Lucy Dacus
Lucy Dacus | |
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![]() Dacus performing in August 2022 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Lucy Elizabeth Dacus[1] |
Born | Mechanicsville, Virginia, U.S. | May 2, 1995
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 2015–present |
Labels | Matador |
Member of | boygenius |
Website | lucydacus |
Lucy Elizabeth Dacus (/ˈdeɪkʌs/ DAY-kuss;[2] born May 2, 1995) is an American singer-songwriter and producer. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Dacus attracted attention with her debut album No Burden (2016), which led to a deal with Matador Records. Historian, her second album, was released in 2018 to critical acclaim. Home Video, her third studio album, was released in 2021.
In addition to her solo work, Dacus is also a member of the indie supergroup boygenius, with Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers. The band has released one studio album and two EPs to critical acclaim and widespread touring.
In October 2023, Rolling Stone named Dacus the 213th-greatest guitarist of all time, noting: "[her] guitar is as essential an instrument as her voice".[3]
Early life
Dacus was adopted as an infant and grew up in Mechanicsville, Virginia, a suburb of Richmond.[4][5] She is of Uzbek and Irish descent.[6] Her adoptive mother is a professional pianist and music teacher, and her adoptive father is a graphic designer.[5][7] Dacus had an early interest in music, and bought her first guitar, an Ibanez, from Craigslist when she was in middle school.[4] After graduating from Maggie L. Walker Governor's School in 2013,[7] she began studying film at Virginia Commonwealth University, but left to avoid student debt and the "feeling of being misunderstood" in her university program.[8][9] Prior to becoming a full-time musician, she was employed by Richmond Camera as an editor for children's school photos.[10] During this time, she wrote approximately 30 songs, nine of which would comprise the tracklist of No Burden.[8]
Career
2012: Girls Back Home
Dacus released the EP Girls Back Home on Bandcamp on August 31, 2012 when she was a senior in high school. The track list consists of seven songs: "Girls Back Home", "Finest Cursive", "Pretty Girl", "Lullaby", "Time Travel", "Black Lungs", and "Kiddie Pool". Like all her other projects, it includes production from Collin Pastore and Jacob Blizard. It was digitally available for a time, but Dacus took it down shortly before her debut album No Burden was released. In a Reddit AMA, she stated she took it down because she "didn’t want this EP to be somebody’s first impression of her". For years after its removal from Bandcamp, the songs were considered lost. However, internet user Lucyhistorian managed to salvage the entire track list. It is currently available in its entirety on YouTube, but no official label release exists.
2015–2018: No Burden and Historian
Dacus first performed in New York City in March 2015.[11] Her first single, "I Don't Wanna Be Funny Anymore", premiered in November 2015. Her debut album No Burden was produced in Nashville by her hometown friends, Berklee College of Music graduate Collin Pastore and Oberlin Conservatory of Music graduate Jacob Blizard;[12][13] it was recorded at the request of Blizard for a school project.[8] The album was originally released digitally on CD, and on vinyl via Richmond's EggHunt Records on February 26, 2016.[12][13] Dacus was then signed to Matador Records, who re-released the album on September 9, 2016.[14][15][16] In the same year she performed at Lollapalooza, in Chicago's Grant Park and made her national television debut on CBS This Morning.[17] She recorded a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR the same weekend.[18] In October 2016 she played the London Calling festival in Amsterdam, as a replacement for The Duke Spirit, who were forced to cancel.[19]
Dacus's second album, titled Historian, was released on March 2, 2018.[20] Like its predecessor, it was met with widespread critical acclaim. Writing for Pitchfork, Sasha Geffen praised its nuance and sensitivity: "It’s not an easy album to wear out. It lasts, and it should, given that so many of its lyrics pick at time, and the way time condenses around deep emotional attachments to other people."[21] Rolling Stone rated the album 4/5 stars, as did NME. Historian, like No Burden, was recorded in Nashville, at Trace Horse Studio, in a similar collaborative effort by Lucy Dacus, Jacob Blizard, and Collin Pastore.
