Nabil Ayers

Last updated

Nabil Ayers
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, author, musician
InstrumentDrums
Labels Beggars Group, 4AD, The Control Group, V2, Mercury, Barsuk
Website www.nabilayers.com

Nabil Ayers is an American music industry entrepreneur, author, musician and podcast host.

Ayers' debut memoir, My Life in the Sunshine, was published by Viking Press on June 7, 2022. The book focuses on Ayers' relationship with his father, the jazz musician Roy Ayers, growing up as a mixed-race person in America, and Ayers' life in the music industry. [1] The title, My Life in the Sunshine, is a reference to the Roy Ayers song, "Everybody Loves the Sunshine." [2] In a June 4, 2022 CBS Saturday Morning segment, Ayers, when asked about how the memoir portrays his father, stated, "In the end, it's positive. It's about all the great things he's given me, even though he hasn't been part of my life." [3] My Life in the Sunshine has received accolades from author/musician, Michelle Zauner, who said the book "ultimately redefines what it means to be a family." Ashley C. Ford, John Hodgman also gave praise, and Rolling Stone, called the book "[an] affecting new memoir." [4] [5]

As a writer, Ayers is a frequent contributor to The New York Times, NPR, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, People, GQ, Huffington Post, and The Root, among others. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] His writing is often autobiographic, and touches on topics of music and race.

In June 2024, Ayers launched the new podcast, Identified, which focuses on family and identity. Some of the musicians, authors, comedians, and actors Ayers has interviewed on Identified include Dawn Richard, Hrishikesh Hirway, Ione Skye, Geoff Rickly, Reggie Watts, and Nate Mendel. [14] In the podcast trailer, Ayers states his reason for starting the podcast toward the end of his eighteen-month-long book tour: "I felt a persistent desire to continue exploring stories of family, shifting the focus from my own experiences to those of others. On "Identified, we'll engage with authors, musicians, and people from a diversity of backgrounds to unravel what family means to them." [15]

With over 30 years of experience in the music industry, Ayers is the current U.S. President of the UK-based Beggars Group of record labels, assuming the role in early 2022 after his work for 4AD where he had served as the label's U.S. General Manager since 2009. [16] [17] While with 4AD, he led album campaigns for Grimes, Big Thief, St. Vincent, Purity Ring, Deerhunter, Tune-Yards, Future Islands, The Breeders, and The National, whose album Sleep Well Beast won the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. [18] Ayers served on the Recording Academy's Board of Trustees from 2022-2024, and previously served as a two-term elected Governor. Ayers is continually named one of Billboard Magazine's Indie Power Players, earning a spot on the list each year from 2019-2024. [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]

Ayers co-founded Seattle’s Sonic Boom Records store with his business partner, Jason Hughes in 1997. Sonic Boom has been named one of the best record stores in America by Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal and SPIN Magazine, and has been profiled by NPR, The New York Times and The Seattle Times. [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] In July 2016, it was announced that Sonic Boom Records was sold to a longtime customer. [29] After the sale, Ayers wrote a memoir about the store that was published in Seattle newspaper, The Stranger. [30]

In 2002, Ayers founded the independent record label The Control Group where he has released music by Lykke Li, Cate Le Bon, and El Perro del Mar. In 2018, Ayers founded the independent record label Valley of Search to reissue his uncle Alan Braufman's album of the same name. The label has gone on to release music by Tomas Nordmark and Patricia Brennan. [31] As a drummer, he has performed with various acts, most recently The Long Winters and Tommy Stinson.

He currently resides in Brooklyn, NY, where Brooklyn Magazine named Ayers #7 in a list of "The 100 Most Influential People In Brooklyn Culture.” [17]

Related Research Articles

Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Although the term was originally used to describe rock music released through independent record labels, by the 1990s it became more widely associated with the music such bands produced.

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

Pavement is an American indie rock band that formed in Stockton, California, in 1989. For most of their career, the group consisted of Stephen Malkmus, Scott Kannberg, Mark Ibold (bass), Steve West (drums), and Bob Nastanovich. Initially conceived as a recording project, the band at first avoided press or live performances, while attracting considerable underground attention with their early releases. Gradually evolving into a more polished band, Pavement recorded five full-length albums and ten EPs over the course of their decade-long career, though they disbanded with some acrimony in 1999 as the members moved on to other projects. In 2010, they undertook a well-received reunion tour, followed by another international tour from 2022 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Ayers</span> American funk, soul, and jazz composer (born 1940)

Roy Ayers is an American vibraphonist, record producer and composer. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk. He is a key figure in the acid jazz movement, and has been described as "The Godfather of Neo Soul". He is best known for his compositions "Everybody Loves the Sunshine", "Lifeline", and "No Stranger To Love" and other that charted in the 1970s. At one time, he was said to have more sampled hits by rappers than any other artist.

