Sidney Gish
{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image = SidneyGish.jpg
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer-songwriter|musician|producer}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}}
| genre = {{hlist | indie pop | bedroom pop | Indie rock }}
| years_active = 2015–present
| website = {{URL|sidneygish.com}}
| origin = Boston, Massachusetts
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1997|03|18}}
}}
Sidney Gish (born March 18, 1997) is an American indie singer-songwriter.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8464433/sidney-gish-interview|title=Meet Sidney Gish, the 21-Year-Old Singer-Songwriter Opening for Mitski|last=Milman|first=Lilly|date=July 18, 2018|magazine=Billboard}} She has self-released two albums, Ed Buys Houses (2016) and No Dogs Allowed (2017). She performs and records her music solo.
Gish grew up in New Jersey and moved to Boston to study the music industry at Northeastern University. She began releasing music on Bandcamp in 2015. Her first full album, Ed Buys Houses, received local coverage, and she began performing concerts in Boston. Her second album, No Dogs Allowed, became popular on the internet and received positive critical reception, being named Album of the Year at the 2018 Boston Music Awards. She performed in New York City, where she attended an internship, and went on a national tour with Camp Cope and Petal. She opened for Mitski the same year and released a split single with Cavetown in 2019. In 2023, she released the single "Filming School" through the Sub Pop Singles Club, and she supported tours by The Beths and Jeff Rosenstock.
Early and personal life
Sidney Gish was born on March 18, 1997,{{Cite tweet |user=sidneyg156 |number=1240170477785661440 |title=i’m 23 |first=Sidney |last=Gish |date=Mar 18, 2020}} and grew up in a suburb in New Jersey.{{Cite news |last=Mason |first=Amelia |date=March 28, 2018 |title=Sidney Gish, Boston's Bandcamp Phenom |work=WBUR News |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2018/03/28/up-next-sidney-gish |access-date=March 26, 2023}} She began composing songs in middle and high school and sang in her school choir. Before her music career, she attempted to go viral on Tumblr. She went viral in 2016 for her doodles that her mother embroidered, which were covered in Buzzfeed News. She attended Northeastern University in Boston, where she studied the music industry, from 2015 to 2020.{{Cite web|title=Instagram|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B_vz4KrFlkN/?igshid=18pmcfzlijcsl |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/sidneyg156/2301286094732679437 |archive-date=December 26, 2021 |url-access=registration|url-status=live}}{{cbignore}} She was in the college's female a capella group, Pitch Please, as its beatboxer.
Gish is bisexual.{{cite news |last1=Knight |first1=Kristen |title=Interview: Sidney Gish |url=https://themoderngirls.co/2018/02/21/interview-sidney-gish/ |access-date=July 30, 2024 |work=Modern Girls |date=February 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320192307/https://themoderngirls.co/2018/02/21/interview-sidney-gish/ |url-status=live |archive-date=March 20, 2023}} She has perfect pitch, which she has said contributes to her melodic composition.
Career
= 2015–2017: Early work and ''Ed Buys Houses'' =
Gish started her career by uploading music on Bandcamp. Her first release was don't call on me in 2015, followed by dummy parade in 2016, but she described these as "dump albums" rather than true albums. She released the EP Merry Crisis during the winter break of her first year of college.
Gish's first full album, Ed Buys Houses, was self-released on Bandcamp in December 2016.{{Cite news |last=Feldberg |first=Isaac |date=September 19, 2017 |title=Emerging indie artist Sidney Gish is juggling classes and her career |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2017/09/19/emerging-indie-artist-sidney-gish-juggling-classes-and-her-career/eKZ2b5HITBMR1BzL59puVL/story.html |access-date=March 26, 2023}} She edited the album in GarageBand and designed the cover in Photoshop,{{Cite news |last=Robinson |first=Riley |date=December 7, 2017 |title=NU student nominated for Boston Music Awards |url=https://huntnewsnu.com/50353/lifestyle/nu-student-nominated-for-boston-music-awards/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=The Huntington News}} and the title came from a sign she saw in her hometown.{{Cite news |last=Gagnon |first=Tim |date=April 3, 2017 |title=Failing In Really Funny Ways: A Conversation with Sidney Gish |url=https://allstonpudding.com/failing-really-funny-ways-conversation-sidney-gish/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=Allston Pudding}} The album received coverage in local publications including Allston Pudding and DigBoston. Gish began performing concerts at venues in Boston through 2017.
