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Lawrence Rothman

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Lawrence Rothman
2014 image of Lawrence Rothman
2014 image of Lawrence Rothman
Background information
Born (1982-06-19) June 19, 1982 (age 42)[1]
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • Songwriter
  • Producer
InstrumentVocals
Years active2013–present
Labels
SpouseFloria Sigismondi

Lawrence Rothman (born June 19, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. Their most recent album The Plow That Broke the Plains was released in 2024.

Biography

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Early life

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Rothman was born and raised in a middle class area of St. Louis, Missouri. Rothman was raised in a Jewish and Catholic family.[2] From a young age, Rothman identified as gender-fluid, wearing makeup and presenting in an androgynous style.[3] Rothman was homeschooled until second grade and was bullied after entering the public school system.[4]

From the age of 13, Rothman formed a number of punk, alternative rock and hip-hop bands and toured throughout the United States. During this period, Rothman was physically assaulted by three off-duty National Guardsmen after performing a club in Texas.[citation needed] Without the help of their parents, they relocated to Chicago when they were 17 years old. Rothman came into contact with musicians and artists while living with a relative, who assisted them in accepting their non-binary identity. From 2002 to 2011, Rothman fronted the punk rock band Living Things under the name Lillian Berlin.[5]

2013–2014: Early singles

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After moving to Los Angeles, Rothman began writing music under their own name and signed to Mamaroma, the independent label founded by renowned director Floria Sigismondi, known for her music videos for David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, and Fiona Apple and for TV work including The Handmaid's Tale and American Gods. In June 2013, Rothman released their debut single, "Montauk Fling", with an accompanying video directed by Sigismondi. This marked the start of a long-term creative collaboration between the two – Sigismondi has since directed all of Rothman's music videos to date. Throughout 2013, Rothman released subsequent singles on Mamaroma: “#1 All Time Low”, “Kevin”, and “Fatal Attraction”. These saw a largely positive response from press outlets including The Huffington Post, The Guardian, and Stereogum.

2015–2017: The Book of Law

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In 2014, Rothman signed to Downtown Records and began work on their debut album, The Book of Law, with producer Justin Raisen. Rothman created a list of dream collaborators, including Duff McKagan from Guns N' Roses, Kim Gordon, Angel Olsen, and Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeahs, whom Raisen brought into their studio. The two used Rothman's journals as the basis for the lyrics and emotional mood of the record. In an interview with the FADER, Rothman stated that the recording process was fraught and dramatic, with “drug ODs [from others in the camp], fist fights, jail, police getting called on [Raisen] by record companies, threatening to cut a guy's neck off on Thanksgiving".

2021: Good Morning, America and Not a Son

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In October 2020, Rothman announced sophomore album Good Morning, America and spoken word counterpart album Not a Son. The first single was Decent Man a duet with Grammy award winning singer songwriter Lucinda Williams. The song a politically charged statement on 2020 America was Written and Produced By Lawrence Rothman. Good Morning America was released on July 16, 2021. Guest included Lucinda Williams, Amanda Shires, Katie Pruitt, Marissa Nadler, Caroline Rose, Mary Lattimore, Pino Palladino, and Girlpool. On Oct 10, 2021 Not A Son Rothman's spoken word poetry album was released featuring members of Thundercats band harpist Mary Lattimore and guitarist Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

2024: The Plow That Broke the Plains

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On April 27, 2024, Rothman released their third album The Plow That Broke the Plains. Produced and Mixed by Rothman at Nashville's Sound Emporium Studios over 10 days during November 2023. First single Poster Child was written with Grammy award winning singer songwriter Jason Isbell. The song which addresses the urgent issue of gun violence and sparked an unyielding period of creative catharsis, with Lawrence writing dozens of songs. Poster Child chronicles a 2005 assault on Rothman outside a Dallas Club for dressing in gender neutral clothing. The album recorded primarily live captures a genre bending take on the Americana Sound with. Capturing personal and candid story's from Rothman's life and lessons salvaged from their decade-long struggle with body dysmorphia and a two-year battle with anorexia, while addressing themes of addiction, gender identity and societal pressures The album was praised by Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and The Guardian for its stylistic challenging and candid approach. the album features Country and Americana artist Amanda Shires, Jason Isbell, Katie Pruitt, S.G. Goodman, Audley Freed, Jimbo Hart, Brittney Spencer.

