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Bonzie (musician)

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Nina Ferraro, known professionally as BONZIE, is an American singer-songwriter and musician.[1]

BONZIE
BONZIE in 2023
BONZIE in 2023
Background information
Birth nameNina Ferraro
BornRacine, Wisconsin
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano, keyboard, bass, accordion
Years active2009–present
LabelsBeevine Records (Independent)
Websitewww.bonzie.net

Early life

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Nina Ferraro was born in Racine, Wisconsin. She was born into a non-musical family and started writing songs at the age of 10, after teaching herself the guitar. She wrote songs in secret as she was discouraged from pursuing it.[1]

Ferraro went to high school in Chicago, Illinois, where she started performing with her band in the Chicago live venue circuit, eventually adopting the pseudonym “BONZIE” to release her songs under.[1] Upon graduating high school, she attended DePaul University and Lake Forest College studying Literature and Poetry. She is fluent in Japanese and has released music in Japanese as well.[2]

Career

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Early career

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In the year 2010 at age 15, Nina Ferraro released her debut EP, The Promise, and began using the stage name[3] BONZIE shortly thereafter. In a 2013 interview with the Chicago Tribune, she explained her decision: "BONZIE feels a lot better to go under, not only because it's a pseudonym, but also because it doesn't subscribe to a language. There isn't a conventional definition of BONZIE, and it's more something where I can become its meaning."[4]

BONZIE wrote and co-produced her first full-length album, Rift into The Secret Of Things, which was released in August 2013 at age 17.[5][6] It was preceded by the single "Data Blockers," which premiered on Spin.com,[7] It was followed by a second single "Felix," which features The Milk Carton Kids' Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale.[8] The album's title was inspired by a passage from Henry David Thoreau's Walden.[9]

In 2016, BONZIE released a double single, "As The Surface Rose" via Under The Radar, who said it "conjures an emotive vacuum where BONZIE's voice and piano keys hover and haunt."[10] The New York Times featured the music video for "As The Surface Rose" shortly after its release, where chief music critic Jon Pareles writes, "This song is an ambitious interlude, a statement of commitment..."[11] "As The Surface Rose" was backed by a lyric-free B-side,"Half Full."[12]

This was soon followed by another double single in 2016, entitled "How Do You Find Yourself, Love?," a 7" vinyl that premiered on BrooklynVegan.[13] The live-to-track, "How Do You Find Yourself, Love?," was recorded by Steve Albini, and includes instrumental B-side "Back to an Insurmountable wall", which was produced and performed by BONZIE, and recorded by Tortoise member John McEntire.

Zone on Nine and Reincarnation

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BONZIE released the second full-length album called Zone on Nine in May 2017. The album was fully written and produced by Ferraro herself, and co-produced with Jonathan Wilson (Father John Misty, Conor Oberst) and Ali Chant (Perfume Genius, Youth Lagoon).[10]

The album was released to critical acclaim, namely two front-page articles in the Chicago Tribune[14] by the music critic Greg Kot who called Zone on Nine "stunning". Kot also wrote "BONZIE has shown a consistent refusal to be pinned down to a genre or simplified descriptions of the kind of music she makes." Other reviews for Zone on Nine included VICE who wrote that it had a "gorgeous sonic palette that's hard to pinpoint but instantly alluring".[15]

In September 2020, BONZIE released a single and animated music video for a song entitled "alone". It was written by BONZIE and co-produced with DJ Camper. NPR[16]'s All Songs Considered premiered the track, writing "brilliantly talented. The atmospherics in this song are stunning." In the All Songs Considered podcast, NPR's Bob Boilen also announced a forthcoming full length album. The music video for "alone" was animated by Japanese hand-paint artist Miyo Sato.[17] The New York Times named it one of the Best Songs of 2020.[18]

The third full-length album entitled Reincarnation was released in March 2021.[19] In a feature long-form article in The New York Times, Jon Pareles wrote "It would be the continuation of a fully independent career that has consistently yielded richly melodic and mysterious songs."[20]

2023-Present

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In December 2023, BONZIE released her first single since 2021 called, “Spiritual Violence.”[21] The new single was followed by “Citrus,” which was released January 24, 2024.[22] In March 2024, BONZIE release an EP titled Live at EastWest, which featured two live recordings of her recent single “Spiritual Violence” and her 2020 single, “alone.” With the release of Live at EastWest, BONZIE teased her fourth album would be released in 2024.[23][24]

