Gallant (singer)
{{Short description|American singer-songwriter (born 1991)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Gallant
| image = Gallant-Plaid-Suit-Yellow-Green.jpg
| caption = Gallant with plaid suit
| birth_name = Christopher Joseph Gallant III
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|11|14}}
| birth_place = Columbia, Maryland, U.S.
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Singer
- songwriter
}}
| years_active = 2013–present
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| instrument = Vocals
| origin =
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
}}
| website = {{URL|gallant.space}}
}}
Christopher Joseph Gallant III (born November 14, 1991), known professionally as Gallant, is an American singer and songwriter from Columbia, Maryland, signed to Mind of a Genius Records and Warner Bros. Records.{{Cite magazine|date=2017-10-06|title=40 Under 40: Music's Top Young Power Players Revealed|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7989300/40-under-40-music-industry-power-players-2017-full-list|access-date=2020-08-25|magazine=Billboard}} He first began to gain recognition after self-releasing his debut EP, Zebra in 2014. His debut studio album, Ology, was released worldwide in April 2016 to critical acclaim, earning him a Grammy Award nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-15|title=Gallant|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/gallant/19719|access-date=2022-03-03|website=GRAMMY.com|language=en}}
Early life and education
Gallant was born in Washington, D.C. When he was in elementary school, he and his family moved to Columbia, Maryland, where he attended Atholton High School. He started recording songs during middle school. He was influenced by R&B artists and then later alternative rock while growing up.{{Cite web|url = http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/music/midnight-sun-blog/bal-gallant-weight-in-gold-columbia-interview-2015-htmlstory.html|title = Rising R&B singer Gallant on 'Weight in Gold' and growing up in Columbia|date = July 22, 2015|access-date = December 4, 2015|website = Baltimore Sun|last = Case|first = Wesley|archive-date = November 11, 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181111173924/https://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/music/midnight-sun-blog/bal-gallant-weight-in-gold-columbia-interview-2015-htmlstory.html|url-status = dead}}
In 2013, he graduated from New York University Gallatin School of Individualized Study[https://www.vice.com/en/article/gallant-ology-interview-profile-2016/ This Is Gallant's Golden Moment] where he studied music.{{Cite web|url = http://www.laweekly.com/music/gallant-played-a-show-for-10-people-but-two-of-them-helped-launch-his-career-5775663|title = Gallant Played a Show for 10 People, But Two of Them Helped Launch His Career|date = July 8, 2015|access-date = December 4, 2015|website = LA Weekly|last = Bain|first = Katie}}{{Cite web|url = http://www.redbull.com/us/en/music/stories/1331761269704/gallant-rising-artist-with-a-voice-of-gold|title = Meet Gallant, a Rising Artist With a Voice of Gold|date = December 2, 2015|access-date = December 4, 2015|website = Red Bull|last = Luke|first = Winkie}}
Career
= 2013–2015: Early career and ''Zebra'' EP =
In the fall of 2013, Gallant moved to Los Angeles, California, to work on a career in music.
In 2014, he self-released his debut EP, Zebra, which he describes as "a sonic diary about dealing with the aftermath of New York".
