The Naked and Famous

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The Naked and Famous
File:WarsawPolladium-9673-1024x682.jpg
The Naked and Famous performing in 2014
Background information
Origin Auckland, New Zealand
Genres
Years active 2007 (2007)–present
Labels Somewhat Damaged, Fiction, Universal Republic
Associated acts Kids of 88
Website www.thenakedandfamous.com
Members Alisa Xayalith
Thom Powers
Aaron Short
David Beadle
Jesse Wood
Past members Ben Knapp
Jordan Clark

The Naked and Famous are an indie electronic band from Auckland, New Zealand, formed in 2007. The band consists of Alisa Xayalith (vocals, keyboards), Thom Powers (vocals, guitars), Aaron Short (keyboards), David Beadle (bass), and Jesse Wood (drums). The Naked and Famous took their name from English artist Tricky's song "Tricky Kid", which is ambivalent about the notion of celebrity.[2] In the song, Tricky quotes the line "everybody wants to be naked and famous", from The Presidents of the United States of America's song "Naked and Famous".

The band have released two studio albums Passive Me, Aggressive You (2010) and In Rolling Waves (2013). Since 2012, the band has been based in Los Angeles, California, US.

History

Early years (2007–2009)

The Naked and Famous formed in 2007 when Thom Powers and Alisa Xayalith were working on what formed two extended plays—This Machine and No Light—that they recorded with engineer Aaron Short, a fellow student at Auckland's MAINZ music college.[3] The EPs were subsequently released on local independent label Round Trip Mars. Powers and Xayalith began performing live with Ben Knapp and Jordan Clark on bass and drums respectively, while Aaron Short became a performing member of the group. Knapp and Clark left the group in 2009 and were subsequently replaced with Jesse Wood and David Beadle.

Passive Me, Aggressive You (2009–2013)

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Main article: Passive Me, Aggressive You

After recording "All of This", the group then set about recording the single "Young Blood" and their debut album, recording mostly at home and at Auckland studio The Lab. "Young Blood" debuted on the New Zealand chart at number one on 14 June 2010—the first New Zealand artist in three years to do so.[4] The Naked and Famous released their debut studio album, Passive Me, Aggressive You, on 6 September 2010 on their own label,[5] Somewhat Damaged.[6] The album was produced by Thom Powers and Aaron Short, and mixed by Billy Bush.

On 6 December 2010, the BBC announced that The Naked and Famous had been nominated for BBC's Sound of 2011 poll.[7]

In 2011, the band garnered six nominations at the New Zealand Music Awards for Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Best Group, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Best Alternative Album and the People's Choice Award. They were also nominated for the NZ On Air Best Music Video and won the MAINZ Best Engineer Award and the MAINZ Best Producer Award.[8]

On 28 February 2013, the band announced One Temporary Escape, a concert film recorded at The Warfield in San Francisco in 2012. It was released for free download on 18 March 2013.[9]

In Rolling Waves and third studio album (2013–present)

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Main article: In Rolling Waves

The band settled in Los Angeles in mid-2012 after completing touring for Passive Me, Aggressive You. They had performed over 200 shows in 24 countries between 2010 and 2012. Sharing a home over the back of Laurel Canyon, they began work on writing and demoing their second album. Their intention was to record an album that could be played live, not relying on backing tracks—something the group had always eschewed.

Entering LA's Sunset Sound studio in March 2013 with engineer Billy Bush (who had mixed the previous album), they began the process of recording In Rolling Waves. The album sessions were completed in a month and then in June 2013, The Naked and Famous headed for London where Alan Moulder spent a month mixing the album at his Willesden studio, Assault and Battery. The album was mastered at Sterling Sound in New York by Joe LaPorta, who had also mastered Passive Me, Aggressive You, and was produced by Thom Powers with Aaron Short. Justin Meldal-Johnsen co-produced two tracks with Thom Powers.

On 23 July 2013, the band revealed their new single "Hearts Like Ours" along with the release date for their second studio album In Rolling Waves, on 16 September 2013 in the UK.[10]

On 20 November 2014, the band announced that they are working on a third album.[11] The band began tracking for the album in September 2015.[12]

Band members

Current members

Past members

  • Ben Knapp – bass (2008–2009)
  • Jordan Clark – drums (2008–2009)

Discography

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Main article: The Naked and Famous discography

In popular culture

"All of This" was featured in the 5th episode of the 1st series of The Almighty Johnsons and in the 4th episode of The Secret Circle.[14]

"Grow Old" was featured in Season 1, Episode 7 of "The Originals"

"Punching in a Dream" was featured in Season 2, Episode 5 of The Vampire Diaries; Season 1, Episode 7 of "World of Jenks;[15] and the eleventh season of Degrassi.[16] It also appears on the soundtrack for EA Sports' FIFA 12 video game.[17] "Punching in a Dream" has also been featured at the start of The Vampire Diaries season 3 episode 11. "Punching In A Dream" is the theme song for and is regularly played in the UK reality series Made in Chelsea. It was featured in the world wide influential YouTube short documentary Kony 2012.[18] In 2012, "Punching in a Dream" was featured on the musical comedy film Pitch Perfect as well as the 2012 game Forza Horizon.

