Mars Arizona
| Company type | Musical duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Studio albums |
Number of employees | 2 |
Mars Arizona was an alternative country duo based in San Francisco during the 2000s, fronted by Paul Knowles and Nicole Storto. Over their career, they produced four studio albums released through Big Barn Records.
History
Paul Knowles, whose father was a Baptist minister from Morristown, Tennessee, encountered Nicole Storto, a former tennis standout at San Diego State University, in 1997 at a record shop located in Tempe, Arizona. The pair moved first to Sedona and subsequently to Chicago in pursuit of a dynamic musical environment. Originally performing under the name "Drowning Noah," they opted for the moniker Mars Arizona in 2000 to distance themselves from a tragic incident linked to their former name. That same year, they independently issued an MP3 album titled Mars Arizona, inspired by the unique terrain of Northern Arizona.
Their initial release as Mars Arizona, Love Songs for the Apocalypse (2002), garnered varied critical responses but helped solidify their foothold in the music scene. Their follow-up album, All Over the Road (2005), recorded in Mill Valley and Cotati, California, featured drummer Kenny Aronoff and received commendations for its intelligent production and diverse fusion of honky-tonk, folk, and pop styles. Reviews from outlets such as Country Standard Time and No Depression praised its exploration of themes like grief and healing.
The third album, Hello Cruel World (2008), showcased collaborations with notable musicians including David Grisman, Al Perkins, and Billy Block. This release achieved a peak position of #32 on the Americana Music Association's AMA Radio Chart and was well-received for blending influences from Northern California's music scene with underground Nashville sounds. To promote the album, the band toured extensively, performing at venues such as Muddy Waters in Santa Barbara.
Their final album as Mars Arizona, High Desert (2010), continued to develop their contemporary country style and was lauded by critics at AllMusic and East Bay Express, particularly for tracks like "Jesus Ain't Coming Back."
Following Mars Arizona’s disbandment, Knowles and Storto initiated a new musical endeavor named New American Farmers, releasing two albums: Brand New Day in 2013 and The Farmacology Sessions in 2014.
As Mars Arizona
- Mars Arizona (MP3, 2000)
- Love Songs for the Apocalypse (Big Barn, 2002)
- All Over the Road (Big Barn, 2005)
- Hello Cruel World (Big Barn, 2008)
- High Desert (Big Barn, 2010)
As New American Farmers
- Brand New Day (Big Barncat, 2013)
- The Farmacology Sessions (Big Barncat, 2014)