Nation of Language

Nation of Language
Nation of Language performing in May 2022
Background information
Origin	Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Genres	Indie pop, synthpop, post-punk
Years active	2016–present
Labels	PIAS
Members	Ian Richard Devaney Aidan Noell Alex MacKay
Past members	Michael Sue-Poi
Website	nationoflanguage.com

Nation of Language is an American indie pop band that formed in Brooklyn, New York, in 2016.[1] The group consists of Ian Richard Devaney (lead vocals, guitar, synthesizer, percussion), Aidan Noell (synthesizer, backing vocals), and Alex MacKay (bass guitar). Michael Sue-Poi was the bassist prior to the band's 2022 tour.

History

Devaney and Sue-Poi were both members of the Static Jacks, but the band became inactive after the release of their second album.[2] Devaney was inspired to start a new project after hearing "Electricity" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark in his father's car, a track he listened to in his childhood.[2] What started out as Devaney "fooling around" on a keyboard later evolved into Nation of Language, with the addition of Devaney's partner Noell and former Static Jacks bandmate Sue-Poi. Current bassist Alex MacKay joined the band in 2022.

The band released a number of singles from 2016 through to 2019, before releasing their debut album Introduction, Presence in May 2020.[3] The album, which Billboard has since described as "an irresistible confection of familiar and new sounds," resonated with many new fans during the COVID-19 pandemic, vastly widening the band's reach.[4]

A Way Forward, their second full-length album, was released on November 5, 2021.[5] Devaney took inspiration from Krautrock, Kraftwerk, and early synthesizer music in the making of the album,[6] which once released, solidified them as "mainstays of '20s synth-pop music,"[7] according to a positive review by Paste.[8] The band made their television debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in January of 2022, performing their song "Across That Fine Line".[9]

On March 8, 2023, the band released the single "Sole Obsession." On April 13, 2023, the band released the single "Weak in Your Light" and announced their next album, Strange Disciple, released on September 15, 2023.[10] On July 26, 2023 the band released the single "Too Much, Enough" accompanied by a music video directed by filmmaker Robert Kolodny. The star studded take down of media culture featured actors Reggie Watts, Jimmi Simpson and Ruby Wolf and well as musicians Adam Green from The Moldy Peaches, Kevin Morby and Tomberlin.[11] In November of 2023, Strange Disciple topped Rough Trade's 100 Albums of 2023, landing the coveted #1 spot.[12]

Since 2018, Devaney has also been the lead vocalist for Machinegum, a side project created by the Strokes' drummer, Fabrizio Moretti.

Discography

Albums

• Introduction, Presence (2020)
• A Way Forward (2021)
• Strange Disciple (2023)

Non-album releases

• "What Does the Normal Man Feel?" (2016)
• "I've Thought About Chicago" (2017)
• "Reality" (2018)
• "One More Try" (7"-exclusive track) (2020)
• "A Different Kind of Life" (2020)
• "Deliver Me from Wondering Why" (2021)
• "Again & Again (Eleanor)" (7"-exclusive track) (2022)
• "From The Hill"/"Ground Control" (7"-exclusive track) (2022)

Covers

• "Gouge Away" (Pixies cover) (2020)
• "Stars and Sons" (Broken Social Scene cover) (2022)
• "Androgynous" (The Replacements cover) (2022)

References

1. Martin, Jacob (2021-10-14). "Nation of Language's Aidan Noell looks onto their musical horizon". The Pitch.
2. "Band To Watch: Nation Of Language". stereogum.com. 2018-01-10. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
3. "Introduction, Presence by Nation of Language on Bandcamp". bandcamp.com. 2020-05-22. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
4. DiGiacomo, Frank (2023-08-28). "Nation of Language's Married Bandmates Discuss Their New Album, Tour & Lineup". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
5. bizzarre (2021-08-09). "Nation of Language share video for new single " This Fractured Mind"". Emerging Music. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
6. "The Story Behind Every Song On Nation Of Language\'s New Album \'A Way Forward\'". Stereogum. 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
7. "Even Defeat Sounds Euphoric on Nation of Language's A Way Forward". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
8. "The Story Behind Every Song On Nation Of Language\'s New Album \'A Way Forward\'". Stereogum. 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
9. "Nation Of Language Make A Great TV Debut On \'Colbert\': Watch". Stereogum. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
10. "Nation of Language Announce New Album, Share New Songs: Listen". pitchfork.com. 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
11. "Watch Nation of Language's powerful, star-studded video for 'Too Much, Enough'". NME. 26 July 2023.
12. https://plus.google.com/110686239645171179005. "Nation of Language's Strange Disciple Named #1 Album of The Year By Rough Trade". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved 2024-04-03. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); External link in |last= (help)