My Brightest Diamond
Encyclopedia
My Brightest Diamond is the project of singer–songwriter
and multi-instrumentalist
Shara Worden
. The band has released two studio album
s, 2006's Bring Me the Workhorse
and 2008's A Thousand Shark's Teeth
, along with a remix album Tear It Down
and a download-only
release through iTunes
. Worden has also performed with Sufjan Stevens
as a member of the Illinoismakers and appeared on the Jedi Mind Tricks
album "Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell
".
and Nina Nastasia
and their intimate performances at venues such as Tonic, the Living Room, and the Knitting Factory.
She began performing and recording while a student at the University of North Texas
in Denton
. She released an album entitled Word in 1998 under the name "Shara". Following the completion of her BM in Classical Vocal Performance, she moved to Moscow where she documented several newly written songs and released them on CD-Rs with hand-made artwork as an EP entitled Session I. In 1999, she moved to Brooklyn, New York and began performing and recording as AwRY, gathering a supporting group of musicians playing everything from wine glasses to wind chimes, and eventually added a string quartet after studying and collaborating with Australian composer Padma Newsome. She released an eponymous album, which was largely a reworking of songs from Word and is often referred to as The Orange Album; Quiet B-Sides in 2001, as well as a remix album in 2003. Shara Worden contributed xylophone, keyboard and backing vocals to the CD Recession Special of Bogs Visionary Orchestra in 2003. After meeting fellow transplanted Michigander Sufjan Stevens
, she became one of his Illinoisemakers and took a hiatus from her own work to perform on his Illinois tour as cheerleading captain. When the tour was over, Worden renamed her project My Brightest Diamond and set to work on two albums: A Thousand Shark's Teeth
, a collection of songs performed with a string quartet, and Bring Me the Workhorse
, a more rock-oriented set that was released on Stevens' Asthmatic Kitty in summer 2006. My Brightest Diamond toured with Stevens that fall in support of the album. In 2006 she did a Take-Away Show video session with Vincent Moon
. In early 2007, My Brightest Diamond toured in support of the popular indie band, The Decemberists
, as part of their "Twilight in the Fearful Forest" Tour. A Thousand Shark's Teeth
was released worldwide on Asthmatic Kitty on June 2, 2008, with a US release following on June 17.
My Brightest Diamond contributed a cover of Radiohead
's "Lucky
" for the 2007 Stereogum
tribute album OKX
. They recorded a cover of Gloria Jones'
/Soft Cell's
"Tainted Love
" for Engine Room Recordings
' compilation album Guilt by Association Vol. 2
, which was released in November 2008. They've also contributed a cover of the Anthony Newley
/Leslie Bricusse
song "Feeling Good
" to the Red Hot Organization
's compilation, Dark Was the Night
, released in 2009.
She featured on the David Byrne
and Fatboy Slim
2010 album Here Lies Love
.
Shara Worden provided all the vocals for Sarah Kirkland Snider's song cycle, Penelope, which was released on New Amsterdam Records
in 2010.
My Brightest Diamond will release the follow-up to their 2008 record A Thousand Shark's Teeth
, entitled All Things Will Unwind, on October 18 2011, courtesy of Asthmatic Kitty
.
Singer–songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
Shara Worden
Shara Worden
Shara Worden is the lead singer and songwriter for My Brightest Diamond. She was previously a backup vocalist for Sufjan Stevens and the frontwoman of Awry.-Life:...
. The band has released two studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
s, 2006's Bring Me the Workhorse
Bring Me the Workhorse
-Track listing:All tracks written by Shara Worden.# "Something of an End" – 4:51# "Golden Star" – 2:55# "Gone Away" – 4:42# "Dragonfly" – 5:24# "Freak Out" – 3:33# "We Were Sparkling" – 2:43# "Disappear" – 4:04# "The Robin's Jar" – 3:20...
and 2008's A Thousand Shark's Teeth
A Thousand Shark's Teeth
A Thousand Shark's Teeth is the second album by My Brightest Diamond, released on June 2, 2008, worldwide, and June 17, 2008, in the US, on Asthmatic Kitty.-Track listing:All tracks written by Shara Worden.# "Inside a Boy"# "Ice and The Storm"...
, along with a remix album Tear It Down
Tear It Down (My Brightest Diamond album)
Tear It Down is the second album by My Brightest Diamond. It features remixed versions of the songs from the artist's previous album, Bring Me the Workhorse.- Track listing :# "Golden Star" – 3:20# "Workhorse" – 4:35...
and a download-only
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
release through iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
. Worden has also performed with Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
as a member of the Illinoismakers and appeared on the Jedi Mind Tricks
Jedi Mind Tricks
Jedi Mind Tricks is a hip hop duo with Vinnie Paz from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Jus Allah from Camden, New Jersey. The group was founded by two high school friends, rapper Vinnie Paz and former producer/DJ Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind...
album "Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell
Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell
Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell is the fifth studio album by hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks. It was released September 19, 2006 through Babygrande Records. The first single, "Heavy Metal Kings", featuring Ill Bill of La Coka Nostra, was released in early August through iTunes and a limited...
