Jenn Wasner

Last updated
Jenn Wasner
Jenn Wasner portrait.jpg
Background information
Birth nameJennifer Lynn Wasner
Also known asFlock of Dimes
Born (1986-04-16) April 16, 1986 (age 37)
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
  • keyboard
Years active2003–present
Labels

Jennifer Lynn Wasner (born April 16, 1986) [1] is an American musician from Baltimore. Wasner is best known as one of the founding members of the band Wye Oak, along with Andy Stack. They have performed on tour with notable bands such as Bon Iver, The National and The Decemberists. [2] Wasner has completed numerous other music projects as well, including a solo project entitled Flock of Dimes, and a collaboration called Dungeonesse with Jon Ehrens of White Life and Art Department.

Contents

Early life

Wasner was born on April 16, 1986, in Baltimore. [3] She began singing at an early age with her mother and started taking classical piano lessons at about the age of five. [4] At the age of twelve her mother taught her how to play guitar, which led to the beginning of her songwriting career. [4] Throughout her childhood, her parents struggled with mental illness, addiction, and financial troubles. [5] By high school, Wasner had met Andy Stack, and begun playing music with him. She continued to write music while away at college. [6]

Music career

Wasner performing in Wye Oak. Wye Oak 2014.jpg
Wasner performing in Wye Oak.

After college Wasner moved to the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore. [7] She and Stack formed a band with the name "Monarch", which was soon changed to Wye Oak after the state tree of Maryland. [2] After the release of their highly regarded album Civilian in 2011, the group toured in the United States and Europe. Civilian was named the best album of 2011 by The A.V. Club and was featured on television in the popular series The Walking Dead and in the film Safety Not Guaranteed . She also appeared on Titus Andronicus's 2010 album The Monitor, lending her vocals to the track "To Old Friends and New".

After touring with Dirty Projectors, Wasner began work on her solo project Flock of Dimes, which experimented with electronic beats and synthesizers. She worked with Jon Ehrens of the Baltimore-pop group White Life on a new project, Dungeonesse, which released its eponymous album in 2016. [8] Wasner moved from Baltimore to Durham, North Carolina and continues to reside there. [9]

Stack and Wasner reunited to create the fifth major album Shriek , released in April 2014. The band released its sixth studio album, The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs , in 2018, and a compilation of singles, Every Day Like the Last, in 2023. [10]

Wasner has released two albums, If You See Me, Say Yes in 2016 and Head of Roses in 2022, under her solo project Flock of Dimes. [11] [12] North Carolina-based guitar maker Reverend released a Jenn Wasner signature guitar in 2016 to accompany the first Flock of Dimes album. [13] Wasner has supported Sylvan Esso on tour as Flock of Dimes. [14] In 2016, Wasner was featured in a concert series taking place at the Baltimore–Washington International Airport, where she performed at the baggage claim area of the terminal. [15]

In 2019, Wasner joined Bon Iver as a guitarist. [16] The tour was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but eventually resumed. She continues to perform with the band. [17]

Wasner produced Madeline Kenney's 2023 sophomore album A New Reality Mind. [18]

Discography

Wasner performing as Flock of Dimes at BWI Airport in February 2016 Flock of Dimes.jpg
Wasner performing as Flock of Dimes at BWI Airport in February 2016

Dungeonesse

Flock of Dimes

Studio albums

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
AAA
[19]
"Curtain" b/w "Apparition"2012—Non-album singles
"Prison Bride"—
"(This is Why) I Can't Wear White" / "15"—
"Semaphore"2016—If You See Me, Say Yes
"Everything is Happening Today"—
"Don't Dream It's Over" / "Everything is Free"
(featuring Sylvan Esso)		—Non-album single
"Two"202139Head of Roses
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Wye Oak

