Jeffrey Kite
| Jeff Kite | |
|---|---|
 Jeff Kite backstage in Philadelphia. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jeffrey Kite |
| Born | 19 March 1979 |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
Keyboard Synthesizers Guitar Drums |
| Labels | Cult Records |
| Associated acts | |
Jeffrey Kite (born 19 March 1979) is an American musician and member of Julian Casablancas+The Voidz.[1] Jeff currently resides in Los Angeles.
Career
The Sick Six
In 2009, Julian Casablancas released his debut solo record, Phrazes for the Young. To celebrate the release, Casablancas performed a series of shows in October 2009 at The Downtown Palace Theatre in Los Angeles with his live show band, The Sick Six. Other members of The Sick Six included Nelson London (synthesizer), JP Bowersock (guitar), Danielle Haim (percussion) and Alex Carapetis (drums).[2] Casablancas then toured with The Sick Six throughout Europe, United States, Australia and Japan from November 2009 until July 2010.
Julian Casablancas+The Voidz
After touring extensively with Julian Casablancas in 2009, Jeff once again joined forces with The Strokes frontman on his new project, Julian Casablancas+The Voidz. The band, also composed of Jeramy "Beardo" Gritter (guitar), Amir Yaghmai (guitar), Jacob "Jake" Bercovici (bass guitar, synthesizers) and Alex Carapetis (drums), began recording in 2013 in New York City in a DIY studio above Strand Book Store. They completed their first record, Tyranny, in 2014 and released it worldwide on September 23, 2014 to favorable reviews and press, including a covers of NME Magazine,[3] Plugged and Alt-Citizen and TV appearances on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Le Grand Journal. The band toured extensively throughout late 2014, including stops in the US, South America and Europe.[4] In 2015, the band will continue to work on new music and tour, having already confirmed dates in Barcelona[5] and Paris.
Beat Club
In 2012, Jeff teamed up with Jon Pancoast, Anthony Polcino and Joseph Seiders to create Beat Club. Jeff acts as the lead vocalist and also plays keyboards. Their first single, 'Something Better,' was released in February 2013 on Boombox Recordings (PCM/Mom+Pop). In Fall 2013, Beat Club toured the US with Fitz and the Tantrums and Capital Cities.[6] In February 2016, Noisey released the band's most recent single, 'New Age Kid,' citing the tracks 'psych-pop swagger' and the 'Lennon-lean of his [Kite's] voice.' [7]
Studio Work
In 2013, Jeff worked in the studio on Vicky Cryer's debut release, The Synthetic Love of Emotional Engineering. Vicky Cryer is helmed by Jason Hill (of Louis XIV). Also recruited for the project was fellow Sick Six member (and current drummer for Julian Casablancas+The Voidz) Alex Carapetis, along with Dominic Howard (of Muse), Mark Stoermer (of the Killers), Nick Fyffe (of Jamiroquai) and Dave Elitch (of Mars Volta).[8]
Film Work
In 2008, Jeff Kite composed the score for No Subtitles Necessary, a film that follows the lives of renowned cinematographers László Kovacs and Vilmos Zsigmond as they escape from the 1956 Soviet invasion of Hungary to present day. It premiered at the 2008 Cannes International Film Festival and was a part of the Independent Lens series on PBS.[9] He also composed music for the documentary, Rio Breaks; a film that explores surfing and slum-life in Rio de Janeiro.[10]
References
- ↑ Murray, Nick. "Hear Julian Casablancas + the Voidz' Wonderfully Bizarre New LP 'Tyranny Rolling Stone , 19 September 2014.
- ↑ Strokes Julian Casablancas Debuts Solo Tunes Spin , 01 September 2009.
- ↑ Perry, Kevin EG. 'Julian Casablancas+The Voidz - Tyranny - Review' NME Magazine , 13, October 2014.
- ↑ Pelly, Jen. 'Julian Casablancas+The Voidz Expand Tour' Pitchfork , 14 July 2014.
- ↑ Carley, Brennan. 'Primavera Sound 2015 Line Up Announced' Spin 21 January 2015.
- ↑ Yahr, Emily. 'Concert Review: Fitz and the Tantrums, Capital Cities' Washington Post , 31 October 2013.
- ↑ Bennett, Kim Taylor. 'Beat Club - New Age Kid' Noisey , 2 February 2016.
- ↑ Martins, Chris. 'Vicky Cryer Synthetic Love Video' Spin 5 April 2013.
- ↑ No Subtitles Necessary Credits PBS
- ↑ Rio Breaks: Official Site