2018–present: Boygenius, 2019 EP, and Home Video
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Lucy_Dacus_2019.jpg/220px-Lucy_Dacus_2019.jpg)
In 2018, Dacus, along with Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker, formed the group boygenius. They released three songs in August 2018 and subsequently announced an EP and tour.[22] The EP, titled boygenius, came out on October 26, 2018.
To coincide with Valentine's Day 2019, Dacus released a cover of "La Vie en rose", the first in a planned series of songs commemorating major holidays.[23]
In 2021, Home Video was released on June 25.[24] She performed one of the album's singles "Hot & Heavy" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on April 13.[25] On November 10, Dacus released her single "Thumbs Again", a re-release of her song "Thumbs" with additional instrumentation, alongside the announcement of 2022 US tour dates.[26]
On February 2, 2022, Dacus released a single "Kissing Lessons", which was accompanied by a music video. [27] During 2022, Dacus toured Europe, Australia and America.[28]
Dacus released a music video for the song "Night Shift" for the five-year anniversary of her album "Historian" in March 2023.
Boygenius released their debut full-length studio album, titled The Record, on March 31, 2023, after releasing 4 singles.[29]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Boygenius.jpg/220px-Boygenius.jpg)
Activism
After Texas's new abortion law went into effect on September 1, 2021, Dacus announced on Twitter that all the money she makes at her upcoming shows in Texas "will be going towards abortion funds." She also informed her fans to bring extra money to her Houston and San Antonio shows for the donation to the abortion funds.[30] During her Home Video Tour in July 2022, Dacus announced that she and her supporting act Camp Cope would be donating tips from the merchandise stand to the organization Fund Abortion Not Police.[31]
While performing with Boygenius at Coachella in April 2023, the band spoke in support of trans rights following bills proposed in states like Florida and Missouri.[32] At a later tour date in June 2023 in Tennessee, Dacus and her fellow band members performed in drag in protest of anti-drag legislation that state governor Bill Lee signed into law that was blocked in federal court.[33]
After former President Barack Obama included "Not Strong Enough" by boygenius on his annual summer playlist, Dacus quote tweeted him, saying "war criminal :(".[34][35][36]
Personal life
Dacus was raised Christian but has become irreligious.[37] She describes herself as queer and says that the terms bisexual or pansexual come closest to defining her sexuality.[4] Dacus lived in Richmond, Virginia until late 2019. As of October 2023, she resides in Los Angeles, having previously resided in Philadelphia.[4]
Discography
Lucy Dacus discography | |
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Studio albums | 3 |
Music videos | 8 |
EPs | 3 |
Singles | 20 |
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [38] |
US Alt [39] |
US Folk [40] |
US Indie [41] |
US Rock [42] |
UK [43] |
UK Indie [44] |
UK Amer. [45] | |||
No Burden | — | — | — | — | ― | ― | ― | ― | ||
Historian |
|
—[A] | — | 12 | — | ― | ―[B] | 10 | 9 | |
Home Video |
|
104 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 16 | 85 | 8 | 2 |
Extended plays
Title | EP details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
US Heat [48] | ||
Girls Back Home |
|
― |
Lucy Dacus on Audiotree Live |
|
― |
2019 |
|
22 |
Spotify Singles |
|
– |
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US AAA [49] |
US Rock Airplay [50] |
MEX Airplay [51] | |||
"I Don't Wanna Be Funny Anymore" | 2015 | — | — | — | No Burden |
"Strange Torpedo" | 2016 | — | — | — | |
"Night Shift" | 2017 | — | — | — | Historian |
"Addictions" | 2018 | — | — | 48 | |
"Next of Kin" | — | — | — | ||
"La Vie en Rose" | 2019 | — | — | — | 2019 |
"My Mother & I" | — | — | — | ||
"Forever Half Mast" | — | — | — | ||
