Jarboe | |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | The Living Jarboe |
| Born | Jarboe Devereaux Mississippi, U.S. |
| Origin | New Orleans,Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Experimental rock[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musician, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, keyboard |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Labels | Atavistic,Touch and Go Records,Revolver,Alternative Tentacles,Caroline,Neurot Recordings,The End Records,Season Of Mist |
| Website | thelivingjarboe |
Jarboe Devereaux,[2] (born January 30) knownmononymously asJarboe (/dʒɑːrˈboʊ/), is an American singer and musician who came to prominence as a member of the New York Cityexperimental rock bandSwans in 1985. Jarboe andMichael Gira, the founder of Swans, were the two constant members of the group until it broke up in 1997.
Although absent from the group's lineup when the band reformed in 2010, Jarboe contributed background vocals and voice collage for the band's 2012 album,The Seer.[3] She has released numerous solo albums and collaborations, many of which have beenself-published. She also co-composed the soundtrack of the 2009psychological horror gameThe Path.
Jarboe was born inMississippi and raised in theSouthern United States, primarily inNew Orleans andAtlanta, in aRoman CatholicCajun family.[4][5] Her father was apolice detective who worked for theFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),[6] and whom she has described as "the ultimate law-enforcement man".[7] Both of her parents were employees of the FBI, and met through their jobs.[8] In a 2015 interview, she revealed that her father died before she joined Swans, though she commented that her mother was "very interested in what I was doing."[8]
As a child, Jarboe learned to play aHammond organ,[9] and studied opera at the insistence of her father, who hoped for her to have a career as a singer.[9]
Jarboe described herself as "obsessed" with Swans since hearing their first album,Filth (1983).[7] She came into contact with Michael Gira and attended the band's practice sessions before, after several auditions, joining as a vocalist and keyboardist and debuting onGreed (1986). Prior to Swans, Jarboe's musical background had consisted of training as ajazz andchoral vocalist.[10]
I had to unlearn proper singing technique and pronunciation. There is a tremendous difference between the vernacular of jazz and choral work and the way Michael Gira molded me. I think Michael Gira is the one who made me a "rock" singer. He told me, "Drop your g's." It's not "going to," it's "gonna." "Drop your consonants and relax." He said to me, "You're an American, sing like an American." He really ripped into my singing style and changed it around for me.[10]
Between 1985 and 1997, she worked as a vocalist and keyboardist in the band, appearing on albums includingChildren of God (1987),The Burning World (1989), andSoundtracks for the Blind (1996). Jarboe's inclusion in the band marked a departure from their previousnoise rock sound to a more melodicindustrial and evenfolk rock sound.[9] She also collaborated with Gira as a duo, forming their side project,The World of Skin in 1987, releasing several albums and singles. Her solo debut album,Thirteen Masks, was released in 1991.
Swans broke up in 1997. Jarboe continued her solo career, releasing various experimental records (many of which she has self-released and distributed over the internet)[11] includingSacrificial Cake (1995) andAnhedoniac (1998). In 2003, she released acollaborative album with the experimental metal bandNeurosis.
When Swans reformed in 2010, Jarboe was not a member of the group. However, she recorded vocals for two tracks as a special guest on their albumThe Seer (2012).
Jarboe completed a world tour in the autumn/winter of 2013, with Veil of Thorns' P. Emerson Williams on guitar.[12] She released an experimental soundscape album,With Sun Falling, with Veil of Thorns in June 2015.[13] In reflections on her solo work, particularly the six albums between 2017 and 2020, Jarboe said her participation in Tibetan Buddhism has been a persistent theme.[14]
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