Azar Swan

Last updated
Azar Swan
Azar Swan chez La Vitrola -- 2.jpg
Azar Swan in Montreal Canada at the La Vitrola
Background information
Origin Brooklyn, New York, USA
Genres Industrial, pop, experimental
Years active2012−present
LabelsHandmade Birds, Pendu Sound, Zoo Music
MembersZohra Atash
Joshua Strachan
Website http://www.azarswan.com

Azar Swan is the musical project of singer-songwriter and musician Zohra Atash, co-produced by Atash and Joshua Strachan. After dissolving their previous band, Religious to Damn, Atash and Strachan chose to begin experimenting with electronic instrumentation.

Contents

History

Azar Swan played their first show on November 10, 2012, followed by notable direct support slots with Prurient, White Lung, Cut Hands, King Dude, Tamaryn and David J, and a BUST Magazine showcase with JD Samson and MEN. [1]

The band premiered their debut single, "Amrika", on USA Today on October 24, 2012. [2] They subsequently released several digital singles including "In My Mouth", which was one of the final releases from Pendu Sound Recordings and was remixed by Drew McDowall of Coil.

In November 2013, Azar Swan released their debut LP, Dance Before the War, on the independent label Handmade Birds. Pitchfork called the band's sound "prime industrial pop" [3] and said that the album's title track was aggressive and accessible with a "bent for experimentation." The band's second album, And Blow Us a Kiss, was released in October 2014 by Zoo Music, the record label owned and operated by Dee Dee Penny of Dum Dum Girls and Brandon Welchez of Crocodiles.

They followed the album up with a double-A-side remix 12" called Variations on Handmade Birds, which featured mixes by Vatican Shadow and Cut Hands. Variations was notable for being the first time that both William Bennett (of Whitehouse) and Dominick Fernow (of Prurient), both widely recognized as two of the most significant pioneering figures in power electronics and noise music, had been featured on the same release.

Strachan and Atash would go on to collaborate with longtime Hospital Productions audio engineer and mixer Kris Lapke for their subsequent work, with Savage Exile in 2017 and The Hissing of a Paper Crane as well as on a single for the Adult Swim Singles Series called Empire Grave, [4] both in 2019. Both albums were reviewed favorably [5] [6] by NPR while Revolver Magazine said that Empire Grave showed an "unmatched capability to create unsettlingly gorgeous dance-floor bangers that are highly listenable yet tremendously unique among their contemporaries." [7]

Azar Swan has released a number of covers including interpretations of songs by David Bowie, Marianne Faithfull, Leonard Cohen, and Bananarama. In 2018, they digitally released a compilation of unreleased songs from the Dance Before The War period called "Sun Meets the Sea."

Atash's sleep disorder, [8] childhood hallucinations, [9] and synesthesia [10] are the impetus for much of Azar Swan's lyrical imagery, which she has described as "living in the space between dreams and reality" [11] and "hallucinogenic realism". Subject matter ranges from anxiety, language, war, bestial hunger and weather, with lyrics mainly written while in a hypnagogic state. [12] Atash has been vocal about her experience as the child of Afghan refugees, as well as her experience as a woman navigating complex cultural experiences and identities. [13]

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Compilations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Primal Scream</span> Scottish rock band

Primal Scream are a Scottish rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie (vocals) and Jim Beattie. The band's current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes (guitar), Simone Butler (bass), and Darrin Mooney (drums). Barrie Cadogan has toured and recorded with the band since 2006 as a replacement after the departure of guitarist Robert "Throb" Young.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swans (band)</span> American experimental rock band

Swans is an American experimental rock band formed in 1982 by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira. One of the few acts to emerge from the New York City-based no wave scene and stay intact into the next decade, Swans have become recognized for an ever-changing sound, exploring genres such as noise rock, post-punk, industrial and post-rock. Initially, their music was known for its sonic brutality and misanthropic lyrics. Following the addition of singer, songwriter and keyboardist Jarboe in 1986, Swans began to incorporate melody and intricacy into their music. Jarboe remained the band's only constant member except Gira and semi-constant guitarist Norman Westberg until their dissolution in 1997.

Sludge metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that combines elements of doom metal and hardcore punk. The genre generally includes slow tempos, tuned down guitars and nihilistic lyrics discussing poverty, drug addiction and pollution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ranking Roger</span> English singer (1963–2019)

Roger Charlery, known professionally as Ranking Roger, was an English musician. He was a vocalist in the 1980s ska band the Beat and later new wave band General Public. He subsequently was the frontman for a reformed Beat lineup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance Gavin Dance</span> American post-hardcore band

Dance Gavin Dance is an American rock band from Sacramento, California, formed in 2005. It consists of vocalists Jon Mess and Tilian Pearson, lead guitarist Will Swan, rhythm guitarist Andrew Wells, and drummer Matthew Mingus. The band formerly included lead vocalists Jonny Craig and Kurt Travis, bassists Eric Lodge, Jason Ellis, and Tim Feerick, and guitarists Alvaro Alcala, Sean O'Sullivan, Zachary Garren, and Josh Benton. The lineup has changed numerous times since their inception. Swan and Mingus are the only band members who have appeared on every studio album.

Rich Balling is an American musician, producer, and curator. He is best known for being a former member of Rx Bandits. He is also known for his work in Pyramids, The Sound of Animals Fighting, and being the editor of two books Revolution on Canvas and its sequel Revolution on Canvas 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dum Dum Girls</span> American rock band

Dum Dum Girls was an American rock band, formed in 2008. It began as the bedroom recording project of singer and songwriter Dee Dee. She is currently based in Los Angeles. The name is a double homage to the Vaselines' album Dum Dum and the Iggy Pop song "Dum Dum Boys".

