Robin Pecknold
{{short description|American singer-songwriter (born 1986)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Robin Pecknold
| image = AllPointsEastAug2022 (173 of 385) (52327500440) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Pecknold performing in 2022
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Robin Noel Pecknold
| alias =
- Robin Noel Vaas
- White Antelope
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|3|30}}
| birth_place = Seattle, Washington, U.S.
| genre = Indie folk
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}}
| years_active = 2000s–present
| label =
| current_member_of = Fleet Foxes
}}
Robin Noel Pecknold (born March 30, 1986) is an American singer-songwriter, who serves as the principal songwriter and vocalist for indie folk band Fleet Foxes,{{cite web|title=On the hunt for meaning with Seattle band Fleet Foxes|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/on-the-hunt-for-meaning-with-seattle-band-fleet-foxes-846150.html|work=The Independent|access-date=May 27, 2014|date=June 13, 2008}} with whom he has recorded four studio albums. He is known for his distinct baritenor voice and introspective lyrics.
Biography
Robin Pecknold was born in Seattle in 1986, the youngest of three children. His maternal great-grandfather, Theodor Valaas, immigrated to Seattle from Norway in 1905. Pecknold's father, Greg,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/arts/music/robin-pecknold-and-fleet-foxes.html|title = Less Fleet, but More Mature, Foxes|newspaper = The New York Times|date = April 29, 2011|last1 = Hermes|first1 = Will}} played in Seattle-based soul band The Fathoms in the 1960s and has since worked as a film editor. Both of Pecknold's siblings work closely with Fleet Foxes--his sister Aja as manager and his brother Sean as music video director.
Pecknold has stated that he used Napster to discover much of the music he listened to growing up.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8097324.stm Bands 'better because of piracy'] – BBC News Online, June 12, 2009[http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/news.phtml/24851/band-puts-success-down-to-piracy.phtml Band puts success down to piracy] – Pocket-lint His influences range from Joni Mitchell to Brian Wilson.
At the age of 14, Pecknold wrote his first song, "Sarah Jane," about a runaway who turns to prostitution.{{cite web|url=http://www.askmen.com/celebs/men/entertainment/robin-pecknold/ |title=Robin Pecknold |publisher=AskMen |date=November 1, 1986|access-date=November 18, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://erinelisesmith.tumblr.com/post/1064509799/track-2-from-robin-pecknolds-self-released-album |title=Track 2 from Robin Pecknold's self-released Album |publisher=Erinelisesmith.tumblr.com |date=September 4, 2010 |access-date=November 18, 2012}} Under the alias Robin Noel Vaas, he released the song, along with six others, on a demo CD called St. Vincent Street around his hometown. In 2005, he toured with Seattle's Dolour, playing bass, before forming Fleet Foxes with childhood friend Skyler Skjelset in 2006. They played their original music at local open mic nights, teen centers, and coffee shops.{{cite web|last=Phelps|first=Matt|title=Kirkland band Fleet Foxes nominated for Grammy|url=http://www.kirklandreporter.com/news/136376878.html|publisher=Kirkland Reporter|access-date=May 27, 2014|date=December 29, 2011}} He reportedly ran up considerable debt setting up the band, although he has since denied this.
In 2013, Pecknold relocated to New York City and enrolled as an undergraduate student in the Columbia University School of General Studies, majoring in English.[http://www.cityartsmagazine.com/articles/morgan-henderson-your-favorite-bands-secret-weapon Morgan Henderson Is Your Favorite Band's Secret Weapon] – CityArts Magazine{{cite web|url=http://radio.com/2014/04/23/fleet-foxes-robin-pecknold-says-hes-writing-new-material-went-back-to-school/|date=April 23, 2014|title=Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold Says He's Writing New Material, Went Back to School|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424225135/http://radio.com/2014/04/23/fleet-foxes-robin-pecknold-says-hes-writing-new-material-went-back-to-school/|archive-date=April 24, 2014|access-date=June 10, 2024|last1=Rutherford|first1=Kevin}} He has spoken positively of his decision to take a hiatus from music in order to pursue a traditional education, although he left in 2016 to tour with Joanna Newsom and as of 2022 has not yet finished his degree.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05337fp |title=Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold has been expanding his horizons |work=BBC Radio 6 Music, Radcliffe and Maconie |date=May 16, 2017 |access-date=June 27, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08prxkt |title=Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold |work=BBC Radio 6 Music, Radcliffe and Maconie |date=May 15, 2017 |access-date=June 27, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/indieheads/comments/4kamho/i_am_robin_pecknold_of_fleet_foxes_ask_me_anything/ |title= I am Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes. Ask me anything |work=Reddit |date=May 20, 2016 |access-date=April 15, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0505ck7 |title=Robin Pecknold: What Learning Teaches You About Yourself |work=BBC Radio 6 Music |date=April 15, 2017 |access-date=April 15, 2017}}
=Solo work=
File:Robin Pecknold (2011).jpg
