Earthsuit
Encyclopedia
Earthsuit was a short-lived New Orleans-based Christian rock
band formed in 1995. The band consisted of guitarist Dave Rumsey, keyboardist/vocalist Paul Meany
, bassist Roy Mitchell
, drummer David "Hutch" Hutchison, and vocalist Adam LaClave
. Earthsuit's sound was primarily rock, but also possessed strong hip-hop, electronica, reggae, soul, and experimental elements.
The group recorded several independent EPs and played primarily in their New Orleans area before becoming noticed by Sparrow Records at a concert in 1999. The ensuing record deal saw the band's only commercial release, a critically acclaimed album entitled Kaleidoscope Superior
, in 2000. Shortly after, the band left Sparrow and drifted out of the public eye. A final album, entitled The Rise of Modern Simulation
was independently released before the group disbanded in 2003. Many of the band members continue to play and collaborate together in various bands, namely Mutemath and Club of the Sons.
and Paul Meany
, who began composing music together after being introduced at a church in New Orleans. In an interview with Family Christian Stores
, Meany explained that a sermon was the inspiration for the band's name: "...This man was preaching about how humans are really spirit beings encased in fleshly bodies. The term "earth suit" came up. At the time we liked it, and we took it." The two regularly performed at Café Joel, a small coffeehouse their church had started where Meany was music director. These performances helped cultivate their unique sound and introduced them to future band member David Rumsey.
In 1997 they released a self-titled EP, which is sometimes called the Headless Clown EP
due to its album cover. The record featured an early version of "One Time" (of which they later made a music video) as well as portions of live performances where Earthsuit covered Roberta Flack
's "Killing Me Softly
", albeit with re-written lyrics. Rumsey helped produce the EP and played guitar; however, the official band lineup only comprised LaClave and Meany. Shortly after, Rumsey officially joined along with bassist Roy Mitchell
, another Café Joel regular. The band played and ministered in their hometown and did not tour much. In 1998, the band recorded and released a second EP, entitled Noise for Your Eyes
. The EP included a remix of "One Time" and early song demos, which were interspersed with short clips of live performances. Drummer David Hutchison joined the band after they met him through a friend. In 1999, Earthsuit performed two sets at the Cornerstone Festival
, one in a label showcase and the other opening for P.O.D.
on the main stage. This garnered the attention of several major Christian labels, and the band subsequently signed to Sparrow Records
.
The band began working with Prince
producer David Leonard
on their debut record, which excited Meany: "[Sparrow] loved what we were doing musically, and they wanted to find the producer who would capitalize on that." Kaleidoscope Superior
was released on June 20, 2000 and elicited positive reviews from critics. It also received a Dove Award
nomination and experienced some success on Christian radio stations. Christian rock peers Rebecca St. James
and dc Talk
members, Kevin Max
and Michael Tait
, expressed excitement over the record. The same year, Earthsuit embarked on a tour called Festival Con Dios
with other Christian bands, such as the Elms
, PAX 217, and Switchfoot
. The following year saw the band embark on their "Do You Feel The Distortion" tour with Ill Harmonics and The Benjamin Gate
.
Despite critical reception, Kaleidoscope Superior would remain the band's only commercial release; they were soon dropped from Sparrow's lineup due to "creative differences and marketing conundrums". Earthsuit disappeared from the public eye and began posting on a website about a new independent album. In September 2001, Hutchison left the band so he could spend more time with his family. Rumors began circling that the band would break up. In 2003, Earthsuit revealed they were disbanding and released their last record, The Rise of Modern Simulation
. The final collection featured six original studio songs and ten bonus tracks, including a live remix of "Against the Grain", practice sessions of concert material, and covers of various songs. The album could only be purchased on the internet. Meany would later state "most people didn't care when [they] broke up".
Shortly after Earthsuit's break up, Meany began working with drummer Darren King
in a production team called "The Digitals". The name later changed to "Math" while the group helped produce music for Christian music stalwart TobyMac
. The band recruited guitarist Greg Hill and changed their official name to Mutemath.
