Bradford Cox

Last updated

Bradford Cox
Deerhunter(by Scott Dudelson).jpg
Cox in 2009
Background information
Birth nameBradford James Cox
Also known asAtlas Sound
Born (1982-05-15) May 15, 1982 (age 41)
Origin Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • actor
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • percussion
  • keyboards
  • bass guitar
  • drums
  • harmonica
Years active2001–present
Labels

Bradford James Cox (born May 15, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Deerhunter. He also pursues a solo career under the moniker Atlas Sound. [6]

Contents

Cox formed Deerhunter with drummer Moses Archuleta in 2001. The band has released eight studio albums along with several singles and EPs. Atlas Sound is a name Cox has used since he was ten to refer to his own music. Cox has released three full-length productions under this name. Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel (2008), Logos (2009), and Parallax (2011). Cox's method of creating music is stream of consciousness, and he does not write lyrics in advance. [7]

He made his film acting debut in 2013's Dallas Buyers Club . [8]

Music career

Deerhunter

Cox founded Deerhunter with bassist Paul Harper and drummer Dan Walton (who named the band) in early 2001. The band expanded after Cox met a teenage transient, Moses Archuleta, who was sleeping on the floor of Cox's friends. Archuleta initially played Ace Tone Organ and electronics. The band's first shows were experimental and based on improvisation. Cox continued recording slightly more structured material and releasing it on CD-R and cassette using the name Atlas Sound. Paul Harper moved to Ohio and was replaced by Justin Bosworth. At this point Colin Mee also joined the band on guitar. Dan Walton left and Cox suggested Archuleta move to drums. The band's live shows and recordings became more song-oriented. They recorded their debut 7" for Die Slaughterhaus. Josh Fauver joined the band in 2004 after Bosworth died in a freak skateboarding accident. This lineup recorded Deerhunter's debut LP on Atlanta label Stickfigure Records. Cox suggested Lockett Pundt, whom he befriended while attending Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia, join the band on guitar so that he could concentrate on vocals and electronics. This lineup recorded their breakthrough record, 2007's Cryptograms until 2010's Halcyon Digest. Colin Mee left the band after failing to show up for a North American tour. Josh Fauver subsequently left the band and was replaced by Josh McKay. The band is now a four piece consisting of Cox on guitar and vocals, Pundt on guitar and occasional vocals, McKay on bass, and Archuleta on drums.

Atlas Sound

Atlas Sound is the musical solo project of Cox, although he has used the name to represent his music since he was a child. He had access to a cassette player with two tape decks, which he used to layer guitar and drum sounds, and his own voice. In listening to some of these old tapes (of which Cox believes he has over five hundred in storage) he found "Some of it is absolutely, terrifyingly bad, but sometimes I'm just like, 'Wow, that's cool.' That's actually how some Deerhunter songs happened. 'Spring Hall Convert' [from Cryptograms ] was like that. That was a tape I made in ninth or tenth grade." Cox writes his music stream-of-consciousness, not writing lyrics in advance, and constructing songs by adding more parts until he feels "it's getting crowded." [9] The name of his project is derived from the brand of tape player he used, Atlas Sound. [10]

Cox began Atlas Sound in the wake of his work with Deerhunter because "I have ideas that I can't make work with a five piece rock band...There's kind of this palette of sounds that I use that I don't necessarily get to use with Deerhunter." [11] Because the music Deerhunter makes is a collaborative effort, Cox does not want to assert himself as its principal songwriter. "I might have an idea for a fragment of a song, but I want to leave it skeletal so the guys can fill it out. Whereas with Atlas Sound, everything is done in an hour." Cox created the music for his first record in the software Ableton Live, using an array of computer-based instruments, as well as his own live recordings. [12]

To date, there have been four major releases by Cox as Atlas Sound: Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel (2008), Logos (2009), a four-album set of previously unreleased songs called Bedroom Databank (2010), and finally Parallax in 2011. The lyrics of Let the Blind Lead are autobiographical in nature, reflecting life experiences of Cox. [12] In discussing his second album, Cox characterized his first as being a "bedroom laptop type thing" and "Very introverted." In contrast, Logos was written in several parts of the world, and is "not about me. There are collaborations with other musicians. The lyrics are not autobiographical. The view is a lot more panoramic and less close-up. I became bored with introspection." [13] An unfinished version of Logos was leaked onto the internet in August 2008, over a year before its release date. [14] In response, Cox almost ceased production on the record, later saying "I did not react well to the leak, in retrospect. It became the kind of internet-fueled drama that I was quickly learning to despise." [13]

In late 2010, Cox published four volumes of demos on his blog, entitled "Bedroom Databank". These demos were taken down from MediaFire by Sony, but they later apologized to Cox, stating that the files "were mistakenly removed". [15] [16] Atlas Sound was chosen by Animal Collective to perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival that they curated in May 2011. [17]

Other work

Cox has also recorded as part of other bands, such as the short lived "Wet Dreams", an otherwise all-girl garage / noise band in which he played drums. He also recorded several tracks on the Black Lips second album We Did Not Know the Forest Spirit Made the Flowers Grow , playing drums on the song "Notown Blues" from that album.

