Dominique Leone

Last updated
Dominique Leone
Birth nameDominique Salvador Leone
Genres Experimental pop
Occupation(s) Composer, Singer
Instrument(s) piano/synthesizer, drum kit, trumpet
Years active2007-(present)
LabelsFeedelity, Strømland, Important, Upcode
Website www.dominiqueleone.com

Dominique Leone is an American musician and writer based in New York City. He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on December 29, 1973, and grew up in the Dallas, Texas area.

Contents

Leone began writing music reviews for Pitchfork Media in 2001, and was a regular contributor until 2007. He has also written for Paste Magazine, All-Music Guide and Trouser Press. His first release as a musician was the Dominique Leone EP on Hans-Peter Lindstrøm's Feedelity label in 2007. In 2008, Lindstrøm and Smalltown Supersound's Joakim Haughland released Leone's first full-length CD on their Strømland label, with art by Kim Hiorthøy. [1] American experimental music label Important Records released his second CD Abstract Expression in October 2009. He recorded and staged a version of Igor Stravinsky's Les Noces in 2011, and released the digital album San Francisco in 2015.

Leone received a Bachelor's degree in Music Performance in 1998 from Texas Tech University, [2] focusing on classical trumpet. As a recording artist, Leone has been compared to Harry Nilsson, [3] Brian Wilson, [4] Boredoms, [5] and XTC. [6] His music has been described as containing "stubbornly original song structures and chord progressions", [7] and British electronic pop musician Max Tundra noted that Leone is "one of the greatest practitioners of the chord progression". [8] He has collaborated or performed with Kevin Blechdom, R. Stevie Moore, Lindstrøm, Mungolian Jet Set, Matmos, Cryptacize, Odawas, Bob Drake, William Winant, as well as contributing vocals and trumpet to Boredoms' Super Roots 10 release.

In 2010, Leone won Grand Prize in a Steve Reich remix contest, judged by the composer Reich himself, and celebrating the composer's 74th birthday.

As a music critic, Leone was known for championing modern experimental and fringe artists, as well as older electronic music, progressive rock, and psychedelia. For Pitchfork, Leone penned early reviews of Animal Collective, [9] Devendra Banhart, [10] as well as several for influential Japanese band the Boredoms. [11] He also wrote frequently cited reviews of Can, [12] Igor Wakhévitch, [13] The Beach Boys, [14] and for Trouser Press, a lengthy overview of France's Magma. [15] In 2007, Leone authored a monthly column for Pitchfork entitled "Out Music". [16] He presented his paper "What You Hear is Never What They Heard, and What You Get is Never What They Had" at the 2007 Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame Pop Conference [17] in Seattle, Washington.

Discography

Dominique Leone EP [Feedelity; 2007]

Dominique Leone [Strømland; 2008]

Abstract Expression [Important; 2009]

Summer EP [Self-released; 2010]

Winter EP [Upcode; 2011]

Les Noces [Self-released; 2011]

365 Songs [Self-released; 2013]

San Francisco [Self-released; 2015]

Dad Rock [Self-released; 2019]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magma (band)</span> French progressive rock band

Magma is a French progressive rock band founded in Paris in 1969 by self-taught drummer Christian Vander, who claimed as his inspiration a "vision of humanity's spiritual and ecological future" that profoundly disturbed him. The style of progressive rock that Vander developed with Magma is termed "Zeuhl", and has been applied to other bands in France operating in the same period, and to some recent Japanese bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boredoms</span> Japanese rock band

Boredoms is a rock band from Osaka, Japan formed in 1986. The band's sound is often referred to as noise rock, or sometimes Japanoise, though their more recent records have moved toward repetitive psychedelic rock, ambient soundscapes, and tribal drumming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devendra Banhart</span> American folk singer (born 1981)

Devendra Obi Banhart is an American-Venezuelan singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Texas, and raised in Venezuela and California. In 2000, he dropped out of the San Francisco Art Institute to pursue a musical career. In 2002, Banhart released his debut album and is best known for his albums in the late 2000s such as Cripple Crow and Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon. He has since expanded his career to incorporate his interest and training in the visual arts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vetiver (band)</span> American folk music band

Vetiver is an American folk band headed by songwriter Andy Cabic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jana Hunter</span> American songwriter and musician

Jana Hunter is an American songwriter and musician based in Baltimore.

<i>Cripple Crow</i> 2005 studio album by Devendra Banhart

Cripple Crow is the fifth album by American-Venezuelan psychedelic folk musician Devendra Banhart released on September 13, 2005 on XL Recordings. It was his first release on the label XL Recordings. The cover references the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover.

<i>Rejoicing in the Hands</i> 2004 studio album by Devendra Banhart

Rejoicing in the Hands is the third studio album from psychedelic folk musician Devendra Banhart and the second full release for the label Young God. It was recorded during 2003 and was released on April 24, 2004.

<i>The Black Babies</i> 2003 EP by Devendra Banhart

The Black Babies is the first EP recorded by the folk rock artist Devendra Banhart. It was released only in the United Kingdom through Young God's UK distributor, Cargo UK, in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Rose (guitarist)</span> American guitarist

Jack Rose was an American guitarist originally from Virginia and later based in Philadelphia. Rose is best known for his solo acoustic guitar work. He was also a member of the noise/drone band Pelt.