In 2011, Pecknold released a solo EP entitled Three Songs via Twitter. The release included two original songs, one a duet with Ed Droste, and a cover of New Zealand folk-singer Chris Thompson's "Where Is My Wild Rose?".{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/41788-hear-three-new-songs-from-fleet-foxes-frontman/ |title=Hear Three New Songs From Fleet Foxes Frontman |work=Pitchfork |date=March 7, 2011 |access-date=May 11, 2017 |author=Breihan, Tom}} He has used the moniker White Antelope for releasing covers of traditional songs including "Silver Dagger", "Wild Mountain Thyme," and "False Knight on the Road".{{cite web |url=https://myspace.com/awhiteantelope |title=White Antelope Myspace |work=Myspace |access-date=May 21, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/13691-false-knight-on-the-road/ |title="False Knight on the Road" |work=Pitchfork |date=February 3, 2009 |access-date=May 21, 2017 |author=Deusner, Stephen M.}}{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/13324-silver-dagger-wild-mountain-thyme/ |title="Silver Dagger" / "Wild Mountain Thyme" |work=Pitchfork |date=May 11, 2009 |access-date=May 21, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/49991/new_fleet_foxes_false_knight_on_the_road/ |title=New Fleet Foxes – "False Knight On The Road" |work=Stereogum |date=February 3, 2009 |access-date=May 21, 2017 |author=Singh, Amrit}}{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/68781/white_antelope_records_more_folk_covers/ |title=White Antelope Records More Folk Covers |work=Stereogum |date=May 11, 2009 |access-date=May 21, 2017 |author=Stosuy, Brandon}}
=Collaborations=
On October 22, 2013, Pecknold appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to perform a cover of Pearl Jam's "Corduroy" with Grizzly Bear guitarist Daniel Rossen and drummer Neal Morgan.{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/52623-robin-pecknold-will-cover-pearl-jam-on-fallon/ |title=Robin Pecknold Will Cover Pearl Jam on "Fallon" |work=Pitchfork |date=October 12, 2013 |access-date=May 11, 2017 |author=Minsker, Evan}}{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/52752-watch-fleet-foxes-robin-pecknold-and-grizzly-bears-daniel-rossen-cover-pearl-jams-corduroy-on-fallon/ |title=Watch: Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold and Grizzly Bear's Daniel Rossen Cover Pearl Jam's "Corduroy" on "Fallon" |work=Pitchfork |date=October 23, 2013 |access-date=May 11, 2017 |author=Minsker, Evan}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/videos/fleet-foxes-robin-pecknold-covers-corduroy-on-fallon-20131023 |title=Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold Covers 'Corduroy' on 'Fallon' |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=October 23, 2013 |access-date=May 11, 2017 |author=Danton, Eric R}}{{cite web |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2013/10/video-robin-pecknold-covers-pearl-jams-corduroy-on-fallon/ |title=Video: Robin Pecknold covers Pearl Jam's "Corduroy" on Fallon |work=Consequence of Sound |date=October 23, 2013 |access-date=May 11, 2017}} In 2014, he embarked on a brief tour as part of The Gene Clark No Other Band, a supergroup consisting of himself, Iain Matthews, Victoria Legrand, Daniel Rossen, and Hamilton Leithauser performing Gene Clark's No Other in its entirety.{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/53198-beach-house-fleet-foxes-walkmen-grizzly-bear-members-to-perform-gene-clarks-no-other-on-tour/ |title=Beach House, Fleet Foxes, Walkmen, Grizzly Bear Members to Perform Gene Clark's No Other on Tour |work=Pitchfork |date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=May 11, 2017 |author=Minsker, Evan}}{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaF3znVBWe8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/OaF3znVBWe8 |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|title=The Gene Clark No Other Band at Music Hall of Williamsburg |website=YouTube |date=April 28, 2014 |access-date=May 11, 2017}}{{cbignore}}
In 2021, Pecknold, along with Anaïs Mitchell, co-wrote and performed "Phoenix" for How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last?, the second album by Big Red Machine, itself a collaboration between Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and The National's Aaron Dessner.
=Scoring=
In 2012, Pecknold, along with Morgan Henderson and Neal Morgan, recorded music for Sara Lamm and Mary Wigmore's film about Ina May Gaskin, Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin and the Farm Midwives.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/birth-story-ina-may-gaskin-412793 |title=Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin & the Farm Midwives: Film Review |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 15, 2013 |access-date=June 25, 2017 |author=DeFore, John}}{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/birth-story-ina-may-gaskin-the-farm-midwives-1117948007/ |title=Review: 'Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin & the Farm Midwives' |work=Variety |date=August 6, 2012 |access-date=June 25, 2017 |author=Chang, Justin}}{{cite web |date=February 9, 2012 |title=Feb 9, 2012 |url=http://www.florarecording.com/feb-9-2012/ |url-status=dead |access-date=June 25, 2017 |work=Flora Recording |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065527/http://www.florarecording.com/feb-9-2012/ }} In 2015, Pecknold composed the score for an Off-Broadway play, Wyoming, written by his cousin Brian Watkins.{{Cite web|url=https://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/16/robin-pecknold-fleet-foxes-wyoming-theater/?_r=0|title = Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes Branches Out to the Stage|date = January 16, 2015}}
Instruments
Pecknold plays a Martin D-18 six-string guitar for most Fleet Foxes work. He also uses a Martin D12-35 twelve-string and a Gibson CF-100 six-string. Both of these guitars date back to the 1960s.{{cite web|url=http://leadingtoneseattle.com/wordpress/2011/09/fleet-foxes-67-ish-martin-12-string/ |title=Fleet Foxes' '67-ish Martin 12-string! | Leading Tone |publisher=Leadingtoneseattle.com |date=September 2, 2011|access-date=November 18, 2012}} He has also been known to use a recent Epiphone Casino electric guitar, and a Fylde Oberon acoustic guitar.
Discography
=As White Antelope=
=As Robin Pecknold=
- Three Songs (2011)
- Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin and the Farm Midwives (soundtrack) (2012)
- Spirit Untamed (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2021)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Instagram|robinpecknold}}
{{Fleet Foxes}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pecknold, Robin}}
Category:American people of Norwegian descent
Category:American rock singers
Category:Columbia University School of General Studies alumni
Category:American folk guitarists
Category:American male guitarists
Category:21st-century American singers
Category:21st-century American guitarists