| Theo Katzman | |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Birth Name: | Theodore Daniel Katzman |
| Birth Date: | 2 April 1986 |
| Birth Place: | New York City, U.S. |
| Genre: | Indie rock, folk rock, pop, soul, funk |
| Occupation: | Singer, songwriter, producer |
| Instrument: | Vocals, guitar, drums, bass guitar, piano, conga, kazoo |
| Years Active: | 2005–present |
| Label: | Independent, Ten Good Songs |
| Current Member Of: | Vulfpeck |
| Past Member Of: | Ella Riot, Toolbox |
| Associated Acts: | , Vulfpeck, |
Theodore Daniel Katzman (born April 2, 1986)[1] is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer based in Los Angeles. His musical style is a fusion of pop, jazz, funk and indie rock. He is a member of funk band Vulfpeck and has contributed to the works of several artists as songwriter and producer. Katzman has released four studio albums. His latest album Be the Wheel was released in March 2023.
Katzman grew up in a musical family in Manhasset, New York. His father, Lee Katzman, was a jazz trumpet player and would take him to rehearsals at an early age.[2] When he was about twelve he started playing drums, guitar, and writing songs.[3] In 2004, Katzman moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan and studied jazz at the University of Michigan.[4] In 2005, he joined the instrumental group Toolbox which evolved into the band Ella Riot.[5] Katzman toured with the band from 2007 to 2010. During that time the band released an EP titled My Dear Disco and an album titled Dancethink.
In early 2010, Katzman pursued a solo career to focus on his singing and songwriting. He formed the trio Love Massive, who performed regularly and opened at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival in 2011. Katzman released an EP titled Solo Acoustic in 2010 and released his first studio album Romance Without Finance in 2011.[6] [7] In late 2011, he moved to Brooklyn and released music videos for two of his songs, "Hard For You" and "Brooklyn".[8] In 2012, he opened for several artists including Vanessa Carlton, Matisyahu, and Vienna Teng.[9] [10] In 2013, he was the musical director and the opening act for Darren Criss on his national tour, Listen Up,[11] [12] and released a single titled "Pop Song".
Katzman has worked with several artists as a songwriter and producer. He co-wrote and produced Face the Fire, an album by Michelle Chamuel, and co-wrote several songs for an album by Criss.[13] He performs with the Irish-fusion band The Olllam, funk band Vulfpeck, and as a solo act.[14] [15]
Katzman released a single titled "Hard Work" in October 2016.[16] Katzman's second studio album Heartbreak Hits was released in January 2017. According to Katzman, the album's concept was about heartbreak and loss.[17] A review by Lee Zimmerman noted the album's "upbeat" tone despite the underlying lyrical concept.[18]
In October 2019, Katzman released a single titled "You Could Be President", a preview of his third studio album Modern Johnny Sings: Songs in the Age of Vibe.[19] In December 2019, Katzman released two EPs of three songs each from the upcoming full length album. These EPs were thematically organized, and were titled Modern Johnny Tackles the Issues[20] and Modern Johnny Wallows in Introspection and Gently Goes Mad.[21] The full album was released in January 2020 under the label Ten Good Songs.[22]
Katzman released his fourth studio album, Be The Wheel, in March 2023.[23] The album was recorded live to tape at Cinnamon Ranch, Katzman's studio in Michigan.[24] Katzman released four songs, including the title track, as singles before the release of the full album. He also formally announced his record label, Ten Good Songs, for recordings and productions by Theo Katzman.[25] In 2023, Ten Good Songs released both Be The Wheel and an album by May Erlewine titled The Real Thing.[26]
Katzman grew up listening to classic rock and soul music. His influences include soul, R&B, funk, rock and folk. As a songwriter, a primary focus for him is a song's lyrical theme. He writes parts for guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards. His favorite songwriters are those who "capture a moment in cultural time" such as Frank Ocean, Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon.