".
Career
My Brightest Diamond mixes elements of opera, cabaret, chamber music, and rock. While living in New York City, Worden began writing her own material, which had one foot in her classical training and the other in the avant rock she was discovering. She became as involved in the world of underground rock as she was in the realms of classical music, becoming inspired by the likes of Antony and the JohnsonsAntony and the Johnsons
Antony and the Johnsons is a music group presenting the work of Antony Hegarty and his collaborators.-Career:British experimental musician David Tibet of Current 93 heard a demo and offered to release Antony's music through his Durtro label. The debut album, Antony and the Johnsons, was released...
and Nina Nastasia
Nina Nastasia
Nina Nastasia is a New York City-based singer-songwriter born in Hollywood, California.-Biography:She began writing songs in 1993, and released her first album, Dogs, in 2000. Only 1,500 copies of the album were initially pressed, with Nastasia putting together the album packaging herself in her...
and their intimate performances at venues such as Tonic, the Living Room, and the Knitting Factory.
She began performing and recording while a student at the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
in Denton
Denton, Texas
The city of Denton is the county seat of Denton County, Texas in the United States. Its population was 119,454 according to the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the eleventh largest city in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex...
. She released an album entitled Word in 1998 under the name "Shara". Following the completion of her BM in Classical Vocal Performance, she moved to Moscow where she documented several newly written songs and released them on CD-Rs with hand-made artwork as an EP entitled Session I. In 1999, she moved to Brooklyn, New York and began performing and recording as AwRY, gathering a supporting group of musicians playing everything from wine glasses to wind chimes, and eventually added a string quartet after studying and collaborating with Australian composer Padma Newsome. She released an eponymous album, which was largely a reworking of songs from Word and is often referred to as The Orange Album; Quiet B-Sides in 2001, as well as a remix album in 2003. Shara Worden contributed xylophone, keyboard and backing vocals to the CD Recession Special of Bogs Visionary Orchestra in 2003. After meeting fellow transplanted Michigander Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
, she became one of his Illinoisemakers and took a hiatus from her own work to perform on his Illinois tour as cheerleading captain. When the tour was over, Worden renamed her project My Brightest Diamond and set to work on two albums: A Thousand Shark's Teeth
A Thousand Shark's Teeth
A Thousand Shark's Teeth is the second album by My Brightest Diamond, released on June 2, 2008, worldwide, and June 17, 2008, in the US, on Asthmatic Kitty.-Track listing:All tracks written by Shara Worden.# "Inside a Boy"# "Ice and The Storm"...
, a collection of songs performed with a string quartet, and Bring Me the Workhorse
Bring Me the Workhorse
-Track listing:All tracks written by Shara Worden.# "Something of an End" – 4:51# "Golden Star" – 2:55# "Gone Away" – 4:42# "Dragonfly" – 5:24# "Freak Out" – 3:33# "We Were Sparkling" – 2:43# "Disappear" – 4:04# "The Robin's Jar" – 3:20...
, a more rock-oriented set that was released on Stevens' Asthmatic Kitty in summer 2006. My Brightest Diamond toured with Stevens that fall in support of the album. In 2006 she did a Take-Away Show video session with Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon is an independent filmmaker from Paris mainly known for his field work music videos of indie rock related musicians as well as some notable mainstream artists like Tom Jones, R.E.M. or Arcade Fire. Besides making music videos he also makes experimental films and documentaries...
. In early 2007, My Brightest Diamond toured in support of the popular indie band, The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists are an indie folk rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk , Jenny Conlee , Nate Query , and John Moen .The band's...
, as part of their "Twilight in the Fearful Forest" Tour. A Thousand Shark's Teeth
A Thousand Shark's Teeth
A Thousand Shark's Teeth is the second album by My Brightest Diamond, released on June 2, 2008, worldwide, and June 17, 2008, in the US, on Asthmatic Kitty.-Track listing:All tracks written by Shara Worden.# "Inside a Boy"# "Ice and The Storm"...
was released worldwide on Asthmatic Kitty on June 2, 2008, with a US release following on June 17.
My Brightest Diamond contributed a cover of Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
's "Lucky
Lucky (Radiohead song)
"Lucky" is a song by Radiohead. In December 1997, the song was released as a promotional single in France.- Recording and release :In 1995, Radiohead—singer Thom Yorke, guitarists Jonny Greenwood and Ed O'Brien, bassist Colin Greenwood and drummer Phil Selway—were on tour in promotion of their...
" for the 2007 Stereogum
Stereogum
Stereogum 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...
tribute album OKX
OKX
Stereogum Presents... OKX: A Tribute to OK Computer is a free, downloadable tribute album to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Radiohead's OK Computer. The tribute album features songs by a variety of bands including the Cold War Kids, Vampire Weekend, My Brightest Diamond, and The Twilight Sad...
. They recorded a cover of Gloria Jones'
Gloria Jones
Gloria Richetta Jones is an American singer and songwriter from Los Angeles, California. She recorded the 1964 northern soul song, "Tainted Love", later a hit for the British synth-pop duo, Soft Cell. She was the girlfriend of glam rock artist Marc Bolan of the band T...