"The Sun" was used in episode 18 of the 4th season of Gossip Girl,[19] in the intro of the first episode of One Tree Hill season 9, in the end of episode 19 of the 1st season of The Secret Circle, in the "Moment of Truth" episode of Grey's Anatomy [20] and at the end credits of episode 2 of the 6th season of True Blood; this episode has the same name as the song.

"Young Blood" was featured in a promo for the television series Property Brothers, as well as the pilot of Covert Affairs,[21] in the pilot and Season 3 Finale of The Almighty Johnsons,[22] in season 4 episode 13 of Chuck, in season 4 episode 14 of Gossip Girl,[23] and in the season 5 episode 6 Promo of the episode Alo from Skins. It was also featured in the eleventh season of Degrassi,[16] in the third episode of MTV's Awkward,[24] and in the pilot of The Secret Circle.[25] It was also featured in the first season of the HBO TV series The Leftovers, in the ninth episode "The Garveys at Their Best". The song is also featured in the film Prom and in its trailer, and in Red Bull's The Art of Flight, a snowboarding film released 7 September 2011.[26] The song has been also featured in a TV commercial for the Canon EOS 600D aired worldwide in Q3 2011.[27] This song was also on an audition of Brittney Kerr which screened 18 January 2012 on American Idol 2012, Season 11. The song is also used in the 2012 reboot of the SSX snowboarding series of video games, and was used prominently in multiple trailers leading up to the release of the game.[28] The song was also used in trailers for the 2012 horror film The Cabin in the Woods. It was also used in the pilot episode of Elementary premiered on CBS on 27 September 2012. "Young Blood" was featured in the series finale of the sitcom Whitney. A remix of "Young Blood" is also featured in the movie 21 and Over. In the Philippines, "Young Blood" was also used as the opening theme song of #SU, a student-oriented magazine TV talk show produced by students of Silliman University in Dumaguete City. It was also featured at the beginning of the prom scene in the 2013 horror movie, Carrie. The song appeared in a 2010 advert for Strongbow Apple Cider.[29] A remix of "Young Blood" was also featured in the movie and on the soundtrack Underworld:Awakening.[30] Years later in 2015 it was featured again in numerous television ads for Kohl's [40].

A remix of "No Way" is the second track on Santa Cruz electronic music producer Bassnectar's 2015 album Into the Sun. "No Way" is also featured in Red Bull's The Art of Flight,[26] it also appeared as the backing soundtrack for an advert on Channel 4, showcasing their new dramas.[31]

"Girls Like You" was featured in the 11th season of Degrassi[16] and in the third episode of The Secret Circle.[32] It also has an airing near the end of The First Time when Aubrey plays it from the CD mix she made for Dave's car as he is giving her a ride to school.

"Bells" was featured in the 12th episode of the 5th season of Gossip Girl[33] and in the 22nd episode of the 8th season of Grey's Anatomy.[34]

"Bright Lights" is featured in Need for Speed Rivals.

"Hearts Like Ours" is featured in the EA Trax for EA Sports' FIFA 14 video game.[35]

Powers' youngest sibling, Elle Powers, is a model and student currently signed with New Zealand agency 62 Models and enrolled at the University of Otago. In early 2014 she was linked to be dating Australian bands 5 Seconds of Summer lead guitarist Michael Clifford, but it was never confirmed,

Awards and nominations

Year Organisation Nominated work Award Result
2010 APRA Silver Scroll "Young Blood" Won[36]
New Zealand Music Awards[37][38] Passive Me, Aggressive You Critics' Choice Prize Nominated
2011 Passive Me, Aggressive You MAINZ Best Producers Won
Passive Me, Aggressive You MAINZ Best Engineers Won
Passive Me, Aggressive You Album of the Year Won
Passive Me, Aggressive You Best Alternative Album Won
"Young Blood" Single of the Year Won
The Naked and Famous Best Group Won
The Naked and Famous Breakthrough Artist Won
The Naked and Famous People's Choice Award Nominated
Taite Music Prize Passive Me, Aggressive You Nominated
NME The Naked & Famous Phillip Hall Radar Award Won[39]
2014 New Zealand Music Awards In Rolling Waves Album Of The Year Nominated
Hearts Like Ours Single Of The Year Nominated
Hearts Like Ours Best Music Video Won
The Naked & Famous Best Group Won[40]

Gallery

  • JGP-78231-683x1024.jpg

    Aaron Short

  • JGP-78181-1024x683.jpg

    Thom Powers

  • JGP-78071-1024x683.jpg

    Jesse Wood

  • WarsawPolladium-9639-1024x682.jpg

    David Beadle

  • Alisa Xayalith 2014.jpg

    Alisa Xayalith

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Last.fm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gIIHT1jXIE
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/tnafofficial/photos/a.10150244124102808.343216.81741167807/10153567806497808/?type=3&theater
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The song is also used in the 2012 reboot of the SSX snowboarding series of video games, and was used prominently in multiple trailers leading up to the release of the game.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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