Nourished by Time

Last updated

Nourished by Time
Nourished by Time at Irving Plaza 2025 06.jpg
Background information
Birth nameMarcus Elliot Brown
BornBaltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • producer
Years active2020–present
Labels
  • Scenic Route
  • XL

Marcus Elliot Brown, known professionally as Nourished by Time, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Baltimore, Maryland. [1] Blending lo-fi synth-pop, post-punk textures and early-'90s R&B, Brown received widespread critical notice for his 2023 debut album Erotic Probiotic 2 , which was awarded Best New Music by Pitchfork. [2] Follow-up releases—the Catching Chickens EP (2024) and album The Passionate Ones (2025)—mark his move to XL Recordings and have cemented his reputation as "a DIY pop star who turns every limitation into an asset." [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Brown grew up in Baltimore, listening to his parents' hip-hop, jazz and '90s R&B collection. [1] At age 15 he began playing guitar after seeing Slash perform with Michael Jackson, later citing Jimi Hendrix as an early influence. [1] He played trumpet and percussion in his high-school marching and jazz bands before enrolling at the Berklee College of Music at 17. [1] Brown has said songwriter-in-residence Pat Pattison was "the only professor who let me be weird." [4]

Career

2019–2022: Early projects

While living in Los Angeles' Koreatown, Brown self-released music under the aliases Riley With Fire and Mother Marcus. [1] He adopted Nourished by Time in 2020, describing it as "a mantra about staying consistent." [1]

2023: Erotic Probiotic 2

Recorded in his parents' basement during COVID-19 lockdowns, Erotic Probiotic 2 mixed freestyle, dream-pop and Baltimore club. [2] The record earned Best New Music from Pitchfork (score 8.2) and appeared in year-end lists by Paste , The Guardian and Gorilla vs. Bear. [2] [5]

Brown spent much of 2023 on tour, supporting London post-punk band Dry Cleaning across North America and remixing their single "Gary Ashby." [6] He also appeared on "Happy," a track from Yaeji's debut album With a Hammer. [7]

2024: Catching Chickens EP

In February 2024 Brown signed to XL Recordings, announcing the five-track EP Catching Chickens and sharing the single "Hand on Me." [8] The EP—named after a scene in Rocky II —was released digitally on March 22, 2024, and on vinyl that May. [3]

2025: The Passionate Ones

Nourished by Time performing at Irving Plaza in 2025 for The Passionate Ones tour Nourished by Time at Irving Plaza 2025 07.jpg
Nourished by Time performing at Irving Plaza in 2025 for The Passionate Ones tour

Brown's second full-length album, The Passionate Ones, was released on August 22, 2025 via XL, preceded by the singles "Max Potential" and "9 2 5." [9] A 25-date North-American and European tour in support of the album began in September 2025. [10]

Musical style and influences

Critics describe Brown's music as "genre-bending" and "metamodernist," merging lo-fi indie pop, hip-hop, synthy post-punk and '90s new jack swing. [3] His cited influences include Arthur Russell, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Prince, SWV and producer PM Dawn; lyrically he often addresses class politics and late-stage capitalism. [2] [1] Brown's stage name is an allusion to indie rock band Guided by Voices. [11]

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Selected singles

Guest appearances

Remixes

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and director
TitleYearDirector
"Came & Went"2020Nourished by Time
"Sharing"
"The Fields"2021
"The Wall"2022
"Staring into the Fireplace"
"Catharsis"
"Quantum Suicide"2023
"Daddy"
"The Fields"
"Hand On Me"2024
"Hell of a Ride"
"Romance In Me"Aslı Baykal
"Max Potential"2025Nourished by Time
"9 2 5"Cody Marian
"Baby Baby"Caroline Waxse

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (June 6, 2023). "Nourished by Time Is Dreaming of an Early '90s R&B and Dance Utopia". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Kearse, Stephen (May 4, 2023). "Nourished by Time: Erotic Probiotic 2 Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Brickner-Wood, Brady (March 29, 2024). "Nourished by Time: Catching Chickens EP Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  4. Wickes, Jade (February 23, 2024). "Synth-pop artist Nourished by Time is emerging from his parents' basement". The Face. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  5. Richards, Chris (October 30, 2023). "Nourished by Time is taking R&B to unexpected altitudes". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  6. "Nourished by Time – Performer Profile". First Avenue. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  7. "Yaeji: With a Hammer Album Review". Pitchfork. April 7, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  8. Monroe, Jazz (February 20, 2024). "Nourished by Time Announces New EP, Shares Song and Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  9. Strauss, Matthew (May 7, 2025). "Nourished by Time Announces Album, Shares Video for New Song "Max Potential"". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  10. Strauss, Matthew (May 13, 2025). "Nourished by Time Announces Tour of North America and Europe". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  11. St. Félix, Doreen (August 30, 2025). "The Lush Pain Music of Nourished by Time". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  12. Strauss, Matthew (May 7, 2025). "Nourished by Time Announces Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 29, 2025.