In 2015, his single, "Weight in Gold", was played by Zane Lowe on Beats1's first air date in June 2015.{{Cite magazine|url = http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6613168/gallant-weight-in-gold-zane-lowe-beats-1-apple-music|title = Gallant Premieres 'Weight in Gold' as Zane Lowe's First World Exclusive on Apple Music|date = June 30, 2015|access-date = December 4, 2015|magazine = Billboard|last = Medved|first = Matt}} The same year Gallant toured with Sufjan Stevens on his North American tour, where he performed 18 shows throughout the country.{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6746321/sufjan-stevens-drake-hotline-bling-cover-video-live-gallant |title=Watch Sufjan Stevens & Gallant Cover Drake's 'Hotline Bling' |last=Payne |first=Chris |magazine=Billboard |date=2 November 2015 |access-date=2016-07-06}}
Following the debut of "Weight in Gold" and a North American tour with Sufjan Stevens, Gallant was named one of 15 artists that Spotify believed were destined to "breakout" in 2016.{{Cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/brendanklinkenberg/these-are-the-15-artists-spotify-thinks-will-break-big-next |title=15 Artists Spotify Thinks Will Be Huge Next Year |last=Klinkenberg |first=Brendan |date=3 December 2015 |website=BuzzFeed |access-date=9 February 2017}}
He is also featured in Zhu's (another Mind of a Genius Records artist) "Testarossa Music" from the Genesis Series EP.{{Cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9LnaliMZMw|title = ZHU x Gallant - Testarossa Music (Audio)|date = October 1, 2015|access-date = January 26, 2016|website = Youtube}} Gallant was also announced as the opener for Zhu's "Neon City" tour, spanning April and May in venues throughout America, beginning with Coachella.{{Cite web |url=http://thissongissick.com/blog/2016/zhu-announces-first-headlining-tour-neon-city/ |title=ZHU Announces First Headlining Tour 'Neon City' |date=24 February 2016 |website=This Song is Sick |access-date=9 February 2017}}
On February 5, 2016, Gallant and Jhené Aiko released their first collaborative song, "Skipping Stones." The track was produced by Adrian Younge and co-produced by Stint (a frequent producer for Gallant), and features Gallant's signature falsetto style with specks of bold vocals and Jhené's signature soothing, a cappella-esque vocals. The song is licensed under Red Bull Media House and featured in its Red Bull Sound Select collection along with the B-side "Borderline".{{Cite web|url = https://soundcloud.com/redbullsoundselect/gallant-skipping-stones-feat-jhene-aiko|title = Gallant - Skipping Stones feat. Jhené Aiko (prod. by Adrian Younge, co-prod. by Stint)|date = February 5, 2016|access-date = February 8, 2016|website = SoundCloud}}
Gallant performed both weekends of Coachella in 2016, which Billboard named the number one moment of the entire festival.{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/music-festivals/7334239/coachella-2016-best-moments-first-weekend |title=11 Best Moments From Coachella 2016 |date=18 April 2016 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=6 July 2016}} Weekend one included a surprise appearance from Seal, where the pair performed Seal's song "Crazy" and Gallant's song "Weight in Gold". The following weekend, included a surprise appearance from Jhené Aiko where the pair performed their collaboration "Skipping Stones".{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7341771/jhene-aiko-on-paying-tribute-to-prince-coachella-dancing-with-him-2011 |title=Jhene Aiko Reminsces About Dancing With Prince During One of His 2011 Concerts |last=Miller |first=Jeff |date=23 April 2016 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=6 July 2016}}
=''In the Room''=
On January 6, 2016, Gallant debuted the first episode of his new series In the Room with Sufjan Stevens. The pair performed Stevens' song "Blue Bucket of Gold".{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/06/gallant-sufjan-stevens-collaboration-video |title=See Gallant & Sufjan Stevens collaborate for new Spotify series |last=Bacle |first=Ariana |date=6 January 2016 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=6 July 2016}} Gallant partnered with Spotify for the second episode, which featured Seal and premiered on March 9, 2016. Gallant and Seal performed Gallant's hit song "Weight in Gold". At the end of the episode, Seal claimed that he was Gallant's biggest fan.{{Cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/64050-gallant-duets-with-seal-on-weight-in-gold/ |title=Gallant Duets With Seal on "Weight in Gold" |last=Minsker |first=Evan |date=10 March 2016 |website=Pitchfork |access-date=6 July 2016}}
For the third episode, Gallant covered Janet Jackson's "I Get Lonely" with Jack Garratt.{{Cite magazine |url=http://ew.com/article/2016/08/10/jack-garratt-gallant-janet-jackson-i-get-lonely/ |title=Jack Garratt, Gallant cover Janet Jacksons I Get Lonely |last=Getz |first=Dana |date=10 August 2016 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=20 September 2017}} Gallant's next collaboration was with John Legend, on Legend's song "Overload"{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/event/music/529612111/watch-john-legend-and-gallant-duet-on-overload/ |title=Watch John Legend and Gallant Duet on 'Overload' |last=Horn |first=Rachel |date=23 May 2017 |website=NPR Music |access-date=20 September 2017}} Gallant's next collaborations were with Andra Day and Dua Lipa for the fifth and sixth episodes respectively.
