Essie Jain
Encyclopedia
Essie Jain is an English
indie singer-songwriter born and raised in London
, who is now based out of New York City
.
, which contains a single track each from a large number of artists including Sufjan Stevens
and Colin Meloy
. This record was curated by Slim Moon
and released by Kill Rock Stars
.
In July 2006 she did a Take-Away Show video session shot by Vincent Moon
. In this session, Essie plays acoustic guitar and sings "Understand" and "Glory". Both songs would soon be release on her first full length record. "Glory" was featured in director James Kicklighter
's 2011 film Followed.
Her first full length record, We Made This Ourselves
, drew comparisons to the British folk singers Sandy Denny
and Vashti Bunyan
. This record was originally released in the United States on Ba Da Bing records and was later released in the rest of the world on The Leaf Label
.
Her second release The Inbetween was released on Ba Da Bing Records and received much praise in the press. Pitchfork's Amanda Petrusich said: "The Inbetween is a remarkably wistful album, the kind that can be trying or cathartic, depending on when and how you listen, but Jain's voice is mostly stunning-- it's indicative of her precise time and place, and, accordingly, means something to all of us." The Leaf Label released this record outside of the US with different artwork and two additional tracks: "Not Yours" and "I Remember It Just Like This".
Her third release is entitled Until The Light Of Morning and is a lullaby record. As she says on her website: "This record is made for every parent and every baby (and anyone else) who needs to rest and head off into the land of sleep."
The New York Times wrote that "Ms. Jain builds stark miniatures out of a few light strums of guitar and her haunting alto. On her captivating new album, We Made This Ourselves, her voice is multitracked in precise harmonies that can be warm or ghostly."
Essie Jain recorded a Daytrotter
session that was released April 7, 2010.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
indie singer-songwriter born and raised in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, who is now based out of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Biography
Her first published work was a single track, "Why", on the album The Sound the Hare HeardThe Sound the Hare Heard
The Sound the Hare Heard is a 2006 compilation of mostly acoustic arrangements by a number of singer-songwriters, both well-known and relatively obscure...
, which contains a single track each from a large number of artists including Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
and Colin Meloy
Colin Meloy
Colin Patrick Henry Meloy is the lead singer and songwriter for the Portland, Oregon, folk-rock band The Decemberists. In addition to vocals, he performs with an acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bouzouki, harmonica, percussion and interpretive hand gestures.-Early life...
. This record was curated by Slim Moon
Slim Moon
Slim Moon is the founder of the independent music label, Kill Rock Stars. He also started its sister label, 5 Rue Christine...
and released by Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
.
In July 2006 she did a Take-Away Show video session shot by Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon is an independent filmmaker from Paris mainly known for his field work music videos of indie rock related musicians as well as some notable mainstream artists like Tom Jones, R.E.M. or Arcade Fire. Besides making music videos he also makes experimental films and documentaries...
. In this session, Essie plays acoustic guitar and sings "Understand" and "Glory". Both songs would soon be release on her first full length record. "Glory" was featured in director James Kicklighter
James Kicklighter
James Kicklighter is an American film producer, writer, and director from the small village of Bellville, Georgia.He was recognized by Heather Huhman's series in the National Edition of Examiner.com...
's 2011 film Followed.
Her first full length record, We Made This Ourselves
We Made This Ourselves
We Made This Ourselves is the first album by Essie Jain. The album was released by Ba Da Bing in 2007.The New York Times wrote that "Ms. Jain builds stark miniatures out of a few light strums of guitar and her haunting alto...
, drew comparisons to the British folk singers Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny , born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention...
and Vashti Bunyan
Vashti Bunyan
Vashti Bunyan is an English singer-songwriter. In 1970, Bunyan released her first album, Just Another Diamond Day. The album sold very few copies, and Bunyan, discouraged, abandoned her musical career...
. This record was originally released in the United States on Ba Da Bing records and was later released in the rest of the world on The Leaf Label
The Leaf Label
The Leaf Label is an independent record label based in Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Initially known as an electronic music label, releasing mainly instrumental music, the company's approach has broadened over the last few years and now features an eclectic range of artists, with a focus on strong...
.
Her second release The Inbetween was released on Ba Da Bing Records and received much praise in the press. Pitchfork's Amanda Petrusich said: "The Inbetween is a remarkably wistful album, the kind that can be trying or cathartic, depending on when and how you listen, but Jain's voice is mostly stunning-- it's indicative of her precise time and place, and, accordingly, means something to all of us." The Leaf Label released this record outside of the US with different artwork and two additional tracks: "Not Yours" and "I Remember It Just Like This".
Her third release is entitled Until The Light Of Morning and is a lullaby record. As she says on her website: "This record is made for every parent and every baby (and anyone else) who needs to rest and head off into the land of sleep."
The New York Times wrote that "Ms. Jain builds stark miniatures out of a few light strums of guitar and her haunting alto. On her captivating new album, We Made This Ourselves, her voice is multitracked in precise harmonies that can be warm or ghostly."
Essie Jain recorded a Daytrotter
Daytrotter
Daytrotter is a website for the recording studio Horseshack, which hosts recording sessions with many popular and typically upcoming indie music acts, although it works with local bands in the Illinois area as well. The sessions can be compared to that of a radio station's lounge recordings, where...
session that was released April 7, 2010.
Multiple Artist Albums
- The Sound the Hare HeardThe Sound the Hare HeardThe Sound the Hare Heard is a 2006 compilation of mostly acoustic arrangements by a number of singer-songwriters, both well-known and relatively obscure...
(Kill Rock Stars, 5/9/2006) (One song on here from Ms. Jain, titled "Why")
Albums
- We Made This OurselvesWe Made This OurselvesWe Made This Ourselves is the first album by Essie Jain. The album was released by Ba Da Bing in 2007.The New York Times wrote that "Ms. Jain builds stark miniatures out of a few light strums of guitar and her haunting alto...
, US Release (Ba Da Bing, February 13, 2007) - We Made This OurselvesWe Made This OurselvesWe Made This Ourselves is the first album by Essie Jain. The album was released by Ba Da Bing in 2007.The New York Times wrote that "Ms. Jain builds stark miniatures out of a few light strums of guitar and her haunting alto...
, Worldwide Release (The Leaf Label, March 31, 2008) - The Inbetween, US Release (Ba Da Bing, May 13, 2008)
- The Inbetween, Worldwide Release (The Leaf Label, November 17, 2008)
- Until The Light of Morning (Light of Morning, March, 2010)