Gavin Castleton
Encyclopedia
Gavin Castleton is a musician/songwriter from Providence, Rhode Island
. Originally known for his work with Gruvis Malt
as keyboardist and singer, Castleton has also released seven full length albums (Hypotenuse, Dark Age, Grace Land, For the Love of Pete, Covers, Home, and Won Over Frequency) and 5 EPs (FortNightShift EP with One Drop, Hospital Hymns, A Bullet, A Lever, A Key, Window 23 with Stateless
, and Random Anthems). He has also released two full-length albums with action-adventure rock trio Ebu Gogo
. Castleton currently resides in Portland, Oregon
.
, with whom he has released 5 full length albums as well as a number of various independently-released EPs.
From 2006 to 2008 he recorded and toured in Ebu Gogo, releasing two full length albums, Chase Scenes 1-14 and Worlds. The band consists of Castleton and two members of Gruvis Malt
, Brendan Bell and Justin Abene, with Jonny Lingo drummer Chase Leonard sometimes sitting in for Bell on drums.
In 2006, Castleton collaborated with playwright Cyrus Leddy to release the bizarre spoken-word album Grace Land which chronicles the mundane life of Gary Tivoli, a clerk at a Staples store, including intimate details of his relationship with his girlfriend and his obsession with Seinfeld
. Castleton performed the narration, which was adapted from a series of interviews that Leddy conducted with Tivoli.
Castleton has recorded and performed with several bands and musicians, including One Drop
(with whom he recorded the Fortnightshift EP and One Drop's second full-length album, Of Love and Ambition), Paranoid Social Club
, Club D'Elf, and Facing New York
. He performed at the annual SXSW
festival in 2007 and 2009, showcasing the Hospital Hymns EP and some material from Home.
In late 2007 he released A Bullet, A Lever A Key, the progressive hip hop
EP that tells the story of an ever-deteriorating life in reverse-chronological order, beginning with his suicide in 2054 and ending backstage at a "present day" performance. His blog "The Great Consolidation" features entries from the future that expound on the storyline of A Bullet, A Lever, A Key and discuss his latest full-length album Home, the tale of a long term love affair interrupted by a zombie apocalypse.
On Halloween 2008 the first single from Home, "Unparallel Rabbits" was released digitally along with b-side, Gruvis Malt's "Since 1968" remixed by The Overclock Orchestra. On January 12, the second single from the album, "Coffeelocks", was released digitally along with b-side, "Shell". It enjoyed much airplay on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic (and lead to a live performance on the show in 2009). On February 13 the full album was released digitally, and on April 7 it was released in stores nationwide.
On October 12, 2009 Five One Inc. released The Random Anthems EP on iTunes. It contains three songs: Shell 2: Nephew of Shell (the sequel to Shell, produced by Zach Lipkins), Scared Scared Scared (previously released on the Japanese import of For the Love of Pete), and Hope is a Drug (produced by Overclock Orchestra). Hope is a Drug was Today's Top Tune at KCRW, and has enjoyed airplay on specialty radio shows around the country.
In Fall of 2009 he toured with a trio featuring Eduardo Torres on drums and Gray Robertson on bass, playing 67 self-booked shows criss-crossing the US. That tour also included a stint with Taking Back Sunday
, Anberlin
, and Fun., throughout which Castleton's trio was joined by members of TBS for the majority of his set.
On October 1, 2010, after a very successful Kickstarter campaign, Gavin self-released Won Over Frequency, a collection of unreleased hit songs featuring Steve Choi, Matthew Fazzi, Keith Brush, Lex Land, Brandon Clemmens, Justin Abene, Steve Geuting, and several local Portland artists. Gavin posted a video of the extensive album artwork-making process on his YouTube channel featuring the work of Aaron Nagel
, Brendan Bell, Justin Muir, and Lorna Carman. In the Fall of 2010 The Castleton Trio toured to the east coast with Lex Land and Happy Body Slow Brain
, who both joined him on stage throughout the show.