To accommodate new recordings, Meany and producer Tedd T
started an independent label named Teleprompt Records
. Their first release was an EP titled Reset in September 2004. Earthsuit alumnus Roy Mitchell joined the venture in 2005. Teleprompt later signed a distribution deal directly with Warner Bros. Records
, allowing Mutemath to release a full-length self-titled album on September 26, 2006.
Adam LaClave formed two bands, Macrosick
and Club Of The Sons. Macrosick has released only an independent CD titled demodisk; the Hurricane Katrina
disaster of 2005 forced the band members to go on hiatus. LaClave then turned his attention towards Club of the Sons with friend and bassist Jonathan Allen. They released an EP called The Roughs in spring 2007 and an album entitled Young Quanta on July 7, 2009.
. Adam LaClave stated the differing musical tastes of the band helped cultivate their sound: "Each one of us is really into a lot of different things ... it helps make our sound because you can hear all kinds of things". Live performances were characterized by sunglasses, futuristic costumes, and energetic showmanship. Many bands have influenced Earthsuit's style; the group has performed covers of songs by Basement Jaxx
, Black Sheep
, Kraftwerk
, and The Talking Heads. They have also utilized samples
by DJ Shadow
and The Verve
.
Adam LaClave and Paul Meany were the primary songwriters for Earthsuit. As Christian
s, the two wrote lyrics that often communicated a Christian message. For example, the song "Said the Sun" is an allegory about God telling Christians to be carriers of light. "Whitehorse" was written to present a different view of the return of Jesus
, as LaClave stated in an interview, "Most people, when they hear the term "white horse," think of the analogy of Jesus coming back ... [We] wanted to bring a different meaning to it, because ... He comes to rescue us in our everyday life [too]." The men's lyrics also reflect experiences they have had. Meany once had a dream that inspired him to write "Gummy Buffalo"; he found himself in a candy store and squeezed a gummy buffalo
whereupon he heard the melody for the song. Christianity Today
has proposed the lyrics in "Foreign" may have been inspired by their departure from Sparrow Records. The lyrics read "There's no place in your world for me / I've been from sea to shining sea / And I can't retain your policies, excuse me / If I'm just hanging around, I'm foreign."
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band formed in 1995. The band consisted of guitarist Dave Rumsey, keyboardist/vocalist Paul Meany
Paul Meany
Paul Meany is the lead singer and keyboardist for the band Mutemath. He is also one of the co-founders of Franklin, TN based independent label Teleprompt Records...
, bassist Roy Mitchell
Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas
Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas is a Mexican-American musician and author. His current gig is as the bassist for the rock band Mutemath...
, drummer David "Hutch" Hutchison, and vocalist Adam LaClave
Adam LaClave
Adam LaClave is an American musician and singer. He was one of the vocalists and songwriters for the Christian band Earthsuit. The group's only major-label album, Kaleidoscope Superior, was critically successful. However, the band broke up soon afterward...
. Earthsuit's sound was primarily rock, but also possessed strong hip-hop, electronica, reggae, soul, and experimental elements.
The group recorded several independent EPs and played primarily in their New Orleans area before becoming noticed by Sparrow Records at a concert in 1999. The ensuing record deal saw the band's only commercial release, a critically acclaimed album entitled Kaleidoscope Superior
Kaleidoscope Superior
Kaleidoscope Superior is the major label debut by Earthsuit. The album features updated versions of select songs from the band's two independent releases, as well as other new songs. "One Time" was the first single serviced to radio from the album...
, in 2000. Shortly after, the band left Sparrow and drifted out of the public eye. A final album, entitled The Rise of Modern Simulation
The Rise of Modern Simulation
The Rise of Modern Simulation is the second and final full-length release from Earthsuit. It features five brand-new songs written specifically for the project, followed with demos, rarities, and live tracks...
was independently released before the group disbanded in 2003. Many of the band members continue to play and collaborate together in various bands, namely Mutemath and Club of the Sons.
Biography
Earthsuit began in 1995 as a collaboration between Adam LaClaveAdam LaClave
Adam LaClave is an American musician and singer. He was one of the vocalists and songwriters for the Christian band Earthsuit. The group's only major-label album, Kaleidoscope Superior, was critically successful. However, the band broke up soon afterward...
and Paul Meany
Paul Meany
Paul Meany is the lead singer and keyboardist for the band Mutemath. He is also one of the co-founders of Franklin, TN based independent label Teleprompt Records...