Studio albums

Singles and EPs

  • Destroyer / Wye Oak split 7-inch single with Destroyer (2008, Merge Records)
  • My Neighbor / My Creator 12-inch/CD EP (2010, Merge Records)
  • "Strangers" 7-inch single (2011, Merge Records)
  • "Spiral" digital single (2011, Adult Swim)
  • "Trigger Finger" 7-inch single (2015, Joyful Noise Recordings)
  • No Horizon EP (2020, Merge Records)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bon Iver</span> American indie folk band

Bon Iver is an American indie folk band founded in 2006 by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. Vernon had originally formed Bon Iver as a solo project, but it eventually became a band consisting of Vernon, Sean Carey, Michael Lewis, Matthew McCaughan, Andrew Fitzpatrick, and Jenn Wasner

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Vernon</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1981)

Justin DeYarmond Edison Vernon is an American singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. He is best-known as the primary songwriter and frontman of indie folk band Bon Iver. He is also a member of the bands Volcano Choir, Big Red Machine, the Shouting Matches, and Gayngs, and was previously a member of the now-defunct band DeYarmond Edison. Known for his distinct falsetto voice, Vernon has received widespread acclaim for his work, predominantly with Bon Iver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wye Oak (band)</span> American indie rock band

Wye Oak is an American indie rock duo from Baltimore composed of Andy Stack and Jenn Wasner. Their sound has been described as "earnest folk-influenced indie rock with touches of noise and dream pop" as well as indie folk. Wasner sings lead vocals and plays electric or acoustic guitar, while Stack plays both drums and keyboards, playing the drums with his feet and right hand, and the bass line with his left hand.

<i>Blood Bank</i> (EP) 2009 EP by Bon Iver

Blood Bank is a 2009 EP by Bon Iver. It was released on January 20, 2009, and features four tracks, three of them recorded for the release. The EP is a follow-up to the band's award-winning debut album For Emma, Forever Ago, self-released in 2007 by Bon Iver frontman and founder Justin Vernon, and re-released in 2008.

<i>The Monitor</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Titus Andronicus

The Monitor is the second studio album by American indie rock band Titus Andronicus, released in March 2010 through XL Recordings. It is a concept album loosely based on themes relating to the American Civil War.

<i>Civilian</i> (Wye Oak album) 2011 studio album by Wye Oak

Civilian is the third studio album by indie band Wye Oak. It was released on March 8, 2011, by Merge Records in the United States and City Slang in Europe.

<i>Tramp</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Sharon Van Etten

Tramp is the third album by American singer–songwriter Sharon Van Etten, released on February 7, 2012.

Dungeonesse is an American collaboration between songwriter and producer Jon Ehrens and singer Jenn Wasner out of Baltimore, Maryland. The project was born through their mutual love for Top 40 and R&B and the mechanics behind a hit song. The pair began creating songs long-distance between Los Angeles and wherever Wasner was touring. The group signed to the independent record label Secretly Canadian in 2012, and since have released one single, "Drive You Crazy" b/w "Private Party." Their self-titled debut album was released by Secretly Canadian on May 14, 2013.

<i>Shriek</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Wye Oak

Shriek is the fourth studio album by indie band Wye Oak. It was released on April 29, 2014, by Merge Records in the United States and City Slang in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Stack (musician)</span> Musical artist

Andy Stack is one of the founding members of the indie-rock duo Wye Oak and a solo artist under the moniker Joyero, as well as a remix artist and a composer and producer for film and commercial music. He has also performed as a member of EL VY, and Lambchop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sylvan Esso</span> American electronic pop duo

Sylvan Esso is an American electronic pop duo from Durham, North Carolina which was formed in 2013. The band consists of singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn. They made their debut with the single "Hey Mami" and released their eponymous debut album on Partisan Records on May 12, 2014. It reached No. 39 on the Billboard 200. They released their second album, What Now, with Loma Vista Recordings on April 28, 2017, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album.

