James Dent May Jr. (born May 6, 1985) known by his stage name Dent May, is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California, United States. He is mostly associated with psychedelic pop, synthpop, indie rock, and new wave genres of music.

Dent May
May in 2009
May in 2009
Background information
Birth nameJames Dent May Jr.
Born (1985-05-06) May 6, 1985 (age 39)
Jackson, Mississippi, United States
GenresPsychedelic pop, synthpop, indie rock, new wave
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, producer
Instrument(s)Guitar, piano, sampler, synthesizer, ukulele,electric guitar
Years active2007–present
LabelsPaw Tracks, Forest Family, Cats Purring, Carpark Records
WebsiteDentmay.com

Biography

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May was born in Jackson, Mississippi. He attended Jackson Prep, NYU Film School and Ole Miss, where he studied English and Southern Studies and found inspiration in the music of Serge Gainsbourg and Lee Hazlewood.[1] May was also a member of a Mississippi power pop group called The Rockwells.[2]

He is signed to the Paw Tracks label, which has released The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele (2009), Do Things (2012) and Warm Blanket (2013).[3] May was chosen by Animal Collective to perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties Festival 2011.[4] May co-founded the self-described "North Mississippi Infotainment Cult" known as Cats Purring, which operates out of the Cats Purring Dude Ranch in Oxford, Mississippi.[5]

Discography

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Albums

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  • 2007: A Brush With Velvet (Self-released demo album)
  • 2009: The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele (Paw Tracks)
  • 2012: Do Things (Paw Tracks)
  • 2013: Warm Blanket (Paw Tracks)
  • 2017: Across the Multiverse (Carpark Records)
  • 2020: Late Checkout (Carpark Records)
  • 2024: What's for Breakfast? (Carpark Records)[6]

Singles

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  • 2007: "Meet Me in the Garden" (7", Make Mine)
  • 2010: "That Feeling" (7", Forest Family Records)
  • 2011: "Fun" (7", Paw Tracks)
  • 2013: "Born Too Late" (Paw Tracks)
  • 2014: "I'll Be Stoned for Christmas"
  • 2016: "Face Down in the Gutter of Your Love"
  • 2017: "Picture on a Screen"
  • 2017: "90210"
  • 2017: "Across the Multiverse" (feat. Frankie Cosmos)
  • 2019: "Why I Came to California"
  • 2022: "Crying Laughing"

References

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  1. ^ "Space Lab Music News". Thespacelab.tv. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
  2. ^ Herman Snell (December 10, 2008). "Jackson Free Press".
  3. ^ James Christopher Monger, AllMusic
  4. ^ "ATP curated by Animal Collective". All Tomorrow's Parties. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  5. ^ "Altered Zones". Altertedzones.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  6. ^ "What's for Breakfast? - Dent May | Album". AllMusic. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
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