Bruce Driscoll

Bruce Driscoll

Bruce Driscoll performing at the Sunset Marquis.
Background information
Born (1983-06-13) June 13, 1983
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Genres Pop, indie rock, alternative rock, dance
Occupation(s) Music producer, songwriter, engineer, guitarist, film composer
Instruments Guitar, multi-instrumentalist
Years active 2000–present
Associated acts Blondfire, Freedom Fry
Website www.brucedriscoll.com

Bruce Driscoll (born June 13, 1983)[1] is a Brazilian American record producer, songwriter, guitarist, film composer[2] and vocalist. He first gained notability as one half of the indie pop band Astaire (now Blondfire); co-writing, producing and self-releasing songs with his sister, Erica.

In 2011, he formed the band Freedom Fry with his wife, the Parisian singer/songwriter and producer Marie Seyrat.[3][4][5][6]

Biography

Early life and career

Bruce Driscoll was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. He started playing piano and drums at an early age then picked up the guitar when he was fifteen, inspired by the sound of guitarists Johnny Marr and George Harrison. Taking quickly to the instrument, he began accompanying his two sisters, Monica and Erica, in a band called Nectar. In order to free himself to tour with the group he withdrew from traditional high school and completed an independent study program through the University of Missouri.[7]

The siblings embarked on a national tour and eventually landed a development deal with EMI Publishing when Bruce Driscoll was aged 17. Soon after they showcased for many of the US major record labels, including Warner Bros. Records, Maverick, and Capitol. In 2002, they won Runner Up in the Pop Category for the UK Songwriting Contest with the song, "Life Out Loud". Later that year the siblings disbanded over creative differences.[8]

Personal life

In 2011 Driscoll relocated to Los Angeles, California, from New York. In 2013 he and Freedom Fry bandmate, Marie Seyrat, were married.[9]

Astaire

Bruce Driscoll performing live at The Hotel Café.

In 2003 Bruce and Erica Driscoll began recording songs in their parents' basement which would turn out to be early Astaire demos. The songs took a stylistically more left of center pop sound. The demos were sent to Andy Chase of Ivy who loved the songs and wanted to produce the duo at his studio, Stratosphere Sound, in New York. After working with Chase in the studio the siblings relocated to New York and released their first EP, Don't Whisper Lies, on their own label.

The band toured with Ivy, Stars, and Robbers On High Street in 2005. In the middle of the tour lawyers for the Fred Astaire Estate threatened to sue if the duo did not change their name. Lacking the money to afford legal fees they changed their name to Blondfire.[10]

Throughout his career Driscoll has continued to collaborate with Andy Chase. First playing keyboards in Ivy, guitar in Chase's band Brookville, and then co-writing and producing tracks for his band, Camera2.[11]

Blondfire

The duo continued on as Blondfire signing a contract with EMI UK in October 2006. Shortly thereafter EMI was bought out by Terra Firma and went through internal changes. The duo left the label in mid-2007 and self-released their debut album, My Someday, in April 2008.[12]

In September 2012, following the viral internet and radio success of their song, "Where The Kids Are", Blondfire signed to Warner Bros. Records and Primary Wave Publishing and began mixing of their album, Young Heart, with mixer Wally Gagel.[13][14][15][16]

Sleepy Rebels

Sleepy Rebels was formed after several of the songs Driscoll had written with television and advertisement composer Jeremy Adelman were used in commercials. Erica also joined the group and collaborated with them over the course of three albums, World Record, Yellow Tree and the Christmas themed album, Bah Humbug. Sleepy Rebel's music has been used in ads for J. C. Penney, VW, Tide and others.[17][18][19][20]

Freedom Fry

Bruce Driscoll and Marie Seyrat perform as Freedom Fry in Oakland, CA.

In April 2011, Driscoll met Parisian born Marie Seyrat during pre-production on Blondfire's "Where The Kids Are" video.[21] Seyrat, the stylist on the video, played him a cover of her singing a song in French over a ukulele. Entranced by her whispery voice, Driscoll asked her if she would be interested in writing some songs together. The following August they formed the duo Freedom Fry and released the Let The Games Begin EP.[22][23]

Their song "Rolling Down" was featured in the premiere episode of Bones, during the birth of baby Christine.[24][25] Their single, "Earthquake", was named as single-of-the-week by the French magazine, Les Inrockuptibles.[26]