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. Originally known for his work with Gruvis Malt
Gruvis Malt
Grüvis Malt was a six piece band founded in Providence, Rhode Island in 1995. Grüvis Malt has released a total of seven full-length albums, one of which was released under Lakeshore Entertainment subsidiary Lakeshore Records, and three EPs...
as keyboardist and singer, Castleton has also released seven full length albums (Hypotenuse, Dark Age, Grace Land, For the Love of Pete, Covers, Home, and Won Over Frequency) and 5 EPs (FortNightShift EP with One Drop, Hospital Hymns, A Bullet, A Lever, A Key, Window 23 with Stateless
Stateless
- Society :* Anarchy* Stateless communism, which Karl Marx predicted would follow capitalism and socialism* Stateless nation, a group of people without a nation-state* Stateless society, a society that is not governed by a state...
, and Random Anthems). He has also released two full-length albums with action-adventure rock trio Ebu Gogo
Ebu Gogo
Ebu Gogo are a group of human-like creatures that appear in the mythology of Flores, Indonesia. In the Nage language of central Flores, ebu means 'grandmother' and gogo means 'he who eats anything'.-Appearance:...
. Castleton currently resides in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
History
Castleton is a founding member of RI band Gruvis MaltGruvis Malt
Grüvis Malt was a six piece band founded in Providence, Rhode Island in 1995. Grüvis Malt has released a total of seven full-length albums, one of which was released under Lakeshore Entertainment subsidiary Lakeshore Records, and three EPs...
, with whom he has released 5 full length albums as well as a number of various independently-released EPs.
From 2006 to 2008 he recorded and toured in Ebu Gogo, releasing two full length albums, Chase Scenes 1-14 and Worlds. The band consists of Castleton and two members of Gruvis Malt
Gruvis Malt
Grüvis Malt was a six piece band founded in Providence, Rhode Island in 1995. Grüvis Malt has released a total of seven full-length albums, one of which was released under Lakeshore Entertainment subsidiary Lakeshore Records, and three EPs...
, Brendan Bell and Justin Abene, with Jonny Lingo drummer Chase Leonard sometimes sitting in for Bell on drums.
In 2006, Castleton collaborated with playwright Cyrus Leddy to release the bizarre spoken-word album Grace Land which chronicles the mundane life of Gary Tivoli, a clerk at a Staples store, including intimate details of his relationship with his girlfriend and his obsession with Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
. Castleton performed the narration, which was adapted from a series of interviews that Leddy conducted with Tivoli.
Castleton has recorded and performed with several bands and musicians, including One Drop
One Drop
One drop may refer to:* One Drop Foundation, a non-profit organization that advocates for equal access to water* One drop rhythm, a rhythmic pattern used in reggae music and related styles...
(with whom he recorded the Fortnightshift EP and One Drop's second full-length album, Of Love and Ambition), Paranoid Social Club
Paranoid Social Club
Paranoid Social Club is a Rock/Psychedelic/indie band from Portland, Maine, United States which formed in 2002. In 2006, the band's song Wasted was included on the soundtrack of the movie Beerfest...
, Club D'Elf, and Facing New York
Facing New York
Facing New York is a three-piece progressive indie rock band from the Bay Area, California, formed in January 2004.The band is currently on Five One Inc. Records and has released two full-length albums, one EP, two splits, and one single sampler....
. He performed at the annual SXSW
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
festival in 2007 and 2009, showcasing the Hospital Hymns EP and some material from Home.
In late 2007 he released A Bullet, A Lever A Key, the progressive hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
EP that tells the story of an ever-deteriorating life in reverse-chronological order, beginning with his suicide in 2054 and ending backstage at a "present day" performance. His blog "The Great Consolidation" features entries from the future that expound on the storyline of A Bullet, A Lever, A Key and discuss his latest full-length album Home, the tale of a long term love affair interrupted by a zombie apocalypse.
