Ian Masters (songwriter)
Encyclopedia
Ian Masters is a multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/producer.
He is best-known for being a founding member of the English indie pop
band Pale Saints
. Masters was their vocalist/bassist from their formation in 1987 until his departure from the group in 1992. Since then, he has gone on to perform in other notable groups including Spoonfed Hybrid
, ESP Summer, and Friendly Science Orchestra.
His first project after Pale Saints was Spoonfed Hybrid
with Chris Trout
. They released their self-titled debut album in 1993, and their second album, Hibernation Shock was in 1996.
In 1994, Masters teamed up with His Name Is Alive
auteur Warren Defever
and they began to release music as ESP Summer.
In the fall of 1998, he released the Miniature Album 7" as Friendly Science Orchestra, which became an NME 'Single of the Week'. Under this moniker, Masters covered "Because of You" on Sing a Song for You: Tribute to Tim Buckley
, which was released on Manifesto Records
in 2000.
In 2000, Masters teamed up with The Montgolfier Brothers
' songwriter Mark Tranmer to form Wing Disk. Their first EP, Time is running out, which was recorded between Manchester
, London
, and Osaka
saw release in 2002.
Since 2005, Masters has been living in Japan. In 2007, Masters co-wrote, sang, played the saw and kaospad on the song "Silver Kiss" on Luminous Orange
's Sakura Swirl LP.
In 2008, Masters contributed vocals to a song "Hoko Onchi" on digitally-released Mid/Air by Dive Index
, a musical project originated by composer/producer Will Thomas.
In 2009, his project (with David Rothon) Sore & Steal released their debut album. Masters is credited with saw and effects.
He is best-known for being a founding member of the English indie pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band Pale Saints
Pale Saints
Pale Saints was formed in 1987 by Ian Masters , Graeme Naysmith , and Chris Cooper in Leeds, England. The group began as a jangly indie pop band, influenced by Primal Scream's early sound.-History:...
. Masters was their vocalist/bassist from their formation in 1987 until his departure from the group in 1992. Since then, he has gone on to perform in other notable groups including Spoonfed Hybrid
Spoonfed Hybrid
Spoonfed Hybrid were a dream pop duo in the north of England in the early 1990s.The band was formed in 1993 by Ian Masters and Chris Trout, initially as The Long Lost. Masters had just left the band he founded in 1987, Pale Saints, which continued without him. Trout had been guitarist in A.C...
, ESP Summer, and Friendly Science Orchestra.
Biography
During Masters' tenure with the Pale Saints, the group released The Comforts of Madness and In Ribbons as well as several EPs. The recordings displayed a mix of Masters' choirboy-like vocals along with dark atmospheric and noisy pop tunes. Masters, who wasn't interested in touring, left the group to pursue music of a more experimental nature.His first project after Pale Saints was Spoonfed Hybrid
Spoonfed Hybrid
Spoonfed Hybrid were a dream pop duo in the north of England in the early 1990s.The band was formed in 1993 by Ian Masters and Chris Trout, initially as The Long Lost. Masters had just left the band he founded in 1987, Pale Saints, which continued without him. Trout had been guitarist in A.C...
with Chris Trout
Chris Trout
Chris Trout is a British musician and writer.He has played in several Nottingham and Sheffield-based bands, including Kilgore Trout, A.C.Temple , Spoonfed Hybrid, Bear, Lazerboy, Coping Saw, Smokers Die Younger....
. They released their self-titled debut album in 1993, and their second album, Hibernation Shock was in 1996.
In 1994, Masters teamed up with His Name Is Alive
His Name Is Alive
His Name Is Alive is an experimental rock band/project from Livonia, Michigan. After several self-released cassettes, they debuted on 4AD Records in 1990, starting a long run at the label...
auteur Warren Defever
Warren Defever
Warren Defever is a musician and producer from Livonia, Michigan. He is most known for his chameleonic project His Name Is Alive, though he is active in numerous other circles...
and they began to release music as ESP Summer.
In the fall of 1998, he released the Miniature Album 7" as Friendly Science Orchestra, which became an NME 'Single of the Week'. Under this moniker, Masters covered "Because of You" on Sing a Song for You: Tribute to Tim Buckley
Sing a Song for You: Tribute to Tim Buckley
Sing a Song for You: Tribute to Tim Buckley is a double CD studio album performed by various artists in tribute to 1960s musician Tim Buckley. The album is named after a Buckley song of the same name which is also the first track on the first disc...
, which was released on Manifesto Records
Manifesto Records
Manifesto Records is the name of an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California that has released records by The Wedding Present, Dead Kennedys, Tom Waits, Tim Buckley, Lilys, Concrete Blonde, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and others. Manifesto released the entire catalogue of Dead Kennedys...
in 2000.
In 2000, Masters teamed up with The Montgolfier Brothers
The Montgolfier Brothers
The Montgolfier Brothers is a British indie pop-dream pop duo which features gnac's Mark Tranmer and Lovewood drummer Roger Quigley.The group, which formed in 1999, has released several recordings.-Discography:*Seventeen Stars...
' songwriter Mark Tranmer to form Wing Disk. Their first EP, Time is running out, which was recorded between Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, 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...
, and Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
saw release in 2002.
Since 2005, Masters has been living in Japan. In 2007, Masters co-wrote, sang, played the saw and kaospad on the song "Silver Kiss" on Luminous Orange
Luminous Orange
Luminous Orange is a Japanese guitar rock band often categorized as Alternative, Dreampop, and Shoegaze, and from the fact that they had released some of their materials from Cornelius' label "Trattoria", often considered as one of the Shibuya-kei artists....
's Sakura Swirl LP.
In 2008, Masters contributed vocals to a song "Hoko Onchi" on digitally-released Mid/Air by Dive Index
Dive Index
Dive Index is a collaborative musical project originated by New York-based electronic music composer/producer Will Thomas.-History:Thomas has released minimalist electronic music under the name "Plumbline" on the Hydrogen Dukebox label...
, a musical project originated by composer/producer Will Thomas.
In 2009, his project (with David Rothon) Sore & Steal released their debut album. Masters is credited with saw and effects.