Nation of Language

Devaney and Sue-Poi were both members of the Static Jacks, but the band became inactive after the release of their second album.{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1977719/band-to-watch-nation-of-language/franchises/interview/band-to-watch/ |title=Band To Watch: Nation Of Language |website=stereogum.com |date=2018-01-10 |accessdate=2020-09-05}} Devaney was inspired to start a new project after hearing "Electricity" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark in his father's car, a track he listened to in his childhood. What started out as Devaney "fooling around" on a keyboard later evolved into Nation of Language, with the addition of Devaney's partner Noell and former Static Jacks bandmate Sue-Poi. Current bassist Alex MacKay joined the band in 2022.

The band released a number of singles from 2016 through to 2019, before releasing their debut album Introduction, Presence in May 2020.{{cite web|url=https://nationoflanguage.bandcamp.com/album/introduction-presence |title=Introduction, Presence by Nation of Language on Bandcamp |website=bandcamp.com |date=2020-05-22 |accessdate=2020-09-05}} The album, which Billboard has since described as "an irresistible confection of familiar and new sounds," resonated with many new fans during the COVID-19 pandemic, vastly widening the band's reach.{{Cite web |last=DiGiacomo |first=Frank |date=2023-08-28 |title=Nation of Language’s Married Bandmates Discuss Their New Album, Tour & Lineup |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/nation-of-language-ian-devaney-aidan-noell-tour-new-album-1235401964/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}

A Way Forward, their second full-length album, was released on November 5, 2021.{{Cite web|last=bizzarre|date=2021-08-09|title=Nation of Language share video for new single " This Fractured Mind"|url=https://www.bizzarre.co.uk/post/nation-of-language-this-fractured-mind|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Emerging Music|language=en}} Devaney took inspiration from Krautrock, Kraftwerk, and early synthesizer music in the making of the album,{{Cite web |date=2021-11-05 |title=The Story Behind Every Song On Nation Of Language\'s New Album \'A Way Forward\' |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2165798/nation-of-language-a-way-forward-song-meanings/interviews/footnotes-interview/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} which once released, solidified them as "mainstays of '20s synth-pop music,"{{Cite web |title=Even Defeat Sounds Euphoric on Nation of Language’s A Way Forward |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/nation-of-language/a-way-forward-album-review |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Paste Magazine |language=en-US}} according to a positive review by Paste. The band made their television debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in January 2022, performing their song "Across That Fine Line".{{Cite web |date=2022-01-20 |title=Nation Of Language Make A Great TV Debut On \'Colbert\': Watch |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2173507/watch-nation-of-language-make-a-great-tv-debut-on-colbert/news/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}

On March 8, 2023, the band released the single "Sole Obsession." On April 13, 2023, the band released the single "Weak in Your Light" and announced their next album, Strange Disciple, released on September 15, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/nation-of-language-announce-new-album-strange-disciple-share-new-songs-listen |title=Nation of Language Announce New Album, Share New Songs: Listen|website=pitchfork.com |date=2023-04-13 |accessdate=2023-04-18}} On July 26, 2023 the band released the single "Too Much, Enough" accompanied by a music video directed by filmmaker Robert Kolodny. The star studded take down of media culture featured actors Reggie Watts, Jimmi Simpson and Ruby Wolf and well as musicians Adam Green from The Moldy Peaches, Kevin Morby and Tomberlin.{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-nation-of-language-too-much-enough-single-album-preorder-3473827 | title=Watch Nation of Language's powerful, star-studded video for 'Too Much, Enough' | website=NME | date=26 July 2023 }} In November 2023, Strange Disciple topped Rough Trade's 100 Albums of 2023, landing the coveted #1 spot.{{Cite web |title=Nation of Language’s Strange Disciple Named #1 Album of The Year By Rough Trade |url=https://shorefire.com/releases/entry/nation-of-language-strange-disciple-named-1-album-of-the-year-by-rough-trade |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Shore Fire Media |language=en}}

Since 2018, Devaney has also been the lead vocalist for Machinegum, a side project created by the Strokes' drummer, Fabrizio Moretti.

• Introduction, Presence (2020)
• A Way Forward (2021)
• Strange Disciple (2023)

• "What Does the Normal Man Feel?" (2016)
• "I've Thought About Chicago" (2017)
• "Reality" (2018)
• "One More Try" (7"-exclusive track) (2020)
• "A Different Kind of Life" (2020)
• "Deliver Me from Wondering Why" (2021)
• "Again & Again (Eleanor)" (7"-exclusive track) (2022)
• "From The Hill"/"Ground Control" (7"-exclusive track) (2022)

• "Gouge Away" (Pixies cover) (2020)
• "Stars and Sons" (Broken Social Scene cover) (2022)
• "Androgynous" (The Replacements cover) (2022)

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Category:Musical groups established in 2016

Category:Indie pop groups from New York (state)

Category:2016 establishments in New York City

Category:Musical trios from New York (state)