Girlyman
Encyclopedia
Girlyman is an American
folk-rock band formerly based in Brooklyn
, New York City
, New York
, now based in Atlanta
, Georgia
.
Their self-released debut album, Remember Who I Am
, sold 5,000 copies before it was re-released by Daemon Records
, the independent record label
run by Amy Ray
of the Indigo Girls
. Their folk-rock musical style is heavy on close harmony
. Girlyman describes their musical style as "harmony-driven gender pop" and "leading edge three-part harmony folk-pop," and enjoys a strong following in the gay
community.
Before the original three came together as Girlyman, Nate was an award-winning singer-songwriter, and Doris and Ty (best friends since second grade in Princeton Junction, NJ) were the award-winning duo The Garden Verge.
Jones has been the drummer for Po' Girl
, a band that has toured with Girlyman frequently. She is a fully integrated band member, writing songs and handling the band's social media connections. She and Doris are romantically involved. According to the Girlyfan email update (signed by the entire group): "JJ Jones is an old friend and a fantastic drummer whom we've crossed paths with many times over the years, and when we finally got to play with her over the past couple months, something just clicked. Our sound got bigger and closer to what we had all imagined it to be for years."
Compilations:
Pre-Girlyman:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk-rock band formerly based in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, 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...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, now based in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Their self-released debut album, Remember Who I Am
Remember Who I Am
Remember Who I Am is Girlyman's first album, independently released in fall of 2003, nationally rereleased September 7, 2004 on Daemon Records."Viola" previously appeared on Nate Borofsky's solo album, Never Enough Time.-Track listing:...
, sold 5,000 copies before it was re-released by Daemon Records
Daemon Records
Daemon Records is an Atlanta, Georgia based, not-for-profit independent record label started by musician Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls. The label is run mostly by the musicians who record on it....
, the independent record label
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:...
run by Amy Ray
Amy Ray
Amy Elizabeth Ray is an American singer-songwriter and member of the contemporary folk duo Indigo Girls. She also pursues a solo career and has released four albums under her own name, and founded a record company, Daemon Records....
of the Indigo Girls
Indigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
. Their folk-rock musical style is heavy on close harmony
Close harmony
Close harmony is an arrangement of the notes of chords within a narrow range. It is different from open harmony or voicing in that it uses each part on the closest harmonizing note , while the open voicing uses a broader pitch array expanding the harmonic range past the octave...
. Girlyman describes their musical style as "harmony-driven gender pop" and "leading edge three-part harmony folk-pop," and enjoys a strong following in the gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
community.
Members
- Tylan "Ty" Greenstein (vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
and percussion) - Doris Muramatsu (vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin and banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
) - Nathan D. "Nate" Borofsky (vocals, baritone guitarBaritone guitarThe baritone guitar is a variation on the standard guitar, with a longer scale length that allows it to be tuned to a lower range. It first appeared in the classical music realm...
, bass guitar)http://www.slc.edu/magazine/who-are-you/Making_Music.php - JJ Jones (drums)--New addition to the group, announced to the Girlyfan email list on January 3, 2010.
Before the original three came together as Girlyman, Nate was an award-winning singer-songwriter, and Doris and Ty (best friends since second grade in Princeton Junction, NJ) were the award-winning duo The Garden Verge.
Jones has been the drummer for Po' Girl
Po' Girl
Po' Girl is a Canadian group whose style derives from folk, country and jazz. The style of music they perform is called "urban roots."The band evolved from a series of jam sessions, in 2000, between Trish Klein of The Be Good Tanyas and Allison Russell, then of Fear of Drinking...
, a band that has toured with Girlyman frequently. She is a fully integrated band member, writing songs and handling the band's social media connections. She and Doris are romantically involved. According to the Girlyfan email update (signed by the entire group): "JJ Jones is an old friend and a fantastic drummer whom we've crossed paths with many times over the years, and when we finally got to play with her over the past couple months, something just clicked. Our sound got bigger and closer to what we had all imagined it to be for years."
Discography
- Everything's Easy, released to preorder customers in July, 2009. Official CD release party/concert at Eddie's AtticEddie's AtticEddie's Attic is a music club in Decatur, Georgia. Founded in 1992 by Eddie Owen, it is a venue for both local musical talent and musicians of some acclaim who often got their start in the Atlanta area. Artists who developed their fanbase at Eddie's Attic include Shawn Mullins, Sugarland, Indigo...
in Decatur, Ga. on August 1, 2009. - Somewhere Different Now (live), released nationally on May 1, 2008, includes previously unreleased songs as well as banter and tuning songs from live shows.