= 2018–2025: ''No Dogs Allowed'' and "Filming School" =
Her second album, No Dogs Allowed, was self-released on Bandcamp on December 31, 2017.{{Cite web |last=Snapes |first=Laura |date=21 Dec 2018 |title=Sidney Gish: No Dogs Allowed review – mordant, charming indie pop |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/dec/21/sidney-gish-no-dogs-allowed-review-mordant-charming-indie-pop |access-date=March 26, 2023 |website=The Guardian}} The album gained moderate internet success, initially becoming popular within the DIY music community.{{Cite news |last=Perry |first=Cameron |date=March 9, 2018 |title=Meet the college student behind one of the year’s most refreshing DIY albums |url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/03/09/sidney-gish-no-dogs-allowed-interview-boston |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=The Fader}} It received a 7.7 rating on Pitchfork{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sidney-gish-no-dogs-allowed/|title=Sidney Gish: No Dogs Allowed Album Review |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |date=January 11, 2018 |website=Pitchfork}} and a positive review by The Fader. Gish was covered in NPR Music's Slingshot, a series about new musicians. At the 2018 Boston Music Awards, she received four nominations, and No Dogs Allowed won Album of the Year.{{Cite web|url=https://vanyaland.com/2018/12/13/here-are-the-winners-from-the-2018-boston-music-awards/|title=Here are the winners from the 2018 Boston Music Awards|last=Marotta|first=Michael|date=December 13, 2018|website=Vanyaland|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-04-06}}{{Cite web |last=Callahan |first=Molly |date=January 24, 2019 |title=Meet Sidney Gish, the student who went from singing about The Hunger Games to winning a Boston Music Award |url=https://news.northeastern.edu/2019/01/24/meet-sidney-gish-the-student-who-went-from-singing-about-the-hunger-games-to-winning-a-boston-music-award/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |website=Northeastern Global News |publisher=Northeastern University}}
In 2018, Gish began a semester-long internship in the A&R department of Island Records in Manhattan, which involved finding new musicians. The same week, a song by her was featured by Spotify in its "New Music Friday" playlist, a coincidence that surprised her boss and was described by Gish as "extremely meta". She performed several shows in New York until the end of her internship. She then went on her first national tour, opening for Camp Cope and Petal.{{Cite news |last=Steiner |first=Robert |date=August 15, 2018 |title=Indie artist Sidney Gish was not prepared to have such a big year, but it’s ‘totally fine!’ |url=https://www.boston.com/culture/music/2018/08/15/indie-artist-sidney-gish-was-not-prepared-to-have-such-a-big-year-but-its-totally-fine/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=Boston.com |agency=The Boston Globe}} She joined the booking agency Agency for the Performing Arts.
File:Sidney Gish (52697289518).jpg]]
Gish's fame increased in 2018 when she opened for Mitski in six shows in New England. She was listed as one of Stereogum{{`s}} Best New Artists of 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2019518/best-new-artists-bands-2018/franchises/list/|title=Stereogum's 40 Best New Bands Of 2018|last=|first=|date=2018-10-29|website=Stereogum|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-04-06}} That December, she covered a song by The Magnetic Fields as part of a tribute album for the band's 69 Love Songs.{{Cite news |last=Rettig |first=James |date=December 14, 2018 |title=Palehound, Sidney Gish, Worriers, & More Cover Magnetic Fields On You Can Sing Me Anything: A Tribute To 69 Love Songs |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2026368/palehound-sidney-gish-worriers-more-cover-magnetic-fields-on-you-can-sing-me-anything-a-tribute-to-69-love-songs/music/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=Stereogum}} In March 2019, she performed at South by Southwest and was featured on NPR Music's Austin 100.{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Stephen |date=March 5, 2019 |title=The Austin 100: Sidney Gish |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/03/05/699390102/the-austin-100-sidney-gish |access-date=March 15, 2025 |website=NPR}} The same month, she released a cover of Jackson Browne's "Somebody's Baby" as part of a split single in Cavetown's Animal Kingdom series.{{Cite web |last=Rettig |first=James |date=March 28, 2019 |title=Sidney Gish Covers Jackson Browne's "Somebody's Baby" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2037584/sidney-gish-somebodys-baby-jackson-browne-cover/music/ |access-date=June 21, 2023 |website=Stereogum}} She released a music video for "Sin Triangle", a track on No Dogs Allowed, the following May.{{Cite news |last=Maicki |first=Salvatore |date=May 2, 2019 |title=Watch Sidney Gish’s extremely charming “Sin Triangle” video |url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/05/02/sidney-gish-sin-triangle-music-video-no-dogs-allowed |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=The Fader}} She and Orla Gartland supported Cavetown's tour in the UK and Ireland later that year.{{Cite news |last=Hudson |first=Millie |date=November 7, 2022 |title=Cavetown bring new album, Worm Food, to the Eventim Apollo |url=https://www.melodicmag.com/2022/11/07/cavetown-brings-new-album-worm-food-to-the-eventim-apollo/ |access-date=March 20, 2025 |work=Melodic Magazine}}{{Cite news |last=Greenberg |first=Emily |date=November 8, 2022 |title=Cavetown was offended if you didn't cry at his 3Olympia Theatre show |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/cavetown-was-offended-if-you-didnt-cry-at-his-3olympia-theatre-show-22937338 |access-date=March 20, 2025 |work=Hot Press}} She recorded a duet with Cheekface, titled "Election Day", on its 2022 album Too Much to Ask.{{Cite news |last=Deville |first=Chris |date=August 2, 2022 |title=Album Of The Week: Cheekface Too Much To Ask |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2194954/cheekface-too-much-to-ask/reviews/album-of-the-week/ |access-date=March 20, 2025 |work=Stereogum}}{{Cite news |last=Schonfeld |first=Zach |date=August 8, 2022 |title=Inside the rise of Cheekface, the scrappy LA band revered by an army of “Cheek Freaks” |url=https://www.altpress.com/cheekface-too-much-to-ask-interview/ |access-date=March 20, 2025 |work=Alternative Press}}
