Tiny Animals
Encyclopedia
Tiny Animals is an American alternative rock
band from Katonah, New York
. Formed in early 2007, the group consisted of siblings Chris Howerton (lead vocals/guitar) and Rita Maye (drums/vocals). Anton Kreisl (bass/vocals) joined in early 2008 to replace Philip Galitzine (currently a member of the band Atomic Tom
).
, the band decided to re-record and self-produce all 12 songs in the fall of 2008. The majority of these tracks were mixed by Claudius Mittendorfer, best known for his work with Interpol
, Muse
, Franz Ferdinand
, and Ash
. On May 12, 2009, the album was released by Howerton's record label, North Street Records, which is also home to bands such as Dirty on Purpose
and TAB the Band
. Critical reception of the album was generally favorable and exposure was bolstered by radio play on NYC's 92.3 K-Rock (WXRK), Boston's WFNX
, and an "MP3 of the day" feature on AOL
Spinner.
In June 2009, Tiny Animals recorded a performance of "Useless" for the syndicated program Fearless Music
.
In the fall of 2009, the band achieved success at college radio by peaking at #131 on the CMJ Top 200 College Radio chart. The album remained on the chart for over a month.
Tiny Animals' tour history includes showcases at major music festivals SXSW 2008 and CMJ Music Marathon
2007, '08, and '09. The band was also selected to perform at Bonnaroo 2010.
's The Real World: Cancun
and The Real World XXIII: Washington DC, MTV's Teen Mom
, MTV's College Life, and MTV's 16 and Pregnant.
One of the band's other songs called "Norway", which had been previously recorded by Fighterpilot and another song called "Is this the last time" (Season 3, Ep.2) was featured on MTV's extremely popular series, Jersey Shore (TV series)
.
The band's first music video for the song "Useless" was filmed in August 2009 and released on September 9, 2009. It was later hosted on major sites such as MTV.com.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from Katonah, New York
Katonah, New York
Katonah, New York is one of three unincorporated hamlets within the town of Bedford, Westchester County, New York, United States.-History:Katonah is named for Chief Katonah, an American Indian from whom the land of Bedford was purchased by a group of English colonists...
. Formed in early 2007, the group consisted of siblings Chris Howerton (lead vocals/guitar) and Rita Maye (drums/vocals). Anton Kreisl (bass/vocals) joined in early 2008 to replace Philip Galitzine (currently a member of the band Atomic Tom
Atomic Tom
Atomic Tom is a rock band from Brooklyn, New York, consisting of Luke White , Eric Espiritu , Philip Galitzine , and Tobias Smith .-History:...
).
History
Tiny Animals was formed in 2007 by siblings Chris Howerton and Rita Maye approximately one year after Howerton's previous band, Fighterpilot, broke up. Fighterpilot, of which Anton Kreisl was also a member, never formally released an album, but several of the songs were included on Tiny Animals' debut album, Sweet Sweetness. After the album was recorded with original bassist Philip Galitzine in August 2007 by Canadian producer/engineer Darryl NeudorfDarryl Neudorf
Darryl Neudorf is a Canadian musician, record producer and audio engineer.He was the drummer for 54-40 from 1982–1986. He is best known during this time for co-writing the hit song "I Go Blind", a Canadian hit which was later covered by U.S...
, the band decided to re-record and self-produce all 12 songs in the fall of 2008. The majority of these tracks were mixed by Claudius Mittendorfer, best known for his work with Interpol
Interpol (band)
Interpol is an American indie rock and post-punk revival band from New York City. Formed in 1997, the band's original line-up consisted of Paul Banks , Daniel Kessler , Carlos Dengler and Greg Drudy . Drudy left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Sam Fogarino...
, Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
, Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (band)
Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos , Bob Hardy , Nick McCarthy , and Paul Thomson .The band first experienced chart success when their second single, "Take Me Out", reached #3 in...
, and Ash
Ash (band)
Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The band has sold 8 million albums worldwide.-Band beginning, Trailer and 1977 :...
. On May 12, 2009, the album was released by Howerton's record label, North Street Records, which is also home to bands such as Dirty on Purpose
Dirty on Purpose
Dirty on Purpose was a four-piece band from Brooklyn, NY, whose music is often described as indie pop or shoegaze. Composed of Doug Marvin , Joseph Jurewicz , George Wilson and DJ Boudreau , the band formed in 2002 and started playing around New York. The band's music is guitar-oriented with...
and TAB the Band
TAB the Band
TAB the Band is an American indie rock band from Duxbury, Massachusetts. Formed in December 2006, the group consisted of brothers Adrian Perry and Tony Perry , and Ben Tileston . In August 2008, Lou Jannetty joined the band...
. Critical reception of the album was generally favorable and exposure was bolstered by radio play on NYC's 92.3 K-Rock (WXRK), Boston's WFNX
WFNX
WFNX is a New England commercial alternative rock radio station. The station began broadcasting on Monday, April 11, 1983. It was one of the first American commercial stations to play alternative rock and has become a leading radio station for breaking new alternative music.WFNX broadcasts on 101.7...
, and an "MP3 of the day" feature on AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
Spinner.
In June 2009, Tiny Animals recorded a performance of "Useless" for the syndicated program Fearless Music
Fearless Music
Fearless Music is a musical showcase filmed in New York City, NY featuring bands that are on the cusp of the mainstream and indie rock circuits. The word "fearless" refers to the show taking a chance on musicians that other mainstream media would be afraid to promote.The show started and currently...
.
In the fall of 2009, the band achieved success at college radio by peaking at #131 on the CMJ Top 200 College Radio chart. The album remained on the chart for over a month.
Tiny Animals' tour history includes showcases at major music festivals SXSW 2008 and CMJ Music Marathon
CMJ Music Marathon
CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival is put on by CMJ Network. CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival 2010 is scheduled for October 19–23 and will be headquartered at New York University and other downtown NYC venues.- History :...
2007, '08, and '09. The band was also selected to perform at Bonnaroo 2010.
Media
Tiny Animals' music has been licensed to such shows as MTVMTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's The Real World: Cancun
The Real World: Cancun
The Real World: Cancun is the twenty-second season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras document their lives and interpersonal relationships. Cancun, Mexico was...
and The Real World XXIII: Washington DC, MTV's Teen Mom
Teen Mom
Teen Mom is an American reality television series that premiered on MTV on December 8, 2009. A spin-off of 16 and Pregnant, the series chronicles the lives of four of the teenagers from the original series as they navigate their first few years of motherhood...
, MTV's College Life, and MTV's 16 and Pregnant.
One of the band's other songs called "Norway", which had been previously recorded by Fighterpilot and another song called "Is this the last time" (Season 3, Ep.2) was featured on MTV's extremely popular series, Jersey Shore (TV series)
Jersey Shore (TV series)
Jersey Shore is an American reality television series that premiered on MTV on December 3, 2009 in the United States. The series follows the lives of eight housemates spending their summer at the Jersey Shore in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Season 2 followed the cast escaping the cold northeast...
.
The band's first music video for the song "Useless" was filmed in August 2009 and released on September 9, 2009. It was later hosted on major sites such as MTV.com.
Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Sweet Sweetness | North Street Records |
| 2011 | Our Own Time | North Street Records |