Ed Droste
Encyclopedia
Edward "Ed" Droste is an original member of the Brooklyn
-based indie-rock group, Grizzly Bear
. The group began as the solo effort of Droste with the release of 2004's Horn of Plenty
, originally released on Kanine Records
. All songs were written and performed by Droste. By 2005, the group expanded into a four-piece, with Droste still as a contributing songwriter.
in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where his mother is a music teacher, and high school at Concord Academy
in Concord Massachusetts. He attended Hampshire College
for one year in 1999 before transferring to and graduating from New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study
in 2003.
Edward is a second cousin on his father's side to Ed Droste, who is the co-founder of the Hooters
restaurant chain.
Droste began composing and performing songs on a solo basis as Grizzly Bear
, releasing the album Horn of Plenty
in 2004, with some contributions from drummer Christopher Bear
. The two then joined with Chris Taylor
, and eventually Daniel Rossen
, to form the current four-piece band. Droste has said of the gestation of the band, "Daniel [Rossen] and I are the principal songwriters, but we also have the most issues with being performers. I strongly reject the notion that I have to do stage kicks or be some sort of persona. I respect artists that have an act, a look, a shtick. That’s all fine and dandy, but with our songs, it would feel like the biggest farce. It took us a long time to get comfortable; the whole thing was four people growing into each other."
magazine that he plans to marry his boyfriend Chad McPhail in September 2011.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
-based indie-rock group, Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear (band)
Grizzly Bear is a Brooklyn-based indie rock band, composed of Edward Droste , Daniel Rossen , Chris Taylor and Christopher Bear . The band employs traditional and electronic instruments...
. The group began as the solo effort of Droste with the release of 2004's Horn of Plenty
Horn of Plenty (album)
Horn of Plenty is the debut studio album by Brooklyn-based indie rock band Grizzly Bear, released on November 9, 2004 on Kanine. It is primarily a solo album by the band's founding member Edward Droste, with contributions from drummer Christopher Bear....
, originally released on Kanine Records
Kanine Records
Kanine Records is an independent record label based in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York started at the end of 2002 by Lio and Kay Kanine. Their first release, NY: The Next Wave, was a 20 track compilation featuring mostly unsigned and emerging acts from the area...
. All songs were written and performed by Droste. By 2005, the group expanded into a four-piece, with Droste still as a contributing songwriter.
Early life
Droste attended elementary school at Shady Hill SchoolShady Hill School
Shady Hill School is an independent, co-educational day school in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1915, Shady Hill serves students in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. The school has an enrollment of approximately 500 students.Current Shady Hill Head of School Mark Stanek became the...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where his mother is a music teacher, and high school at Concord Academy
Concord Academy
Concord Academy is a coeducational, independent, college preparatory school for grades nine through twelve, located in Concord, Massachusetts...
in Concord Massachusetts. He attended Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1965 as an experiment in alternative education, in association with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley: Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts...
for one year in 1999 before transferring to and graduating from New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study
Gallatin School of Individualized Study
The Gallatin School of Individualized Study is a small interdisciplinary college within New York University. Gallatin aims to provide a "small college" feel, while being located within one of the largest private universities in the United States. Students design their own interdisciplinary program...
in 2003.
Edward is a second cousin on his father's side to Ed Droste, who is the co-founder of the Hooters
Hooters
Hooters is the trade name of two privately held American restaurant chains: Hooters of America, Incorporated, based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Hooters, Incorporated, based in Clearwater, Florida...
restaurant chain.
Droste began composing and performing songs on a solo basis as Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear (band)
Grizzly Bear is a Brooklyn-based indie rock band, composed of Edward Droste , Daniel Rossen , Chris Taylor and Christopher Bear . The band employs traditional and electronic instruments...
, releasing the album Horn of Plenty
Horn of Plenty (album)
Horn of Plenty is the debut studio album by Brooklyn-based indie rock band Grizzly Bear, released on November 9, 2004 on Kanine. It is primarily a solo album by the band's founding member Edward Droste, with contributions from drummer Christopher Bear....
in 2004, with some contributions from drummer Christopher Bear
Christopher Bear
Christopher Bear is a drummer and multi-instrumentalist associated with the Brooklyn-based indie-rock group, Grizzly Bear....
. The two then joined with Chris Taylor
Chris Taylor (Grizzly Bear musician)
Chris Taylor is a multi-instrumentalist and producer best known for his role of bass player in the Brooklyn based indie folk group, Grizzly Bear.-Biography:...
, and eventually Daniel Rossen
Daniel Rossen
Daniel Rossen is a singer/songwriter/guitarist for the Brooklyn-based indie-rock group, Grizzly Bear. He is also a member of the duo Department of Eagles.-Biography:...
, to form the current four-piece band. Droste has said of the gestation of the band, "Daniel [Rossen] and I are the principal songwriters, but we also have the most issues with being performers. I strongly reject the notion that I have to do stage kicks or be some sort of persona. I respect artists that have an act, a look, a shtick. That’s all fine and dandy, but with our songs, it would feel like the biggest farce. It took us a long time to get comfortable; the whole thing was four people growing into each other."
Other musical collaborations
- April 2007 - Edward appeared as a guest vocalist on "To a Fault" from DntelDntelJames Scott "Jimmy" Tamborello, more commonly known as Dntel , is an electronic music artist. He is sometimes cited as James Figurine, the co-programmer and vocalist for the electropop outfit Figurine. Other projects include Strictly Ballroom, Headset and The Postal Service. Tamborello has...
's fourth album, Dumb LuckDumb Luck (album)Dumb Luck is Dntel's third album, it was released on April 24, 2007. It is also Dntel's first LP under the Sub Pop label.- Sound :The sound of Dumb Luck is a less glitch-oriented and more electroacoustic sound than more of his earlier work, with tracks like "To a Fault" and "Dreams," although...
released on Sub Pop Records. - September 2007 - Edward sang with Beirut as he recorded a video for their song "Cliquot" for La Blogothèque's video series.
- March 2008 - Edward joined Owen PallettOwen PallettMichael James Owen Pallett is a Canadian composer, violinist, keyboardist, and vocalist from Toronto, Ontario. He won the 2006 Polaris Music Prize for the album He Poos Clouds....
to cover BjörkBjörkBjörk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
's "Possibly Maybe" for StereogumStereogumStereogum was one of the first MP3 blogs. It was created by Scott Lapatine in January 2002 with a focus on independent and alternative music news, downloads, videos, and gossip. Stereogum has received several awards and citations, including the 2008 Plug Award for best music blog, Blender's...
.com's tribute to BjörkBjörkBjörk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
's album, Post. - February 2011 - Edward collaborated on the song "I'm Losing Myself" with Fleet FoxesFleet FoxesFleet Foxes are a folk rock band which formed in Seattle, Washington. They are signed to the Sub Pop and Bella Union record labels. The band came to prominence in 2008 with the release of their second EP, Sun Giant, and their debut full length album Fleet Foxes...
frontman Robin PecknoldRobin PecknoldRobin Noel Pecknold is an American singer, guitarist and principal songwriter for the band Fleet Foxes.-Biography:He formed Fleet Foxes with guitarist and friend Skyler Skjelset while the two were at school...
in Los Angeles.
Personal life
Droste has told OutOut (magazine)
Out is a popular gay and lesbian fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazine, with the highest circulation of any gay monthly publication in the United States. It carries itself in a similar editorial manner to Details, Esquire, and GQ. Out was published by PlanetOut Inc...
magazine that he plans to marry his boyfriend Chad McPhail in September 2011.