He also is a part of the "Avant-Garage" band Ghetto Cross, with Cole Alexander from Black Lips, Frankie Broyles, and Asha Lakra.

Cox contributed to the Karen O-scored soundtrack for the 2009 film Where the Wild Things Are . [18]

In November 2012, it was announced that Cox would portray Jared Leto's lover in the feature film, Dallas Buyers Club, co-starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner; this is Cox's film debut. [19]

Equipment

Cox with Deerhunter in 2010 Bradford Cox (Deerhunter) - Outdoor Theatre - Coachella 2010 (2010-04-18 by Ian T. McFarland).jpg
Cox with Deerhunter in 2010

Guitars

For the most part, Bradford favors vintage and modern Fender and Gibson guitars. Some of his guitars include: [20]

Effects and amplifiers

Pedalboard
[20] [23] [24]

Bradford Cox's Deerhunter Pedalboard as of 2016 Tours

1966 Fender Jazzmaster into – (signal chain as follows)

Out to Fender Hot Rod DeVille 4x10

Cox Also Uses an Exposed Spring Reverb Tank / Filter Unit for Noise and Effects

Vocal Effects Pedal Board Beyerdynamic M69 Mic Into:

Amps

When playing live with Deerhunter, Bradford previously used Univox U-1226 Head into a vintage Marshall 4x10 Cabinet. He has also used a Marshall JCM800 half-stack, and occasionally a 1970s Peavey Classic combo amplifier. He Currently uses a Fender Hot Rod DeVille 410. [20]

Songwriting

Cox describes his mode of songwriting as 'automatic or stream-of-consciousness'. "Usually I go into a sort of trance and I'll have five or six songs afterwards", he said, speaking to Victoria Segal of Q in November 2010. "What is interesting is seeing how the band adapts them and mutates them into the final product. Lots of accidents and primitive irrational things happen. It can be difficult trying to explain the process to a producer or engineer. They generally want to help you polish things and I tend to want to sabotage that", he added. [25]

Personal life

Cox was born with the genetic condition Marfan syndrome. [2] As a teenager, he dropped out of high school (although he later earned a GED) and his parents divorced, leaving him "to live in my childhood home alone. I literally lived in this large suburban house by myself." Cox has called his changing musical taste while growing up reflective of his life and mental state. Around the age of ten, his Marfan syndrome began to affect his body in more visible ways; this is the point at which he "first started looking awkward." With no friends, Cox became interested in how music could sound "heartbreaking or nostalgic or melancholy"; he identified with the title character of the film Edward Scissorhands , and especially enjoyed the soundtrack, which was composed by Danny Elfman. Cox's tastes shifted to music that was more "monotonous or hypnotic", such as the Stereolab album Transient Random-Noise Bursts with Announcements . Around twenty years of age, his life situation brought about "a period", during which he became "only interested in this certain sort of suburban psychedelic pastoral thing. It was escapism. I didn't want as much emotional manipulation. It's kind of the opposite of Edward Scissorhands." [26]

Cox has described himself as gay, [27] though he previously has stated that he leads a non-sexual/asexual lifestyle. [28] [29] However, in a 2011 interview with Rolling Stone, Cox said that he no longer identifies as asexual but rather as queer: "For a long time I just said I was asexual, but now I just realized that… I'm still, I guess… I mean, I'm queer. I just sort of, don't really have a very big self-esteem, so asexuality is sort of like a comfort zone where you don't get rejected." [30] Cox stated in an October 19, 2016, radio interview: "There's so many types of sexuality, but one that I think is overlooked is to be asexual. I am absolutely asexual. I am a virgin at 34 years old." [31] In 2019, Cox confirmed that he was still a virgin. [32] Cox also identified as non-binary in a 2019 tweet. [33]

In December 2014, Cox was hospitalized after being hit by a car. [34]

Discography

With Deerhunter:

As Atlas Sound:

With Cate Le Bon

Related Research Articles

<i>Cryptograms</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Deerhunter

Cryptograms is the second album from Atlanta, Georgia-based indie rock group Deerhunter, released through Kranky on January 29, 2007 on CD and vinyl. Following the 2005 release of its first full-length album Turn It Up Faggot, Deerhunter began recording material for its next record at Rare Book Room studio in New York. This initial recording session failed, due to the physical and mental state of lead singer Bradford Cox, as well as malfunctioning equipment in the studio. The band returned to Atlanta, only giving recording a second try after encouragement from members of the band Liars. The final version of Cryptograms was recorded in two separate day-long sessions, months apart, resulting in two musically distinct parts—the first includes more ambient music while the second contains more pop music elements. Cox sang most of the record's lyrics in a stream-of-consciousness manner; they include themes of death, companionship, and Cox's experiences with his genetic disorder Marfan syndrome. Cryptograms was generally well received by critics, and several publications placed the album on their lists of the top albums of 2007.

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

Deerhunter is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2001. The band currently consists of Bradford Cox, Moses Archuleta, Lockett Pundt, Josh McKay (bass) and Javier Morales.

<i>Fluorescent Grey</i> 2007 EP by Deerhunter

Fluorescent Grey is an extended play accompaniment to Cryptograms, the second studio release by Atlanta-based band Deerhunter. The EP was released on CD by Kranky on May 8, 2007, and later as a vinyl bundle with Cryptograms. A music video for the track "Strange Lights" is included with the CD release. The album's cover is a photograph of Deerhunter guitarist Lockett Pundt as a seventh-grader. Its lyrical themes touch on death and the decomposition of the human body—"Fluorescent Grey" is the name lead singer Bradford Cox gives to the color of dead flesh. Fluorescent Grey received a number of positive reviews upon its release. Cox later released a free series of demos over the internet, being early versions of tracks on Fluorescent Grey and other material.

<i>Turn It Up Faggot</i> 2005 studio album by Deerhunter

Turn It Up Faggot is the debut album from indie rock group Deerhunter. The album's title refers to a taunt that was shouted at the band during early live shows although the album is also referred to as self-titled. The album's notes dedicate the album to Justin Bosworth, the band's original bassist, who died in 2004.

<i>Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel</i> 2008 studio album by Atlas Sound

Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel is the debut album by Atlas Sound, the solo project of Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox. The album was released in North America by Kranky on February 19, 2008 and in Europe by 4AD on May 5, 2008.

<i>Microcastle</i> 2008 studio album by Deerhunter

Microcastle is the third studio album by Deerhunter. After the album had been leaked on the internet, it became available on iTunes on August 19, 2008, while physical copies were released on October 27, 2008. In the U.S. the album was released on Kranky and on 4AD in Europe. The album was recorded over the course of one week in April 2008 by Nicolas Vernhes at Rare Book Room Studios in Brooklyn, NY. In the U.S., the album has managed to sell over 50,000 units.

<i>Weird Era Cont.</i> 2008 studio album by Deerhunter

Weird Era Cont. is the fourth album by Deerhunter released concurrently with Microcastle. After Microcastle had leaked months in advance of its planned release date, the band recorded a new album in an attempt to reward those who awaited its street release date although like Microcastle, it also leaked in advance. Weird Era Cont. was officially made available as a bonus disc/12", depending on format, with both the 4AD and Kranky releases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockett Pundt</span> Musical artist (born 1982)

Lockett James Pundt IV is an American musician and multi-instrumentalist. He is the guitarist and occasional lead vocalist of Atlanta-based indie rock group Deerhunter which he joined in 2005. Pundt also releases solo material under the name Lotus Plaza.

<i>Rainwater Cassette Exchange</i> 2009 EP by Deerhunter

Rainwater Cassette Exchange is an extended-play by Atlanta-based indie rock band Deerhunter. Much like their previous effort, it was recorded at Rare Book Room Studios in Brooklyn with producer Nicolas Vernhes. It became available for download on May 18, 2009, and released on CD and vinyl on June 8. The EP was distributed by Kranky in the US while 4AD handled overseas distribution. The title track became available for download on April 17.