, who began composing music together after being introduced at a church in New Orleans. In an interview with Family Christian Stores
Family Christian Stores
Family Christian Stores is the world's largest Christian-focused retailer, and it is located in the United States. As of 2007, the retail chain had 4,600 employees in over 300 stores in 40 states...
, Meany explained that a sermon was the inspiration for the band's name: "...This man was preaching about how humans are really spirit beings encased in fleshly bodies. The term "earth suit" came up. At the time we liked it, and we took it." The two regularly performed at Café Joel, a small coffeehouse their church had started where Meany was music director. These performances helped cultivate their unique sound and introduced them to future band member David Rumsey.
In 1997 they released a self-titled EP, which is sometimes called the Headless Clown EP
Earthsuit (EP)
Earthsuit is the first release by the band Earthsuit. It is most commonly known as Headless Clown, a title which is derived from the CD cover...
due to its album cover. The record featured an early version of "One Time" (of which they later made a music video) as well as portions of live performances where Earthsuit covered Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
's "Killing Me Softly
Killing Me Softly with His Song
"Killing Me Softly with His Song" is a 1971 song composed by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel. It has been covered by numerous artists, most notably by Roberta Flack whose version topped the U.S...
", albeit with re-written lyrics. Rumsey helped produce the EP and played guitar; however, the official band lineup only comprised LaClave and Meany. Shortly after, Rumsey officially joined along with bassist Roy Mitchell
Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas
Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas is a Mexican-American musician and author. His current gig is as the bassist for the rock band Mutemath...
, another Café Joel regular. The band played and ministered in their hometown and did not tour much. In 1998, the band recorded and released a second EP, entitled Noise for Your Eyes
Noise for Your Eyes
Noise for Your Eyes is the second independent EP release by Earthsuit. All of the songs from this EP were eventually modified and included on the band's full-length release, Kaleidoscope Superior. Although this EP does not explicitly feature a song by the name of "Noise for Your Eyes," portions of...
. The EP included a remix of "One Time" and early song demos, which were interspersed with short clips of live performances. Drummer David Hutchison joined the band after they met him through a friend. In 1999, Earthsuit performed two sets at the Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival is a Christian music festival put on by Jesus People USA and held annually around the 4th of July near Bushnell, Illinois. In a given year, many artists that play at Cornerstone also play at other events such as Creation Festival and mainstream festivals and tours such as the...
, one in a label showcase and the other opening for P.O.D.
P.O.D.
Payable on Death is an American Christian metal band formed in 1992. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Sonny Sandoval, drummer Wuv Bernardo, guitarist Marcos Curiel, and bassist Traa Daniels. Their Christian faith is an important part of their music.They have released seven studio albums and...
on the main stage. This garnered the attention of several major Christian labels, and the band subsequently signed to Sparrow Records
Sparrow Records
-Background:Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then A&R director at Myrrh Records. Purchased by EMI in 1992, it is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group, and has been named by Billboard Magazine as "America's Best Christian Music Record Label"...
.
The band began working with Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
producer David Leonard
David Leonard (producer)
David Leonard is a Grammy Award-winning American record producer and audio engineer.-Production discography:* 1981: Chaka Khan - What Cha' Gonna Do for Me - co-engineer* 1981: The Go-Go's - Beauty and the Beat - mixing assistant...
on their debut record, which excited Meany: "[Sparrow] loved what we were doing musically, and they wanted to find the producer who would capitalize on that." Kaleidoscope Superior
Kaleidoscope Superior
Kaleidoscope Superior is the major label debut by Earthsuit. The album features updated versions of select songs from the band's two independent releases, as well as other new songs. "One Time" was the first single serviced to radio from the album...
was released on June 20, 2000 and elicited positive reviews from critics. It also received a Dove Award
Dove Awards of 2002
The 33rd Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 25, 2002 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2001. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee...
nomination and experienced some success on Christian radio stations. Christian rock peers Rebecca St. James
Rebecca St. James
Rebecca St. James , is a Christian pop rock singer, songwriter, musician, author, and actor. She began performing in Australia in the late 1980s and released her first full-length studio album in 1991. In 1993 she was signed to the record label ForeFront Records and released her major label debut a...
