John Calvin Abney Explained

John Calvin Abney
Birth Place:Reno, Nevada, US
Origin:Austin, Texas, US
Genre:Alt-Country, Folk
Occupation:Multi-instrumentalist, Singer-Songwriter, Producer, Arranger, Composer
Instrument:guitar, piano, vocals, harmonica
Label:Tin Canyon Records, Foolish Philosophy, Horton Records/CRS, Black Mesa Records

John Calvin Abney is an American musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer. Abney currently resides in Austin, Texas.

Early life

Abney was born in Reno, Nevada, relocating to Tulsa, Oklahoma as a child. He learnt guitar and piano, playing local shows in and around Tulsa through his later teenage years.[1] After high school Abney moved to Norman, to attend the University of Oklahoma.

Career

During his time at the University of Oklahoma, Abney began to collaborate with various other artists, in addition to continuing to play his own shows. Following his graduation he focused on music full-time, touring nationally and self-releasing 3 EPs: 2012's Without Wax, Empty Candles in 2014 and Vice Versa Suite in 2015.

On January 25, 2015 Abney released his first full-length album titled Better Luck via Foolish Philosophy Records.[2] The album was recorded in a nine-day span at Tiny Telephone Studios in San Francisco, California.

He followed with Far Cries and Close Calls on September 23, 2016, via Horton Records,[3] and Coyote on May 28, 2018 on Black Mesa Records, both of which were recorded in 3-day periods at Fellowship Hall Sound in Little Rock, Arkansas.[4]

Safe Passage was released on Black Mesa Records in September 27, 2019. The album was recorded at Ramble Creek Studio in Austin, Texas, and featured longtime friend and collaborator John Moreland, Will Johnson and Shonna Tucker, formerly of Drive By Truckers.[5]

Abney and Moreland also worked together on Moreland’s albums, with Abney playing various roles including engineer, co-writer and multi-instrumentalist beginning with High on Tulsa Heat. Abney also toured with Moreland as a sideman for several years.

On November 20, 2020, Familiar Ground was released on Black Mesa Records, this time with John Moreland co-producing.[6] The lead single from the album When This Blows Over, featured a music video directed by fellow Oklahoma artist Samantha Crain.[7]

Tourist, released August 5, 2022 on Black Mesa Records, was recorded in an assortment of rooms and hotels across California, Nevada, Texas, and Oklahoma during the pandemic. Using his personal portable studio, Abney grew the songs, with drum machines, samplers, and synthesizers, working remotely with co-producer and sole collaborator John Moreland, who performed his parts and mixed from his own studio.[8]

Abney has toured nationally and internationally, both playing his own shows and opening for other artists, including the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.[9] He has played guitar and keys live for various artists including John Moreland, Samantha Crain, Wild Child, Margo Cilker and Lizzie No, as well as undertaking session work on dozens of projects.

Abney's music has been featured in national and international press, including Rolling Stone,[10] [11] [12] Billboard,[13] American Songwriter,[14] Americana UK[15] and Gold Flake Paint.[16]

While his main focus has been alternative folk music, Abney has also released a number of ambient albums: Wildfire Suite, released February 5, 2021,[17] Storm Variations, released February 3, 2023, [18] and Departure Nocturnes, released April 7, 2023.[19]

Abney also DJs regularly, spinning vinyl frequently around Austin, and at events including festivals like Outside Lands with Wild Child.[20]

