Chris Seefried
| Chris Seefried | |
|---|---|
 Recording at Phantom Vox | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Bullfrog (producer) |
| Born |
October 20, 1966 New York City, New York |
| Genres | Rock, folk, pop, Soul, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, composer |
| Instruments | Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Labels |
Warner Bros. Records Geffen Hear Music E Pluribus Unum Chrysalis Records |
| Associated acts |
Fitz and the Tantrums Anderson East Andra Day Gods Child Joe 90 Low Stars |
| Website | http://www.chrisseefried.com/ |
Chris Seefried is an American artist, record producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the lead vocalist and frontman of the bands Gods Child, Joe 90, and Low Stars, and as producer and co-writer for the neo-soul band Fitz and the Tantrums.
Career
Gods Child (1992–1996)
Seefried's U.S. career started when a cassette tape of "Everybody's 1" was heard by Prince, who stopped the song midway through, ejected the tape and declared "this is mine". That song and four other psychedelic rock & soul tracks found their way to legendary artist, producer, musician and then record company president Quincy Jones and his A & R man Hugo Burnham, drummer from premiere English punk band Gang Of Four. After flying to N.Y.C. to see Gods Child perform one of many shows at New Yorks CBGB's, they signed the band to Warner Bros. Records via Quincy's imprint label Qwest. Their first record Everybody was written and produced by Seefried with band mate Gary DeRosa under the pseudonym "Bullfrog and the Elephant". Single "Everybodys 1" charted in two Billboard charts simultaneously, peaking at #18 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #25 on the Modern Rock chart. While making video's for songs "Everybody's 1", "Stone Horses" and "Slide", Gods Child toured nationally headlining shows in NYC at Irving Plaza and Roseland Ballroom and also performed "Everybodys 1" on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Second record Aluminum, produced by Tim Palmer, was critically acclaimed but singles "Female Elvis" and "This Is the Real World?" only charted regionally. The song "Need" was featured in the Fox Network television series Melrose Place.
Joe 90 (1996–2000)
After two albums with Warner Bros., Chris moved to LA and changed the name from Gods Child to Joe 90 adding Adam Hamilton to the mix. Adam Duritz of Counting Crows[1] signed the group to his imprint through Geffen Records. Their debut record Dream This includes the hit song "Drive", which Duritz sings on. Seefried returned the favor guesting on "I Wish I Was a Girl"' and hit song "Hangin Around" from This Desert Life. Joe 90 performed this song live with Counting Crows on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Their second album A Raccoons Lunch features the Laura Nyro song "And When I Die", which was the end title for the New Line Cinema film Final Destination and "When You Arrive" from the soundtrack for the film Boys and Girls. Their third record remains unreleased.
Solo/Low Stars (2000–present)
Seefried recorded solo debut Denim Blue in between touring as Rosanne Cash's guitar player. The record was recorded in studios in New York City and Los Angeles and includes a cast of friends, Gary DeRosa (Gods Child, Joe 90), Tony Shanahan (Patty Smith), Richard Lloyd (Television) as well as co-producers David Immergluck (Counting Crows) and Rich Pagano (Fab Faux). Denim Blue, completed in 2005, was held back because Chris started southern California rock band Low Stars whose debut album used tracks "Child", "Tracks In the Rain" and "L.A. Forever", previously slotted for Denim Blue. Low Stars eponymous debut album was produced by George Drakoulias and released in 2007 at Starbucks stores all over the country through Hear Music. Low Stars performed songs "Calling All friends", the theme song that appears at the beginning of each episode of J. J. Abrams' show What About Brian and "Child" on Last Call with Carson Daly while capping a national tour with a performance of "One Step Up" at Carnegie Hall to celebrate the music of Bruce Springsteen.
Denim Blue was released through Seefried's record label "Gnome Alone" in 2008. The songs "Hand of Fate" and "You Make Me" were included in the Tomothy Bogart film Touched.
Production/Songwriting
Chris Seefried produced and co-wrote Fitz and The Tantrums ep Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1 which was recorded during the first half of 2009 at Fitzpatrick's home in Los Angeles.[2] He also produced and co-wrote their debut studio album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, released in August 2010, received critical acclaim and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.[3] They were heralded as a "band to watch" in an April 2011 profile in Rolling Stone.[2]
In 2012 Seefried produced Anderson East's self-released debut album, Flowers of the Broken Hearted.[4] The album was released on vinyl and was made up of two records: one record which he recorded in Los Angeles with session players Charlie Gillingham, Don Heffington and Rob Wasserman and a second record recorded in Nashville with Tim Brennan and Daniel Scobey. The record is a 15 songs long, and is made up of two albums each with their own music genre: The White disc, which is mostly Seefried co-writes and productions is made up of a progressive soul and Americana vibe, while the Red disc is darker and has more of a rock sound.[5]
Seefried composed four songs on the Fitz and The Tantrums release, More Than Just a Dream, released May 7, 2013 on Electra/Atlantic records.
Jessica Sager of Pop Crush wrote, "three unreleased Lana Del Rey songs have also emerged. 'Boarding School', co-written and produced by Chris Seefried, has a 1960s vibe and describes, in vivid detail, Del Rey's past alcohol and drug use — she even describes "smoking crack in the back". To say it's as dark as her new hair color is an understatement, but the tune and melody are actually laidback and fun, which makes the track all the more intriguing and effective. It perfectly encompasses the 'gangsta Nancy Sinatra' Del Rey longs to embody."
Cheers to the Fall is the first studio album from Andra Day. Warner Bros. Records alongside Buskin Records released the album on August 28, 2015. She worked with Adrian Gurvitz, Raphael Saadiq and Seefried in the production of this album.[6] The album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.
Discography
In popular culture
- The end title for the film Final Destination is the Laura Nyro song "And When I Die" is performed by Joe 90.
- The end title for the New Line Cinema film Body Shots is the Joe 90 song "Cars Go By".
- Seefried wrote and performed "You All Everybody" for "The Moth", the seventh episode of the first season of Lost, with Jude.
- The theme song for the TV series What About Brian is "Calling All Friends", co-written by Seefried and performed by Low Stars.
- Fitz and the Tantrums song "Dear Mr. President" was used in a Wells Fargo Bank Commercial.
References
- ↑ Hurley, Steve (2000-04-18). "News - Articles - 1430642 - 20000418". Mtv.com. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- 1 2 "Band to Watch: Fitz and the Tantrums Put a Modern Spin on Motown". Rolling Stone. April 12, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ↑ Fitz & the Tantrums at Billboard.com
- ↑ Koellner, Amanda (18 September 2012). "Anderson East – Flowers of the Broken Hearted". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
- ↑ "Anderson East Biography". Sing365. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- ↑ AllMusic (August 28, 2015). "Cheers to the Fall - Andra Day : Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 28, 2015.