Great Northern (indie band)

Great Northern is a rock group from Los Angeles composed of lead vocalist/keyboardist Rachel Stolte, guitarist/vocalist Solon Bixler (formerly of Thirty Seconds to Mars), and drummer Davey Latter. In 2007, they were signed with the independent label Eenie Meenie Records, where they released their debut album, Trading Twilight For Daylight (2007), and their second album, Remind Me Where the Light Is (2009).[1]

Great Northern
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresIndie rock, indie pop
Years active2005–present
LabelsEenie Meenie Records
Associated actsThirty Seconds to Mars, All Smiles, Sea Wolf, Everest
Websitefacebook.com/greatnorthernmusic
MembersSolon Bixler
Rachel Stolte
Davey Latter
Past membersAshley Dzerigian

History

Trading Twilight for Daylight (2005–07)

After recruiting drummer Davey Latter and bassist Ashley Dzerigia,[2] Great Northern hung around Los Angeles while completing material for a debut album. Great Northern signed with the indie label Eenie Meenie Records in the summer of 2006 and began recording with producer Mathias Schneeberger.[3] The band's debut album was completed after about 6 months of song writing, Trading Twilight For Daylight.

The album was recorded at the Donner & Blitzen studio in Arcadia, CA, together with producer/engineer Mathias Schneeberger, whose previous work experience includes Twilight Singers' Joseph Arthur.[4] Having met Schneeberger through a mutual friend, they quickly grew fond of his contributions to the album. The album title was coined by Rachel Stolte, who said that twilight is her favorite time of day. Trading Twilight For Daylight was released in the U.S. on May 15, 2007.

Sleepy Eepee and Ashley Dzerigian's departure (2008)

The EP originally was written and recorded before "Trading Twilight For Daylight", but was re-released with new artwork by Ryan Coscia and released to stores March 18, 2008.[5] Sleepy Eepee was originally recorded between 2003-004[6] at The Ship.

Ashley Dzerigian was also quietly fired from the band without explanation. She later stated in an interview, "As much as I’d rather not focus on the split, I’d hate for people to think that i left because I chose to. I was fired and it was completely unexpected. Even though I’ve moved on and forgiven my former band mates, it’s a strange subject for me because I was never given a clear/honest reason. But I suppose that’s the way it goes sometimes. Bands are like relationships or marriages. If there’s a lack of communication then something’s eventually going to give. The last thing I’d want is for things to be awkward. I believe everything happens for a reason. If the fallout never happened, I never would have met Jeff Klein or Ed Harcourt. I’m grateful for the time I spent with Great Northern and I genuinely wish them the best in the future." [7]

Remind Me Where The Light Is and acting (2009)

On April 28, 2009 the band released their second studio album entitled Remind Me Where the Light Is. Wishing to do things differently, Great Northern worked with new producers.[8] “We took a lot more risks by entering uncomfortable territory that wasn’t touched on the last record,” Bixler says. “We dug deeper into the unpleasant, which helped us to find the beauty.” [9] Rachel Stolte and Solon Bixler also had supporting roles in the film Etienne!,[10] released in 2010.

2010-present

On September 8, 2010 the band posted via Twitter that for the past three months they have been in the studio recording their third album.[11] As of February 2012, work on the album was still in progress.[12]

Great Northern also toured with Rob Quist in 2014. [13]

Great Northern, now only Solon and Rachel, released three songs on Bandcamp. Holes was released in 2012,[14] Skin of Our Teeth in 2013,[15] and Human in 2014 [16]

On June 12, 2015, Tremors was released on Google Play and iTunes as an album,[17][18] and on Bandcamp on July 7[19]

Other Media

A few songs ended up in ads as well as on both the big and small screens-- "Low Is a Height" even soundtracked a few NBA commercials,[20] while Home was featured in a Nissan ad.[21]

The song "Home" was used in a 2008 Nissan Murano commercial, advertising a redesigned 2009 Murano. "Home" was also featured in the movie 21 starring Jim Sturgess.

Their song "Low is a Height" was used in the NBA's "There Can Only Be One" commercials; starring Paul Pierce & Mike Bibby and also Dwight Howard & Chris Paul. "Low is a Height" was also featured in a video montage sequence at the end of the 8th Episode of Bones in the third season.[22]

They recorded their song "Into the Sun" in Simlish for the EP The Sims 2: Free Time.[23]

The song "Driveway" was featured at the end of the 18th episode of Grey's Anatomy, in the fifth season and at the end of The Son, the fifth episode of Friday Night Lights' fourth season.[24]

Band members

Current members

Former members

Discography

Albums

EPs

References
  1. http://www.eeniemeenie.com/bands/great-northern/
  2. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/greatnorthern/from/store.cdbaby.com/cd/greatnorthern
  3. https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/great-northern/id251156917#fullText
  4. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/greatnorthern/from/store.cdbaby.com/cd/greatnorthern
  5. https://www.amazon.com/Sleepy-Eepee-Great-Northern/dp/B00121QGB8/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_i/191-2271733-5720253
  6. http://neufutur.com/2008/03/great-northern-–-sleepy-eepee/
  7. http://www.donewaiting.com/2009/03/12/my-jerusalem-ex-twilight-singers-great-northern-polyphonic-spree-sxsw/
  8. https://www.amazon.com/Remind-Me-Where-Light-Is/dp/B001UW596W
  9. http://www.eeniemeenie.com/bands/great-northern/
  10. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1087443/
  11. "day 90 something in our studio". September 8, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
  12. "sorry this record is taking super long to finish". February 1, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
  13. http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/entertainment/arts/2014/05/09/rob-quist-and-the-great-northern-band-play-in-lewistown-next-week/8870475/
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 28, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. https://greatnorthern.bandcamp.com/track/human
  17. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appums.tremors&hl=en
  18. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tremors-appum/id975039215
  19. http://greatnorthern.bandcamp.com/album/tremors
  20. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12952-remind-me-where-the-light-is/
  21. http://exclaim.ca/music/article/great_northern-remind_me_where_light_is
  22. "Bones: "The Knight On the Grid"". November 20, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruuJUCWCpJo
  24. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3T0SHStgrY

Additional sources

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