Discography

Studio albums

Ambient Albums

EPs

Score

John Calvin Abney also appears on:[22]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Writer . JERRY WOFFORD World Scene . 2015-02-02 . Tulsan John Calvin Abney's debut album is all about the stories . 2023-09-23 . Tulsa World . en.
  2. Web site: John Calvin Abney - Better Luck . 2023-09-23 . No Depression . en-US.
  3. Web site: Spielman . Dennis . 2016-10-18 . Far Cries and Close Calls by John Calvin Abney . 2023-09-24 . Uncovering Oklahoma . en-US.
  4. Web site: Clarke . Melissa . 2018-05-16 . Interview: John Calvin Abney on John Moreland, Scrappy Coyote Pups, Family Advice & Oklahoma Landscapes - Americana Highways . 2023-09-24 . americanahighways.org . en-US.
  5. Web site: John Calvin Abney's 'Safe Passage' Chooses Compassion . 2023-09-24 . No Depression . en-US.
  6. Web site: Grunenberg . Kira . 2020-11-20 . John Calvin Abney Treads in New Direction with "Familiar Ground" . 2023-09-24 . American Songwriter . en-US.
  7. Web site: McDonnell . Brandy . Watch: Oklahoma musician John Calvin Abney announces upcoming album 'Familiar Ground,' releases lyric video for pretty new song 'Shine Like a Friend' . 2023-09-24 . The Oklahoman . en-US.
  8. Web site: Gulden . Andrew . 2022-08-03 . REVIEW: John Calvin Abney "Tourist" - Americana Highways . 2023-09-24 . americanahighways.org . en-US.
  9. Web site: 2022-11-10 . HANSON @ Astor Theatre . 2023-09-24 . X-Press Magazine - Entertainment in Perth . en-AU.
  10. Freeman . Jon . 2020-10-09 . Song You Need to Know: John Calvin Abney, 'When This Blows Over' . 2023-09-24 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  11. Crawford . Robert . 2019-10-04 . 10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week: Lauren Alaina, John Calvin Abney . 2023-09-24 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  12. Gage . Chris Parton,Joseph Hudak,Marissa R. Moss,Brittney McKenna,Jeff . Parton . Chris . Hudak . Joseph . Moss . Marissa R. . McKenna . Brittney . Gage . Jeff . 2018-05-17 . 10 New Country Artists You Need to Know: May 2018 . 2023-09-24 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  13. Graff . Gary . 2019-08-28 . John Calvin Abney Reflects About His Father's Passing On Ethereal 'Maybe Happy': Exclusive . 2023-09-24 . Billboard.
  14. Web site: Grunenberg . Kira . 2020-11-20 . John Calvin Abney Treads in New Direction with "Familiar Ground" . 2023-09-24 . American Songwriter . en-US.
  15. Web site: Aird . Jonathan . 2022-07-06 . John Calvin Abney "Call Me Achilles" – he's no heel… . 2023-09-24 . Americana UK . en-GB.
  16. Web site: 2020-11-16 . Video: John Calvin Abney - "Showing Up Late" . 2023-09-24 . GoldFlakePaint . en-US.
  17. Web site: Wildfire Suite, by John Calvin Abney . 2023-09-24 . John Calvin Abney . en.
  18. Web site: Storm Variations, by John Calvin Abney . 2023-09-24 . John Calvin Abney . en.
  19. Web site: Departure Nocturnes, by John Calvin Abney . 2023-09-24 . John Calvin Abney . en.
  20. Web site: 2023-08-12 . Outside Lands 2023 lineup: what are the stage times and lineup for San Francisco festival? Stage splits . 2023-09-24 . Yahoo News . en-GB.
  21. Web site: World . Michael Smith Tulsa . 2020-07-01 . 'Terlton' short-film live-stream looks to benefit town where fireworks tragedy occurred in 1985 . 2023-08-19 . Tulsa World . en.
  22. Web site: John Calvin Abney Credits . 2023-08-19 . AllMusic . en.
  23. Web site: Major . Michael . Wild Child Shares 'Wearing Blue' . 2023-08-19 . BroadwayWorld.com . en.
  24. Web site: Kennedy . Ian . 2022-06-20 . The Damn Quails "Clouding Up Your City" . 2023-08-19 . Americana UK . en-GB.
  25. Web site: A Brother's Love, by Shonna Tucker . 2023-08-19 . Shonna Tucker . en.
  26. Web site: Son of Thunderbird, by Beau Jennings . 2023-08-19 . Beau Jennings . en.
  27. Web site: Poolboy, by Poolboy . 2023-08-19 . Guestroom Records . en.
  28. Web site: Soda Kids EP, by Poolboy . 2023-08-19 . Poolboy . en.

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