Production career

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Along with Rothman's music career they produced and mixed albums by Amanda Shires Take It Like A Man, Highwomen Highway Unicorn from Lady Gaga Born This Way 10th Anniversary, Margo Price, Girlpool, Jason Isbell The Sound Emporium EP, Bartees Strange, Kim Gordon, Blondshell, Marissa Nadler For My Crimes[6] additional production on Angel Olsen My Woman[7] as well as acting with their first role in Drake Doremus' Endings, Beginnings,[8] premiering at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. Rothman's song "Wolves Still Cry" was featured in season 2 Episode 1 of Netflix original series 13 Reasons Why[9] that song along with "Die Daily" were featured in Endings, Beginnings and "H" in Lucifer season 1 finale episode.[10] In November 2019 it was announced that Rothman produced and wrote the soundtrack for DreamWorks Pictures The Turning. The soundtrack out on Rothman's record label KRO featured artist such as Courtney Love, Mitski, Soccer Mommy, Kim Gordon, Warpaint, and Finn Wolfhard. Rothman wrote and produced the first single performed by Courtney Love, "Mother". Their own track "SkinDeepSkyHighHeartWide" featured Pale Waves and their track "Judas Kiss' featured MUNA. Along with writing the films 9 other soundtrack songs. Rothman authored a book Postmortem Bliss, which was turned into a short film for Tuner Classics in 2006.[11]

KRO Records

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In 2019, Rothman launched their own record label, KRO Records, with Justin Raisen, Yves Rothman.[12] KRO’s first release included two tracks from River Phoenix's band, Aleka's Attic, along with a single from Rain Phoenix featuring Michael Stipe.[13] This was followed by a Double A-Side Single, "Poison" by Marissa Nadler feat. John Cale of The Velvet Underground.[14] Other releases in 2019 included Kills Birds’ self-titled debut LP, Buzzy Lee’s (Sasha Spielberg) EP, “Close Encounters of Our Own Kind”, and a single titled “Mother” by Courtney Love.[15][16][17] In 2020, KRO Records released Steven Spielberg produced "The Turning" soundtrack under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment.[18] The film's soundtrack features tracks from Mitski, Kali Uchis, Soccer Mommy, Cherry Glazerr, Finn Wolfhard & Courtney Love. Rothman was the film's music supervisor and producer of the soundtrack.

Composing and scoring

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In 2010, Rothman scored The Runaways, a biopic film on the Joan Jett fronted female rock band The Runaways, starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning. In 2017, Rothman scored the News Emmy nominated New York Times Great Performers 2017 series short films starring Nicole Kidman, Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, Jake Gyllenhaal and more. In 2018, Rothman scored a short film on the life of occult filmmaker Kenneth Anger for Gucci and Systems Magazine. Additionally, Rothman has scored short films for Levis, Prada, Bvlgari, BMW, MAC Cosmetics and Alexander McQueen.

Discography

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Albums

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  • Montauk Fling EP (2013)
  • Songs for Others EP (2013)
  • Alters EP (2014)
  • The Book of Law (2017)
  • I Know I've Been Wrong, But Can We Talk EP (2018)
  • Good Morning America (2021)
  • Not A Son (2021)
  • The Plow That Broke the Plains (2024)