Gallant described the In the Room series as "an ongoing collaborative project – a chance to both pay tribute to and create something special with the artists that have inspired me the most".{{Cite web |url=http://www.gallant.space/in-the-room/ |title=In the Room |last=Gallant |website=Gallant |access-date=6 July 2016}}
= 2016—present: ''Ology'', ''Sweet Insomnia'', ''Neptune'', ''sneek'', ''Zinc.'' =
=''Ology''=
Gallant's debut studio album, Ology, was released on April 6, 2016 by Mind of a Genius Records.{{cite web|last1=Monroe|first1=Jazz|last2=Matera|first2=C.G.|title=Gallant Announces Ology LP, Shares "Bourbon"|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/63900-gallant-announces-ology-lp-shares-bourbon/|website=Pitchfork|access-date=10 February 2017|date=2 March 2016}}{{Cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/ology/1109106508 |title=Ology - Gallant |date=4 May 2016 |website=iTunes |access-date=9 February 2017}} The album received critical acclaim, including a rating of 7.5/10 from Pitchfork,{{Cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21770-ology/ |title=Gallant: Ology Album Review |last=Moore |first=Marcus J. |date=12 April 2016 |website=Pitchfork |access-date=6 July 2016}} a rating 4/5 from The Guardian, which states, “If this is what R&B’s future looks like it’s brighter than ever”.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/may/26/gallant-ology-review-mind-of-a-genius|title=Gallant: Ology review – a vision of the future of R&B|last=Bakare|first=Lanre|date=2016-05-26|website=the Guardian|access-date=2016-07-06}} Also, Entertainment Weekly named Ology one of the 25 best albums of 2016 (so far).{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/26/25-best-albums-2016-so-far |title=The 25 best albums of 2016 (so far) |last1=Goodman |first1=Jessica |last2=O'Donnell |first2=Kevin |date=26 May 2016 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=6 July 2016 |last3=Greenblatt |first3=Leah |last4=Renner Brown |first4=Eric |last5=Feeney |first5=Nolan |last6=Vain |first6=Madison}} The album was given praise given for his distinct and diverse sound, voice, and lyricism.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/6/11379016/gallant-ology-dvsn-sept-5th-album-review |title=Gallant and dvsn's debut albums are two wildly different takes on alt-R&B |last=Cox |first=Jamieson |date=6 April 2016 |website=The Verge |access-date=9 February 2017}}
On May 12, 2016, Gallant made his national television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Gallant performed "Weight in Gold", which ended with a standing ovation from the audience. Fallon ended the show praising Gallant's performance with the quote, “Oh my goodness! I told you… Watch out for this guy [GALLANT]!”.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7370315/gallant-television-debut-standing-ovation-fallon-dance|title=Gallant Makes Television Debut to a Standing O on 'Tonight Show'|magazine=Billboard |access-date=2016-07-06}}
In September 2016, Gallant performed "Bourbon" and "Weight in Gold" for the BBC on Later... with Jools Holland.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07wzgds |title=Episode 2 - Series 49 |year=2016 |website=Later... with Jools Holland |publisher=BBC Two |access-date=9 February 2017}} On December 2, 2016, Gallant was a Special Artist at the 2016 Mnet Asian Music Awards, singing "Weight in Gold".
