The Russian Futurists
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresSynthpop, indie rock, indie pop, indietronica, alternative rock
Years active2000–present
LabelsUpper Class Recordings, EMI, Memphis Industries
MembersMatthew Adam Hart

The Russian Futurists are a Canadian indie pop[1][2] band based in Toronto. Their music can be described as lo-fi, indie-electronica fused with a twee-pop temperament. The band started as a solo project of Matthew Adam Hart (born 1978), and later expanded into a band for live performances.

History

Hart was born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario.[3] Influenced by songwriters like Stephin Merritt of The Magnetic Fields,[4] he spent his early career creating indie hip hop music tracks, using improvised gear, in Cornwall and in Peterborough, Ontario.[5]

Hart's first album under the name The Russian Futurists was released by Upper Class Recordings in 2000, and titled The Method of Modern Love. The album was praised by Graham Coxon of Blur and Peter Buck of R.E.M.[6] Uncut magazine called it "one of the most melodically seductive and exhilarating records of recent times".[7] The band also received positive reviews in Pitchfork Media, Spin, The Guardian, and XLR8R.[8]

In 2004 the band toured in the U.S., Canada and Spain. They toured with Peter Bjorn and John, Caribou and Junior Boys.[3]

Hart recorded the first three lo-fi Futurists albums in his Toronto home, including 2005's Our Thickness; in June 2005 the album appeared on the !earshot Top 200 chart.[9]

The band's track "Paul Simon" was chosen by Samsung to include on its phones as a featured song. Hart has remixed other artists' singles, including "Tonight I Have to Leave It" by Shout Out Louds and "The First Five Times" by Stars.[10]

For The Russian Futurists' fourth studio album, looking for more sophisticated production, Hart began recording in a New York studio.[11] The band released the album, The Weight’s On The Wheels, worldwide on November 16, 2010. It was produced by Hart with the aid of Michael Musmanno (Outkast, Lilys, Arrested Development). The lead single “Hoeing Weeds Sowing Seeds”, was mixed by Grammy Award winner Michael Brauer (Coldplay, John Mayer, The Bravery). The album, ten tracks in total feature tracks “Horseshoe Fortune”, “Register My Firearms? No Way!”,“100 Shopping Days ‘Til Christmas” and “One Night, One Kiss”, a duet with Heavy Blinkers singer Ruth Minnikin.

The Russian Futurists released a music video for “One Night, One Kiss” off their 2010 fourth studio album, The Weight’s on the Wheels.[12] The songs "Paul Simon", and "Precious Metals" are featured on the NBA 2K11 soundtrack.

In September 2013, Hart began a 9-year stint as cohost of the morning show on Toronto's CIND-FM.[13] He left the station in February 2022.

Hart shifted to producing several hip hop projects in 2022. He was credited with co-producing the track 'Ghost Photo' by Milano Constantine and Big Ghost Ltd. He also produced the EP 'From Russia With Love 2' by Allah Preme of The Umbrella Collective.

The latest Russian Futurists release is a co-production between Hart and Toronto producer Jordache (aka Andrew Carr). The EP entitled 'Don't Die' was released on October 31, 2022.

Currently, Hart is a host on Toronto's CFXJ-FM.[14]

Discography

Albums

  • The Method of Modern Love (2000)
  • Let's Get Ready to Crumble (2002)[15]
  • Our Thickness (2005)
  • Me, Myself And Rye... An Introduction To The Russian Futurists (2006, Memphis Industries)
  • The Weight's on the Wheels (Nov 2010)

Singles

  • Paul Simon (2006)
  • Hoeing Weeds Sowing Seeds + Remixes EP (2010)
  • One Night, One Kiss (2011)

Compilations

EPs

  • Ecole de Neige (1998)
  • Reality Burger With A Side Of Life (2019)
  • Don't Die (2022)

References

  1. ↑ Review of Our Thickness on PopMatters
  2. ↑ Sperounes, Sandra. "The Russian Futurists: Our Thickness", Edmonton Journal, 2005-05-28, p. E3.
  3. 1 2 "The Russian Futurists", South by Southwest, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-07-06.
  4. ↑ Wilson, Carl. "The Russian Futurists", The Globe and Mail, 2000-12-16, p. R13.
  5. ↑ Rayner, Ben (20 November 2003). "Booming and bittersweet: New songs from Russian Futurists Manitoba opener at Lee's Palace". Toronto Star. p. G3.
  6. ↑ Phares, Heather. "The Russian Futurists", Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-07-06.
  7. ↑ White, Michael. "Bands on the run", The Globe and Mail, 2001-02-12, p. R4.
  8. ↑ Dunlevy, T'Cha. "The Russian Futurists Know 'Pop' Isn't a Four-Letter Word", Dose, 2007-11-22. Retrieved on 2008-07-06.
  9. ↑ "National Top 200 chart". !earshot Campus and Community Radio Report, June 2005
  10. ↑ Vest, Daniel (6 June 2007). "Russian Futurists' Compilation Finally Coming Out in Canada". Chart. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
  11. ↑ Cam Lindsay (November 27, 2010). "The Russian Futurists Clean Up". Exclaim!.
  12. ↑ "WATCH: The Russian Futurists Have 'One Night, One Kiss'". Filter. 2011-04-26.
  13. ↑ "Indie 88/Toronto Officially Launched Today". alancross.ca, September 3, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Matt Hart | Weekends 10am – 4pm". 93.5 Today Radio. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  15. ↑ "A Completely Biased Ranking of the 60 Best Canadian Indie Rock Songs of the 00s Part II". Vice, Cam Lindsay Apr 10 2017
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