CJ Baran

Last updated

CJ Baran
Birth nameChristopher John Baran
Born (1990-02-13) February 13, 1990 (age 34)
Melville, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
InstrumentGuitar
Years active2006–present
LabelsPulse Music Group, MXM Music, VAMP

Christopher John Baran (born February 13, 1990) is an American record producer and songwriter based in Los Angeles. He is known for his work with artists including Melanie Martinez, Carly Rae Jepsen, Panic! At The Disco, and Nessa Barrett, among many others. He is a founding member of theatre company Woolf and the Wondershow and co-writer, creator, and producer of their Los Angeles future theater musical CAGES.

Contents

Early life

Baran is originally from Melville, New York, where he took an early interest in music, learning several instruments and beginning his first band at 11, Kaution. [1] Whilst attending St. Anthony's High School.

Career

Baran joined Steve Scarola, Nick DeTurris and Derek Ries to form Push Play. Baran was lead vocalist, keyboard player, and rhythm guitarist for the Long Island-based band. [1] [2] They recorded their debut album in Baran's basement, before receiving a record deal from Wind-Up Records and Sony Music. Following a tour with the band, Baran realized he preferred to make music rather than tour and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in production. Baran went on to sign with Pulse Recording for his writing and production work in 2011. In 2013, Baran met producer Max Martin, who brought Baran on to his recording company, MXM. Baran was co-signed with both Pulse and MXM from 2015 to 2023. [3]

Baran initially received critical acclaim for his work on Carly Rae Jepsen's E-MO-TION album, which Billboard ranked as the #2 best pop album of the year, under 25 by Adele. [4] He wrote and produced Panic! at the Disco's "Victorious", which climbed to number one on Apple Music and No. 89 on the Billboard Hot 100 in fall 2015. The song is part of the Grammy-nominated album, Death of a Bachelor , which became the number one album on the Billboard 200 in January 2016. Baran co-wrote and produced Melanie Martinez's "Pity Party", which was certified 2x platinum by the RIAA in 2021. The song was the lead single from Martinez's album Cry Baby , which peaked at number six on the Billboard 200. He has provided music for the TV series Empire , most notably his song "Do it" featuring Becky G. [5]

In 2015, Baran and composer Benjamin Romans set out to combine forces and create a genre bending multimedia musical as Woolf and the Wondershow. They began performing their future theater show CAGES in a converted warehouse in The Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles. Baran and Romans co-wrote the music and lyrics as well as co-directed. [6] For the LA run, Baran performed live on stage as main character Woolf, while Romans performed the live score. The show was a first of its kind, blending ghost holograms interacting with live actors using projection mapping. [7] The show was successful, enjoying a 6th month run of sold-out performances, before being halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CAGES returned in late 2021, with the release of an official soundtrack recording and film. The show enjoyed an additional run of London performances in 2022. [8] CAGES has been noted as an innovative experience that blends Broadway, pop music and film, and was called 'groundbreaking' by the Los Angeles Times. [9] As described by Forbes, CAGES "is breathtaking...one part Les Mis, another part Kanye West, a dash of Broadway here, and a sprinkle of cinema there - all mixed together in an entirely new kind of immersive blender complete with earth-shattering sound." [10]

Most recently, Baran executive produced Melanie Martinez's third album, PORTALS , which was released in 2023 and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. [11] [12] His work on PORTALS positioned him at number one on the weekly Billboard Alternative Producers Chart. [13] Additionally in 2023, Baran founded his own production and publishing company, VAMP, focused on world-building and creating niches in the alternative genre. The name is a multi-acronym for "very alternative music publishing" and "very alternative music production." [14] [15]

