James Ferraro

James Ferraro
Ferraro in 2012
Background information
Born	November 7, 1986
Genres	Electronic, avant-garde, lo-fi, hypnagogic pop, vaporwave, experimental, ambient
Instruments	Synthesizer, computer, piano, sampler
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Hippos in Tanks, Olde English Spelling Bee, New Age Tapes
Associated acts	The Skaters, Oneohtrix Point Never, Dean Blunt

James Ferraro (born November 7, 1986) is an experimental musician, composer and electronic music producer born in Rochester, New York.^[1] Ferraro has released a large quantity of material across various styles and under a wide array of aliases, dating back to his time as a member of the Californian two-piece avant-garde project The Skaters in the early 2000s.^[2][3] Ferraro received mainstream recognition for his 2011 album Far Side Virtual, which was chosen as Album of the Year by The Wire.

Artistry

Ferraro has created music since the mid 2000s, initially with Spencer Clark as The Skaters. His style has developed widely since, ranging from drone music, noise and sound collage music with a mystic lo-fi ethos,^[4] to new age, alternative R&B and contemporary classical with a hi-fi touch.^[5]

Ferraro is also known for uniquely dealing with modern life; for example themes of his albums range from consumerism, hyperreality,^[6] post-9/11 New York,^[7] and lo-fi counterculture.^[8] His 2011 work Far Side Virtual is often credited for helping to spark the development of the internet-based micro-genre vaporwave, although he has not considered himself a part of its history.^[9][10][11]

In a 2009 issue of The Wire, David Keenan characterized Ferraro as an progenitor of an emerging post-noise music style dubbed "hypnagogic pop", in which memory and nostalgia for retro formats (especially 1980s recording technology and culture) acted as a defining characteristic.^[12][13]

Discography

This discography is adapted from Discogs.^[14]

Solo

• Multitopia (2008)
• Chameleon Ballet (as K2) (2008)
• Discovery (2009)
• Clear (2009)
• Night Dolls With Hairspray (2010)
• Last American Hero (2010)
• Far Side Virtual (2011)
• Condo Pets (2011)
• INHALE C-4 $$$$$ (as Bebetune$) (2011)
• Sushi (2012)
• Live At Primavera Sound 2012 (2012)
• Cold (2013)
• NYC, Hell 3:00 AM (2013)
• Suki Girlz (as User703918785) (2014)
• Skid Row (2015)
• Human Story 3 (2016)
• Burning Prius ® (2016)

Limited edition

• Sunbrain Albino (Aquarium Temples) (as 8pashupatinath)
• Cruisin' the Nightbiker Strip 1977 (as Cruisin' the Nightbiker Strip 1977) (2004)
• Boiling the Animal In the Sky (as the Wooden Cupboard) (2004)
• Untitled (as Heavens Burst Creation Horizonz) (2004)
• Acid Eagle (as Acid Eagle) (2005)
• Menstrual Chinese Dream (as Menstrual Chinese Dream) (2005)
• Untitled (as Newage Panther Mistique) (2005)
• Live Smokeshows From Inside the Ciguri Cave Hazed Diamonds With Windswept Hair (as Teotihuacan) (2005)
• Animals Speak the Spirit Tongue (as the Wooden Cupboard) (2005)
• Palm Reading In the Sacred Universe Wilderness (2005)
• Untitled (or Ultimate Reality Has Been Seen and Has Been Replaced) (as Heavens Burst Creation Horizonz) (2005)
• Composition of the Sensibilities of Melted Knowledge (as Composition of the Sensibilities of Melted Knowledge) (2006)
• Dreams (as Dreams) (2006)
• Pan Dolphinic Dawn, Parts I and II (as Pan Dolphinic Dawn) (2006)
• Pans als Allgot Saturnia 1977 (as Pans als Allgot Saturnia 1977) (2006)
• Untitled (as Purple Gongs) (2006)
• Wheel of Heaven (as Snake Figures Fan) (2006)
• Teotihuacan (as Teotihuacan) (2006)
• Alternative Soundtrack To "Scream In Blue" Surf Video (2007)
• Observatory Cg II & III: Coconut of Teotihuacan (as Arecaceae) (2007)
• Observatory Cg IV & V: Coconut of Teotihuacan (as Arecaceae) (2007)
• Body of Consciousness / Uguiya To Jeep By Iguana Greenwave (as Nirvana) (2007)
• Malanyang Nirvana Safari (as Nirvana) (2007)
• Peyote Cactus Rituals (as Peyote Cactus Rituals) (2007)
• Chiuji Cactus Juice "Energy of the Eagle Me" (as Peyote Way) (2007)
• Prelude To Diminishing Forms (as Sky and Mirrorbalm In Preparation For Deja Vu) (2007)
• Snake Figures Fan (as Snake Figures Fan) (2007)
• Slippery Beach Trashed Gamelan (as Splash) (2007)
• Virtual Erase (2008)
• Postremo Mundus Techno-Symposium (2008)
• Marble Surf (2008)
• Infrared Roots (as DMT) (2008)
• DMT (as DMT) (2008)
• Maui Black Out / Liquid Bikini (as Edward Flex) (2008)
• Silicon Oasis (as K2) (2008)
• Encinoman: Cryogenic Awakening (as K2) (2008)
• Dianetic Biodome (as K2) (2008)
• Alternative Soundtrack To "Digital Overdrive" (as Liquid Metal) (2008)
• C.B. Answering Service (as Dominos Pizza) (2008)
• Excel (as Excel) (2008)
• Pixarni (2009)
• Hacker Track (2009)
• Wild World (2009)
• Rerex 2 (2009)
• Genie Head Gas In the Tower of Dreams (Jester's Midnight Toys) (2009)
• Son of Dracula (2009)
• Jarvid 9: Flushpipe (2009)
• Star Digital Theatre: Music For P.T. Cruisers (2009)
• Jarvid 9: Gecko (2009)
• Body Fusion 2 (2009)
• Rerex 1 (2009)
• Jarvid 9: Kava Jar Race (2009)
• Heaven's Gate (2009)
• Citrac (2009)
• KFC City 3099, Pt. 1: Toxic Spill (2009)
• iAsia (2009)
• Body Fusion 1 (2009)
• Do You Believe In Hawaii? (as Edward Flex) (2009)
• On Air (as Jim Ferraro) (2010)
• Feed Me (2010)