"Dancing in the Dark" | — | — | — | ||
"In the Air Tonight" | — | — | — | ||
"Last Christmas" | — | — | — | ||
"Fool's Gold" | — | — | — | ||
"Isabella" (with Hamilton Leithauser) |
2020 | — | — | — | Non-album single |
"Thumbs" | 2021 | — | — | — | Home Video |
"Hot & Heavy" | 24 | — | — | ||
"VBS" | — | — | — | ||
"Brando" | 13 | — | — | ||
"Going Going Gone" | — | — | — | ||
"Thumbs Again" | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"Kissing Lessons" | 2022 | 20 | 50 | — | |
"Home Again" / "It's Too Late" | — | — | — |
Other appearances
Year | Song | Album | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | "Lips of an Angel" | Save Stereogum: An '00s Covers Comp[52] | Hinder cover |
Music videos
Title | Year | Director |
---|---|---|
"I Don't Wanna Be Funny Anymore" | 2016 | Joseph McCormick & Henry Sho Kellam |
"Addictions" | 2018 | Lucy Dacus |
"Hot & Heavy" | 2021 | Lucy Dacus & Marin Leong |
"VBS" | Marin Leong | |
"Going Going Gone" (Live at Spang) |
Jordan Rodericks | |
"Brando" | Unknown | |
"Kissing Lessons" | 2022 | Mara Palena |
"Night Shift" | 2023 | Jane Schoenbrun |
Guest appearances
Title | Year | Other artists | Album |
---|---|---|---|
"Isabella" | 2020 | Hamilton Leithauser | The Loves of Your Life |
"Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris" | Hayley Williams | Petals for Armor | |
"Graceland Too" | Phoebe Bridgers | Punisher | |
"I Know the End" | |||
"Lose This Number" | Christian Lee Hutson | Beginners | |
"Unforgivable" | |||
"Get the Old Band Back Together" | |||
"Single for the Summer" | |||
"Favor" | 2021 | Julien Baker | Little Oblivions |
As part of Boygenius
- Boygenius (2018)
- Boygenius (Demos) (2020)
- The Record (2023)
- The Rest (2023)
Tours
- 2016 Tour (2016)[53]
- 2017 Tour (with Hamilton Leithauser) (2017)[54]
- Historian Tour (2018)[55]
- North American Summer 2018 Tour (2018)[56]
- Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers with Lucy Dacus Tour (2018)
- 2019 Tour (2019)[57]
- Fall Tour 2019 (2019)[58]
- Spring UK/EU Tour (2020; suspended after 2 dates)[59]
- 2021 North American Tour (2021)[60]
- Winter Tour 2022 (2022)[61]
- UK/EU 2022 (2022)[62]
- Summer Tour 2022 (2022)
- Home Video Tour (2022)[63]
- Re:SET Concert Series (2023)
- The Tour (2023)
Accolades
Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Libera Awards | Best Breakthrough Artist/Release | Historian | Nominated | [64] |
2022 | GLAAD Media Award | Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist | Home Video | Nominated | [65] |
2024 | Grammy Awards[a] | Album of the Year | the record | Pending | [66] |
Best Alternative Music Album | Pending | ||||
Record of the Year | "Not Strong Enough" | Pending | |||
Best Rock Song | Pending | ||||
Best Rock Performance | Pending | ||||
Best Alternative Music Performance | "Cool About It" | Pending |
Notes
- ^ Historian did not enter the Billboard 200 but did peak at number 20 on the Top Album Sales chart.[46]
- ^ Historian did not enter the UK Albums Chart but peaked at number 45 on the UK Album Sales chart.[47]
References
- ^ "Songwriter/Composer: Dacus Lucy Elizabeth". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- ^ DeLuca, Dan (June 20, 2021). "Songwriter Lucy Dacus is now Philly's own. Lucky us". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ "The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Rolling Stone. October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Bengal, Rebecca (June 21, 2021). "Lucy Dacus Takes Confessional Songwriting to a New Level". The New York Times. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ a b Regensdorf, Laura (October 26, 2021). "The Wisdom of Lucy Dacus, Body and Soul". Vanity Fair. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ O'Toole, Lucy (June 24, 2021). "Lucy Dacus: "I've never taken music classes. I never thought I would do this. And then, suddenly, it was my career..."". Hot Press. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ a b Baldwin, Brent (May 3, 2016). "From Maggie Walker to National Indie Darling, Richmond's Lucy Dacus Makes an Early Mark". Style Weekly. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ a b c Cochrane, Greg (March 14, 2018). "Lucy Dacus — A songwriter making sense of the most traumatic year of her life". Loud and Quiet. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ Scott, Nate (June 23, 2016). "New Matador signing Lucy Dacus talks her startling debut LP (and why we all need to go to Croatia)". USA Today. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