Katzman's father, Lee Katzman, was a jazz trumpet player with The Tonight Show Band and the Stan Kenton Orchestra. Katzman's maternal grandparents were both classical musicians with the Detroit Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
In addition to his solo work, Katzman is a member of the funk band Vulfpeck. Formed in 2011, Vulfpeck is a four piece instrumental group made up of Katzman on guitar, drums and vocals, Jack Stratton on keyboards, drums and guitar, Woody Goss on keyboards, and Joe Dart on bass.[27] The band has released four EPs and six studio albums.[28]
| Title | Album details | |
|---|---|---|
| Romance Without Finance |
| |
| Heartbreak Hits |
| |
| Modern Johnny Sings: Songs in the Age of Vibe |
| |
| Be the Wheel |
|
| Title | Album details | |
|---|---|---|
| Mit Peck (EP) |
| |
| Vollmilch (EP) |
| |
| My First Car (EP) |
| |
| Fugue State (EP) |
| |
| Thrill of the Arts |
| |
| The Beautiful Game |
| |
| Mr. Finish Line |
| |
| Hill Climber |
| |
| Live at Madison Square Garden |
| |
| The Joy of Music, the Job of Real Estate |
| |
| Schvitz |
|
| Title | Album details | |
|---|---|---|
| Jam in the Van - Theo Katzman (Live Session, Azusa, CA, 2016) |
| |
| Theo Katzman on Audiotree Live |
| |
| My Heart Is Live in Berlin |
| |
| Modern Johnny Sings: Songs in The Age of Live |
|
| Title | Album details | |
|---|---|---|
| Solo Acoustic |
| |
| Theo Katzman on Audiotree Live |
| |
| Modern Johnny Tackles the Issues |
| |
| Modern Johnny Wallows in Introspection and Gently Goes Mad |
|
| Title | Year | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Pop Song" | 2013 | rowspan=3 | |
| "Hard Work" | 2016 | ||
| "My Heart Is Dead" | |||
| "You Could Be President" | 2019 | Modern Johnny Sings: Songs in the Age of Vibe / Modern Johnny Tackles the Issues |
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Something Good" | 2018 | Mother Land |
| "Highest Bidder" | ||
| "Easy" | 2022 | Tiny Beautiful Things |
| "Worlds Apart" | ||
| "Sunday" | Art | |
| "Leon Keys" | Leon Keys (EP) | |
| "One More Try" | 2023 | The Nostalgiac |
| "Like a Movie" | Stranger to the Feeling |
| Year | Artist | Album | Song | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | These Holy Days | "Heartbreak Season" | drums, bass, co-producer | ||
| "Shoot Me With Your Best Shot" | drums, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals, co-producer | ||||
| "These Holy Days" | drums, percussion, vocals, co-producer | ||||
| 2012 | "Hide It Away" | co-producer, bass, guitar, snare drum | |||
| 2013 | The Last Fears | "Ordinary Man" | drums, additional arranging | ||
| "Home" | drums, co-writer | ||||
| "Figure It Out" | drums, guitar | ||||
| "Ordinary Man" | drums, guitar | ||||
| "Happier" | drums, bass | ||||
| 2013 | "Go Down Singing" | co-producer, bass, guitar, snare drum, writer | |||
| 2013 | "Famous" | co-producer, drums, acoustic guitar, electric guitar | |||
| 2014 | Confluence | co-writer (tracks 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11), backing vocals (tracks 1, 3) | |||
| 2014 | "You Just Want My Money" | co-writer, co-producer, backing vocals, bass, guitar, drums | |||
| 2015 | Face the Fire | writer, performer, producer (all tracks) | |||
| 2015 | "Wasteland" | bass, guitar | |||
| 2017 | Rainbow | "Rainbow" | percussion | ||
| 2018 | Woman Believer | Dunzo (EP) | drums (tracks 1, 2, 3), bass (tracks 2, 3), guitar (track 3) | ||
| 2019 | May Erlewine | Second Sight | "That's My Home" | electric guitar | |
| 2019 | Ryan Lerman | Noisy Feelings | "American Dream" | backing vocals | |
| "Hard To Break Up" | drums | ||||
| "Windy Day" | backing vocals | ||||
| "Mexico" | drums, percussion | ||||
| 2019 | Allen Stone | Building Balance | "Miscommunicate" | co-writer | |
| "Chippin' Away" | co-writer | ||||
| 2020 | Carly Rae Jepsen | Dedicated Side B | "Window" | bass, backing vocals, drums, guitar, co-writer, co-producer | |
| 2018 | Woman Believer | The Hot Years | percussion (track 7), guitar (track 14) | ||
| 2021 | Antwaun Stanley and Tyler Duncan | Ascension | writer, drums, guitar, congas, percussion | ||
| 2021 | Rett Madison | Pin-Up Daddy | producer (all tracks), drums (all tracks), percussion (tracks 1 and 7), guitar (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9), background vocals (track 1), Wurlitzer (track 2) | ||
| 2023 | May Erlewine | The Real Thing | producer, drums | ||
| 2023 | Taylor Ashton | Stranger to the Feeling | "Strong Hands" | background vocals | |
| 2023 | Rett Madison | One For Jackie | "Lipstick" | drums, congas, additional percussion | |
| "Fortune Teller" | Wurlitzer, background vocals | ||||
| "One for Jackie, One for Crystal" | percussion, congas, bass drum | ||||
| "Mediums, Therapists, and Sheriffs" | drums | ||||
| 2024 | Brittany Howard | Thelma the Unicorn Soundtrack | "Fire Inside" | co-writer, guitar |