Washed Out

Last updated
Washed Out
Washed Out 2016.jpg
Washed Out performing in July 2016
Background information
Birth nameErnest Weatherly Greene Jr.
Born (1982-10-03) October 3, 1982 (age 41)
Perry, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2009–present
Labels
Website washedout.net

Ernest Weatherly Greene Jr. (born October 3, 1982), known professionally as Washed Out, is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Commonly associated with the chillwave genre in the 2010s, Pitchfork dubbed him "the godfather of chillwave". [5]

Contents

Life and career

Ernest Weatherly Greene Jr. was born on October 3, 1982, in Perry, Georgia, and currently lives in Atlanta. [6] [7] [8] After earning an undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia, he obtained a Master of Library and Information Science degree but was unable to find a job as a librarian. Greene moved back in with his parents and started producing songs in his bedroom studio, [7] [9] as well as working on recordings of dance music with Bedroom, a local band. [10] During 2008 he recorded lo-fi rock music under the name Lee Weather, but the following summer he found more success with his new project, Washed Out. [11] He was soon discovered by a number of influential music bloggers after they found his music on his Myspace page. [12] His first recordings have been described as "drowsy, distorted, dance pop-influenced tracks that brought to mind Neon Indian and Memory Tapes". [10]

Greene's first two extended plays were released in August and September 2009. He held his debut New York City performance (his second live show ever) at Santos Party House. He has since performed at the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival [13] and his song "Feel It All Around" is used as the opening theme for the television series Portlandia . [14]

Washed Out performing at the Ogden Theatre in Denver, 2011 Washed Out at Ogden Theatre(10.04.11)(2).jpg
Washed Out performing at the Ogden Theatre in Denver, 2011

In April 2011 it was announced that he had been signed to Sub Pop. His debut, Within and Without , then released on July 12, 2011. The album peaked at #26 on the Billboard 200 and #89 on the UK Albums Chart. He was chosen by Battles to perform at the ATP Nightmare Before Christmas festival that they co-curated in December 2011 in Minehead, England. [15]

Washed Out's second album, Paracosm , was released on August 13, 2013. The first single was "It All Feels Right", followed by "Don't Give Up". [16] The same year, "New Theory" from Life of Leisure featured in-background on a scene from The Spectacular Now . In May 2014, he was reporting to be working on a third studio album, but he stated, "I'm figuring out the next step." [17]

On May 19, Washed Out announced dates for his "Get Lost" tour, taking place in July 2017. Subsequently, he released his third studio album, Mister Mellow , on June 30, 2017. The album was produced at Stones Throw Records with the help of Cole M.G.N. [18]

In April 2018, Washed Out released a new single, "Face Up" as part of Adult Swim's Singles Series. [19] [20] The single was later included on his fourth album, Purple Noon (2020). [21] In April 2020, Washed Out released a new single, "Too Late". [22] On June 30, 2020, Washed Out announced that a new album called Purple Noon would be released on August 7, 2020. He also released a new single, "Time to Walk Away". [23]

In May 2024, Washed Out announced his fifth studio album, Notes from a Quiet Life, and released its first single, "The Hardest Part", the video of which was made with OpenAI's Sora. [24] [25]

Musical style

Washed Out's style has been identified with the chillwave movement. [7] He has said hip hop influences the way he writes songs. [26]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
US
[27]
US
Alt

[28]
US
Rock

[29]
AUS
Hit

[30]
NOR
[31]
NL
[32]
UK
[33]
UK
Indie

[34]
Within and Without 26662036808912
Paracosm
  • Released: August 13, 2013 [36]
  • Label: Sub Pop
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
2135710121
Mister Mellow [upper-alpha 1] [upper-alpha 2] 15
Purple Noon
  • Released: August 7, 2020 [21]
  • Label: Sub Pop
  • Formats: CD, LP, cassette, digital download
[upper-alpha 3]
Notes from a Quiet Life
  • Released: June 28, 2024
  • Label: Sub Pop
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays

TitleDetails
High Times [40]
  • Released: September 9, 2009
  • Label: Mirror Universe Tapes
  • Format: Cassette (200 copies)
Life of Leisure [41]
  • Released: September 16, 2009
  • Label: Mexican Summer
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
Untitled
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: N/A
  • Format: CD (offered to fans on tour)

Singles

TitleYearPeak positions Certifications Album
US
Sales

[42]
US
Dance

[43]
US Rock
[27]
MEX
Air.

[44]
"Feel It All Around"200913Life of Leisure EP
"You'll See It (Small Black Remix)"201043Washed Out/Small Black split
"Eyes Be Closed" [46] 20111050Within and Without
"Amor Fati" [upper-alpha 4]
"It All Feels Right"201349Paracosm
"Don't Give Up"
"Get Lost"2017Mister Mellow
"Hard to Say Goodbye"
"Face Up"2018Purple Noon
"Too Late"2020
"Time to Walk Away"
"Sidney's Lullaby" / "Miles' Lullaby"2021Non-album single
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.

Notes

  1. "Mister Mellow" did not enter the Billboard 200 chart, but peaked at number 91 on the Top Current Album Sales chart. [38]
  2. "Mister Mellow" did not enter the Alternative Albums chart, but peaked at number 22 on the Alternative Album Sales chart. [39]
  3. "Purple Noon" did not enter the Billboard 200 chart, but peaked at number 18 on the Top Current Album Sales chart. [38]
  4. "Amor Fati" did not enter the Rock Songs chart, but peaked at number 46 on the Rock Digital Songs chart. [47]

Guest appearances

TitleYearAlbum
"You & I"2010Adult Swim Singles Program 2010
"Belong" Kitsuné Maison Compilation 9 [48]
"Straight Back"2012 Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac
"Outta My System - Washed Out Remix"Outta My System: Remixez Y Friendz
"Want"2015 Samantha
"Forgive"2018 Young Romance

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References

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