Hamilton Leithauser
Background information
Birth nameJames Hamilton Leithauser
Born (1978-04-15) April 15, 1978[1][2][3]
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1996–present
LabelsGlassnote
Member ofThe Walkmen
Formerly ofThe Recoys
Websitehamiltonleithauser.com

James Hamilton Leithauser (born April 15, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the lead vocalist of the American indie rock band The Walkmen, with whom he has written and recorded seven studio albums between 2000 and 2014. Prior to The Walkmen's formation, Leithauser and bass guitarist and organist Peter Matthew Bauer were both members of The Recoys. Leithauser was born and raised in Washington, DC, and has lived in New York City since the 1990s.

Leithauser embarked upon a solo career in 2014, releasing his debut studio album, Black Hours, on June 3, written and recorded alongside his Walkmen bandmate Paul Maroon. In 2016, Leithauser collaborated with former Vampire Weekend multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij on the studio album, I Had a Dream That You Were Mine. It was released to widespread critical acclaim later that year. He released the studio album The Loves of Your Life in 2020.

Early life

Leithauser was born in Washington, D.C. to Mary Bryan and Mark Leithauser, an artist and former curator at the National Gallery of Art.[4][5] His sister Anna is also an artist.[6] His paternal uncle is poet and novelist Brad Leithauser.[4]

Leithauser attended St. Albans School where he was close friends with future bandmate Paul Maroon.[7][8] As a teenager, he had a summer job at Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, Virginia where he helped engineer Fugazi's Red Medicine.[9] He attended Boston University for two years, before transferring to New York University, where he graduated with a degree in philosophy.[8][9]

Career

The Recoys

The Recoys were an indie rock band from Boston, Massachusetts formed in 1996 by Hamilton Leithauser (vocals, guitar), Peter Bauer (guitar), Damon Hege (guitar), Mike Sheahan (bass) and Hugh McIntosh (drums). The band did release a three-song (now out-of-print) EP of material, The Recoys, while the band was still playing together.[10] The post-breakup LP included the three songs from the EP as well as seven songs meant for a future LP and a tribute song performed by The Lil' Fighters. Three of the songs on The Rekoys, "That's the Punchline," "The Blizzard of '96," and "Look Out Your Window," were rerecorded by The Walkmen for various albums and EPs. Following The Recoys' breakup, Leithauser and Bauer formed The Walkmen, while Hugh McIntosh joined The French Kicks and the Child Ballads as the bands' drummer.[11]

The Walkmen

Solo and with Rostam

Following the hiatus of The Walkmen in late 2013,[12] Leithauser began a solo career. His debut full-length, Black Hours, was released June 3, 2014.[13]

In 2016, he formed Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam with Rostam Batmanglij, formerly of Vampire Weekend. They released the single "A 1000 Times" in July 2016, which they performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on September 12, 2016.[14] Their song "In a Blackout" was featured in the commercial for the Apple iPhone 7 and series Lucifer, in the episode "God Johnson" (2nd Season, 16th Episode). Their debut album, I Had a Dream That You Were Mine, was released on September 23, 2016.[15]

His solo album The Loves of Your Life was released on April 10, 2020.[16] On September 4, 2020, he released the live album Live! at Café Carlyle, collecting 10 recordings made during his residency at the New York City Cafe Carlyle. It includes covers of Lana Del Rey's "The Greatest", Big Thief's "Not", and Randy Newman's "Miami".[17][18]

Personal life

Leithauser is married and has two children.

