Glass Candy

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Glass Candy

Glass Candy performing at The Smell in Los Angeles on May 21, 2006. From left: Johnny Jewel, Ida No
Background information
Also known as Glass Candy and the Shattered Theatre
Origin Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Genres Synthpop, Italo disco, new wave, electronic rock, dance-punk, post-punk revival, indie rock
Years active 1996–present
Labels K, Troubleman Unlimited, Italians Do It Better
Associated acts Chromatics, Desire
Members Ida No
Johnny Jewel
Past members Avalon Kalin
Jimi Hey
Dusty Sparkles
Mark Burden
Ginger Peachs

Glass Candy is an American electronic music duo that formed in 1996 in Portland, Oregon by vocalist Ida No and producer and guitarist Johnny Jewel. While the band's early work blends elements of no wave, indie rock, and glam rock, their later work incorporates Italo disco and electronic rock.

The band has evolved consistently through the years since their original collaboration, and experimenting with various musical styles. They have released a number of albums since the early 2000s, their most recent full-length being the B-side compilation album Deep Gems (2008). The band's upcoming studio album, Body Work, is set to be released sometime in the future.

History

Beginnings

Glass Candy was formed by Ida No, from Vancouver, Washington, and Johnny Jewel (born John Padgett), from Austin, Texas, in 1996.[1] The two met the year before at a Fred Meyer grocery store where Jewel worked in Portland, Oregon.[1][2] They soon began producing music under the name Glass Candy and the Shattered Theatre.[1]

No describes their early work as "droney and weird."[1] Nonetheless, their early releases show a heavy glam and new wave influence, as evidenced in their self-released first three singles, "Brittle Women" (1999), "Metal Gods" (2001) and a cover of Josie Cotton's "Johnny Are You Queer" (2002).[1] They toured with The Convocation Of... in 2001, and released a live album that year on Vermin Scum.[3]

Love Love Love and B/E/A/T/B/O/X

Their debut studio album, Love Love Love, was issued on Troubleman Unlimited Records in 2003. In 2006, Jewel founded Italians Do It Better with Mike Simonetti as a subsidiary of Troubleman.[1] In November 2007, Glass Candy released their second studio album B/E/A/T/B/O/X on Italians Do It Better to considerable critical praise. A compilation album titled Deep Gems was released in late 2008, containing rarities, B-sides, and remixes. In a review of Deep Gems, Spin magazine referred to the band as an "[e]ccentric Portland pair" that "spook the dance floor".[4]

Glass Candy's songs were used for a Chloé runway show,[5] as well as used by Karl Lagerfeld for the Spring/Summer '08 Chanel Haute Couture fashion show and the Fall/Winter show of '08/'09.[6]

Glass Candy's song "Digital Versicolor" was featured prominently in Nicolas Winding Refn's 2008 film Bronson, partially in a pair of scenes, and in full over the closing credits. An unofficial music video was made for the song in 2005 and starred Australian actress Rose Byrne.

2011–present: Body Work

The band's third studio album Body Work is scheduled for release sometime in the future.[7] It was preceded by the single "Warm in the Winter" on September 1, 2011, containing the B-side "Beautiful Object".[8][9] The song's music video was released on November 6, 2011. "Warm in the Winter" was used in Balenciaga's Fall/Winter 2012/2013 fashion show,[10] as well as in advertising campaigns and short films for companies such as Lucky Brand Jeans and Red Bull.[11][12] A video for the track "Halloween", another teaser from the album, premiered on October 28, 2011, and is a homage to John Carpenter's 1978 film of the same name.[13]

On November 20, 2012, Glass Candy was invited to perform at a private Chanel party in Berlin to celebrate the release of Karl Lagerfeld's book The Little Black Jacket. Symmetry, Jewel's instrumental project with Nat Walker, opened the evening with an atmospheric 80-minute set leading up to Lagerfeld's arrival.

In 2013, Glass Candy will be performing at a variety of private fashion/runway events in South America, North America, Europe, and Asia. Glass Candy will also be performing worldwide at a variety of music festivals, including Pitchfork and Primavera Sound.

