The Whitest Boy Alive
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Berlin , Germany |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
The Whitest Boy Alive is a Berlin-based musical ensemble with German-Norwegian origins, initially active from 2003 until 2014 and reunited in 2019. The lineup features vocalist and guitarist Erlend Øye of Kings of Convenience, bassist Marcin Öz, drummer Sebastian Maschat, and Daniel Nentwig on Rhodes piano and Crumar keyboard instruments.
History
Formed in 2003 as an electronic dance venture in Berlin, The Whitest Boy Alive transitioned into a band that avoided programmed sounds entirely. Their name represents the image of an innocent, introverted northern European youth. The group secured a contract with the German label Bubbles. Their first album, Dreams, was launched in Germany on 21 June 2006. By July 2007, Modular Records had signed them for distribution in the UK; their debut UK appearance occurred at London's Astoria in September 2007 alongside New Young Pony Club. The UK release of Dreams followed in November, accompanied by the single "Burning". Their sophomore album, Rules, came out in March 2009 after being recorded at a newly established studio on Punta Burros, Mexico. The track "1517" was featured on the soundtrack of the video game FIFA 10.
In April 2009, they embarked on The Whitest Boy Alive + The New Wine tour, performing across Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden. By 2011, they had extended their reach into the Chinese market through collaboration with promoters Split Works.
In June 2014, the band announced via Facebook that they would no longer create or perform music together under The Whitest Boy Alive name.
On 4 August 2017, Erlend Øye revealed plans for a one-time reunion concert scheduled for 20 August 2017 in Siracusa, Italy, to commemorate members’ birthdays. Later, on 3 September 2019, they confirmed a performance at Chile’s Fauna festival on 9 November and mentioned intentions to hold additional shows featuring shorter sets and less frequent appearances due to Øye’s tinnitus condition.
After more than ten years without releasing new material, on 5 March 2020 the band unveiled the single "Serious," which was recorded and mixed in Buenos Aires. A recording session planned for spring 2020 was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which also disrupted a Mexican festival and separated band members. While isolated in Baja California Sur, Maschat and Øye utilized a hotel studio originally intended for The Whitest Boy Alive to produce solo tracks as a duo; this work was issued as Quarantine At El Ganzo in July 2020.
Band members
- Erlend Øye – vocals and guitar
- Marcin Öz – bass guitar
- Sebastian Maschat – drums
- Daniel Nentwig – Rhodes piano and Crumar synthesizer
Albums
- Dreams (2006)
- Rules (2009)
- Quarantine at El Ganzo (2020)
Singles
- "Inflation" (2004)
- "Burning" (2006)
- "Burning" (UK release) (2007) UK Chart Peak No. 78
- "1517" (2009)
- "Serious" (2020)