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 |
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
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BEL (FL) [18] |
US [19] |
US Indie [20] | |||||||||||||
Blue Film |
|
125 | — | — | |||||||||||
Mixtapes
Title | Mixtape details |
---|---|
Every Night |
|
Singles
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
- ↑ ASCAP: Work ID: 886106711
- ↑ "Matthew Hemerlein Album Release/Birthday Party". Facebook. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ↑ "Meet Lorde's Secret Weapon: the Talented, Wordy, Intoxicating Lo-Fang". Elle. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ↑ Weber, Andrew. "M: Lo-Fang — The Origin Story". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 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.
- 1 2 3 Carlin, Shannon (14 February 2014). "New Music to Know: Lo-Fang Finds His Center on Debut, 'Blue Film'". radio.com. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- 1 2 3 Romano, Tricia (20 February 2014). "Lo-Fang Embraces His New Success". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ↑ "Lo-Fang's debut album Blue Film is released today.". 4ad.com. 4AD. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
- 1 2 "iTunes – Music – Lo-Fang". iTunes Store. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ↑ Ehrlich, Brenna (29 January 2014). "Meet Lorde’s Tourmate: The Skillful, Sardonic Lo-Fang". MTV.com. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Little, Ryan. "As Lo-Fang, Matthew Hemerlein Takes His Left-Field Pop to the West Coast". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ↑ "Lo-Fang". 4ad.com. 4AD. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Lorde. "Triple J's Hottest 100 Top Tens". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
- ↑ Schwiegershausen, Erica (28 February 2014). "Male Gaze: Lo-Fang, Electric Violinist". New York Magazine. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ↑ Darwin, Liza. "Meet Lo-Fang, the Singer Behind the New Chanel No. 5 Film". style.com. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- ↑ "New Mixtape, Chanel No. 5 Advert, US Tour Starts Tomorrow". 4AD. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Discografie Lo-Fang". Hung Medien (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Lo-Fang – Chart history: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Lo-Fang – Chart history: Independent Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ↑ "Discography Lo-Fang". Hung Medien (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ↑ Peak chart positions for singles in the United Kingdom:
- "You're the One That I Want": Zywietz, Tobias. "CHART: CLUK Update 15.11.2014 (wk45)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ↑ Peak positions for singles on the UK Indie Chart:
- "You're the One That I Want": "2014 Top 40 Independent Singles Archive – 22nd November 2014". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
External links
- Official website
- Lo-Fang at the Internet Movie Database
- Lo-Fang on Facebook
- Lo-Fang on Twitter
- Lo-Fang on Instagram