Editing Stephin Merritt

{{short description|American singer-songwriter (born 1965)}}
{{Distinguish|Steve Merritt}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name                = Stephin Merritt
| image               = SmerrittVlcsnap-2024-04-13-23h59m44s023.png
| caption             = Merritt at [[Town Hall]] in NYC, 2024
| birth_name          =
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1965|2|9|mf=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Yonkers, New York]], U.S.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://observer.com/1999/10/unsung-east-village-songwriter-and-his-69-love-songs/ |title=Unsung East Village Songwriter And His 69 Love Songs |last=Hunter |first=James |date=October 18, 1999 |work=Observer |access-date=September 11, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813000556/http://observer.com/1999/10/unsung-east-village-songwriter-and-his-69-love-songs/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| origin              =
| death_date          =
| death_place         =
| genre               = {{flatlist|
* [[Indie pop]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16335-put-your-back-n-2-it/ |title=Perfume Genius Put Your Back N 2 It |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=August 10, 2016}}</ref>
* [[synthpop]]
}}
| occupation          = Singer, musician, songwriter
| years_active        =
| instrument          = Vocals, guitar, [[ukulele]], keyboards, synthesizers, [[bouzouki]], percussion
| label               =
| associated_acts     = [[The Magnetic Fields]]<br />[[the 6ths]]<br />[[the Gothic Archies]]<br />[[Future Bible Heroes]]
| website             = {{URL|houseoftomorrow.com}}
}}
'''Stephin Merritt''' (born February 9, 1965)<ref>United States Copyright Office, [http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First Copyright Catalog (1978 to present)] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120629083507/http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First |date=June 29, 2012 }} [Search by: Name (Merritt, Stephin) – Merritt, Stephin, 1965–]</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=Michael |title=Stephin Merritt Shares the Story Behind the Magnetic Fields' "50 Song Memoir" |url=https://www.nonesuch.com/journal/stephin-merritt-shares-story-behind-magnetic-fields-50-song-memoir-2017-01-30 |website=Nonesuch Records |access-date=May 4, 2023 |date=January 30, 2017 |quote=Merritt turned fifty on February 9, 2015.}}</ref> is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the songwriter and principal singer of the bands [[the Magnetic Fields]], [[the Gothic Archies]], and [[Future Bible Heroes]]. He is known for his distinctive [[bass (voice type)|bass]] voice.<ref name="MyLife15">Grow, Kory.   "Stephen Merritt: My Life in 15 Songs".    Rolling Stone.    October 30, 2015.     https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/stephin-merritt-my-life-in-15-songs-20151030/alien-being-20151023 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618230302/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/stephin-merritt-my-life-in-15-songs-20151030/alien-being-20151023 |date=June 18, 2018 }}</ref><ref name="Merritt50">{{Cite news |title=Stephin Merritt: 50 songs for 50 years |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/magazine-38188073 |access-date=March 3, 2023}}</ref>

==Musical projects==
Merritt created and plays principal roles in the bands [[the Magnetic Fields]],<ref name="Merritt50"/> [[the 6ths]], [[the Gothic Archies]] and [[Future Bible Heroes]].<ref name="MyLife15"/>  He briefly used the name ''The Baudelaire Memorial Orchestra'' as an attribution for "Scream and Run Away", a song written for [[Lemony Snicket]]'s ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'', but further music was attributed to the Gothic Archies.<ref name="npr">[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6493324 Merritt, Snicket and the 'Tragic Treasury'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429024712/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6493324 |date=April 29, 2018 }}, ''All Things Considered'' December 3, 2006</ref>