<i>If Children</i> 2007 studio album by Wye Oak

If Children is the debut studio album by Baltimore-based band Wye Oak. The album was originally released in 2007, but was re-released on April 8, 2008 by Merge Records.

<i>Tween</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Wye Oak

Tween is the fifth studio album by indie band Wye Oak. It was released digitally on June 9, 2016 by Merge Records in the United States. The physical album was officially released on August 5, 2016.

If You See Me, Say Yes is the debut album by the Baltimore-based artist, Flock of Dimes, also known as Jenn Wasner of the indie band Wye Oak. The album was released on September 15, 2016 by Partisan Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madeline Kenney</span> American singer-songwriter

Madeline Kenney is an American indie rock singer-songwriter based in Oakland, California.

<i>The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs</i> 2018 studio album by Wye Oak

The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs is the sixth studio album by indie band Wye Oak. It was released digitally on April 6, 2018 by Merge Records in the United States.

<i>The Knot</i> (album) 2009 album from Wye Oak

The Knot is the second studio album by indie band Wye Oak. It was released by Merge Records in the US on July 21, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meg Duffy</span> American musician

Meg Duffy is an American musician and guitarist who has played as a studio musician on records by The War on Drugs, Weyes Blood, Perfume Genius, Sasami, and William Tyler, among many others. Duffy was also a longtime member of Kevin Morby's live band, and is the sole member of indie-rock band Hand Habits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hey, Ma (Bon Iver song)</span> 2019 single by Bon Iver

"Hey, Ma" is a song recorded by American indie folk band Bon Iver. It was released on June 3, 2019, as the lead single from their fourth studio album, I, I through Jagjaguwar, alongside "U ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Moose</span> American musician

Rob Moose is an American multi-instrumentalist, arranger, producer, conductor, and orchestrator. He primarily plays the violin, viola, and guitar.

References

  1. ↑ Lee Gardner (April 13, 2011). "Mighty". Archived from the original on 2014-04-30. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  2. 1 2 Brandon Weigel (April 23, 2014). "Springtime For Wye Oak". Archived from the original on 2014-04-30. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  3. ↑ "Wye Oak Interview (w/ Andy Stack, Jenn Wasner)". Auralstates.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Meet Jenn Wasner - Founding Member of Wye Oak". Laist.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  5. ↑ Snapes, Laura (2021-04-06). "Flock of Dimes' Jenn Wasner: 'I became incredibly adept at outrunning myself'". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  6. ↑ "Jenn Wasner, Wye Oak". March 25, 2011. Archived from the original on 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  7. ↑ "ORANJE PREVIEW : Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak". Myoldkentuckyblog.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner Announces Debut Dungeonesse Album, Shares New Track". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  9. ↑ Zoladz, Lindsay (2021-03-30). "How Flock of Dimes Found Herself (With a Little Help From Her Friends)". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  10. ↑ Robles, Jonathan (2023-06-23). "Wye Oak's new project 'Every Day Like the Last' is something special". Variance Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  11. ↑ "Flock of Dimes: If You See Me, Say Yes". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  12. ↑ "Flock of Dimes: Head of Roses". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  13. ↑ Vaughn, Ashley (2016-07-06). "Reverend Guitars Tell Us About the Making of the Jenn Wasner Signature Guitar". She Shreds Media. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  14. ↑ Sweeney, Alisha. "Jenn Wasner's New EP Finds Peace Amidst Personal Hardships". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  15. ↑ "Jenn Wasner, other Baltimore musicians to perform at BWI Airport". Baltimore Sun . Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  16. ↑ "Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner: "If something kind of scares us and feels a little bit out of our comfort zone, we want to do it more."". Stereogum. 2020-07-15. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  17. ↑ "Being in Bon Iver feels 'like winning the lottery'". Double J. 2023-03-08. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  18. ↑ "Jenn Wasner and Madeline Kenney on the Challenges of Staying Inspired". Talkhouse. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  19. ↑ "Flock of Dimes Triple A Airplay Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
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.