Snail Mail (musician)

Last updated

Snail Mail
Snail Mail at Primavera Sound, May 2019 (cropped).jpg
Lindsey Jordan of Snail Mail performing in 2019
Background information
Birth nameLindsey Erin Jordan
Born (1999-06-16) June 16, 1999 (age 24) [1]
Origin Ellicott City, Maryland, U.S.
Genres Indie rock
Years active2015 (2015)–present
Labels
Website snailmail.band

Snail Mail is the American indie rock solo project of guitarist and singer-songwriter Lindsey Erin Jordan (born June 16, 1999). Originally from Ellicott City, Maryland, Jordan first performed as Snail Mail live in 2015 at the age of 15, and attracted attention with the EP Habit in 2016. After signing with Matador Records, Snail Mail released her debut studio album, Lush (2018), to critical acclaim. In 2021, Snail Mail followed up with her second album, Valentine , to further critical recognition.

Contents

Jordan was named the 242nd greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone in 2023. [2]

Early life

Lindsey Erin Jordan was raised in Ellicott City, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore. [3] Her mother is a lingerie store owner and her father works for a textbook publisher. [4] Jordan had a Roman Catholic upbringing. [5] She started playing guitar at the age of 5, [6] and became captivated by the punk scene as a teenager. [7] At the age of 8, Jordan saw Paramore live on the Riot! tour. She cited the experience as a "big moment" that inspired her to eventually form her own band. [6] [8] She played guitar for a church band and a jazz band at school. [9] She started writing her own songs at around 12 and began booking her own sets at restaurants and coffee shops. [4] [10] In 2018, Jordan was admitted to St. Joseph's College in Brooklyn, but chose not to attend in order to focus on her career. [11]

Career

Snail Mail performing at the Thing Festival in 2019, with drummer Ray Brown in the background Snail Mail Thing Festival 2019 1 (cropped).jpg
Snail Mail performing at the Thing Festival in 2019, with drummer Ray Brown in the background

Jordan released her self-recorded solo EP Sticki in 2015 with her new band as Snail Mail. [12] She was joined by Ryan Vieira playing bass and Shawn Durham on the drums. [13] In October 2015, Snail Mail performed her first live show at Baltimore's Unregistered Nurse festival alongside Sheer Mag, Screaming Females and Priests. The set attracted the attention of Priests, who subsequently recruited Jordan to their label Sister Polygon Records. [12] [14] [15] After completing one short DIY tour in July 2016, Snail Mail released her first full EP Habit via Sister Polygon, produced by Priests' G.L. Jaguar and Coup Sauvage and the Snips's Jason Sauvage. [14] [16] The six-track EP received considerable coverage from the indie press. [13] [16] Pitchfork included the EP's opening track, "Thinning", in their "Best New Track" series. [17]

Snail Mail, supported by bassist Alex Bass and drummer Ray Brown, toured North America extensively in 2017 supporting Priests, Girlpool, Waxahatchee and Beach Fossils. [18] [19] In September 2017, Jordan signed with Matador Records and performed her first Tiny Desk Concert for NPR Music. [20] Snail Mail's first headlining tour began in January 2018. [21] Snail Mail's debut full-length album Lush was released on June 8, 2018, to generally positive reviews from music critics. [22] [23] In 2019, she toured New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the US, playing with artists such as Mac Demarco and Thundercat. [24] [25] In June 2019, Snail Mail released a new version of their song "Pristine" in Simlish for the new EA game The Sims 4: Island Living . [26] That same month Matador Records digitally reissued Habit, featuring a cover of "The 2nd Most Beautiful Girl in the World" by the band Courtney Love, headed by American musician Lois Maffeo. [27]

Snail Mail released her second album, Valentine , on November 5, 2021. [28] The album received widespread critical acclaim and appeared on multiple 2021 year-end lists. [29] Regarding Valentine, Jordan stated: "Making this album has been the greatest challenge of my life thus far. I put my entire heart and soul into every last detail." [30]

Her original set of US and UK tour dates were also set to begin in November 2021, but Jordan called off the tour shortly before it began due to her finding massive polyps in her vocal cords that needed to be operated on to prevent permanent damage to her voice. [31]

