Sixpence None the Richer explained

Sixpence None the Richer
Landscape:yes
Origin:New Braunfels, Texas, U.S.
Years Active:1992–2004, 2007–present
Website:http://www.sixpencenonethericher.com/
Current Members:
Past Members:
  • T.J. Behling
  • Tess Wiley
  • Joel Bailey
  • James Arhelger
  • J.J. Plasencio
  • Sean Kelly
  • Jerry Dale McFadden
  • Rob Mitchell
  • Jason Lehning

Sixpence None the Richer (also known as Sixpence) is an American Christian alternative rock band that formed in New Braunfels, Texas, and eventually settled in Nashville, Tennessee. They are best known for their songs "Kiss Me" and "Breathe Your Name" and their covers of "Don't Dream It's Over" and "There She Goes".

The band received two Grammy Award nominations, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "Kiss Me" and Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album for Sixpence None the Richer (1997).[1]

The name of the band is inspired by a passage from the book Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis discussing how children buying gifts for their parents with the parents' money means the parents are "None the Richer" monetarily but yet clearly there is value in the act (mirroring the Christian God/human dynamic, and notably pointing out the responsibilities of the child/humans to have humility about their offerings) [2] [3] [4]

History

Formation and early years (1992–1996)

Guitarist/songwriter Matt Slocum met Leigh Nash in the early 1990s and recorded a demo, circulated as "The Original Demos", with bassist T.J. Behling at Verge Music Works recording studio in Dallas, and eventually an album, The Fatherless and the Widow, for the independent label REX Music in 1993. After adding more members, the band toured in support of The Fatherless and The Widow. The band released This Beautiful Mess in 1995.

Into the mainstream (1997–2004)

In 1997, the group signed to Steve Taylor's label Squint Entertainment and released a self-titled album, which slowly began garnering attention from a wider audience in the mainstream industry.

In 1998, "Kiss Me" was released as a single, propelling Sixpence None the Richer into the national pop spotlight. The next year, the band followed up "Kiss Me" with a cover of The La's' "There She Goes". Sixpence appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and numerous morning talk shows.

The band had a follow-up album ready to release, but their label Squint Entertainment started to fall apart, leaving the band in limbo for several years. Finally, Squint Entertainment folded and that album, Divine Discontent, was released in October 2002.

On February 26, 2004, Matt Slocum announced that the group had disbanded.

First Reunion and Lost in Transition (2007–2016)

In November 2007, Sixpence None the Richer reunited. They released the EP My Dear Machine on the website NoiseTrade in 2008, the band's first official release since The Best of Sixpence None the Richer in 2004.

In October 2008, they released a Christmas album titled The Dawn of Grace.

Sixpence signed to Credential Recordings and played a headline slot at the 2009 Greenbelt Festival in the UK. According to Nash, the band began recording a new album in January 2010.[5] The album, Lost in Transition, was released on August 7, 2012.

On November 12, 2016, the band performed at the Love Love Rock Festival in Taipei, Taiwan, playing the hits "Don't Dream It's Over", "Kiss Me" and "There She Goes".[6]

Second Reunion and Rosemary Hill (2023-present)

In September 2023 Leigh Nash released a new single The Tide that additionally credited Sixpence None the Richer, making it their first new song in 11 years. Additionally Matt and Leigh announced a new tour with 10,000 Maniacs, playing songs from both bands,[7] but in January 2024 Matt and Leigh left the tour early, with several upcoming events noting the duo "had other commitments arise" [8] [9]

In January 2024, it was announced that drummer Dale Baker was returning to the band and that the band had signed a management deal with Deep South Entertainment with plans to re-release their self-titled album on vinyl. [10] In June they announced a new 25th Anniversary tour with all the original members for the first time since Baker left.[11], then in August 2024 they announced a new single We are Love and a new EP Rosemary Hill set to be released in Oct 2024.[12]

Band members

Current members

Former members

Timeline

Discography

See main article: Sixpence None the Richer discography.

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Work Category Result
1996Dove AwardsThis Beautiful MessBest Alternative/Modern Rock Album
1998Sixpence None the Richer
Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
"Love"Modern Rock/Alternative Recorded Song of the Year
Billboard Music Video Awards"Kiss Me"Best New Artist Clip, Contemporary Christian
1999Grammy AwardsSixpence None the RicherBest Rock Gospel Album
Teen Choice Awards"Kiss Me"Choice Music: Love Song
Dove AwardsShort Form Music Video of the Year
Billboard Music AwardsTop Hot 100 Airplay Track
Top Adult Top 40 Track
Top Soundtrack Single
ThemselvesTop Hot 100 Artist - Duo/Group
Top Adult Top 40 Artist
2000Grammy Awards"Kiss Me"Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
APRA Music AwardsMost Performed Foreign Work
Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice AwardsThemselves Favorite Band
Dove AwardsGroup of the Year
2001Young Hollywood Awards"Kiss Me"Best Song
BMI Pop Awards"There She Goes"Award-Winning Song[13]
2003Dove Awards"Breathe Your Name"Modern Rock/Alternative Recorded Song of the Year
Divine DiscontentBest Alternative/Modern Rock Album
Themselves Group of the Year
BDSCertified Spin Awards"Kiss Me"600,000 Spins
2006700,000 Spins

Notes and References

  1. News: Sixpence None The Richer. May 14, 2017. The Recording Academy. May 23, 2017. en.
  2. Sixpence None the Richer's Leigh Nash - interview - 1999-06-07 . 2019-07-14 . steelygray . 2024-08-15 . YouTube.
  3. Web site: Sixpence None the Richer Biography, Songs, & Albums . . July 24, 2023 . July 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230724132647/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sixpence-none-the-richer-mn0000017387/biography . live .
  4. News: The Gospel According to Sixpence None the Richer . December 27, 2021 . Texas Monthly . December 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211227213846/https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/the-gospel-according-to-sixpence-none-the-richer/ . live .
  5. Web site: Leigh Nash's Facebook Page. Facebook. January 21, 2010. March 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230326024413/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=600645395&ref=search&sid=516032932.2693688637..1#/profile.php?id=600645395&ref=mf. live.
  6. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: 105.11.12 [Love Love Rock]Sixpence None the Richer-Kiss me|last=Hi|date=November 12, 2016|access-date=March 22, 2018|via=YouTube].
  7. Web site: September 30, 2023 . Leigh Nash + Sixpence None The Richer Drop New Single "The Tide" . live . August 15, 2024 . I'm Music Magazine.
  8. Web site: 10,000 Maniacs . 2024-08-15 . The Birchmere . en-US.
  9. Web site: Argyrakis . Andy . 2024-02-16 . 10,000 Maniacs' "Revival" gives City Winery what “Everybody Wants” in start of triple sell out . 2024-08-15 . Chicago Concert Reviews . en-US.
  10. Web site: January 16, 2024 . https://musicrow.com/2024/01/sixpence-none-the-richer-to-re-release-album-on-curb-records-signs-management-deal/ . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240120123433/https://musicrow.com/2024/01/sixpence-none-the-richer-to-re-release-album-on-curb-records-signs-management-deal/ . January 20, 2024 . January 20, 2024 . Music Row.
  11. Web site: 2024-06-11 . Sixpence None the Richer Announce Tour with Original Members . 2024-08-15 . en-US.
  12. Web site: Instagram . 2024-08-15 . www.instagram.com.
  13. Web site: BMI's Pop Awards 2001 Song List | Press. BMI.com. December 20, 2020. February 1, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080201090337/https://www.bmi.com/press/entry/534741. live.