and dc Talk
Dc Talk
DC Talk , is a Grammy-winning Christian rock music trio. The group was formed in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith. They have released five major studio albums together: DC Talk , Nu Thang , Free at Last , Jesus Freak , and Supernatural...
members, Kevin Max
Kevin Max
Kevin Max Smith is an American singer, songwriter, and poet. He is best known for being a member of the Christian pop group dc Talk...
and Michael Tait
Michael Tait
Michael DeWayne Tait is a Contemporary Christian Music artist. Michael Tait met Toby McKeehan and Kevin Max while attending Liberty University in the late 1980s, and formed four-time grammy winning band DC Talk, with whom he released 5 acclaimed studio albums...
, expressed excitement over the record. The same year, Earthsuit embarked on a tour called Festival Con Dios
Festival Con Dios
Festival Con Dios was a traveling Christian music festival that began in spring 2001. The first festival was started by Newsboys and also featured Audio Adrenaline, The O.C. Supertones, Pillar, T-Bone, The Benjamin Gate, Skillet, Switchfoot, and others. This was one of the largest CCM traveling...
with other Christian bands, such as the Elms
The Elms (band)
The Elms were an American rock and roll band known for their breed of rootsy, blues-based rock, with the essence of the music of the 60's and 70's. Although the band had been in existence since 2000, 2001 saw the release of their first full-length album, with the first musical contribution from...
, PAX 217, and Switchfoot
Switchfoot
Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...
. The following year saw the band embark on their "Do You Feel The Distortion" tour with Ill Harmonics and The Benjamin Gate
The Benjamin Gate
The Benjamin Gate was a South African Christian band formed in 1998 following the motor vehicle accident and subsequent death of a mutual friend and fellow musician, Benjamin Herbert...
.
Despite critical reception, Kaleidoscope Superior would remain the band's only commercial release; they were soon dropped from Sparrow's lineup due to "creative differences and marketing conundrums". Earthsuit disappeared from the public eye and began posting on a website about a new independent album. In September 2001, Hutchison left the band so he could spend more time with his family. Rumors began circling that the band would break up. In 2003, Earthsuit revealed they were disbanding and released their last record, The Rise of Modern Simulation
The Rise of Modern Simulation
The Rise of Modern Simulation is the second and final full-length release from Earthsuit. It features five brand-new songs written specifically for the project, followed with demos, rarities, and live tracks...
. The final collection featured six original studio songs and ten bonus tracks, including a live remix of "Against the Grain", practice sessions of concert material, and covers of various songs. The album could only be purchased on the internet. Meany would later state "most people didn't care when [they] broke up".
Shortly after Earthsuit's break up, Meany began working with drummer Darren King
Darren King
Darren King is the drummer for the band Mutemath. He also played drums for the band Earthsuit for a short time. King is well known for intense drum beats that showcase a vast amount of energy...
in a production team called "The Digitals". The name later changed to "Math" while the group helped produce music for Christian music stalwart TobyMac
TobyMac
Toby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
. The band recruited guitarist Greg Hill and changed their official name to Mutemath.
To accommodate new recordings, Meany and producer Tedd T
Tedd T
Tedd T., born Tedd Andrew Tjornhom , is a Grammy Award–winning music producer, songwriter, arranger, programmer, and engineer. He also launched the independent record label Teleprompt Records in 2003 as a joint venture with Word / Warner Music Group. His interest in the music industry began in his...
started an independent label named Teleprompt Records
Teleprompt Records
Teleprompt Records LLC is an independent record label that was formed in 2003 by producer Tedd T, keyboardist and Mutemath vocalists Paul Meany, and lawyer/manager Kevin Kookogey. The label was forged with the sole intention of promoting and distributing music for Meany's start up project Mutemath...
. Their first release was an EP titled Reset in September 2004. Earthsuit alumnus Roy Mitchell joined the venture in 2005. Teleprompt later signed a distribution deal directly with Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
, allowing Mutemath to release a full-length self-titled album on September 26, 2006.
