Greg Saunier

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Greg Saunier
Greg Saunier in 2006
Background information
Born (1969-05-18) 18 May 1969 (age 54)
Valdivia, Chile[1]
OriginUnited States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • producer
  • composer
Instrument(s)
Years active1990–present
Labels
Member ofDeerhoof
Formerly of

Gregory Lovell Saunier[2] (/ˈsɔːnjeɪ/ SAWN-yay,[3] born 18 May 1969[4]) is a musician, producer, and composer best known as the drummer and founding member of Deerhoof.

Rolling Stone included Saunier alongside Brian Chippendale (of Lightning Bolt) and Zach Hill (of Hella, later Death Grips and the I.L.Y's) as together composing "a generation of trailblazing 21st-century avant-rock percussionists".[5]

Early life[edit]

Saunier was born in Valdivia, Chile, while his parents were serving as volunteers in the Peace Corps,[1][6] and also lived in Peru during his early childhood.[7] After his family returned to the United States, Saunier grew up in Columbia, Maryland.[8]

Saunier began playing the drums in the third grade, as part of his school band.[9] He has cited the Rolling Stones as a major early musical influence.[1][9]

Career[edit]

Saunier in 2011
Saunier in 2017

Saunier graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1991.[10] The next year, he joined a four-piece band, Nitre Pit, in San Francisco as its drummer. When the band's two guitarists left, Saunier and Nitre Pit's bassist, Rob Fisk, reformed as an "elastic, hyper-expressive" band to fulfill Nitre Pit's extant scheduled shows, which later became Deerhoof when Slim Moon of Kill Rock Stars signed the group in 1995.[11] Saunier moved to New York with two suitcases and has said that he does not own many possessions. As a drummer, he says, things he touches tend to break.[12]

Outside of Deerhoof, Saunier's bands include Mystical Weapons (a duo with Sean Lennon)[13][14] and a collaboration with Brian Chippendale, about which a documentary, Checking in at 20, was produced.[15][16][17] He also formed Nervous Cop with drummer Zach Hill and harpist Joanna Newsom,[18] and bands with members of Erase Errata and Rainer Maria, soundtracked a film by Martha Colburn, and collaborated with Yonatan Gat on a reinterpretation of Antonín Dvořák's American Quartet.[19][20][21] Saunier is a member of the indie rock supergroup Big Walnuts Yonder alongside bassist Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE), guitarist Nels Cline (Wilco) and guitarist/vocalist Nick Reinhart (Tera Melos).[22]

He has produced albums including Xiu Xiu's The Air Force[23][24] and Always,[25] Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog's Your Turn,[26] Sholi's self-titled album[27] and People Get Ready's Physiques,[28] remixed tracks for Shy Hunters[29] and WOOM,[30] and appeared on albums including Zach Hill's Face Tat.[31] In 2016, Saunier collaborated with American Brazilian composer Marcos Balter, in which they wrote songs for Deerhoof and Ensemble Dal Niente.[32]

On 8 April 2024, Saunier announced his solo debut album We Sang, Therefore We Were, which was released on 26 April by Joyful Noise Recordings.[33]

Kit and technique[edit]

Saunier uses a minimal drum kit, consisting of a kick drum, snare and a cymbal, a set-up inspired in part by the kit and playing style of Questlove (The Roots).[34] In 2008, Saunier said that he rarely practices, mainly for lack of time. When he writes songs, he usually considers the drum part last and is more concerned about the other components of the song including its technical elements. His interest and judgement in the latter came from his experience starting Deerhoof without producers, a record label, or much outside help.[35]

Personal life[edit]

Politically, Saunier is an outspoken critic of capitalism.[36][37] As of 2021, he resides in Tucson, Arizona.[38]

Saunier was previously married to his Deerhoof bandmate Satomi Matsuzaki; their marriage ended prior to 2013.[39]

