Geologist (musician)

Geologist

Geologist performing live.
Background information
Birth name Brian Ross Weitz[1]
Born (1979-03-26) March 26, 1979
Occupation(s) Musician, environmental lobbyist
Instruments Electronics, sampler, sequencer, vocals, percussion, synthesizer
Associated acts Animal Collective, Automine

Brian Ross Weitz (March 26, 1979), also known by his stage name Geologist, is a founding member of Animal Collective. He provides electronic sound manipulations and samples for the band.

Weitz grew up in Philadelphia and Baltimore[2] and currently lives in Washington, DC. His nickname comes from a friend mistaking his major in college, as well as the headlamp he wears in order to see his electronic equipment during live shows.[3]

Animal Collective

Geologist attended the Park School of Baltimore where he met future Animal Collective bandmates David Portner (aka Avey Tare) and Josh Dibb (aka Deakin). Avey Tare, Geologist and Deakin first started an indie-rock band called "Automine" with two other schoolmates. Deakin introduced his childhood friend Noah Lennox (aka Panda Bear) to Avey Tare and Geologist. Throughout their high school years and winter/summer college breaks, the four of them played music in different variations and often solo, swapping homemade recordings and sharing ideas.

Geologist went on to study at Columbia University, while Avey Tare went to NYU, Panda Bear to Boston University, and Deakin to Brandeis University. Avey Tare recorded tracks with Panda Bear which eventually became Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished, which was released under "Avey Tare and Panda Bear" in August 2000. After Panda Bear and Deakin both left school and moved to New York in 2000, the group's music became more collaborative, and Avey and Panda began playing clubs around New York. Geologist soon began performing with the group who eventually became "Animal Collective." He first appeared on their 2001 release Danse Manatee, and has contributed to every Animal Collective recording to date, except for their 2004 Sung Tongs LP and their 2003 Campfire Songs LP (though he was present during the recording of the latter to operate the MiniDisc recorders). Before that time, Geologist had gone to Arizona for graduate school.[4]

When asked about his personal musical influences, he says "I was always inspired by horror soundtracks, things that use unconventional sounds and textures as music. I'm interested in how abstract sounds can have the same impact on the listener as traditional musical sounds.[2]"

Other musical projects

As well as performing various DJ sets, Geologist has released the track "Jailhouse" on Animal Collective's Keep Cassette and created the soundtrack for the Morphologic Studios short film Man O War.[5][6]

Personal life

In addition to his musical career, Weitz also worked on ocean conservation and environmental policy. He has a BA from Columbia University in Environmental Science, and an MPA in Environmental Policy from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.[7]

Weitz was married on Halloween in 2009.[8] He and his wife had a son in August 2010.[9]

Musical equipment

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=1699688&search_in=c&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=20&start=1
  2. 1 2 Animal Collective's Brian Weitz: The New Gay Interview, September 27, 2007
  3. ↑ WNYC's "Spinning on Air," July 30, 2004, second hour.
  4. ↑ Animal Collective at Progressive Broadcasting Service Archived July 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ http://keepcompany.tumblr.com/post/3851036376/keep-ac-cassette-tape
  6. ↑ http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade/2011/04/animal_collectives_the_geologi.php
  7. ↑ Two If By Sea Grant Animal Collective's Avey Tare Reveals All About New EP, Film, Tour Hiatus
  8. ↑ Animal Collective's Avey Tare Reveals All About New EP, Film, Tour Hiatus. October 9, 2009.
  9. ↑ The Self Titled Interview: Avey Tare of Animal Collective October 19, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Interview: Geologist and Avey Tare of Animal Collective". Identity Theory.
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