On Halloween 2008 the first single from Home, "Unparallel Rabbits" was released digitally along with b-side, Gruvis Malt's "Since 1968" remixed by The Overclock Orchestra. On January 12, the second single from the album, "Coffeelocks", was released digitally along with b-side, "Shell". It enjoyed much airplay on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic (and lead to a live performance on the show in 2009). On February 13 the full album was released digitally, and on April 7 it was released in stores nationwide.
On October 12, 2009 Five One Inc. released The Random Anthems EP on iTunes. It contains three songs: Shell 2: Nephew of Shell (the sequel to Shell, produced by Zach Lipkins), Scared Scared Scared (previously released on the Japanese import of For the Love of Pete), and Hope is a Drug (produced by Overclock Orchestra). Hope is a Drug was Today's Top Tune at KCRW, and has enjoyed airplay on specialty radio shows around the country.
In Fall of 2009 he toured with a trio featuring Eduardo Torres on drums and Gray Robertson on bass, playing 67 self-booked shows criss-crossing the US. That tour also included a stint with Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday is a rock band from Long Island, NY, formed in 1999 by guitarist Eddie Reyes. Current members of the band are Adam Lazzara , John Nolan , Eddie Reyes , Shaun Cooper and Mark O'Connell ....
, Anberlin
Anberlin
Anberlin is an American rock band formed in Winter Haven, Florida in 2002. Since the beginning of 2007, the band has consisted of lead vocalist Stephen Christian, guitarists Joseph Milligan and Christian McAlhaney, bassist Deon Rexroat, and drummer Nathan Young.Members of Anberlin originally formed...
, and Fun., throughout which Castleton's trio was joined by members of TBS for the majority of his set.
On October 1, 2010, after a very successful Kickstarter campaign, Gavin self-released Won Over Frequency, a collection of unreleased hit songs featuring Steve Choi, Matthew Fazzi, Keith Brush, Lex Land, Brandon Clemmens, Justin Abene, Steve Geuting, and several local Portland artists. Gavin posted a video of the extensive album artwork-making process on his YouTube channel featuring the work of Aaron Nagel
Aaron Nagel
Aaron Nagel is the original trumpet player for punk rock/ska core act Link 80, born and raised in Berkeley, California. He currently plays guitar in the band DESA with other former Link 80 members Ryan Noble, Adam Davis, and Barry Krippine....
, Brendan Bell, Justin Muir, and Lorna Carman. In the Fall of 2010 The Castleton Trio toured to the east coast with Lex Land and Happy Body Slow Brain
Happy Body Slow Brain
Happy Body Slow Brain is a progressive R&B/Rock group from San Jose, CA and New York, NY. The band is composed of Matthew Fazzi and Isaac Bolivar , as well as Gavin Castleton Trio drummer Eduardo Torres.Their debut record, Dreams of Water, recorded with producer...
, who both joined him on stage throughout the show.
