Ariel Pink - Career

Career

From 2000–2002, Pink collaborated with fellow Los Angeles recording artist coL, which resulted in each being featured on one another's albums. A side project by the two, was released by JesusWarhol Records in 2011; called "Atheif". In the summer of 2003, Pink passed a CD-R on to Baltimore, Maryland based band Animal Collective after being introduced by mutual friend and occasional collaborator Jimi Hey (All Night Radio, Indian Jewelry, Beachwood Sparks, The Rapture) at one of their shows. Unbeknownst to Pink, Animal Collective had recently started their own record label, Paw Tracks. Animal Collective member Josh Dibb remembers:

Several weeks later they contacted him to sign him on Paw Tracks. Pink became the first musician on the label aside from the members of Animal Collective. The next year, the label reissued The Doldrums, an album which had been originally recorded in 1999. Since then, Paw Tracks (now co-owned by Carpark Records) has released two other reissues of Pink's previous recordings, Worn Copy and House Arrest.

Pink has gradually caught the attention of media sources around the United States as well as internationally. As most of his albums are self-made, many of them have never been heard by fans. Almost all of Pink's albums which have been commercially released come from his recently released "Haunted Graffiti" series and are thus the best known.

Pink's solo tours have generally been met with much negativity, primarily because his music was never intended to be performed live for commercial audiences. As he explained to LA Weekly:

In 2006, Pink's collaboration with Holy Shit front-man Matt Fishbeck led to the release of Stranded at Two Harbors.

After initially playing shows with pre-recorded music, Pink later employed the efforts of Gary War, Dana Young, Robert Robinson Sore Eros), Tim Koh (White Magic), and John Maus while touring. In 2008, Pink formed a new band with keyboardist/guitarist/backing vocalist Kenny Gilmore, drummer/vocalist/guitarist Jimi Hey, and guitarist Cole M.G.N. (Ethnik Klensr, The Samps, Nite Jewel), who became known as Haunted Graffiti. Drummer Aaron Sperske (Beachwood Sparks, Lilys) has since replaced Jimi Hey, and guitarist Joseph Kennedy has replaced Greif-Neill. Consistent touring with a fixed band lineup has led to a much more accessible and musically tighter show for concert goers.

In July, 2008, Haunted Graffiti toured with Chairlift. In March 2009, Haunted Graffiti toured the US with Cryptacize and in April 2009 with Vivian Girls; the tour culminated in a performance at Coachella.

In November 2009, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti was signed to 4AD records. He released a new mp3 single "Round and Round" in March 2010, marking a studio quality departure from his former lo-fi recordings. 4AD released it as a 7" single, backed with "Mistaken Wedding". A new album, Before Today, followed on June 8, 2010. Before Today was recognized by Pitchfork in their "Best New Music" category. The album includes some new versions of songs released on previous records, notably "L'Estat (acc. to the widow's maid)", "Round and Round" (formerly titled "Frontman/Hold On (I'm Calling)") and "Beverly Kills".

In December 2010, Pitchfork named "Round and Round" the number 1 song on their list of The Top 100 Tracks of 2010. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti were chosen by Animal Collective to perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival that they curated in May 2011.

On August 20, 2012, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti released a new album, Mature Themes, to critical acclaim.