Between 1999 and 2005, he was one-third of the infrequent, live-only ensemble the Three Terrors, with ''[[69 Love Songs]]''{{'}}s [[Dudley Klute]] and [[LD Beghtol]]. These performances were themed around French pop music, movie themes (including the title song from ''[[Deep Throat (film)|Deep Throat]]''), intoxication, and New York City. [[Kenny Mellman]] (of [[Kiki & Herb]]), [[Jon DeRosa]] and others performed with the Three Terrors at these sporadic gala events.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Monday Set: The Three Terrors – New York City – 1/26/03 |url=https://www.thesoundofindie.com/2009/04/13/the-monday-set-the-three-terrors-new-york-city-12603/ |website=thesoundofindie.com |date=April 13, 2009 |access-date=November 12, 2021}}</ref>

Under his own name, he recorded and released the soundtracks to the films ''[[Eban and Charley]]'' (2000) and ''[[Pieces of April]]'' (2003). The soundtrack to the [[Nickelodeon]] show ''[[The Adventures of Pete & Pete]]'' featured many of his songs.

He and director [[Chen Shi-Zheng]] collaborated on three pieces of musical theatre: ''[[The Orphan of Zhao]]'' (2003), ''Peach Blossom Fan'' (2004) and ''My Life as a Fairy Tale'' (2005).<ref name="brantley">Brantley, Ben. [http://theater.nytimes.com/2005/07/29/theater/reviews/29tale.html Exploring the Shadows of a Sunny Writer's Nightmare] ''The New York Times''. July 29, 2005.</ref> Selected tracks from these works have been released on [[Nonesuch Records]] under the title ''[[Showtunes (Stephin Merritt and Chen Shi-zheng album)|Showtunes]]''.

Merritt wrote and sang "I'm in a Lonely Way" in a television commercial for [[Volvo]] that aired in the summer and fall of 2007. He also performed "The Wheels on the Car". He also penned the music and lyrics for a 2009 [[Off-Broadway]] [[stage musical]] adaptation of ''[[Coraline]]'', a novel by [[Neil Gaiman]]. In the [[MCC Theater]] production, his music was performed by a piano "orchestra" consisting of a traditional piano, a [[toy piano]] and a [[prepared piano]].<ref>{{cite web |title='Coraline' musical comes to life |url=https://variety.com/2009/legit/news/coraline-musical-comes-to-life-1118004113/#! |website=Variety |date=May 22, 2009 |access-date=November 12, 2021 |archive-date=November 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112153914/https://variety.com/2009/legit/news/coraline-musical-comes-to-life-1118004113/#! |url-status=live }}</ref>

