JD Samson & MEN
MEN performing at the Commodore Ballroom.
MEN performing at the Commodore Ballroom.
Background information
OriginNew York City, New York, USA
GenresElectropop, LGBT music
Years active2007–2014
LabelsMEN Make Music
Sony Records
Columbia Records
Iamsound Records
Trouble Records
MembersJD Samson
Michael O'Neill
Tami Hart
with
Johanna Fateman
Emily Roysdon
Past membersGinger Brooks Takahashi
Websitehttp://www.menmakemusic.com

JD Samson & MEN, originally named simply MEN, was a Brooklyn-based band and art/performance collective that focuses on the energy of live performance and the radical potential of dance music. MEN spoke to issues such as trans awareness, wartime economies, sexual compromise, and demanding civil liberties. The collective disbanded in late 2014.

History

The group began in 2007 as the DJ/production/remix team of Le Tigre members JD Samson and Johanna Fateman.[1][2] When the duo began to write new songs, it made sense to merge their efforts with Samson's other new project called Hirsute. By 2008, Samson was involved writing songs in another project called Hirsute; along with Samson this group consisted of Michael O'Neill (Princess, Ladybug Transistor), Ginger Brooks Takahashi (LTTR, The Ballet) and Emily Roysdon.[1] Fateman stepped back from the project after she became pregnant and wanted a break from touring.[1] Samson then merged Hirsute into MEN,[2] although Roysdon soon took a step back, making the core group Samson, O'Neill and Takahashi.[1]

In 2009 MEN self-released an EP called MEN that sold out following US tours with Peaches and Gossip. MEN also toured in the UK and Europe during this time.

In early 2011, Takahashi left the group and was replaced by Tami Hart.[1][3] MEN's debut album Talk About Body was released on February 1, 2011 via Iamsound Records in the US and through Sony/Columbia in Europe. Fateman and Roysdon are credited on the album but not listed as group members.[4]

In February 2012, the group released the Next EP on their own MEN Make Music label. Until that spring, the band was known simply as MEN, but changed the name to JD Samson & MEN for clarity and to emphasize the collaborative nature of the musical efforts on record and on stage.[5]

In response to the arrest of members of the Russian feminist punk rock protest group Pussy Riot in 2012, JD Samson & MEN released a single and music video entitled Let Them Out Or Let Me In. Samson has been an active member and spokesperson of the Free Pussy Riot movement.[6]

JD Samson & MEN released their second studio album, Labor, in October 2013, preceded by the release of two singles from the album including "All The Way Thru", for which they teamed up with French producer Yuksek. The album was self-released on the MEN Make Music label.

In late 2014, Samson decided to dissolve the MEN collective and move on to other projects.[7]

Discography

Albums

EPs

  • MEN - (MEN Make Music) June 25, 2009
  • Next - (MEN Make Music) February 21, 2012[10]

Singles

  • "Credit Card Babies" - (Trouble Records) September 6, 2010[11]
  • "Off Our Backs" - (Iamsound Records) November 9, 2010[12]
  • "Who Am I To Feel So Free" - album version/Antony version - February 14, 2011
  • "Let Them Out or Let Me In" - non-album single - October 1, 2012
  • "All the Way Thru" - August 20, 2013[13]
  • "Making Art" - September 17, 2013[14]
  • "Club Thang" - November 12, 2013
JD Samson performing with MEN at the Commodore Ballroom

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Rathe, Adam (8 March 2011). "Are We Not MEN?". New York Press. Archived from the original on September 16, 2012. Retrieved 2011-03-08. the band has big plans for its future—which includes musician Tami Hart in place of Takahashi.
  2. 1 2 "Dance Mofo Dance: Jd Samson Of Le Tigre". Dance Mofo Dance. 2009-07-28. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  3. ↑ "JD Samson's MEN: Shooting from the Hips, and Shaking Them Too". Interview Magazine. 2011-01-24. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  4. ↑ Talk About Body - MEN | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-05-07
  5. ↑ "Top40-Charts.com". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  6. ↑ Cragg, Michael (2012-10-01). "New music: MEN – Let Them Out Or Let Me In". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  7. ↑ Norris, John (January 10, 2015). "JD Samson's Life After MEN". Vice.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2019.
  8. ↑ Breihan, Tom (22 November 2010). "New Release: MEN: Talk About Body". Pitchfork. Pitckfork Media. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  9. ↑ Mirk, Sarah (2013-09-30), "JD Samson Talks About Her New Album and Being an Activist Artist", Bitch Magazine
  10. ↑ "Top40-Charts.com". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  11. ↑ Charig, Josh (13 September 2010). "Credit Card Babies review". www.music-news.com. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
  12. ↑ "IAmSound Records-MEN". IAMSOUND Records. Archived from the original on 2011-01-23. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  13. ↑ "MEN release song from upcoming album Labor". www.drunkenwerewolf.com. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  14. ↑ "Making Art". www.menmakemusic.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
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