In January 2017, he was chosen as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month and on January 11, appeared on and performed "Weight in Gold" live on NBC's Today show with Kathie Lee and Hoda Kotb.{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/video/watch-gallant-perform-weight-in-gold-live-on-today-852525635522|title=Watch Gallant perform 'Weight in Gold' live on TODAY|website=TODAY.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-08}} On January 26, he released "Cave Me In" in collaboration with Epik High's Tablo and Eric Nam.{{cite magazine|last=Herman|first=Tamar|title=Tablo & Eric Nam Discuss Gallant Collab "Cave Me In"|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/7669837/tablo-eric-nam-gallant-collaboration-cave-me-in-interview|date=January 27, 2017|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 4, 2017}} In the spring of 2017, he performed as the opening act on John Legend's Darkness and Light tour.
=''Sweet Insomnia''=
On January 25, 2019, Gallant released his sophomore album Sweet Insomnia. The album features Sabrina Claudio on "Compromise" and 6lack on "Sweet Insomnia", the album's title track.{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2019/10/gallant-sweet-insomnia-stream|title=Gallant Shares Sophomore Album 'Sweet Insomnia'|last=Espinoza |first=Joshua |date=25 April 2019 |website=Complex |access-date=29 March 2021}}
=''Neptune''=
=''sneek''=
On November 17, 2023, Gallant and Terrace Martin formed together sneek, for a mix of soul and jazz features.{{Cite web|url=
https://ratedrnb.com/2023/11/gallant-and-terrace-martin-release-new-album-sneek|title=Gallant and Terrace Martin Release New Album ‘Sneek’| last=Folk| first=Antwane |date= November 17, 2023 |website= Rated R&B |access-date= July 7, 2024}}
=''Zinc.''=
Releasing first his singles Coldstar. on June 13, and Fly on the Wall. on July 17 on 2024, and after announcing its album, he introduces a more alternative/indie side; although describing as an "Ology remark".
Discography
=Studio albums=
=Extended plays=
|}
=Singles=
=As lead artist=
= As featured artist=
=Guest appearances=
=Songwriting credits=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of songs written or co-written for other artists, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col" style="width:14em;"| Artist(s) ! scope="col" style="width:17em;"| Album |
| scope="row"| "Finale"
| 2019 | Zach Callison, Deedee Magno Hall, Estelle, Michaela Dietz, Grace Rolek, Uzo Aduba, Jennifer Paz, Shelby Rabara, Kate Micucci, Matthew Moy, Tom Scharpling, Toks Olagundoye | Steven Universe the Movie (Original Soundtrack){{Broken anchor|date=2025-04-16|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Steven Universe: The Movie#Music|reason= The anchor (Music) has been deleted.|diff_id=1285813617}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Mind Games (feat. Jackson Wang)"
| 2022 | 88rising, MILLI, Jackson Wang | {{n/a|non-album single}} |
Note: Gallant previously had a concept for Finale, but got scrapped. It was retrieved and released with the deluxe album on December 6, 2019
Awards and nominations
{{awards table}}
|-
| 2017
| Ology
| Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album{{Cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/nominees |title=59th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees |website=The GRAMMYs |access-date=9 February 2017}}
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| 2019
| Runaway Train (Jamie N Commons with Skylar Grey featuring Gallant
| MTV Video Music Award for Best Video with a Social Message{{Cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/8528388/2019-mtv-vmas-winners-list |title=Here Are All the Winners From the 2019 MTV VMAs |magazine=Billboard |access-date=9 February 2019}}
| {{Nominated}}
|}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.gallant.space/ Official website]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gallant}}
Category:21st-century African-American male singers
Category:American male singer-songwriters
Category:American contemporary R&B singers
Category:Atholton High School alumni
Category:New York University Gallatin School of Individualized Study alumni
Category:People from Columbia, Maryland
Category:Singers from Washington, D.C.
Category:Singer-songwriters from Maryland
Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters
Category:21st-century American male singers