HalfNoise explained

HalfNoise
Alias:Tunnel
Origin:Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.
Years Active:2010–present
Current Members:
Past Members:
  • Jason Clark

HalfNoise (often stylized as HALFNOISE) is the musical project of Zac Farro, drummer of the American rock band Paramore. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Farro formed the project alongside Jason Clark following Farro's departure from Paramore in 2010. The project now consists of Farro alone. He released the debut self-titled EP of the project, HalfNoise, in 2012. Since then, he released four studio albums, Volcano Crowe (2014), Sudden Feeling (2016), Natural Disguise (2019), Motif (2021), and City Talk (2023); and two EPs The Velvet Face (2017) and Flowerss (2018).

History

Early career (2010–2011)

HalfNoise was created two days after Zac Farro's departure from Paramore, under the original name "Tunnel".[1] Zac took part in this new project, along with Jason Clark, releasing a song called "Hide Your Eyes".[2] [3] [4]

Farro and Clark had earlier been together in a band with Taylor York and Farro's brother Josh Farro prior to Paramore. The duo then renamed themselves "HalfNoise" due to other bands being named "Tunnel". In March 2011, it was announced that Farro would be joining his brother's band Novel American, but would still continue take part in HalfNoise.[5] [6] [7]

HalfNoise EP (2012)

After Farro left Paramore, he started working on HalfNoise's debut EP self-titled HalfNoise. The production was finished on 2011, Farro stated that he recorded almost all the instruments with his friend Daniel James, "I played all the drums, I did all the sampling. Me and a producer called Daniel James did the guitars together, but it was mainly just me performing."[8] On June 14, 2012, HalfNoise released their first official single "Free the House" along with a music video. The song served as the lead single of the EP, which was released on October 1, 2012, in the UK through Xtra Mile Recordings and on October 2 through their official website. The EP composed of previous demos from 2010 and new material.[9] Later in 2012, the EP was made available for free digital download through NoiseTrade.[10]

Volcano Crowe (2013–2014)

Farro posted via Instagram in August 2013 that he spent 7 months writing and recording a new full-length album with his friends and producer Daniel James. He also stated that the album is titled Volcano Crowe because he recorded the album at the bottom of a volcano and his friend Rowan Crowe was the reason he visited New Zealand in the first place.[11] The album production was finished on September 29, 2013.[12] On May 26, 2014, Farro premiered the album's first single, "Mountain",[13] [14] and on September 16 released he released the second single "Hurricane Love" with a music video of a live performance of the song at New Zealand.[15] The album was released on September 30, 2014, via Bandcamp.

Sudden Feeling (2016)

In June 2016, Farro released "Know the Feeling" as the lead single for his then untitled album. With the release of the title track, the album was revealed to be called Sudden Feeling.[16] The full album was premiered on Billboard on September 6, and the album was released September 9, 2016.[17] In December 2016, Farro released the music video for the title track via YouTube.

The Velvet Face EP (2017)

On March 24, 2017, HalfNoise's second EP, The Velvet Face, was released. Farro said that the EP doesn't only "demonstrate the light heartedness of HalfNoise, but I think it also encompasses my own vulnerabilities musically and artistically. I feel like this EP encompasses the feeling you get from a full LP, but filtered through only 5 songs. This is definitely the most important piece of music, to me personally, that I've ever written or worked on to-date with HalfNoise. Not only was it special for me as an artist and writer but from my friends who played, collaborated, and shared with me in making something so special."[18] The EP includes a collaboration with Paramore vocalist Hayley Williams in the song "As U Wave", band in which Farro returned the same month of the release of the EP, but still continue with Halfnoise. The songs "Scooby's In The Back" and "French Class" began to be interpreted by Paramore on their "After Laughter" tours.

The EP has three music videos: On March 7, 2017, Farro uploaded a music video for "French Class" on YouTube, on June 15, Farro uploaded a music video for "Someday" and on October 11, he uploaded a music video for "Scooby's In The Back".

Flowerss EP (2018)

On February 23, 2018, Farro announced that he would release his new EP "Flowerss" on May 4 and released his new single of the same name that same day.[19] [20] Farro released the second single, "All That Love Is", on April 5.

A third single, "She Said", was released on April 13.

Natural Disguise (2019)

On October 4, 2019, HalfNoise released their 3rd studio album, Natural Disguise. Singles from the album were Who Could You Be, Boogie Juice, and Natural Disguise. Boogie Juice was played by Paramore during their tour in 2022.

