Poolside is an American nu-disco and chillwave band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2011 by Jeffrey Paradise and Filip Nikolic (Nikolic's left the project in 2017).[2] The band currently consists of Jeffrey Paradise with additional members for live shows Vito Roccoforte (the Rapture), Mattie Safer (the Rapture), Alton Allen and Casey Butler (Pharaohs).[3][4]

Poolside
Poolside performing in 2024
Poolside performing in 2024
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresNu-disco, chillwave, synthpop
Years active2011–present
LabelsPacific Standard Records[1]
MembersJeffrey Paradise
Past membersFilip Nikolic
Websitepoolsidemusic.com

The band has performed at high-profile festivals like FYF (2013), Primavera Sound (2013), and Coachella (2014). Poolside took a four-year break from touring, returning in 2018 with their current lineup and have since toured the US and performed at high profiles festivals like Outside Lands (2018, 2023), Okeechobee (2018), Austin City Limits Music Festival (2023), Lollapalooza (2023) and Life Is Beautiful (2018) in support of their sophomore record Heat (2017).[5] Poolside released their third record Low Season on February 7, 2020, followed soon after by its companion record High Season on May 28, 2021.[6][7]

The band produces a specific version of nu-disco, which they refer to as "daytime disco",[2] the style known for relaxed beats, high vocals and a wash of smooth electronics and the lounge sound overall.[8]

As a solo DJ Jefferey Paradise, under the Poolside (DJ Set) moniker, has carved out a place as an in-demand remixer. Most notably, with official remixes of Modest Mouse, Billy Idol, Jim James, L'Impératrice, Little Dragon, Tycho (musician), Matthew Dear, and others. [1][2]

History

edit

Formation & Early Years (2004-2011)

edit

In 2004, San Francisco DJ Jeffrey Paradise met Filip Nikolic (at the time bassist for Junior Senior) at Frisco Disco, one of Paradise's parties in San Francisco.[9] Nikolic then spent time touring with Paradise Boys, a collaboration between Jeffrey Paradise and Bertie Pearson.[9] A year later Nikolic came out to Los Angeles for a few months and the two gathered together in the studio to make a few songs.[10] In 2006, the duo set out to make a disco influenced project; however, they were busy with other projects and their work “never got too serious.”[10]

Poolside's debut single "Do You Believe" was released in 2011[11] and positively received by peers Todd Terje, Dimitri From Paris, and The Magician,[12] and Dazed & Confused praised the song for its "pop-tinged disco, brimming with optimistic vocals and retro acid synths,"[13] while NME lauded its "supremely casual decadence."[14] Later in 2011 LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy put Poolside into greater public notoriety by frequently incorporating their cover of Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" into his DJ sets.[15] [16]

The duo released their second single “Take Me Home” in October 2011 followed by a video released on Scion Audio Visual in November 2011.[17] The song was used as the first song on Aeroplane's In Flight Entertainment compilation.[18]

Pacific Standard Time (2012)

edit

On July 9, 2012, Poolside released their debut album Pacific Standard Time.[19] The album was put together with no serious goal in mind, only to make groovy, daytime disco. Album track "Slow Down" was named "Best New Track" by Pitchfork,[20] and Pitchfork called the album "a disco album that slinks along with the urgency of a teenager on the first day of summer vacation."[21]

Heat (2017)

edit

On June 20, 2017, Poolside released their second album Heat.[5] On Heat, the band "kept the same core ideas and expanded the pallet [they] worked with – the instruments, percussions, tempos, sounds, etc – but [they] definitely turned up the heat a bit more on some songs with more upbeat tempos, spread out into some more lush electronic vibes, and [they] didn’t shy away from our more guitar based influences that were mostly hiding on the first album."[22] The band performed album track "Everything Goes" for the first time at Outside Lands in San Francisco on August 11, 2018.[23]

Low Season (2020)

edit

On February 7, 2020, Poolside released their third album Low Season.[6] It was preceded by the singles "Can't Stop Your Lovin' (feat. Panama)" and "Around The Sun (feat. Amo Amo)", the latter of which was named a "Song You Need To Know" by Rolling Stone.[24] Low Season is the first Poolside album produced solely by Jeffrey Paradise following the departure of Filip Nikolic in 2017.[2] In 2020, Poolside also released a cover of the Grateful Dead's "Shakedown Street" to mark the 25th anniversary of Jerry Garcia's passing.[25]

High Season (2021)

edit

On May 28, 2021, Poolside released their fourth album High Season. The album is an up-tempo, celebratory companion record to 2020's more introspective Low Season, a loose collection of new original collaborations as well as remixes and reworks of previously released Poolside songs. The album features an impressive list of collaborators, including L'Impératrice, DRAMA, Todd Edwards, Miami Horror, NEIL FRANCES, and more.[7]

 
Jeffrey Paradise performing alongside Poolside in 2024

Blame It All On Love (2023)

edit

Poolside's 2023 album, Blame It All On Love, marked the debut album release on Ninja Tune imprint Counter Records[26] Anchored by features from Munya, Panama, Vansire, Slenderbodies, Mazy, Ora the Molecule, and Life On Planets, this album was described by American Songwriter as "a nighttime cruise, riding out any regrets through some yacht-rock and funk-lit plays around stories of multi-dimensional ideas of love."[27]

