Summary
Moses Sumney is a Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter. His self-recorded EP, Mid-City Island, was released in 2014. He released another five-song EP in 2016, titled Lamentations. His first full-length album, Aromanticism, was released in September 2017. His second studio album, Græ, was released in 2020. Sumney has performed as an opening act for James Blake, Solange Knowles, and Sufjan Stevens.[1]
Moses Sumney | |
|---|---|
 Sumney performing at Pitchfork Music Festival, 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Moses Sumney |
| Born | May 19, 1992 |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Labels |
|
| Website | www |
Early life edit
Born in California, Sumney was raised by pastor parents, and moved with his family back to Ghana at the age of 10.[2] He described his childhood as "Americanized" by this age and had difficulty adjusting to the culture of Ghana, especially the rural nature of his new environment. There he grew up on a goat farm in Accra and commuted by public bus to school.[3] His family returned to Southern California when Sumney was 16, settling in Riverside.[4]
He did not learn to play any instruments until he was older, writing a cappella music for years instead. Sumney did not perform his musical compositions publicly until he was 20.[1]
After high school, he moved to Los Angeles in 2010 to attend the University of California, Los Angeles.[5] He majored in creative writing and studied poetry, which helped him improve his songwriting.[6]
Musical career edit
In 2014, Sumney broke into the Los Angeles music scene and caught the eye of many record labels. He said at the time it did not feel right because labels were trying to conform him into a certain image and he was still trying to discover the artist that he wanted to be. He decided to turn down these labels and move to Asheville, North Carolina.[7] His resistance to labels is reflected in his later album, Græ.[7]
Sumney's 2014 debut project, Mid-City Island, is a five-song EP that was self-recorded onto a four-track recorder given to him by Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio. The self-released EP was described by Pitchfork as "primarily composed of first-takes and improvisation; the music is stirring but purposefully incomplete".[8] Sumney joined Terrible Records after the release.[9] He considers his songs to be performance based, and that many of his recorded compositions derive from fleshing the songs out through live performance.[10]
He has performed at venues such as the Hollywood Bowl and alongside artists such as Dirty Projectors, Junip, St. Vincent, and Local Natives.[1] Sumney sang on the opening track of Beck's album Song Reader.[3] On September 30, 2016, Sumney released Lamentations, an EP which featured a guest appearance from Thundercat.[11]
Sumney's first full-length album, Aromanticism, was released on September 22, 2017 by Jagjaguwar. It received acclaim from Rolling Stone,[12] The Guardian,[13] and The New York Times,[5] which also named it one of the best albums of 2017.[14] He stumbled across the term "aromantic" when he began writing it back in 2014 and found the term resonated with him.[15] Several songs from the album have been featured in the soundtracks of various television shows. His 2017 single "Doomed" appeared in the Season 6 finale of Netflix's Orange is the New Black, and appeared again in Westworld, Season 3, Episode 3, "The Absence of Field". His 2017 single "Quarrel" appeared in Netflix’s Dear White People. His 2017 song "Plastic" and his 2020 song "Keeps Me Alive" both appeared in HBO's Insecure. The songs "Quarrel", "Doomed", and "Swan Song" all appeared in the 2021 film Swan Song.
Sumney played himself in Season 1 episode 4 of HBO's Random Acts of Flyness.[16] He also appeared in the movie Creed and worked on the soundtrack alongside Ludwig Görannson and Tessa Thompson.
Sumney released his second studio album, Græ, in two parts in 2020. The first part was released on February 21, 2020,[17] and the second part was released on May 15, 2020, accompanied by a physical release of the double album.[18] In March 2020, he released the self-directed music video "Cut Me".[19] In May 2020, Sumney released "Bless Me" as a single from the second part of his album, Græ.[20]
In December 2020, Sumney's single "Me in 20 Years" was featured in a special episode of the HBO drama Euphoria.[21] Sumney contributed a cover of the Metallica song "The Unforgiven" to the charity tribute album The Metallica Blacklist, released in September 2021.[22] On December 8, 2021, Sumney released a full-length concert film, Blackalachia, recorded over two days in the Blue Ridge Mountains. An accompanying live album, Live from Blackalachia, was released on December 10.