/Soft Cell's
Soft Cell
Soft Cell are an English synthpop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s. They consist of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. The duo is most widely known for their 1981 worldwide hit version of "Tainted Love" and platinum debut Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret...
"Tainted Love
Tainted Love
"Tainted Love" is a song composed by Ed Cobb, formerly of The Four Preps, which was originally recorded by Gloria Jones in 1965. It attained worldwide fame after being covered by Soft Cell in 1981, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart, and has since been covered by numerous groups and...
" for Engine Room Recordings
Engine Room Recordings
Engine Room Recordings is an independent record label with a roster of Indie rock and Alternative rock musicians. Beyond marketing and distribution for its artists, the label does booking and artist management....
' compilation album Guilt by Association Vol. 2
Guilt by Association Vol. 2
Guilt by Association Vol. 2 is a compilation album released November 18, 2008 by Engine Room Recordings. Like its predecessor, Guilt by Association Vol. 1, it features indie rock artists covering well-known pop and R&B songs.-Overview:...
, which was released in November 2008. They've also contributed a cover of the Anthony Newley
Anthony Newley
Anthony George Newley was an English actor, singer and songwriter. He enjoyed success as a performer in such diverse fields as rock and roll and stage and screen acting.-Early life:...
/Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse is an English composer, lyricist, and playwright.Although best known for his partnership with Anthony Newley, Bricusse has worked with many other composers. He was educated at University College School in London and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge...
song "Feeling Good
Feeling Good
"Feeling Good" is a song written by English singer-songwriters Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd starring Cy Grant, who sang the original version of the song...
" to the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
's compilation, Dark Was the Night
Dark Was the Night
Dark Was the Night is the twentieth compilation release benefiting the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS...
, released in 2009.
She featured on the David Byrne
David Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
and Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim
Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
2010 album Here Lies Love
Here Lies Love
Here Lies Love is a concept album and rock musical made in collaboration between David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, about the life of the former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos along with the woman who raised her—Estrella Cumpas—and follows Marcos until she and her family were forced to leave...
.
Shara Worden provided all the vocals for Sarah Kirkland Snider's song cycle, Penelope, which was released on New Amsterdam Records
New Amsterdam Records
New Amsterdam Records is a New York City based record label. It was formed in 2008 by Judd Greenstein, Sarah Kirkland Snider, and William Brittelle to promote classically-trained musicians who fall in between traditional genre boundaries. Often abbreviated as NewAm, the organization has been hailed...
in 2010.
My Brightest Diamond will release the follow-up to their 2008 record A Thousand Shark's Teeth
A Thousand Shark's Teeth
A Thousand Shark's Teeth is the second album by My Brightest Diamond, released on June 2, 2008, worldwide, and June 17, 2008, in the US, on Asthmatic Kitty.-Track listing:All tracks written by Shara Worden.# "Inside a Boy"# "Ice and The Storm"...
, entitled All Things Will Unwind, on October 18 2011, courtesy of Asthmatic Kitty
Asthmatic Kitty
Asthmatic Kitty is an American independent record label founded in 1999 by a community of musicians from Holland, Michigan led by musician Sufjan Stevens and his stepfather Lowell Brams. Some were Holland natives, and others had come to attend local colleges and universities...
.
Albums
- Bring Me the WorkhorseBring Me the Workhorse-Track listing:All tracks written by Shara Worden.# "Something of an End" – 4:51# "Golden Star" – 2:55# "Gone Away" – 4:42# "Dragonfly" – 5:24# "Freak Out" – 3:33# "We Were Sparkling" – 2:43# "Disappear" – 4:04# "The Robin's Jar" – 3:20...
(2006) - Tear It DownTear It Down (My Brightest Diamond album)Tear It Down is the second album by My Brightest Diamond. It features remixed versions of the songs from the artist's previous album, Bring Me the Workhorse.- Track listing :# "Golden Star" – 3:20# "Workhorse" – 4:35...
(2007) – remix album - A Thousand Shark's TeethA Thousand Shark's TeethA Thousand Shark's Teeth is the second album by My Brightest Diamond, released on June 2, 2008, worldwide, and June 17, 2008, in the US, on Asthmatic Kitty.-Track listing:All tracks written by Shara Worden.# "Inside a Boy"# "Ice and The Storm"...
(2008) - All Things Will Unwind (2011)
Compilations
- "Lucky" from the OKX: A Tribute to OK Computer compilation (2007)
- "Tainted Love" from the Guilt by Association Vol. 2Guilt by Association Vol. 2Guilt by Association Vol. 2 is a compilation album released November 18, 2008 by Engine Room Recordings. Like its predecessor, Guilt by Association Vol. 1, it features indie rock artists covering well-known pop and R&B songs.-Overview:...
compilation (2008) - "Feeling Good" from the Dark Was the NightDark Was the NightDark Was the Night is the twentieth compilation release benefiting the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS...
collection (2009)