American synth pop/indie rock band
Geographer
is an American
synth-pop
/
indie rock
band founded in 2007 by Mike Deni in
San Francisco
,
California
, United States.
[1]
Deni has described his sound as being "soulful music from outer space";
[1]
using analog, electronic and acoustic elements to craft dense layers and unique sound textures.
[2]
As Geographer, Deni has released multiple albums, including
Innocent Ghosts
in 2008,
Myth
in 2012, and
Ghost Modern
in 2015; along with two
EPs
,
Animal Shapes
in 2010,
Endless Motion
in 2015; and a number of
7-inch singles
including, "Kites" in 2010.
[3]
Early history
[
edit
]
Deni relocated to San Francisco from
New Jersey
in 2005.
[4]
[3]
After finding a
synthesizer
on the street, he began to channel his experiences into the songs that would become
Innocent Ghosts
.
[5]
He began playing his songs locally in San Francisco at open mic nights?most notably the
Hotel Utah
, where he met cellist Nathan Blaz and drummer Brian Ostreicher.
[6]
[7]
Blaz and Ostreicher originally met while attending the
Berklee College of Music
, in
Boston
,
Massachusetts
, before moving to San Francisco. After being introduced to Deni at an
open mic
night by mutual friend
Kacey Johansing
, the two would join Deni's live band.
[8]
On August 17, 2008, Deni released
Innocent Ghosts
independently and the band began playing around the
San Francisco Bay Area
. The release garnered local and national attention, with
Spin
magazine voting the band "
[o]
ne of the three undiscovered bands you need to hear now".
[9]
[10]
Career
[
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]
Deni signed with local Bay Area label Tricycle Records, and in December 2009, released a 7-inch single for the song "Kites" with a cover of the English rock band
New Order
's "
Age of Consent
" as the B-side.
[11]
In 2010, he followed up the single with the release of the six-song EP
Animal Shapes
. The
digital-download
version of the record also contained two bonus
remixes
of the songs "Kites" and "Paris" by fellow Bay Area artists
Wallpaper
and
The Limousines
.
[12]
The album received favorable reviews, landing the band a "Best of" award by the
SF Weekly
.
[13]
November 2010 marked the first major tour for the band, supporting
Stars
on dates across the United States beginning in the Bay Area and ending in Buffalo, NY.
[14]
In March 2011, the band signed with Modern Art Records, based in
New York City
,
New York
.
[15]
In December 2011,
Paste
magazine released the single "Life of Crime" from the forthcoming full-length album
Myth
, to be released by Modern Art Records.
[16]
O February 28, 2012, Deni released
Myth
. In March of the same year, the band embarked on a five-week U.S. tour with labelmate indie-pop band
Miniature Tigers
.
[17]
On 11 August 2012, the band played a set on the Twin Peaks Stage at the
Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival
, in San Francisco, the largest audience for which the band had thus far performed.
[18]
The set featured new songs "Life of Crime," "Lover's Game" and "Kites".
[19]
[20]
In September 2012, the band announced that it would head out on a 21-date U.S. tour with indie-rock band
Freelance Whales
. The tour began 4 October at
Lincoln Hall
in
Chicago
,
Illinois
, and ended 3 November at the
Paradise Rock Club
in Boston.
[21]
The band embarked on their first headlining tour of the western United States in 2013 with the band
On An On
. The tour began 12 January at
Doug Fir Lounge
in Portland, Oregon, and ended 1 February at
The Echo
in Los Angeles, California.
[22]
The tour was a success for the band, selling out venues across the U.S. including their homecoming show at the historic
Fillmore West
on 31 January.
[23]
The band continued touring throughout 2013 in the U.S. and Canada with support from
GRMLN
and
Royal Bangs
.
The band announced on its website in March 2014 that they would be supporting
Tokyo Police Club
on their North American tour.
[24]
On 20 January 2015
Paste
magazine premiered the single "I'm Ready" and announced his forthcoming full-length LP
Ghost Modern
to be released in March 2015.
[25]
Prior to the release of
Ghost Modern
, the band headlined a sold-out show at the
Fox Theater
in Oakland, California as part of the
Noise Pop Festival
. The show debuted new songs including "Need" and "I'm Ready" which would appear on the upcoming full-length album.
[26]
Ghost Modern
, Deni's third album, was released on 23 March through
Roll Call Records
. The album featured the previously released single "I'm Ready" as well as recently released singles "Need" and "The Guest". Prior to the release of
Ghost Modern
, Blaz and Osteicher stepped down as the touring band to pursue other projects that prevented them from maintaining the band's rigorous touring schedule.
[27]
Deni then recruited cellist Joyce Lee, guitarist and bass player Duncan Nielsen and drummer Cody Rhodes as his touring band, headlining shows throughout the United States and
South by Southwest
.
[28]
Deni released a cover of
Paul Simon's
"I Know What I Know" through
Billboard
on October 26, 2015, announcing the release of the covers EP
Endless Motion
, which features additional covers of
Kate Bush's
"
Cloudbusting
",
New Order's
"Age of Consent",
Felix da Housecat's
"Ready 2 Wear" and
Arthur Russell's
"This Is How We Walk on the Moon".
