Damien Jurado

Damien Troy Jurado (born November 12, 1972) is an American singer-songwriter from Seattle, Washington, United States.

Over the years, he has released albums on Sub Pop, Secretly Canadian, Loose, and is currently on his own label Maraqopa Records.

Jurado's solo career began during the mid-1990s, releasing lo-fi folk based recordings on his own cassette-only label, Casa Recordings.

Gaining a local cult following in Seattle, he was brought to the attention of Sub Pop Records by Sunny Day Real Estate singer Jeremy Enigk.

After two 7-inch releases (Motorbike and Trampoline) Sub Pop issued his first full album, Waters Ave S. in 1997.

His second album Rehearsals for Departure, was released in 1999, produced by Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, Big Star, R.E.M.).

He often makes use of found sound and field recording techniques, and has experimented with different forms of tape recordings.

In 2000 he released Postcards and Audio Letters, a collection of found audio letters and fragments that he had found from sources such as thrift store tape players and answering machines.

Also released in 2000 was Ghost of David, Jurado's bleakest and most personal sounding record to date.

I Break Chairs (2002) was produced by long-time friend, Pedro the Lion's David Bazan.

It was his last album for Sub Pop, and was a much rockier, electric affair.

After signing for the Indiana-based label Secretly Canadian, Jurado reverted to his trademark folk ballad-based style, releasing four more albums: Where Shall You Take Me? (2003), On My Way to Absence, (2005) And Now That I'm in Your Shadow (2006) and the rockier Caught in the Trees (2008).

In 2009, Jurado teamed with his brother Drake to issue an LP under the moniker Hoquiam, released on February 23, 2010.

The album preceded Damien's next solo release, dubbed Saint Bartlett, which was released May 25, 2010, and was produced by label mate Richard Swift.

After touring the album with Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, Jurado began work on his next album.

On February 21, 2012, he released his 10th studio album, Maraqopa, his sixth for Secretly Canadian.

Jurado's song "Everything Trying" appeared in the NBC series The Blacklist (Season 1, episode 12), in the 2013 Best Foreign Film Oscar film The Great Beauty, in the Fox series House M.D. (Season 7, Episode 14), and in the 2011 film The Dilemma.

He duets with Lotte Kestner on her song "Turn the Wolves" on the 2013 album The Bluebird of Happiness.

In January 2014, Jurado released Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son, an album which marked the third straight collaboration with producer Richard Swift.

In the 2014 Joe Carnahan directed crime thriller Stretch, Jurado's song "Let Us All In" plays during the ending scene and into the credits.

In the 2015 romantic comedy, Tumbledown, Jurado contributes to many songs on the soundtrack.

He has collaborated extensively with Richard Swift.

In March 2016, Jurado released Visions of Us on the Land, and in December of the same year he and Swift released a collection of covers from 2010, Other People's Songs, Volume 1. In 2016, Damien Jurado released The Horizon Just Laughed, his first self produced album, teaming up with L.A. recording studio Sonikwire.

In 2018, Jurado left Secretly Canadian to join Mama Bird Recording Co. and Loose Music and subsequently released the albums In The Shape Of A Storm (2019) and What's New, Tomboy? (2020)

On the 14th of May 2021, Jurado released his 17th full length studio album, The Monster Who Hated Pennsylvania, his first on his own label, Maraqopa Records.

On the 24th of June 2022 Jurado released his 18th full length studio album and the second on Maraqopa Records called Reggae Film Star, it is a concept album, telling the story of people that are working on a movie.

On March 31, 2023, Jurado released his 19th studio album, Sometimes You Hurt the Ones You Hate, on his own label, Maraqopa Records.

Prior to the release, Jurado announced that he would no longer be releasing music on Spotify, citing the company's low royalty rates for artists.

This was his first album that was not available on Spotify.

On October 12, 2023, Jurado released his 20th studio album, Motorcycle Madness, on Maraqopa Records.

Physical copies of the album were limited to 200 vinyl records and 100 compact discs.

On November 1, 2023, Jurado released his 21st studio album, Passing the Giraffes, on Maraqopa Records.

The release marks Jurado's third studio album of 2023.

On January 8, 2024, Jurado released his 22nd studio album, Roger's Audition: The "Reggae Film Star" Demos, on Maraqopa Records.

Physical copies of the album were limited to 100 compact discs.

Jurado appears on the tracks "Almost Home" and "The Dogs" on Moby's album Innocents.

He is also featured in an episode of the BYUtv music documentary series Audio-Files.

Jurado's track "A.M. AM" from his Visions of Us on the Land is prominently featured in Episode 3 as well as "Cloudy Shoes" from Saint Bartlett in Episode 6 of the 2018 Netflix documentary series Wild Wild Country.

Jurado's song "Silver Joy", from his album "Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son", is featured on the soundtrack to the 2023 Christmas comedy-drama The Holdovers.

Guest appearances