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Cosmicity

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Cosmicity
(Mark Nicholas)
GenresSynthpop[1]
Electronica
Years active1994–present
LabelsDirty Electronic, A Different Drum
MembersMark Nicholas
Websitecosmicity.com

Cosmicity is the project name for the American, Detroit-based electronic musician, Mark Nicholas.[2] His music combines singer-songwriter melodies with synthesizers, drum machines, and deeply personal lyrics.

In the 1990s, as a student at the University of Michigan School of Music and Technology,[3] Nicholas released his first full-length album The Vision. Since that time, Cosmicity has become one of the best-known artists[4] in the so-called synthpop underground, most notably as a founding artist on the iconic synthpop record label A Different Drum.[5] His accomplishments have included playing large synthpop festivals[6] alongside 1980s acts like Alphaville and Anything Box,[7] winning songwriting contests (such as the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2006[8]), and even placing music on a few television shows - such as the Matthew Fox series Haunted.[9]

In addition to original compositions, Cosmicity has released cover songs such as "Bloc Bloc Bloc" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark,[10] and "Automatic" by The Pointer Sisters.[11] Original holiday-themed songs include "Halloween"[12] and "This is Your Crappy Christmas Present".[13]

Cosmicity has remixed songs for iconic 1980's synthpop bands such as Red Flag, and, Real Life,[14] as well as popular modern acts including The Bird and the Bee in 2012.[15]

Between 1994 and 2005, Cosmicity released seven full-length CDs[16] The Vision (1994), The Moment (1995), Isabella (1997), Renaissance (1998), The Binary Language of Love (1999), Pure (2001), Escape Pod for Two (2003), in addition to two EPs, Syn (1996) and Forgive Me My Syns (1998), a remix album Resynthesized (1999), and two greatest hits compilations, In Perspective (1998) and CD/DVD combo Definitive: 1997 - 2004 (2005).[17]

During the years spanning 2006-2009, Mark Nicholas released two albums (Duchess 33 - 2007, Perversions - 2008) under his given name,[18] dropping the Cosmicity project name so he could concentrate on more industrial sounds - and darker lyrics.

2010 saw the release of the 5-song EP ASCII Cupcake and a return to Mark Nicholas using his Cosmicity project name. 2012 brought the release of the Parlour Sofas EP.

The full-length album, Humans May Safely Graze, was released worldwide in 2014. It was mastered at Abbey Road Studios[19] and was distributed in CD, streaming, and digital download formats, including the iTunes Mastered for iTunes format.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Cosmicity | Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  2. ^ "Cosmicity | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  3. ^ "University Of Michigan, School of Music Publications". University Of Michigan. 1880. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  4. ^ "Cosmicity Various Artist Compilation Appearances". MusicBrainz.com. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  5. ^ "A Different Drum". Gothicparadise.com.
  6. ^ "Alternative Choice". Philly.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2015.
  7. ^ "Events". Secret Secret.
  8. ^ "John Lennon Songwriting Contest 2006 Finalists". jlsc.com. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  9. ^ "Haunted Season 1, Episode 2 - Grievous Angels". IMDb.com.
  10. ^ "Messages: Modern Synthpop Artists Cover Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark". AllMusic.
  11. ^ "Cosmicity Cover Songs". Covers Project. Archived from the original on 2015-09-30. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  12. ^ "Too Far Gone (CD)". Discogs.
  13. ^ "A Gloomy Gallery of Goth Christmas Songs". HoustonPress.com.
  14. ^ "Real Life - Oblivion (CD)". Real Life. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  15. ^ "The Bird and the Bee - Heard It On The Radio (Cosmicity Remix)". Soundcloud.com/thebirdandthebee. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  16. ^ "Cosmicity". Discogs.com. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  17. ^ "Cosmicity Discography". MusicBrainz. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  18. ^ "Mark Nicholas". Discogs.com. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Cosmicity - Humans May Safely Graze". Discogs.com. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Humans May Safely Graze by Cosmicity". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
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