John Calvin Abney
Background information
BornReno, Nevada
OriginAustin, Texas
GenresAlt-Country, Folk
Occupation(s)Multi-instrumentalist, Singer-Songwriter, Producer, Arranger, Composer, DJ
Instrument(s)guitar, piano, vocals, harmonica
LabelsTin Canyon Records, Foolish Philosophy, Horton Records/CRS, Black Mesa Records
WebsiteJohnCalvinAbney.com

John Calvin Abney is an American musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, producer and DJ. Abney currently resides in Austin, Texas.

Early life

Abney was born in Reno, Nevada, relocating to Tulsa, Oklahoma as a child. He learnt guitar and piano, playing local shows in and around Tulsa through his later teenage years.[1] After high school Abney moved to Norman, to attend the University of Oklahoma.

Career

During his time at the University of Oklahoma, Abney began to collaborate with various other artists, in addition to continuing to play his own shows. Following his graduation he focused on music full-time, touring nationally and self-releasing 3 EPs - 2012's Without Wax, Empty Candles in 2014 and Vice Versa Suite in 2015.

On January 25, 2015 Abney released his first full-length album titled Better Luck via Foolish Philosophy Records.[2] The album was recorded in a nine-day span at Tiny Telephone in San Francisco, California.

He followed with Far Cries and Close Calls on September 23, 2016, via Horton Records,[3] and Coyote on May 28, 2018 on Black Mesa Records, both of which were recorded in 3-day periods at Fellowship Hall Sound in Little Rock, Arkansas.[4]

Safe Passage was released on Black Mesa Records in September 27, 2019. The album was recorded at Ramble Creek Studio in Austin, Texas, and featured longtime friend and collaborator John Moreland, Will Johnson and Shonna Tucker, formerly of Drive By Truckers.[5]

Abney and Moreland also worked together on Moreland’s albums, with Abney playing various roles including engineer, co-writer and multi-instrumentalist beginning with High on Tulsa Heat.[6] Abney also toured with Moreland as a sideman for several years.

On November 20, 2020, Familiar Ground was released on Black Mesa Records, this time with John Moreland co-producing.[7] The lead single from the album When This Blows Over, featured a music video directed by fellow Oklahoma artist Samantha Crain.[8]

Tourist, released August 5, 2022 on Black Mesa Records, was recorded in an assortment of rooms and hotels across California, Nevada, Texas, and Oklahoma during the pandemic. Using his personal portable studio, Abney grew the songs, with drum machines, samplers, and synthesizers, working remotely with co-producer and sole collaborator John Moreland, who performed his parts and mixed from his own studio.[9]

Abney has toured nationally and internationally, both playing his own shows and opening for other artists, including the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.[10] He has played guitar and keys live for various artists including John Moreland, Samantha Crain, Wild Child, Margo Cilker and Lizzie No, as well as undertaking session work on dozens of projects.

Abney's music has been featured in national and international press, including Rolling Stone,[11][12][13] Billboard,[14] American Songwriter,[15] Americana UK[16] and Gold Flake Paint.[17]

While his main focus has been alternative folk music, Abney has also released a number of ambient albums - Wildfire Suite, released February 5, 2021,[18] Storm Variations, released February 3, 2023, [19] and Departure Nocturnes, released April 7, 2023.[20]

Abney also DJs regularly, spinning vinyl frequently around Austin, and at events including festivals like Outside Lands with Wild Child.[21]

Discography

Studio albums

  • Tourist (2022, Black Mesa Records)
  • Familiar Ground (2020, Black Mesa Records)
  • Safe Passage (2019, Black Mesa Records)
  • Coyote (2018, Black Mesa Records)
  • Far Cries and Close Calls (2016, Horton Records)
  • Better Luck (2015, Foolish Philosophy)

Ambient Albums

  • Departure Nocturnes (2023, Tin Canyon Records)
  • Storm Variations (2023, Tin Canyon Records)
  • Wildfire Suite (2021, Tin Canyon Records)

EPs

  • Vice Versa Suite (2015, self-released)
  • Empty Candles (2014, self-released)
  • Without Wax (2012, self-released)

Score

John Calvin Abney also appears on:[23]