[29]
On December 16, 2016, Deni independently released the Geographer single "I Want It All".
[30]
In 2018, Deni moved away from San Francisco with plans to settle in Los Angeles.
[3]
Live
[
edit
]
In live performances, Deni is known to sample and loop his vocals, saxophone, and synthesizers using an
Akai
MIDI controller
. During performances, the cellist uses an
NS Designs
electric cello
, often combined with
effects pedals
to create unique sounds.
[31]
Discography
[
edit
]
Albums
[
edit
]
- Innocent Ghosts
(2008), Geographer Music
- Myth
(2012), Modern Art Records
[3]
- Ghost Modern
(2015), Roll Call Records
[3]
- Down and Out in the Garden of Earthly Delights
(2021)
[32]
- A Mirror Brightly
(2024)
Extended plays
[
edit
]
- Animal Shapes
(2010), Tricycle Records
- Endless Motion: Vol. 1
(2015), Roll Call Records
- Alone Time
(2018)
[3]
- New Jersey
(2019)
Singles
[
edit
]
- "Kites" 7" (2010)
[3]
- "Life of Crime" (2012)
- "Lover's Game" (2012)
- "I'm Ready" (2015)
- "Need" (2015)
- "The Guest" (2015)
- "I Want It All" (2016)
- "Read My Mind" (2017)
- "So Low" (2017)
- "Summer of my Discontentment" (2019)
- "Love is Wasted in the Dark" (2019)
- "When Will I Belong" (2020)
- "Slave To The Rhythm" (2020)
- "Love Is Madness" (2020)
- "Alibi" (2020)
- "Keep Running" (2020)
- "The Other Side" (2020)
- "Kyoto" (2022)
- "The Reason" (2022)
- "When Will I Belong" (2022)
- "I Don't Remember It Starting" (2023)
Song usage
[
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]
Remixes
[
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]
- Waters - "Got to My Head" (2014)
[48]
- Vacationer - "Good As New" (2013)
[49]
- Blondefire - "Where The Kids Are" (2013)
[50]
- Bogan Via - "Kanye" (2013)
[51]
- Rubblebucket
- "Oversaturated" (2012)
[52]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
Mahnty, Shannon (May 8, 2011).
"Geographer: The band maps out their future"
.
Don't Panic
. Retrieved
February 24,
2013
.
- ^
Kahn, Jennifer (August 20, 2010).
"Geographer ? Animal Shapes ? What's So Good?"
. IndieShuffle
. Retrieved
February 18,
2013
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
Vaziri, Aidin (July 29, 2018).
"Geographer bids farewell to SF during sold-out Fillmore concert"
.
San Francisco Chronicle
. Retrieved
September 6,
2022
.
- ^
Azmoudeh, Dariush (April 30, 2019).
"Geographer premieres music video for "Summer Of My Discontentment"
"
.
The Bay Bridged - San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music
. Retrieved
September 6,
2022
.
- ^
Kish, Molly (October 4, 2012).
"Geographer Interview: Noise complaints, reclaimed synths and courtesy cookies"
. Show Bams
. Retrieved
October 4,
2012
.
- ^
Johnson-Igra, David.
"Interview with Geographer: Q&A with Michael Deni"
. SFCritic
. Retrieved
August 20,
2009
.
- ^
"Geographer, Cold War Kids bring indie-rock to Stern Grove"
.
CBSnews.com
. July 2022
. Retrieved
September 6,
2022
.
- ^
Kuo, Fenny.
"Video: Geographer Interview"
. The Bay Bridged
. Retrieved
April 19,
2010
.
- ^
Gaston, Peter.
"Three Undoscovered Bands You Need To Hear Now"
.
Spin
. Retrieved
October 14,
2008
.
- ^
"CD of the Month: Geographer ? Innocent Ghosts"
.
The Deli Magazine
. Archived from
the original
on April 14, 2012
. Retrieved
August 14,
2008
.
- ^
"Listen: "Age of Consent" by Geographer (New Order Cover) - Indie Music Filter"
.
Indie Music Filter
. December 8, 2015
. Retrieved
June 18,
2016
.
- ^
Gillespie, Blake.
"Geographer, Kites"
.
Impose Magazine
. Retrieved
August 27,
2010
.
- ^
"Best Local Version of Radiohead ? 2010 ? Geographer"
.
SF Weekly
. Retrieved
February 18,
2013
.
- ^
Van Houten, Ben November (November 8, 2010).
"Geographer tours the US with Stars"
.
The Bay Bridged - San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music
. Retrieved
June 18,
2016
.
- ^
[
failed verification
]
"Geographer"
Archived
22 August 2011 at the
Wayback Machine
. Modern Art Records. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
- ^
Alwahab, Clint.
"Song Premiere: Geographer ? 'Life of Crime'
"
.
Paste
. Retrieved
December 20,
2011
.
- ^
(18 January 2012).
"Consequence of Sound presents The Modern Art Tour"
. consequenceofsound.com.
- ^
Sankin, Aaron (August 7, 2012).