Saunier was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome while in high school, and has described drumming as a source of relief from its symptoms.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Greg Saunier Of Deerhoof: Drums As An Afterthought". drummagazine.com. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  2. ^ "ACE Repertory". ASCAP Repertory Search. ASCAP. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  3. ^ Saunier, Greg (24 October 2011). "Deerhoof Interview [Breakfast at Sulimay's]" (Interview). Interviewed by Ann Bailey. Philadelphia: Scrapple TV. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Happy Birthday, Greg! Keep banging! Satomi". Twitter. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Brian Chippendale – 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time". Rolling Stone. 31 March 2016.
  6. ^ Orzeck, Kurt (27 March 2022). "Interview: Deerhoof - Treefort 2022 Pick of the Day". The Big Takeover. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  7. ^ Geiger, Amy (30 March 2023). "Deerhoof's Greg Saunier discusses the influences behind the band's new LP 'Miracle-Level'". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Greg Saunier of DEERHOOF on the ALL-AGES gig ethic". Arthur. September 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Andy Beckerman (17 July 2020). "Episode 443: Greg Saunier of Deerhoof" (Podcast). Beginnings. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Alumni Composers – Composition – Conservatory – Oberlin College". 24 October 2016.
  11. ^ "UNCLE BOOKING".
  12. ^ "Wanted/Needed/Loved #1: Greg Saunier's Tour Survival Kit". 2 July 2015.
  13. ^ "Mystical Weapons – "Mechanical Mammoth" Video". 27 November 2012.
  14. ^ "Mystical Weapons by Mystical Weapons". Metacritic.
  15. ^ "Deerhoof's Greg Saunier and Lightning Bolt's Brian Chippendale Team Up for Drum Duo Album".
  16. ^ "Lightning Bolt's Brian Chippendale and Deerhoof's Greg Saunier Subject of Film, Team for Drum Duo LP – Pitchfork". Pitchfork. 20 November 2014.
  17. ^ "Brian Chippendale / Greg Saunier: Brian Chippendale & Greg Saunier Album Review – Pitchfork". Pitchfork.
  18. ^ "Nervous Cop: Nervous Cop". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  19. ^ "Greg Saunier – Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic.
  20. ^ "Video: Deerhoof: "The Merry Barracks" – Pitchfork". Pitchfork. 8 March 2011.
  21. ^ "Xiu Xiu: Dear God, I Hate Myself Album Review – Pitchfork". Pitchfork.
  22. ^ Pearce, Sheldon (1 March 2017). "Minutemen, Wilco, Deerhoof Members Announce Album From New Band Big Walnuts Yonder". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Xiu Xiu – Biography & History – AllMusic". AllMusic.
  24. ^ "The Air Force by Xiu Xiu". Metacritic.
  25. ^ "Always by Xiu Xiu". Metacritic.
  26. ^ "Your Turn by Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog". Metacritic.
  27. ^ "Sholi Sign to Quarterstick, Enlist Deerhoof Dude for LP – Pitchfork". Pitchfork. 11 November 2008.
  28. ^ "People Get Ready – "Physiques"". 23 April 2014.
  29. ^ "Shy Hunters – "Idle Days (Greg Saunier Remix)" (Stereogum Premiere)". 27 May 2014.
  30. ^ "WOOM – "The Hunt" Video (Stereogum Premiere)". 19 November 2010.
  31. ^ "Zach Hill – "Memo To The Man"". 23 July 2010.
  32. ^ "WQXR – New York's Classical Music Radio Station".
  33. ^ Rettig, James (8 April 2024). "Greg Saunier – "Grow Like a Plant"". Stereogum. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  34. ^ "Greg Saunier – Modern Drummer Magazine". 15 June 2007.
  35. ^ "Deerhoof, Greg Saunier: Interview". 3 May 2022.
  36. ^ Saunier, Greg (10 August 2021). "Woodstock '99, or How To Do a USA in Late Capitalism". Talkhouse. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  37. ^ Muindi, Muindi Fanuel (11 January 2022). "Greg Saunier". Solutions for Post-Modern Living. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  38. ^ Gray, Jezy J. (4 November 2021). "Deerhoof's Greg Saunier on Making a Joyful Noise in Dreadful Times". PopMatters. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  39. ^ Natanawan, Grace Ann (13 February 2023). "Deerhoof Share Origins of New Song "Wedding, March, Flower": Exclusive". Consequence. Retrieved 23 December 2023.

External links[edit]

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