Years active 2000–present Role Record producer | Website www.brucedriscoll.com Albums My Someday Name Bruce Driscoll | |
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Born June 13, 1983 (age 40)
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States ( 1983-06-13 ) Occupation(s) Music producer, songwriter, engineer, guitarist, film composer Instruments Guitar, multi-instrumentalist Genres Pop music, Indie rock, Alternative rock, Dance music Similar People Freedom Fry, Blondfire, Erica Driscoll, Andy Chase, Monica da Silva | ||
Associated acts Blondfire, Freedom Fry Music groups Freedom Fry, Blondfire | ||
Bruce Driscoll (born June 13, 1983) is a Brazilian American record producer, songwriter, guitarist, film composer and vocalist. He first gained notability as one half of the indie pop band Astaire (now Blondfire); co-writing, producing and self-releasing songs with his sister, Erica.
Contents
- Early life and career
- Personal life
- Astaire
- Blondfire
- Sleepy Rebels
- Freedom Fry
- Discography
- Filmography
- References
In 2011, he formed the band Freedom Fry with his wife, the Parisian singer/songwriter and producer Marie Seyrat.
Early life and career
Bruce Driscoll was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. He started playing piano and drums at an early age then picked up the guitar when he was fifteen, inspired by the sound of guitarists Johnny Marr and George Harrison. Taking quickly to the instrument, he began accompanying his two sisters, Monica and Erica, in a band called Nectar. In order to free himself to tour with the group he withdrew from traditional high school and completed an independent study program through the University of Missouri.
The siblings embarked on a national tour and eventually landed a development deal with EMI Publishing when Bruce Driscoll was aged 17. Soon after they showcased for many of the US major record labels, including Warner Bros. Records, Maverick, and Capitol. In 2002, they won Runner Up in the Pop Category for the UK Songwriting Contest with the song, "Life Out Loud". Later that year the siblings disbanded over creative differences.
Personal life
In 2011 Driscoll relocated to Los Angeles, California, from New York. In 2013 he and Freedom Fry bandmate, Marie Seyrat, were married.
Astaire
In 2003 Bruce and Erica Driscoll began recording songs in their parents' basement which would turn out to be early Astaire demos. The songs took a stylistically more left of center pop sound. The demos were sent to Andy Chase of Ivy who loved the songs and wanted to produce the duo at his studio, Stratosphere Sound, in New York. After working with Chase in the studio the siblings relocated to New York and released their first EP, Don't Whisper Lies, on their own label.
The band toured with Ivy, Stars, and Robbers On High Street in 2005. In the middle of the tour lawyers for the Fred Astaire Estate threatened to sue if the duo did not change their name. Lacking the money to afford legal fees they changed their name to Blondfire.
Throughout his career Driscoll has continued to collaborate with Andy Chase. First playing keyboards in Ivy, guitar in Chase's band Brookville, and then co-writing and producing tracks for his band, Camera2.
Blondfire
The duo continued on as Blondfire signing a contract with EMI UK in October 2006. Shortly thereafter EMI was bought out by Terra Firma and went through internal changes. The duo left the label in mid-2007 and self-released their debut album, My Someday, in April 2008.
In September 2012, following the viral internet and radio success of their song, "Where The Kids Are", Blondfire signed to Warner Bros. Records and Primary Wave Publishing and began mixing of their album, Young Heart, with mixer Wally Gagel.
Sleepy Rebels
Sleepy Rebels was formed after several of the songs Driscoll had written with television and advertisement composer Jeremy Adelman were used in commercials. Erica also joined the group and collaborated with them over the course of three albums, World Record, Yellow Tree and the Christmas themed album, Bah Humbug. Sleepy Rebel's music has been used in ads for J. C. Penney, VW, Tide and others.
Freedom Fry
In April 2011, Driscoll met Parisian born Marie Seyrat during pre-production on Blondfire's "Where The Kids Are" video. Seyrat, the stylist on the video, played him a cover of her singing a song in French over a ukulele. Entranced by her whispery voice, Driscoll asked her if she would be interested in writing some songs together. The following August they formed the duo Freedom Fry and released the Let The Games Begin EP.
Their song "Rolling Down" was featured in the premiere episode of Bones, during the birth of baby Christine. Their single, "Earthquake", was named as single-of-the-week by the French magazine, Les Inrockuptibles.