| Wise Blood (musician) | |
|---|---|
 Wise Blood c. 2015. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Chris Laufman |
| Also known as | C. Moore Laufman |
| Genres | Pop, electronic, alternative, gospel |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Labels | Dovecote Records, Future Gods, Cretin's Club |
| Website | Chris Laufman |
Wise Blood is the stage name of producer, performer, and songwriter Chris Laufman. He has released two albums, three EP's, and a mixtape. His work is largely sample-based and electronic. [1]
Chris Laufman released his first project as Wise Blood, +, in 2010. [2] A video for the song "B.I.G. E.G.O." premiered later that year featuring Daphne Guinness. [3] Following the reception of his debut EP he was the subject of a Pitchfork profile which focused on his unique approach to songwriting. [4] Laufman would subsequently release another Wise Blood EP, These Wings, in 2011 along with the single "Loud Mouths". [5] [6] In support of the release he performed at SXSW [7] and played in-studio at BBC Radio 1. [8] He gained attention for his energetic and aggressive live shows, [9] as well as for his conflicted relationship with Catholicism. [10] His music was particularly noted for its incorporation of samples, a process which he further expanded on in an interview with The New York Times in 2011. [11] Laufman contributed a cover of the song "Someday" by the Strokes to Stereogum 's "STROKED: A Tribute to Is This It ". [12]
In 2013 Wise Blood released his debut album Id. [13] A trailer for the album was released featuring Dog the Bounty Hunter. [14] Its first single, "Rat", premiered on Pitchfork. [15] Speaking to Fact Laufman revealed that his tumultuous personal life and struggle with conceptualizing the album had contributed to its delay. [16] In an MTV profile he expanded on his personal issues as well as revealed the different influences that inspired the record including John Waters. [17] In their review of the album Consequence of Sound noted its similarities to Animal Collective and declared that "Laufman's genre collaging and quirky point of view make Id a compelling listen". [18]
Following the release of Id Laufman's output consisted primarily of songwriting and production. He is credited as a contributing songwriter to Partynextdoor's eponymous self-titled debut EP Partynextdoor for the song "Wild Bitches" which contains elements of the Wise Blood track "Loud Mouths". [19] Laufman also began working with Pittsburgh drag queen The Moon Baby. [20] In 2014 they released the song "Bae Sick" on Dazed. [21] Their debut EP Urallpoor.us premiered on Vice-run music site Noisey. [22] They have continued to work together on subsequent releases. [23] [24] [25]
In 2014, Wise Blood also released a conceptual mixtape titled Get 'Em using samples that were not able to be cleared for his debut album Id. [26] Laufman explained the inspiration for the release and artistic process he took in creating the mixtape to The Fader as such; "'I wanted to do it after I watched my cousin download a movie on an iPad, watch it on T.V. then record some of the movie for a Vine", he says, "I like that the original material is literally traveling from device to device and then ending up back where it started but now it has some fucking mileage on it'". [26] A video for the track "Helter Shelter" from the mixtape was released the previous year. [27]
In 2019, Laufman released the album Greatest Hits under his own name. [28] He revealed that the album was a collection of material from the past 7 years that dealt with his struggle with mental health and substance abuse issues that he had recently been addressing for the first time in his life. [28] In his review of the album, Randall Colburn of The A.V. Club noted that it "veers—often wildly—between straightforward if decidedly off-kilter, pop ("Graceland", "When You Need Somebody") and tactile mood pieces that swallow Laufman whole in a maelstrom of delicately arranged samples ("Dope Swinger", "Soak Up the Sun")." [29]
In 2022, Laufman released the EP Strain at a Gnat under the name C. Moore Laufman. [30]
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