| Waves | ||||
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| EP by | ||||
| Released | October 26, 2018 | |||
| Genre | Dream pop | |||
| Length | 16:00 | |||
| Label | Flower Moon Records | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Azure Ray chronology | ||||
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Waves is the eighth studio release by American duo Azure Ray, consisting of Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink. It was released on October 26, 2018, on Flower Moon Records.
After a five-year hiatus following the release of As Above So Below, the band announced in October 2017 that their self-titled debut and Burn and Shiver were now on Taylor's label. [1] A few weeks later, a cryptic message teasing an "important announcement" was posted to the band's social media accounts [2] and on November 17, 2017, Taylor and Fink announced they would once again reunite for a one-off show in Los Angeles at the Lodge Room on January 20, 2018. [3] In August 2018, a second reunion show, this time in their hometown of Omaha, was announced for October 26, 2018. [4]
On September 26, 2018 Stereogum announced their new EP and first new record in 6 years, Waves and premiered a new single, "Palindrome," calling it a "mournful string-driven ballad which offers the best of the band's spectral harmonies, woodsy storytelling and aching wisdom." [5] Billboard premiered the Alan Tanner directed video for "Palindrome" on October 19, 2018. [6] Billboard also premiered a new recording of "Hold on Love" from their 2003 record of the same name, which the band said "reflects the live version that we came to love playing through the years." [7] KCRW premiered the video for the "hauntingly beautiful" "Last Summer In Omaha" on October 25, 2018. [8]
All songs written by Azure Ray, except where otherwise listed.
Conor Mullen Oberst is an American singer-songwriter best known for his work in Bright Eyes. He has also played in several other bands, including Desaparecidos, the Faint, Commander Venus, Park Ave., Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Monsters of Folk, and Better Oblivion Community Center. Oberst was named the Best Songwriter of 2008 by Rolling Stone magazine.
Azure Ray is an American dream pop duo, consisting of musicians Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor. Formed in Athens, Georgia in 2001, they later moved to Omaha, Nebraska and became part of the Saddle Creek Records music scene, which also included Bright Eyes, The Faint, and Cursive. Azure Ray's music has often been featured in film and television, including Six Feet Under, Grey's Anatomy, and The Devil Wears Prada.
Remy Zero was an American alternative rock band from Birmingham, Alabama, formed in 1989. It was composed of August Cinjun Tate, Shelby Tate, Cedric LeMoyne (bass), Jeffrey Cain, and Louis Schefano (drums), who was later replaced by Gregory Slay.
Maria Diane Taylor is an American singer-songwriter from Birmingham, Alabama. She is also a member of the duo Azure Ray with Orenda Fink. Taylor plays several instruments, including the guitar, drums, and piano and has collaborated or performed with such artists as Bright Eyes, Phoebe Bridgers, Moby, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., Joshua Radin, and more.
Orenda Fink is an American singer, musician, and writer. Perhaps best known as half of the duo Azure Ray, Fink is also a member of Art in Manila, O+S, Closeness, and High Up, and has played with or appeared as a guest on records by Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst, Moby, The Faint, Pete Yorn, and others. She is married to Todd Fink of The Faint.
Hold On Love is an album released by the band Azure Ray. It was released October 7, 2003, on Saddle Creek Records.
Andy LeMaster is an American musician, songwriter, engineer, and producer from Athens, Georgia. Now It's Overhead is the primary project for his own songwriting, while he also releases music under his own name and contributes as a co-writer on various projects. LeMaster has engineered, produced, and performed on many albums since he began recording in the late 1990s, including releases by Bright Eyes, Now It's Overhead, Azure Ray, Conor Oberst, Maria Taylor, Orenda Fink, Better Oblivion Community Center, and Michael Stipe. He is co-owner of Chase Park Transduction recording studio in Athens with fellow producer/engineer/musician, David Barbe. He has been a frequent touring member of Bright Eyes since the late 90's, and has performed live as a band member with several other artists including Azure Ray, Fischerspooner, and Michael Stipe. LeMaster is also a talented visual artist, and has done all the covers for Now It's Overhead's records. Andy has stated in interviews that he identifies as gay.
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Drawing Down the Moon is an album released by the band Azure Ray. It was released September 14, 2010 on Saddle Creek Records, seven years since their previous album Hold On Love.
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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.
Starset is an American rock band from Columbus, Ohio, formed by Dustin Bates in 2013. They released their debut album, Transmissions, in 2014 and their second album, Vessels, on January 20, 2017. The band has found success in expanding the ideas of their concept albums through social media and YouTube, with the band generating over $230,000 in revenue from views from the latter as of November 2016. Their single "My Demons" had accumulated over 280 million YouTube views in the same time period. Their most commercially successful song, "Monster", peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in May 2017. A third studio album, Divisions, was released on September 13, 2019, with their fourth studio album, Horizons, released on October 22, 2021.
Something About Knowing is the fifth album by Maria Taylor, released on October 29, 2013 on Saddle Creek Records. The album finds Taylor returning to working with producer Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes, recording a majority of the record in Omaha and three songs in her hometown of Birmingham. Other collaborations on this record include her brother, multi-instrumentalist Macey Taylor of Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band and Jenny Lewis, mixing by Andy Lemaster, and co-writing and recording two songs with Brad Armstrong of 13 Ghosts.
Elliot James Mulhern is a British singer-songwriter, producer, and recording artist; member of act Extremely Bad Man and drummer of rock band Hey Monday. He is the founder of British-American record label Blossöm Records, ANOMILY MOTION PICTURES® & Fever Mint, Inc. His single "Smooth" from ALWAYS LATELY premiered on Billboard and was mastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios on Blossöm Records, Ltd. He co-produced three records on Jallal's Off The Radar with Chad Hugo, Ne-Yo, and BJ the Chicago Kid.
Louis Schefano is an American singer-songwriter, producer/engineer and multi-instrumentalist originally from Birmingham, Alabama, United States. He has recorded under various monikers including Regia, Louis, and Suspicious Light. Schefano was also a founding member of Remy Zero and Little Red Rocket, and has performed, produced or recorded with Azure Ray, Maria Taylor, Verbena, Cheshires, Bright Eyes, The Ladybug Transistor, and Jaymay.
In the Next Life is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Maria Taylor, also a member of Azure Ray. It was released on December 9, 2016, on her label Flower Moon Records. The first single "If Only", features guest vocals by Omaha singer-songwriter Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes.
Slothrust(pronounced sloth-rust, IPA: ['slɔθ.rʌst]) is an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 2010.
K.T.S.E. is the second studio album by American recording artist Teyana Taylor, released on June 22, 2018, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings.
As Above, So Below is the seventh studio release by American duo Azure Ray, consisting of Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink. It was originally released on September 4, 2012, on Saddle Creek Records and features co-production by Andy LeMaster and Todd Fink. Following a 2-year hiatus after the release of Drawing Down the Moon, Fink and a pregnant Taylor entered the studio to record six news songs, with a more "hypnotic" "electronica" influence in collaboration with Andy LeMaster and Todd Fink. On July 17, 2012, Stereogum premiered the "starry, shivering cut" “Scattered Like Leaves.” NPR premiered "Red Balloon" on August 9, 2012, calling the "long, slow summer swoon," "devastating melancholy." Rolling Stone premiered the full EP stream on August 28, 2012.