He produced a score for the silent film ''[[20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916 film)|20,000 Leagues Under the Sea]]'' that was performed at the [[Castro Theatre]], San Francisco on May 4, 2010, as part of the San Francisco International Film Festival.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Khanna |first=Vish |title=Exclusive: Stephin Merritt Promises to Return to the Synth on Next Magnetic Fields Album, Scores 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea |url=http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=140&csid2=844&fid1=43998 |magazine=[[Exclaim!]] |date=January 28, 2010 |access-date=January 28, 2010 |archive-date=February 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201052758/http://exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=140&csid2=844&fid1=43998 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2014, he released his first book, ''101 Two-Letter Words''. It is a collection of brief poems, one inspired by each of the two-letter words legal in Scrabble.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt Releasing Scrabble Poetry Book |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/54293-the-magnetic-fields-stephin-merritt-releasing-scrabble-poetry-book/ |website=Pitchfork |date=March 10, 2014 |access-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115130432/https://pitchfork.com/news/54293-the-magnetic-fields-stephin-merritt-releasing-scrabble-poetry-book/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Musical style==
[[File:Stephin-merritt-at-cadogan-hall-crop.jpg|thumb|Merritt at [[Cadogan Hall]] in London, 2008]]
Merritt has been acclaimed for his lyrics, which have been described as "romantic", "humorous",<ref name="rollingstone.com">{{cite magazine |title=Stephin Merritt: My Life in 15 Songs |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/stephin-merritt-my-life-in-15-songs-160365/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=October 30, 2015 |access-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115134155/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/stephin-merritt-my-life-in-15-songs-160365/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and "literary",<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephin Merritt: The Silent Type |url=https://www.motherjones.com/media/2008/01/stephin-merritt-silent-type/ |website=Mother Jones (magazine) |access-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115134154/https://www.motherjones.com/media/2008/01/stephin-merritt-silent-type/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and he has been called an "insightful lyricist"<ref name="loudandquiet.com">{{cite web |title=50 years, 50 songs: The extraordinary story of Stephin Merritt from The Magnetic Fields' 'whole life' LP |url=https://www.loudandquiet.com/interview/the-story-of-the-magnetic-fields-through-stephin-merritts-50-song-memoir-a-new-5-disc-album-that-chronicles-each-year-of-his-life/ |website=loudandquiet.com |access-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115134155/https://www.loudandquiet.com/interview/the-story-of-the-magnetic-fields-through-stephin-merritts-50-song-memoir-a-new-5-disc-album-that-chronicles-each-year-of-his-life/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and a "brilliant wordsmith".<ref name="stereogum.com">{{cite web |title=Stephin Merritt Albums From Worst To Best |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1926509/stephin-merritt-albums-from-worst-to-best/lists/ |website=stereogum.com |date=March 13, 2017 |access-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115134153/https://www.stereogum.com/1926509/stephin-merritt-albums-from-worst-to-best/lists/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At other times, writers have emphasized the unhappiness of his lyrics.<ref name="Irresistible force">{{cite web |title=Irresistible force |url=https://www.salon.com/2004/05/01/magnetic/ |website=salon.com |date=May 2004 |access-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115134153/https://www.salon.com/2004/05/01/magnetic/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In September 2005, an interviewer quoted an anonymous reviewer to [[Bob Mould]] that Mould was "the most depressed man in rock." Mould's response was "He's never met Stephin Merritt, obviously."<ref name="AVMould">{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=Kyle |title=Interview: Bob Mould |url=http://www.avclub.com/article/bob-mould-13952 |work=[[The Onion]] |date=September 21, 2005 |access-date=December 22, 2013 |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224091807/http://www.avclub.com/article/bob-mould-13952 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Unlike most singer-songwriters, Merritt rarely writes autobiographical songs<ref name="rollingstone.com"/> and does not consider songwriting to be emotionally expressive but an exercise in craft, carried out for its own pleasure.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Thoughtful Interview With Stephin Merritt Of The Magnetic Fields |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2015/05/27/stephin-merritt-magnetic-fields |website=wbur.org |date=May 27, 2015 |access-date=November 15, 2021}}</ref> His albums generally have a lyrical theme; for instance, ''[[The Charm of the Highway Strip]]'' is imitation country music. He has stated that he finds writing lyrics with constraints easier.<ref name="Stephin Merritt">{{cite web |title=Stephin Merritt |url=https://bombmagazine.org/articles/stephin-merritt-1/ |website=bombmagazine.org |date=October 22, 2010 |access-date=November 15, 2021}}</ref> Merritt's preferred method of writing songs involves spending several hours sitting in [[gay bars]] "one-third full of cranky old gay men gossiping over thumping [[disco music]]" with a glass of [[cognac]], which provides him with inspiration for lyrics.

Critics have also praised his tunes and production, calling him a "master melody-writer"<ref name="loudandquiet.com"/> and "an arduous studio rat".<ref name="stereogum.com"/> Some albums also have musical themes: for instance, the Magnetic Fields album ''[[Distortion (The Magnetic Fields album)|Distortion]]'' is [[Audio feedback|feedback]]-rich mix of [[Noise music|noise]] and pop, and it, ''[[I (The Magnetic Fields album)|i]]'', and ''[[Realism (The Magnetic Fields album)|Realism]]'' make a "trilogy" of records without synthesizers. In contrast, their next album, ''[[Love at the Bottom of the Sea]]'', used synthesizers extensively. Throughout Merritt's career, he has changed styles frequently, and uses a wide variety of instruments on his records.<ref name="Stephin Merritt"/>