Solo Releases
- Dark Age (2004)
- Hypotenuse (2004)
- FortNightShift (EP) (2005)
- Grace Land (2006)
- Hospital Hymns (EP) (2007)
- For The Love of Pete (2007)
- A Bullet, A Lever, A Key (EP) (2007)
- Window 23 w/ Stateless (7") (2008)
- Home (2009)
- Random Anthems EP (2009)
- Covers (2009)
- Won Over Frequency (2010)
- Travelight (TBD)
Full discography
A detailed list of every release Castleton has been a part of as either a songwriter, performer, engineer or producer.| Date | Performer | Album | Media | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Subgenius | Subgenius | cassette | "engineering," vocals, keyboards, drums, graphic design |
| 1995 | Gruvis Malt Gruvis Malt Grüvis Malt was a six piece band founded in Providence, Rhode Island in 1995. Grüvis Malt has released a total of seven full-length albums, one of which was released under Lakeshore Entertainment subsidiary Lakeshore Records, and three EPs... |
Emiquis Squerve Demo | cassette | keyboards, graphic design |
| 1996 | West Coast Groove Satellite | West Coast Groove Satellite | cassette | "engineering," "mixing," all composition, keyboards, vocals, graphic design |
| West Coast Groove satellite | Funkin' Go Nuts | cassette | "engineering," "mixing," most composition, keyboards, vocals, graphic design | |
| Gruvis Malt | Breakfast All Day | cassette | production, mixing, keyboards, vocals, graphic design | |
| 1997 | Gruvis Malt | Fetus EP | cassette | production, mixing, keyboards, vocals, graphic design |
| 1998 | Gruvis Malt | Cromagnetic | CD | (aside from credits of two cassettes that were reprinted) production, vocals, keyboards, graphic design |
| 1999 | Gruvis Malt | Sound Soldiers Sound Soldiers Sound Soldiers is an album by Gruvis Malt. It was released by Integers Only in 1999.-Track listing:1. "Volume" - 3:462. "Dub / Powersnake " - 5:263. "Casual" - 4:194. "Ninja Goon / Mischief " - 6:005. "The Sticky" - 7:22... |
CD | production, mixing, keyboards, samples, vocals, graphic design |
| Flint | One Degree EP | CD | engineering, production, mixing, keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, samples, vocals, graphic design | |
| 2000 | Gruvis Malt | Backout Smiling EP | CD | keyboards, vocals, graphic design |
| 2001 | Locale AM | Sounds of Spring | CD | vocals on track 3 |
| Grüvis Malt | 3 Radio hits demo | CD | engineering, production, mixing, keyboards, vocals, drum sequencing, graphic design | |
| Keith Carini | Untitled | unreleased | engineering, mixing, keyboards | |
| 2002 | Ethan | Principia EP | CD | vocals |
| Brandon Clemmens | The Inconvincible | CD | engineering, mixing, "mastering," keyboards, graphic design | |
| Gruvis Malt | Promotional Interactive CD #1 | CD | engineering, mixing, keyboards, vocals, flash programming | |
| Gruvis Malt | Promotional Interactive CD #2 | CD | engineering, mixing, keyboards, vocals, flash programming | |
| Gruvis Malt | ...With the Spirit of a Traffic Jam | CD | engineering, mixing, production, keyboards, vocals, percussion, sequencing, graphic design | |
| 2003 | Vismal | Volume 1: A Correspondence Course in Best Friendship | CDR | engineering, mixing, "mastering," keyboards, vocals, sequencing, graphic design |
| Sage Francis | Dead Poet Live Album | CD | keyboards | |
| 2004 | Gruvis Malt | Simon Simon (album) Simon is an album by Gruvis Malt. It was released by Integers Only, an independent self-run label managed by Gruvis Malt founder Gavin Castleton, in 2004.-Track listing:#"Ark" - 4:16#"A Great Work of Fiction" - 7:16#"What Ladder?" - 2:06... |
CD | keyboards, vocals, graphic design |
| Gavin Castleton | Hypotenuse | CD | engineering, mixing, production, all composition, keyboards, drums, bass, guitar, cornet, mellophone, vocals, sequencing, graphic design | |
| Gavin Castleton | Dark Age | CD | engineering, mixing, production, all composition, keyboards, drums, bass, guitar, cornet, mellophone, vocals, sequencing, graphic design | |
| 2005 | Madjkut | The Flint | CD | keys on tracks 7-9 |
| Gavin Castleton / One Drop | FortNightShift EP | CD | engineering, mixing, composition for tracks 1-4, keyboards, vocals, graphic design | |
