Lo-Fang

Lo-Fang
Birth name Matthew Jordan Hemerlein
Born October 20, 1983
Origin Columbia, Maryland, United States
Genres Indie pop, alternative rock, classical
Occupation(s) Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar, cello, bass, violin, piano, mandolin
Labels 4AD
Associated acts Lorde
Website lo-fang.com

Matthew Jordan Hemerlein[1] (born October 20, 1983),[2][3][4] better known by the stage name Lo-Fang, is a singer-songwriter and classically trained musician.[5] The stage name came up while driving through Sedona, Arizona on his way to Los Angeles.[6] He chose it mainly because of the symmetry of the letters and his attempt to balance the feminine and masculine elements in his music.[6][7]

His debut album Blue Film was released on February 25, 2014, by 4AD.[8]

Early life

At age 5, Hemerlein began playing violin.[7][9][10]

During the latter years of the 2000s, Hemerlein began teaching music to kids and performing in galleries and museums.[5][11] He had been with his sister Mallory to perform as part of the Family Hemerlein, a variety show featuring musicians and comedians.[11]

In 2011, he released an album Hot Nickels under his birth name.[9] and opened up for British folk duo Smoke Fairies in London.[5] After performing in a gospel in Berlin, Hemerlein was offered a publishing contract by EMI.[5]

Career

Lo-Fang signed with 4AD in late September 2013. He wrote "Blue Film" as he traveled around the world to Cambodia, Bali, London, Tokyo, and elsewhere. While developing "Blue Film" from a mixtape to a full-fledged album, Lo-Fang collaborated with Grammy-winning producer François Tétaz.[12]

He was the opening act for Lorde in the Spring of 2014,[13] who picked his song "#88" as her second favorite from 2013.[14] He also made a cameo appearance on the ABC drama Revenge.[7][15]

In the Autumn of 2014, Lo-Fang was selected by Baz Luhrmann as the singer in his latest 'mini film' advert for Chanel No. 5. Throughout the film, he sings his slower romantic rendition of "You're the One that I Want", the classic from the 1978 film Grease.[16] He released a mixtape entitled Every Night, which became available to both stream and buy on 20 October 2014. Lo-Fang also head out tour with Rhye and a handful of solo shows in the US and Mexico during the Autumn.[17]

Personal life

Hemerlein is the middle child of three. They were home schooled until age 13 at their farmhouse.[5] He attended Wilde Lake High School and graduated in 2002.[11] He attended Loyola University New Orleans but after contracting Lyme disease, returned to his home in Maryland, where he started teaching guitar and piano to children in Baltimore.[6][11]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
BEL (FL)
[18]		 US
[19]		 US
Indie
[20]
Blue Film 125 — —

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with selected information
Title Mixtape details
Every Night
  • Released: 2014
  • Label: 4AD
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
BEL (FL)
[18]		 US
[19]		 US
Indie
[20]
"#88" 2013 — — — Blue Film

Promotional singles

Song Year Peak chart positions Album
BEL (FL)
[18]		 US
[19]		 US
Indie
[20]
"When We're Fire" 2014 — — — Blue Film

Other charted songs

Song Year Peak chart positions Album
FR
[21]		 UK
[22]		 UK Indie
[23]
"You're the One That I Want" 2014 38 194 12 Blue Film

References

  1. ↑ ASCAP: Work ID: 886106711
  2. ↑ "Matthew Hemerlein Album Release/Birthday Party". Facebook. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Meet Lorde's Secret Weapon: the Talented, Wordy, Intoxicating Lo-Fang". Elle. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  4. ↑ Weber, Andrew. "M: Lo-Fang — The Origin Story". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Weiss, Jeff. "Lo Fang's musical journey took him all over the world, and now he's opening for Lorde". WashingtonPost.com. The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Carlin, Shannon (14 February 2014). "New Music to Know: Lo-Fang Finds His Center on Debut, 'Blue Film'". radio.com. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Romano, Tricia (20 February 2014). "Lo-Fang Embraces His New Success". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  8. ↑ "Lo-Fang's debut album Blue Film is released today.". 4ad.com. 4AD. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "iTunes – Music – Lo-Fang". iTunes Store. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  10. ↑ Ehrlich, Brenna (29 January 2014). "Meet Lorde’s Tourmate: The Skillful, Sardonic Lo-Fang". MTV.com. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Little, Ryan. "As Lo-Fang, Matthew Hemerlein Takes His Left-Field Pop to the West Coast". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "Lo-Fang". 4ad.com. 4AD. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  13. ↑ Little, Ryan. "As Lo-Fang, Matthew Hemerlein Takes His Left-Field Pop to the West Coast". Washingtoncitypaper.com. Washington City Paper. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  14. ↑ Lorde. "Triple J's Hottest 100 Top Tens". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  15. ↑ Schwiegershausen, Erica (28 February 2014). "Male Gaze: Lo-Fang, Electric Violinist". New York Magazine. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  16. ↑ Darwin, Liza. "Meet Lo-Fang, the Singer Behind the New Chanel No. 5 Film". style.com. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "New Mixtape, Chanel No. 5 Advert, US Tour Starts Tomorrow". 4AD. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 "Discografie Lo-Fang". Hung Medien (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Lo-Fang – Chart history: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 "Lo-Fang – Chart history: Independent Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  21. ↑ "Discography Lo-Fang". Hung Medien (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  22. ↑ Peak chart positions for singles in the United Kingdom:
  23. ↑ Peak positions for singles on the UK Indie Chart:

External links