Violens
{{Short description|American band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Violens
| origin = New York
| genre = {{hlist|pop-psych|synth-pop|thrash metal}}
| years_active = 2007–2012
| label = {{hlist|Friendly Fire Recordings|Deadly People|Slumberland Records|Static Recital}}
| past_members = Jorge Elbrecht
Iddo Arad
Myles Matheny
}}
Violens was an American synth-pop band. Jorge Elbrecht and Iddo Arad formed the band in 2007 while living in Brooklyn, New York, and Myles Matheny joined them in 2009. In 2008, the band released their self-titled extended play under the Deadly People record label. Their debut album Amoral was released in 2010, later followed by the second album True, released in 2012.
In addition, they have released two mixtapes titled Winter 2009 Mixtape and Summer 2010 Mixtape with collaborations by other artists and bands including MGMT and Chairlift.{{Cite web |title=Violens : La Summer Mixtape enfin disponible |url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2010/08/02/882843-violens-la-summer-mixtape-enfin-disponible.html |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=ladepeche.fr |language=fr}}
The band's name derives from the combination of the words "violence" and "violins".{{Cite news |last=Lester |first=Paul |date=2008-10-08 |title=No 405: Violens |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/oct/08/new.band.405.violens |access-date=2023-11-26 |issn=0261-3077}}
History
Prior to the band's formation, Elbrecht met Iddo Arad in Miami in 1996. Arad performed with Elbrecht's art collective, Lansing-Dreiden, in New York and Miami in the early 2000s.{{Cite web |last=Matos |first=Michaelangelo |date=2012-05-16 |title=Brooklyn band Violens talks up 'speedgaze,' praises freestyle karaoke, and explains '3-D' music-making |url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2012/05/brooklyn-band-violens-talks-up-speedgaze-praises-freestyle-karaoke-and-explains-3-d-music-making-071097 |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}
Following the last music release by Lansing-Dreiden, the band relocated to Brooklyn and began performing as Violens.{{Cite web |date=2011-02-07 |title=A History of Violens |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/violens-amoral |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Interview Magazine |language=en-US}} The band was formed in late 2007 by Jorge Elbrecht as an outlet for his song writing, with the help of Iddo Arad.{{Cite web |title=Friendly Fire Recordings :: Violens |url=http://www.friendlyfirerecordings.com/Bands/Violens/violens.html |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=www.friendlyfirerecordings.com}} They released their debut, self-titled EP on October 27, 2008 under the Deadly People record label. Before starting work on their debut album, Violens toured in the US and Europe in 2009, opening for Deerhunter, Bat for Lashes, and Grizzly Bear.{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Hays |title=Violens |url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/violens |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=www.undertheradarmag.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2009-11-19 |title=Violens Offer Free Winter Mixtape, Announce UK Tour With White Lies {{!}} Live4ever Media |url=https://www.live4ever.uk.com/2009/11/violens-offer-free-winter-mixtape-announce-uk-tour-with-white-lies/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |language=en-US}} Violens went on tour with White Lies through November to December 2009. In early 2010, Myles Matheny joined the band.
In May 2010, the debut album Amoral was announced to be released in November of the same year.{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Alex |date=2010-08-26 |title=Violens to release debut full-length this fall |url=https://consequence.net/2010/08/violens-to-release-debut-full-length-this-fall/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Consequence |language=en-US}} A British tour was also announced for November and December.{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=2010-08-05 |title=Violens Confirm Album, Tour |url=https://www.clashmusic.mtcserver.com/news/violens-confirm-album-tour/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB}} The album was released early in the UK on October 3, 2010 under the Friendly Fire Recordings and Static Recital record labels. In 2011, the band began releasing singles "to test out production ideas and gauge fan reaction"{{Cite web |last=Noel |first=Alyssa |date=2012-05-10 |title=Stream Violens’ Full ‘True’ LP, Get the Story Behind Each Song |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/05/stream-violens-full-true-lp-get-story-behind-each-song/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Spin}} which were then collectively released as a compilation titled Nine Songs. While on tour, the band recorded "30 or 40" demos, of which 4 ended up on the upcoming album. Leading up to the release of their second album, Violens toured on the east coast from March to May 2012. The second album, True, was released on May 15, 2012 under Slumberland Records, featuring vocals by Caroline Polachek,{{Citation |title=Totally True by Violens |date=2012-03-07 |url=https://music.apple.com/us/song/totally-true/1321194603 |access-date=2023-11-26 |language=en-US}}{{Citation |title=So Hard to See by Violens |date=2012-03-07 |url=https://music.apple.com/us/song/so-hard-to-see/1321195216 |access-date=2023-11-26 |language=en-US}} who had previously worked with them on songs from Violens' mixtapes.
Their self-titled debut EP charted on the "Official Physical Singles Chart" in the UK on February 15, 2014, peaking at number 95.{{Cite web |title="Violens" by Violens |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/violens-violens/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Official Charts}}
Since the release of True, the band has not released any new material. Jorge Elbrecht continues releasing solo music under his name, with his solo debut album Here Lies being released in 2018.
Musical style
Violens are related to such genres as 1960s psychedelic pop, thrash metal, Miami freestyle, dream-pop, experimental, lo-fi and pop-rock.{{Cite web |title=Violens: True |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16617-true/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} They have been compared to other bands such as Cocteau Twins, Sisters of Mercy, Crass and Minor Threat.
Billboard compared the band to 1980s British new wave bands Joy Division, New Order and The Cure.{{Cite web |author=Billboard Staff |date=2010-11-19 |title=Violens, "Amoral" |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/violens-amoral-1068415/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}
Discography
Violens have released 2 studio albums, 1 EP, and 2 mixtapes from 2008 to 2012.
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" border="1" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="width:12em;" |Title ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="width:16em;" |Details |
| scope="row" |Amoral
|
|
|---|
| scope="row" |True
|
|
= Extended plays =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" border="1" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="width:12em;" |Title ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="width:16em;" |Details |
| scope="row" |Violens
|
|
|---|
= Miscellaneous =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" border="1" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="width:12em;" |Title ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="width:16em;" |Details |
| scope="row" |Winter 2009 Mixtape
|
|
|---|
| scope="row" |Summer 2010 Mixtape
|
|
| scope="row" |Nine Songs
|
|
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.friendlyfirerecordings.com/Bands/Violens/violens.html Friendly Fire Recordings artist page]
- [https://www.discogs.com/artist/1176587-Violens Discogs artist page]
Category:American synth-pop groups
Category:Musical groups established in 2007
Category:Musical groups from Brooklyn