Torres (musician)

Torres

Scott performing in November 2013
Background information
Birth name Mackenzie Scott
Born January 23, 1991
Georgia
Origin Nashville, TN
Genres indie, rock, alt rock, folk
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, musician, artist
Years active 2012–present
Labels Independent
Website torrestorrestorres.com

Mackenzie Scott (born January 23, 1991) is an independent American singer, songwriter, musician and artist who performs under the musical moniker Torres (stylized as TORRES).

Biography

Torres was raised in Macon, located in the central Georgia, United States. She started singing in her high school's musical production of Fiddler on the Roof after being told by her family, "If you actually tried being serious, you'd probably have a good voice".[1] Soon after beginning to perform in musicals,[2] she learned to play guitar and began playing and singing hymns during church services and at a nursing home every Saturday.[1]

After high school, she left Macon to study at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.[3] She graduated from Belmont in 2012.[2]

In July 2012, while still a student,[2] she recorded Torres over a five-day session at Tony Joe White's home studio in Franklin, Tennessee with engineer and producer, Ryan McFadden.[4] Following the album's release, on February 8, 2013, she played her debut show as Torres in Nashville at The Basement.[5] The album was digitally released on January 22, 2013.[6]

She has since toured extensively in the US and Europe with a wide variety of musicians, including Lady Lamb the Beekeeper[7] and Okkervil River, and opened for Sharon Van Etten and Hamilton Leithauser. Torres appears as a guest on Sharon Van Etten's 2014 album Are We There?[8] and released a single, "New Skin," through Weathervane Music in June 2014.

Critical reception

Music website Pitchfork Media named Torres's debut single, "Honey," best new track, describing it as "an arena-rock moment happening on an empty stage […] with its slow-burn intensity and coiled energy."[9] Following the release of the album, Pitchfork gave the debut Torres album an 8.1 rating calling the record "an overwhelming rush of feeling [...] that connects with throat-seizing immediacy."[10]

Torres also gained the attention of some music blogs, such as Beats Per Minute,[11] Drowned in Sound,[12] and Pretty Much Amazing,[13] as a standout artist for her mature songwriting abilities despite her relatively young age.[14]

Discography

Releases

Year Album Details
2013 Torres – Torres
  • Released: January 22, 2013
  • Label: Independent Release
  • Formats: Vinyl, CD, Digital, Cassette
2014 Torres b/w Motel Beds

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lasko, Elise (June 2013). "A Safe Place". NATIVE (12): 103. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Abubaker, Mustafa. "INTERVIEW: TORRES TALKS SONGWRITING, LITERATURE, AND HER LOVE FOR JOHNNY CASH". Pigeons & Planes. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  3. ↑ Pitchfork (2013). Torres Performs "Come to Terms" (video). Brooklyn, NY: Pitchfork. Event occurs at 1:05. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  4. ↑ Thomas, Dennis. "Interview: Torres Talks Poetry, Live Shows, and Her Experience As A Music Student". In Your Speakers. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  5. ↑ Spin, The (2/11/13). "Torres w/BF/GF Sex and Catfish at The Basement, 2/8/13". Nashville Scene: The Cream. Retrieved June 25, 2013. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ↑ Haruch, Steve (January 22, 2013). "Torres, Torres [Review]". Nashville Scene: The Cream. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  7. ↑ Battan, Carrie. "Torres Touring With Lady Lamb the Beekeeper". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Sharon Van Etten to release new album 'Are We There?' in May". NME. January 17, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  9. ↑ Greene, Jayson. "Torres: "Honey"". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  10. ↑ Greene, Jayson. "Torres: Torres Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  11. ↑ Andrew, Halverson. "Torres: Torres Review". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  12. ↑ Leedham, Robert (3/1/13). "Torres: Torres". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved June 25, 2013. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ↑ Malmuth, Drew (January 20, 2013). "Review: Torres-Torres". Pretty Much Amazing. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  14. ↑ Dietiker, Randi (February 10, 2013). "Torres: Torres Music Review". No Ripcord. Archived from the original on July 18, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2014.