Johnathan Rice

  • Alexandria, VA
    hometown
  • Rock
    genre
  • 2000
    started
  • Bio
    full story
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About Johnathan Rice


When he was 16, singer/songwriter Johnathan Rice opened his mouth and let out a weathered, rustic sound that caught him by surprise. Like many teenagers obsessed with music, Rice just wanted to see what his voice sounded like when imitating his heroes, who included the likes of Joni Mitchell, the Band, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan. As consequence would have it, Rice decided to make his songwriting hobby a serious affair and returned to his native Virginia, having spent most of his life growing up in Glasgow. He graduated from high school in May 2001 and soon befriended Washington, D.C. resident Chris Keup of Grantham Dispatch. He also informed his parents that he wasn't going to college like the rest of his peers, and that he planned to go to New York City to land a recording contract. His parents had mixed feelings, but allowed their son one year to chase his vision.

Three months later, Keup's indie label issued Rice's debut EP, Heart and Mind. While balancing various day jobs as a waiter, a telemarketer, and a dog walker, Rice played shows on the Lower East Side. He soaked up the city's influence and maintained a steady schedule of writing songs, but it wasn't glamorous, and by spring 2002 Rice had played enough shows to get him a bus ticket home. He mentally readied himself for college life while heading back to Virginia, but as luck would have it, he got a call soon thereafter from Warner Bros./Reprise, who were impressed with Heart and Mind and wanted to sign Rice. A little skeptical of taking a second chance on his music-making dream, Rice eventually signed with Reprise -- also home to his heroes like Young, Mitchell, and Lou Reed -- and moved back to New York.

Over the next two years, Rice struggled with collecting a solid batch of songs that would appease him personally, as well as the label. The Tin Can Love EP was independently issued during this time. In fall 2003, he and producer/engineer Mike Mogis holed themselves up at Presto! in Lincoln, NE, to begin work on Rice's proper debut; 15 demo tracks resulted in Trouble Is Real, but Rice put that on hold to release Extended Player 24:26 in spring 2004. Trouble Is Real was finally issued in spring 2005. Rice's third studio effort, Further North, followed in 2007, and he produced Jenny Lewis' second solo album, Acid Tongue, one year later. The two then decided to launch their own musical duo, Jenny and Johnny, whose debut album appeared in 2010. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, Rovi

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Music

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  • We're All Stuck Out In the Desert
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    We're All Stuck Out In the Desert
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    • So Sweet
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/7/6/4/0/2/901720467.mp3
    • Further North
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/0/2/5/0/6/151160520.mp3
    • The Middle Of The Road
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/8/1/0/6/151160186.mp3
    • We're All Stuck Out In The Desert
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/7/8/3/0/6/151160387.mp3
    • It Is Best To Keep It All Inside
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/1/4/4/0/6/151160441.mp3
    • It Couldn't Be Me
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/8/3/5/7/0/877307538.mp3

Photos

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  • Johnathan Rice

News

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  • Johnathan Rice
    Jenny Lewis Teams With Johnathan Rice to Form Jenny and Johnny
    www.pitchfork.com
    've got them listed below. Also, NME reports that Lewis appears on the debut solo album from Killers ... Jenny Lewis Teams With Johnathan Rice to Form...
    Read More
  • Johnathan Rice
    New Song From Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice: "Big Wave"
    www.pitchfork.com
    Jenny and Johnny are Jenny Lewis and her singer-songwriter boyfriend Johnathan Rice. Their album I'm Having Fun Now is out August 31. You can download...
    Read More
  • Johnathan Rice
    Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice Announce Debut Album, Tour
    www.pitchfork.com
    Jenny and Johnny, the duo of Rilo Kiley leader Jenny Lewis and her singing-songwriting boyfriend Johnathan Rice, are getting ready to drop debut album...
    Read More
  • Johnathan Rice
    Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice Share New Song, Tour With Band of Horses
    www.pitchfork.com
    Lovebirds Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice release their debut album as Jenny and Johnny, I'm Having Fun Now, August 31 via Warner Bros. If you pre-orde...
    Read More
  • Johnathan Rice
    Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice to Record Live Album at Jack White's Third Man Records
    www.pitchfork.com
    in the months ahead, and they'll do the same live-vinyl thing for people who attend a few of them. On September 27, Tyvek will play the space, and Thi...
    Read More

Discography

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  • Further North (2007)
    Johnathan Rice
    Further North (2007)
    Reprise
  • Trouble Is Real (2005)
    Johnathan Rice
    Trouble Is Real (2005)
    Reprise
  • Johnathan Rice EP (2004)
    Johnathan Rice
    Johnathan Rice EP (2004)
    Reprise
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