Boy in Static

Boy in Static
Boy in Static on tour
Background information
Genres	Indie rock, Electronica
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Fake Four Inc Circle Into Square Mush Records And Records Alien Transistor
Website	Official website
Members
Alexander Chen Kenji Ross

Background

Boy in Static is a band currently based in San Francisco, California, composed of Alexander Chen and Kenji Ross. The first Boy in Static album Newborn was released in 2004 on small label Alien Transistor (founded by The Notwist member Markus Acher).^[1][2] Mush Records released the second album Violet in 2007.^[3] Boy in Static has toured internationally with bands such as 13 & God, Freezepop, and Lymbyc Systym.

Chen's recording career began when he sent a demo to Markus Acher (of popular electronic-pop German band The Notwist), who had recently started his own record label Alien Transistor. A few months later, he received an email from Acher. They met at a The Notwist show in Boston. They decided to release his debut album. Chen mastered the album at Abbey Road studios and it was released in 2004.^[2][4]

In 2005, Boy in Static supported 13 & God (a collective group composed of The Notwist and Anticon group Themselves), opening for their European and US tours. For their Irving Plaza show, The New York Times described Boy in Static: "Boy in Static, the opening band, set up the night's introspective tone ... set up minimalistic patterns and sang about moments with "nothing left to say." Amid the echoes of 1980's bands like New Order, Mr. Chen revealed a strong sense of melody and his own blend of diffidence, longing and tenacity."^[5]

Boy in Static's second album Violet was released in May 2007 on Mush Records. It was described in press as "An impressive one-man symphony (The Boston Globe)" ^[6] and "[ballads] of electronic snaps and true dream-pop vocals (URB Magazine)."^[7] Many magazines noted its influences by 90's shoegaze bands such as Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine, with its "Loveless fascination (Remix Magazine)."^[8]

In 2007 and 2008, Boy in Static toured with the band Freezepop. Both Chen and Ross also performed as members of Freezepop on this tour.^[9]

Allmusic lists some contemporary comparisons as The Postal Service and Mobius Band.^[10]

Discography

Albums

• Newborn (2004)
• Violet (2007)
• Candy Cigarette (2009)

Singles & EPs

• Lifetime Achievement Award (7" vinyl) (2005)
• Where It Ends (digital single) (2008)
• Young San Francisco (digital single) (2009)

References