Stellastarr | |
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 Stellastarr playing in Mexico | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Genres | Indie rock,post-punk revival,alternative rock |
| Years active | 2000–2009 (hiatus) |
| Labels | Tiswas, RCA/Sony, Bloated Wife |
| Members | Shawn Christensen Amanda Tannen Arthur Kremer Michael Jurin |
| Website | stellastarr.com |
Stellastarr (styled asstellastarr*) is an Americanindie rock band based inNew York City consisting ofShawn Christensen (vocals, rhythm guitar), Amanda Tannen (bass, vocals), Arthur Kremer (drums, percussion, keyboards), and Michael Jurin (lead guitar, vocals).
The band was formed in March 2000 from a previous musical effort, the band Ghistor,[1] formed while studying art and design at thePratt Institute inBrooklyn. A few years later, after a chance meeting with Jurin, who had recently relocated to Brooklyn and had left his former band Charlotte's Funeral behind in his hometown ofPhiladelphia, the former classmates reunited, this time with Christensen on vocals. The band was named after an old purple hearse parked inPoughkeepsie, where Christensen grew up.[2]
Stellastarr played its first gig atLuna Lounge, formerly on theLower East Side of Manhattan in July 2000, and released a limited series of independent/homemadeEP CDs shortly thereafter. The band has toured withJane's Addiction,The Raveonettes,Placebo,The Killers, andEditors. Stellastarr has played live in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Europe.
The third album,Civilized, was released in July 2009 on the band's own label, Bloated Wife. "Graffiti Eyes" and "Numbers" are the singles, the last one has aB-side that includes "Winter Song".[3] Since the release of the album, the band has been on indefinite hiatus.[4]
Members of the band have collaborated with Project Runway winnerChristian Siriano and his boyfriend, musicianBrad Walsh on music for Siriano's runway shows at fashion week. Michael Jurin played guitar on Walsh's song "Pop" which was the runway music in 2009, and Amanda Tannen contributed vocals to the song "I Got What U Need" on Walsh's 2009 album. Arthur is currently involved in a project titledDear Comrade, which released its first LP in 2011.
All members of the band have alternate careers.
FrontmanShawn Christensen is anAcademy Award winning filmmaker[5][6] having won theAcademy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for his 2012 shortCurfew at the85th Academy Awards. Christensen is also a professional painter. His award-winning art has been displayed at various New York exhibits and published in journals likeMetropolis andThe Village Voice.[7] He painted the portraits inside the album artwork for the group's eponymous debut album.
Bassist Amanda Tannen is a member of the Los Angeles–based bandCheekface, a graphic designer, and created the album art for the third album,Civilized.
Guitarist Michael Jurin is a member of the Philadelphia-based band The Midnight Sounds, creates his own music under the name Piano Belly and has scored various short independent movies.
Drummer Arthur Kremer is a graphic designer, and a founding member of a Brooklyn band calledDear Comrade, and acted inThe Lost Battalion.
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