Adam LaClave formed two bands, Macrosick
MACROSICK
Macrosick is an American independent art-rock band based out of New Orleans, Louisiana.-Biography:Macrosick was formed in 2003 by Adam LaClave and draws on influences like Devo and Talking Heads...
and Club Of The Sons. Macrosick has released only an independent CD titled demodisk; the Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
disaster of 2005 forced the band members to go on hiatus. LaClave then turned his attention towards Club of the Sons with friend and bassist Jonathan Allen. They released an EP called The Roughs in spring 2007 and an album entitled Young Quanta on July 7, 2009.
Musical style and influences
Earthsuit music was primarily rock, but also incorporated strong hip-hop, electronica, jazz, reggae, soul, and experimental elements. Their sound had sometimes been compared to The Police, while Meany's rapping had been likened to the Beastie BoysBeastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
. Adam LaClave stated the differing musical tastes of the band helped cultivate their sound: "Each one of us is really into a lot of different things ... it helps make our sound because you can hear all kinds of things". Live performances were characterized by sunglasses, futuristic costumes, and energetic showmanship. Many bands have influenced Earthsuit's style; the group has performed covers of songs by Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx are a British electronic dance music duo from London, England consisting of Felix Buxton born 1971 and Simon Ratcliffe born 1 December 1969. They first rose to popularity in the late 1990s...
, Black Sheep
Black Sheep (hip hop group)
Black Sheep is an alternative hip hop duo from Queens, New York, composed of Andres "Dres" Titus and William "Mista Lawnge" McLean. The duo is from New York but met as teenagers in North Carolina, where both of their families relocated. The group was an affiliate of the Native Tongues, which...
, Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
, and The Talking Heads. They have also utilized samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
by DJ Shadow
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis better known as DJ Shadow is an American music producer, DJ and songwriter. He is considered a prominent figure in the development of instrumental hip hop and first gained notice with the release of his highly acclaimed debut album Endtroducing....., which was constructed...
and The Verve
The Verve
The Verve were an English rock band formed in 1989 in Wigan by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. Guitarist and keyboardist Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space...
.
Adam LaClave and Paul Meany were the primary songwriters for Earthsuit. As Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s, the two wrote lyrics that often communicated a Christian message. For example, the song "Said the Sun" is an allegory about God telling Christians to be carriers of light. "Whitehorse" was written to present a different view of the return of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, as LaClave stated in an interview, "Most people, when they hear the term "white horse," think of the analogy of Jesus coming back ... [We] wanted to bring a different meaning to it, because ... He comes to rescue us in our everyday life [too]." The men's lyrics also reflect experiences they have had. Meany once had a dream that inspired him to write "Gummy Buffalo"; he found himself in a candy store and squeezed a gummy buffalo
Gummies
Gummi candy, gummy candy, gummies or jelly sweets are a broad, general type of gelatin-based, chewy candy.Gummi bears are the most popular and well known of the gummi candies...
whereupon he heard the melody for the song. Christianity Today
Christianity Today
Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 140,000 and readership of 290,000...
has proposed the lyrics in "Foreign" may have been inspired by their departure from Sparrow Records. The lyrics read "There's no place in your world for me / I've been from sea to shining sea / And I can't retain your policies, excuse me / If I'm just hanging around, I'm foreign."
Discography
- Earthsuit (aka The Headless Clown EP)Earthsuit (EP)Earthsuit is the first release by the band Earthsuit. It is most commonly known as Headless Clown, a title which is derived from the CD cover...
(independent, 1997) - Noise for Your EyesNoise for Your EyesNoise for Your Eyes is the second independent EP release by Earthsuit. All of the songs from this EP were eventually modified and included on the band's full-length release, Kaleidoscope Superior. Although this EP does not explicitly feature a song by the name of "Noise for Your Eyes," portions of...
(independent, 1998) - Kaleidoscope SuperiorKaleidoscope SuperiorKaleidoscope Superior is the major label debut by Earthsuit. The album features updated versions of select songs from the band's two independent releases, as well as other new songs. "One Time" was the first single serviced to radio from the album...
(Sparrow Records, 2000) - The Rise of Modern SimulationThe Rise of Modern SimulationThe Rise of Modern Simulation is the second and final full-length release from Earthsuit. It features five brand-new songs written specifically for the project, followed with demos, rarities, and live tracks...
(independent, 2003)