Bonobo (musician)

Simon Green (born 30 March 1976), known by his stage name Bonobo, is a British musician, producer, and DJ based in Los Angeles.[1] He debuted with a trip hop aesthetic, and has since explored more upbeat approaches as well as jazz and world music influences. His tranquil electronic sound incorporates the use of organic instrumentation, and is recreated by a full band in live performances.

Bonobo
Bonobo in 2017
Background information
Birth nameSimon Green
Also known asBarakas
Born (1976-03-30) 30 March 1976
OriginBrighton, England
Genres
Years active1999–present
LabelsNinja Tune, Tru Thoughts
Associated acts
Websitebonobomusic.com

Green's work has attained a cult following, and he has collaborated with a variety of other artists.

Music career

1999–2009

Green debuted in 1999 on the Tru Thoughts compilation When Shapes Join Together.[2] His stage name Bonobo is a reference to the Bonobo chimpanzee species.[3] Following the releases of the EP Scuba and the single "Terrapin", Bonobo was offered label deals with XL recordings and Mute records, but he chose to remain in Tru Thoughts.[1]

His first album Animal Magic was released on the same label in 2000.[4] It received mixed reviews; Pitchfork stated that despite not being a ground-breaking chill-out album, Bonobo "[showcases] smooth breakbeat loops, synth sounds, and aforementioned dub effects. [And his] electronic music draws on live playing," according to PopMatters.[5][6] Reviewer Dean Carlson also said that the album "slowly takes shape as a solid debut of narcoleptic downtempo."[7] In spite of reactions, Animal Magic has given Bonobo a cult following.[8] Its accompanying compilation album titled "One Offs...", was issued in 2002 and contains reworked songs and rarities.

In 2001, Bonobo was signed to Coldcut's label Ninja Tune[1] and in 2003, he released Dial 'M' for Monkey. John Bush of Allmusic stated in a review that Bonobo's influences were drawn more towards alternative rock and world music rather than hip-hop or trip hop.[9] The album tracks "Pick up" and "Flutter" were featured in the snowboarding game SSX on Tour.[10]

In 2005, Bonobo contributed to the Solid Steel series, with It Came from the Sea.[1] The mix features several exclusive tracks as well as remixes and re-edits. His third album, entitled Days to Come, was released on 2 October 2006. An AllMusic review states that "[Bonobo] breathes new life into a well-worn genre." With the album as well as his future work, he featured vocalists such as Bajka, thus "adding [an] organic and vibrant musicality that's rare in electronic music."[11] Days to Come was voted Best Album of 2006 by Gilles Peterson's listeners.[12] The song "Nightlite" appeared on UEFA Champions League 2006–2007,[13] and "Recurring" was used in a surfing film broadcast on Fuel TV.[14]

2010–2015
Bonobo in 2013

The song "The Keeper" featuring vocals by Andreya Triana was released in September 2009 as the lead single from his fourth album Black Sands, released in March 2010.[15] A BBC review by Paul Clarke stated that "Green has progressed from predominantly sample-based production to more live instrumentation [and] has become equally adept at mastering [...] multi-layered atmospheres." in the same review, Clarke has also commented that the songs "We Could Forever" "saddles an Afro-inflected guitar and skittish flute to deep sub-bass" and "Kiara" combines "oriental strings with cut-up beats."[16] After their collaboration for Black Sands, Green produced Andreya Triana's debut album Lost Where I Belong.[17] The song "Kong" was used during a scene in an artist's studio in the eighth episode of the second season of House of Cards.[18]

In February 2012, Black Sands Remixed was released on Ninja Tune, featuring tracks from the original Black Sands record remixed by electronic producers such as Machinedrum, Lapalux, Floating Points, and Mark Pritchard.

The first single off the next Bonobo album, "Cirrus", was given its worldwide debut on Gilles Peterson's BBC Radio 6 programme on 19 January 2013. The album is titled The North Borders and was set for release on 1 April 2013, but was released early in its digital format after a promotional copy was leaked prior to the planned launch date.[19] The North Borders marked his first UK and US album chart entries, where they respectively reached numbers 34 and 122. The track "Cirrus" was featured as the closing song of the pilot episode for the AMC show Halt and Catch Fire.[20]

He produced the song, "Pulls" by DELS for his 2014 album Petals Have Fallen, which was released under Big Dada; a sister label of Ninja Tune.[21]

