first three videos are all animations created by lead singer Ryan Divine. Their EP was produced at a cost of $50, which the band claims was spent mostly on food and alcohol, at a studio where two band members work. The "Heck No" video is animated on a Lite-Brite
Lite-Brite
Lite-Brite is a toy, created by Hasbro in 1967, which allows the user to create glowing designs. It is a light box with small colored plastic pegs that fit into a matrix of holes and illuminate to create a lit piece of art. Using the colored pegs the user can create designs from imagination or by...
art toy. In You Can Have It All a video, Ryan Divine takes apart a bluescreen jigsaw puzzle
Jigsaw puzzle
A jigsaw puzzle is a tiling puzzle that requires the assembly of numerous small, often oddly shaped, interlocking and tessellating pieces.Each piece usually has a small part of a picture on it; when complete, a jigsaw puzzle produces a complete picture...
, which is played backwards. (He is also a jigsaw champion).
It was announced at the 2007 South By Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas that Maldroid was signed to a recording contract with the upstart San Francisco record label Fuzz Artists, Inc.
Maldroid opened at the Live 105 "Not so silent night" concert, on December 7, 2007, after winning a local band contest. The concert included similar, but more famously known bands Paramore
Paramore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
, Spoon
Spoon (band)
Spoon is an American rock band formed in Austin, Texas. The band is composed of Britt Daniel ; Jim Eno ; Rob Pope and Eric Harvey .-History:...
, Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
, Angels & Airwaves
Angels & Airwaves
Angels & Airwaves is an American alternative rock supergroup led by Blink-182 guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, also including guitarist David Kennedy from Over My Dead Body, Hazen Street and Box Car Racer, bass guitarist Matt Wachter from 30 Seconds to Mars and former Lostprophets and Nine Inch...
, and Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, by singer/lyricist/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. They are based in Portland, Oregon. Since their 1996 debut album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think...
.
Maldroid played Every Thursday Night In August and September at the Stork Club in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
Former Smash Mouth
Smash Mouth
Smash Mouth is an American rock band from San Jose, California. The band was formed in 1994, and was originally composed of Steve Harwell, Greg Camp, Paul De Lisle and Kevin Coleman as lead vocals, guitar, bass and drums respectively...
/Cake
Cake (band)
Cake is an American alternative rock band from Sacramento, California. Consisting of singer John McCrea, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, guitarist Xan McCurdy, bassist Gabe Nelson and drummer Paulo Baldi, the band has been noted for McCrea's sarcastic lyrics and deadpan voice, DiFiore's trumpet parts, and...
/Bourgeois Tagg/Cracker
Cracker (band)
Cracker is an American alternative rock band featuring founders/songwriters singer David Lowery and guitarist Johnny Hickman. They are best known for their platinum-selling 1993 album, Kerosene Hat, featuring the hit songs "Low", "Euro-Trash Girl", and "Get Off This".Founders Lowery and Hickman...
drummer Michael Urbano
Michael Urbano
Michael Urbano is a studio drummer, band member, programmer, and record producer.One of his first gigs was as a member of Bourgeois Tagg, a 1980s band that was fronted by Brent Bourgeois and Larry Tagg and included Lyle Workman as the guitarist...
has been filling in on various gigs for the band.
Reto Peter(Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
, The Network
The Network
The Network is a six-piece New Wave band. They released their debut album Money Money 2020 on Adeline Records on September 30, 2003. A re-release of the album, with two bonus tracks, followed in 2004. The band has not played a live performance since about late 2004 and is believed to have disbanded...
, Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, by singer/lyricist/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. They are based in Portland, Oregon. Since their 1996 debut album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think...
) entered the studio to engineer and co-produce several songs for upcoming full length due out APRIL 2008.
Maldroid will embark on their first nationwide tour(April 15-may 30th) with Oakland's own The Phenomenauts and former Fueled by Ramen
Fueled by Ramen
Fueled by Ramen is an American record label which operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records. The label, founded in Gainesville, Florida, is based in New York City...
artist The A.K.A.s.