Discography

Filmography

References

  1. ↑ "Bruce Driscoll - Bio, Family, Facts, Age: 32". Hot Birthdays. 1983-06-13. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  2. ↑ "Minte-ma frumos | Site oficial". Mintemafrumos.ro. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  3. ↑ "New Finds: Freedom Fry | Top Indie". BitCandy. 2012-08-06. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  4. ↑ "Independent Study: Blondfire - today > entertainment - Music - TODAY.com". MSNBC. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  5. ↑ MacKenzie Wilson. "Astaire | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  6. ↑ "Burn the Bowery: March 2008". Burnthebowery.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  7. ↑ "Blondfire: Where The Kids Are". Trendland. 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  8. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20080520002019/http://myoldkyhome.blogspot.com:80/2008/05/pop-dee-lite-interview-with-blondfire.html. Archived from the original on May 20, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ "Introducing July's Artist In Residence: Freedom Fry | Artist In Residence on ALT 98.7". Alt987fm.com. 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  10. ↑ "Astaire on Myspace". Myspace.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  11. ↑ Archived August 28, 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ "100% Solid Pop Music". Popjustice. 2012-08-21. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  13. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20130603040354/http://www.primarywavemusic.com/artist/OTc3My05NTdhNmU/. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ↑ "[Interview] Blondfire’s Kindred Spirit Breaks Through With Flavorful Indie-Pop « The World Famous KROQ". Kroq.cbslocal.com. 2012-01-17. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  15. ↑ "A-Sides Interview: Cool 'Kids' Blondfire Set to Make 'Waves' | Jon Chattman". Huffingtonpost.com. 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  16. ↑ Schonfeld, Zach (2012-08-17). "Song Premiere: Blondfire, 'Waves'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  17. 1 2 Barbu, Ana (2011-04-06). "Uncovered Sounds: Sleepy Rebels - World Record". Uncoveredsoundreflections.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  18. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20111120015925/http://popwreckoning.com/2011/05/18/sleepy-rebels-yellow-tree/. Archived from the original on November 20, 2011. Retrieved December 24, 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ↑ Rong, Kevin Z. (2011-02-23). "Rong's Blog: Sleepy Rebels Street Performers In "Magic Girl" - Today's Pick | Top Stories, Music, Movies, TV and Fun". Kevinrong.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  20. ↑ "Video: Sleepy Rebels Peers Through The "Looking Glass”". CMJ. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  21. ↑ "Song + Video : Freedom Fry : “Summer In The City” « My Old Kentucky Blog". Myoldkentuckyblog.com. 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  22. ↑
  23. 1 2 "Let the Games Begin EP by Freedom Fry on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2011-08-20. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  24. ↑ "Watch Bones - Season 7 Episode 7: Prisoner in the Pipe". Tv-links.eu. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  25. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20120605034105/http://www.wetpaint.com:80/bones/articles/bones-music-what-song-was-playing-when-brennan-gave-booth-to-her-baby. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. ↑ "The POP! Stereo: Freedom Fry Are Tasty". Popstereo.blogspot.com. 2012-07-20. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  27. ↑ "TAMAR KAPRELIAN Sinner Or A Saint". Rockmeeting.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  28. ↑ "SLEEPY REBELS - BAH! HUMBUG! (12/2/10) - Stubbys House of Christmas". Stubbyschristmas.com. 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  29. ↑ "Sleepy Rebels are still waiting for the rebellion". Heave Media. 2011-05-17. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  30. ↑ "Lana Mir - Lana Mír | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  31. ↑ Trouble, Brent (2012-11-28). "CAMERA2: Just About Made It". Kick Kick Snare. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  32. ↑ "Blondfire Discusses New Record, '80s Influences and Sibling Artistry | Life+Times". Lifeandtimes.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  33. ↑ "Freedom Fry - Dark Christmas". The Record Stache. 2012-11-17. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  34. ↑ "Bruce Driscoll | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  35. ↑ "Earthquake - Single by Freedom Fry on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  36. ↑ "Outlaws - Single by Freedom Fry on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-04-10. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  37. ↑ "Summer in the City - Single by Freedom Fry on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  38. ↑ "True - Avicii | Credits". AllMusic. 2013-09-16. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  39. ↑ "Freedom Fry – “The Wilder Mile”". Hillydilly. 2014-07-29. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  40. ↑ "Video premiere: Freedom Fry, 'Home' –". Buzzbands.la. 2014-09-25. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  41. ↑ "Young Heart - Blondfire | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2014-02-11. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  42. ↑ "Bruce Driscoll". IMDSb.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  43. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20120307165738/http://leveritt.com/girder/?series=63&redirect=true&CFID=44089021&CFTOKEN=5f0d5d83cce75e38-AA757796-9F52-C88B-E7312B0949534996. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  44. ↑ "home - Starting from Scratch Movie". Startingfromscratchmovie.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.

External links

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