Awards and honors edit
In 2018, Moses Sumney's self-directed music video "Quarrel" won a SXSW Film Festival Special Jury Award, and was nominated for a Camerimage award and UKMVA. In 2020, his self-directed video for "Cut Me" was nominated for a UKMVA for Best Alternative Video - International. Both of his albums have topped the year-end lists of Pitchfork, NPR, New York Times, Stereogum, and more.
Discography edit
| Moses Sumney discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 2 |
| Live albums | 1 |
| EPs | 5 |
| Singles | 18 |
Studio albums edit
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Sales [23] |
US Heat [24] |
BEL (FL) [25] |
POR [26] | ||
| Aromanticism |
|
— | — | 139 | — |
| Græ |
|
28 | 8 | — | 44 |
Live albums edit
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Live from Blackalachia |
|
Extended plays edit
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Mid-City Island | |
| Lamentations |
|
| Make Out in My Car: Chameleon Suite |
|
| Black in Deep Red, 2014 |
|
| Bryce Dessner: Tenebre (with Ensemble Resonanz) |
|
Singles edit
As lead artist edit
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Man on the Moon" | 2014 | Mid-City Island |
| "Scratch the Surface" / "Forlorn Fantasy" | Non-album singles | |
| "Seeds" / "Pleas" | 2015 | |
| "Everlasting Sigh" | 2016 | |
| "Worth It" | Lamentations | |
| "Lonely World (Lamentations Version)" | ||
| "Doomed" | 2017 | Aromanticism |
| "Quarrel" | ||
| "Indulge Me" | ||
| "Rank & File" | 2018 | Black in Deep Red |
| "Virile" | 2019 | Græ |
| "Polly" | ||
| "Me in 20 Years" | 2020 | |
| "Cut Me" | ||
| "Bless Me" | ||
| "The Other Lover" (with Little Dragon) |
Non-album singles | |
| "The Unforgiven" | 2021 | The Metallica Blacklist |
| "Can't Believe It" (with Sam Gendel) |
Non-album singles | |
| "Get It B4" | 2023 | The Idol Episode 3 (Music from the HBO Original Series) |
As featured artist edit
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Show Me Love" (Skrillex remix) (Hundred Waters featuring Chance the Rapper, Moses Sumney, and Robin Hannibal) |
2016 | Non-album single |
| "To Believe" (The Cinematic Orchestra featuring Moses Sumney) |
2019 | To Believe |
| "Cul de Sac" (Trayer Tryon, Jónsi, and Alex Somers featuring Moses Sumney, Nicole Miglis, and Julianna Barwick) |
2020 | Non-album single |
Other charted songs edit
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Dance [27] | |||
| "Tell Them" (James Blake featuring Metro Boomin and Moses Sumney) |
2019 | 23 | Assume Form |
Guest appearances edit
| Title | Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Title of This Song" | 2014 | Beck | Beck Song Reader |
| "Shed You" | 2015 | Tessa Thompson | Creed: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
| "Show Me Love" | 2016 | Hundred Waters, Chance the Rapper, Robin Hannibal, Skrillex | Non-album single |
| "Mad" | Solange Knowles, Lil' Wayne | A Seat at the Table | |
| "Cassidy" | Jenny Lewis & Friends | Day of the Dead | |
| "Truth Lies Low" | Andrew Bird | Are You Serious | |
| "Weekend" | 2017 | Flume | Skin Companion EP 2 |
| "Tell Them" | 2019 | James Blake, Metro Boomin | Assume Form |
| "U (Man Like)" | Bon Iver, Bruce Hornsby, Jenn Wasner | i,i | |
| "To Believe" | The Cinematic Orchestra | To Believe | |
| "Standing on the Horizon" | Woodkid | Woodkid for Nicolas Ghesquière - Louis Vuitton Works One | |
| "Tenebre" | Bryce Dessner, Ensemble Resonanz | Bryce Dessner: Tenebre | |
| "Blood in Rain" | 2020 | Ethan Gruska | En Garde |
| "The Unforgiven" | 2021 | Metallica | The Metallica Blacklist |
| "Insecurities" | 2024 | Shabaka | Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace |
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Idol | Izaak | Supporting role | [28] |
| 2024 | MaXXXine | TBA | Upcoming film |
Awards and nominations edit
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | AIM Independent Music Awards | Independent Video of the Year | "Doomed" | Nominated | [29] |
| International Breakthrough of the year | Moses Sumney | Nominated | |||
| Libera Awards | Best Outlier Record | Aromanticism | Won | [30] | |
| 2019 | Video of the Year | “Quarrel” | Nominated | [31] | |
| 2020 | AIM Awards | Best Second Album | Græ | Nominated | [32] |
| 2021 | Best Independent Album | Nominated | [33] | ||
| Libera Award | Best Outlier Record | Nominated | [34] |
References edit
- ^ a b c "Out Of The Woods: Moses Sumney". VMAN. March 30, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
- ^ Hutchinson, Kate (October 8, 2017). "Moses Sumney: 'I have an obsession with loneliness, singledom, isolation'". The Observer.