  • Wild Child - End of The World (2023, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, Keyboards, Piano, Pedal Steel, Guitars)[24]
  • John Moreland - Birds in the Ceiling (2022, Ukulele, Piano, Mellotron, Synthesizer)
  • The Damn Quails - Clouding Up Your City (2022 Producer, Piano, Rhodes, Synthesizers, Guitars, Harmonica, Tape Delays, Vocals)[25]
  • Shonna Tucker - A Brother's Love (2021, Guitars, Spaceship Buttons)[26]
  • John Moreland - LP5 (2020, Guitar, Harmonica, Piano, Organ, Mellotron, Synthesizer)
  • Samantha Crain - A Small Death (2020, Guitar, Piano, Keyboards)
  • Samantha Crain - High Horse (2020, Piano)
  • Beau Jennings - Son of Thunderbird (2020, Guitar)[27]
  • Beth Bombara - Evergreen (2019, Harmonica, Organ, Piano, Producer)
  • Poolboy - Poolboy (2019, Co-Writing, Arrangement, Drums, Vocals)[28]
  • Carter Sampson - Lucky (2018, Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboards, Percussion)
  • Levi Parham - It’s All Good (2018, Vocals)
  • John Moreland - Big Bad Luv (2017, Dobro, Guitars, Harmonica, Organ, Piano, Wurlitzer)
  • Porter and The Bluebonnet Rattlesnakes - Don't Go Baby It's Gonna Get Weird Without You (2017, Accordion, Guitars, Keyboards, Pedal Steel, Percussion, Vocals)
  • M. Lockwood Porter - How to Dream Again (2016, Guitars, Lap Steel, Harmonica, Percussion)
  • Samantha Crain - Under Branch and Thorn and Tree (2015, Piano, Synthesizer, Percussion)
  • John Moreland - High on Tulsa Heat (2015, Co-Writer, Engineer, Guitars, Pedal Steel, Wurlitzer, Piano, Keyboards)
  • Samantha Crain - Kid Face (2013, Banjo, Piano, Synthesizer)
  • Poolboy - Soda Kids (2013, Arrangement, Drums, Vocals)[29]

References

  1. ↑ Writer, JERRY WOFFORD World Scene (February 2, 2015). "Tulsan John Calvin Abney's debut album is all about the stories". Tulsa World. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  2. ↑ "John Calvin Abney - Better Luck". No Depression. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  3. ↑ Spielman, Dennis (October 18, 2016). "Far Cries and Close Calls by John Calvin Abney". Uncovering Oklahoma. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  4. ↑ Clarke, Melissa (May 16, 2018). "Interview: John Calvin Abney on John Moreland, Scrappy Coyote Pups, Family Advice & Oklahoma Landscapes - Americana Highways". americanahighways.org. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  5. ↑ "John Calvin Abney's 'Safe Passage' Chooses Compassion". No Depression. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  6. ↑ High on Tulsa Heat - John Moreland | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved September 24, 2023
  7. ↑ Grunenberg, Kira (November 20, 2020). "John Calvin Abney Treads in New Direction with "Familiar Ground"". American Songwriter. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  8. ↑ McDonnell, Brandy. "Watch: Oklahoma musician John Calvin Abney announces upcoming album 'Familiar Ground,' releases lyric video for pretty new song 'Shine Like a Friend'". The Oklahoman. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  9. ↑ Gulden, Andrew (August 3, 2022). "REVIEW: John Calvin Abney "Tourist" - Americana Highways". americanahighways.org. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  10. ↑ "HANSON @ Astor Theatre". X-Press Magazine - Entertainment in Perth. November 10, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  11. ↑ Freeman, Jon (October 9, 2020). "Song You Need to Know: John Calvin Abney, 'When This Blows Over'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  12. ↑ Crawford, Robert (October 4, 2019). "10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week: Lauren Alaina, John Calvin Abney". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  13. ↑ Gage, Chris Parton,Joseph Hudak,Marissa R. Moss,Brittney McKenna,Jeff; Parton, Chris; Hudak, Joseph; Moss, Marissa R.; McKenna, Brittney; Gage, Jeff (May 17, 2018). "10 New Country Artists You Need to Know: May 2018". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 24, 2023.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ Graff, Gary (August 28, 2019). "John Calvin Abney Reflects About His Father's Passing On Ethereal 'Maybe Happy': Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  15. ↑ Grunenberg, Kira (November 20, 2020). "John Calvin Abney Treads in New Direction with "Familiar Ground"". American Songwriter. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  16. ↑ Aird, Jonathan (July 6, 2022). "John Calvin Abney "Call Me Achilles" – he's no heel…". Americana UK. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Video: John Calvin Abney - "Showing Up Late"". GoldFlakePaint. November 16, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Wildfire Suite, by John Calvin Abney". John Calvin Abney. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Storm Variations, by John Calvin Abney". John Calvin Abney. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Departure Nocturnes, by John Calvin Abney". John Calvin Abney. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Outside Lands 2023 lineup: what are the stage times and lineup for San Francisco festival? Stage splits". Yahoo News. August 12, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  22. ↑ World, Michael Smith Tulsa (July 1, 2020). "'Terlton' short-film live-stream looks to benefit town where fireworks tragedy occurred in 1985". Tulsa World. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  23. ↑ "John Calvin Abney | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  24. ↑ Major, Michael. "Wild Child Shares 'Wearing Blue'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  25. ↑ Kennedy, Ian (June 20, 2022). "The Damn Quails "Clouding Up Your City"". Americana UK. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  26. ↑ "A Brother's Love, by Shonna Tucker". Shonna Tucker. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Son of Thunderbird, by Beau Jennings". Beau Jennings. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Poolboy, by Poolboy". Guestroom Records. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Soda Kids EP, by Poolboy". Poolboy. Retrieved August 19, 2023.


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