Discography

edit

Albums

edit
  • Pacific Standard Time / Day & Night Recordings (July 9, 2012)[19][21]
  • Heat (June 20, 2017)
  • Low Season (February 7, 2020)
  • High Season (May 28, 2021)
  • Blame It All on Love (October 20, 2023)

Mixtapes

edit
  • Day & Night (2011)
  • Night People (2011)
  • Fall Back (2012)
  • Seasons Change (2012)
  • Stir It Up (2014)
  • Contact High (2016)

Singles and EPs

edit
  • "Do You Believe" (2011), Future Classic
  • "Take Me Home" (In-Flight Entertainment compilation) (2011), Eskimo / N.E.W.S.
  • "Scion A/V Presents: Poolside - Only Everything" (2012)[28]
  • "If We Make It" (2015)
  • "And the Sea" (July 20, 2016)
  • "Everything Goes" (2017)
  • "Feel Alright" (2018)
  • "Which Way to Paradise (Remixes)" (2018)
  • "Can't Stop Your Lovin'" (featuring Panama) (2019)
  • "Greatest City" (2019)
  • "Around the Sun" (featuring Amo Amo) (2020)
  • "Getting There from Here" (with Todd Edwards) (2020)
  • "Shakedown Street" (Grateful Dead cover) (2020)
  • "I'm in Love with You" (with Neil Frances) (2020)
  • "I Feel High" (with DRAMA) (2021)
  • "Lamb's Wool" (with Foster the People) (2021)[29]

Remixes

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Helton, Billie (16 February 2020). "Poolside - "Low Season"". Everything Is Noise. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Poolside Music". Poolside Music. Archived from the original on 20 January 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Test Pressing". testpressing.org. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  4. ^ Zena Ballas (20 September 2018). "Q&A - A Peek Into Poolside's Chill Sound". 303 Magazine. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  5. ^ a b Devin Culham. "Poolside Talks Derrick May, Underground Resistance ahed of Detroit performance". Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Album Review: Poolside - Low Season -". mxdwn Music. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  7. ^ a b Ward, Steven (2 June 2021). "Dive in to Poolside's blissful summer soundtrack with "High Season" LP". Grimy Goods. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Poolside's New Album 'Heat' Delivers Relaxed, Daytime Disco". www.wbur.org. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Sex, Lies, and Audiotape". SF Weekly. 28 January 2004. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Filip "Turbotito" Nikolic interview |". Arkcollective.com. 16 August 2011. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  11. ^ Poolside - Do You Believe? (Original), retrieved 26 June 2021
  12. ^ "Poolside: un nuovo genere da ascoltare a bordo piscina". Soundwall.it. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  13. ^ "Poolside". Dazed Digital. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  14. ^ Archived 4 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine[dead link]
  15. ^ "Poolside". Pitchfork. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  16. ^ "DJing Is Easy: Pt. 2 of Our Post-Moogfest Talk with James Murphy". Los Angeles, California, U.S. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  17. ^ "Poolside Interview | Scion Audio Visual". Scionav.com. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  18. ^ "Aeroplane—In Flight Entertainment | Album review". Time Out Chicago. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  19. ^ a b Sendra, Tim (13 November 2012). "Pacific Standard Time - Poolside : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  20. ^ Listen to "Slow Down" by Poolside, retrieved 26 June 2021
  21. ^ a b "Poolside: Pacific Standard Time | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  22. ^ "Poolside: New Album + Interview". 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  23. ^ "Outside Lands 2018: The 12 Best Things We Saw". Billboard. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  24. ^ Leight, Elias (22 January 2020). "Song You Need to Know: Poolside and Amo Amo, 'Around the Sun'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  25. ^ "Poolside Share Cover of "Shakedown Street" To Celebrate Jerry Garcia's Birthday". Jambands. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  26. ^ "Poolside Announces New LP "Blame It All on Love," Shares Love Letter to Yacht Rock "Float Away"". FLOOD. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  27. ^ Benitez-Eves, Tina (11 December 2023). "Poolside Rewires Sonic and Lyrical Blueprint on Fourth Album 'Blame It All On Love'". American Songwriter. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  28. ^ "Scion A/V Presents: Poolside — Only Everything | Official Scion AV Blog". Scionav.com. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  29. ^ "Lamb's Wool - Single by Foster the People on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  30. ^ "The Rapture - In The Grace of Your Love (Poolside Remix)".
  31. ^ "Matthew Dear: "Her Fantasy (Poolside Remix)"". Pitchfork.com. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  32. ^ "Fly Away (Poolside Edit)".
  33. ^ http://poolsidemusic.com/new-black-sabbath-planet-caravan-poolside-rework/ Archived 2014-02-27 at the Wayback Machine" (December 17, 2012)
  34. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  35. ^ "When Am I Going To Make A Living (Poolside Edit)".
  36. ^ "Onda (Poolside & Fatnotronic Edit)".
  37. ^ "Little Dragon - "Cat Rider (Poolside Remix)"".
  38. ^ "SoundCloud - Hear the world's sounds".
  39. ^ "Jamaica Running (Poolside Edit)".
  40. ^ Poolside & Fatnotronic - Esperar Pra Ver, retrieved 26 June 2021
  41. ^ Save Their Souls (Poolside Edit), retrieved 26 June 2021
  42. ^ Oh Honey (Poolside Edit), retrieved 26 June 2021
  43. ^ Gimmie What You Got (Poolside Edit), retrieved 26 June 2021
  44. ^ Horizon (Poolside Remix), retrieved 26 June 2021
edit