In February 2023, Gish released two new songs, "Filming School" and "MFSOTSOTR", through the Sub Pop Singles Club.{{Cite web |last=Deville |first=Chris |date=February 8, 2023 |title=Sidney Gish – "Filming School" & "MFSOTSOTR" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2213316/sidney-gish-filming-school-mfsotsotr/music/ |access-date=March 26, 2023 |website=Stereogum}} The same year, she toured with The Beths in North America.{{Cite news |last=Tinker |first=Lena M. |date=March 9, 2023 |title=The Beths Concert Review: Nothing Fishy Here |work=The Harvard Crimson |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/3/9/the-beths-new-zealand-band-concert-review/ |access-date=March 26, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Hudson |first=Alex |date=Feb 27, 2023 |title=Stand-Up Comedians the Beths Showed Toronto That They're Also Excellent Musicians |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/the_beths_phoenix_theatre_concert_review |access-date=March 26, 2023 |website=Exclaim!}} She also went on a tour with Jeff Rosenstock in late 2023,{{Cite web |title=Jeff Rosenstock returns with new song and North American tour details |url=https://www.thefader.com/2023/05/23/jeff-rosenstock-liked-u-better-north-american-tour |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=The FADER |language=en}} with some shows delayed until 2024 after Rosenstock contracted COVID-19.{{Cite news |last=Okazawa |first=Ben |date=November 7, 2024 |title=Jeff Rosenstock Announces 2024 North American Tour |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/jeff_rosenstock_announces_2024_north_american_tour |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=Exclaim!}} The indie pop band Grumpy featured Gish, along with Precious Human, in the January 2025 song "Lonesome Ride". The band said Gish was a major influence on its work.{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Abby |date=January 15, 2025 |title=Grumpy Are Just Happy To Be Here |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2292746/grumpy-are-just-happy-to-be-here/interviews/ |access-date=March 16, 2025 |work=Stereogum}}
Style
Gish's music has been classified as indie pop, bedroom pop, and indie rock.{{Cite news |last=Hojsak |first=Sarah |date=June 30, 2018 |title=#NowPlaying at The Key: Six must-hear songs by Bonny Doon, Sidney Gish, Lady Alma and more |url=https://xpn.org/2018/06/30/nowplaying-at-the-key-six-must-hear-songs-by-bonny-doon-sidney-gish-lady-alma-and-more/ |access-date=March 20, 2025 |work=WXPN}} She has described her composition process as "Frankensteining" separate melodies and lyrics that she keeps on her phone. She records her music solo, playing electric guitar, percussion, piano, ukulele, and melodica, as well as MIDI instruments. She produced her early music using the mobile app VoiceJam before switching to Logic Pro by 2018. In live shows, she uses a loop pedal to perform solo. Gish is frequently compared to Regina Spektor, whom she has called her first influence. Other influences she has listed include Vampire Weekend and of Montreal.
Allston Pudding{{`s}} Christine Varriale described Gish's music as "humorous pop that millennials can understand but that sounds timeless". Pitchfork{{`s}} Nina Corcoran compared her "catchy, oddball songs" to Frankie Cosmos and Car Seat Headrest. WBUR-FM described her songs as "mundane (or obscure) meanderings peppered by puns and brief, dazzling extrapolations". It also compared her to Car Seat Headrest, who similarly began his career on Bandcamp.
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!Title !Album details |
| scope="row"| Ed Buys Houses
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| No Dogs Allowed
| |
= Singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!Title !Album details |
| scope="row"| Filming School
|
|
|---|
= Bandcamp exclusives =
- don't call on me (2015)
- Merry Crisis EP (2016)
- dummy parade (2016)
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Organization !Award !Work !Result !Ref. |
| rowspan="4" |2018
| rowspan="7" |Boston Music Awards |Album of the Year |"No Dogs Allowed" |{{Won}} |
| Unsigned Artist of the Year
| rowspan="2" |Herself |{{Nominated}} |
| Alt/Indie Artist of the Year
|{{Nominated}} |
| Song of the Year
|"Not but for You, Bunny" |{{Nominated}} |
| rowspan="3" |2019
|Singer Songwriter of the Year | rowspan="2" |Herself |{{Won}} |
| Alt/Indie Artist of the Year
|{{Nominated}} |
| Song of the Year
|"I'm So Sorry" (as featured artist) |{{Nominated}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
= Posts by Sidney Gish =
{{Reflist|group=sg}}
External links
- [https://sidneygish.bandcamp.com Official page] on Bandcamp
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gish, Sidney}}
Category:American women singer-songwriters
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters