Geographer (band)

American synth pop/indie rock band

Geographer

Mike Deni and Geographer (2009) at Skylark Cafe

Background information
Origin| San Francisco, California, United States
Genres| Indie rock, dream pop, electronic rock
Years active| 2007–present
Labels| Roll Call, Modern Art, Tricycle, Geographer Music
Members| Mike Deni
Past members| Nathan Blaz
Brian Ostreicher
Website| www.geographermusic.com
Geographer (2011) at Treasure Island Music Festival Geographer (2014) First Cities Fest, Monterey, California Geographer (2016) Treefort Music Fest

Geographer is an American synth-pop/indie rock band founded in 2007 by Mike Deni in San Francisco, California, United States.[1]

Deni has described his sound as being "soulful music from outer space";[1] using analog, electronic and acoustic elements to craft dense layers and unique sound textures.[2] As Geographer, Deni has released multiple albums, including Innocent Ghosts in 2008, Myth in 2012, and Ghost Modern in 2015; along with two EPs, Animal Shapes in 2010, Endless Motion in 2015; and a number of 7-inch singles including, "Kites" in 2010.[3]

## Early history

[edit]

Deni relocated to San Francisco from New Jersey in 2005.[4][3] After finding a synthesizer on the street, he began to channel his experiences into the songs that would become Innocent Ghosts.[5] He began playing his songs locally in San Francisco at open mic nights—most notably the Hotel Utah, where he met cellist Nathan Blaz and drummer Brian Ostreicher.[6][7] Blaz and Ostreicher originally met while attending the Berklee College of Music, in Boston, Massachusetts, before moving to San Francisco. After being introduced to Deni at an open mic night by mutual friend Kacey Johansing, the two would join Deni's live band.[8]

On August 17, 2008, Deni released Innocent Ghosts independently and the band began playing around the San Francisco Bay Area. The release garnered local and national attention, with Spin magazine voting the band "[o]ne of the three undiscovered bands you need to hear now".[9][10]

## Career

[edit]

Deni signed with local Bay Area label Tricycle Records, and in December 2009, released a 7-inch single for the song "Kites" with a cover of the English rock band New Order's "Age of Consent" as the B-side.[11]

In 2010, he followed up the single with the release of the six-song EP Animal Shapes. The digital-download version of the record also contained two bonus remixes of the songs "Kites" and "Paris" by fellow Bay Area artists Wallpaper and The Limousines.[12] The album received favorable reviews, landing the band a "Best of" award by the SF Weekly.[13] November 2010 marked the first major tour for the band, supporting Stars on dates across the United States beginning in the Bay Area and ending in Buffalo, NY.[14]

In March 2011, the band signed with Modern Art Records, based in New York City, New York.[15]

In December 2011, Paste magazine released the single "Life of Crime" from the forthcoming full-length album Myth, to be released by Modern Art Records.[16]

O February 28, 2012, Deni released Myth. In March of the same year, the band embarked on a five-week U.S. tour with labelmate indie-pop band Miniature Tigers.[17] On 11 August 2012, the band played a set on the Twin Peaks Stage at the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, in San Francisco, the largest audience for which the band had thus far performed.[18] The set featured new songs "Life of Crime," "Lover's Game" and "Kites".[19][20]

In September 2012, the band announced that it would head out on a 21-date U.S. tour with indie-rock band Freelance Whales. The tour began 4 October at Lincoln Hall in Chicago, Illinois, and ended 3 November at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston.[21]

The band embarked on their first headlining tour of the western United States in 2013 with the band On An On. The tour began 12 January at Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, Oregon, and ended 1 February at The Echo in Los Angeles, California.[22] The tour was a success for the band, selling out venues across the U.S. including their homecoming show at the historic Fillmore West on 31 January.[23] The band continued touring throughout 2013 in the U.S. and Canada with support from GRMLN and Royal Bangs.

The band announced on its website in March 2014 that they would be supporting Tokyo Police Club on their North American tour.[24] On 20 January 2015 Paste magazine premiered the single "I'm Ready" and announced his forthcoming full-length LP Ghost Modern to be released in March 2015.[25] Prior to the release of Ghost Modern, the band headlined a sold-out show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, California as part of the Noise Pop Festival. The show debuted new songs including "Need" and "I'm Ready" which would appear on the upcoming full-length album.[26]

Ghost Modern, Deni's third album, was released on 23 March through Roll Call Records. The album featured the previously released single "I'm Ready" as well as recently released singles "Need" and "The Guest". Prior to the release of Ghost Modern, Blaz and Osteicher stepped down as the touring band to pursue other projects that prevented them from maintaining the band's rigorous touring schedule.[27] Deni then recruited cellist Joyce Lee, guitarist and bass player Duncan Nielsen and drummer Cody Rhodes as his touring band, headlining shows throughout the United States and South by Southwest.[28]

