New Buffalo (band)
Encyclopedia
Sally Seltmann is a Melbourne-based singer-songwriter. Until 2009, she performed under the alias New Buffalo.
group Lustre 4, as well as playing guitar in Spdfgh in the 1990s. She then moved to Melbourne and re-invented her musical style to create New Buffalo. She adopted a sound that replaced guitars with keyboards over smooth paced bass and soothing beats.
Seltmann's debut release as New Buffalo was in February 2000 via Ben Lee
's web site by way of a MP3
download of the track "16 Beats". The following year she signed with Modular Recordings
and released the debut EP, About Last Night, featuring the aforementioned track. It was also released in the United Kingdom through Heavenly Recordings
, which saw New Buffalo invited to tour throughout the UK supporting Ed Harcourt
.
In 2002, Seltmann recorded some songs in Los Angeles
with Jake Davies, but after Heavenly withdrew their financial support, she decided to set up her own home studio in Melbourne. This where she wrote, arranged and produced her debut album, The Last Beautiful Day, which was released in Australia in September 2004 on Dot Dash and 23 August 2005 on Arts & Crafts
in North America. The album features special guest appearances by Beth Orton
on backing vocals and Jim White of Dirty Three
on drums.
In July 2005 a self-titled EP was released featuring two new songs - a collaboration with composer Rae Howell, and a duet with Sweden's Jens Lekman
- plus re-mixes and re-worked versions of songs from the debut album.
On 24 March 2007, Seltmann released her second LP, Somewhere Anywhere in Australia, and to North American audiences on 28 August 2007. Also in August, Seltmann was invited by Deborah Conway
to take part in the Broad Festival project, which toured major Australian cities including performing at the Sydney Opera House. With Seltmann and Conway were Anne McCue
, Jade Macrae
and Abbe May – they performed their own and each other's songs. In the same year, she toured as a support act for Air in Australia.
Seltmann also co-wrote the song "1234
" (originally called Sally's Song) with Feist
which was released on Feist's album The Reminder
. The song was featured in a 2007 iPod Nano
commercial and transformed Feist's career. By proxy, Seltmann's New Buffalo project became better known as she was mentioned in a number of publications, including Entertainment Weekly, which named her as an artist to watch in September 2007.
On 3 December 2009, Seltmann announced the details of her third studio album, Heart That's Pounding
, which was released on Arts & Crafts on 6 April 2010. The album was co-produced by film composer Francois Tetaz
. It was the first album to be released under her birth name. The lead single from the album, "Harmony To My Heartbeat", was released through iTunes on 24 November 2009, and the accompanying music video directed by Antuong Nguyen of Moop Jaw followed on 15 December 2009. Her song Four Seasons in one Day (cover of Crowded House) is used in the 2011 promo of the Australian soap Neighbours.
.
She has a two year old daughter, Judy.
Biography
Seltmann, born Sally Russell, grew up in Sydney where she was the vocalist and one of the founding members of power popPower pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
group Lustre 4, as well as playing guitar in Spdfgh in the 1990s. She then moved to Melbourne and re-invented her musical style to create New Buffalo. She adopted a sound that replaced guitars with keyboards over smooth paced bass and soothing beats.
Seltmann's debut release as New Buffalo was in February 2000 via Ben Lee
Ben Lee
Benjamin Michael "Ben" Lee is an ARIA Award winning musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appeared as the protagonist in the Australian film The Rage in Placid Lake...
's web site by way of a MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
download of the track "16 Beats". The following year she signed with Modular Recordings
Modular Recordings
Modular Records is an Australian record label. It was established by Sydney-based music promoter Steve Pavlovic as a joint-venture with EMI, but is now distributed by Universal Music in Australia...
and released the debut EP, About Last Night, featuring the aforementioned track. It was also released in the United Kingdom through Heavenly Recordings
Heavenly Records
Heavenly Records, aka Heavenly Recordings, is a London-based record label, distributed by EMI. Founded by Jeff Barrett, a former press officer for Creation Records and many successful indie bands of the time including Happy Mondays, Heavenly Recordings' first releases were 7" and 12" singles for...
, which saw New Buffalo invited to tour throughout the UK supporting Ed Harcourt
Ed Harcourt
Ed Harcourt is an English singer-songwriter. To date, he has released five studio albums, two EPs, and thirteen singles. His debut album, Here Be Monsters, was nominated for the 2001 Mercury Prize...
.
In 2002, Seltmann recorded some songs in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with Jake Davies, but after Heavenly withdrew their financial support, she decided to set up her own home studio in Melbourne. This where she wrote, arranged and produced her debut album, The Last Beautiful Day, which was released in Australia in September 2004 on Dot Dash and 23 August 2005 on Arts & Crafts
Arts & Crafts (record label)
Arts & Crafts Productions is a Toronto-based independent artist services company, offering expertise as an independent record label, management firm, merchandiser and music publisher both in Canada and internationally...
in North America. The album features special guest appearances by Beth Orton
Beth Orton
Beth Orton is a BRIT Award–winning English singer-songwriter, known for her 'folktronica' sound, which mixes elements of folk and electronica. She was initially recognised for her collaborations with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers in the mid 1990s. However, these were not Orton's first...
on backing vocals and Jim White of Dirty Three
Dirty Three
Dirty Three are an instrumental trio consisting of Warren Ellis , Mick Turner and Jim White , originating from Melbourne, Australia. Since the Dirty Three formed in 1992, they have spent a lot of time overseas...
on drums.