- ^ a b Lough, Taylor. "Moses Sumney". Issue Magazine. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ Kameir, Rawiya (February 20, 2020). "Moses Sumney Is Ready to Claim His Spotlight". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ a b Pareles, Jon (September 20, 2017). "Moses Sumney Does Not Sing Love Songs". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ "Moses Sumney, A Choir of One". KCET. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- ^ a b "Moses Sumney Puts The Industry Behind Him And Explores The In-Between On 'Grae'". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- ^ Cohen, Ian (June 4, 2015). "Moses Sumney: Lost and Found in L.A." Pitchfork. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ "Moses Sumney Pipes Up". The Fader. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
- ^ Ellis, E. Ryan. "Moses Sumney". Flaunt Magazine. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ Moore, Marcus J. (October 7, 2016). "Moses Sumney: Lamentations Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- ^ "Moses Sumney Talks Defying Genres, Romantic Myths on Audacious Debut LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ Empire, Kitty (September 24, 2017). "Moses Sumney: Aromanticism review – a single-minded star". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
- ^ Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon; Russonello, Giovanni (December 6, 2017). "The Best Albums of 2017". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ Mahanty, Shannon (8 November 2018). "moses sumney on aromanticsm: the lack of romantic attraction to others". I-D. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Random Acts of Flyness". IMDb. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- ^ Hussey, Allison (21 February 2020). "Moses Sumney Shares Part One of New Album græ: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ a b Monroe, Jazz (November 14, 2019). "Moses Sumney Announces New Double Album græ, Shares New Song "Virile"". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- ^ "Watch Moses Sumney's Excellent New "Cut Me" Video". Pitchfork.com. 2020-03-31. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
- ^ "Moses Sumney shares dreamy new track 'Bless Me'". NME. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "The Complete Soundtrack to HBO's Special 'Euphoria' Episodes". 25 January 2021.
- ^ He, Richard S. (2021-09-10). "Every Metallica Blacklist cover ranked from worst to best". loudersound. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
- ^ "Moses Sumney Chart History: Top Album Sales". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ "Moses Sumney Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Moses Sumney – Aromanticism". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Moses Sumney – Græ". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ "Moses Sumney Chart History: Hot Dance/Electronic Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ Petski, Dade Hayes,Denise; Hayes, Dade; Petski, Denise (2022-08-21). "'The Idol': HBO Releases New Teaser For Music Industry Drama". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "AIM Independent music Awards 2018 Nominees Announced". Proper Music Group. 8 August 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ "Nominees - A2IM Libera Awards 2018". Guitar Girl Magazine. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ "A2IM Announces 2019 Libera Award Nominees". Broadway World. March 28, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ Atkinson, Jessie (17 August 2020). "Tony Allen will receive a posthumous award for Outstanding Contribution to Music". Gigwise. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ Grein, Paul (June 6, 2021). "Arlo Parks Leads 2021 AIM Awards Nominations". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Libera Award nominees announced". Guitar Girl Magazine. March 23, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
External links edit
- Official website
- "Tiny Concerts at Coffee Tables Near You". The New York Times, October 20, 2014.