Small Black


Small Black is an American indie band from Brooklyn, New York. They are currently signed to the Jagjaguwar record label. The band consists of Josh Kolenik, Ryan Heyner, Juan Pieczanski, and Jeff Curtin.
After releasing the critically acclaimed Small Black EP, the band signed to Jagjaguwar to release their debut full length, New Chain.
Their second full length, Limits of Desire was released in May 2013, with the single "No Stranger" a mainstay on satellite radio.
The band has toured consistently since 2010, participating in numerous festivals such as Primavera Sound Festival, Fun Fun Fun Fest, Capitol Hill Block Party, and the SXSW Music Festival.

History

Josh Kolenik and Ryan Heyner formed the band while experimenting with
lo-fi and loop-based recording techniques. The initial EP was recorded
in Kolenik's uncle's attic with vintage keyboards and samplers, during
the winter of 2008-2009 as Uncle Matt made surfboards underneath
them. Guitarist Juan Pieczanski and drummer Jeff Curtin, both from
Washington D.C., met while attending Columbia University. The earliest
collaborations of the entire group began years prior to the band’s
formation during after-hours recording sessions in a post-production
film studio located in the Brill Building.
After the band’s initial release, they supported Washed Out on tour in
2010, also performing with him on stage during that tour.

Musical style

Their sound is commonly described as belonging to the chillwave genre
though the band's members don't label themselves as such. The band
began with an emphasis on lo-fi sounds and distorted textures in their
initial release, but has since adopted a more varied approach,
expanding to include a mix of hi and lo-fi sounds, synthetic and
acoustic instruments. The underlying elements of synth-heavy
production and melodic, lyrical vocal style have been a fixture of the
band’s sound throughout their entire catalogue. All the band’s
releases to date have been self-produced.

Other Contributions/Collaborations

The band has provided remixes for Health, Washed Out, and Frankie Rose.
In 2010 they released the Moon Killer mixtape, a loose collection of
sample-based tracks featuring contributions from Heems & Star Slinger.
Guitarist Ryan Heyner was formerly a member of the hardcore band
Silent Majority.
Jeff Curtin provided the drums for Wild Nothing’s second studio
release, Nocturne, and is credited as a sound engineer/producer
for his work with Vampire Weekend and Those Darlins.
Juan Pieczanski is the former host of the music interview show "Juan's Basement" on
Pitchfork TV. He has contributed as a writer/producer for MNDR -
Psychobuildings & Briana Marela

Discography

Studio albums