In July 2005 a self-titled EP was released featuring two new songs - a collaboration with composer Rae Howell, and a duet with Sweden's Jens Lekman
Jens Lekman
Jens Martin Lekman is a Swedish musician. His music is guitar-based pop with heavy use of samples and strings, with lyrics that are often witty, romantic, and melancholic. The English lyrics reflect an advanced knowledge of the language and its idioms...
- plus re-mixes and re-worked versions of songs from the debut album.
On 24 March 2007, Seltmann released her second LP, Somewhere Anywhere in Australia, and to North American audiences on 28 August 2007. Also in August, Seltmann was invited by Deborah Conway
Deborah Conway
Deborah Ann Conway, is an Australian rock singer-songwriter and guitarist, and had a career as a model and actor. She was a founding member of the 1980s rock band Do-Ré-Mi with their surprise top 5 hit "Man Overboard"....
to take part in the Broad Festival project, which toured major Australian cities including performing at the Sydney Opera House. With Seltmann and Conway were Anne McCue
Anne McCue
Anne McCue is an alternative country singer-songwriter, guitarist & producer from Australia.- Early life and education :McCue grew up in Campbelltown, an area southwest of Sydney, Australia and graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney with a degree in Film Production and Film Studies...
, Jade Macrae
Jade MacRae
Jade MacRae is an Australian R&B/Soul singer and the daughter of two professional New Zealand musicians living in the UK. Her debut single "You Make Me Weak" debuted in the top 50 of the Australian singles charts in November 2004...
and Abbe May – they performed their own and each other's songs. In the same year, she toured as a support act for Air in Australia.
Seltmann also co-wrote the song "1234
1234 (song)
"1234" is a song from Feist's third studio album, The Reminder. It is Feist's most successful single to date. The song was co-written by Sally Seltmann, an Australian singer-songwriter who also recorded under the name New Buffalo, and Feist...
" (originally called Sally's Song) with Feist
Leslie Feist
Leslie Feist , known professionally as simply Feist, is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, both as a solo artist and as a member of the indie rock group Broken Social Scene....
which was released on Feist's album The Reminder
The Reminder
The Reminder is the third full-length album by indie artist Feist. It was released on April 23, 2007 in countries outside of North America, and May 1, 2007 in the United States and Canada....
. The song was featured in a 2007 iPod Nano
IPod nano
iPod Nano is a digital media player designed and marketed by Apple Inc.. The first generation of iPod Nano was introduced on September 7, 2005 as a replacement for iPod Mini. It uses flash memory for storage. iPod Nano has gone through six models, or generations, since its introduction...
commercial and transformed Feist's career. By proxy, Seltmann's New Buffalo project became better known as she was mentioned in a number of publications, including Entertainment Weekly, which named her as an artist to watch in September 2007.
On 3 December 2009, Seltmann announced the details of her third studio album, Heart That's Pounding
Heart That's Pounding
Heart That's Pounding is an album by Sally Seltmann, released 6 April, 2010.-Track listing:# "Harmony to My Heartbeat" - 3:55# "Set Me Free" - 3:35# "On the Borderline" - 4:01# "Book Song" - 3:21# "Dream About Changing" - 3:29...
, which was released on Arts & Crafts on 6 April 2010. The album was co-produced by film composer Francois Tetaz
Francois Tetaz
François "Franc" Tétaz is an Australian film composer and music producer, who won the Australasian Performing Right Association / Australian Guild of Screen Composers 2006 'Feature Film Score of the Year' Award for Wolf Creek .-Biography:In 1992, François Tétaz with Charles Tétaz and Darrin...
. It was the first album to be released under her birth name. The lead single from the album, "Harmony To My Heartbeat", was released through iTunes on 24 November 2009, and the accompanying music video directed by Antuong Nguyen of Moop Jaw followed on 15 December 2009. Her song Four Seasons in one Day (cover of Crowded House) is used in the 2011 promo of the Australian soap Neighbours.
Personal life
Seltmann is married to Darren Seltmann of The AvalanchesThe Avalanches
The Avalanches are an Australian electronic music group formed in 1997 with mainstays Robbie Chater on keyboards, Tony Diblasi on keyboards, bass and backing vocals, and Darren Seltmann on vocals and keyboards. They are known for their live DJ sets and their debut album Since I Left You , which was...
.
She has a two year old daughter, Judy.
APRA Award
- 2008APRA Awards of 2008The Australasian Performing Right Association Awards of 2008 are a series of awards which include the APRA Music Awards, Classical Music Awards, and Screen Music Awards. The APRA Music Awards ceremony occurred on 16 June at the Sydney Hilton, they were presented by APRA and the Australasian...
