On a December afternoon in 2006, two friends (and NYU Music Technology alumni)-- songwriter/pianist/producer Nam Choi and vocalist Katie Boone paired up to begin a musical journey that has led them through the streets of New York City, spreading their music and good cheer. You may have discovered them performing at The Underscore, Fontana's, Don Pedro, Desmond's Tavern, Otto's Shrunken Head, Yippie Cafe or the Bitter End's Singer/Songwriter Sessions. This dynamic duo's creations defy categorization -- they encompass a bit of many genres (Pop, Rock, Brazilian, Irish, Folk, Hardcore Metal, Classical, etc.), adding large doses of originality and sincerity.
Through Nam's intriguing, skillful songwriting and arranging, accompanying Katie's expressive and warm vocals (along with her growing arsenal of percussive instruments!), Useless Beauty communicates joy, sorrow, the ups and downs of love, innocence and the loss thereof, tongue-in-cheek humor and silliness... and everything in between. Their sound is proof that quietness and gentleness can contain much more than its apparent simplicity. Above all, Useless Beauty aspires to find a language that reaches out to people and conveys their hidden desires and stories, bright and dark alike. Their influences are appropriately wide-ranging -- they especially admire those who make unusual sounds that inspire people, from the ethnic sounds in the streets and subway of NYC to Nordic experimentalism (Bjork, Sigur Ros, etc.).
Following their recognition as a Suggested Artist in the Song of the Year contest in May 2007 (www.songoftheyear.com), Useless Beauty recorded a handful of demos at NYU's studios with the gracious help of producer/engineer Ted Clayton of One20 Productions (Wu-Tang Clan, MoeRoc). They went back into the studio in August 2008 at The Buddy Project in Astoria, Queens, with engineer Zack McNees (Bjork, Paul Simon, John Legend), and most recently recorded an EP in May 2009 at Mother West in Manhattan with producer/composer/engineer Charles Newman (Erykah Badu, The Magnetic Fields) and producer Paolo DeGregorio (We Are Scientists, editor-in-chief of The Deli magazine). They were joined by their wonderful, newfound friends: Stuart Solomon (guitar), Peter Cobb (alto saxophone) and Sharon Fischman (drums), and are eager to share their songs with the world!