The discography of Atlanta, Georgia-based ambient and psychedelic band Deerhunter includes eight studio albums, two extended plays, five vinyl singles, three split albums, and nine music videos. The band has also made appearances on a number of compilation albums. Deerhunter was formed in 2001 by vocalist Bradford Cox and drummer Moses Archuleta. Members to later join were guitarists Colin Mee and Lockett Pundt, and bassists Justin Bosworth and Josh Fauver. Bosworth was killed in a skateboarding accident early in the band's career, leading to his replacement by Fauver. Mee left Deerhunter in 2007 after scheduling conflicts preventing him from performing at a number of shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bradford Cox discography</span>

The discography of American musician Bradford Cox includes his work with Deerhunter, the band he cofounded with drummer Moses Archuleta in 2001, and his solo efforts as Atlas Sound. With Deerhunter, Cox has released four studio albums and two extended plays, and as Atlas Sound he has released two albums, several vinyl singles and splits, and over fifty individual tracks on his blog. Cox was born in 1982 in Athens, Georgia, and has used the name "Atlas Sound" to refer to his own music since he was a child, when he recorded on a tape player created by the company Atlas Sound. He is known for having the genetic disorder Marfan syndrome and his live performances with Deerhunter during 2007, in which he would come out on stage in dresses and covered in fake blood.

<i>The Floodlight Collective</i> 2009 studio album by Lotus Plaza

The Floodlight Collective is the first studio album by Lotus Plaza, released March 23, 2009, although recording on the album began in 2007. The album was produced by Brian Foote of the band Nudge. Musically, the album is similar to the work of Deerhunter and Atlas Sound, the solo project of Deerhunter's lead vocalist Bradford Cox. Marc Hogan of Pitchfork Media found that "Pundt at times lets his diffidence get the best of him", and that the album's musical elements "can begin to run together." However, Hogan suspects "That's probably the point…The Floodlight Collective is a mostly elegant listen, and one whose failings are part of its theme: Like a vague recollection, it's still a little hard to hold on to after it's over—pretty albeit somewhat ephemeral."

<i>Halcyon Digest</i> 2010 studio album by Deerhunter

Halcyon Digest is the fifth studio album by American indie rock band Deerhunter. It was released September 27, 2010 to universal critical acclaim. It was the band's first album distributed solely by 4AD worldwide The album was produced by the band and Ben H. Allen, and was recorded at Chase Park Transduction studios in Athens, Georgia with engineer David Barbe. The final track, "He Would Have Laughed" was recorded separately by Bradford Cox at Notown Sound in Marietta, Georgia and is a tribute to Jay Reatard.

"Walkabout" is a song by Atlas Sound featuring Noah Lennox. It appears as the third track on his second studio effort Logos. Although never released as a single, it is often seen as the lead single as it was the first song officially released from the album. Upon initial release, Pitchfork Media included it in their best new tracks section and rated it as 34th best song of the year. The track utilizes an extensive sample of "What Am I Going to Do" by The Dovers.

<i>Parallax</i> (Atlas Sound album) 2011 studio album by Atlas Sound

Parallax is the third studio album from Bradford Cox's solo project Atlas Sound, released November 7, 2011 on 4AD. The album debuted at #97 on the Billboard 200 and has received critical acclaim.

<i>Monomania</i> (Deerhunter album) 2013 studio album by Deerhunter

Monomania is the sixth studio album by American indie rock band Deerhunter, released on May 7, 2013 on 4AD. Produced by both the band and Nicolas Vernhes, the album is the first to feature bassist Josh McKay, and is the only studio album to feature guitarist Frankie Broyles.

Carnivores is an indie rock band formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2009 by Philip Frobos, Nathaniel Higgins, and Caitlin Lang. Their musical style has been described as belonging to the noise pop genre. In 2010 Ross Politi joined on drums, later transitioning to second guitar with Billy Mitchell on drums. They released their first album, All Night Dead USA on Double Phantom Records in 2010. In 2011 they toured with The Black Lips, whose lead singer, Cole Alexander Is featured on a track off their latest album, Second Impulse. They have collaborated with both Bradford Cox and Frankie Broyles past member of Deerhunter on separate occasions and toured with Cox's solo project, Atlas Sound as well as Franz Ferdinand in 2012. In 2013 they signed with Army of Bad Luck Records, the Atlanta-based record company started by former Deerhunter bassist Josh Fauver.

Moses Archuleta is an American drummer and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the drummer, occasional keyboardist and co-founder of the indie rock band Deerhunter, with whom he has recorded seven studio albums.

<i>Fading Frontier</i> 2015 studio album by Deerhunter

Fading Frontier is the seventh studio album by the American indie rock band Deerhunter, released on October 16, 2015 on 4AD. Produced by Ben H. Allen, who had previously worked with the band on Halcyon Digest (2010), and the band itself, the album was preceded by the singles "Snakeskin", "Breaker" and "Living My Life".

