Damien Jurado

Damien Jurado is an American indie rock singer/songwriter from Seattle, Washington. Over the years, he has released albums on many labels; today, his primary label is Secretly Canadian.

Music career

Damien Jurado's solo career began during the mid-1990s, releasing lo-fi folk based recordings on his own cassette-only label, Casa Recordings. Gaining a local cult following in Seattle, he was brought to the attention of Sub Pop Records by Sunny Day Real Estate singer Jeremy Enigk. After two 7" releases (Motorbike and Trampoline) Sub Pop issued his first full album, Waters Ave S in 1997. His second album Rehearsals for Departure, released in 1999, was a relative breakthrough. Produced by Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, Big Star), Jurado's second album established him as both a singer and songwriter of great ability.

He often makes use of found sound and field recording techniques, and has experimented with different forms of tape recordings. In 2000 he released Postcards and Audio Letters, a collection of found audio letters and fragments that he had found from sources such as thrift store tape players and answering machines. Also released in 2000 was Ghost of David, Jurado's bleakest and most personal sounding record to date. I Break Chairs (2002) was produced by long-time friend, Pedro the Lion's David Bazan. It was his last album for Sub Pop, and was a much rockier, electric affair. After signing for the Indiana-based label Secretly Canadian, Damien Jurado reverted to his trademark folk ballad-based style, releasing four more albums: Where Shall You Take Me? (2003), On My Way to Absence, (2005) And Now That I'm In Your Shadow (2006) and the rockier^[2] Caught in the Trees (2008).^[3]

In 2009, Damien teamed with his brother Drake to issue an LP under the moniker Hoquiam, released on February 23, 2010. The album preceded Damien's next solo release, dubbed Saint Bartlett, which was released May 25, 2010 and was produced by label mate Richard Swift.^[4] After touring the album with Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, Jurado began work on his next album. On February 21, 2012 he released his 10th studio album, Maraqopa, his sixth for Secretly Canadian. ^[5] Jurado's latest album, Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son, was released on January 21, 2014. ^[6] The album is the third straight collaboration with producer Richard Swift.

Jurado appears on the tracks Almost Home and The Dogs on Moby's album Innocents.^[7]

Jurado featured in an episode of the BYUtv music documentary series Audio-Files.^[8]

Jurado's song "Everything Trying" appears in the NBC series The Blacklist Season One Episode 12 and in the 2013 Best Foreign Film The Great Beauty.

Discography

• Waters Ave S (Sub Pop - January 1997)^[9]
• Rehearsals for Departure (Sub Pop — March 1999)
• Ghost of David (Sub Pop — September 2000)^[10]
• I Break Chairs (Sub Pop — February 2002)^[9][11]
• Where Shall You Take Me? (Secretly Canadian - March 2003)^[12]
• This Fabulous Century (Burnt Toast - October 2004)
• On My Way to Absence (Secretly Canadian - April 2005)
• And Now That I'm in Your Shadow (Secretly Canadian - October 2006)^[13][14]
• Caught in the Trees (Secretly Canadian – September 2008)
• Saint Bartlett (Secretly Canadian – May 2010)
• Live At Landlocked (Secretly Canadian – April 16, 2011)^[15]
• Maraqopa (Secretly Canadian - February 21, 2012)
• Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son (Secretly Canadian - January 21, 2014) UK #100 US #101

EPs and singles

• 1995 Motorbike (Sub Pop)
• 1996 Trampoline (Sub Pop)
• 1997 Halo Friendly (Summershine)
• 1997 Vary (Tooth & Nail)
• 1998 Chevrolet (UK-only, Snowstorm)
• 1998 Gathered in Song (Made in Mexico)
• 1999 Letters & Drawings (UK-only, Ryko)
• 2000 Postcards and Audio Letters (Made in Mexico)
• 2001 Four Songs (Burnt Toast Vinyl)
• 2002 Big Let Down (Secretly Canadian)
• 2003 Holding His Breath (Acuarela)
• 2004 Just in Time for Something (Secretly Canadian)
• 2006 'Traded for Fire/Ghost of David' Split with Dolorean (Secretly Canadian)
• 2006 Gathered in Song (Made in Mexico, Re-Release with bonus tracks)
• 2014 Ohio (Filous Remix)

Tour-only Releases

• 2004 Walk along the Fence
• 2006 untitled 6 Song EP
• 2007 the trees tour EP
• 2009 European Tour CDR

Compilation appearances

• "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" - Bifrost Arts' Come O Spirit (Sounds Familyre 2009)

References

External links

• Secretly Canadian: Damien Jurado
• Sub Pop: Damien Jurado
• Official Website