Maldroid goes through a massive line-up change. With the departure of both guitarists, Johnny Genius and Todd Brown, Maldroid brings ex River City Rebels
River City Rebels
The River City Rebels are a punk/rock & roll band based in White River Junction, Vermont. The band has a long and detailed history, clouded with many line up changes over the years. Throughout the bands entire history, Dan O'Day has been the primary songwriter of the band...
guitar player Patti Botox in to the fold. Now with a 5 man line-up Maldroid begins recording their follow up record. New songs such as "Almost Pleasureable", "Get To You" and "Murder at The Disco" show a significant change in style.
Maldroid will embark on their fourth tour of their short career in October 2009 with Portland's Punk Group.
Due to a family emergency, Patti Botox is forced to move back to New York. Todd Brown returns to his original spot as lead guitar player. Maldroid begins their much anticipated follow up.
Ryan Divine shot a pilot for an unreleased VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
show called "Shoot To Kill" which revolves around young video directors. Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore
Drew Blyth Barrymore is an American actress, film director, screenwriter, producer and model. She is a member of the Barrymore family of American actors and granddaughter of John Barrymore. She first appeared in an advertisement when she was 11 months old. Barrymore made her film debut in Altered...
and The Strokes
The Strokes
The Strokes are an American indie rock band formed in 1999 in New York City. Consisting of Julian Casablancas , Nick Valensi , Albert Hammond, Jr. , Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti ....
drummer Fabrizio Moretti
Fabrizio Moretti
Fabrizio Moretti is the drummer of the American indie rock band, The Strokes. Fabrizio’s side project with Rodrigo Amarante of Los Hermanos and Binki Shapiro, entitled Little Joy debuted on Rough Trade Records...
were producers for the show. They hand picked Ryan after viewing Maldroid's music videos. The episode has yet to air on VH1
Musical style and influences
Maldroid styles itself after British Invasion bands from the '60s and "Second British Invasion" bands of the '80s. They play straightforward, singable pop music with clear vocals, a strong beat, conventional arrangements (bass, keys, guitar, singers), and clever wordplay. It is clearly influenced by early music by The BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, although the music is harder edged, more personal, yet less experimental than late 'Beatles. The band also has New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
and Indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
overtones, and pays homage to Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
, The Hives
The Hives
The Hives are a Swedish garage rock band that first garnered attention in the early 2000s as a prominent group of the garage rock revival. Their mainstream success came with the release of the "greatest hits" album Your New Favourite Band, featuring their most well-known song "Hate to Say I Told...
, Daft Punk
Daft Punk
Daft Punk are an electronic music duo consisting of French musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter . Daft Punk reached significant popularity in the late 1990s house movement in France and met with continued success in the years following, combining elements of house with synthpop...
, Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, and Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
. Recent recordings have shown a sudden change in style. Now adopting a more electropop approach Maldroid shows similarities with such bands as LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem was a prominent American dance-punk band from New York City. It was fronted by American singer-songwriter and producer James Murphy, co-founder of record label DFA Records...
, MGMT
MGMT
MGMT is an American alternative rock band founded by Benjamin Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. After the release of their first album, the members of their live band, Matthew Asti, James Richardson and Will Berman, joined the core band in the studio...
, Hot Chip
Hot Chip
Hot Chip are an English electronic indie band. They have released four studio albums—Coming on Strong, The Warning, Made in the Dark and One Life Stand.-Formation:...
and Friendly Fires
Friendly Fires
Friendly Fires are an English band from St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. They are currently signed to XL Recordings. Their self-titled debut album was released on 1 September 2008 and was announced as one of the shortlisted twelve for the 2009 Mercury Prize on 21 July 2009.-History:Friendly Fires...
.Maldroid has added a new drummer, Brandon Bradshaw from the band Varona.
Lead Guitarist Johnny Genius attended San Francisco School of the Arts, is currently attending culinary academy and is in two other bands. Bass Player Sean Shippley and Synth Player Prince J were also members of PopSmear Records band "Soundboy".
Albums
- Malfunction (EP) (November 29, 2006)
- Oakland Lads Club (EP) (September 20, 2007)
- "Nevermind (EP)" (February 21, 2008)
- Maldroid (April 15, 2008)
Singles
- He Said She Said (November 29, 2006)
- Heck No (I'll Never Listen to Techno) (November 29, 2006)
- Here We Go Again (November 29, 2006)
- You Can Have It All (November 29, 2006)
- You Wanna Touch It (November 29, 2006)