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Mutemath

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Mute Math is a rock band from New Orleans consisting of Paul Meany on rhodes, bass, keytar, keyboards, samples, and vocals, Darren King on drums, samples, and programming, Greg Hill on guitars and vocals, and Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas on bass guitar. In early 2006 the band made national news [1] when it sued its label, Warner Brothers Records, for breach of contract when they promoted Mute Math as a Christian rock band.


Biography

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Mute Math
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Mute Math started in 2001 as a long distance collaboration between Paul Meany in New Orleans, LA and Darren King in Springfield, MO. Early on Paul intermittently received instrumental demo CD's from Darren King. Fairly impressed with his efforts, Paul contacted Darren and asked if he could mess with the demos a bit, adding some song ideas of his own. Darren obliged and the two would set in motion a sort of songwriting ping-pong match that would carry on for several months. A few rounds of this led to talks of a possible project, which soon grew to become Mute Math.

With the recruiting of guitarist Greg Hill and bass player Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas, Mute Math worked feverishly in their New Orleans home studio to demo a whole new collection of songs. Creatively ambitious, they dove head first into exploring a new definition for themselves on how a rock band should sound and perform. Finding inspiration in everything that's considered the opposite of rock music, they were determined to find a unique template in which to place their songs. The result was a captivating soundscape of experimental rock drenched in irresistible hooks. Paul immediately played the demo for longtime friend and producer Tedd T, who fell in love at first listen. They talked of creating a model indie label, Teleprompt, where Mute Math could freely operate and begin building a musical momentum.

Mute Math released its debut EP Reset on Teleprompt in September of 2004. The band began an Internet blitzing to music fan sites MySpace and Pure Volume, video blogging their live performance of the single "Chaos". Within months, Mute Math developed enough of a base to venture out and hit America. The word of mouth continued to spread and the band was soon seeing its shows sell out in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix and doing great numbers in others too. They chronicled their shows and updated their video blogs on a nightly basis. The band honed their chops with nightly improvisation and in turn gained many fans. The band now has 74,193 MySpace friends and has sold 30,000 copies of Reset.

In January of 2006, the band set out on a headlining tour in support of their self-titled debut album. This tour will be a special jaunt of sorts, as it is not only a chance to test the new tunes out in a new light and reach new fans, but also to give a little something back to the fans that have helped get Mute Math to where they are today. The album will only be available as a "tour only" release until it's national release in Fall 2006. Judging by the bands strong grass roots following it's necessary to appeal to the fans first.

The Mute Math dynamic can be viewed in parts. At its core, an inspired electro-alt rock band with a soaring sound that incorporates emotive vocals, hip hop styled beats, dubby soundscapes fueled by sample-like guitars and Rhodes piano flourishes, keytars, a homemade instrument (called "the Atari," with the help of ElectroKraft - now manufactured by ElectroKraft under the name "SpaceAxe") and other random gadgets. The other is a finely tuned live act, with a highly infectious and equally energetic show, that's accented by the occasional acrobatics, experimental jams, live sampling and bouts of instrumental switcheroo that emboldens the player's chops. That's good, because music fans are always looking for something new to excite and intrigue them, and that is executed well. Judging by the reactions of the live show on MySpace and this new set of songs about to hit, Mute Math definitely deserves a look- they nail it on record, and they kill it live. These are the elements that help Mute Math click with the fans of old and new, on a daily basis.

The Label Dispute

In January of 2006, Paul Meany made the following statement via Myspace.com in regards to the ongoing label dispute with Warner Bros. Records:

"What's been going on? Well it's time you should know."

"In the latter part of the summer last year, our management/label team, Teleprompt, filed suit against Warner Brothers/Word because of the ongoing argument of how Mute Math should sound and be marketed. This is the stuff that can easily beat you down when all you're trying to do is make music. It's frustrating when you were told you would be working with and through a major label for flexibility, creative freedom and marketing to all markets, when the result is they ultimately relegate you to where you fit in their corporate politics. They WOULD NOT listen to what we wanted.

Teleprompt was conceptualized by Tedd T, Kevin Kookogey and myself as a creative safe haven to afford Mute Math it's fullest potential in reaching its audience. However, our relationship with Warner has gone drastically sour as they have completely disregarded our validity and essentially began to bully us into being what ended up being most convenient for them ... Word artists. It gives me chills just to say that. We tried our diplomatic best since the EP came out to stay optimistic and allow the process to work as promised, but we kept falling prey to varying political agendas that were blatantly not in the best interest of our band. They played their games of throwing empty promises at us in hopes to get us to just shut up and live, as it turned out, through Word Records. I'm sorry, but that's the last place in the world I ever wanted Mute Math to end up.