He has described [[ABBA]],<ref name="Irresistible force"/> [[Stephen Sondheim]],<ref name="Stephin Merritt"/> and [[Phil Spector]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephin Merritt |url=https://www.avclub.com/stephin-merritt-1798207855 |website=The A.V. Club |date=June 4, 1997 |access-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115134153/https://www.avclub.com/stephin-merritt-1798207855 |url-status=live }}</ref> as influences. Merritt has said he is an avid listener of [[bubblegum pop]], listing [[Ramones]], [[Kraftwerk]], Abba, [[The Troggs]] as examples of the style.<ref name="bubblegum">{{cite news |last1=Weisbard |first1=Eric |title=Recordings View; Bubble Gum With a Punk Attitude |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/21/arts/recordings-view-bubble-gum-with-a-punk-attitude.html |access-date=January 4, 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=May 21, 1995 |archive-date=March 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319203914/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/21/arts/recordings-view-bubble-gum-with-a-punk-attitude.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He has expressed a disdain for [[hip hop]] and much of [[contemporary pop]], describing the former as responsible for "more vicious caricatures of African-Americans than they had in the 19th century."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carr |first1=David |title=One Man's Musical Tastes as Fodder for a Flame War |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/18/arts/music/18rock.html |access-date=January 4, 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=May 18, 2006 |archive-date=January 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104075413/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/18/arts/music/18rock.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Growing up, Merritt used different spellings of his name for different purposes.<ref name="exclaim">{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/stephin_merritt_magnetic_fields-its_only_time|title=Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields: It's Only Time|first=Vish|last=Khanna|date=January 22, 2010|website=Exclaim!|access-date=November 11, 2015|archive-date=April 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419042019/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/stephin_merritt_magnetic_fields-its_only_time|url-status=live}}</ref> He used "Stephin" to sort his [[Advertising mail|junk mail]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/the-order-of-merritt-281426.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922062724/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/the-order-of-merritt-281426.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 22, 2015|title=The order of Merritt|first=Joseph|last=Gallivan|date=April 14, 2000|work=The Independent}}</ref> and that eventually became the name he used as a musician.<ref name="exclaim" /> He attended Massachusetts high school [[The Cambridge School of Weston]] and briefly attended [[NYU]] before moving back to Boston. He has worked as an editor for ''[[Spin Magazine]]'' and ''[[Time Out New York]]''.

Prior to 2013, he had never met his biological father, [[folk singer]] Scott Fagan,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jcornett.com/swf/conversations.htm |title=Conversations With Scott Fagan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814165942/http://www.jcornett.com/swf/conversations.htm|archive-date=August 14, 2018}}</ref> who had a brief affair with Merritt's mother. The three met at a screening of the film ''AKA Doc Pomus'' in 2013. Merritt's relationship with his father is described in the song "'99: Fathers in the Clouds", on the Magnetic Fields album ''[[50 Song Memoir]]''.

Merritt has struggled with [[epilepsy]] and depression since his youth, and has a hearing condition known as [[hyperacusis]], which he believes is damage sustained from attending an [[Einstürzende Neubauten]] concert at [[Danceteria]]. Any sound heard louder than normal begins to "[[feedback]]" in his left ear at increasingly louder volumes. This has largely influenced the reserved live setup of the Magnetic Fields, which usually consists of acoustic instruments and little to no percussion. Merritt also wears [[earplug]]s during performances, and typically covers his left ear when the audience applauds.<ref name="MFinConcert">{{cite web |title=The Magnetic Fields in Concert |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4662828 |work=Creators at Carnegie  |publisher= [[NPR]] | date=May 31, 2005 |access-date=August 27, 2005}}</ref> When touring the ''50 Song Memoir'' album live, which required a more expanded line-up and amplified sound, the band were able to address this issue by building an elaborate set around Merritt which doubles as an isolation booth.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