| Johnny Bass | I Wish You Could Love Me | MP3 | vocals | |
| Monty | The Red Shift The Red Shift The Red Shift is Monty Are I's first full-length album under their former band name, Monty. They previously released an EP and a full-length under the name Monty's Fan Club... |
CD | guitar and bass engineering on tracks 2 and 4-8, keyboard production and sequencing on tracks 2, 5, 6, and 8 | |
| Jonny Classic & The Classic Johns | Your New Favorite Record | CD | mixing, additional production, violin on track 6, assisted graphic design | |
| Sage Francis Sage Francis Paul "Sage" Francis is a hip-hop artist from Providence, Rhode Island.-Biography:Born Paul Francis in Miami, Florida, Sage Francis is a rapper/writer/performer from Providence, Rhode Island. He is the founder and CEO of the independent hip-hop record label Strange Famous Records... |
Road Tested (2003–2005) | CD | keyboards | |
| Andrew Brown | Communal Abuse remix | MP3 | production, additional keyboards | |
| Ryan McCalmon | Come Home | CD | keyboards and additional production/arrangement on track 1, 3, 4, 5 | |
| Gruvis Malt | Maximum Unicorn Maximum Unicorn Maximum Unicorn is an album by Providence, RI band Gruvis Malt. It was released independently in 2005. In May 2005, "Maximum Unicorn" was awarded Best Album in the annual Providence Phoenix Best Music Poll.-Track listing:1. Prelude2. Thomas Jackson... |
CD | engineering, production, mixing, keyboards, vocals, string arrangements, sequencing, mellophone, cornet, guitar on track 6 | |
| Vismal | Volume Zero: Cover Girls | CDR | mixing, "mastering," sequencing on track 5, production on track 6, vocals on tracks 2 and 5,keyboards on tracks 4, 6, 7, and 10, arrangement on track 1, 4-6, 10 | |
| 2006 | Ebu Gogo | Chase Scenes 1-14 | CDR | keyboards, engineering, mixing (both with Justin Abene) |
| Gavin Castleton & Cyrus Leddy | Grace Land | CD | vocals, engineering, production, keyboards, guitar (except track 8), sequencing, mixing | |
| 2007 | Gavin Castleton | Hospital Hymns EP | CD | vocals, engineering, production, keyboards, string arrangements, bass, drums, guitar (except track 2 and 5), sequencing, mixing, graphic design |
| Meiko | Haunt & Habit Remixes | MP3 | production, keyboards, sequencing, engineering, mixing | |
| Gavin Castleton | A Bullet, A Lever, A Key EP | CD | vocals, production, keyboards, composition, additional percussion, sequencing, mixing (with Rob Pemberton), graphic design | |
| Gavin Castleton | For the Love of Pete | CD | vocals, production, keyboards, composition, sequencing, mixing, graphic design (with Jenny Lederer) | |
| 2008 | One Drop | Of Love and Ambition | digital release | additional engineering, production, keyboards, horn and vocal arrangement, sequencing and additional percussion, guitar on track 8 and 10 |
| Ebu Gogo | Worlds | CD | synthesizers | |
| Stateless Stateless (band) Stateless are an English electronic alternative rock band, founded in 2002 and based in Leeds. The group comprises Chris James , kidkanevil , Justin Percival and David Levin .Stateless earned a recording contract with Sony Music and released their first single "Down Here" in 2004... feat. Gavin Castleton |
Window 23/The Great White Whale 7" | vinyl | vocals | |
| Gavin Castleton | Unparallel Rabbits / Since 1968 Overclock Orchestra Remix | MP3 | vocals, composition, keyboards, sequencing, production, graphic design | |
| 2009 | Gavin Castleton | Coffeelocks / Shell produced by Zach Lipkins" | MP3 | vocals, composition, keyboards, sequencing, production |
| Gavin Castleton | Home | CD | vocals, composition, keyboards, sequencing, production, additional percussion | |
| Gavin Castleton | Random Anthems EP | MP3 | vocals, composition, keyboards, sequencing, production, guitar | |
| Gavin Castleton | Covers | CDR | vocals, arrangement, keyboards, sequencing, production, guitar, cornet, melophone | |
| 2010 | Blak | Feast for a King | MP3 | composition, production, mixing, sequencing, keyboards, guitar |
| Gavin Castleton | Won Over Frequency | CD | vocals, arrangement, keyboards, sequencing, production | |
| 2011 | Gavin Castleton | Swim Good (Frank Ocean cover) | MP3 | production, mixing, sequencing, vocal |