Joshua Strawn, known professionally as Joshua Strachan, is a songwriter, record producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist.

<i>Apokalypsis</i> (Chelsea Wolfe album) 2011 studio album by Chelsea Wolfe

Apokalypsis is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Chelsea Wolfe, released on Pendu Sound Recordings on August 23, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birds in Row</span> French hardcore punk band

Birds in Row is a French hardcore punk band that formed in 2009 in Laval and is composed of three members, "T.", "Q." and "B.". They signed to Deathwish Inc. in 2011 and released their debut album You, Me & the Violence in 2012.

Religious to Damn was an indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York fronted by Afghan-American songwriter Zohra Atash. Atash formed the group in 2009 in collaboration with several additional musicians and producers including Joshua Strachan and Jim Sclavunos. Their music was described by the Village Voice as "a mix of desert strum, hypnotic pulse, spirited-away synths, Lynchian weirdness, and Fleetwood Maximalism".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiss Golden Messenger</span> American folk band

Hiss Golden Messenger is an American folk band originating from Durham, North Carolina, formed in 2007 and led by singer and songwriter MC Taylor.

Stolas was an American post-hardcore band from Las Vegas, Nevada formed in 2011. The band consisted of Carlo Marquez, and Sergio Medina. The band was signed as the first band on Blue Swan Records in 2013, a record label launched by Will Swan of Dance Gavin Dance. They have released one EP, Losing Wings (2012) and three studio albums, Living Creatures (2013), Allomaternal (2014), and Stolas (2017). The group signed to Equal Vision Records in 2016.

<i>A World Lit Only by Fire</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Godflesh

A World Lit Only by Fire is the seventh studio album by English industrial metal band Godflesh. It was released on 7 October 2014 through frontman Justin Broadrick's own label, Avalanche Recordings, and was the band's first full-length album since 2001's Hymns. It was preceded by the digital singles "New Dark Ages" in August 2014 and "Imperator" in September 2014, and it was followed by several international tours.

<i>We Are Harlot</i> (album) 2015 studio album by We Are Harlot

We Are Harlot is the self-titled debut album by the American rock band We Are Harlot and was released on March 30, 2015 in the US. Two singles have been released, "Denial" and "Dancing On Nails," which peaked at 14 on the US Mainstream Rock chart. The album successfully charted the UK and US charts, peaking at 58 in the UK and 165 in the US. And their song "Denial" is the bumper song for WWE Raw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Swan (musician)</span> American musician (born 1985)

William Swan is an American songwriter and musician born in Sacramento, California. He is best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the American post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance and as the founder and owner of record label Blue Swan Records. He is also a guitarist in the metal band Secret Band, progressive rock band Royal Coda, and was a guitarist in the now defunct Sianvar.

<i>Rhea Sylvia</i> (EP) 2018 EP by Thou

Rhea Sylvia is an extended play (EP) by the American metal band Thou. It was released on July 27, 2018 through the independent hardcore punk label Deathwish Inc. Except for the cover of "The Lasting Dose", the songs on Rhea Sylvia are Thou versions of band member Matthew Thudium's solo material. The EP's musical style is a mix of the band's signature sludge metal sound and grunge artists such as Alice in Chains.

<i>We Already Lost the World</i> 2018 studio album by Birds in Row

We Already Lost the World is the second studio album by the French punk band Birds in Row. The album was released on July 13, 2018 through Deathwish Inc. The album is the first release of since 2015's split EP with WAITC, and the band's first full-length album in six years since their 2012 debut, You, Me & the Violence. The album's title and lose lyrical themes touch on the band's political and social views toward life. In an interview, they said: "We Already Lost the World means [the world is] not in our hands yet, but it could be if we worked together for the common good."

Kelly Moran is an American composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Brooklyn. Her music spans classical, electronic, minimalist, jazz, impressionist, and metal genres. In many of her compositions, Moran utilizes electronic musical techniques in combination with the John Cage-pioneered technique of the prepared piano. Moran signed with Warp Records in September 2018.

Pendu Sound Recordings was an independent record label used by aTelecine, Chelsea Wolfe, Azar Swan, Mater Suspiria Vision, White Ring, Talibam!, Von Haze, and others.

References

  1. ↑ Allen, Brittany, 45 Minutes With Zohra Atash, BUST
  2. ↑ Marshalek, Russ, Two Exclusive Tracks: A Debut Single and a Killer Remix, USA Today
  3. ↑ O'Connor, Andy, Azar Swan "Dance Before the War", Pitchfork
  4. ↑ Adult Swim,
  5. ↑ Gotrich, Lars, Industrial Duo Azar Swan Purges Righteous Anger With 'Territorial', All Songs Considered
  6. ↑ Gotrich, Lars, Viking's Choice: Sound-Foraging Ambient, Dank Drone And Spanish Dance-Pop, All Songs Considered
  7. ↑ Revolver Staff, , Revolver
  8. ↑ "Zohra Atash (Azar Swan) TALKS Jenny Hval's Apocalypse, Girl" . Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  9. ↑ "BYT Interviews: Azar Swan 2014 - BrightestYoungThings - NYC". nyc.brightestyoungthings.com. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  10. ↑ "Greenpoint bar chat with Azar Swan | Chatter | Impose Magazine". www.imposemagazine.com. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  11. ↑ "The Quietus | News | WATCH: Azar Swan - We Hunger". www.azarswan.com. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  12. ↑ "Zohra Atash's Waking Dream - Adult Mag". Archived from the original on 2016-02-19. Retrieved 2015-08-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ↑ Atash, Zohra, How To Get Your Religious Family To Break Up With You, Slutist
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.