He was the subject of a documentary, ''Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields'', which premiered in March 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://strangepowersfilm.wordpress.com/previous-screenings/ |title=Past Screenings &#124; Strange Powers – Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields |date=January 23, 2010 |publisher=Strangepowersfilm.wordpress.com |access-date=May 3, 2013 |archive-date=January 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121114624/http://strangepowersfilm.wordpress.com/previous-screenings/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Merritt is gay<ref>{{cite web|last=Broverman |first=Neal |url=http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/music/2010/02/04/magnetic-fields-stephin-merritt |title=Magnetic Fields Stephin Merritt |publisher=Advocate.com |date=February 4, 2010 |access-date=May 3, 2013}}</ref> and a [[vegan]], saying, "I ain't eaten an animal since 1983."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/10/11/well-la-ti-da-stephin-merritt-s-winning-little-words-of-scrabble.html|title=Well, La Ti Da: Stephin Merritt's Winning Little Words of Scrabble|first=David|last=Bukszpan|date=October 11, 2014|work=[[The Daily Beast]]}}</ref> He has said that he may be on the [[autism]] spectrum.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Farber |first1=Jim |title=Stephin Merritt Finds 50 Ways to Sing His Life Story |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/arts/music/stephin-merritt-magnetic-fields-50-song-memoir.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=November 10, 2020 |date=March 3, 2017 |archive-date=March 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307173611/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/arts/music/stephin-merritt-magnetic-fields-50-song-memoir.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Needham |first1=Alex |title=Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields: 'I used to live in a commune where music was forbidden' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/26/stephin-merritt-magnetic-fields-quickies-interview |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=November 10, 2020 |date=May 26, 2020}}</ref>

==Solo discography==
{{Main|Stephin Merritt discography}}
* ''[[Eban and Charley (soundtrack)|Eban and Charley]]'' ([[Merge Records|Merge]], 2002)
* ''[[Pieces of April (soundtrack)|Pieces of April]]'' ([[Nonesuch Records|Nonesuch]], 2003)
* ''[[Showtunes (Stephin Merritt and Chen Shi-zheng album)|Showtunes]]'' (Nonesuch, 2006)
* ''[[Obscurities (Stephin Merritt album)|Obscurities]]'' (Merge, 2011)

==See also==
* [[List of LGBT people from New York City]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==

{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite news |last1=Farber |first1=Jim |title=Stephin Merritt Finds 50 Ways to Sing His Life Story |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 3, 2017 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/arts/music/stephin-merritt-magnetic-fields-50-song-memoir.html |issn=0362-4331  }}

{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{allmusic}}
* [http://www.houseoftomorrow.com/ The House of Tomorrow – The official site of Stephin Merritt, the Magnetic Fields, Future Bible Heroes, the 6ths, and the Gothic Archies]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040912010639/http://www.kutilek.de/musik/sm/biografie.en Stephin Merritt biography (mixed English and German)]
* [http://agingspinsters.blogspot.com/ Aging Spinsters: A Stephin Merritt Fan-Blog]
* [http://www.rustyspell.com/merritt/ The Distant Plastic Treehouse – "a hangout for Stephin Merritt fans"]
* [http://stephinsongs.wiw.org/ Stephin Songs – The music and lyrics of Stephin Merritt]

{{Stephin Merritt}}
{{The Magnetic Fields}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merritt, Stephin}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:American atheists]]
[[Category:American basses]]
[[Category:American gay musicians]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ singers]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ songwriters]]
[[Category:American male pop singers]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American multi-instrumentalists]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:American ukulele players]]
[[Category:Gay singers]]
[[Category:Gay songwriters]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:The Magnetic Fields members]]
[[Category:Merge Records artists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Yonkers, New York]]
[[Category:People with epilepsy]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state)]]