Dominique Leone
Encyclopedia
Dominique Leone is an American musician and writer based in San Francisco, California
. He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana
on December 29, 1973, and grew up in the Dallas, Texas
area.
Leone began writing music reviews for Pitchfork Media
in 2001, and was a regular contributor until 2007. He has also written for Paste Magazine
, All-Music Guide and Trouser Press
. His first release as a musician was the Dominique Leone EP on Hans-Peter Lindstrøm
's Feedelity label in 2007. In 2008, Lindstrøm and Smalltown Supersound
's Joakim Haughland released Leone's first full-length CD
on their Strømland label, with art by Kim Hiorthøy
. American experimental music label Important Records released his second CD Abstract Expression in October 2009.
Leone received a Bachelor's degree
in Music Performance in 1998 from Texas Tech University
, focusing on classical trumpet
. As a recording artist, Leone has been compared to Harry Nilsson
, Brian Wilson
, Boredoms, and XTC
. His music has been described as containing "stubbornly original song structures and chord progressions", and British electronic
pop musician Max Tundra
noted that Leone is "one of the greatest practitioners of the chord progression
". Leone performs periodically in the San Francisco bay area
, and more rarely, throughout America and Europe
, including a well-received appearance at the 2009 Les Siestes Electroniques
festival in Toulouse
, France
. He has collaborated or performed with Kevin Blechdom
, R. Stevie Moore
, Lindstrøm
, Mungolian Jet Set, Kango's Stein Massiv, Cryptacize
, Odawas
, Bob Drake
, William Winant
, as well as contributing vocals and trumpet to Boredoms' Super Roots 10
release.
In 2010, Leone won Grand Prize in a Steve Reich
remix contest, judged by the composer Reich himself, and celebrating the composer's 74th birthday.
As a music critic, Leone was known for championing modern experimental and fringe artists, as well as older electronic music
, progressive rock
, and psychedelia. For Pitchfork, Leone penned early reviews of Animal Collective
, Devendra Banhart
, as well as several for influential Japanese band the Boredoms. He also wrote frequently cited reviews of Can
, Igor Wakhévitch
, The Beach Boys
, and for Trouser Press, a lengthy overview of France
's Magma
. In 2007, Leone authored a monthly column for Pitchfork entitled "Out Music". He presented his paper "What You Hear is Never What They Heard, and What You Get is Never What They Had" at the 2007 Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame Pop Conference in Seattle, Washington.
Dominique Leone [Strømland; 2008]
Abstract Expression [Important; 2009]
Summer EP [Self-released; 2010]
Les Noces [Self-released; 2011]
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
on December 29, 1973, and grew up in the Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
area.
Leone began writing music reviews for Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
in 2001, and was a regular contributor until 2007. He has also written for Paste Magazine
Paste (magazine)
Paste is a monthly music and entertainment digital magazine published in the United States by Wolfgang's Vault. Its tagline is "Signs of Life in Music, Film and Culture."-History:...
, All-Music Guide and Trouser Press
Trouser Press
Trouser Press was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow Who fan Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" ...
. His first release as a musician was the Dominique Leone EP on Hans-Peter Lindstrøm
Hans-Peter Lindstrøm
Hans-Peter Lindstrøm is a Norwegian producer who works under the name Lindstrøm. He often collaborates with fellow producer Prins Thomas . Lindstrøm won a Spellemannsprisen in 2008 for Where You Go I Go Too...
's Feedelity label in 2007. In 2008, Lindstrøm and Smalltown Supersound
Smalltown Supersound
Smalltown Supersound is an independent record label based in Oslo, Norway, and dedicated to new forms of jazz, rock and electronic music.Their catalog features albums by Annie, Jaga Jazzist, 120 Days, Mental Overdrive, Bjørn Torske, Mats Gustafsson and Sonic Youth, amongst others.In 2004, the...
's Joakim Haughland released Leone's first full-length CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
on their Strømland label, with art by Kim Hiorthøy
Kim Hiorthøy
Kim Hiorthøy is a Norwegian electronic musician, graphic designer, illustrator, filmmaker and writer.-Biography:Hiorthøy was born and raised in Trondheim, Norway, and studied at the Trondheim Academy of Fine Art as well as the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen...
. American experimental music label Important Records released his second CD Abstract Expression in October 2009.
Leone received a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Music Performance in 1998 from Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
, focusing on classical trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
. As a recording artist, Leone has been compared to Harry Nilsson
Harry Nilsson
Harry Edward Nilsson III was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson...
, Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
, Boredoms, and XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
. His music has been described as containing "stubbornly original song structures and chord progressions", and British electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
pop musician Max Tundra
Max Tundra
Ben Jacobs, more commonly known by the stage name Max Tundra, is an English multi-instrumental musician, singer and music producer. His work is predominantly electronic music but incorporates non-electronic styles and instruments...
noted that Leone is "one of the greatest practitioners of the chord progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
". Leone performs periodically in the San Francisco bay area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, and more rarely, throughout America and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, including a well-received appearance at the 2009 Les Siestes Electroniques
Les siestes electroniques
Based in Toulouse, Southern France, Les Siestes électroniques is a summer festival dedicated to emerging artists from the field of music & digital culture. Its motley line-up mainly focuses on electronic musicians and aims at a professional audience as well as the general public...
festival in Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He has collaborated or performed with Kevin Blechdom
Kevin Blechdom
Kevin Blechdom, born Kristin Erickson, is an American experimental electronic musician/performance artist from San Francisco, California.-Life and career:...
, R. Stevie Moore
R. Stevie Moore
Robert Steven Moore is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. In addition to having numerous albums released on labels around the world, the prolific Moore has self-released over 400 cassette and CD-R albums since 1968, as well as dozens of home videos, mostly through the R. Stevie Moore...
, Lindstrøm
Hans-Peter Lindstrøm
Hans-Peter Lindstrøm is a Norwegian producer who works under the name Lindstrøm. He often collaborates with fellow producer Prins Thomas . Lindstrøm won a Spellemannsprisen in 2008 for Where You Go I Go Too...
, Mungolian Jet Set, Kango's Stein Massiv, Cryptacize
Cryptacize
Cryptacize is a California pop band founded by Nedelle Torrisi and Chris Cohen in 2006. Cryptacize, along with Cohen's other project The Curtains, records for the Asthmatic Kitty label. Nedelle has released two cds on the Kill Rock Stars label, one as a solo performer and one as a member of the...
, Odawas
Odawas
Odawas is a psychedelic/ambient rock band that formed in Bloomington, Indiana in late 2003. Their first EP, Vitamin City, was self-released in 2004. In 2005, Jagjaguwar Records released The Aether Eater, the band's first full-length album...
, Bob Drake
Bob Drake (musician)
Bob Drake is an American multi-instrumentalist musician and recording engineer. He was a founding member of the avant-rock band Thinking Plague in the early 1980s, and a member of the 5uu's, Hail and The Science Group . He formed his own band, Bob Drake's Cabinet of Curiosities in 2007...
, William Winant
William Winant
William Winant is an American percussionist.In addition to his work in contemporary classical music -- notably performing Lou Harrison's compositions—Winant has worked in a variety of genres, including noise rock, free improvisation and jazz. Notable collaborators include Glenn Spearman, Thurston...
, as well as contributing vocals and trumpet to Boredoms' Super Roots 10
Super Roots 10
Super Roots 10 is the ninth installment of Super Roots EPs by Japanese experimental band Boredoms.-Track listing:# "Super Rooy" – 0:38# "Ant 10" – 9:28# "Ant 10/Estereo 10 " – 9:34# "Ant 10 " – 5:24...
release.
In 2010, Leone won Grand Prize in a Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
remix contest, judged by the composer Reich himself, and celebrating the composer's 74th birthday.
As a music critic, Leone was known for championing modern experimental and fringe artists, as well as older electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
, progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
, and psychedelia. For Pitchfork, Leone penned early reviews of Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Animal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
, 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...
, as well as several for influential Japanese band the Boredoms. He also wrote frequently cited reviews of Can
Can (band)
Can was an experimental rock band formed in Cologne, West Germany in 1968. Later labeled as one of the first "krautrock" groups, they transcended mainstream influences and incorporated strong minimalist and world music elements into their often psychedelic music.Can constructed their music largely...
, Igor Wakhévitch
Igor Wakhévitch
Igor Wakhévitch , son of the art director Georges Wakhévitch, is an avant-garde French composer who released a series of studio albums in the 1970s and composed the music for the Salvador Dalí opera Être Dieu...
, The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, and for Trouser Press, a lengthy overview of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's Magma
Magma (band)
Magma is a French progressive rock band founded in Paris in 1969 by classically trained drummer Christian Vander, who claimed as his inspiration a "vision of humanity's spiritual and ecological future" that profoundly disturbed him. In the course of their first album, the band tells the story of a...
. In 2007, Leone authored a monthly column for Pitchfork entitled "Out Music". He presented his paper "What You Hear is Never What They Heard, and What You Get is Never What They Had" at the 2007 Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame Pop Conference in Seattle, Washington.
Discography
Dominique Leone EP [Feedelity; 2007]Dominique Leone [Strømland; 2008]
Abstract Expression [Important; 2009]
Summer EP [Self-released; 2010]
Les Noces [Self-released; 2011]