<i>Why Hasnt Everything Already Disappeared?</i> 2019 studio album by Deerhunter

Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared? is the eighth studio album by the American indie rock band Deerhunter. It was released on January 18, 2019, on 4AD. The album was co-produced by singer-songwriter Cate Le Bon, Ben H. Allen, Ben Etter and the band itself. The first single, "Death in Midsummer", was released on October 30, 2018. The same day, a world tour in support of the album was announced, starting on November 4, 2018. The second single from the album, "Element", was released on December 6, 2018. The album leaked on December 12, 2018.

References

  1. ↑ Fitzmaurice, Larry (April 29, 2013). "Featured: Deerhunter". Pitchfork . Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Leahey, Andrew. "Atlas Sound Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved November 23, 2009.
  3. ↑ "The 50 Best Rock Bands Right Now". Spin . October 16, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  4. ↑ Sherburne, Phillip (January 5, 2010). "Hey Dude, You Got Chillwave In My Glo-Fi". Rhapsody . Archived from the original on March 24, 2010.
  5. ↑ Goodman, William (November 11, 2009). "Deerhunter Frontman Goes Acoustic". Spin . Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Interview: Atlas Sound". pitchfork.com. Pitchfork. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Toxic Concepts: An Interview With Deerhunter's Bradford Cox". thequietus.com. The Quietus. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Jared Leto and Deerhunter's Bradford Cox Play Lovers in AIDS Drama". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  9. ↑ Klingman, Jeff (February 2, 2008). "Atlas Sound: Interview". Prefix Magazine. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
  10. ↑ Cox, Bradford. ATLAS SOUND in series: SXSW – All Roads Lead to Austin 2008. Dig For Fire, Vimeo . Retrieved November 23, 2009.
  11. ↑ Thompson, Paul; Tyler Grisham (May 1, 2007). "Deerhunter's Cox Talks LP3, Atlas Sound, Dresses". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on July 30, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  12. 1 2 Hogan, Marc (January 1, 2008). "Interviews: Atlas Sound". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  13. 1 2 Dombal, Ryan (July 9, 2009). "Deerhunter's Bradford Cox Announces New Atlas Sound Album". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  14. ↑ Thompson, Paul (August 1, 2008). "Deerhunter's Microcastle Now Available Now on iTunes". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on October 4, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Atlas Sound Demos Taken Down by Sony". Pitchfork Media. November 29, 2010. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Sony Apologizes to Bradford Cox". Pitchfork Media. November 30, 2010. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  17. ↑ "ATP curated by Animal Collective – All Tomorrow's Parties". Atpfestival.com. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Karen O and the Kids: The Rockers of "Where the Wild Things Are"". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  19. ↑ Pelly, Jenn (November 27, 2012). "Bradford Cox to Play Jared Leto's Lover in New Movie". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  20. 1 2 3 "Deerhunter – Bradford Cox Guitar Rig Gear and Equipment". Uberproaudio.com. June 5, 2009. Archived from the original on August 18, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Deerhunter Live @ Noise Pop 2009". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Deerhunter – Nothing Ever Happened (live)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Atlas Sound : Kid Klimax @ The Bottom Lounge". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  24. ↑ "Pitchfork Music Festival 2012 – Saturday". YouTube. July 1, 2012. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  25. ↑ Victoria Segal. Q magazine, November 2010. Q & A. Halcyon Digest album review. p. 113.
  26. ↑ Breihan, Tom (April 1, 2009). "5-10-15-20: Bradford Cox". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved November 23, 2009.
  27. ↑ Aaron, Charles (2008). "Pretzel Logic". Spin Magazine (April 2008). Spin Media LLC: 76–82.
  28. ↑ "Search | Creative Loafing". Clatl.com. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  29. ↑ Logan K. Young. Deerhunter @ Trouser Press. – ...a non-practicing homosexual.
  30. ↑ "Bradford Cox press tour continues. Says he is no longer 'asexual', now 'queer.' | Hipster Runoff". www.hipsterrunoff.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  31. ↑ Abad, Mario (October 1, 2016). "Deerhunter's Bradford Cox Says He Is Asexual And A Virgin – PAPER". Papermag.com. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Bradford Cox Is the Weirdest Queer in the Music Industry". www.out.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  33. ↑ Cox, Bradford [@DeerhunterMusic] (July 23, 2019). "I am non-binary and asexual" (Tweet). Retrieved January 14, 2022– via Twitter.
  34. ↑ Gordon, Jeremy (December 5, 2014). "Bradford Cox Hospitalized After Being Hit By Car". Pitchfork . Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  35. ↑ Minsker, Evan (September 24, 2019). "Cate Le Bon and Deerhunter's Bradford Cox Announce New EP, Share Song: Listen". Pitchfork . Retrieved September 24, 2019.
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.