On August 5, 2013, Glass Candy released the music video for the song "Redheads Feel More Pain", which appears on the Italians Do It Better compilation album After Dark 2.[14]

Characteristics

No's vocals have been likened to '60s German singer Nico and "a frightened Debbie Harry or a pissed-off Lene Lovich in a haunted disco".[1] Their work as of 2008 borrows from Italo disco, freestyle music, Krautrock, hip hop, and new wave.[1]

Jewel has cited Marilyn Monroe films, 1980s cop show soundtracks,[1] Goblin, and John Carpenter soundtracks as inspirational.[15] All music tracks are produced by basic analog equipment, without the use of computers.[16] Critics have also compared the group to Nina Hagen, The Shirelles,[17] David Bowie, James Chance, and Jarboe.[3] Glass Candy has covered songs by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford,[17] Kraftwerk, Roxy Music, Belle Epoque, Dark Day,[18] The Rolling Stones, and Queen. The group has also said that stores could appropriately file their music "between Olivia Newton-John, Suicide and Schoolly D".[15]

Members

Current members
  • Ida No – vocals
  • Johnny Jewel (formerly known as John David P.) – guitar, bass, synthesizers, drums, programming
Former members
  • Avalon Kalin – drums
  • Jimi Hey – drums
  • Dusty Sparkles – saxophone, drums
  • Mark Burden – drums
  • Ginger Peachs – drums

Discography

Studio albums

Albums sold during tours

  • Demos 31, 37 (2001)
  • Demos 5.31.2002 (2002)
  • The Nite Nurses (2005)
  • Music Dream (2006)

Compilation albums

Extended plays

  • Smashed Candy (2001, Vermin Scum)
  • Iko (2005, Troubleman Unlimited)
  • Feeling Without Touching (2010, Italians Do It Better)

Singles

  • "Brittle Women" (1999, self-released; re-released as "Bräckliga Kvinnor" in 2003 by Troubleman Unlimited)
  • "Metal Gods" (2001, self-released)
  • "Love on a Plate" (2002, Troubleman Unlimited)
  • "Excite Bike" (2003, Troubleman Unlimited)
  • "Life After Sundown" (2004, Troubleman Unlimited)
  • "I Always Say Yes" (2007, Troubleman Unlimited)
  • "Miss Broadway" (2007, Italians Do It Better)
  • "Geto Boys" (2009, Italians Do It Better)
  • "Warm in the Winter" (2011, Italians Do It Better)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Rachel, T. Cole (April 2008). "Welcome to the Good Life". The Fader (53): 74. 
  2. ↑ Byrne, Michael (March 12, 2008). "Glass Candy: Mystical Death Disco". XLR8R. Retrieved December 7, 2012. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Carr, Daphne. "Glass Candy". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 30, 2008. 
  4. ↑ Beta, Andy (February 19, 2009). "Glass Candy, 'Deep Gems' (Italians Do It Better)". Spin. Retrieved April 23, 2009. 
  5. ↑ Lobo, Camella (September 14, 2008). "Glass Candy: Alphaville and Adam Ant". L.A. Record. Retrieved March 20, 2009. 
  6. ↑ "Glass Candy". Inspire Me. January 16, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2009. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Italians Do It Better Store". Troubleman Unlimited Records. Retrieved January 14, 2012. 
  8. ↑ "Warm In the Winter – EP by Glass Candy". iTunes Store US. Apple. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2012. 
  9. ↑ Kaiser, Amanda (November 7, 2011). "Glass Candy || Warm in the Winter". UR Chicago. Retrieved January 14, 2012. 
  10. ↑ "Balenciaga | Fall Winter 2012/2013 Full Fashion Show | Exclusive". YouTube. March 1, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2012. 
  11. ↑ "Lucky Brand Holiday 2012". Lucky Brand Jeans. October 15, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2012. 
  12. ↑ "Sound Advice | Picking the Soundtrack for Bending Colours". Red Bull. November 9, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2012. 
  13. ↑ Amrit (October 31, 2011). "Glass Candy – "Halloween"". Stereogum. Retrieved January 14, 2012. 
  14. ↑ Minsker, Evan (August 5, 2013). "Watch: Glass Candy Share Screen Test For "Redheads Feel More Pain"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved October 15, 2013. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Madigan, Claire (October 31, 2007). "MUST-SEE OPENER: Glass Candy". U-T San Diego. Retrieved September 8, 2008. 
  16. ↑ Rachel 2008, p. 75.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Rachel, p. 154.
  18. ↑ Hogan, Marc (June 22, 2007). "Various Artists: After Dark". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved September 8, 2008. 

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