Deni released a cover of Paul Simon's "I Know What I Know" through Billboard on October 26, 2015, announcing the release of the covers EP Endless Motion, which features additional covers of Kate Bush's "Cloudbusting", New Order's "Age of Consent", Felix da Housecat's "Ready 2 Wear" and Arthur Russell's "This Is How We Walk on the Moon".[29]

On December 16, 2016, Deni independently released the Geographer single "I Want It All".[30]

In 2018, Deni moved away from San Francisco with plans to settle in Los Angeles.[3]

## Live

[edit]

In live performances, Deni is known to sample and loop his vocals, saxophone, and synthesizers using an Akai MIDI controller. During performances, the cellist uses an NS Designs electric cello, often combined with effects pedals to create unique sounds.[31]

## Discography

[edit]

### Albums

[edit]

* Innocent Ghosts (2008), Geographer Music
* Myth (2012), Modern Art Records[3]
* Ghost Modern (2015), Roll Call Records[3]
* Down and Out in the Garden of Earthly Delights (2021)[32]
* A Mirror Brightly (2024)

### Extended plays

[edit]

* Animal Shapes (2010), Tricycle Records
* Endless Motion: Vol. 1 (2015), Roll Call Records
* Alone Time (2018)[3]
* New Jersey (2019)

### Singles

[edit]

* "Kites" 7" (2010)[3]
* "Life of Crime" (2012)
* "Lover's Game" (2012)
* "I'm Ready" (2015)
* "Need" (2015)
* "The Guest" (2015)
* "I Want It All" (2016)
* "Read My Mind" (2017)
* "So Low" (2017)
* "Summer of my Discontentment" (2019)
* "Love is Wasted in the Dark" (2019)
* "When Will I Belong" (2020)
* "Slave To The Rhythm" (2020)
* "Love Is Madness" (2020)
* "Alibi" (2020)
* "Keep Running" (2020)
* "The Other Side" (2020)
* "Kyoto" (2022)
* "The Reason" (2022)
* "When Will I Belong" (2022)
* "I Don't Remember It Starting" (2023)

## Song usage

[edit]

* "The Morning" was used in the official trailer for the film New York, I Love You (2009).[33]
* "Paris" was sampled in the hip-hop song Impossible by G-Side.[34]
* "Kites", "Verona", and "Paris" were featured in Season 2 (2010) of MTV's reality-television series The Buried Life.[35][36][37]
* "Can't You Wait" was featured in Pixar's It Gets Better anti-gay bullying campaign video.[38]
* "Original Sin" was featured in MTV's teen comedy television series Awkward.[39]
* "Original Sin" was featured in Buuteeq's DMS Hero Video.[40]
* "Age of Consent" was used in Apple's iPad Mini feature spot on Apple's website.[41]
* "Original Sin" was used in The CW's Star-Crossed.[42]
* "Lover's Game" was featured in the Lionsgate film Date and Switch (2014).[43]
* "Kites" was used in Valo 4life (2009), a team video for aggressive inline skate company Valo, during a montage section.[44]
* "Blinders" was sampled in the hip hop song Blinderz by ST 2 Lettaz (2013).[45]
* "When Will I Belong" was featured in New Amsterdam "Liftoff" (2020).[46]
* "Get There Soon" was featured on CBS's God Friended Me in 2020 and ABC's The Rookie "The Q Word" in 2020.[47]
* "The Reason" was used on the television series Grey's Anatomy.

## Remixes

[edit]

* Waters - "Got to My Head" (2014)[48]
* Vacationer - "Good As New" (2013)[49]
* Blondefire - "Where The Kids Are" (2013)[50]
* Bogan Via - "Kanye" (2013)[51]
* Rubblebucket \- "Oversaturated" (2012)[52]

## See also

[edit]

* Biography portal
* Rock music portal
* San Francisco Bay Area portal

* Culture of San Francisco
* List of bands from the San Francisco Bay Area
* List of dream-pop artists
* List of indie-rock musicians
* Music of California

