Jack Conte

Jack Conte (/ˈkɒnti/; born July 12, 1984) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is one half of the band Pomplamoose,[1] along with his wife Nataly Dawn, and CEO and co-founder of Patreon.[2]

Jack Conte
Jack Conte in 2014
Born (1984-07-12) July 12, 1984
San Francisco, California, U.S.
EducationStanford University
Occupation
  • Multi-instrumentalist
  • singer-songwriter
  • entrepreneur
Years active2002–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2016)​
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
  • organ
  • keyboards
  • bass guitar
  • drums
  • percussion
  • accordion
Associated acts
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2007–2013
GenreMusic
Subscribers328 thousand
Total views41.9 million
100,000 subscribers
Updated: August 5, 2020
Websitejackcontemusic.com

Conte has recorded two EPs—Sleep in Color and Nightmares and Daydreams—and released them along with the compilation VideoSongs Volume I through the iTunes Store.[3] Conte's use of Electro-Harmonix audio equipment has been featured by the company in several videos.[4][5][6]

Career

Conte's first notable appearance in mainstream media was as a voice actor for The Sims 2.[7]

In 2007, Conte created his YouTube channel to upload music videos inspired by the Dogme 95 movement.[8] He gained widespread attention when his video Yeah Yeah Yeah was featured on YouTube's main page.[9] The video, animated in stop motion, has over one million views as of August 2020.[10] The majority of his new music is released as singles posted to YouTube. These mostly take the form of "VideoSongs", a medium he defines with two rules:[6][11]

  1. What you see is what you hear. (No lip-syncing for instruments or voice)
  2. If you hear it, at some point you see it. (No hidden sounds)

Conte formed the band Pomplamoose with Nataly Dawn in 2008.[12] The band's presence is primarily online,[13] having only performed a handful of live shows. Nevertheless, the collaboration has garnered significant fan support.[14]

On May 7, 2013, Conte announced the launch of Patreon, a crowdfunding venture, together with co-founder Samuel Yam. According to Conte, the startup is "like a kickstarter for people who release stuff on a regular basis."[15][16]

Conte is the keyboardist and founder of the funk band Scary Pockets.[17]

Conte has been identified as a "Young Global Leader" by World Economic Forum in 2020.[18]

Reception

Much of Conte's work has been met with positive reviews, citing evocative lyrics in Sleep in Color,[9] creative delivery of his videosongs,[19] and the tenacity to create a niche in the Internet music market. However, Conte's music was reviewed less favorably by Amplifier: "Hints of Conor Oberst, Radiohead, Patrick Watson, contemporary punk rock (screamo), radio power pop, and incalculable other singer songwriters are more than borrowed, making for a short mishmash of electro rock."[20]

Personal life

Conte grew up in Marin County, California.[21] He studied music and composition at Stanford University, graduating in 2006.[22] Conte and Nataly Dawn became engaged in January 2016[23] and married in May 2016.[24]

Discography
See also: Pomplamoose discography

Studio albums
Title Details
VideoSongs Volume 2
  • Released: August 15, 2008
  • Label: ShadowTree Music
  • Format: Digital download
VideoSongs Volume 1
  • Released: August 29, 2008
  • Label: ShadowTree Music
  • Format: Digital download
VS4
  • Released: March 23, 2011
  • Label: ShadowTree Music
  • Format: CD, digital download

Compilation albums
Title Details
My Big Package[25]
  • Released: March 15, 2012
  • Label: ShadowTree Music
  • Format: Digital download

Extended plays
Title Details
Nightmares and Daydreams
  • Released: May 21, 2007
  • Label: ShadowTree Music
  • Format: Digital download
VideoSongs Volume 3
  • Released: July 13, 2008
  • ShadowTree Music
  • Format: Digital download
Sleep in Color
  • Released: September 25, 2008
  • Label: ShadowTree Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
Conte
  • Released: May 2013
  • Label: ShadowTree Music
  • Format: Digital download

Music videos
  • "Operation"
  • "Yeah Yeah Yeah"

References
  1. Laporte, Leo (May 5, 2014). "Pomplamoose". TWiT.tv. Triangulation.
  2. Chaykowski, Kathleen (February 13, 2018). "How This Musician-Turned-Entrepreneur Plans To Save Creators From Advertising". Forbes. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  3. "Jack Conte – Sleep in Color EP". DOA. October 13, 2008. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  4. "Voice Box Demo by Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn". Electro-Harmonix. January 6, 2009. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  5. "Electro-Harmonix Tube Zipper Soups The Heck Out Of Jack Conte's Martin". Gearwire. June 24, 2009. Archived from the original on November 23, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  6. "Electro-Harmonix Bass MicroSynth Makes Some Amazing Low End For Jack Conte of Pomplamoose". Gearwire. June 24, 2009. Archived from the original on November 23, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  7. "The Sims 2". GameFAQs. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
  8. Lin, Sara (December 3, 2009). "VideoSong Pioneers Pomplamoose Take on Beyonce's "Single Ladies," Michael Jackson's "Beat It"". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  9. Post, Rachel (October 13, 2008). "Jack Conte gets emotional in new album". The Maneater. Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  10. Conte, Jack (April 12, 2008). "Jack Conte – Yeah Yeah Yeah". YouTube. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  11. "Pomplamoose: Making A Living On YouTube". NPR. All Things Considered. April 9, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  12. "Pomplamoose: your new favourite band". The Brock Press. Archived from the original on January 2, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  13. Keen, Andrew (February 17, 2020). "Keen On… Pomplamoose: How Nataly And Jack Are Reinventing The Music Business (TCTV)". TechCrunch. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  14. Savage, Mark (February 16, 2011). "How unsigned bands make money online". BBC. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  15. Conte, Jack (May 7, 2013). "Pedals Music Video (featuring REAL robots) – Conte". YouTube. Event occurs at 4:10. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  16. Tate, Ryan (October 22, 2013). "The Next Big Thing You Missed: 'Eternal Kickstarter' Reinvents Indie Art". WIRED. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  17. "Viral video band Scary Pockets recreate hits with funky twist at Stage West in Scranton on April 10". NEPA Scene. April 5, 2019.
  18. Levin, Mariah (March 11, 2020). "Meet our Young Global Leaders for 2020". World Economic Forum. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  19. Firecloud, Johnny (August 4, 2008). "Breaking Ground With Jack Conte". Antiquiet. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  20. Ferron, David (January 12, 2009). "Jack Conte – Sleep in Color EP". Amplifier. Archived from the original on November 11, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  21. Chaykowski, Kathleen (February 13, 2018). "How This Musician-Turned-Entrepreneur Plans To Save Creators From Advertising". Forbes. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  22. Weiner, Jonah (September 19, 2019). "Jack Conte, Patreon, and the Plight of the Creative Class". WIRED. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  23. Mornings with Pomplamoose (January 11, 2016). "We Got Engaged!". YouTube. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  24. JackConteExtras (June 14, 2016). "we got MARRIED!". YouTube. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  25. Conte, Jack (March 15, 2012). "My Big Package". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.