- Joyful Sign, released nationally on April 13, 2007, although a special edition ("signed by the band and sealed with a very girly kiss," according to the bands website) was pre-released earlier to fans. At some 2007 concerts, the band joked they would include other personalized touches with pre-ordered CDs, such as used KleenexKleenexKleenex is a brand name for a variety of toiletry paper-based products such as facial tissue, bathroom tissue, paper towels, and diapers. The name Kleenex is a registered trademark of Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Often used as a genericized trademark, especially in the United States, "Kleenex"...
. Joyful Sign contains 14 new original songs, was produced by Girlyman and Bob Harris, and features drummer Joe Chellman. The band's approach in making this CD was to create a studio album that had some of their live show energy in it. Joyful Sign reflects not just the year they spent writing, arranging and playing the new songs at live shows, but also the grand old time they had in the studio making the CD. - Little Star, released May 24, 2005 on Daemon RecordsDaemon RecordsDaemon Records is an Atlanta, Georgia based, not-for-profit independent record label started by musician Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls. The label is run mostly by the musicians who record on it....
. - Remember Who I AmRemember Who I AmRemember Who I Am is Girlyman's first album, independently released in fall of 2003, nationally rereleased September 7, 2004 on Daemon Records."Viola" previously appeared on Nate Borofsky's solo album, Never Enough Time.-Track listing:...
, independently released in fall of 2003, nationally rereleased September 7, 2004 on Daemon RecordsDaemon RecordsDaemon Records is an Atlanta, Georgia based, not-for-profit independent record label started by musician Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls. The label is run mostly by the musicians who record on it....
.
Compilations:
- 2006: "Young James Dean" on New Arrivals: Volume One
- 2004: "Viola" on Sounds Like This...Volume 3
- 2003: "Amaze Me" on Amaze Me: Songs in the Key of Peace
- 1999: Nate's "Beautiful Boy" on Can You Read This, Boston?
- ?: Nate's "Never Enough Time" on Oasis Alternative (Volume 16)
Pre-Girlyman:
- the garden verge's (Ty & Doris) shadow of a habitShadow of a habitshadow of a habit is an album by the garden verge , released in 2001 on Clever Shark Records.-Track listing:1. "Shining Through" 4:07 2. "Sometimes" 2:49...
in 2001 - Nate Borofsky's Never Enough TimeNever Enough TimeNever Enough Time is an album by Nate Borofsky, now of Girlyman, released on October 1, 2000 by Finocchio Records."Viola" later appeared on Girlyman's debut album, Remember Who I Am.-Track listing:...
in 2000 - Nate Borofsky's Powerball (4 songs, live) in 1999
- Nate Borofsky's 500 Miles in 1998
Awards
- Winner, Outmusic Award, 2006 - Outstanding New Recording-Duo or Group: Little Star http://www.outmusic.com/oma2006/nominees/index.html
- Top Ten Finalist, Plowshares Songwriting Contest 2004 - Ty Greenstein
- Winner, Independent Music AwardThe Independent Music AwardsThe Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
, 2004 - Song, Folk/Singer-Songwriter Category: "Viola - Winner, Outmusic Award, 2004 - Best New Album: Remember Who I AmRemember Who I AmRemember Who I Am is Girlyman's first album, independently released in fall of 2003, nationally rereleased September 7, 2004 on Daemon Records."Viola" previously appeared on Nate Borofsky's solo album, Never Enough Time.-Track listing:...
- Winner, Outmusic Award, 2002 - Best New Recording by a Duo, Group, or Band: the garden verge, shadow of a habitShadow of a habitshadow of a habit is an album by the garden verge , released in 2001 on Clever Shark Records.-Track listing:1. "Shining Through" 4:07 2. "Sometimes" 2:49...
- Winner, Boston Music Award, 2001 - Best New Singer-Songwriter: Nate Borofsky
Nominations
- Nominee, Outmusic Award, 2006 - Outstanding CD Graphic Design: Little Star
- Nominee, Outmusic Award, 2006 - Outstanding Producer: Bob Harris and Girlyman
- Nominee, Outmusic Award, 2006 - OutSong of the Year: "Young James Dean"
- Nominee, 17th Annual GLAAD Media AwardsGLAAD Media AwardsThe GLAAD Media Award is an accolade bestowed by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to recognize and honor various branches of the media for their outstanding representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives...
2006 - Outstanding Music Artist: Little Star - Nominee, The 7th Annual Independent Music AwardsThe Independent Music AwardsThe Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album of the year: "Joyful Sign"
External links
- Official website, which includes sound clips
- Girlyman's MySpace, which includes 5 songs
- the garden verge website, which includes sound clips
- Nate Borofsky's website