Singles

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  • "Montauk Fling" (2013)
  • "#1 All Time Low" (2013)
  • "Kevin" (2013)
  • "Fatal Attraction" (2013)
  • "California Paranoia" feat. Angel Olsen (2015)
  • "Oz vs. Eden" (2015)
  • "Users" (2015)
  • "H" (2016)
  • "Designer Babies" feat. Kim Gordon (2016)
  • "Wolves Still Cry" (2017)
  • "Ain't Afraid of Dying" feat. Marissa Nadler (2017)
  • "Jordan" feat. Kristin Kontrol (2017)
  • "Stand By" (2017)
  • "Decade" (2018)
  • "Oath" (2018)
  • "SkinDeepSkyHighHeartWide" feat. Pale Waves (2020)
  • "It's Hard to Be Human" feat. Marissa Nadler and Mary Lattimore (2020)
  • "Decent Man" feat. Lucinda Williams (2020)
  • "Thrash The West" feat. Amanda Shires (2021)
  • "Breathe" feat. Caroline Rose (2021)
  • "The Fix" (2021)
  • "Glory" (2021)
  • "Not A Son" (2021)
  • "Poster Child" (2024)
  • "The Plow That Broke the Plains" (2024)
  • "LAX" feat. Amanda Shires (2024)

Music videos

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  • Montauk Fling (2013)
  • #1 All Time Low (2013)
  • Fatal Attraction (2013)
  • California Paranoia feat. Angel Olsen (2015)
  • Oz vs. Eden (2015)
  • Users (2015)
  • H (2016)
  • Designer Babies feat. Kim Gordon (2017)
  • Wolves Still Cry (2017)
  • Ain't Afraid of Dying feat. Marissa Nadler (2017)
  • Jordan feat. Kristin Kontrol (2017)
  • Stand By (2017)
  • Decade (2018)
  • Oath (2018)
  • Decent Man feat. Lucinda Williams (2020)
  • Thrash The West feat. Amanda Shires (2021)
  • The Fix (2021)
  • Glory feat.Katy Pruitt (2021)
  • Sunny Place For Shady People (2021)
  • Homesiick (2021)
  • GirlWhoLivedToSleep (2021)
  • Health Card I.D. (2021)
  • Poster Child (2024)
  • LAX (2024)
  • The Plow That Broke the Plains (2024)
  • Dreams Die Hard (2024)

Producer and songwriter discography

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Year Album/Single Artist Label Credit
2024 Sober Bartees Strange 4AD Producer
2024 What's Fair Blondshell Partisan Mixer
2024 Thank You For Sending Me An Angel Blondshell A24 Music Mixer
2023 I Don't Want You Anymore Cherry Glazerr Secretly Canadian Mixer
2023 The Sound Emporium EP Jason Isbell Amanda Shires Southeastern/Thirty Tigers Producer, mixer, additional engineer
2023 Loving You Bobbie Nelson Amanda Shires ATO Producer, mixer, additional engineer
2023 Dark Black Coal Logan Halstead Thirty Tigers Producer, mixer, additional engineer
2023 Live From Columbia Studio A Amanda Shires ATO Producer, writer, mixer, engineer
2023 Hell in The Heartland Margo Price Loma Vista Producer, writer, engineer
2022 Take It Like A Man Amanda Shires ATO Producer, mixer, writer, engineer
2022 Hawk For A Dove Amanda Shires ATO Producer, mixer, writer, engineer
2022 Farm To Table Bartees Strange 4AD Producer, additional engineer
2022 Independence Day Brittney Spencer Amazon Originals Producer, mixer
2022 You Don't Own Me Margo Price Loma Vista Producer, mixer, engineer
2022 Forgiveness Girlpool Anti- Mixer
2022 Faultlines Girlpool Anti- Mixer
2021 For Christmas Amanda Shires Thirty Tigers/Silver Knife Producer, mixer, engineer, writer
2021 Crossbones Style Georgia Blue Jason Isbell Amanda Shires Thirty Tigers/Southeastern Mixer
2021 You Don't Get To Go Amanda Shires Thirty Tigers/Silver Knife Producer, mixer
2021 My Friend Misery Cherry Glazerr Metallica Warner Bros Records Producer, mixer
2021 Highway Unicorn The Highwomen Lady Gaga Interscope Records Producer, mixer
2020 The Turning (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Various Artists KRO Records /Sony Music Masterworks Producer, mixer, writer, Artist
2020 Call Me Empress Of KRO Records /Terrible Records Producer, mixer, writer, engineer
2020 kate's not here Girl in Red KRO Records/Sony Masterworks Producer, mixer, writer, engineer
2020 Mother Courtney Love KRO Records/Sony Masterworks Producer, mixer, writer, engineer
2020 Getting Better (otherwise) The Aubreys featuring Finn Wolfhard KRO Records/Sony Masterworks Producer, mixer, writer, engineer
2020 SkindeepSkyhighHeartwide (feat. Pale Waves) Lawrence Rothman featuring Pale Waves KRO Records/Sony Masterworks Producer, mixer, engineer
2020 Mess SASAMI Domino Producer, mixer, engineer
2020 Rise Alison Mosshart Domino Producer, bass, mixer, engineer
2020 The Fool (Undone) Overcoats Loma Vista Recordings Mixer, engineer
2019 Feed Soccer Mommy KRO Records/Loma Vista Recordings Mixer
2019 Kills Birds Kills Birds KRO Records Engineer
2019 No Home Record Kim Gordon Matador Engineer
2018 Murdered Out Kim Gordon Matador Engineer
2018 Premonitions Miya Folick Interscope Records Engineer
2018 For My Crimes Marissa Nadler Sacred Bones Records Producer, mixer, engineer
2018 Poison Summer Marissa Nadler John Cale KRO Records Producer, mixer, engineer
2018 Diablo Menthe SOKO Because Music Mixer
2017 The Book of Law Lawrence Rothman Interscope Records Producer, mixer, writer, engineer
2017 That Thing Hazel English Polyvinyl Records Engineer
2016 My Woman Angel Olsen Jagjaguwar Engineer, additional production
2015 For The Feel Bleached Dead Oceans Producer, mixer, engineer

