Django Haskins
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Django Alyosha Sharod Haskins (born November 19, 1977) is a North American singer-songwriter. He is named after legendary jazz musician Django Reinhart. Originally from Florida, Django Haskins, now resides in the state of North Carolina where he is currently the frontman of pop-noir musical group The Old Ceremony. Though primarily identified as a guitarist and vocalist, Django also plays piano and violin.
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[edit] Early life and musical beginnings
Django was born in Gainesville, Florida. His family's love for music exposed him to the likes of Cole Porter, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Motown, Gershwin, Thelonius Monk, The Replacements and Elvis Costello, familiarising him with pop music and its many forms. Django himself was involved in many middle/high school bands including The Music Butchers, Bloody Awful and The Robot Bunnies from Hell.
Django moved north to study literature at Yale before relocating to Hangzhou, China, where he taught English and continued his musical adventure, playing songs he had written to audiences at the local pub who often could not understand a word of what he was playing, gaining him a larger insight to the finer points of song writing. "It takes away all opportunities for in-references, clever lyrics, etc." Django recalls, "and boils it down to melody, rhythm, feel, and sound".
[edit] Django's solo career
In 1996, Django returned to America, setting up base in New York City, releasing his first album, "Folding Stars", in 1998, and performing in a number of successful solo shows in various downtown New York institutions.
Django formed a band which went on to develop into The Regulars, with bassist and Texas enthusiast, Byron Isaacs, and drummer, Neil Nunziato, with whom, with the assistance of legendary producer Don Fleming (Sonic Youth, Teenage Fanclub, Pete Yorn) and NYC producers Andrew Holander and Mike Daly (Whiskeytown), Django recorded his second album, Django and The Regulars' "Laying Low and Inbetween", which achieved substantial critical acclaim and radio play, resulting in it being picked up by NYC indie label ModMusic Records for national distribution and use in several TV & film projects.
Django's third album, "Over Easy Smoke Machine", a mix of both Django's solo work, as well as a fair few tracks featuring The Regulars, was recorded in NYC and produced by Andrew Hollander, with engineering by Robert Smith (David Bowie, Ricki Lee Jones). Additional recording took place in Django's adopted hometown of Chapel Hill, NC, with the assistance of Robert Sledge (Ben Folds Five, International Orange) and Dan Bryk on the mixing desk, and the album was released in 2003.
Django has embarked on tours taking him all over the globe, including locations in both the US and Europe, as well as his early visits to the far east. Django has had many notable touring partners, including Dan Bryk, Darren Jessee (Ben Folds Five, Hotel Lights), Prabir Mehta and Britt "Snüzz" Uzzell.
Django is known to travel north to New York in the summertime, where he teaches guitar. Django was an original member of Pete Galub's band, The Annuals, playing bass alongside Pete and drummer Chris Moore.
Django currently plays with his pop-noir band, The Old Ceremony, as well as continuing his successful solo shows.
[edit] International Orange
In 2003, Django formed International Orange alongside Robert Sledge (ex-bassist for Ben Folds Five), Britt "Snüzz" Uzzell (former member of Bus Stop) and drummer Jason Fagg (under various alternative alias'). The band played over 100 shows across North America, consisting of songs written by each of the 3 song-writing members (Django, Robert and Britt) before and after the formation of the band. The band released one recording, a six track EP - "Spoon Box" - in 2004, which featured 2 Django compositions - "Folding Stars" opener "Hand to mouth" and new song "Alone". The band parted company in early 2005 to pursue separate projects, though Britt and Robert continued to play together with drummer Eddie Walker in NC cover band Walrus until later that year. The band parted on good terms and are still in touch and it has been suggested that a CD compiled of their many live recordings may someday be released.
[edit] The Old Ceremony
While he was still playing with International Orange, Django also founded pop-noir extravaganza, The Old Ceremony. Described as a "mini orchestra", The Old Ceremony has been known to consist of up to 12 members, including singer/song-writer Django on vocals and guitar, pianist James "The Kid" Wallace (of The Means), drummer Dan Hall (of Countdown Quartet), Mark "The Zookeeper" Simonsen (of Jackie O. Pillbox) on the vibes/organ, bassist Matt Brandau (of Sankofa and Remix Project), violinists Gabriele Pelli (of Europa Jazz) and Daniel Hart of (The Physics of Meaning) and Josh Starmer on cello. Other members have included Jil Christensen on the accordion, Vamsi Tadepalli on sax, Will Caviness on trumpet, and Harmony Keeney on vocals.
The Old Ceremony released their first recording - a self-titled, 12 track album, featuring fan favourites including "American Romeo", "Ole" and "Blood and oil" - in 2005. In October of 2006, released a new album called Our One Mistake. Songs on this album include "Poison Pen", "Reservations" and "Bao Qian" (a song written entirely in Mandarin Chinese). Our One Mistake was released by NYC indie label sonaBLAST! records (headed by Gill Holland).
[edit] Discography
[edit] Solo
[edit] Django and the Regulars
- Laying Low and Inbetween (2001)
[edit] International Orange
- Spoon Box (EP) (2004)
[edit] The Old Ceremony
- The Old Ceremony (2005)
- Our One Mistake (2006)
[edit] Other releases
- Boy gone wrong (with Pete Galub and the Annuals)
