Jeremy Gloff
Encyclopedia
Jeremy Gloff is an American
performance artist, advice columnist, singer, and songwriter
.
on January 8, 1975. He currently lives in Tampa, FL.
Jeremy began his performance career in Fredonia, New York from 1993 to 1999, during which time he essentially self-produced a handful of cathartic "indie" pop/rock albums, which for the most part have followed a consistent formula involving gay relationships, alienation within the "gay community", along with fairly candid (and often dark) stories related to coming of age and coping with social and sexual identity in the gay and lesbian community.
Early songs, including "Straight Femme" (from 1995's "Heavy Machinery") had lyrics such as: "It’s an ugly paradox when he’s on top of Goldilocks. Well I’m not the only one who thinks he swings both ways."
1999's "Green Arrow" was about obsessive-compulsive disorder
: "Its 2:00... at 2:03. If the floor's wet you'll die lonely, Ten hang-ups on his machine, The sickness of a routine."
"Leaving" (from 1996's Midnight Blooming) offered clues to a transitional period for Gloff, both in his personal life and in his music. He would ultimately leave New York and re-emerge in Tampa, FL in 2000 with the release of "Spin Girl Spin":
"It is obvious Gloff is doing his damnest [sic] to shake himself from the ghosts of his past. The tuneful quirkiness of his home-recorded releases is replaced with an almost anonymous indie-rock sound.... But despite the transitional nature of this album, many of the songs are dark and haunting. It's easy to get lost in the gorgeous wonder of "Infrawhite" or to feel the rage in "Johnny". You can hear a very disturbed person in these minor chord mini epics."
Historically, there have been notable discrepancies in how Gloff's lyrics and subject matter are received, among gay and straight reviewers:
A March 1999 review in Ink 19 had this to say about 1999's self-titled "Jeremy Gloff": "Over 14 songs, Jeremy lets us in to his world, and sometimes it's a very scary place to be."
Meanwhile, Queer Radio describes Jeremy's work as "Lyrically very honest and refreshing."
and Portland's Summer (singer)
in 2004. This tour led to Gloff and Summer releasing albums with an experimental, freely redistributable "open source licensing" scheme under the Lossless Records
label.
Now's The Right Time To Feel Good was #10 on OutVoice's Online GLBT Top 40 CD Chart in 2006.
His music was featured on the soundtrack for the 2006 film "Hooked", which was a documentary exploring the “online cruising” phenomenon in the gay community.
Gloff's music appeared on Don Waters 2006 compilation Kitestringing: The Prison Literature Project Benefit CD.
2008 saw the album release of "1987", a send-off of 1980s dance music, and a radical departure from Gloff's earlier work. Jeremy received a jab for the dance album in an appearance on Penn & Teller: Bullshit! (Season 6, episode 10).
In June 2008, Jeremy was performing a cover of Jill Jones
acoustic song "So Much In Love" in New York
(in the dance style of "1987") and Jill surprised audience members by getting up on stage to sing along.
Jeremy Gloff's visibility has increased recently on the Tampa Bay scene. His song "Losing Fahrenheit" was featured in the soundtrack from 2009's independent documentary Strip Club King: The story of Joe Redner. Jeremy was in attendance at the film's March 2009 premier in Ybor City.
Jeremy is also a visual artist, well-known for pulling visual pranks on locals and protesters in Ybor City. In June 2009, the Tampa Bay Times named him "Artist of the Day": "Simultaneously funny, twisted, spunky and inspirational, Jeremy Gloff is an icon in Tampa Bay. Whether he dazzles audiences via his ever-changing performance styles, "Rickrolls" passersby in Ybor City or provides insight by way of his advice column, "Dear Gloffy," in Reax Magazine, he hasn’t failed to entertain and surprise his fans."
Tampa Bay's WMNF 88.5FM has had similar comments about Gloff's eccentric and engaging performance style: "With a voice that recalls Michael Stipe in a helium cloud and a piano-driven songwriting style that hovers somewhere between Ben Folds' snarky epics and R.E.M.'s rolling diary entries, one of Tampa's favorite eccentrics is often a breathtaking talent, a man capable of gut-wrenching crescendos and swoony melodies. That said, Gloff is also a bit of a nutter. And I mean that in a good way, too."
Jeremy is recording a new (as yet untitled) album, scheduled for release in November, 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
performance artist, advice columnist, singer, and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
.
Biography
Jeremy was born in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on January 8, 1975. He currently lives in Tampa, FL.
Jeremy began his performance career in Fredonia, New York from 1993 to 1999, during which time he essentially self-produced a handful of cathartic "indie" pop/rock albums, which for the most part have followed a consistent formula involving gay relationships, alienation within the "gay community", along with fairly candid (and often dark) stories related to coming of age and coping with social and sexual identity in the gay and lesbian community.
Early songs, including "Straight Femme" (from 1995's "Heavy Machinery") had lyrics such as: "It’s an ugly paradox when he’s on top of Goldilocks. Well I’m not the only one who thinks he swings both ways."
1999's "Green Arrow" was about obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive–compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety, or by a combination of such obsessions and compulsions...
: "Its 2:00... at 2:03. If the floor's wet you'll die lonely, Ten hang-ups on his machine, The sickness of a routine."
