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Salem (American band)

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Salem
OriginTraverse City, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Years active2006–2012, 2016, 2020–present
Labels
Members
  • Jack Donoghue
  • John Holland
Past members
  • Heather Marlatt
Websitewww.s4lem.com

Salem (sometimes stylized as S4LEM or SALEM) is an American electronic music band from Traverse City, Michigan. It was founded by Heather Marlatt, Jack Donoghue and John Holland.[3] Salem is considered one of the pioneers of the witch house genre.

Salem released its debut album King Night in 2010. In 2020, the group released a mixtape, Stay Down, followed by their second album, Fires in Heaven, both without Marlatt,[4] who is disputing her ouster.[5]

History

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While John Holland was living in Chicago, he met Jack Donoghue. Salem officially formed in 2006 after he simultaneously struck up a friendship with Donoghue and his friend since his time in school, Heather Marlatt, ended up moving in with him.[6] The trio began working on music in Holland's home studio. The band's first two releases are the EP's Yes I Smoke Crack and Water, both released in 2008.[7]

Salem released the debut studio album, King Night, in 2010.[8] It was included on the year-end lists by AllMusic,[9] DIY,[10] NME,[11] The Quietus,[12] and Stereogum.[13] The band's infamous March 18, 2010 performance at South by Southwest at the Fader Fort received widespread negative reviews from music critics and saw the band booed off the stage.[14][15] In 2020, Steven Hyden wrote for Uproxx that it was "one of the worst and least competent musical performances by a supposedly professional act to happen in the early 21st century."[16]

Salem had been inactive since 2012, with no new releases since their 2011 EP I'm Still in the Night. In 2016, a new Salem album was announced by photographer Wolfgang Tillmans, who confirmed the news on his Instagram account.[17] In that year, Salem officially returned with a remix of Tillmans' song "Make It Up as You Go Along", which was included on his Device Control EP.[18][19][20] However, the band was not fully revived until May 2020 where Salem premiered a new mixtape titled Stay Down, which was presented on NTS Radio.[21] This reboot of the band happened without member Heather Marlatt, who gave a negative public comment about the situation stating she was kicked out.[5]

Salem released their first single in nearly a decade "Starfall" on September 18, 2020, via Mad Decent's Decent Distribution. The music video follows the band's trip with veteran storm trackers through Tulsa, Oklahoma and Dallas as well as through Texas during tornado season. It was directed by Donoghue and Holland along Tommy Malekoff.[22] In a press release, it was stated that the song was "a signal of additional work to come".[23] Their second album Fires in Heaven, which comes ten years after their debut, was released on October 30, 2020.[24] Along its pre-order on October 16, a new single called "Red River" was unveiled.[25][4]

On November 10, 2022, Salem performed a surprise DJ set for the opening party of clothing brand Supreme’s flagship store in Chicago, Illinois, marking the band’s first performance in over 10 years. On July 28, 2023, Salem performed their first solo live set in 12 years. The show took place at El Dorado Bumper Cars in Coney Island, New York City, tickets for which sold out within minutes after going live online.[citation needed]

Style and influences

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According to Heather Phares of AllMusic, Salem's sound blends ethereal electronica and slow Southern hip hop rhythms, and is noted for pioneering the music subgenre known as witch house.[26]

Band members

[edit]
Current
  • Jack Donoghue - drum machine, rapping vocals, occasional guitar (2006–present)
  • John Holland - keyboards, guitar, vocals (2006–present)
Former
  • Heather Marlatt - vocals, keyboards (2006–2020)[4][5]

Discography

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Studio albums

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EPs

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DJ mix releases

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  • XXJFG (2009)[27]
  • We Make It Good (2009)[28]
  • Raver Stay Wif Me (2010)[29]
  • I Buried My Heart Inna Wounded Knee (2010)[30]
  • Sleep Now My One Little Eye (2010)[31]
  • 5Min2Live: Gurn Baby Gurn (2010)[32]
  • Bow Down (2011)[33]
  • On Again / Off Again (2011)[33]
  • Mother Always (2011)[34]
  • Stay Down (2020)[35]

Singles

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  • "OhK" (2009)
  • "Babydaddy" / "S.A.W." (2009) (split with Tanlines)
  • "Frost" / "Legend" (2009)
  • "Asia" (2010)
  • "Starfall" (2020)
  • "Red River" (2020)[36]

