Kristina Esfandiari
Kristina Esfandiari | |
---|---|
Born | March 4, 1988 |
Origin | U.S. |
Genres | Shoegaze, doom metal |
Occupation(s) | Singer, musician |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
Years active | 2009–present |
Labels | Relapse, The Native Sound |
Associated acts | Whirr, Drowse |
Kristina Esfandiari (born March 4, 1988) is a singer-songwriter who writes music and performs under the moniker Miserable and with the band King Woman.
Early life
Esfandiari was raised in a "charismatic Christian church".[1] At the insistence of her mother, she joined the choir at her church aged 15, before later becoming a worship leader.[2] At 22, she moved to the Bay Area. [3]
Career
Kristina is best known as the lead vocalist for the band King Woman. Esfandiari began King Woman as a solo project in 2009, after cutting ties with her religious upbringing.[4] The project later became a band, after she was joined by two of her childhood friends, Joey Raygoza and Colin Gallagher.[5][6]
Currently they are signed to Sargent House. In the early days of the band, Esfandiari became well known for her heavy and dramatic vocals during live shows. As a solo artist she also records and releases music as Miserable.
She has managed to release a number of EPs[7] (Halloween Dream[8] and Dog Days), while Uncontrollable was her latest solo LP. Written and recorded over the course of a year, the LP is the most emotional release in her history as an artist after going through a tough breakup. The album was released in April 2016 via The Native Sound[9][10][11][12] and quickly became a fan favourite and her breakthrough record[13][14], according to most mainstream media. Pitchfork[15] and Spin[16] praised her work. She later toured extensively in the US[17].
Kristina has previously collaborated with the shoegaze band Whirr[18].
With King Woman
After their first successful EP release with The Flenser[19] in 2015[20], King Woman signed to Relapse Records[21] and released their debut LP, Created in the Image of Suffering[22], which was labelled by Pitchfork as one of the best rock albums of 2017[23][24].
In June 2016 Kristina and Heather Fortune of Wax Idols, while touring with Pentagram, announced that they are cancelling the rest of their performances with them[25]. In an interview with Vice they called out sexual harassment and revealed that the band had treated them poorly.[26].
Discography
King Woman
Albums
Singles / EPs
- Degrida / Sick Bed (2013)
- Dove / Fond Affections (2014)
- Doubt (2015)
Miserable
Albums
- Uncontrollable (2016)
Singles / EPs
- Split with Grey Zine (2013)
- Halloween Dream (2014)
- Dog Days (2014)
- Gasoline (2018)
References
- ↑ Mejia, Paula. "Metal Singer Kristina Esfandiari on Using Dark Sounds to Heal". Rolling Stone. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
- ↑ Reveron, Sean. "CVLT NATION INTERVIEWS KRISTINA ESFANDIARI". Cvlt Nation. Cvlt Nation. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
- ↑ Lefebvre, Sam. "King Woman Vanquishes the Holy Spirit". East Bay Express. East Bay Express. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
- ↑ Esfandiari, Kristina. "A Jonestown Survivor and King Woman's Kristina Esfandiari Discuss Healing from Trauma". Vice. Vice Media. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
- ↑ Ruskin, Zack (March 28, 2018). "Kristina Esfandiari's path to King Woman was a painful one". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ↑ Reveron, Sean. "CVLT NATION INTERVIEWS KRISTINA ESFANDIARI". Cvlt Nation. Cvlt Nation. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
- ↑ Noblé, Summer (2015-04-27). "Darkness Disguised As Light: An Interview With King Woman". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ "FIRST LISTEN: Miserable Halloween Dream EP". NYLON. 2014-02-18. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ Kelley, Quinn. "Miserable's Kristina Esfandiari on the relief of finishing her debut album". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ "The Native Sound". The Native Sound. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ "Miserable Finds Grace in the Profane on 'Uncontrollable' LP". SPIN. April 28, 2016.
- ↑ "Uncontrollable, by Miserable". Miserable. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ "Miserable's Shoegazey "Violet" Will Destroy Your Heart". The FADER. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ "9 Best Songs of the Week: Billboard.com Editors' Picks -- April 15". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ ""Violet" by Miserable Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ "Miserable's Kristina Esfandiari Makes Death Sound Like a Dream with "Oven"". Noisey. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ "Miserable touring behind 'Uncontrollable' (dates, LP stream)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ "Whirr: Around Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ "King Woman – Doubt | The Flenser". theflenser.com. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ ""Burn" by King Woman Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ "King Woman - Relapse Records". Relapse Records Official Website.
- ↑ "How Kristina Esfandiari Balances King Woman and Miserable". CLRVYNT. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ "The Month in Metal: The Hopelessness of Slayer, King Woman, and Shaarimoth | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ "King Woman: Created in the Image of Suffering Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
- ↑ Minsker, Evan (June 8, 2016). "Pitchfork". Pitchfork.
- ↑ "This Is Why Wax Idols and King Woman Dropped Off Their Tour with Pentagram". Noisey. Retrieved 2017-09-10.