Pomplamoose

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This article is about the duo. For their debut album, see Pomplamoose (album).

Pomplamoose
Pomplamoose 2014 2.jpg
Pomplamoose in 2014
Background information
Genres
Years active2008–present
Associated acts
Websitepomplamoose.com
Members

Pomplamoose is an American musical duo composed of husband-and-wife multi-instrumentalist Jack Conte and singer-songwriter and bassist Nataly Dawn. The duo formed in 2008[2] and sold approximately 100,000 songs online in 2009.[3] They are known for their viral YouTube videos and covers of popular songs.[4]

Etymology[]

The name of the band derives from a misspelling of the French word pamplemousse, meaning grapefruit.[5]

History[]

Pomplamoose performing in 2011

Pomplamoose's presence is primarily from videos on YouTube,[6] with few live performances. They have gathered over 1.2 million subscribers and over 200 million viewers on their YouTube channel as of December 2020.[7] Their first song "Hail Mary" was featured on the front page of YouTube.[8]

Their videos mostly take the form of "VideoSongs", a medium Conte defines with two rules:[9]

  1. What you see is what you hear. (No lip-syncing for instruments or voice)
  2. If you hear it, at some point you see it. (No hidden sounds)

On April 11, 2010, the band was interviewed on NPR's All Things Considered.[3] Conte discussed the "glitz-free" manner in which they record:

I guess I kinda don't like how there's such a pedestal for music culture and especially for band culture, it just feels fake; it feels like smoke and mirrors. I feel like music doesn't have to be like that. It can be something that's very normal and very accessible.

Also in April 2010, their cover of The Chordettes' "Mr. Sandman" was used in a commercial for Toyota's Avalon series, set in an Art Deco train station.[3][10]

In September 2010, Pomplamoose recorded a song in collaboration with Allee Willis, "Jungle Animal". Willis contacted the duo after hearing their cover of "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire and offered to write a new song for them. Willis also provided the single art for the song.[11]

During the Christmas season of 2010, Pomplamoose performed in several ads in the style of their YouTube videos for Hyundai, singing their versions of Christmas classics such as "O Come, All Ye Faithful", "Jingle Bells", "Up on the Housetop", and "Deck the Halls".[12]

In 2011, Pomplamoose began a webcast named Hey, It's Pomplamoose: A Show about Pomplamoose and Other Things.[5] On November 5, 2013, Pomplamoose launched the second season of the webcast: a three-part sequel to the band’s early years, including but not limited to, videos, a tour, and an album (released on July 29, 2014).[citation needed]

Conte and Dawn married in late 2016.[5]

On May 18, 2021, Dawn announced her diagnosis with basal-cell carcinoma and that due to her condition, Pomplamoose would be releasing fewer videos per month.[13]

Philanthropy[]

In November 2010, Pomplamoose created a book drive for a charter school in Richmond, California, offering a free download of an album to anyone who purchased a book for the school district. The drive paid for over 11,000 books.[14][15]

On November 8, 2013, Pomplamoose performed at "Lens", Mateo Messina's 16th annual benefit concert at Seattle's Benaroya Hall for Seattle Children's Hospital.[16]

Awards and nominations[]

Year Nominated work Award Category Result
2020 Pomplamoose Shorty Awards YouTube Musician Won

Discography[]

Main article: Pomplamoose discography
  • Pomplamoose (2009)
  • Tribute to Famous People (2010)
  • Pomplamoose: Season 2 (2014)
  • Besides (2015)
  • Hey It's Pomplamoose (2016)
  • Winter Wishes (2018)
  • Best of 2018 (2018)
  • Best of 2019 (2020)
  • Lucid Dreaming Soundtrack (2020)
  • Invisible People (2020)
  • Impossible à Prononcer (2021)

References[]

  1. ^ Monger, James Christopher. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  2. ^ Potstra, Alison (November 4, 2008). "Pomplamoose: your new favourite band". The Brock Press. Archived from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c "Pomplamoose: Making A Living On YouTube". NPR. All Things Considered. April 9, 2010. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  4. ^ XOXO Festival (October 17, 2013). "Jack Conte, Pomplamoose/Patreon – XOXO Festival (2013)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Sankin, Aaron (June 21, 2017). "Pomplamoose's Nataly Dawn is ready for her close-up". The Daily Dot. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  6. ^ Keen, Andrew (February 17, 2020). "Keen On… Pomplamoose: How Nataly And Jack Are Reinventing The Music Business (TCTV)". TechCrunch. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  7. ^ "PomplamooseMusic". YouTube. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  8. ^ "Nataly Dawn Releases Debut Album". BroadwayWorld. November 1, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  9. ^ "Electro-Harmonix Bass MicroSynth Makes Some Amazing Low End For Jack Conte of Pomplamoose". Gearwire. June 24, 2009. Archived from the original on November 23, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  10. ^ Toyota (February 14, 2011). "Toyota Avalon Train TV commercial". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  11. ^ PomplamooseMusic (September 21, 2010). "Pomplamoose with Allee Willis – Jungle Animal". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  12. ^ Port, Ian S. (November 23, 2010). "Pomplamoose Turns Its Talents on for Hyundai Commercials". SF Weekly. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  13. ^ "Personal update". YouTube. Pomplamoose. May 18, 2021. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  14. ^ Melendez, Lyanne (January 7, 2011). "Richmond school book project hugely successful". KGO-TV. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  15. ^ Said, Carolyn (December 13, 2010). "Musicians' unusual offer benefits Richmond schools". SFGate. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  16. ^ "Mateo Messina's 16th Annual Benefit Concert: "LENS"". Archived from the original on July 10, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2016.

External links[]


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