While I recognize that there's a purpose for the type of music carried on Word, we simply do not share that purpose. It's sad to me that, at the end of the day, no one at Warner cared enough to intervene and take our vision as seriously as was promised us, so I'm left to assume it's at least in part because of Word ultimately wanting control. There was no way I could bear the thought of seeing the new album stamped with the 'W' and confined to being promoted in a manner that I consider nauseating.

So, our first objective is to get the new album out immediately to all of you who have been extremely patient. That is the reason for this upcoming tour. Because of our industry scuffle we are unable to do a conventional release, but these limitations are what got us thinking: there was no idea more appealing to us than personally delivering this album to everyone who wants it. Our team got busy organizing a tour that would be an album release party in every city we play. This tour will be monumental in the story that unfolds for this band and is an event that I hope all of you can be a part of. We've booked as many cities as we could to get the show as close to all of you as possible, and have been hard at work rehearsing the new set.

I look forward to seeing all of you and sharing a collection of music of which we couldn't be more proud."

-Paul Meany (January 18, 2006 / Myspace.com )

Discography

Mute Math released an EP titled Reset in 2004 on Teleprompt Records and Warner Bros. Records/Word Records/Curb Records. The self titled LP released by Teleprompt is available at shows on "The Album Release Tour 2006" and online and is expected to be available in retail stores sometime in Fall 2006.

Cover of Reset EP
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Reset EP (2004)

  1. Control (4:36)
  2. Peculiar People (4:35)
  3. Ok (5:23)
  4. Reset (5:25)
  5. Plan B (4:46)
  6. Progress (4:45)
  7. Afterward (1:19)
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Cover of Mute Math
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Mute Math (2006)

  1. Collapse (1:12)
  2. Typical (4:12)
  3. After We Have Left Our Homes (1:14)
  4. Chaos (4:55)
  5. Noticed (4:25)
  6. Without It (4:57)
  7. Polite (1:22)
  8. Stare At the Sun (4:33)
  9. Obsolete (4:32)
  10. Break the Same (7:22)
  11. You Are Mine (6:08)
  12. Picture (5:21)
  13. Stall Out (7:05)

Singles

2006: Chaos

Collaborations

  • Tobymac - J-Train (Math Remix) Paul Meany & Darren King remix Tobymac's song on the 2003 ReMix: Momentum album under the pre-Mutemath name "Math."
  • Tobymac - Phenomenon: Paul Meany co-authored this song with Tobymac for the Welcome to Diverse City album in 2004. Features Paul Meany on rhodes and Darren King on drums (and Earthsuit guitarist Dave Rumsey on guitars).
  • Tobymac - Burn for You (Cat Paw Remix): Paul Meany & Darren King remix Tobymac's song on the Renovating Diverse City album in 2005.
  • Club Of The Sons - Debut EP: Paul Meany helps produce Adam LaClave's new Club Of The Sons EP in 2006.

Tours

  • Fall 2004 - The Illuminate Tour with David Crowder Band
  • Spring 2005 - The "Reset" Tour with Mat Kearney
  • Fall 2005 - The Music Is Much Too Loud Tour with Mae and Circa Survive
  • Winter 2005 - The Album Release Tour with Vedera (formerly Veda)
  • Spring 2006 - The Album Release Tour (Second Leg) with The Working Title
  • May 2006 - The Album Release Encore Tour
  • Summer 2006 - Vans Warped Tour

Television Appearances

Trivia

  • Paul Meany and Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas are former members of the now-dissolved band Earthsuit. Darren King was also Earthsuit's drummer in the band's final months.
  • At the beginning of most shows, drummer Darren King performs a traditional ritual of taping his headphones around his head.
  • According to Mute Math's management, their debut LP Mute Math sold nearly 10,000 copies in the first month of its release, selling almost 100 copies per day via their website.
  • The band primarily uses vintage instruments from the 70s and 80s.
  • Mute Math's instrumental "Reset" includes samples from "Glo in the Dark Part 4" off the Glo album by British Christian Rock group Delirious.
  • Mute Math was also released as a limited edition double-vinyl.

See also

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