Deakin (musician)

Joshua Caleb "Josh" Dibb (born January 6, 1978), also known by his moniker Deakin, is an American musician who co-founded the experimental pop band Animal Collective. He is the most infrequent member of the collective appearing on only five of eleven albums. In 2016, he made his solo debut with the album Sleep Cycle.

Biography

Early life

Dibb was born on January 6, 1978 in Orange, California to Jessica B Mendlovitz and David C Dibb, who married in 1977.^[1]

Animal Collective

Josh Dibb began writing and recording music with childhood friend Noah Lennox (Panda Bear) in 1991. While at The Park School of Baltimore, Josh met David Portner (Avey Tare) and Brian Weitz (Geologist) when they asked him to join their band, Automine. Josh introduced Noah to Dave and Brian and over the next few years the four spent time playing music together and sharing tapes of music they made individually.

After high school, Panda Bear and Deakin went to Boston, where Deakin attended Brandeis University. Avey Tare and Geologist moved to New York City to attend NYU and Columbia University respectively. After months of playing the band finally settled on the name "Animal Collective". After touring with the group from 2004 to the end of 2006 and recording two albums, Feels and Strawberry Jam, the Water Curses EP and the visual album ODDSAC he decided to take a break from the increasingly rigorous touring schedule. After not participating in the recording of the album Merriweather Post Pavilion, he rejoined the band live on April 11, 2011 in Petaluma, California after a three-year absence.^[2]

Other musical projects

In 2008 and 2009, Deakin did remixes for "Little Bird" by Goldfrapp, Mirando by Ratatat, "Boundary Waters" by Palms and Love Like a Sunset by Phoenix.

On January 1, 2010, he played his first solo show as Deakin at the Ottobar in Baltimore, MD where he grew up.^[3]

In December 2009, Deakin raised $25,985 through the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform to travel to Mali to play at the music festival Festival au Désert outside of Tomboctou in January 2010 and to record an album in early 2010.^[4] After playing the music festival, Deakin played five shows in Europe, including a few shows opening for Panda Bear. Deakin toured throughout 2010 as a solo artist, playing original material.^[5]

On January 7, 2016, Dibb sent backers of his Kickstarter campaign an announcement that his long awaited solo album was complete, stating:

On January 1st, 2010 I played my first solo show ever. 6 years ago today I arrived in Timbuktu with Brad Truax to play my second solo show ever. I promised all of you that I would have something to show for it. I know it’s been a really long time, but on January 1st of this year I put the finishing touches on the record I promised you so many years ago. It’s finished. It’s been an incredibly challenging and meaningful process for me and I am really proud of the result. I can’t wait to get it to everyone. I am putting finishing touches on artwork for the book and for the music and for an additional visual treat for everyone. I will be sending everything off to get manufactured as soon as I can. With turnaround times being what they are we aren’t expecting to be able to send packages to you until the end of the month or even early February but believe me that at this point I am pushing to get this all finished as soon as possible.^[6]

On April 6, 2016, it was announced that Sleep Cycle would be released on April 8, 2016.^[7] On April 6, 2016, "Just Am" was the first track shared from the album, accompanied by a music video.^[8] The album was subsequently released on Bandcamp on April 6, 2016.^[9]

Discography

With Animal Collective

• Campfire Songs (2003)
• Here Comes the Indian (2003)
• Feels (2005)
• Strawberry Jam (2007)
• Centipede Hz (2012)

Studio albums

• Sleep Cycle (2016)

Splits

• Wastered (w/ Black Dice) (2004) - Paw Tracks

Remixes

• "Little Bird" (Remix of Goldfrapp), released on "Caravan Girl" UK 7-inch Picture disk and on Digital EP (June 30, 2008, Mute Records)
• "Mirando" (Remix of Ratatat), released on "Mirando" Single (February 3, 2009, XL Recordings)
• "Boundary Waters" (Remix of Palms), released on "Boundary Waters Remixed" 12" (September 2009, Rare Book Room Records)
• "Love Like A Sunset (Deakins Jam)" (Remix of Phoenix), released digitally in 2009 (V2 Records)"
• "Welt Am Draht" (Remix of Pantha du Prince), released digitally in 2010 (Rough Trade Records)

Appearances

• "In The City That Reads" on Arto Lindsay's album Invoke (June 25, 2002, Righteous Babe Records), credited as Avey Tare, Deaken, Geologist, Panda Bear
• "Seeing Twinkles" on the sampler Music for Plants (June 2005, PerfectIfOn), under the name Deaken and Geologist
• "Country Report" on the cassette tape Keep + Animal Collective (March 2011, Keep)

References

External links

• Bmore Musically Informed - photos and mp3's of New Years show.