In November 2022, Jordan announced through Variety that she would bring a hometown festival to Baltimore in early 2023 called "Snail Mail's Valentine Fest." [32] The five-night run of shows will take place at the city's Ottobar venue, with a lineup of special guests that Jordan curated herself, and she told Variety that there are "some fucking insane bands on there." [32]

Snail Mail was part of the lineup for the 22nd Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2023. [33]

In September 2023, Snail Mail announced a new EP Valentine (Demos), a collection of four previously-unreleased demo tracks that were recorded in the process of making the Valentine album. [34] The announcement was accompanied by the release of Easy Thing, one of the four tracks from the EP. [34] The full EP was released on November 3, 2023. [35]

Style and influences

Snail Mail's music has been described as indie rock, [3] and alternative rock. [18] While earlier Snail Mail releases were noted for their spare, lo-fi guitar-driven sounds, [9] [28] Valentine embraced a richer sonic palette, incorporating synthesizers, strings and samples. [28] Lindsay Zoladz of The New York Times noted Jordan's unconventional sense of melody and a preference for "murky" effects pedals, both exhibiting influences of 1990s indie rock. [36] Her lyricism has been noted for its candid and introspective nature. [18] Regarding her songwriting process, Jordan stated, "I have a really hard time writing from any place other than complete honesty within myself." [5]

Jordan has cited Hayley Williams of Paramore, Liz Phair and Avril Lavigne as her idols and major musical inspirations. [3] [37] Her other influences include Fiona Apple, Cat Power, Elliott Smith, Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, My Bloody Valentine and Sheer Mag. [9] [38] [39] [15] Jordan has named Mary Timony her favorite guitarist, and received guitar lessons from Timony herself. [15] Other guitarists who had inspired her include Marnie Stern, Kurt Vile, Steve Gunn and Mark Kozelek. [9]

Personal life

Jordan is openly gay. In an interview with The New Zealand Herald , Jordan stated that while coming out as gay "really developed who I am as a person", she "hated having to answer questions about being a woman and being gay and being young. All of it, to me, has nothing to do with the music." [40] As of September 2021, she lives in New York City. [5]

Accompanying band

Current members

Past members

Discography

Snail Mail discography
Studio albums2
Music videos2
EPs5
Singles9

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
US
[41]
US
Alt

[42]
US
Indie

[43]
US
Rock

[44]
AUS
[45]
NZ
Heat

[46]
SCO
[47]
UK
[48]
UK
Indie

[49]
Lush [upper-alpha 1] 20114310 [upper-alpha 2] 20
Valentine
  • Released: November 5, 2021
  • Label: Matador
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
617106357353

Extended plays

TitleAlbum details
Sticki
  • Released: May 8, 2015
  • Label: Dog Belly
  • Format: cassette, digital download
Habit
  • Released: July 12, 2016
  • Label: Sister Polygon, Matador
  • Format: Vinyl, CD, cassette, digital download, streaming
Snail Mail on Audiotree Live
  • Released: June 15, 2017
  • Label: Audiotree Music
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Spotify Singles
  • Released: June 29, 2022
  • Label: Matador
  • Format: Streaming
Valentine (Demos)
  • Released: November 3, 2023
  • Label: Matador
  • Format: Vinyl, digital download, streaming

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
AAA

[53]
US
Alt

[54]
"Pristine"2018Lush
"Heat Wave"
"Let's Find an Out"
"The 2nd Most Beautiful Girl in the World"2019Habit
"Valentine"20212332Valentine
"Ben Franklin"
"Madonna"
"Adore You" (Valentine Demo)2022Valentine (Demos)
"Easy Thing"2023
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos

TitleYearDirector
"Valentine"2021Josh Coll
"Ben Franklin"

Notes

  1. Lush did not enter the US Billboard 200 but did peak at number two on the Heatseekers Albums chart [50] and number 42 on the Top Album Sales chart. [51]
  2. Lush did not enter the UK Albums Chart but peaked at number 95 on the UK Album Downloads Chart. [52]

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryNominated WorkResultRef
2019 Libera Awards Best Rock RecordLushNominated [55]
Best Breakthrough Artist Nominated
2022 Record of the Year ValentineNominated [56]
Best Alternative Rock RecordNominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Bloody Valentine (band)</span> Irish-English alternative rock band

My Bloody Valentine are an Irish-English alternative rock band formed in Dublin in 1983 and consisting since 1987 of founding members Kevin Shields and Colm Ó Cíosóig, with Bilinda Butcher and Debbie Googe (bass). Often cited as a pioneering act in the shoegaze genre, their sound is characterized by dissonant guitar textures, androgynous vocals, and unorthodox production techniques.