- ^ "Musician Lucy Dacus on being true to yourself". The Creative Independent. July 19, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ Hughes, Hilary (September 13, 2016). "The On-the-Road Education of Lucy Dacus". The Record: Music News. NPR. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
- ^ a b Langford, Hilary (February 16, 2016). "After Hype from Rolling Stone and NPR, Richmond Musician Lucy Dacus Keeps it Humble". styleweekly.com. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
- ^ a b Murray, Robin (November 25, 2016). "In Conversation: Lucy Dacus". Clash. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
- ^ "Lucy Dacus: No Burden". Allmusic. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
- ^ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (August 10, 2016). "Lucy Dacus is the Author of Her Own Story". MTV.com. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
- ^ Berman, Judy (August 8, 2016). "Lucy Dacus On What It's Like to Have 20 Record Labels Fight Over You". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
- ^ "Saturday Sessions: Lucy Dacus performs 'I Don't Wanna Be Funny Anymore'". CBS News. July 30, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
- ^ Boilen, Bob (July 29, 2016). "Tiny Desk: Lucy Dacus". NPR.org. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
- ^ "The Duke Spirit Moet Annuleren, Lucy Ducas Is De Vervanger". londoncalling.nl (in Dutch). October 26, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
- ^ Waite, Kelsey J.; Gerardi, Matt; McLevy, Alex; Anthony, David; Erickson, Steve (March 2, 2018). "The Breeders, Camp Cope, and more albums to know about this week". avclub.com. AV Club. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
- ^ Geffen, Sasha (March 6, 2018). "Lucy Dacus: Historian Album Review". Pitchfork.com.
- ^ Rincón, Alessandra (August 21, 2018). "Julian Baker, Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers Form Boygenius, Release Three Singles From EP: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- ^ Boilen, Bob (January 31, 2019). "Lucy Dacus Covers An Edith Piaf Classic And Pays Homage To Love". Npr.org. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- ^ "Lucy Dacus Announces Album and Tour, Shares Video for New Song "Hot & Heavy": Watch". Pitchfork.com. April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
- ^ "Lucy Dacus Plays A Luminous "Hot & Heavy" On 'Colbert': Watch". Stereogum.com. April 14, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- ^ Leas, Ryan (November 10, 2021). "Lucy Dacus – "Thumbs Again"". Stereogum. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ Rettig, James (February 2, 2022). "Lucy Dacus – "Kissing Lessons"". Stereogum. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ "Lucy Dacus Gigography, Tour History & Past Concerts – Songkick". www.songkick.com. December 10, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (March 1, 2023). "Boygenius Share Video for New Song "Not Strong Enough"". Pitchfork.
- ^ Mamo, Heran (September 2, 2021). "Lucy Dacus Says All Proceeds From Her Texas Concerts Will Go Toward Abortion Funds". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ Cross, Alan (July 19, 2022). "Yet another check on Ottawa Bluesfest 2022. This is part one of a report on Day 7". A Journal of Musical Things. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
- ^ Jones, Damian (April 16, 2023). "Boygenius say "trans lives matter" and "fuck Ron DeSantis" during Coachella 2023 set". NME.
