Girl Talk (musician)

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Girl Talk


Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Gregg Gillis
Born = birth date|1981|10|26|mf=y
Origin = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Genre = Mashup, Electronic, Dance, Glitch, Experimental music, Pop
Instrument = Laptop
Years_active = 2000 — present
Label =
Illegal Art
333 recordings
SSS Records
Spasticated Records
12 Apostles

Girl Talk is the stage name of musician Gregg Gillis (born October 26, 1981). Gillis, who lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has released four LPs on Illegal Art and EPs on 333 and 12 Apostles. He began making music while studying biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve University. He specializes in mashup style remixes, in which he uses often a dozen or more unauthorized samples from different songs to create a new song; "The New York Times Magazine" has called his music "a lawsuit waiting to happen." [cite web | last = Walker | first = Rob | title = Mash-up Model | publisher = "The New York Times Magazine", July 20, 2008, p.15 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/magazine/20wwln-consumed-t.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss | accessdate = 2008-07-30 ] He has given different explanations for the origin of his stage name, once saying that it alluded to a Jim Morrison poemcite web | last = Cardace | first = Sara | title = Pants-Off Dance-Off | publisher = Nerve.com Screening Room | url = http://www.nerve.com/screeningroom/music/girltalk/ | accessdate = 2007-02-10 ] and once saying that it alluded to an early Merzbow side project. [cite web | last = GOTTY | title = The Art Of Persuasion… | publisher = The Smoking Section | date = 2007-05-23 | url = http://smokingsection.rawkus.com/TSS/?p=1392 | accessdate = 2008-07-11]

In school, Gillis focused on tissue engineering. He later worked as an engineer, but quit in May 2007 to focus solely on music. [http://stereogum.com/archives/quit-your-day-job/quit-your-day-job-girl-talk_004530.html]

Awards

In 2007, Gillis was the recipient of a "Wired" magazine Rave Award. [cite web | last = Watercutter | first = Angela | title = The 2007 Rave Awards | publisher = "Wired Magazine", April 24, 2007 | url = http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/multimedia/2007/04/ss_raves?slide=10 | accessdate = 2008-08-15 ]

Discography

Albums

* "Secret Diary" CD (2002, Illegal Art)
* "Unstoppable" CD (2004, Illegal Art)
* "Night Ripper" CD (2006, Illegal Art)
* "Feed the Animals" CD (2008, Illegal Art)

EPs

* "Stop Cleveland Hate" 12" (2004, 12 apostles)
* "Bone Hard Zaggin'" 7" (2006, 333 recordings)

Compilation appearances

* "bricolage #1" CD (Illegal Art)
**"Killing A Material Girl" - 3min 37 sec
* "Illegal Art 2007 Sampler" MP3 (Illegal Art)
**"Lets Run This"
* "Circuits of Steel" CD (SSS)
* "Ministry of Shit" CD (Spasticated)
* "Love and Circuits" CD (Cardboard Records)
**"All Of The Other Songs Remixed" (under Trey Told 'Em) [cite web
first = Dave
last = Maher
title = High Places, Trey Told 'Em, Fuck Buttons on Huge Comp
publisher = Pitchfork Media
date = 2008-03-04
url = http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/49004-high-places-trey-told-em-fuck-buttons-on-huge-comp
accessdate = 2008-08-28]

Remixes

* Beck - "Cellphone's Dead" (2006) (unreleased) [cite web
title = Beck Song Information - Cellphone's Dead
publisher = Whiskeyclone.net
url = http://whiskeyclone.net/ghost/songinfo.php?songID=535
accessdate = 2008-08-28]
* Peter, Bjorn and John - "Let's Call It Off" (2006)
* Grizzly Bear - "Knife" (2007)
* Tokyo Police Club - "Cheer It On" (2007, under Trey Told 'Em) [cite web
first = Jessica
last = Suarez
title = "Cheer It On" (Trey Told Em remix) [MP3] | Pitchfork
publisher = Pitchfork Media
date = 2007-04-17
url = http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/42422-tokyo-police-club-cheer-it-on-trey-told-em-remix-mp3
accessdate = 2008-08-28]
* Simian Mobile Disco - "I Believe" (2007, under Trey Told 'Em)
* Professor Murder - "Dutch Hex" (2007, under Trey Told 'Em)
* Of Montreal - "Gronlandic Edit" (2007, under Trey Told 'Em) (unreleased) [cite web
last = iskeith3
title = Girl Talk at the Pitchfork Music Festival
publisher = YouTube
date = 2007-07-19
url = http://youtube.com/watch?v=xzi0ZQl0bqw
accessdate = 2008-07-11]
* Thrill Jockey Records - "Super Epic Thrill Jockey Mega Massive Anniversary Mix" (2007, under Trey Told 'Em) [cite web
first = Miles
last = Raymer
title = The Thrill Isn’t Gone
publisher = The Chicago Reader
date = 2007-10-13
url = http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/sharpdarts/071213/
accessdate = 2008-08-18]

Production credits

*Grand Buffet - "Pittsburgh Hearts" (2003) - "Cool As Hell"

References

External links

* [http://radio.utdallas.edu/blog/?p=54/ Gregg Gillis interviewed on RadioUTD]
* [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/37785-interview-girl-talk Pitchfork interviews Girl Talk] - an extensive interview with Gregg Gillis.
* [http://nerve.com/screeningroom/music/girltalk/ Nerve.com interview] - interview following release of Night Ripper.
* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16472329/ MSNBC.com interview]
* [http://pandatoes.blogspot.com/2007/07/quit-your-day-job-girl-talk-interview.html Pandatoes] - interview by WDCR DJ
* [http://heavyinthestreets.blogspot.com/2007/08/blog-post.html Heavy In The Streets Interview with Girl Talk]
* [http://www.tinymixtapes.com/Girl-Talk,3106 Tiny Mix Tapes Interview with Girl Talk]
* [http://www.grooveshark.com/blog/2008/02/11/the-essential-girl-talk-experience-an-interview-with-gregg-gillis Grooveshark discusses Girl Talk's Miami Tour]
* [http://www.mvremix.com/urban/interviews/girl_talk.shtml Interview with Alex Goldberg of MVRemix Media]