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Mahnty, Shannon (May 8, 2011). "Geographer: The band maps out their future". Don't Panic. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
2. ^ Kahn, Jennifer (August 20, 2010). "Geographer – Animal Shapes – What's So Good?". IndieShuffle. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
3. ^ a b c d e f g Vaziri, Aidin (July 29, 2018). "Geographer bids farewell to SF during sold-out Fillmore concert". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
4. ^ Azmoudeh, Dariush (April 30, 2019). "Geographer premieres music video for "Summer Of My Discontentment"". The Bay Bridged - San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
5. ^ Kish, Molly (October 4, 2012). "Geographer Interview: Noise complaints, reclaimed synths and courtesy cookies". Show Bams. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
6. ^ Johnson-Igra, David. "Interview with Geographer: Q&A with Michael Deni". SFCritic. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
7. ^ "Geographer, Cold War Kids bring indie-rock to Stern Grove". CBSnews.com. July 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
8. ^ Kuo, Fenny. "Video: Geographer Interview". The Bay Bridged. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
9. ^ Gaston, Peter. "Three Undoscovered Bands You Need To Hear Now". Spin. Retrieved October 14, 2008.
10. ^ "CD of the Month: Geographer – Innocent Ghosts". The Deli Magazine. Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
11. ^ "Listen: "Age of Consent" by Geographer (New Order Cover) - Indie Music Filter". Indie Music Filter. December 8, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
12. ^ Gillespie, Blake. "Geographer, Kites". Impose Magazine. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
13. ^ "Best Local Version of Radiohead – 2010 – Geographer". SF Weekly. Archived from the original on December 4, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
14. ^ Van Houten, Ben November (November 8, 2010). "Geographer tours the US with Stars". The Bay Bridged - San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
15. ^ [failed verification] "Geographer" Archived 22 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Modern Art Records. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
16. ^ Alwahab, Clint. "Song Premiere: Geographer – 'Life of Crime'". Paste. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
17. ^ (18 January 2012). "Consequence of Sound presents The Modern Art Tour". consequenceofsound.com.
18. ^ Sankin, Aaron (August 7, 2012). "Geographer's Mike Deni Talks Long Walks in Noe Valley, The Agony of Open Mic Nights and the Novel He Wrote About Lance Bass". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 18, 2013. "'We've done smaller stuff like [Live 105's] BFD, but OSL is going to be the biggest festival we've ever played.'"
19. ^ Sankin, Aaron (August 7, 2012). "Geographer's Mike Deni Talks Long Walks in Noe Valley, The Agony of Open Mic Nights and the Novel He Wrote About Lance Bass". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
20. ^ Zimmerman, Peter (August 12, 2012). "Show Review: Outside Lands – Day Two: Saturday, August 11, 2012". Glide Magazine. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
21. ^ "Geographer Releases "Lover's Game" Video, Tours with Freelance Whales — San Francisco". Sf.thedelimagazine.com. October 17, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
22. ^ "Geographer Announce January Tour Dates With On An On - Glide Magazine". April 7, 2014. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
23. ^ Weekly, SF. "Geographer Comes Home to the Fillmore, 1/31/13". SF Weekly. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
24. ^ "ON TOUR WITH TOKYO POLICE CLUB". Geographermusic.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
25. ^ (20 January 2015). "Song Premiere: Geographer - "I'm Ready"" Archived January 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Pastemagazine.com.
26. ^ Groth, Gabriela (March 6, 2015). "San Francisco's Geographer enthralls at the Fox Theater". Stanford Daily. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
27. ^ "[AMA] Hi, it's Mike Deni (aka Geographer) here. I'm ready for you - Ask Me Anything : listentothis". Reddit.com. May 6, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
28. ^ "March Tour Recap : Geographer". April 16, 2015. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
29. ^ (October 26, 2015). "Geographer Announces New Covers EP, Debuts Paul Simon Cover: Exclusive Premiere". Billboard.com
30. ^ "New Track - I Want It All". Geographer.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
31. ^ (October 15, 2011). "Live Blogging Treasure Island Music Festival 2011: Day 1" Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Thebaybridged.com. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
32. ^ "The 10 Albums We're Most Excited About in November". pastemagazine.com. November 3, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
33. ^ ""New York, I Love You" - Official Trailer [HD HQ]". YouTube. August 15, 2009. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
34. ^ Hockley-Smith, Smith (May 7, 2010). "G-Side F[eaturing]. Geographer and Jhi Ali, "Impossible" MP3". The Fader. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
35. ^ "MTV Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows | MTV". MTV. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
36. ^ "MTV Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows | MTV". MTV. Archived from the original on December 1, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
37. ^ "MTV Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows | MTV". MTV. Archived from the original on November 18, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
38. ^ ""It Gets Better" – Love, Pixar". YouTube. November 22, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
39. ^ "Awkward. | Season 5 Episodes (TV Series) | MTV". Mtv.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
40. ^ "Hotel Website Design - buuteeq DMS - Hotel Website Design". YouTube. January 17, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
41. ^ "iPad mini 4". Apple.com.
42. ^ "The CW Network | CW Shows | Official CW Shows". Cwtv.com. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
43. ^ "Date and Switch (2014) : Soundtracks". IMDb.com. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
44. ^ "Valo 4Life Part 12 Homies Montage". YouTube. January 29, 2013.
45. ^ "S.T. 2 Lettaz - 11 - BLINDERZ". YouTube. March 6, 2013.
46. ^ "When Will I Belong - Geographer (featured in New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 17 "Liftoff" )". YouTube. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
47. ^ "Geographer - "Get There Soon" (Official Audio)". YouTube. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
48. ^ Shane, Jason (May 1, 2014). "Geographer remixes WATERS' "Got to My Head"". Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
49. ^ "Good As New" Amazon.com. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
50. ^ "Where The Kids Are" Hypem.com. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
51. ^ "Kanye" Last.fm. Retrieved 16 March 2013
52. ^ "Oversaturated" Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 16 March 2013

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Geographer (band).

* Official website
* Geographer at AllMusic
* Geographer on Modern Art Records
* Geographer on Tricycle Records

Authority control databases: Artists |

* MusicBrainz

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