<i>Niño Rojo</i> 2004 studio album by Devendra Banhart

Niño Rojo is the fourth studio release by freak folk artist Devendra Banhart and his third release on the label Young God Records. It was released on September 13, 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hans-Peter Lindstrøm</span> Norwegian producer (born 1973)

Hans-Peter Lindstrøm is a Norwegian music producer who works under the name Lindstrøm. He established the music label Feedelity in 2002. He often collaborates with fellow producer Prins Thomas. Lindstrøm won a Spellemannsprisen in 2008 for Where You Go I Go Too. He released a DJ mix album for the Late Night Tales compilation series on Azuli Records on 9 July 2007.

<i>Super Roots</i> 1993 EP by Boredoms

Super Roots is the first installment of the Super Roots EP series by Japanese experimental band Boredoms, released in 1993 by WEA Japan, in 1994 by Reprise/Warner Bros. Records in the United States, and rereleased in 2007 by Very Friendly Records in the United Kingdom and Vice/Atlantic Records in the United States.

<i>Everything Is Good Here/Please Come Home</i> 2003 album

Everything Is Good Here/Please Come Home is the third studio album by Angels of Light. It was released on March 4, 2003, via band leader Michael Gira's own record label, Young God Records.

<i>Super Roots 3</i> 1994 EP by Boredoms

Super Roots 3 is the third installment of the Super Roots EP series by Japanese experimental band Boredoms. It consists of one song, half an hour in length, which has a repetitive rhythm throughout. It was released in 1994 by Warner Music Japan, and was reissued in 2007 by Vice Music and the Very Friendly label.

Manimal Vinyl is a Los Angeles–based record label founded in 2006 by film/TV producer, composer and former fashion editor Paul Gebser-Beahan.

<i>Super Roots 2</i> 1994 EP by Boredoms

Super Roots 2 is the second installment of the Super Roots EP series by Japanese experimental band Boredoms. Released as a 3" CD, it was mailed to people in Japan who completed and sent a survey card enclosed with the Japanese release of Chocolate Synthesizer. Because of its short duration, it was the only Super Roots not to be rereleased by Vice Records in 2007.

<i>Where You Go I Go Too</i> 2008 studio album by Lindstrøm

Where You Go I Go Too is the first studio album by Norwegian electronica artist Hans-Peter Lindstrøm. It was first released in the United Kingdom on 18 August 2008 and was subsequently released the next day in the United States. The album comprises three tracks, roughly 30, 10, and 15 minutes in length. Where You Go I Go Too is usually labeled "space disco" due to its "spacey, psychedelic" feel and four-to-the-floor beats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Engine Room Recordings</span>

Engine Room Recordings is an independent record label with a roster of indie rock and alternative rock musicians. Beyond marketing and distribution for its artists, the label does booking and artist management. Engine Room Recordings is part of the Engine Room Audio group, a New York City-based company offering various services to recording artists.

Hecuba is a band based in Los Angeles, California featuring performance artist Isabelle Albuquerque and musician and designer Jon Beasley. They have toured with Devendra Banhart, Bat for Lashes and Rainbow Arabia. They have released two albums on Manimal Vinyl since their formation in 2006. Their second release, Paradise, has received favorable reviews from NME, Pitchfork Media, LA Weekly and XLR8R. They performed at the Los Angeles premier of Wild Combination: a film about Arthur Russell (musician) performing their versions of Russell's music. Their third album "Modern" was released in 2012 on the LA-based label Germ.

Gregory Samuel Rogove is an American indie music drummer and songwriter. He is notable for partnering with indie artist Devendra Banhart to form the group Megapuss. He signed a record contract with Knitting Factory Records in 2011.

References

  1. "Dominique Leone". Discogs. 20 May 2008.
  2. "Home Studio Inspection with Dominique Leone". SF Weekly. 2008-08-06.
  3. "Dominique Leone - Band to Watch". Stereogum. 2008-04-10.
  4. "Dominique Leone CD review". XLR8R. 2008-05-30.
  5. "Dominique Leone - MUSIC REVIEWS". Tiny Mixtapes. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-10-11.
  6. "Album Reviews: Dominique Leone". Pitchfork. 2008-05-28.
  7. "Dusted Reviews: Dominique Leone". Dusted Magazine. 2008-05-22.
  8. "Guest Lists: Max Tundra". Pitchfork. 2009-01-22.
  9. "Album Reviews: Animal Collective: Sung Tongs". Pitchfork. 2004-05-02.
  10. "Album Reviews: Devendra Banhart: Oh Me Oh My...". Pitchfork. 2002-11-05.
  11. "Album Reviews: Boredoms". Pitchfork. 2004-06-06.
  12. "Album Reviews: Can". Pitchfork. 2004-11-10.
  13. "Reviews". Fractal. 2002-06-14.
  14. "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s". Pitchfork. 2006-08-18.
  15. "Magma". Trouser Press. 2002.
  16. "Out Music". Pitchfork. 2007-01-09.
  17. "2007 Pop Conference Bios/Abstracts". Experience Music Project. April 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-12-04.