City Talk (2023)

On November 17, 2023, HalfNoise released their 4th studio album, City Talk. Farro cited J-Pop, and the city of Los Angeles as an inspiration for the album.[21] The lead single for the album, Baby, was written and recorded in little more than a day.[22]

Influences

Farro has stated that some of his influences include: Jimmy Eat World, Radiohead, Death Cab for Cutie, Mew, Paper Route, Sigur Ros, Supercar, Thrice, Sunny Day Real Estate and múm.[23] Farro has been influenced by Dave Grohl (former drummer of Nirvana and current singer/songwriter of Foo Fighters and drummer for Them Crooked Vultures), William Goldsmith (current drummer of Sunny Day Real Estate and former drummer Foo Fighters, replaced by Taylor Hawkins, and later by Josh Freese) and Riley Breckenridge (drummer for the band, Thrice).

Members

Current members

Current touring musicians

Former members

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Singles

TitleYearAlbum
"Free the House"2012HalfNoise
"Mountain"2014Volcano Crowe
"Hurricane Love"
"Inside"2015
"Know the Feeling"2016Sudden Feeling
"In the Summer"
"Sudden Feeling"
"French Class"2017The Velvet Face
"Scooby's in the Back"
"Flowerss"2018Flowerss
"All That Love Is"
"Who Could You Be"2019Natural Disguise
"Boogie Juice"
"Natural Disguise"
"Two Of Us"2021Motif
"Superstition"
"Last Day On Earth"
"Baby"2023City Talk
"Cool Cat"
"Love Fire"

Demos

Notes and References

  1. Web site: tunnelmusic's sounds on SoundCloud - Hear the world's sounds. Soundcloud.com. December 9, 2010. November 9, 2013.
  2. Web site: tunnelmusic's sounds on SoundCloud - Hear the world's sounds. Soundcloud.com. December 9, 2010. November 9, 2013.
  3. Web site: YouTube. YouTube. November 9, 2013.
  4. Web site: Listen to a song from the new band of Zac Farro - Alternative Press. Altpress.com. December 20, 2010. November 9, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20121008110907/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/zac_farro_former_paramore_drummers_new_project_tunnel/. October 8, 2012. dead.
  5. Web site: Kerrang! Zac Farro joins Novel American. Kerrang.com. November 9, 2013.
  6. Web site: Michael Duncan. Zac Farro Joins Novel American. Rock Edition. February 21, 2011. November 9, 2013.
  7. Web site: Zac Farro joins Novel American | News. Kill Your Stereo. February 22, 2011. November 9, 2013. November 9, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131109043543/http://www.killyourstereo.com/news/8981/zac-farro-joins-novel-american/. dead.
  8. Web site: Ex-Paramore drummer Zac Farro introduces his new band HalfNoise. September 24, 2012. September 25, 2014. [NME].
  9. Web site: HalfNoise - HalfNoise EP. October 4, 2012. September 25, 2014. Alternative Press. Shultz. Brian.
  10. Web site: HalfNoise - Noisetrade. Noisetrade.
  11. Web site: HalfNoise (Zac Farro) releases "Mountain" music video - News - Alternative Press. Alternative Press. May 26, 2014. en. 2017-05-01.
  12. Web site: HalfNoise (Zac Farro) finishes tracking new album. September 30, 2013. Alternative Press. Obenschain. Philip.
  13. Web site: Kraus. Brian. HalfNoise (Zac Farro) releases "Mountain" music video. Alternative Press. May 26, 2014. 26 September 2014.
  14. Web site: Hayley Williams Speaks Up About Ex-Paramore Drummer's New Video. https://web.archive.org/web/20140531025437/http://www.mtv.com/news/1832237/halfnoise-mountain-video/. dead. May 31, 2014. May 27, 2014. September 25, 2014. MTV. Viacom. Walker. John.
  15. Web site: HalfNoise - Hurricane Love. YouTube. 26 September 2014.
  16. Web site: HALFNOISE - Sudden Feeling. YouTube. 6 September 2016.
  17. News: Halfnoise, Paramore's Zac Farro, Drops the Most Sunshiny Breakup Album You'll Hear This Fall: Exclusive Premiere. 6 September 2016. Billboard.com. 6 September 2016.
  18. Web site: Hear HalfNoise's new EP 'The Velvet Face' in its entirety. DIY. March 22, 2017 . 2017-05-01.
  19. News: Zac Farro's HALFNOISE Announces Forthcoming EP FLOWERSS Out May 4th. 23 February 2018. broadwayworld.com. 23 February 2018.
  20. News: Zac Farro's Halfnoise have dropped a brand new track, and it's really really great. 23 February 2018. ReadDork.com. 23 February 2018.
  21. Web site: Zanes . Anna . Zac Farro on 5 songs that inspired halfnoise’s 'City Talk' . 2024-04-17 . Alternative Press Magazine . en-US.
  22. Web site: Villena . Cole . 2023-11-15 . Zac Farro Channels Japanese City Pop and American Metropolises on ‘City Talk’ . 2024-04-17 . Nashville Scene . en.
  23. Web site: Paramore ABOUT ME. May 1, 2017. January 20, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110120045142/http://www.paramore.net/member/i/19163/. dead.