| Alden Penner | |
|---|---|
Alden Penner performing with Clues |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Alden Ginger |
| Born | 12 January 1983 |
| Origin | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Genres | Indie pop Indie rock Alternative rock |
| Instruments | Vocals, electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboard |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Alien8 Art School Dropout Constellation Records Caterpillars of the Community |
| Associated acts | The Unicorns Clues |
| Website | [1] Clues at Constellation Records |
Alden Penner (born 12 January 1983)[1] is a Canadian musician, founder and member of several indie pop bands. Penner is also a producer.
Penner is additionally known in the indie music community as the founder and sometimes, owner of indie record labels in addition to producing and sometimes performing on the albums of the artists he is producing.
Penner has worked both composing music for film soundtracks, in addition to scoring music to movies.
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Penner formed The Unicorns with Nicholas Thorburn in 2000. Shortly after forming, the band created a demo, entitled Three Inches of Blood, which they gave to owners of the venues where they played. They then officially released their first album Unicorns Are People Too on their own label, Caterpillars of the Community.
In 2003, The Unicorns released their only major album, Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?. The album garnered critical acclaim.[2]
Penner released a 7" vinyl single on the Melbourne-based Art School Dropout label. The A-side, The Ghost of Creaky Crater, was recorded in Melbourne in December 2004 while The Unicorns were touring Australia.[3] The release was limited to 100 copies.
In addition to The Unicorns, Penner had also been creating music since 2002 calling the project All Makes Parts & Collision, although no official releases have stemmed from the project.[4] After The Unicorns disbanded, he played with a number of Montreal-based bands in addition to live concerts as a solo act. In his time between projects, Penner created the score for the independent film The Hamster Cage[5] and managed the Canadian based record label Take This Hammer, which he has since put to rest.
Penner debuted his new band Clues at the Pop Montreal festival in October 2007. Clues' self-titled debut album was released on May 19, 2009 on Constellation Records,[6] with a North American tour to follow.
In 2010, Penner announced the creation of a new band called Hidden Words, which consists of former Unicorns member Jamie Thompson, Eric Farr, James Farr, Neah Kelly, and Marie-Claire Saindon. The band plays music inspired by the Bahá'í Faith and has played at many shows in Canada. Thompson has said that the first album will be available in the spring, and a second album is in the works.