Over the years, Leithauser has performed and recorded with a number of his extended family: his wife, Anna Stumpf, who occasionally performs live with him and has contributed to records by Leithauser and The Walkmen;[19] brothers-in-law Nick Stumpf, a producer and keyboardist,[20][21] and Hugh McIntosh, a drummer and former bandmate in The Recoys;[22][23] his father Mark who plays harmonica; as well as his children and nieces.[24][22] Of note, The Walkmen bandmate Walter Martin is his elder cousin.[9]

Solo discography

Albums

EPs

  • I Could Have Sworn (2015) (with Paul Maroon)

Live albums

  • I Won't Let Up: Live At Music Hall Of Williamsburg (2017) (with Rostam)
  • Live! at Café Carlyle (2020)

Singles

  • "Room For Forgiveness" (2014, Ribbon Music)
  • "Alexandra" (2014, Ribbon Music)
  • "I Don't Need Anyone" (2014, Ribbon Music)
  • Hamilton Leithauser + Paul Maroon – "My Reward" (2016, Leithauser & Leithauser)
  • Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam – "A 1000 Times" (2016, Glassnote)
  • "Heartstruck (Wild Hunger)" feat. Angel Olsen (2016, Glassnote)
  • "Here They Come" (2020, Glassnote)
  • "Isabella" (2020, Glassnote)
  • "Check the Score" (2020, Glassnote)
  • "Virginia Beach" with Kevin Morby (2021, Dead Oceans)

Music videos

  • "Alexandra" (2014)
  • "I Don't Need Anyone" (2014)
  • "11 O'Clock Friday Night" (2014)
  • "Heartstruck" (2016)
  • "A 1000 Times" (2016)

References

  1. ↑ The Walkmen's Hamilton Leithauser. Pitchfork Media, September 30, 2010
  2. ↑ I Did It My Way: Hamilton Leithauser Enters His Second Act. Spin, October 3, 2014
  3. ↑ ‘I Had a Dream That You Were Mine” signals a fruitful partnership between Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam. OK West, September 24, 2016
  4. 1 2 Lewis, Jo Ann (1988-01-28). "MARK LEITHAUSER, STARTING AT THE TOP". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  5. ↑ "Artist Info". www.nga.gov. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  6. ↑ "Professorial Lecturer". American University. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  7. ↑ Staff, PopMatters. "Running a Different Race, PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  8. 1 2 Murphy, Tom (2013-01-21). "Hamilton Leithauser of the Walkmen recalls his early experiences with the DC punk scene". Westword. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  9. 1 2 3 "I Did It My Way: Hamilton Leithauser Enters His Second Act". Spin. 2014-10-03. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  10. ↑ "The Recoys: Rekoys LP". Archived from the original on 2013-01-26. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  11. ↑ "The Walkmen Biography on Yahoo! Music". Retrieved 2009-02-17.
  12. ↑ Hamilton Leithauser review – only fully connects when the emotions boil over. The Guardian, May 28, 2014.
  13. ↑ Stream Hamilton Leithauser Black Hours. Stereogum, May 23, 2014.
  14. ↑ Kaye, Ben. "Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam make late-night debut with “1000 Times” on Colbert — watch". Consequence of Sound. September 13, 2016. Accessed September 21, 2016.
  15. ↑ "HITS Daily Double - Rumor Mill". September 19, 2016. Accessed September 21, 2016.
  16. ↑ Leas, Ryan (10 April 2020). "The Story Behind Every Song On Hamilton Leithauser's New Album The Loves Of Your Life". Stereogum. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  17. ↑ Minsker, Evan (19 August 2020). "Hamilton Leithauser Announces New Album Live! at Cafe Carlyle". Pitchfork. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  18. ↑ Uitti, Jacob (4 September 2020). "Hamilton Leithauser Discusses Releasing Forgotten Show, 'Live at Café Carlyle'". American Songwriter. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  19. ↑ "I Did It My Way: Hamilton Leithauser Enters His Second Act". Spin. 2014-10-03. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  20. ↑ Jenkins, Mark (2014-07-14). "D.C. native Hamilton Leithauser feels right at home at the Hamilton". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  21. ↑ "Nick Stumpf". Present Artist Management. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  22. 1 2 "FUV Live: Hamilton Leithauser: 2020 | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  23. ↑ "Secret History: The Recoys' Rekoys". DCist. Archived from the original on 2021-05-18. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  24. ↑ "Hamilton Leithauser & Family: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert". YouTube. June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
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