"Geographer's Mike Deni Talks Long Walks in Noe Valley, The Agony of Open Mic Nights and the Novel He Wrote About Lance Bass"
.
The Huffington Post
. Retrieved
February 18,
2013
.
'We've done smaller stuff like [Live 105's] BFD, but OSL is going to be the biggest festival we've ever played.'
- ^
Sankin, Aaron (August 7, 2012).
"Geographer's Mike Deni Talks Long Walks in Noe Valley, The Agony of Open Mic Nights and the Novel He Wrote About Lance Bass"
.
The Huffington Post
. Retrieved
February 18,
2013
.
- ^
Zimmerman, Peter (August 12, 2012).
"Show Review: Outside Lands ? Day Two: Saturday, August 11, 2012"
.
Glide Magazine
. Retrieved
August 18,
2012
.
- ^
"Geographer Releases "Lover's Game" Video, Tours with Freelance Whales ? San Francisco"
.
Sf.thedelimagazine.com
. October 17, 2012
. Retrieved
March 12,
2020
.
- ^
"Geographer Announce January Tour Dates With On An On - Glide Magazine"
. April 7, 2014. Archived from
the original
on April 7, 2014
. Retrieved
November 20,
2020
.
- ^
Weekly, SF.
"Geographer Comes Home to the Fillmore, 1/31/13"
.
SF Weekly
. Retrieved
June 18,
2016
.
- ^
"ON TOUR WITH TOKYO POLICE CLUB"
.
Geographermusic.com
. Archived from
the original
on April 7, 2014
. Retrieved
June 18,
2016
.
- ^
(20 January 2015).
"Song Premiere: Geographer - "I'm Ready""
. Pastemagazine.com.
- ^
Groth, Gabriela (March 6, 2015).
"San Francisco's Geographer enthralls at the Fox Theater"
.
Stanford Daily
. Retrieved
June 18,
2016
.
- ^
"[AMA] Hi, it's Mike Deni (aka Geographer) here. I'm ready for you - Ask Me Anything : listentothis"
.
Reddit.com
. May 6, 2009
. Retrieved
March 12,
2020
.
- ^
"March Tour Recap : Geographer"
. April 16, 2015. Archived from
the original
on April 16, 2015
. Retrieved
November 20,
2020
.
- ^
(October 26, 2015).
"Geographer Announces New Covers EP, Debuts Paul Simon Cover: Exclusive Premiere"
. Billboard.com
- ^
"New Track - I Want It All"
.
Geographer.com
. Archived from
the original
on February 15, 2017
. Retrieved
February 14,
2017
.
- ^
(October 15, 2011).
"Live Blogging Treasure Island Music Festival 2011: Day 1"
. Thebaybridged.com. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
- ^
"The 10 Albums We're Most Excited About in November"
.
pastemagazine.com
. November 3, 2021
. Retrieved
September 7,
2022
.
- ^
"
"New York, I Love You" - Official Trailer [HD HQ]"
.
YouTube
. August 15, 2009
. Retrieved
June 18,
2016
.
- ^
Hockley-Smith, Smith (May 7, 2010).
"G-Side F
[eaturing]
. Geographer and Jhi Ali, "Impossible" MP3"
.
The Fader
. Retrieved
February 18,
2013
.
- ^
"MTV Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows | MTV"
.
MTV
. Retrieved
June 18,
2016
.
- ^
"MTV Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows | MTV"
.
MTV
. Retrieved
June 18,
2016
.
- ^
"MTV Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows | MTV"
.
MTV
. Retrieved
June 18,
2016
.
- ^
"
"It Gets Better" ? Love, Pixar"
.
YouTube
. November 22, 2010
. Retrieved
June 18,
2016
.
- ^
"Awkward. | Season 5 Episodes (TV Series) | MTV"
.
Mtv.com
. Retrieved
June 18,
2016
.
- ^
"Hotel Website Design - buuteeq DMS - Hotel Website Design"
.
YouTube
. January 17, 2012
. Retrieved
June 18,
2016
.
- ^
"iPad mini 4"
.
Apple.com
.
- ^
"The CW Network | CW Shows | Official CW Shows"
.
Cwtv.com
. Retrieved
March 12,
2020
.
- ^
"Date and Switch (2014) : Soundtracks"
.
IMDb.com
. Retrieved
March 12,
2020
.
- ^
"Valo 4Life Part 12 Homies Montage"
.
YouTube
. January 29, 2013.
- ^
"S.T. 2 Lettaz - 11 - BLINDERZ"
.
YouTube
. March 6, 2013.
- ^
"When Will I Belong - Geographer (featured in New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 17 "Liftoff" )"
.
YouTube
. Retrieved
November 20,
2020
.
- ^
"Geographer - "Get There Soon" (Official Audio)"
.
YouTube
. Retrieved
November 20,
2020
.
- ^
Shane, Jason (May 1, 2014).
"Geographer remixes WATERS' "Got to My Head"
"
.
- ^
"Good As New"
Amazon.com. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^
"Where The Kids Are"
Hypem.com. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^
"Kanye"
Last.fm. Retrieved 16 March 2013
- ^
"Oversaturated"
Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 16 March 2013
External links
[
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]