Bruce Driscoll

Bruce Driscoll (born June 13, 1983) is an American record producer, songwriter, guitarist, film composer,[1] and vocalist. He first gained notability as one half of the pop band Blondfire; co-writing, producing and self-releasing songs with his sister, Erica.

Bruce Driscoll
Bruce Driscoll performing at the Sunset Marquis.
Background information
Born (1983-06-13) June 13, 1983
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
GenresPop, indie rock, alternative rock, dance
Occupation(s)Music producer, songwriter, engineer, guitarist, film composer
InstrumentsGuitar, multi-instrumentalist
Years active2000–present
Associated actsBlondfire, Freedom Fry
Websitewww.brucedriscoll.com

In 2011, he formed the band Freedom Fry with his wife, the Parisian singer/songwriter and producer Marie Seyrat.[2][3][4][5]

Biography

Early life and career

Driscoll was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He started playing piano and drums at an early age then picked up the guitar when he was fifteen, inspired by the sound of guitarists Johnny Marr and George Harrison. Taking quickly to the instrument, he began accompanying his two sisters, Monica and Erica, in a band called Nectar. In order to free himself to tour with the group he withdrew from traditional high school and completed an independent study program through the University of Missouri.[6]

The siblings embarked on a national tour and eventually landed a development deal with EMI Publishing when Bruce Driscoll was aged 17. Soon after they showcased for many of the US major record labels, including Warner Bros. Records, Maverick, and Capitol. In 2002, they won Runner Up in the Pop Category for the UK Songwriting Contest with the song, "Life Out Loud". Later that year the siblings disbanded over creative differences.[7]

Personal life

In 2011 Driscoll relocated to Los Angeles, California, from New York. In 2013 he and Freedom Fry bandmate, Marie Seyrat, were married.[8]

Astaire
Bruce Driscoll performing live at The Hotel Café.

In 2003 Bruce and Erica Driscoll began recording songs in their parents' basement which would turn out to be early Astaire demos. The songs took a stylistically more left of center pop sound. The demos were sent to Andy Chase of Ivy who loved the songs and wanted to produce the duo at his studio, Stratosphere Sound, in New York. After working with Chase in the studio the siblings relocated to New York and released their first EP, Don't Whisper Lies, on their own label.

The band toured with Ivy, Stars, and Robbers On High Street in 2005. In the middle of the tour lawyers for the Fred Astaire Estate threatened to sue if the duo did not change their name. Lacking the money to afford legal fees they changed their name to Blondfire.[9]

Throughout his career Driscoll has continued to collaborate with Andy Chase. First playing keyboards in Ivy, guitar in Chase's band Brookville, and then co-writing and producing tracks for his band, Camera2.[10]

Blondfire

The duo continued on as Blondfire signing a contract with EMI UK in October 2006. Shortly thereafter EMI was bought out by Terra Firma and went through internal changes. The duo left the label in mid-2007 and self-released their debut album, My Someday, in April 2008.[11]

In September 2012, following the viral internet and radio success of their song, "Where The Kids Are", Blondfire signed to Warner Bros. Records and Primary Wave Publishing and began mixing of their album, Young Heart, with mixer Wally Gagel.[12][13][14][15]

Sleepy Rebels

Sleepy Rebels was formed after several of the songs Driscoll had written with television and advertisement composer Jeremy Adelman were used in commercials. Erica also joined the group and collaborated with them over the course of three albums, World Record, Yellow Tree and the Christmas themed album, Bah Humbug. Sleepy Rebel's music has been used in ads for J. C. Penney, VW, Tide and others.[16][17][18][19]

Freedom Fry

In April 2011, Driscoll met Parisian born Marie Seyrat during pre-production on Blondfire's "Where The Kids Are" video.[20] Seyrat, the stylist on the video, played him a cover of her singing a song in French over a ukulele. Entranced by her whispery voice, Driscoll asked her if she would be interested in writing some songs together. The following August they formed the duo Freedom Fry and released the Let The Games Begin EP.[21][22]

