Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

Mistletone proudly presents the return of Ariel Pinks Haunted Graffiti. Los Angeles underground cult figure turned international pop star, Ariel Pinks sound is as sublime as it is surreal, loaded with hazy nostalgia and a fiercely experimental pop palette. Establishing himself as one of the most prolific songwriters and unique talents of his generation, Ariel Pinks influence on todays bands and genres has been profound.
Ariel Pink was raised in the Pico-Robertson area of Los Angeles, attending Beverly Hills High School and later the California Institute of the Arts. In high school, Ariel was a fan of such Gothic rock acts as Christian Death, Bauhaus, The Sisters of Mercy, and The Cure (whom he cites as his favorite band). He started writing songs around age 10″ and has recorded over 500 songs on hundreds of cassette tapes since 1996.

Ariel produces and plays almost all of his own music, and is noted for creating drum sounds using primarily his mouth, and sometimes his armpits. His home recording technique gives his music a very lo-fi sound, to the point where new listeners may mistake the era of his music. Ariels influences range from R. Stevie Moorefriend, mentor, and father of home recording to Michael Jackson. Aside from his music, Ariel creates and sells semi-abstract and surreal grotesque drawings which can be viewed at his unofficial website.

From 20002002, Ariel collaborated with fellow Los Angeles recording artist coL, which resulted in each being featured on one anothers albums. In the summer of 2003, Ariel passed a CD-R on to Animal Collective after being introduced by mutual friend and occasional collaborator Jimi Hey (All Night Radio, Indian Jewelry, Beachwood Sparks, The Rapture) at one of their shows. Unbeknownst to Pink, Animal Collective had recently started their own record label, Paw Tracks. Animal Collective member Josh Dibb remembers: It sat on the floor of the van for a week or so Finally we played it and we were just like Woah!. Brian was, like, Im making it my goal in life to put this kids record out on our label.

Several weeks later they contacted him to sign him on Paw Tracks. Ariel became the first musician on the label aside from the members of Animal Collective. The next year, the label reissued The Doldrums, an album which had been originally recorded in 1999. Since then, Paw Tracks (now co-owned by Carpark Records) has released two other reissues of Pinks previous recordings, Worn Copy and House Arrest (Mistletones first ever release).

Ariel gradually caught the attention of media sources around the United States as well as internationally. As most of his albums are self-made, many of them have never been heard by fans. Almost all of Pinks albums which have been commercially released come from his recently released Haunted Graffiti series and are thus the best known. In 2006, Pinks collaboration with Holy Shit front-man Matt Fishbeck led to the release of Stranded at Two Harbors.

After initially playing shows with pre-recorded music, Ariel later employed the efforts of Gary War, Robert Robinson (Sore Eros), Tim Koh (White Magic), and John Maus while touring. In 2008, Ariel formed a new band with keyboardist/ guitarist/ backing vocalist Kenny Gilmore, drummer/ vocalist/ guitarist Jimi Hey, and guitarist Cole M. Greif-Neill (Ethnik Klensr, The Samps, Nite Jewel), who became known as Haunted Graffiti. Drummer Aaron Sperske (Beachwood Sparks, Lilys) has since replaced Jimi Hey, and guitarist Joseph Kennedy has replaced Greif-Neill. Consistent touring with a fixed band lineup has led to a much more accessible and musically tighter show for concert goers.

Haunted Graffiti toured with Chairlift, Cryptacize and Vivian Girls, followed by a performance at Coachella. In November 2009, Ariel Pinks Haunted Graffiti was signed to 4AD records. Their first single Round and Round in March 2010 marked a studio quality departure from his former lo-fi recordings. A new album, Before Today, followed in June 2010.

Before Today was recognized by Pitchfork in their Best New Music category. The album includes some new versions of songs released on previous records, notably LEstat (acc. to the widows maid), Round and Round (formerly titled Frontman/Hold On (Im Calling)) and Beverly Kills. In December 2010, Pitchfork named Round and Round the number 1 song on their list of The Top 100 Tracks of 2010. Ariel Pinks Haunted Graffiti were chosen by Animal Collective to perform at the All Tomorrows Parties festival that they curated in May 2011. Having previously toured Australia as a solo artist with a local backing band in 2006, Ariel Pinks Haunted Graffiti toured as a full band in 2011 as part of Laneway Festival and well-received headline shows in Melbourne and Sydney.