Dirty Projectors
Formed: 2002 -
Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Genre: Art Pop, Indie Pop, Indie Folk
Years Active: 2003 -
Meaning of the Name:
Core Members: David Longstreth
Way of Working: Led by David Longstreth
Associated: Angel Deradoorian, Amber Coffman
Essential Releases
Bitte Orca (2009)
A vibrant, adventurous album highlighting sophisticated vocal interplay and more accessible melodies.
Swing Lo
Magellan (2012)
More intimate, folk-leaning songs exploring personal themes.
Vocally stunning and musically complex, featuring to die for harmonies, the work of Dirty Projectors shines unlike any other. Vocal phrases appear in parts of the beat that defy the conventions of traditional pop songs. Singers often begin and end phrases with the same notes to create a 'hiccup' effect that can initially sound 'off', but highlights the precision of the vocalists involved. This technique, known as 'hocketing', was first developed in the Middle Ages.
Under the creative control of founder David Longstreth, the band has carved a distinct niche between Ivy League tomfoolery and a serious art project.
Formed in early-2000s New York, Longstreth's deliberate use of lo-fi production techniques, such as restricting the number of microphones used for recording, gave their albums an authentic feel that set them apart from mainstream efforts laden with studio effects.
As the success of Dirty Projectors grew and their creative choices were less impacted by budgetary constraints, the lo-fi production remained but was accentuated with elements of hi-fi. On Stillness Is the Move, the lead vocal is studio-clean, while the harmonies aren't corrected to perfect pitch, making the song feel more human. It was refreshing to hear dusty, unpolished audio given room to breathe in an industry saturated by autotune, and the addition of premium fidelity elevated the proceedings by adding more colours to the band's sonic palette.
While the instrumentation on Dirty Projectors albums is undeniably important, the real stars are the vocals. Angel Deradoorian and Amber Coffman share duties on the band's magnum opus, Bitte Orca, to stunning effect. The album features overlapping harmonies that are reminiscent of the all-vocal group The Whiffenpoofs, which consist of students from the prestigious Yale University.
Longstreth also studied at Yale where he developed a fondness for the human voice. Some Dirty Projectors songs have over ten people singing, both together and separately, their voices intricately interweaving while also displaying the unique texture of each.
What really sets the band apart, however, is that they seem to be truly enjoying their music and sing with a smile. It's strange that the sound of joy is a breath of fresh air, but the modern music industry is highly competitive because of the riches awarded to its winners.
This clamour for fame and fortune, stage and spotlight, makes many forget that music, with its simple delights of singing and moving, can be about having a good time for the sheer fun of it. Dirty Projectors are a reminder of this simple truth: that music is supposed to be enjoyed.
Skills
*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.Emotional Impact
65
Mental Impact
70
Originality
95
Artistry
60
Authenticity
80
Live
70
Production
45
Musicianship
85
Singing
95
Songwriting
90
Danceability
65
Fun
85
Consistency
70
Range
60
Cool
45
Charisma
40
Commercial & Critical Success
Awards
Certifications
- Expansion Team: Silver in UK
Charts
Critics >>>
- Pitchfork: Bitte Orca - Best Albums of 2009: #2
- Pitchfork: Bitte Orca - Best Albums of the 2000s: #56
- Time Magazine: Bitte Orca - Best Albums of 2009: #2
- Stereogum: Swing Lo Magellan - Best Albums of 2012: #10
