Hazel English (born Eleisha Caripis) is an Australian-American indie pop musician based in Oakland, California. She fronts a band of the same name.

Hazel English
Hazel English performing in 2017
Background information
Birth nameEleisha Caripis
Born (1990-11-27) November 27, 1990 (age 34)
Sydney, Australia
Genres
Occupation
  • Singer-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
Years active2015–present
Labels
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life and career

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Before creating music, English devoted her time to studying creative writing in Melbourne, Australia. In 2013, Hazel moved to San Francisco for a student exchange program, and then to Oakland.[1] Her musical career started as she performed on open mics, and with local performers. She met Jackson Phillips of the band Day Wave at the bookstore where she worked at that time. They became musical collaborators,[2] with Phillips co-writing most of the songs.[3] She formed a band, keeping the name Hazel English, and they played their first show opening for Craft Spells at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco on September 9, 2015.[4] That year, English published her first three songs on SoundCloud: "Never Going Home," It's Not Real," and "Fix."[5][6]

In 2016, English released the EP Never Going Home on Marathon Artists Records and House Anxiety Records.[7][8][9] On 12 May 2017, she released her double EP, Just Give In/Never Going Home.[10][11][12]

She has also canvassed for the Democratic Socialists of America.[13]

2019–2020: Wake UP!

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On November 6, 2019, English released the single "Shaking,"[14] co-written by Blake Stranathan and produced by Justin Raisen. Stereogum said the song is a "strike right at the heart of ’60s psychedelia. Its ridiculously catchy core melody feels fresh while retaining a retrospective sensibility." The music video was directed by Erin S. Murray.[15] On January 29, 2020, English announced on Instagram that she would release her debut album, titled Wake UP!, on April 24.[16] The album was produced by Justin Raisen in Los Angeles and by Ben H. Allen in Atlanta.[17] Upon release, Wake UP! received positive reviews, with critics praising English's development since her previous releases.[18][19][20][21]

2021–present: Summer Nights EP and Real Life

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On May 10, 2021 English released her cover of the song "California Dreamin",[22] originally recorded as a demo version for Polyvinyl's benefit compilation "Stay Home" where the proceeds where directed to the featured artists.[23] On November 16, English released her first and only single of the year, "Nine Stories".[24] The New York Times praised the song as "a three-minute dream-pop reverie, obscuring lyrics wryly bookish enough for a Belle & Sebastian song beneath a swirl of jangly guitars and shyly murmured vocals".[25]

On April 21, 2022 she released the single "Summer Nights". It was featured on her third EP of the same name alongside the single "Nine Stories". The EP was released on June 17. It was produced by her long-time collaborator, Jackson Phillips. Describing the five track EP, she said it is "a series of interlinking narratives that make up one bigger story."[26] It was also released physically through a Japanese label, P-Vine Records.[27]

On August 16th, 2024 she released her second album, Real Life. Day Wave produced the album.[28]

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • Never Going Home (2016)
  • Just Give In/Never Going Home (2017)
  • Combat (2020)
  • Summer Nights (2022)

Singles

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  • Shaking (2019)
  • Off My Mind (2020)
  • California Dreamin' (2021)
  • Nine Stories (2021)
  • Summer Nights (2022)
  • All Dressed Up (2022)
  • Hamilton (2022)
  • Slide (2023)
  • There She Goes (2023)
  • Heartbreaker (2023)
  • Real Life (2023)
  • Jesse (2024)

Collaborations

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  • Day Wave & Hazel English - PDA (2017)
  • Day Wave & Hazel English - Apartment Complex (2022)

References

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  1. ^ "Hazel English – Wake Up! // Limited to 300 'White-Red-White' & 500 White Vinyl LP's | Sly Vinyl". slyvinyl.com. Archived from the original on 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  2. ^ "Hazel English – TIDAL Profile". listen.tidal.com. Archived from the original on 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  3. ^ Subscribe. "Hazel English: Never Going Home". diymag.com. Archived from the original on 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  4. ^ "CRAFT SPELLS, WITH HAZEL ENGLISH, WATERSTRIDER". Noisepop. 2015-09-12. Archived from the original on 2022-09-27. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  5. ^ Breihan, Tom (24 September 2015). "Hazel English – "Fix"". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Hazel English". SoundCloud. Archived from the original on 2020-10-26. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  7. ^ Yung, Ben (11 October 2016). "Hazel English – "Never Going Home" EP". The Revue. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  8. ^ Brinstengel, Grace (26 October 2016). "Artist To Watch: Hazel English". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  9. ^ Park, Jennifer (2 February 2017). "Hazel English Left Home As An Aspiring Writer and Returned As An Alluring Pop Singer". Vice. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  10. ^ "HAZEL ENGLISH ANNOUNCES NEW DOUBLE EP 'JUST GIVE IN/ NEVER GOING HOME'". DIY. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  11. ^ "Hazel English Announces Double EP -Just Give In/ Never Going Home". The Deli Magazine. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  12. ^ Gaca, Anna. "New Music: Hazel English – "Fix"". Spin. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  13. ^ @DemSocialists (October 29, 2020). "TONIGHT: California DSA is proud to present a special Phonebank Halloween Show with @sarahsquirm and some VERY special guests this Thursday 10/29/20 at 8:30pm PST/11:30pm ET!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ "Hazel English – "Shaking" Video". Stereogum. 2019-11-06. Archived from the original on 2020-02-15. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  15. ^ "Hazel English – "Shaking" Video". Stereogum. 6 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-02-15. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  16. ^ "Hazel English on Instagram: "I'm very excited to announce that my debut album 'Wake UP!' will be out April 24th and is available to pre-order now! (link in bio) I've…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2022-09-27. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  17. ^ "Wake UP!, by Hazel English". Polyvinyl Records. Archived from the original on 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  18. ^ "Wake Up! by Hazel English". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 25, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  19. ^ Donelson, Marcy (April 23, 2020). "Wake Up! – Hazel English". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 6, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  20. ^ Niwa, Rae (April 20, 2020). "Hazel English – Wake Up!". Clash. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  21. ^ Mughal, Alisha (April 22, 2020). "Hazel English Gives Us the Pep Talk We Didn't Know We Needed on 'Wake UP!'". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on April 26, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  22. ^ "Hazel English - California Dreamin'". Album of The Year. Archived from the original on 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  23. ^ "Xiu Xiu, Owen, Palehound, & More Contribute To Polyvinyl's 'Stay Home' Compilation". Stereogum. 2020-04-08. Archived from the original on 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  24. ^ "Hazel English – "Nine Stories"". Stereogum. 2021-11-18. Archived from the original on 2021-11-18. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  25. ^ Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon; Herrera, Isabelia; Russonello, Giovanni; Zoladz, Lindsay (2021-11-19). "Earl Sweatshirt Exhibits His Evolution, and 14 More New Songs". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-11-22. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  26. ^ Major, Michael. "Hazel English Shares Title Track From 'Summer Nights' EP". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on 2022-04-21. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  27. ^ "Hazel English - Summer Nights EP Vinyl". www.hhv.de. Archived from the original on 2022-09-27. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  28. ^ "Real Life, by Hazel English". Hazel English. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
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