Astronautalis

Astronautalis
Background information
Birth name	Charles Andrew Bothwell
Also known as	Andy Bothwell
Born	December 13, 1981
Origin	Jacksonville, Florida
Genres	Alternative hip hop Indie rock
Occupation(s)	Rapper, producer
Years active	2003-present
Labels	SideOneDummy Fake Four Inc. Eyeball Records Fighting Records Limited Fanfare Records
Associated acts	Bleubird, P.O.S, Four Fists, Babel Fishh, Maxx Moon, Jason Feathers, Justin Vernon, Boyfriends Inc., Tegan and Sara
Website	astronautalis.com

Charles Andrew Bothwell (born December 13, 1981), better known by his stage name Astronautalis, is an American alternative hip hop artist currently based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

History

After gaining some recognition in local circles in Jacksonville, Florida and competing at Scribble Jam,^[1] Astronautalis self-released his debut album, You and Yer Good Ideas, in 2003. He eventually signed with Fighting Records and the record was re-released in 2005, followed by his second album, The Mighty Ocean and Nine Dark Theaters, in 2006. He released the third album, Pomegranate, on Eyeball Records in 2008. In winter 2009, he toured with the Canadian indie rock band Tegan and Sara through Europe,^[2] and supported them again through the spring of 2010 in Australia.^[3] His fourth album, This Is Our Science, was released on Fake Four Inc. in 2011.

He is a descendant of James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, which is one of the reasons why his lyrics often deal with historical fiction.^[4]

Style

Astronautalis has been described as "if Beck were a decade or so younger and had grown up more heavily immersed in hip-hop,"^[5] with his rapping style noted for "blending styles of indie rock, electro, and talkin’ blues"^[6] with hip-hop. He has described himself as "historical fiction hip-hop."^[7]

During live performances, he often performs a freestyle rap based on topics chosen by members of his audience.^[8]

Discography

Albums

Solo

• You and Yer Good Ideas (self-released, 2003; Fighting, 2005)
• The Mighty Ocean & Nine Dark Theaters (Fighting, 2006)
• Pomegranate (Eyeball, 2008)
• This Is Our Science (Fake Four Inc., 2011)
• Cut the Body Loose (SideOneDummy, 2016)^[9]

Collaborations

• De Oro (Totally Gross National Product, 2014) (with S. Carey, Ryan Olson & Justin Vernon, as Jason Feathers)

Mixtapes, EPs, and singles

Mixtapes

• Dancehall Horn Sound!! (2010) (with DJ Fishr Pryce)

EPs

• Meet Me Here (2004)
• Texas Kinda Rhymes With Sexist (2005)
• A Round Trip Ticket to China (2006)
• Split EP (2006) (with Babel Fishh)
• Gold Bones (2007)
• Dang! Seven Freestyles in Seven Days (2008)
• The Unfortunate Affairs of Mary and Earl (2008)
• The Young Capitalist's Starter Kit (2008)
• Daytrotter Sessions (2011)
• This City Ain't Just a Skyline (2013)
• SIKE! (2016)

Collaborative singles

• "This Is the Place" (2013) (with Sims)
• "The Rainmakers" b/w "Fallen Streets" (2013) (with Rickolus)
• "MMMMMHMMMMM" b/w "Please Go" (2013) (with P.O.S, as Four Fists)

Vinyl releases

• You and Yer Good Ideas (2003) [Dual 12' Vinyl: Black]
• Split Series Vol. 2 (2006) (with BabelFishh]) [12' Vinyl: Black - only 500]
• Pomegranate (2008) [12' Vinyl: Black, Ltd: White]
• This Is Our Science (2011) [12' Vinyl: Black]
• Astronautalis & Rickolus (2013) (with Rickolus) [1st Pressing - 100 on Mixed Color Vinyl (Hand-Numbered), 150 on Red Vinyl, 150 on White Vinyl, 250 on Black Vinyl / 2nd Pressing - 175 on Lavender Vinyl, 175 on Blue Vinyl]
• Four Fists (2013) (with P.O.S) [LTD to 2000: 500 Clear, 500 Red, 500 White, 500 Blue]
• Double Exposure Vol 3. (2013) (with Chuck Ragan) [LTD to 1000: 100 Blue, 200 White, 300 Red, 400 Black]
• The Mighty Ocean & Nine Dark Theaters (2015) [Dual 12' Vinyl: LTD 500 Swirled blue/white/clear]

Guest appearances & production credits

Guest appearances

• Scott Da Ros - "They Made Me Do It" (2005)
• Brzowski - "Roll My Bones" from Maryshelleyoverdrive (2005)
• Input - "Now and Never More" from Elusive Candor (2006)
• Noah23 - "They Made Me Do It" from Cameo Therapy (2007)
• P.O.S - "Hand Made Hand Gun" from Never Better (2009)
• Otem Rellik - "Warm Pockets" from Chain Reaction Robot (2008)
• Oskar Ohlson - "Sea of Grass" from Honk, Bang, Whistle and Crash (2008)
• Sole and the Skyrider Band - "A Sad Day for Investors" from Sole and the Skyrider Band Remix LP (2009)
• Sole - "Swagger Like Us" & "Juicy" from Nuclear Winter Volume 1 (2009)
• Ceschi – "No New York" from The One Man Band Broke Up (2010)
• Zoën - "Be Careful What You Wish For" from One Night Between (2010)
• Mild Davis - "Prince of Mayport" from Bro-Sesh: Volume 1 (2010)
• Andrre - "Learn to Listen" and "Keeping Memory Alive" from Learn to Love (2011)
• The Hood Internet - "Our Finest China" from FEAT (2012)
• Bleubird - "Hello Hollow" from Cannonball!!! (2012)
• Marijuana Deathsquads - "Top Down" from Tamper Disable Destroy (2012)
• P.O.S - "Wanted Wasted" from We Don't Even Live Here (2012)
• Input & Broken - "When Darkness Looms" from Never Heard of Ya (2012)
• Myka 9 & Factor - "Bask In These Rays" from Sovereign Soul (2012)
• Culture Cry Wolf - "That's the Breaks" from The Sapient Sessions EP (2013)
• Factor - "Let It Go" from Woke Up Alone (2013)
• Sadistik - "Exit Theme" from Flowers for My Father (2013)
• Giant Gorilla Dog Thing - "Bandaids Over Bulletholes" from Horse (2014)
• Noize MC - "Hard Reboot" from Hard Reboot (2014)

Production credits

• Bleubird – Cannonball!!! (2012)

References

1. McNutt, Stephanie (March 22, 2010). "P.O.S., Dessa, and Astronautalis at Turner Hall". The A.V. Club.
2. "Astronautalis: A Year To Remember". Fresherthan. December 31, 2009.
3. Young, David (May 12, 2010). "Tegan & Sara + Astronautalis - Big Top Luna Park (07.05.10)". The AU Review.
4. The Very Unfortunate Affairs of Mary & Earl liner notes. February 5, 2015.
5. Mason, Stewart. "You and Yer Good Ideas - Astronautalis". Allmusic.
6. "Fighting Records".
7. "Astronautalis discusses his 'historical fiction hip-hop'". North Texas Daily. October 21, 2011.
8. Marvilli, Joe (March 15, 2011). "Astronautalis: Preparing for the "Midday Moon"". Consequence of Sound.
9. http://first-avenue.com/performer/astronautalis

External links

• Official website
• Astronautalis discography at Discogs
• Astronautalis at AllMusic
• Featured on MN Original Program from St. Paul, MN PBS Station: MN Original Video