When I Found The Trap Door

In October of 2024 BONZIE released her first fully self-produced LP entitled When I Found The Trap Door.[25] "The Point Of No Return" from When I Found The Trap Door was featured by The New York Times on its series "The Playlist" on the album's release day.[26]

Discography

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Albums

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  • Rift into The Secret Of Things, 2013
  • Zone on Nine, 2017
  • Reincarnation, 2021
  • When I Found The Trap Door, 2024

Extended plays

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  • The Promise, 2010
  • Live at EastWest, 2024

Singles

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  • Let It Go, 2009
  • Data Blockers, 2013
  • Felix, 2013
  • As The Surface Rose, 2016
  • How Do You Find Yourself, Love?, 2016
  • Fading Out, 2017
  • Combback, 2017
  • alone, 2020
  • Lethal, 2020
  • Spiritual Violence, 2023
  • Citrus, 2024
  • The Point Of No Return, 2024
  • Do You Know Who I Am, 2024

References

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  1. ^ a b c Taylor, John (July 1, 2013). "Discovery: Bonzie". Interview. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  2. ^ Interview with Talented Singer-Songwriter Bonzie at Naluda Magazine; published July 13, 2023; retrieved May 17, 2024
  3. ^ Garrison, Matt (July 24, 2013). "Bonzie Rift Into The Secret Of Things". The Aquarian. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  4. ^ Downing, Andy (July 13, 2013). "Local Q&A: Bonzie". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  5. ^ Brown, Jacob (August 16, 2013). "Praise for Singer Nina Ferraro's Debut Rift into the Secret of Things". Vogue. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  6. ^ "MPM at 3PM: Bonzie". Magnet. April 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  7. ^ Chattman, John (April 4, 2013). "A-Sides with Jon Chattman: Listen to Courtney Jaye and Bonzie Now; Thank Me Later". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  8. ^ Orr, Dacey (June 5, 2013). "Song Premiere: Bonzie feat. The Milk Carton Kids". Paste Magazine. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  9. ^ "New Release Tuesday 8/13/13". Jigsaw Magazine. August 13, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  10. ^ a b Steinberg, Charles (December 5, 2016). "Premiere: BONZIE: "As the Surface Rose" and "Half Full" Double Single Sophomore Album Zone on Nine Due Out in Early 2017". Under The Radar 2. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  11. ^ Pareles, Jon (February 10, 2017). "Katy Perry Dances Till the World Ends and M.I.A. Starts a New Wave". The New York Times. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  12. ^ Tinkham, Chris (November 20, 2013). "Premiere: Bonzie — "How Do You Find Yourself, Love?" MP3 Stream Chicago's Nina Ferraro recorded new track with Steve Albini". Under the Radar. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  13. ^ Sacher, Andrew (December 13, 2016). "Stream BONZIE's Steve Albini-recorded single "How Do You Find Yourself, Love?"". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  14. ^ Kot, Greg (May 19, 2017). "Bonzie's unbridled ambition works like a charm on 'Zone on Nine'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  15. ^ Kaplan, Ilana (April 4, 2017). "introducing the first single from bonzie's second album, an introspective dream track". VICE. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  16. ^ Boilen, Bob (September 15, 2020). "New Mix: Kevin Morby, Adrianne Lenker, Jeff Tweedy, Cautious Clay, More". NPR. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  17. ^ "'alone' video film festival awards". April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  18. ^ Pareles, Jon (December 7, 2020). "Best Songs of 2020". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  19. ^ "Reincarnation - Album by BONZIE". March 16, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  20. ^ Pareles, Jon (March 25, 2021). "Bonzie Longs for a Post-Pandemic 'Reincarnation'". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  21. ^ Bonzie Releases New Single 'Spiritual Violence' With Teo The Artist at Broadway World; by Michael Major; published December 5, 2023; retrieved May 16, 2024
  22. ^ BONZIE Creates an Immersive 3D World with New Single “Citrus” at Flood Magazine; by Mike Lesuer; published January 24, 2024; retrieved May 16, 2024
  23. ^ How Artist BONZIE is Winning Indie Music Hearts with Latest Single at Millennial Magazine; by Britt Hysen; published April 24, 2024; retrieved May 16, 2024
  24. ^ Step Inside BONZIE’s Surreal Pop World at The New Nine; by Samantha Fong; published March 5, 2024; retrieved May 16, 2024
  25. ^ Campbell, Caleb. "Premiere: BONZIE Shares New Track and Video for "Hollywood"". Under the Radar Magazine. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  26. ^ "FKA twigs's Electro-Pop Enticement, and 8 More New Songs". New York Times.
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