2016–present

Bonobo released his sixth album, Migration, in January 2017.[22] In an interview with Billboard, Bonobo said that he conceived the album from "living and being in various locations", as he toured extensively and did not "have a home base for about a year".[23] The album and the track Bambro Koyo Ganda have been nominated for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Dance Recording and Best Dance/Electronic Album.[24] The album peaked higher in the UK chart (number 5) and in the US (number 59). In 2018, Bonobo's "Migration" album also won Album of the Year at the 2017 Electronic Music Awards and Bonobo was also nominated for Live Act of the Year.[25]

On 1 July 2019, Bonobo released a new song, "Linked", online.[26] "Linked" was later nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 62nd Grammy Awards, but lost to "Got to Keep On" by The Chemical Brothers.[27]

The following year, Bonobo remixed Michael Kiwanuka's song "Final Days".[28]

Musical style
Bonobo performing in a live band with Andreya Triana in April 2010

Bonobo's sound is oriented on beats and samples but typically "soothing", combining influences ranging from club music to world music.[29] Pitchfork named him a key figure in the 2000s downtempo electronica scene[30] while The Guardian associated him with the recent popularity of "ambient world electronica".[31] While his earliest work was firmly based in trip hop,[32] his style soon became more upbeat and delved into genres such as jazz (which has led him to be described as a nu jazz artist) and traditional Indian music. He has collaborated with various artists, including Bajka, Andreya Triana, Erykah Badu, and Rhye who contributed vocals to songs on his last four albums Days to Come, Black Sands, The North Borders, and Migration, respectively.[29] He also performed with Robert Luis of the Tru Thoughts label under the alias of Nirobi and Barakas.[33]

Whilst often touring solo, and performing DJ sets and residencies, in 2010 Bonobo opted to start touring with a full band for the Black Sands tour. The band plays live renditions of studio material, with a singer, keyboardist, guitarist, saxophonist, string section, electronics, and drummer, often with improvisations and solos.[34] His albums employ sampling, for example 'Behind the Light' (from Pick Up EP, 2003) uses a clip of 'Judy' from John Renbourn.

Discography
Bonobo discography
Studio albums6
Live albums2
EPs11
Singles27
Remix albums2
Other albums3

Albums
Title and details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[35]		 BEL (Fl)
[36]		 BEL (Wa)
[37]		 FRA
[38]		 NED
[39]		 SWI
[40]		 US
[41]
Animal Magic
  • Date released: 2000
  • Record label: Tru Thoughts, Ninja Tune (2001 re-release)
 — — — — — — —
Dial 'M' for Monkey
  • Date released: 2003
  • Record label: Ninja Tune
 — — — — — — —
Days to Come
  • Date released: 2006
  • Record label: Ninja Tune
 — — — — — — —
Black Sands
  • Date released: 2010
  • Record label: Ninja Tune
 — — — 105 — —
The North Borders
  • Date released: 2013
  • Record label: Ninja Tune
 34 51 119 54 52 39 122
Migration
  • Date released: 2017
  • Record label: Ninja Tune
 5 6 20 35 10 5 59

Live albums and EPs

Singles and EPs
  • Scuba EP (2000)
  • Terrapin EP (2000)
  • Silver EP (2000)
  • The Shark EP (2000)
  • Kota EP (2002)
  • Pick Up EP (2003)
  • Flutter EP (2003)
  • "Nightlite" / "If You Stayed Over" (2006)
  • "Nightlite" (Zero dB Reconstruction/Bonobo Remixes) (2006)
  • The Keeper (featuring Andreya Triana) EP (2009)
  • "Stay the Same" (featuring Andreya Triana) (2009)
  • "Eyesdown" (featuring Andreya Triana) (2010)
  • "Cirrus" (2013)
  • "First Fires" (featuring Grey Reverend) (2013)
  • Ten Tigers EP (2014)
  • The Flashlight EP (2014)
  • Bambro Koyo Ganda EP (2017)
  • "Ibrik" (2019)[43]
  • "Linked" (2019)[44]
  • "Heartbreak" (with Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs) (2020)[45]
  • "Loom" (with Ólafur Arnalds) (2020)[46]
  • "6000 Ft." (with Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaur) (2020)[47]

Remix albums
  • One Offs, Remixes & B-Sides (2002)
  • Black Sands Remixed (2012)

Other albums

DVDs
  • Live at Koko (2009)
  • The North Borders Tour - Live (2014)