Their song "Rolling Down" was featured in the premiere episode of Bones, during the birth of baby Christine.[23][24] Their single, "Earthquake", was named as single-of-the-week by the French magazine, Les Inrockuptibles.[25]

Discography
  • 2004 - Astaire - Don't Whisper Lies EP - Producer, Drums, Bass, Keyboards, Programming, Guitar, Vocals, Group Member
  • 2005 - Various Artists - Auralgasms: Bliss Of Life - Producer, Performer
  • 2005 - Blondfire - Live Session (iTunes Exclusive) EP - Guitar, Producer
  • 2005 - Blondfire - Holiday EP - Producer, Guitar, Piano, Bass
  • 2005 - Monster In Law (Original Soundtrack) - Producer, Guitar
  • 2006 - Brookville - Life In The Shade - Synthesizer, Bass, Guitar, Theremin, Vocals, Producer, Engineer, Drum Programming
  • 2006 - Mônica da Silva - "Miles From Nowhere" - Guitar (Rhythm), Keyboards
  • 2006 - The Postmarks - Remixes - Remixer
  • 2007 - The Voyces - Kissing Like It's Love - Engineer
  • 2008 - Blondfire - My Someday - Producer, Mixing, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
  • 2008 - Sleepy Rebels - World Record - Producer, Composer, Instrumentation, Vocals, Mixer, Group Member
  • 2010 - Lana Mír - Lana Mír - Producer, Composer, Instrumentation, Mixer
  • 2010 - Tamar Kaprelian - Sinner Or A Saint (Interscope) - Producer (New Day (Acoustic)), Engineer, Guitar
  • 2010 - Mônica da Silva - Brasilissima - Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programming
  • 2012 - Sleepy Rebels - Bah Humbug! - Producer, Composer, Instrumentation, Vocals, Mixer, Group Member
  • 2011 - Sleepy Rebels - Yellow Tree - Producer, Composer, Instrumentation, Vocals, Mixer, Group Member
  • 2011 - Ivy - All Hours (Nettwerk) - Programming
  • 2011 - Elan - We Are - Producer ("My Baby And Me"), Composer
  • 2011 - Freedom Fry - Let The Games Begin EP - Producer, Mixing, Group Member
  • 2001 - Blondfire - "Where The Kids Are" (Single) - Producer, Engineer, Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Keyboards, Group Member
  • 2012 - Freedom Fry - "Earthquake" (Single) - Producer, Mixing, Group Member
  • 2012 - Blondfire - "Walking With Giants" (Single) - Producer, Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Keyboards, Group Member
  • 2012 - Freedom Fry - Outlaws EP - Producer, Mixing, Group Member
  • 2012 - Freedom Fry - "Summer in the City" (Single) - Producer, Mixing, Group Member
  • 2012 - Blondfire - Where The Kids Are EP (Warner Bros) - Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Drums, Vocals, Bass, Keyboards, Group Member
  • 2012 - Freedom Fry - "Dark Christmas" (Single) - Producer, Engineer, Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Keyboards, Group Member
  • 2012 - Camera2 - "Just About Made It" (Single) - Producer, Engineer, Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drum Programming
  • 2013 - Avicii - True - Composer
  • 2014 - Blondfire - Young Heart - Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Drums, Vocals, Bass, Keyboards, Group Member
  • 2014 - Freedom Fry - "Home" (Single) - Producer, Engineer, Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Keyboards, Group Member
  • 2014 - Freedom Fry - The Wilder Mile EP - Producer, Engineer, Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Keyboards, Group Member[16][22][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40]

Filmography
  • 2011 - Girder (Short) - Director: Thomas Leveritt - Film Composer
  • 2012 - Starting From Scratch - Director: James Huang - Film Composer (Credited as Freedom Fry)
  • 2012 - Minte-Ma Frumos - Director: Iura Luncasu - Film Composer[41][42][43]

