Young God Records
Encyclopedia
Young God Records is an independent record label
formed by Michael Gira
in 1990 that specializes in experimental
, avant-garde
and often non genre-specific releases. The label was named after an EP released by Gira's band Swans
called Young God.
The label's original intent was to facilitate the release of Swans
music, but in recent years it has grown to host Gira's current band, the Angels of Light, as well as a number of other unique bands and artists, including: Akron/Family
, Devendra Banhart
, Lisa Germano
, Ulan Bator
, and Mi and L'au.
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
formed by Michael Gira
Michael Gira
Michael Rolfe Gira is an American musician, author, and artist. He is the main force behind the recently reformed New York City musical group Swans and fronts the Angels of Light...
in 1990 that specializes in experimental
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
, avant-garde
Avant-garde music
Avant-garde music is a term used to characterize music which is thought to be ahead of its time, i.e. containing innovative elements or fusing different genres....
and often non genre-specific releases. The label was named after an EP released by Gira's band Swans
Swans (band)
Swans are an influential American post-punk band initially active from 1982 to 1997, led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira. The band was one of the few groups to emerge from the early 1980s New York No Wave scene and stay intact into the next decade. Formed by Gira in...
called Young God.
The label's original intent was to facilitate the release of Swans
Swans (band)
Swans are an influential American post-punk band initially active from 1982 to 1997, led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira. The band was one of the few groups to emerge from the early 1980s New York No Wave scene and stay intact into the next decade. Formed by Gira in...
music, but in recent years it has grown to host Gira's current band, the Angels of Light, as well as a number of other unique bands and artists, including: Akron/Family
Akron/Family
Akron/Family is a folk-influenced experimental rock band that formed in 2002, and its members currently live in Portland, Oregon , Tucson, Arizona and New York City, New York.-Music and history:...
, Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Obi Banhart is a singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Houston, Texas and was raised by his mother in Venezuela, until he moved to California as a teenager. He began to study at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1998, but dropped out to perform music in Europe, San...
, Lisa Germano
Lisa Germano
Lisa Germano is an American singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has released seven albums featuring her often-hushed vocal style, confessional lyrics, and distinctive violin. Her 1994 album Geek the Girl received widespread critical acclaim, including being featured as a top album of...
, Ulan Bator
Ulan Bator (band)
Ulan Bator is a French experimental post-rock band founded in 1993 by Amaury Cambuzat and Olivier Manchion. They got their name from Ulan Bator, the capital city of Mongolia...
, and Mi and L'au.
List of Artists on Young God Records
- Akron/FamilyAkron/FamilyAkron/Family is a folk-influenced experimental rock band that formed in 2002, and its members currently live in Portland, Oregon , Tucson, Arizona and New York City, New York.-Music and history:...
- The Angels of LightThe Angels of LightAngels of Light are an experimental group that was formed circa 1998 by singer/guitarist Michael Gira after he disbanded Swans, the group he had founded in 1982...
- Devendra BanhartDevendra BanhartDevendra Obi Banhart is a singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Houston, Texas and was raised by his mother in Venezuela, until he moved to California as a teenager. He began to study at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1998, but dropped out to perform music in Europe, San...
- James BlackshawJames BlackshawJames Blackshaw is a Hastings-based guitarist and pianist, born in 1981. Blackshaw primarily plays an acoustic 12 string guitar and has been compared to Bert Jansch, Robbie Basho, John Fahey, Jack Rose, and Leo Kottke. To enable his fingerstyle playing, Blackshaw has grown long picklike fingernails...
- Body Lovers/Body Haters
- CallaCalla (band)Calla is an indie rock band formed in North Texas in 1997. The band has been based in Brooklyn, New York for most of its existence. They have been on hiatus since 2007, after touring to support their album Strength In Numbers.-Band members:...
- David Coulter
- Fire on Fire
- Flux Information SciencesFlux Information SciencesFlux Information Sciences were a three-piece noise rock band based in Brooklyn, New York City. The band was formed in 1996 by vocalist/guitarist Tristan Bechet and keyboardist Sebastian Brault who met in art school in Marseilles...
- Larkin GrimmLarkin GrimmLarkin Grimm is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Memphis, Tennessee.She was born into a monastic order called Holy Order of MANS...
- Lisa GermanoLisa GermanoLisa Germano is an American singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has released seven albums featuring her often-hushed vocal style, confessional lyrics, and distinctive violin. Her 1994 album Geek the Girl received widespread critical acclaim, including being featured as a top album of...
- Mi and L'au
- LarsenLarsen-Other:* Larsen & Toubro, an Indian engineering and construction conglomerate* Larsen Bay, in Alaska* Larsen Channel, in Antarctica* Larsen effect, special kind of feedback which occurs when a loop exists between an audio input and an audio output...
- Charlemagne PalestineCharlemagne PalestineCharlemagne Palestine is an American minimalist composer, performer, and visual artist...
/ David Coulter / Jean Marie Mathoul - SwansSwans (band)Swans are an influential American post-punk band initially active from 1982 to 1997, led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira. The band was one of the few groups to emerge from the early 1980s New York No Wave scene and stay intact into the next decade. Formed by Gira in...
- Ulan BatorUlan Bator (band)Ulan Bator is a French experimental post-rock band founded in 1993 by Amaury Cambuzat and Olivier Manchion. They got their name from Ulan Bator, the capital city of Mongolia...
- Windsor for the DerbyWindsor for the DerbyWindsor for the Derby are an American post-rock band based in Austin, Texas, whose members are originally from Tampa, Florida.Their debut album was released in 1996 on Trance Syndicate, and was produced by Adam Wiltzie, who then joined the group after the release of the album...
- James BlackshawJames BlackshawJames Blackshaw is a Hastings-based guitarist and pianist, born in 1981. Blackshaw primarily plays an acoustic 12 string guitar and has been compared to Bert Jansch, Robbie Basho, John Fahey, Jack Rose, and Leo Kottke. To enable his fingerstyle playing, Blackshaw has grown long picklike fingernails...
- Wooden Wand