Jonathan Meiburg
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Meiburg, born in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 1st, 1976, is a multi-instrumentalist musician and the lead singer and songwriter for Shearwater
(2001–present), a band he co-founded with Will Sheff
in Austin, Texas
. He also shared duties with Sheff as a member of Okkervil River (1999–2008). Due to increased popularity and touring conflicts between the two acts, however, Meiburg left Okkervil River in May 2008. He first started his musical career with Whu Gnu
in 1993.
Meiburg has a bachelor's degree in English, with a minor in Religion, from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee
, and received a Thomas J. Watson fellowship to study daily life in remote human communities. After a year spent in such diverse places as the Falkland Island, Tierra del Fuego, the Aboriginal settlement of Kowanyama in Australia, the Chatham Islands of New Zealand, and the Inuit settlement of Kimmirut in Baffin Island, Canada, he enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a master's degree in Geography and wrote a thesis titled "The Biogeography of Striated Caracara
s (Phalcoboenus australis)". He is an avid birder, and his love of birds shows itself in Shearwater's name, and in the titles of several of the band's albums and EPs.
Meiburg has recorded some material as a solo artist, though he tends to only sell these records at Shearwater tour dates. He has also worked occasionally as a backing musician for singer Bill Callahan.
His latest work is collaboration with Jamie Stewart
of Xiu Xiu
, named Blue Water White Death. Debut album was released in October 2010 on Graveface Records
.
Shearwater (band)
Shearwater is an American indie rock band formed in Austin, Texas in 1999 by Okkervil River members Jonathan Meiburg and Will Sheff, although Sheff is no longer with Shearwater.-History:...
(2001–present), a band he co-founded with Will Sheff
Will Sheff
Will Sheff is the frontman for the Austin, Texas-based indie band Okkervil River . Originally from Meriden, New Hampshire, he is also a founding member and co-songwriter for Shearwater , another Austin band...
in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. He also shared duties with Sheff as a member of Okkervil River (1999–2008). Due to increased popularity and touring conflicts between the two acts, however, Meiburg left Okkervil River in May 2008. He first started his musical career with Whu Gnu
Whu Gnu
Whu Gnu was a folk rock band formed in Bedford, Texas in 1993.-History: Jonathan Meiburg began Whu Gnu out of two previous musical ensembles: 'Mysterious Union' and the Lawrence Dale Bell High School Jazz Band. The original lineup of the band included Ken Evers-Hood, Joe Reeves, Bo Griffin, Mike...
in 1993.
Meiburg has a bachelor's degree in English, with a minor in Religion, from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee is an unincorporated locality in Franklin County, Tennessee, United States, treated by the U.S. Census as a census-designated place . The population was 2,361 at the 2000 census...
, and received a Thomas J. Watson fellowship to study daily life in remote human communities. After a year spent in such diverse places as the Falkland Island, Tierra del Fuego, the Aboriginal settlement of Kowanyama in Australia, the Chatham Islands of New Zealand, and the Inuit settlement of Kimmirut in Baffin Island, Canada, he enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a master's degree in Geography and wrote a thesis titled "The Biogeography of Striated Caracara
Striated Caracara
The Striated Caracara, is a bird of prey of the Falconidae family. In the Falkland Islands it is known as the Johnny Rook.-Description:...
s (Phalcoboenus australis)". He is an avid birder, and his love of birds shows itself in Shearwater's name, and in the titles of several of the band's albums and EPs.
Meiburg has recorded some material as a solo artist, though he tends to only sell these records at Shearwater tour dates. He has also worked occasionally as a backing musician for singer Bill Callahan.
His latest work is collaboration with Jamie Stewart
Jamie Stewart
James "Jamie" Cyrus Stewart is the front-man of the American musical group Xiu Xiu , a former front-man of IBOPA and Ten in the Swear Jar and a current member of Former Ghosts. He was also a member of 7 Year Rabbit Cycle which has since disbanded...
of Xiu Xiu
Xiu Xiu
Xiu Xiu is an American avant-garde group originally from San Jose, California. The band is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart, who has been its only constant member since its inception in 2002. His current bandmate is Angela Seo...
, named Blue Water White Death. Debut album was released in October 2010 on Graveface Records
Graveface records
Graveface Records is an independent record label from Chicago, Illinois. It has released recordings by The Appleseed Cast, Monster Movie, Dreamend, Jakob, Spires That in the Sunset Rise, Daturah, The Loose Salute, Hundred Hands, Black Moth Super Rainbow, and Power Pill Fist.List of known releases...
.