Shoegaze is a subgenre of indie and alternative rock characterized by its ethereal mixture of obscured vocals, guitar distortion and effects, feedback, and overwhelming volume. It emerged in Ireland and the United Kingdom in the late 1980s among neo-psychedelic groups who usually stood motionless during live performances in a detached, non-confrontational state. The name comes from the heavy use of effects pedals, as the performers were often looking down at their pedals during concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lush (band)</span> English rock band

Lush were an English rock band formed in London in 1987. The original line-up consisted of Miki Berenyi, Emma Anderson, Steve Rippon and Chris Acland (drums). Phil King replaced Rippon in 1991. They were one of the first bands to have been described with the "shoegazing" label. Following the death of Acland, the group disbanded in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death Cab for Cutie</span> American rock band

Death Cab for Cutie is an American rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington, in 1997. Death Cab for Cutie's music has been classified as indie rock, indie pop, and alternative rock. The band is currently composed of Ben Gibbard, Nick Harmer (bass), Dave Depper, Zac Rae, and Jason McGerr (drums).

<i>Spooky</i> (album) 1992 studio album by Lush

Spooky is the debut studio album by English rock band Lush. It was released on 27 January 1992 by 4AD. The album, produced by Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins, followed the band's mini album, Scar (1989), several extended play releases, and the compilation album Gala (1990). Spooky reached the UK Top 10 and topped the national indie charts. The album produced three singles: "Nothing Natural", "For Love" and "Superblast!".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broken Bells</span> American rock band

Broken Bells is an American indie rock band composed of artist-producer Brian Burton and James Mercer, the lead vocalist and guitarist for the indie rock band The Shins. Broken Bells compose and create as a duo, but are joined by Dan Elkan and Jon Sortland when performing live. The previous live band included Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band sidemen Nate Walcott and Nik Freitas, and Jonathan Hischke and Dan Elkan, both ex-members of Hella. Following their 2010 self-titled debut album, the duo released an EP, Meyrin Fields, in 2011 and their second studio album, After the Disco, in 2014. In 2022 they released a third studio album titled "Into the Blue".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cults (band)</span> American indie rock band

Cults is an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2010. The band first rose to prominence upon releasing their debut extended play, Cults 7" (2010), on their Bandcamp page. They subsequently signed to English singer Lily Allen's record label In the Name Of, an imprint of Sony Music to release their eponymous debut album (2011). A song from the album, "Bad Things" was sampled by American rapper J. Cole for his 2013 single "She Knows", on which they were credited as featured artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glass Animals</span> English indie rock band

Glass Animals are an English indie rock band formed in Oxford in 2010. The band's line-up consists of Dave Bayley, Drew MacFarlane, Edmund Irwin-Singer, and Joe Seaward (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julien Baker</span> American rock musician (born 1995)

Julien Rose Baker is an American indie rock singer and guitarist. Her music is noted for its moody quality and confessional lyrical style, as well as frank explorations of topics including Christianity, addiction, mental illness, and human nature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoebe Bridgers</span> American musician (born 1994)

Phoebe Lucille Bridgers is an American singer-songwriter. Her indie folk music typically centers around acoustic guitar and electronic production, with melancholic lyrical themes. She has received eleven Grammy Award nominations, including Best New Artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Thief</span> American indie rock band

Big Thief is an American indie folk band based in Brooklyn, New York. Its members are Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek, Max Oleartchik (bass), and James Krivchenia (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Dacus</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1995)

Lucy Elizabeth Dacus is an American singer-songwriter and producer. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Dacus attracted attention with her debut album No Burden (2016), which led to a deal with Matador Records. Historian, her second album, was released in 2018 to critical acclaim. Home Video, her third studio album, was released in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese Breakfast</span> American alternative pop band

Japanese Breakfast is an American indie pop band headed by musician Michelle Zauner. Zauner started the band as a side project in 2013, when she was leading the Philadelphia-based emo group Little Big League. She has said that she named the band after seeing a GIF of Japanese breakfast and deciding that the term would be considered "exotic" to Americans; she also thought it would make others wonder what a Japanese breakfast consists of.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soccer Mommy</span> American musician

Sophia Regina Allison, better known by her stage name Soccer Mommy, is an American singer-songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee.