Collaborations

• The Grass Magic (as part of the Grass Magic) (2008)
• Mind of the Dolphin (as part of Way of the Cross) (2008)
• Live At Slimer Beach (as part of Grippers Nother Onesers) (2009)
• FRKWYS 7 (with David Borden, Sam Godin, Laurel Halo & Daniel Lopatin) (2011)
• Silica Gel (as part of Bodyguard) (2012)
• Watch the Throne (with Dean Blunt) (2012)

Limited edition

• White Rye Bread (as part of the Skaters)
• Dark Rye Bread (as part of the Skaters) (2004)
• Rippling Whispers (as part of the Skaters) (2004)
• Palm Shaper (as part of the Skaters) (2004)
• Untitled (as part of the Grass Magic) (2005)
• Pavilionous Miracles of Circular Facet Diet (as part of the Skaters) (2005)
• Gambling In Ohpa's Shadow (as part of the Skaters) (2005)
• Receding Smokebath (as part of the Skaters) (2005)
• Untitled (as part of the Skaters) (2005)
• Talking Head (as part of the Skaters) (2005)
• Mountain of Signs (as part of the Skaters) (2005)
• Crowned Purple Gowns (as part of the Skaters) (2005)
• Marino's Dream (as part of Clams) (2006)
• 1992 Cool Runnings (as part of Lamborghini Crystal) (2006)
• Dripping Avenues / Wind Drapeing Incense (as part of the Skaters) (2006)
• Raising Spheres of Crossing Angel Minds (as part of the Skaters) (2006)
• Dispersed Royalty Ornaments (as part of the Skaters) (2007)
• Clock Tower Acid (as part of Lamborghini Crystal) (2007)
• Demon Channels (Radio Demons) (as part of Lamborghini Crystal) (2007)
• Alien Microwave (as part of Lamborghini Crystal) (2007)
• Smoking Out His Majesty's UFOs (as part of Lamborghini Crystal) (2007)
• Draco Shop Bop, Vol. 1 (as part of Lamborghini Crystal) (2007)
• Little Deuce Coupe TV Dinners (as part of Lamborghini Crystal) (2007)
• Dial 747-CREEPAZOID (as part of Lamborghini Crystal) (2007)
• Tan Kim (Boa Paradise) (as part of Pacific Rat Temple) (2007)
• Roach Model (as part of Lamborghini Crystal) (2008)
• Refried Demon Channels (as part of Lamborghini Crystal) (2008)
• Wave Rave, Pt. 1: Skelesand Extra-Earth Morph (as part of Pacific Rat Temple) (2008)
• Physicalities of the Sensibilities of Ingrediential Stairways (as part of the Skaters) (2008)
• Mountaineer Skyness of Majestic Planes (as part of the Skaters) (2008)
• Wind Drapeing Incense (as part of the Skaters) (2008)

Limited edition splits

• Live At Spooky Action Palace (as part of the Skaters) (with Axolotl, C. Spencer Yeh & Lambsbread)
• Humming Lattice Flowers (as part of the Skaters) (with Yellow Swans) (2004)
• Untitled (as part of the Skaters) (with Axolotl) (2005)
• Live At KDVS (as part of the Skaters) (with Axolotl & Mouthus) (2005)
• Untitled (as part of the Skaters) (with Axolotl) (2005)
• Shadow Watcher Levitations (as Acid Eagle) (with Vodka Soap) (2006)
• Live (as part of the Skaters) (with Tomutonttu) (2006)
• Sky Diver's Request / Cyborg Chillers (as part of Lamborghini Crystal) (with VHS Radio 1998) (2007)
• Untitled (as Angel Snake) (with Monopoly Child) (2008)
• Untitled (as part of the Temple Defectors) (with Claypipe) (2008)
• Untitled (as part of the Skaters) (with Instant Space Soup) (2009)

Filmography

• Rapture Adrenaline (2009) (94 min, 'science-action movie')
• 'Demon Channels' (2010) (7 min, music video)

References

2. Simpson, Paul. "Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
3. RA: James Ferraro
4. http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2012/03/james-ferraro-fireside-chat
5. http://www.stereogum.com/1504091/qa-james-ferraro-on-nycs-hidden-darkness-musical-sincerity-and-being-called-the-god-of-vaporwave/franchises/interview/
6. http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2012/03/james-ferraro-fireside-chat
7. http://www.stereogum.com/1504091/qa-james-ferraro-on-nycs-hidden-darkness-musical-sincerity-and-being-called-the-god-of-vaporwave/franchises/interview/
8. http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2012/03/james-ferraro-fireside-chat
9. Blanning, Lisa (April 5, 2013). "James Ferraro - Cold". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
10. Bowe, Miles (October 13, 2013). "Q&A: James Ferraro On NYC's Hidden Darkness, Musical Sincerity, And Being Called "The God Of Vaporwave"". Stereogum. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
11. Beks, Ash. "Vaporwave is not dead". The Essential. The Essential. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
12. Keenan, Dave (2009). "Childhood's End". The Wire (306).
13. Grandy, Eric. "Triumph of the Chill". The Stranger. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
14. James Ferraro on Discogs. Retrieved on February 21, 2016.