Breakthrough Songwriter Award – won. - 2008 Song of the Year – "12341234 (song)"1234" is a song from Feist's third studio album, The Reminder. It is Feist's most successful single to date. The song was co-written by Sally Seltmann, an Australian singer-songwriter who also recorded under the name New Buffalo, and Feist...
" performed by Feist – nomination shared with co-writer Leslie Feist.
Albums
- The Last Beautiful DayThe Last Beautiful DayThe Last Beautiful Day is an album by New Buffalo, released on September 14, 2004.-Track listing:# "Recovery" - 3:41# "I've Got You and You've Got Me " - 3:54# "No Party" - 3:06# "It'll Be Alright" - 3:31...
(2004, Dot Dash, Arts & CraftsArts & Crafts (record label)Arts & Crafts Productions is a Toronto-based independent artist services company, offering expertise as an independent record label, management firm, merchandiser and music publisher both in Canada and internationally...
) - Somewhere, AnywhereSomewhere, AnywhereSomewhere, Anywhere is an album by New Buffalo, released March 24, 2007.-Track listing:# "Cheer Me Up Thank You" - 3:12# "It's True" - 3:33# "City and Sea " - 3:26# "Stay with Us" - 4:29# "Emotional Champ" - 3:22...
(2007, Dot Dash, Arts & CraftsArts & Crafts (record label)Arts & Crafts Productions is a Toronto-based independent artist services company, offering expertise as an independent record label, management firm, merchandiser and music publisher both in Canada and internationally...
) - Heart That's PoundingHeart That's PoundingHeart That's Pounding is an album by Sally Seltmann, released 6 April, 2010.-Track listing:# "Harmony to My Heartbeat" - 3:55# "Set Me Free" - 3:35# "On the Borderline" - 4:01# "Book Song" - 3:21# "Dream About Changing" - 3:29...
(2010, Arts & CraftsArts & Crafts (record label)Arts & Crafts Productions is a Toronto-based independent artist services company, offering expertise as an independent record label, management firm, merchandiser and music publisher both in Canada and internationally...
) - Seeker Lover KeeperSeeker Lover Keeper (album)Seeker Lover Keeper is the self-titled first album released by the Australian all-female trio, Seeker Lover Keeper, composed of solo singer-songwriters Sarah Blasko, Holly Throsby and Sally Seltmann. It was released in Australia on 3 June 2011...
(2011, Dew ProcessDew ProcessDew Process is an Australian independent record label based in Brisbane, Queensland founded by Paul Piticco. The label essentially develops talent from Australia as well as provide promotional, marketing and distribution services for foreign artists looking for a home for their music in Australia...
) - with Sarah BlaskoSarah BlaskoSarah Elizabeth Blaskow , is an Australian singer-songwriter and musician. After fronting Sydney-based band Acquiesce from the mid-1990s, Blasko developed her solo career from 2002. In 2007, she won the 'Best Pop Release' for What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have at the ARIA Music Awards, which...
and Holly ThrosbyHolly ThrosbyHolly Throsby is a songwriter, vocalist, guitarist and pianist from Sydney, Australia. Throsby was nominated for an Australian Recording Industry Association 'Best Female Artist' Award in 2006 for Under the Town and in the same category in 2008 for A Loud Call.- Career :Holly Throsby was raised...
EPs
- About Last Night (2001, ModularModular RecordingsModular Records is an Australian record label. It was established by Sydney-based music promoter Steve Pavlovic as a joint-venture with EMI, but is now distributed by Universal Music in Australia...
) - New BuffaloNew Buffalo (New Buffalo EP)New Buffalo is an EP by New Buffalo, released on July 25, 2005.-Track listing:# "I've Got You & You've Got Me " - 3:41# "Trigger" - 4:00# "Recovery" - 3:31...
(2005, Dot Dash)
Singles
- "Cheer Me Up Thank You" (2007, Dot Dash)
- "1234" (Feist, "The Reminder" 2007, credited as writer)
- "Harmony To My Heartbeat" (2010, self-released)
Compilation appearances
- She Will Have Her WayShe Will Have Her WayShe Will Have Her Way is a compilation album featuring female Australian and New Zealand musicians performing songs written by Neil Finn and Tim Finn , members of Split Enz and Crowded House...
- "Four SeasonsFour Seasons in One Day"Four Seasons in One Day" is a 1992 single released by rock group Crowded House. It was co-written by Neil Finn and brother Tim Finn, originally intended for their debut Finn Brothers album, however was moved onto the Woodface project as the two projects amalgamated. The song reached #26 on the UK...
" (2005) - Like a Version 2 - "Don't Let Me Be MisunderstoodDon't Let Me Be Misunderstood"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" is a song written by Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell and Sol Marcus for the singer/pianist Nina Simone, who first recorded it in 1964. "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" has been recorded or performed by many artists, and is widely known by the 1965 blues rock hit...
" (2006)