<i>Our Band Could Be Your Life</i> Book by Michael Azerrad

Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981–1991 is a book by Michael Azerrad. It chronicles the careers of several underground rock bands who, while finding little or no mainstream success, were hugely influential in establishing American alternative and indie rock, mostly through nearly constant touring and records released on small, regional independent record labels. Azerrad conducted many interviews with band members, and also conducted extensive research of old fanzines, as well as more mainstream newspapers and books.

<i>Sonic Temple</i> 1989 studio album by The Cult

Sonic Temple is the fourth studio album by British rock band The Cult, released on 10 April 1989. The album features some of the band's most popular songs, including "Fire Woman" and "Edie ". Sonic Temple was the last album recorded with longtime bassist Jamie Stewart, who left in 1990, and the first to feature session drummer Mickey Curry.

The Long Winters are an American indie rock band based in Seattle, Washington.

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

The National is an American rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in Brooklyn, New York City, in 1999. The band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), twin brothers Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner, as well as brothers Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). During live performances, the band is joined by longtime touring members, Ben Lanz and Kyle Resnick. Carin Besser, the wife of Berninger, is not a band member but has written lyrics for the band alongside her husband since its 2007 album Boxer.

An independent music scene is a localized independent music-oriented community of bands and their audiences. Local scenes can play a key role in musical history and lead to the development of influential genres; for example, no wave from New York City, United States; Madchester from Manchester, England; and grunge from Seattle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Association of Independent Music</span> American trade association

The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) is a trade association that represents independent record labels in the United States, founded in 2005. A2IM is headquartered in New York City, with chapters located in Nashville, Chicago, Northern California, Southern California, and the Pacific Northwest. Among other events, they organize the annual Libera Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Bingham</span> American country musician

George Ryan Bingham is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose music spans multiple genres. He is currently based in Los Angeles. As of 2019, Bingham has released six studio albums and one live album, the last four of which were released under his own label, Axster Bingham Records.

Martin Mills is the founder and chairman of the Beggars Group.

Alien Crime Syndicate, often abbreviated to ACS, were a rock band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1997. From 1999 to the band's breakup in 2005, the lineup consisted primarily of Joe Reineke, Jeff Rouse, Nabil Ayers (drums), while guitarists Jason Krevey, Mike Squires and Mike Davis were also members of the band.

Nabil Elderkin is an American-born Australian film and music video director and photographer, who is of Iranian and American descent. He is mononymously credited as Nabil in his videos. Elderkin has directed videos for musical artists such as: Dua Lipa, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, John Legend, Arctic Monkeys, and Foals. Born in Chicago and raised in Australia, he is most recently based in Los Angeles, California.

The Lemons was an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1991. The first lineup of the group consisted of Jimmy Paulson, Greg Lovell (guitar), Brent Saunders (bass) and Jeff Ramirez (drums). Ramirez was soon replaced by Rob Cunningham and the band released their debut album entitled Marvel in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sturgill Simpson</span> American country music singer-songwriter

John Sturgill Simpson is an American country music singer-songwriter and actor. As of June 2024, he has released eight albums as a solo artist. Simpson's style has been met with critical favor and frequent comparisons to outlaw country.

Sonic Boom Records is an independent record store located in Seattle, Washington. The store was opened by Jason Hughes and Nabil Ayers on September 26, 1997. Between 1997 and 2014, Sonic Boom had expanded to three locations in Seattle and currently has one location at 2209 NW Market Street in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Dacus</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1995)

Lucy Elizabeth Dacus is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Dacus first gained fame following the release of her debut album, No Burden (2016), which led to a deal with Matador Records. Historian, her second album, was released in 2018 to critical acclaim. Home Video, her third studio album, was released in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Michael Braufman</span> American composer and musician