See also

References
  1. Carlson, Dean. "Bonobo | Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  2. "When Shapes Join Together 1 (by Various), Tru Thoughts releases". Tru Thoughts. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  3. Hughes, Tim (3 August 2017). "No monkeying around: Bonobo swings into Wilderness". Oxford Mail. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  4. "Tru Thoughts". Tru Thoughts. 28 April 2013. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  5. "Bonobo: Animal Magic Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  6. "Bonobo: Animal Magic". PopMatters. 12 November 2001. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  7. "Animal Magic - Bonobo | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  8. "Complete Guide: Bonobo". Clash Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  9. "Dial "M" for Monkey - Bonobo | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  10. "SSX on Tour Soundtrack Announced – Xbox". News.teamxbox.com. 12 September 2005. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  11. "Days to Come - Bonobo | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  12. "Myspace". myspace.cn. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  13. "UEFA Champions League 2006–2007 Soundtrack". IGN. 2 March 2007. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  14. "The Most UFC, Motocross, Surfing, and Snowboarding on Television". Fuel TV. Archived from the original on 25 May 2006. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  15. "Bonobo releases: Black Sands". bonobomusic. Archived from the original on 11 September 2011.
  16. Clarke, Paul. "BBC - Music - Review of Bonobo - Black Sands". Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  17. "Lost Where I Belong - Andreya Triana | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  18. "Bonobo 'Kong' used in House of Cards s02e08". Just Isn't Music / Ninja Tune. 10 March 2014. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  19. "Statement on 'The North Borders' Early Digital Release". Ninja Tune. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  20. Perkins, Dennis. "Halt And Catch Fire: "I/O"". TV Club. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  21. "DELS - Petals Have Fallen | Albums | musicOMH". musicOMH. 9 November 2014. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  22. "Bonobo Announces New Album "Migration", Shares Video for New Song "Kerala"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  23. Klock, Jayme (12 April 2017). "Bonobo Talks 'Visual' New Tour, Creating His 'Migration' Album & More". Billboard. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  24. "2018 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Winners List". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  25. "Album of the Year - Bonobo, Rufus du Sol, Eric Prydz & More Win 2017 Electronic Music Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  26. Bain, Katie (1 July 2019). "Bonobo's New Single 'Linked' Is Deep, Dreamy & Dance Floor Ready". Billboard. Archived from the original on 1 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  27. "Bonobo receives Best Dance Recording Grammy Nomination for 'Linked' on Ninja Tune". Decoded Magazine. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  28. Stewart, Josh (13 July 2020). "New meets old in Bonobo's remix of Michael Kiwanuka's 'Final Days'". TOPi.Radio. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  29. Jones, Richard (12 January 2017). "Complete Guide: Bonobo". Clash. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  30. Saxelby, Ruth (12 April 2013). "Bonobo: The North Borders". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  31. Gibsone, Harriet (12 January 2017). "Bonobo: Migration review – pensive ambient electronica from a nomadic soul". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  32. "Pop & Rock Listings for June 10-16". The New York Times. 9 June 2016. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  33. "Barakas". Tru Thoughts Artists. Archived from the original on 30 May 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2008.
  34. Ranta, Alan. "Bonobo / Brasstronaut – Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver BC June 30 • Concert Reviews •". Exclaim.ca. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  35. "BONOBO | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  36. "ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". Ultratop. Archived from the original on 13 November 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  37. "ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". Ultratop. Archived from the original on 13 November 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  38. "Bonobo discography". lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  39. "Dutch Charts". MegaCharts. Archived from the original on 13 November 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  40. "Die Offizielle Schweizer". Swiss Hitparade. Archived from the original on 13 November 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  41. "Bonobo". Billboard. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  42. "British album certifications – Bonobo". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 April 2020. Select albums in the Format field. Type Bonobo in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  43. Bein, Kat (25 January 2019). "Bonobo sets a tropical mood on 'Ibrik': Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  44. Bain, Katie (1 July 2019). "Bonobo's New Single 'Linked' Is Deep, Dreamy & Dance Floor Ready". Billboard. Archived from the original on 1 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  45. Martin, Josh (25 September 2020). "Bonobo teams up with Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs for disco tribute 'Heartbreak'". NME. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  46. Kenneally, Cerys (15 October 2020). "Ólafur Arnalds and Bonobo unite for new single 'Loom'". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  47. Leight, Elias (16 November 2020). "Bonobo, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs join forces on dreamy '6000 Ft.'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
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