The Whitest Boy Alive were a German-Norwegian musical group based in Berlin. The band comprises singer/guitarist Erlend Øye of Kings of Convenience, bassist Marcin Öz, drummer Sebastian Maschat, and Daniel Nentwig on Rhodes piano and Crumar.
The Whitest Boy Alive started as an electronic dance music project in 2003 in Berlin, but have since slowly developed into a band with no programmed elements. The name of the band comes from the idea of a naïve, shy northern European boy that their music is about. The band’s German record label is Bubbles. Their debut album Dreams was released on 21 June 2006 in Germany. In July 2007, Modular Records signed them to their UK imprint and the band played their first UK performance with New Young Pony Club at the London Astoria in September 2007. The album was released in the UK with the single “Burning” in November 2007. The band released their second album Rules in March 2009. It was recorded in a newly built studio located on Punta Burros, Nayarit, Mexico. Their single “1517” was also featured in the soundtrack of the video-game FIFA 10.
The band started The Whitest Boy Alive + The New Wine tour in April, 2009, visiting Germany, Denmark, United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden. In 2011 the band travelled to China with promoters Split Works.
In June 2014, the band announced via their Facebook page that they “are no longer composing or playing together as The Whitest Boy Alive.” (by wikipedia)
Rules is the second and final album by indie pop band The Whitest Boy Alive. It was recorded in Punta Burros Nayarit, Mexico, where the band was staying to rest after a long tour. In early 2009, Australian radio station Triple J named Rules their feature album of the week. The track “1517” was featured in the video game FIFA 10. (by wikipedia)
Berlin-based group The Whitest Boy Alive are gearing up to release their second album Rules and we’re playing it for you first! Featuring the distinctive vocals of Erland Oye from Kings Of Convenience, Rules is brimming with supremely funky mellowed-out folktronica. These laidback and simple grooves are played totally by the band without any sequencing or programming. Hear it first on triple j. (by abc.net.au)
A real great album by a new generation of musicians, including a brilliant booklet with illustrations by Geoff McFetridge !
Personnel:
Sebastian Maschat (drums)
Daniel Nentwig (piano, synthesizer)
Erlend Øye (guitar, vocals)
Marcin Öz (bass)
Tracklist:
01. Keep A Secret 4.08
02. Intentions 3.39
03. Courage 4.23
04. Timebomb 3.44
05. Rollercoaster Ride 2.40
06. High On The Heels 3.20
07. 1517 3.41
08. Gravity 3.49
09. Promise Less Or Do More 4.18
10. Dead End 3.23
11. Island 7.04
Music: Sebastian Maschat – Daniel Nentwig – Erlend Øye – Marcin Öz
Lyrics: Erlend Øye
ManyFantasticColors 