"Leaving" (from 1996's Midnight Blooming) offered clues to a transitional period for Gloff, both in his personal life and in his music. He would ultimately leave New York and re-emerge in Tampa, FL in 2000 with the release of "Spin Girl Spin":
"It is obvious Gloff is doing his damnest [sic] to shake himself from the ghosts of his past. The tuneful quirkiness of his home-recorded releases is replaced with an almost anonymous indie-rock sound.... But despite the transitional nature of this album, many of the songs are dark and haunting. It's easy to get lost in the gorgeous wonder of "Infrawhite" or to feel the rage in "Johnny". You can hear a very disturbed person in these minor chord mini epics."
Following
As an openly gay performer singing about his life and issues as a gay man, Jeremy's music has been (if anything) most popular among gay and lesbian audiences and venues in Tampa, FL, where he is regarded as one of the "local scene's best GLBT musicians"Historically, there have been notable discrepancies in how Gloff's lyrics and subject matter are received, among gay and straight reviewers:
A March 1999 review in Ink 19 had this to say about 1999's self-titled "Jeremy Gloff": "Over 14 songs, Jeremy lets us in to his world, and sometimes it's a very scary place to be."
Meanwhile, Queer Radio describes Jeremy's work as "Lyrically very honest and refreshing."
Career in Tampa
Gloff toured with Seattle's Betty XBetty X
Betty X, is an American musician, artist, and writer known for her controversial stage persona and image as the lead singer of the eponymous band Betty X. Her stage name was formed the combination of 1950's American icons, domestic goddess Betty Crocker, pin-up model Bettie Page with the human...
and Portland's Summer (singer)
Summer (singer)
Summer is an American singer-songwriter and visual artist, best known for the singles, “Have to Leave,” “Not a Love Song,” and "Pink Elephants." Her first full-length album, Timing and Lighting, was released in September 2008...
in 2004. This tour led to Gloff and Summer releasing albums with an experimental, freely redistributable "open source licensing" scheme under the Lossless Records
LossLess Records
LossLess Records is an American record label founded by Bill Bauman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2006. LossLess Records' founding artist was Summer and they later signed Jeremy Gloff in 2008...
label.
Now's The Right Time To Feel Good was #10 on OutVoice's Online GLBT Top 40 CD Chart in 2006.
His music was featured on the soundtrack for the 2006 film "Hooked", which was a documentary exploring the “online cruising” phenomenon in the gay community.
Gloff's music appeared on Don Waters 2006 compilation Kitestringing: The Prison Literature Project Benefit CD.
In June 2008, Jeremy was performing a cover of Jill Jones
Jill Jones
Jill Jones is an American singer and songwriter, who was a backing vocalist for Teena Marie and Prince in the 1980s.-Biography:...
acoustic song "So Much In Love" in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(in the dance style of "1987") and Jill surprised audience members by getting up on stage to sing along.
Jeremy Gloff's visibility has increased recently on the Tampa Bay scene. His song "Losing Fahrenheit" was featured in the soundtrack from 2009's independent documentary Strip Club King: The story of Joe Redner. Jeremy was in attendance at the film's March 2009 premier in Ybor City.
Jeremy is also a visual artist, well-known for pulling visual pranks on locals and protesters in Ybor City. In June 2009, the Tampa Bay Times named him "Artist of the Day": "Simultaneously funny, twisted, spunky and inspirational, Jeremy Gloff is an icon in Tampa Bay. Whether he dazzles audiences via his ever-changing performance styles, "Rickrolls" passersby in Ybor City or provides insight by way of his advice column, "Dear Gloffy," in Reax Magazine, he hasn’t failed to entertain and surprise his fans."
Tampa Bay's WMNF 88.5FM has had similar comments about Gloff's eccentric and engaging performance style: "With a voice that recalls Michael Stipe in a helium cloud and a piano-driven songwriting style that hovers somewhere between Ben Folds' snarky epics and R.E.M.'s rolling diary entries, one of Tampa's favorite eccentrics is often a breathtaking talent, a man capable of gut-wrenching crescendos and swoony melodies. That said, Gloff is also a bit of a nutter. And I mean that in a good way, too."
Jeremy is recording a new (as yet untitled) album, scheduled for release in November, 2009.
Albums
- 1987 (2008), LossLess RecordsLossLess RecordsLossLess Records is an American record label founded by Bill Bauman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2006. LossLess Records' founding artist was Summer and they later signed Jeremy Gloff in 2008...
- Now is the right time to feel good (2006)
- America Is Lonely Tonight (2001)
- Spin Girl Spin (2000)
External links
- www.losslessrecords.com Lossless Records
- www.outmusic.com: Jeremy Gloff at The Alliance of LGBT Recording Artists and Performers
- www.jeremygloff.com Jeremy Gloff's official website
- www.reaxmusic.com: Dear Gloffy on Reax Music Magazine
- www.stripclubkingmovie.com Strip Club King: The story of Joe Redner
- www.sho.com Jeremy Gloff on Penn and Teller's Bullshit!
- www.babalupictures.com Hooked: The documentary
- www.youtube.com Jeremy Gloff Rick Rolls the Christians
- www.apple.com/search/ipodtunes Jeremy Gloff on iTunes Music Store
- www.jeremygloff.com/discography.html Full discography at www.jeremygloff.com