Remixes

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Productions

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References

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  1. ^ Eede, Christian (August 3, 2016). "Will Witch House Make A Comeback?". The Quietus. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  2. ^ Chandler, Rachel (2011). "Salem – F/W 2011 Issue 16". Purple.
  3. ^ Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (September 1, 2011). "Salem". Interview. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Noah Yoo (October 16, 2020). "SALEM Announce New Album Fires in Heaven, Share New Song: Listen". Pitchfork.
  5. ^ a b c Heather, Marlatt. "Instagram post". Controversy. Heather Marie Marlatt. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  6. ^ John Holland Interview by Michael Bullock December 2008, Butt Magazine
  7. ^ "Salem: Strung Out". May 7, 2009.
  8. ^ "King Night by Salem". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  9. ^ "AllMusic's Favorite Albums of 2010". AllMusic. January 4, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  10. ^ "DIY Albums Of The Year: The Winner Is..." DIY. December 17, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  11. ^ "50 Best Albums Of 2010". NME. December 1, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  12. ^ Turner, Luke (December 10, 2010). "Angst Music For Sex People: Quietus Albums Of The Year 2010 & Spotify Playlist". The Quietus. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  13. ^ "Stereogum's Top 50 Albums Of 2010". Stereogum. December 8, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  14. ^ Staff, BrooklynVegan. "Japandroids, Harlem, Salem (before they were booed) & others @ the Fader Fort (SXSW 2010) - pics & video". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  15. ^ Friedlander, Emilie (November 5, 2020). "The Complicated Appeal of Salem, a Band that Makes Feeling Awful Sound Great". VICE. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  16. ^ "Let's Remember The 10th Anniversary Of The Worst Musical Performance at SXSW Ever". UPROXX. March 6, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  17. ^ Welsh, April Clare (August 3, 2016). "Salem to bring back witch house with first album in six years". Fact. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  18. ^ Myers, Owen (August 22, 2016). "The Video For Salem's Remix Of Wolfgang Tillmans Will Give You Nightmares". The Fader. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  19. ^ Lobenfeld, Claire (August 22, 2016). "Salem return with remix of Wolfang Tillmans' 'Make It Up As You Go Along'". Fact. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  20. ^ Lozano, Kevin (August 22, 2016). "Salem Remix Wolfgang Tillmans' "Make It Up As You Go Along": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  21. ^ "Salem return after a lengthy silence with this remarkable mix, titled STAY DOWN". NTS.
  22. ^ Bloom, Madison (September 18, 2020). "SALEM Return With Video for New Song "Starfall": Watch". Pitchfork.
  23. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (September 18, 2020). "Influential Witch House Group Salem Return After Ten Years With A Storm-Chasing 'Starfall' Video". Uproxx.
  24. ^ "Fires In Heaven by Salem". iTunes, Apple Music. October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  25. ^ "Red River – Single by Salem". iTunes, Apple Music. October 16, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  26. ^ Phares, Heather. "SALEM: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  27. ^ "Pink Fog". 20jazzfunkgreats. June 11, 2009. Archived from the original on July 16, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  28. ^ Smith, Sam-Hockley (November 24, 2009). "We Make it Good Mix Series v. 11: Salem". The Fader. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  29. ^ Smith, Sam-Hockley (April 23, 2010). "Salem, Raver Stay Wif Me Mix MP3". The Fader. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  30. ^ Smith, Sam-Hockley (August 5, 2010). "Salem, I Buried My Heart Inna Wounded Knee Mix". The Fader. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  31. ^ Reynaldo, Shawn (September 28, 2010). "Podcast 162: Salem". XLR8R. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  32. ^ "Gurn Baby Gurn". 5min2live.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  33. ^ a b "Mixtapes". Salem. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  34. ^ "Feel slow, weird and too-much-cough-syrupy with new Salem mixtape". Columbus Alive. March 25, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  35. ^ "SALEM "STAY DOWN" mixtape 5.2.2020 – official band page". Instagram.
  36. ^ "Red River – Single by Salem". iTunes, Apple Music. October 16, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  37. ^ Anderson, Sarah (July 20, 2011). "The 50 best remixes ever". NME. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  38. ^ Smith, Sam-Hockley (October 1, 2009). "Salem Remix Gucci Mane". The Fader. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  39. ^ Coplan, Chris (December 9, 2009). "Adult Swim puts together insanely awesome remix album". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  40. ^ Hughes, Josiah (January 8, 2010). "Diplo Orchestrates Gucci Mane Remix Tape Featuring Flying Lotus, Salem and Zomby". Exclaim!. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  41. ^ "DISCO2 (Bonus Content Version) by HEALTH". Apple Music. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  42. ^ "SWRMXS by HIM". Apple Music. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  43. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (October 19, 2010). "New Release: These New Puritans: Hidden Remixes". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  44. ^ Bevan, David (June 23, 2011). ""Penny Sparkle (Salem Remix)"". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  45. ^ Francis, Bronya (May 5, 2011). "New music: Salem v Britney Spears – Till the World Ends". The Guardian. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  46. ^ "Video: Britney Spears "Till The World Ends (Salem Remix)"". Complex. May 6, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  47. ^ "Stay Away – EP by Charli XCX". Apple Music. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  48. ^ "Try It On – EP by Interpol". Apple Music. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  49. ^ Fallon, Patric (June 15, 2011). "Light Asylum "Shallow Tears (Like a Storm) (Salem Remix)"". XLR8R. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  50. ^ Kim, Brandon (November 20, 2012). "Exclusive premiere: The Cult "Elemental Light" (SALEM Remix)". IFC. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  51. ^ "Device Control – EP by Wolfgang Tillmans". Apple Music. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  52. ^ Bladee & Mechatok - Grace (Salem Remix), retrieved April 9, 2021
  53. ^ Schnipper, Matthew (November 30, 2010). "Lil B Releases Red Flame Evil Edition, Samples Salem". The Fader. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  54. ^ Smith, Nadine. "Yung Lean: Stardust". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
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