Selected discography

YearArtistSongAlbumWriterProducerEngineer
2024 Nessa Barrett "AFTERCARE"AFTERCARE [a] Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
"PORNSTAR"
"HEARTBEAT"
"DISCO (feat. Tommy Genesis)"
"RUSSIAN ROULETTE"
"BABYDOLL"
"GIVEN ENOUGH"
"EDWARD SCISSORHANDS"
"GLITTER AND VIOLENCE"
"PINS AND NEEDLES"
"STAY ALIVE"
"DIRTY LITTLE SECRET"
COIN "Growing Song"I'm Not Afraid of Music AnymoreYes check.svg
Zinadelphia"Knock The Wind"The MagazineYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
Mars Argo "Lick It Like A Kitten"I Can Only Be Me EPYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
Baby Storme "Rest In Pieces"N/AYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
Noga Erez "AYAYAY"THE VANDALISTYes check.svg
"Come Back Home"Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
Caity Baser "I'm A Problem"Still LearningYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
bludnymph "The Things I Do For Love"N/AYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
2023 Melanie Martinez "DEATH" PORTALS [a] Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"VOID" Yes check.svg
"TUNNEL VISION"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"FAERIE SOIRÉE"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"LIGHT SHOWER"Yes check.svg
"SPIDER WEB"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"LEECHES"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"BATTLE OF THE LARYNX"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"THE CONTORTIONIST"Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
"MOON CYCLE"
"NYMPHOLOGY"
"EVIL"
"WOMB"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"POWDER" PORTALS (Deluxe) Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
"PLUTO"
Baby Storme"Sunglasses At Night"Forever HalloweenYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
"This City is a Graveyard"N/AYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
Mars Argo"I Can Only Be Me"I Can Only Be Me EPYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
2022Woolf and the WondershowCAGES (Official Cast Recording) [a] Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
ONE OK ROCK "When They Turn the Lights On" Luxury Disease Yes check.svgYes check.svg
Chicago "You've Got To Believe" Born For This Moment Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"If This Is Goodbye"
Mars Argo"Angry"I Can Only Be Me EPYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
Au/Ra "plz don't waste my youth"N/AYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
2021Au/Ra"Bite Marks"N/AYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
Darren Criss "let's"MasqueradeYes check.svgYes check.svg
"walk of shame"Yes check.svg
"f*kn around"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"for a night like this"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"i can't dance"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
2020 Aly & AJ "Attack of Panic"We Don't StopYes check.svg
"Joan of Arc on the Dance Floor"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
Carly Rae Jepsen "It's Not Christmas Til Somebody Cries"N/AYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
"Let's Be Friends" Dedicated Side B (Japan Edition) Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
"Always On My Mind"
COIN"Cemetery"CemeteryYes check.svgYes check.svg
2019 K.Flay "Only The Dark" Solutions
Carly Rae Jepsen"Everything He Needs" Dedicated Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
Kailee Morgue, Hayley Kiyoko "Headcase"N/AYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
ONE OK ROCK"Grow Old Die Young" Eye of the Storm Yes check.svgYes check.svg
2018Kailee Morgue"Medusa" Medusa Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
"Discovery"
2017COIN"Talk Too Much" How Will You Know If You Never Try Yes check.svg
Betty Who "Mama Say" The Valley Yes check.svg
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness "So Close" Zombies on Broadway Yes check.svgYes check.svg
ONE OK ROCK"One Way Ticket" Ambitions Yes check.svgYes check.svg
2016Carly Rae Jepsen"Store" EMOTION SIDE B Yes check.svgYes check.svg
Nelly, Simple Plan "I Don't Wanna Go to Bed" Taking One for the Team Yes check.svg
2015 Panic! at the Disco "Victorious" Death of a Bachelor Yes check.svgYes check.svg
Pentatonix "Cracked" Pentatonix (album) Yes check.svg
Melanie Martinez "Pity Party" Cry Baby Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Cake"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
Hilary Duff "Rebel Hearts" Breathe In. Breathe Out. Yes check.svgYes check.svg
MIKA "Promiseland" No Place In Heaven Yes check.svg
Bea Miller "Dracula" Not An Apology Yes check.svgYes check.svg
Carly Rae Jepsen"Emotion" E•MO•TION Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Let's Get Lost"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Love Again" E•MO•TION (Deluxe Expanded Edition) Yes check.svgYes check.svg
2014 The Vamps "Lovestruck" Meet The Vamps Yes check.svgYes check.svg
The Cab "These Are The Lies" Lock Me Up Yes check.svgYes check.svg
2011 Pixie Lott "Everybody Hurts Sometimes" Young Foolish Happy Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Till The Sun Comes Out"Yes check.svgYes check.svg

Notes

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References

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