21st CENTURY GIRL
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BRAZZAVILLE BIO 2008
David Arthur Brown was born in Los Angeles on June 19th, 1967. He was a runaway who later became obsessed with low budget travel and poetry. He traveled through Asia, South America and Europe for many years. Along the way he learned to play the saxophone. He played sax with Beck from 1997 through 2000. During that time he learned how to play the guitar and began writing songs and singing.
He formed Brazzaville in Los Angeles, in late 1997. They have released 7 CDs since then:
2002 (also known as Brazzaville) (1998- JVC, South China Sea, Soyuz)
Somnambulista (2000- JVC, South China Sea, Soyuz)
Rouge On Pockmarked Cheeks (2002- JVC, South China Sea, Soyuz)
Hastings Street (2004-Soyuz)
Welcome to Brazzaville (2004-Web of Mimicry, Soyuz)
East L.A. Breeze (2006/2008-V2, South China Sea, Soyuz)
21st Century Girl (2008- Soyuz)
Brazzaville’s early years (1997-2003) were spent largely in Los Angeles. They recorded and released 3 full length albums during that time and played countless shows in L.A. With the exception of two East Coast Tours in 2002, they did little touring due to David being on the road with Beck. David and Beck were friends from the East Hollywood coffeehouse scene of the late 80s/early 90s.
Brazzaville’s first 2 albums, 2002 and Somnambulista, were produced by Michael Rozon at the S.S. Clove Factory in North Hollywood. They featured musicians such as Smokey Hormel (Beck, Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, Smokey and Miho), Danny Frankel (Lou Reed, Fiona Apple, K.D. Lang), David Ralicke (Dengue Fever, Beck), Kenny Lyon (David Baerwald, Lemonheads), Joel Virgel-Vierset (Nina Hagen), Joe Zimmerman and many others. Their third album, Rouge On Pockmarked Cheeks featured production work by Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck, Travis, Sir Paul M.) and Tony Hoffer (Air, Beck, Belle and Sebastian, Supergrass, Grandaddy) as well as Michael Rozon.
In 2003 David moved to Barcelona, where he formed his European version of the band. Brazzaville’s fourth studio album, Hastings Street (2004), was recorded in both Los Angeles and Barcelona and was mixed in Los Angeles. It featured musicians like Victor Indrizzo (Willie Nelson, Queens of the Stone Age, Dave Gahan), Greg Kirstin (Beck, Action Figure Party), Erica Garcia, Joe Zimmerman, Mike Bolger, Kenny Lyon, David Ralicke and many others.
In 2006, Brazzaville released their first CD recorded entirely in Barcelona. It was entitled East L.A. Breeze and featured members of Brazzaville’s European line up: Brady Lynch (bass), Paco Jordi (guitar), Richie Alvarez (keys) and Pep Terrecabras (drums). Regular drummer, Ivan Knight was in India at the time the record was recorded. The record reached the top of the charts in Russia due to its version of Star Called Sun, by the legendary Russian rock band, KINO. In 2008, East L.A. Breeze was released in parts of Western Europe by V2 Records.
In late 2007, Brazzaville finished their 7th studio album, 21st Century Girl. It was released in Russia in Feb. 2008 and will be released in the US and Canada on the Bus Stop Label in August 2008.
Since moving to Europe, Brazzaville has played sold out shows in such diverse places as Moscow, New York, Barcelona, Istanbul, Amsterdam and many more. They have been favorably reviewed in The New Yorker, The L.A. Times, Afisha, Time Out New York, The Onion, La Vanguardia, Telerama and many other publications. They enjoy a cult following in many countries.
In 2008, Brazzaville has tours planned for Europe, Russia, China, Turkey and the USA. David Arthur Brown lives in the Eixample neighborhood of Barcelona with his wife and two young children. He enjoys reading before bedtime.
