Marc Byrd

Marc Byrd
Birth name Carey Marcus Byrd
Origin El Dorado, Arkansas
Genres Ambient, Christian rock, alternative rock, post-rock
Occupation(s) Musician, Songwriter, Producer
Instruments Guitar, piano
Years active 1995–present
Labels Hammock Music, Darla
Associated acts Hammock, Common Children, The Choir, GlassByrd
Website hammockmusic.com

Carey Marcus "Marc" Byrd is an American musician, writer, and producer best known as one-half of the post-rock/ambient duo Hammock, along with former Common Children band-mate Andrew Thompson.

Since its formation in 2005, Hammock has released six full-length albums and five EPs. One review of Hammock's most recent record Oblivion Hymns remarked that Hammock "...has gone on to become one of the foremost purveyors of affecting ambient post-rock on the scene."[1] Byrd was also involved in the 2006 ambient art project The Sleepover Series, Volume 1, which featured five solo tracks written and performed by Byrd.

After an impromptu invitation to give their first-ever live performance as Hammock at the overseas debut art exhibition of Riceboy Sleeps, the artistic collaboration between Jón Þór (Jónsi) Birgisson (lead singer and guitarist of Sigur Rós) and Alex Somers (graphic designer and member of the band Parachutes),[2] Marc and Andrew wrote brand-new songs to celebrate the occasion, an undertaking which evolved into their album, Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow (Darla Records).[3]

In December 2010, Hammock released their fourth EP titled Longest Year, a beatless and wordless "mini-album" that was born out of the difficulty the band faced in 2010, including the near-total destruction of Byrd's home in the epic 2010 Nashville flood.[4]

As a member of Hammock, Marc has collaborated with singer/songwriters such as Matthew Ryan and Matthew Perryman Jones who have lent their vocals to several Hammock tracks.

Prior to the formation of Hammock, Marc fronted the alternative rock band Common Children, as well as the band GlassByrd with his wife Christine Glass.

In 2005, Byrd joined The Choir and produced their album O How the Mighty Have Fallen. Prior to that, Steve Hindalong of the band had produced albums for Common Children, and co-written the worship song "God of Wonders" with Byrd.[5] The Choir's 2010 album Burning Like the Midnight Sun includes the song "Legend of Old Man Byrd", which had originally been written for Marc and was performed at his 40th birthday party.

References

  1. Diver, Mike. "Album Premiere: Hammock - 'Oblivion Hymns' - Clash Music Magazine". Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  2. Hammock gets artsy for first concert ever, Paste Magazine. (retrieved Jun 12, 2014)
  3. Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow Review, AllMusic.com. (retrieved Jun 12, 2014)
  4. Hammock Music: About. (retrieved Jun 12, 2014)
  5. Phantom Tollbooth Feature: Marc Byrd