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Washed Out

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Washed Out
Washed Out performing in July 2016
Washed Out performing in July 2016
Background information
Born
Ernest Weatherly Greene Jr.

(1982-10-03) October 3, 1982 (age 44)
Perry, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active
  • 2008–present
Labels
Websitewashedout.net

Ernest Weatherly Greene Jr. (born October 3, 1982), better known by the stage name Washed Out, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is commonly associated with the genres of bedroom pop,[1] chillwave,[2] dream pop,[3] and synth-pop.[4] His 2009 breakout song "Feel It All Around" is generally regarded as the definitive chillwave track that set the template for the genre, leading Pitchfork to dub him the "Godfather of Chillwave".[5]

Early life

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Ernest Weatherly Greene Jr. was born in Perry, Georgia, on October 3, 1982.[6] After earning an undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia, he obtained an MLIS but was unable to find a job as a librarian.[7] He moved back in with his parents and started producing songs in his bedroom studio,[7][8] as well as working on dance music with local band Bedroom.[9]

Career

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Origins (2008–2009)

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Throughout 2008, Greene recorded lo-fi rock music under the stage name Lee Weather, but found more success in 2009 under the new stage name Washed Out.[10] He was soon discovered by a number of influential music bloggers after they found his music on his Myspace page.[11] His first recordings have been described as "drowsy, distorted, dance pop-influenced tracks that brought to mind Neon Indian and Memory Tapes".[9]

High Times and Life of Leisure (2009–2010)

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Greene's first two EPs, High Times and Life of Leisure, were released in August and September 2009. He held his debut New York City performance (his second live show ever) at Santos Party House. He has since performed at the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival[12] and his song "Feel It All Around" is used as the opening theme for the television series Portlandia.[13]

Washed Out performing at the Ogden Theatre in Denver, 2011

Within and Without and Paracosm (2011–2013)

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In April 2011 it was announced that he had been signed to Sub Pop. His debut, Within and Without, then released on July 12, 2011. The album peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 and No. 89 on the UK Albums Chart. He was chosen by Battles to perform at the ATP Nightmare Before Christmas festival that they co-curated in December 2011 in Minehead, England.[14]

Washed Out's second album, Paracosm, was released on August 13, 2013. The first single was "It All Feels Right", followed by "Don't Give Up".[15] The same year, "New Theory" from Life of Leisure featured in-background on a scene in the 2013 film, The Spectacular Now. In May 2014, he was reporting to be working on a third studio album, but he stated, "I'm figuring out the next step".[16]

Mister Mellow and Purple Noon (2017–2020)

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On May 19, Washed Out announced dates for his "Get Lost" tour, taking place in July 2017. Subsequently, he released his third studio album, Mister Mellow, on June 30, 2017. The album was produced at Stones Throw Records with the help of Cole M.G.N.[17]

In April 2018, Washed Out released a new single, "Face Up" as part of Adult Swim's Singles Series.[18][19] The single was later included on his fourth album, Purple Noon (2020).[20] In April 2020, Washed Out released a new single, "Too Late".[21] On June 30, 2020, Washed Out announced that a new album called Purple Noon would be released on August 7, 2020. He also released a new single, "Time to Walk Away".[22]

Notes from a Quiet Life (2024–present)

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During the Solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, Washed Out performed his music video for the song "Waking Up" in one take at Bandera, Texas. The performance was posted to his YouTube channel two months after the eclipse.[23]

In May 2024, Washed Out announced his fifth studio album, Notes from a Quiet Life, and released its first single, "The Hardest Part", the video of which was made with OpenAI's Sora.[24][25]

Musical style

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Greene's style has been identified with the chillwave movement.[7] Sade's music and fashion sense are a big influence for Greene.[26] He has said hip hop influences the way he writes songs.[27] Pitchfork Media said that Greene "makes bedroom synthpop that sounds blurred and woozily evocative, like someone smeared Vaseline all over an early OMD demo tape, then stayed up all night trying to recreate what they heard."[11]

Personal life

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Greene currently lives in Atlanta.[7][28]

Discography

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References

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  1. ↑ Radford, Chad (February 28, 2012). "Washed Out keyboardist escapes chillwave with Dog Bite". Creative Loafing. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017.
  2. ↑ Goble, Corban (April 1, 2011). "R.I.P., chillwave: the top 10 chillwave artists, and where they are now". The Pitch.
  3. ↑ Kloeppel, Geena (June 12, 2017). "Washed Out Announces New Album Mister Mellow". Spin. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  4. ↑ Ugwu, Reggie (July 25, 2013). "Chillwave Hero Washed Out Masters the Not-Quite Concept Album With 'Paracosm'". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  5. ↑ Kemp, Sophie. "Purple Noon". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  6. ↑ Reges, Margaret. "Washed Out". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Williams, Wyatt (March 23, 2010). "How Washed Out became the poster boy of electro's chillwave movement". Creative Loafing Atlanta. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  8. ↑ Oder, Norman (October 22, 2009). "LJ Talks to Ernest Greene, Unemployed LIS Grad, Breakout Musician". Library Journal. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  9. 1 2 "Washed Out - Biography". billboardbiz. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  10. ↑ "Washed Out Chillwave / dreampop from the US". www.fredperry.com. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  11. 1 2 "Rising: Washed Out". Pitchfork Media. September 1, 2009. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  12. ↑ Pitchfork, July 20, 2010 (2010-07-20). "Articles: Photos: Pitchfork Music Festival 2010". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2011-08-12. Retrieved 2011-12-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ Cridlin, Jay (February 29, 2012). "SoundBytes: LMFAO, Washed Out, Dan Aykroyd and more". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 5 Feb 2018.
  14. ↑ "ATP Nightmare Before Christmas". Atpfestival.com. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  15. ↑ "Listen to Washed Out's Sunny New Single "It All Feels Right"". MTV. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  16. ↑ "Washed Out Talks Soundscape of New Album: 'I'm Figuring Out the Next Step'". Radio.com. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  17. ↑ "Washed Out | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  18. ↑ "Washed Out returns with new song "Face Up": Stream". 4 April 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  19. ↑ "Washed Out – "Face Up"". Spin.com. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  20. ↑ "Sub Pop - Purple Noon by Washed Out". Subpop.com. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Washed Out finds connection on new single "Too Late": Stream". Consequence of Sound. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  22. ↑ Minsker, Evan (30 June 2020). "Washed Out Announces New Album Purple Noon, Shares New Song". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  23. ↑ Gobeli, Abbie (2024-06-13). "Washed Out Shares "Waking Up (Solar Eclipse Performance)"". Sub Pop Records. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  24. ↑ Chelosky, Danielle (2024-05-02). "Washed Out Shares New Song "The Hardest Part" And Video Made With OpenAI's Sora". Stereogum. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  25. ↑ Lee, Wendy (2024-05-02). "Washed Out's new music video was created with AI. Is it a watershed moment for Sora?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  26. ↑ "Washed Out Breaks Down New Album 'Purple Noon'". Clash Magazine. Oct 8, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Interview with Washed Out". Lifelounge.com.au. 2010-11-19. Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  28. ↑ "Washed Out". The Lepanto League. 2009-07-27. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
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