Thao Nguyen

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This article is about the singer-songwriter. For the airline CEO, see Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao.
Thao Nguyen
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Performing in 2009
Background information
Also known as Thao
Born c.1984
Virginia, United States
Genres Folk rock, indie folk, indie pop
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments Guitar
Years active 2005-present
Labels Kill Rock Stars, Trust Me Corporation
Associated acts Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Mirah, Tune-Yards

Thao Nguyen (born c.1984),[1] also known as Thao, is an American singer-songwriter originally from Virginia and now based in San Francisco.[2] She is a member of the band Thao & The Get Down Stay Down,[3] as a member of which she has collaborated with Joanna Newsom and Andrew Bird.[4] Outside of the band she has collaborated on projects with several artists including Merrill Garbus, The Portland Cello Project, and Mirah. Her music is influenced by folk, country, and hip hop.[5]

Career

Early life, education

Born in Virginia and raised in Falls Church, Nguyen began playing guitar and writing songs at the age of twelve while helping out at her mother's laundromat.[6][7] She began performing in high school as part of a pop-country duo with friend Brenna Clerkin.[8] She attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County and studied at the College of William & Mary, where she double majored in Sociology and Women's studies.[6][7] After recording an EP that differed from her initial style, she began performing as a soloist with her acoustic guitar. With her fellow college students Adam and Willis Thompson she formed Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down.[6][7] After graduating she toured extensively, both with the band and as a solo artist.[7]

First albums, early collaborations

Her first album, Like the Linen, was released in 2005 and led to a tour as a solo artist supporting Laura Veirs the following year.[6] In 2007 she collaborated with Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards as 'Merrillthaocracy' releasing the "Tuvalu" single. She subsequently signed to the Kill Rock Stars label, releasing the Tucker Martine-produced We Brave Bee Stings and All album in 2008.[6] In 2008 she duetted with Zach Rogue of Rogue Wave at the 'Revenge of the Book Eaters' benefit show in New York City.[9]

In 2009, Nguyen appeared solo on the nationwide Hotel Cafe Tour. She collaborated with labelmates The Portland Cello Project and Justin Power on the album The Thao and Justin Power Sessions, released in June 2009 and featuring versions of Nguyen and Power's songs.[10][11]

Move to San Francisco

She moved to San Francisco around 2009, and has been based there since.[12] Over the next few years she began working with outreach projects including the non-profit organization the California Coalition for Women Prisoners, partly to help her to integrate with her new community.[13][14][15][16]

Thao + Mirah
File:Mirah and Thao onstage bongos.jpg
Thao onstage with singer-songwriter Mirah, holding bongos. Their collaborative album peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200.

In late 2009 she met Mirah and the two decided to collaborate.[17] They performed together in early 2010 at the Noise Pop festival in San Francisco.[18] The two later announced a 2010 North American tour, billed under the name Thao and Mirah With The Most of All.[18][19] The album Thao + Mirah, co-produced by Merrill Garbus, was released in 2011 on Kill Rock Stars.[17][20][21] The album allowed both artists to experiment with different instruments, with Nguyen playing banjo and percussion in addition to guitar.[17]

Recent years

She has also fundraised with Dianna Agron for Oxfam America.[14] In May 2010, a video for the song "Body", directed by Agron, debuted on the website of humanitarian organization Oxfam America. The video features a prelude of Thao and Dianna talking about their friendship, the making of the video, and their work on behalf of Oxfam.

In 2012 Nguyen performed as part of WNYC's Radiolab show's 'Radiolab Live: In the Dark' tour. This self described "nerd circus" also included Radiolab hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, comedian Demetri Martin, and modern dance troupe Pilobolus.[22]

In 2013 an album with the Get Down Stay Down, We the Common, followed, the album's title track dedicated to one of the women she met on her prison visits.[6][12][14]

Thao & the Get Down Stay Down released their fourth studio album A Man Alive on March 4, 2016. The album was produced by Merrill Garbus, who also produced Thao and Mirah's collaborative album Thao + Mirah.[23]

Musical style

Nguyen's voice has been compared with Cat Power, Fiona Apple, Sinéad O'Connor, and Regina Spektor.[12][15][24][25] Her music has been described as "country-tinged indie folk-pop", and a blend of folk, country, blues and pop.[24][26] Her lyrics deal with relationships and childhood and on We the Common more political themes, including the Occupy movement.[7][12][14]

Nguyen describes herself as a fan of country music, blues, and Motown, and cites Lucinda Williams as a major influence.[27]

Discography

Albums

Singles

  • "Swimming Pools" (2007), Kill Rock Stars - as Thao
  • "Bag of Hammers" (2007), Kill Rock Stars - as Thao
  • "Tuvalu" (2007), Common Cloud - with Merrill Garbus as Merrillthaocracy

Guest appearances

  • Emancipator - "When I Go" from Soon It Will Be Cold Enough (2006)
  • Simone White - "Never Be That Tough" from Silver, Silver (2012)

References

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External links

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