Paul Meany

Last updated

Paul Meany
Mutemath crop.jpg
Paul Meany performing with Mutemath in 2008
Background information
Born (1976-07-02) July 2, 1976 (age 47)
Origin New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • multi-instrumentalist
  • record producer
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • keyboards
  • synthesizer
  • rhodes piano
  • keytar
  • bass
  • organ
  • sampler
  • guitar
  • tambourine
  • drums
  • percussion
Years active1998–present

Paul Meany (born July 2, 1976) is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music director and record producer. He is best known for co-producing and collaborating with much of Twenty One Pilots' recent work. He has also done production for Pierce the Veil and Yungblud. [1] Outside of production, he is most notable for being the lead singer and keyboardist for the alternative rock project Mutemath, of which he is the sole member since 2017. [2]

Career

While under the moniker "Math" (the precursor to Mutemath), Paul Meany remixed the song "J Train" from TobyMac's debut studio album Momentum (2001). The remix appeared as the first track on the album Re:Mix Momentum (2003) by TobyMac, and included vocals from Meany.

Meany has continued to work on many various projects outside of Mutemath, producing tracks for Forenn and Kind, as well as the debut EP of bandmate Jonathan Allen. Meany was the featured vocalist on Steve Angello single "Breaking Kind" released on August 4, 2017 as well as Seven Lions and Jason Ross' single "Higher Love" released on January 13, 2017.

After Mutemath and Warner Bros. Records parted ways in 2015 and the dissolution of the Teleprompt partnership, Meany launched his own independent label, Wojtek Records, based in New York. Mutemath's fourth and fifth full-length albums and subsequent remix projects were all released through Wojtek, in partnership with Caroline Records.

Meany was one of the co-founders of the independent label Teleprompt Records that has since been dissolved. Prior to forming Mutemath with drummer Darren King, Meany was the keyboardist and backing vocalist for the rock band Earthsuit and provided the same for the beginning stages of another Adam LaClave-fronted rock band, Macrosick. Meany has also co-produced tracks for Jeremy Larson and another Earthsuit spin-off, Club of the Sons.

In 2003, Meany collaborated on an LP entitled Elevator Music, released by Victory Fellowship Church prior to Hurricane Katrina, and was later used as a fund-raising initiative to support victims. The album, comprising fifteen contemporary worship tracks, was recorded live at Victory Fellowship Church, with Meany providing lead vocals. [3]

Meany using his keytar while performing in 2007 Mutemath (456657979).jpg
Meany using his keytar while performing in 2007

Meany assisted in producing much of Twenty One Pilots' fifth studio album, Trench (2018). [4] [5] He also contributed to the standalone single "Level of Concern" in 2020, which was recorded and released during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. [6] Meany previously worked with the duo alongside his former bandmates to "reimagine" and produce the extended play TOPxMM (2016), which included reimagined versions of four songs from their fourth studio album Blurryface (2015), and the single "Heathens", as well as a live 20-minute video of the bands performing it together in the studio. [7] He assisted in the production of the duo's sixth studio album, Scaled and Icy (2021), was a part of the live backing band for the album's associated tours, and also acted as a musical director for them. [8] Meany once again co-produced their seventh studio album Clancy (2024) in its entirety. The album was released on May 24.

Meany also produced "Creature", the closing track off of indie rock band Half Alive's debut album, Now, Not Yet (2019). [9] In 2020 and 2021, Meany worked with rock band The Blue Stones, producing their second album Hidden Gems (2021). [10]

Meany helped produce the fifth studio album for California post-hardcore band Pierce the Veil, The Jaws of Life (2023) in its entirety, which peaked at 14 on the Billboard 200.

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Mutemath is an American alternative rock project founded by American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer Paul Meany. Originally co-founded as a band with Darren King in 2002, Meany decided to continue Mutemath as a solo project following King's departure in 2017. Mutemath draws heavily from influences in 1960s and 1970s soul, psychedelic rock, and jam band styles, utilizing vintage guitars and amplifiers as well as Rhodes keyboards, synthesizers, and other electronic instruments such as the keytar.

Teleprompt Records was an independent record label that was formed in 2003 by record producer Tedd T, keyboardist and Mutemath vocalist Paul Meany, and manager Kevin Kookogey. The label was formed to promote and distribute music for Meany's band Mutemath. The label was based in Franklin, Tennessee, and had an exclusive distribution deal with Warner Bros. Records. Mutemath was the only artist on the roster. As of 2015, the relationship between Teleprompt and Warner Music Group has been dissolved, and Teleprompt operations have been suspended. Mutemath has formed an independent label, Wojtek Records, to serve as Teleprompt's successor.

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Darren Charles King is an American drummer and percussionist, best known for his association with the band Mutemath until his permanent departure in August 2017. He played the drums for the New Orleans-based Christian rock band Earthsuit for a short time. In concert he is often seen wearing a pair of headphones gaffer-taped to his head for foldback, something previously done by The Who drummer, Keith Moon. King grew up in the small town of Marshfield, Missouri.

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<i>Vitals</i> (Mutemath album) 2015 studio album by Mutemath

Vitals is the fourth full-length release from New Orleans group Mutemath. The album was released on November 13, 2015. It is the group's first release on their own imprint label Wojtek Records, following their departure from Warner Bros. Records and the dissolution of Teleprompt Records. It is also the first studio album featuring Todd Gummerman since he joined the group in 2011.

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References

  1. "Paul Meany Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  2. "About Mutemath". Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  3. "Victory Fellowship – Elevator Music (Live Worship From Victory Fellowship)". Discogs.
  4. "Twenty One Pilots Tracks Songs for "Trench" at United Recording". Electronic Musician. September 5, 2018. Archived from the original on October 5, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  5. Yeung, Neil. "Twenty One Pilots Trench". AllMusic . Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  6. "Some BTS lab work from Level Of Concern. @twentyonepilots. Always honored to get to help". Twitter. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  7. "Twenty One Pilots Reimagine 5 Songs With Mutemath for Live Video, Free EP: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  8. "Twenty One Pilots Climb to New Heights With Eye-Popping 'Scaled and Icy' Livestream: Recap". Billboard. May 21, 2021. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  9. "Now, Not Yet | Tidal". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  10. "The Blue Stones detail sophomore album, 'Hidden Gems'; listen to new song "Spirit" now" . Retrieved March 24, 2021.