<i>Lush</i> (Snail Mail album) 2018 studio album by Snail Mail

Lush is the debut studio album by American indie rock musician Snail Mail, released on June 8, 2018 through Matador Records. The album was produced by Jake Aron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boygenius</span> American indie supergroup

Boygenius is an American indie supergroup consisting of American singer-songwriters Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus. They debuted with their self-titled EP in 2018, and then returned after a hiatus with their debut studio album, The Record (2023), which was both a critical and commercial success. Labeled an "instant classic" by NME, it topped the charts in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands, and peaked at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200. Their second EP, The Rest, was released on October 13, 2023.

<i>Boygenius</i> (EP) 2018 EP by Boygenius

Boygenius is the debut EP by American indie group Boygenius, composed of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus. It was released on October 26, 2018, by Matador Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beabadoobee</span> Filipino singer and songwriter (born 2000)

Beatrice Kristi Ilejay Laus, known professionally as beabadoobee, is a Filipino-English singer and songwriter. From 2018 to 2021, she released five extended plays under the independent label Dirty Hit: Lice (2018), Patched Up (2018), Loveworm (2019), Space Cadet (2019) and Our Extended Play (2021). Her debut studio album, Fake It Flowers, was released in October 2020 and received critical acclaim. Her second studio album, Beatopia, was released on July 15, 2022.

<i>Habit</i> (EP) 2016 EP by Snail Mail

Habit is the debut extended play by American indie rock musician Snail Mail, originally released on July 12, 2016 through Sister Polygon Records and later reissued through Matador Records on August 30, 2019. Its only single, "Thinning", was released on January 26, 2017.

<i>Valentine</i> (Snail Mail album) 2021 studio album by Snail Mail

Valentine is the second studio album by American indie rock musician Snail Mail, released on November 5, 2021, by Matador Records.

