Marnie Stern

All Music Guide:

It wasn't until she was 23, when she heard Sleater-Kinney for the first time, that Marnie Stern's life began to the take her in the direction of the noise and punk-inspired experimental rock that would later define her music. She soon began learning finger-tapping techniques on her electric guitar and began assiduously practicing and recording songs until she had enough for a demo. Stern sent the tape to Kill Rock Stars, which immediately signed the young singer/guitarist to their 5RC imprint. The folding of the company, after the departure of founder Slim Moon in 2006, caused a slight delay in the release of her debut, In Advance of the Broken Arm, but the record, whose songs had been written over a period of more than two years in Stern's Upper East Side New York apartment, and featured drums from Hella's Zach Hill, finally came out in early 2007. Stern took somewhat less time to record her follow-up, releasing This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It in 2008. Her self-titled third album was released by Kill Rock Stars in 2010.

Wikipedia:

Marnie Stern is an American musician, songwriter, and guitarist. She has garnered acclaim for her technical skill and tapping style of guitar play.

Musical career [edit]

In early 2007, Kill Rock Stars released Stern's debut CD, In Advance of the Broken Arm. It was well received by critics, and most favorably by The New York Times, citing it as "The year's most exciting rock 'n' roll album." In mid 2007, Stern toured the U.S. and UK with Hella's Zach Hill and The Advantage's Robby Moncrieff, in support of her debut album. In 2008, Stern was named one of Venus Zine's "Greatest Female Guitarists of All Time", Spring 2008 issue and was nominated "Female Artist of the Year" and "Punk Album of the Year" for the 2008 Plug Music Awards.

Marnie Stern's second album, entitled This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That, was released October 7, 2008. Upon release, it garnered the title of "Best New Music" as well as No. 44 on "The 50 Best Albums of 2008" from Pitchfork Media. Stern toured Europe and the U.S. in support of This Is It with former U.S. Maple guitarist Mark Shippy, bassist recruit Malia James, and a varying line-up of drummers.

Backed by bass player, Nithin Kalvakota, and former Tera Melos drummer, Vincent Rogers, Stern spent most of 2010 and 2011 touring North America, Europe, and Australia in support of her third, and self-titled, album. Highlights include several winter festivals in Europe as well as support dates with the Flaming Lips. She has been chosen by Les Savy Fav to perform at the ATP Nightmare Before Christmas festival that they co-curate in December 2011 in Minehead, England. In 2011, Stern was named one of Elle Magazines "12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists", and was chosen as a voter on a panel of top guitarists and other experts for "Rolling Stone Magazine's" "100 Greatest Guitarists List'' In 2012, she was named No. 87 on Spin Magazine's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time

In December 2012, it was announced that her next album entitled "The Chronicles of Marnia" would be released on Kill Rock Stars. The title track of the album was debuted that same week on the website of Spin Magazine in an article about Stern. On March 4th, 2013, "The Chronicles of Marnia" was made available exclusively on NPR's First Listen. During 2013's SXSW she was featured in ABC News' 7 Emerging Artists on the Rise article. On March 22, 2013, Stern was featured on the front cover of The Guardian.

Influences [edit]

Stern has cited many musical influences that contribute to her sound, including Hella, King Crimson, Lightning Bolt, Deerhoof, Erase Errata, Yoko Ono, Don Caballero, U.S. Maple, Royal Trux, Television, Bruce Springsteen, The Who, and Talking Heads.