- ^ Dailey, Hannah (June 26, 2023). "Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus & Julien Baker Wear Drag at Nashville Boygenius Show: 'F–k Bill Lee'". Billboard.
- ^ Dacus, Lucy [@lucydacus] (July 20, 2023). "war criminal :(" (Tweet). Retrieved July 21, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Rissman, Kelly (July 21, 2023). "Singer calls Barack Obama a 'war criminal' after he puts Boygenius song on playlist". The Independent.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (July 21, 2023). "Lucy Dacus Calls Barack Obama a 'War Criminal' After Boygenius Made His Playlist". Billboard.
- ^ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (May 12, 2021). "Lucy Dacus Remembers Everything". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ @billboardcharts (July 6, 2021). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (2/2)..." (Tweet). Retrieved July 7, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Alternative Albums - July 10, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ Peak positions
- For Historian: "Americana/Folk Albums: Week of June 10, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- For Home Video:"Americana/Folk Albums: Week of July 10, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- ^ "Independent Albums: week of July 10, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- ^ "Top Rock Albums - July 10, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ "Lucy Dacus | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- ^ Peaks on the UK Independent Albums Chart:
- Historian: "Official Independent albums chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- Home Video: "Official Independent albums chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- ^ Peaks on the UK Independent Albums Chart:
- Historian: "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- Home Video: "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- ^ "Top Album Sales: Week of June 10, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- ^ "Heatseekers Albums: November 23, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ Peaks on the Adult Alternative Songs chart:
- "Hot & Heavy": "Adult Alternative Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- "Brando": "Adult Alternative Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- "Kissing Lessons": "Adult Alternative Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ "Rock & Alternative Airplay Chart - April 9, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "Mexico Ingles Airplay: April 14, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ "Various - Save Stereogum: An '00s Covers Comp". Discogs. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
- ^ Sacher, Andrew (September 6, 2016). "Lucy Dacus adds dates, playing Mercury Lounge after Car Seat Headrest tour". BrooklynVegan.
- ^ Sacher, Andrew (November 30, 2016). "Lucy Dacus lists her top 10 LPs of 2016, touring with Hamilton Leithauser". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- ^ Sacher, Andrew (December 12, 2017). "Lucy Dacus announces new album 'Historian' & tour, shares "Night Shift"". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- ^ "North American Summer 2018 Tour Announcement". Facebook. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- ^ Reed, Ryan (December 10, 2018). "Lucy Dacus Plots 2019 Headlining US Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- ^ Shaffer, Claire (May 28, 2019). "Lucy Dacus Announces Massive North American Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- ^ "LUCY DACUS ANNOUNCES SPRING UK AND EUROPEAN TOUR". DIY. February 3, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- ^ Vacca, Bria (July 7, 2021). "Lucy Dacus announces North American tour amidst third studio album 'Home Video'". Melodic Magazine.
- ^ Minsker, Evan (November 10, 2021). "Lucy Dacus Announces 2022 Tour, Shares New Song "Thumbs Again": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- ^ Moore, Sam (June 15, 2021). "Lucy Dacus announces 2022 UK and European tour". NME. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- ^ Hussey, Allison (July 20, 2022). "Lucy Dacus Adds Tour Dates, Covers Cher's "Believe": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- ^ "A2IM Announces 2019 Libera Award Nominees". Broadway World. March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ^ "The Nominees for the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards". glaad. September 15, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
- ^ Minsker, Evan (November 10, 2023). "Grammy Nominations 2024: See the Full List Here". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Living people
- 1995 births
- American women singer-songwriters
- Musicians from Richmond, Virginia
- LGBT people from Virginia
- American LGBT singers
- 21st-century American singer-songwriters
- Queer women
- Boygenius members
- Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies alumni
- Feminist musicians
- 21st-century American women singers
- Singer-songwriters from Virginia
- American people of Uzbek descent
- American people of Irish descent
- 21st-century American LGBT people
- American singers of Asian descent
- People from Mechanicsville, Virginia
- American adoptees