References

  1. Steinkopf-Frank, Hannah (June 12, 2018). "5 must-see concerts in Chicago this week: Snail Mail, Sir the Baptist, Peach Kelli Pop". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  2. "The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Rolling Stone. October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Hunt, El (October 8, 2021). "Snail Mail: "It's awesome seeing lots of women and queer people in music"". NME . Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Ganz, Caryn (May 16, 2018). "An Indie-Rock Star at 18? Snail Mail Is Figuring It Out". The New York Times . Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Moreland, Quinn (September 21, 2021). "Snail Mail Can't Help But Confess". Pitchfork . Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Woolever, Lydia (May 25, 2018). "Lindsey Jordan is Ready For Her Close-Up". Baltimore . Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  7. McDermott, Patrick (June 28, 2017). "The Old-School Beauty Of Snail Mail's Suburban Slowcore". The Fader. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  8. Sheffield, Rob (June 14, 2018). "Snail Mail, Teenage Indie Rock Wunderkind, Bursts From 'the Era of Shred'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 O'Neill, Lauren (January 23, 2018). "Snail Mail's Lindsey Jordan Is Ready to Fucking Shred". Vice . Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  10. Kaplan, Ilana (May 29, 2018). "Snail Mail's Lindsey Jordan on writing about love: 'It's good to be vulnerable, but not pathetic'". The Independent . Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  11. Yakas, Ben (June 7, 2018). "A Conversation With Snail Mail's Lindsey Jordan, Indie Rock's Rookie Of The Year". Gothamist . Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  12. 1 2 Callahan, James (May 16, 2017). "Slow and Steady: Snail Mail is making moves". Baltimore City Paper . Archived from the original on April 17, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  13. 1 2 Moreland, Quinn (July 27, 2017). "Snail Mail: Habit EP". Pitchfork . Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  14. 1 2 Baitz, Alison (July 21, 2016). "Snail Mail's 17-Year-Old Frontwoman Quickly Delivers An EP". WAMU . Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  15. 1 2 3 Pelly, Jenn (March 1, 2017). "Snail Mail's Lindsey Jordan Is the Wisest Teenage Indie Rocker We Know". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  16. 1 2 Trans-global punk scenes : the punk reader. Volume 2. Russell Bestley, Michael Dines, Paula Guerra, Alastair Gordon. Bristol, UK. 2021. ISBN   978-1-78938-339-3. OCLC   1239322894.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  17. Mashurova, Nina (January 30, 2017). ""Thinning" by Snail Mail". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  18. 1 2 3 Donelson, Marcy. "Snail Mail Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic . Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  19. Krol, Charlotte (January 2, 2018). "Snail Mail's precociousness powers an engine of infectious indie rock". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  20. Sodomsky, Sam (September 15, 2017). "Snail Mail Signs to Matador, Performs "Tiny Desk Concert" for NPR: Watch". Pitchfork . Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  21. Sacher, Andrew (November 1, 2017). "Snail Mail & Lomelda announce 2018 tour". BrooklynVegan . Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  22. Richards, Will (February 13, 2018). "Stand and deliver: Snail Mail". DIY Magazine. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  23. "Coming June 8 : Snail Mail – 'Lush'". Matador Records . March 22, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  24. "Review – Mac DeMarco Sipped On Red Rocks Like A Tasty Domestic Beer". 303 Magazine. October 8, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  25. "Snail Mail". Bandsintown. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  26. Minsker, Evan (June 21, 2019). "Snail Mail Sings "Pristine" in "Simlish" for "The Sims 4: Island Living": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  27. Minsker, Evan (June 24, 2019). "Snail Mail Reissues Debut EP Habit". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  28. 1 2 3 Hunt, El (November 2, 2021). "Snail Mail – 'Valentine' review: a beautiful progression from her influential debut". NME . Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  29. Dietz, Jason (December 1, 2021). "Best of 2021: Music Critic Top Ten Lists". Metacritic . Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  30. ""Making this album has been the greatest challenge of my life thus far. I put my entire heart and soul into every last detail. Thank you for sticking with me and trusting me, as I turn the page into the new chapter of The Book of Snail Mail." -LJ". Twitter.com. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  31. "Snail Mail details her recovery from vocal cord surgery: "You don't really think about how much you need your voice"". NME . February 15, 2022.
  32. 1 2 "Snail Mail Announces Five-Night Hometown 'Valentine Fest' in Baltimore (EXCLUSIVE)". November 9, 2022.
  33. "Coachella 2023 Weekend 2 Lineup & Schedule: All the Set Times You Need to Know". Pitchfork. April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  34. 1 2 "Snail Mail Announces Valentine (Demos) EP, Shares New Song "Easy Thing"". Pitchfork. September 13, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  35. Fabris, Andres (November 6, 2023). "Snail Mail Goes Intimate With "Valentine (Demos)" EP". Music Daily. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  36. Zoladz, Lindsay (November 5, 2021). "Snail Mail Turns a Bleeding Heart Into a Spectacular Album". The New York Times . Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  37. Havens, Lindsey. "Not So 'Complicated': How Avril Lavigne Became an Unlikely Inspiration To Indie Rock's New Wave". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  38. Curto, Justin (December 7, 2021). "Lindsey Jordan's Long, Bumpy Road to Creative Control of Snail Mail". Vulture . Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  39. Armour, Casandra (November 8, 2021). "COVER STORY: Snail Mail Delivers the Quintessential Post-Breakup Album". Performer . Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  40. Fenwick, George (March 6, 2019). "Snail Mail on heartbreak, queerness, and her debut Downunder". New Zealand Herald . Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  41. "Billboard 200 – November 20, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  42. "Australiancharts.com – Snail Mail – Valentine". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  43. "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 18, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  44. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 – November 12, 2021". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  45. "Official Albums Chart Top 100 – November 12, 2021". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  46. "Heatseekers Albums – June 23, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  47. "Top Album Sales – June 23, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  48. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100 – June 15, 2015". Official Charts . Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  49. Peaks on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart:
  50. devops (January 2, 2013). "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  51. Courtney, Ian (March 28, 2019). "Nominees Announced For A2IM's 2019 Libera Awards". CelebrityAccess. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  52. Aswad, Jem (March 23, 2022). "Japanese Breakfast, Jason Isbell, Arlo Parks Lead Indie-Music Collective A2IM's 2022 Libera Awards Nominees". Variety . Retrieved March 25, 2022.