Alan Michael Braufman ; born May 22, 1951, in Brooklyn, New York, United States), is an American jazz saxophonist, flutist and composer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Y La Bamba</span> American indie band formed in Portland, Oregon

Y La Bamba is an American indie alternative/experimental band led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Luz Elena Mendoza. She is a first generation Mexican American, and sings in both English and Spanish. The current ensemble includes Mendoza: vocals, guitar; Julia Mendiolea: guitar, bass; Antonio Montanez: drums; Gordon Walters: bass; and Isabeau Waia'u Walker: vocals, percussion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doechii</span> American rapper and singer (born 1998)

Jaylah Ji'mya Hickmon, known professionally as Doechii, is an American rapper and singer. After releasing her debut EP, Oh the Places You'll Go (2020), she rose to prominence on TikTok with the viral success of her song "Yucky Blucky Fruitcake" in 2021. She then signed with Top Dawg Entertainment in a joint venture with Capitol Records, through which she released her second EP, She / Her / Black Bitch (2022). Her 2023 single "What It Is " marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

References

  1. ↑ "My Life In Sunshine by Nabil Ayers" . Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  2. ↑ Everybody Loves The Sunshine - Roy Ayers Ubiquity (1976), June 22, 2011, retrieved June 6, 2022
  3. ↑ Music exec. Nabil Ayers releases a new book on his struggles with being biracial and how his father, Jazz muscian Roy Ayers impacted his life despite , retrieved June 6, 2022
  4. ↑ "My Life in the Sunshine by Nabil Ayers: 9780593295960 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  5. ↑ Ayers, Nabil (June 3, 2022). "Nabil Ayers Looks Back on His First Sit-Down With His Jazz-Legend Father". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  6. ↑ Ayers, Nabil (August 9, 2018). "Coming of Age in the Loft Jazz Scene". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  7. ↑ Ayers, Nabil (November 21, 2018). "A Family Tree With Roots Deep In Slavery". NPR. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  8. ↑ Ayers, Nabil (June 3, 2021). "What Black Music Month Means Now". Pitchfork.
  9. ↑ Ayers, Nabil (April 2021). "The Night Nirvana Changed Everything". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  10. ↑ Ayers, Nabil. "A 'Food Freak' Describes Losing His Senses of Taste and Smell, a Coronavirus Symptom: 'Disconcerting'". People. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  11. ↑ Ayers, Nabil (August 2019). "I Want My Afro Back". GQ. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  12. ↑ Ayers, Nabil (March 29, 2018). "Discovering The Horror Of Klan Day At The State Fair Of Texas". HuffPost. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  13. ↑ Ayers, Nabil (November 4, 2017). "You Got a Little Soul in You, I See". The Root. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Identified". Identified. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Identified with Nabil Ayers: Podcast trailer". YouTube . June 6, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Beggars Group Names Label Execs Nabil Ayers As New US President and Claire Taylor As New US General Manager". beggars.com. Beggars Group. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  17. 1 2 "The 100 Most Influential People in Brooklyn Culture". Brooklyn Magazine”.
  18. ↑ "See Full List of 60th Grammys 2018 Awards Winners". grammy.com. November 27, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Revealed: Billboard's 2021 Indie Power Players". Billboard. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Billboard's 2019 Indie Power Players: The Execs Behind Drake, John Prine, Lauren Daigle and BTS". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Revealed: Billboard's 2020 Indie Power Players". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Revealed: 2022 Indie Power Players". Billboard. June 6, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Indie Power Players 2024 List". Billboard .
  24. ↑ "Sonic Boom | The Best Record Stores in the USA". Rolling Stone. September 16, 2010.
  25. ↑ Thompson, Erin (April 16, 2010). "Seattle News and Events | Sonic Boom Is SPIN's #5 Best Indie Record". Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  26. ↑ Ganz, Jacob (October 12, 2010). "Seattle's Sonic Boom Records: Indie, But Not For Indie's Sake". NPR. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  27. ↑ Nelson, Chris (October 6, 2003). "Trying to sell CD's by Adding Extras". New York Times.
  28. ↑ "Seattle's 10 best record stores, in honor of Record Store Day". The Seattle Times. April 14, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  29. ↑ "Sonic Boom Records Changes Ownership, Will Remain Open".
  30. ↑ "The (Sonic) Boom Years—Memories of a Newly Former Seattle Record Store Owner".
  31. ↑ "Valley of Search official site".
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.