Shannon Funchess is an American musician, producer, dancer, and performance artist. She is best known for her work as lead vocalist and composer for Brooklyn-based electronic music duo Light Asylum, which she founded in 2007 with musician Bruno Coviello.[1] Funchess has recorded and toured with a number of electronic and alternative acts, including The Knife, Peaches, LCD Soundsystem, Clan of Xymox, and TV on the Radio.[2] She has also served as a dancer and actor in various video productions[3] and art performances,[4][5] and as a DJ for Brooklyn radio station The Lot Radio.[1]

Sharon Funchess performing with Light Asylum at Infest Festival in 2019.
Funchess performing with Light Asylum in 2019.

Career

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Both prior to and after forming Light Asylum with collaborator Bruno Coviello, Funchess contributed vocal performances for a variety of music acts. She is featured on releases such as TV on the Radio's 2003 EP Young Liars, Myth Takes by !!!, and Shaking the Habitual by The Knife.[2] Funchess is featured in the music video for "Snakes", a song created in collaboration with electronic duo Ford & Lopatin.[6] In addition to recording with the band, Funchess served as lead vocalist of !!! during their 2007 tour.[7]

Light Asylum released their first EP In Tension in 2010.[8] The duo went on to release their self-titled full-length debut in 2012.[9] Light Asylum's music is influenced by 1980s dark wave and synth-pop.[10]

In 2018 Funchess performed in Michelle Handelman's Hustlers & Empires.[3] Funchess and Handelman also collaborated on video project and live performance Doomscrolling, which premiered in 2021.[4] Funchess collaborated with dancer and vocalist Justin F. Kennedy in creating A(un) Necessary World, a "sci-fi space opera"[5] which was performed at the UCLA Hammer Museum in April 2022.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Sharon Funchess". Portland Institute for Contemporary Art. 4 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Shannon Funchess". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  3. ^ a b "Michelle Handelman's Hustlers & Empires". SFMOMA. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  4. ^ a b "PARTICIPANT INC | DOOMSCROLLING Video Premiere". participantinc.org. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  5. ^ a b "A(un) Necessary World | Hammer Museum". hammer.ucla.edu. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  6. ^ Ford & Lopatin - Snakes (Feat. Shannon Funchess), retrieved 2023-03-04
  7. ^ "!!! at The Clubhouse Last Night | Phoenix New Times". 2018-07-09. Archived from the original on 2018-07-09. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  8. ^ Light Asylum - In Tension E.P., retrieved 2023-03-04
  9. ^ Light Asylum - Light Asylum, retrieved 2023-03-04
  10. ^ Martins, Chris (21 March 2012). "Light Asylum: Dark-Wave Duo Bring Unholy Mood Pieces To The Dance Floor". SPIN.
  11. ^ "Lifes - Announcements - e-flux". www.e-flux.com. Retrieved 2023-03-04.