References
  1. "Minte-ma frumos | Site oficial". Mintemafrumos.ro. Archived from the original on 2015-11-26. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  2. "New Finds: Freedom Fry | Top Indie". BitCandy. 2012-08-06. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  3. "Independent Study: Blondfire - today > entertainment - Music - TODAY.com". Today.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  4. MacKenzie Wilson. "Astaire | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  5. "Burn the Bowery: March 2008". Burnthebowery.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  6. "Blondfire: Where The Kids Are". Trendland. 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  7. "My Old Kentucky Blog: Pop Dee-Lite : Interview with Blondfire : The MP3 blog that puts some stank in it". Web.archive.org. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  8. "Introducing July's Artist In Residence: Freedom Fry | Artist In Residence on ALT 98.7". Alt987fm.com. 2014-07-01. Archived from the original on 2015-11-22. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  9. "Astaire on Myspace". Myspace.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  10. "Camera2 – "How Does It Feel" (former Smashing Pumpkins and Stellastarr members) | Music That Starts Your DAY!". Web.archive.org. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  11. "100% Solid Pop Music". Popjustice. 2012-08-21. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  12. "Primary Wave Music - Blondfire". Web.archive.org. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  13. "[Interview] Blondfire's Kindred Spirit Breaks Through With Flavorful Indie-Pop « The World Famous KROQ". Kroq.cbslocal.com. 2012-01-17. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  14. "A-Sides Interview: Cool 'Kids' Blondfire Set to Make 'Waves' | Jon Chattman". Huffingtonpost.com. 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  15. Schonfeld, Zach (2012-08-17). "Song Premiere: Blondfire, 'Waves'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  16. Barbu, Ana (2011-04-06). "Uncovered Sounds: Sleepy Rebels - World Record". Uncoveredsoundreflections.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  17. "Sleepy Rebels – Yellow Tree | popwreckoning". Web.archive.org. 20 November 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  18. Rong, Kevin Z. (2011-02-23). "Rong's Blog: Sleepy Rebels Street Performers In "Magic Girl" - Today's Pick | Top Stories, Music, Movies, TV and Fun". Kevinrong.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  19. "Video: Sleepy Rebels Peers Through The "Looking Glass"". CMJ. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  20. "Song + Video : Freedom Fry : "Summer In The City" « My Old Kentucky Blog". Myoldkentuckyblog.com. 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  21. "Music: Freedom Fry - Let The Games Begin - iheardin". Web.archive.org. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  22. "Let the Games Begin EP by Freedom Fry on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2011-08-20. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  23. "Watch Bones - Season 7 Episode 7: Prisoner in the Pipe". Tv-links.eu. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  24. "Bones Music: What Song Was Playing When Brennan Gave Birth to Her Baby? - Bones". Web.archive.org. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  25. "The POP! Stereo: Freedom Fry Are Tasty". Popstereo.blogspot.com. 2012-07-20. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  26. "TAMAR KAPRELIAN Sinner Or A Saint". Rockmeeting.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  27. "SLEEPY REBELS - BAH! HUMBUG! (12/2/10) - Stubbys House of Christmas". Stubbyschristmas.com. 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  28. "Sleepy Rebels are still waiting for the rebellion". Heave Media. 2011-05-17. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  29. "Lana Mir - Lana Mír | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  30. Trouble, Brent (2012-11-28). "CAMERA2: Just About Made It". Kick Kick Snare. Archived from the original on 2015-11-22. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  31. "Blondfire Discusses New Record, '80s Influences and Sibling Artistry | Life+Times". Lifeandtimes.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  32. "Freedom Fry - Dark Christmas". The Record Stache. 2012-11-17. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  33. "Bruce Driscoll | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  34. "Earthquake - Single by Freedom Fry on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  35. "Outlaws - Single by Freedom Fry on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-04-10. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  36. "Summer in the City - Single by Freedom Fry on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  37. "True - Avicii | Credits". AllMusic. 2013-09-16. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  38. "Freedom Fry – "The Wilder Mile"". Hillydilly. 2014-07-29. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  39. "Video premiere: Freedom Fry, 'Home' –". Buzzbands.la. 2014-09-25. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  40. "Young Heart - Blondfire | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2014-02-11. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  41. "Bruce Driscoll". IMDSb.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  42. "Girder - a short film by Thomas Leveritt". Web.archive.org. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  43. "home - Starting from Scratch Movie". Startingfromscratchmovie.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
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