References

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  1. ^ Hana Kaplan (August 1, 2013). "DISCOVERY: LAWRENCE ROTHMAN". Interview. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  2. ^ "Lawrence Rothman has nine alter egos and says David Lynch saved their life". Thefader.com. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  3. ^ Sasha Geffen (October 11, 2017). "Lawrence Rothman on Being Gender Fluid: "Why Do You Have to Check a Box That's Male or Female?"". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  4. ^ August Brown (November 1, 2017). "Lawrence Rothman's genre-hopping 'The Book of Law' explores many personalities". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  5. ^ Cooper, Duncan (August 16, 2017). "Watch Lawrence Rothman's Heartbreaking "Ain't Afraid Of Dying"". Fader. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  6. ^ "Album Review: Marissa Nadler Continues Her Winning Streak on For My Crimes". September 26, 2018.
  7. ^ "My Woman - Angel Olsen | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  8. ^ "'Endings, Beginnings': Film Review | TIFF 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. September 9, 2019. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  9. ^ "Music from 13 Reasons Why S2E01". Tunefind.com. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  10. ^ ""Lucifer" Take Me Back to Hell (TV Episode 2016)". IMDb.com. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  11. ^ "Postmortem-Bliss". Turner-Classic Movies. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  12. ^ Blais-Billie, Braudie (February 13, 2019). "Rain Phoenix and Michael Stipe Share Video for New Song "Time Is the Killer": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  13. ^ Legaspi, Althea (January 24, 2019). "Rain Phoenix Teams With Brother River's Band, Michael Stipe for New Music". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  14. ^ "Marissa Nadler and John Cale Team on New Song "Poison": Listen". Pitchfork. February 21, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  15. ^ "Kills Birds | Big Hassle". Archived from the original on May 1, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  16. ^ "Buzzy Lee & Tommy Mandel Release New EP, 'Close Encounters Of Their Own Kind' Out Today Via KRO Records". Tell All Your Friends PR. Retrieved April 10, 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  17. ^ "Courtney Love - "Mother"". Stereogum. November 21, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  18. ^ "Finn Wolfhard Starrer, The Turning, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Out January 24 On KRO Records / Sony Music Masterworks". Sony Music Entertainment. November 21, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
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