How many of these music side projects do you know?
In music, a side project is a music adventure undertaken by one or more musicians already known for their involvement in another band. Usually it responds to the desire to try out different styles of music or collaborations.
There are many good examples out there. From old bands such as Traveling Wilburys, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young or Breeders, to modern ones like Gorillaz, The Voidz, Them Crooked Vultures, Babyshambles or Atoms For Peace. Below I have collected another ten interesting side projects formed within these last two decades. Some are still active, some are already history. Some are certainly famous, some are quite unknown. In any case enjoy the listening!
Monsters of Folk
This is what happens when you mix My Morning Jacket (Jim James) and Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis) plus M. Ward (who is also half of the duo She & Him with actress Zooey Deschanel). Formed in 2004 this super band lasted 6 years, time enough to make back then all hipsters melt with their cool indie folk sort of music.
Broken Bells
Super cool band and probably one of my favorites bands. This is the side project of the frontman of The Shins (James Mercer) and producer Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) which decided to work together after meeting at the Roskilde festival in 2004 when they realized they were fans of each other's work. They are still active.
Baio
Baio is the side project of Christopher Baio, bassist (but also a DJ) for the New York City-based indie band Vampire Weekend. This solo project, more electronic and described by him as 'hopeful melancholy' started to grow while the band was touring the world after putting out their second album Contra.
The Postal Service
Another super band consequence of putting together frontman of Death Cab For Cutie (Ben Gibbard) and DNTEL (Jimmy Tamborello) that unfortunately only put out one album (but what a good one!) back in 2003. A mix of indie and electronic music that almost two decades later still sounds amazing. As a curiosity, the band's name was chosen due to the way the Seattle duo created the songs. Due to conflicting schedules, they used the United States Postal Service to send each other the songs as they were advancing with them.
Halloweens
This is the side project of Vaccines members Justin Young and Timothy Lanham which after releasing their debut album in 2019, they had plans to play at some Summer festivals and tour a bit but...we all know what 2020 has brought. In Justin own words, Halloweens is "a lot of the stuff that never really felt right for The Vaccines".
Tired Pony
Supergroup and side project of frontman of Snow Patrol (Gary Lightbody), Belle & Sebastian (Drummer Richard Colburn), R.E.M. (Bassist Peter Buck) plus Iain Archer, Jacknife Lee, Scott McCaughey and Troy Stewart.. The group was formed in 2009 as a consequence of the "long-term ambition" of Lightbody of making a country album and lasted until 2013, 4 years in which they put out two great albums.
Radical Dads
This is the side project of multi-instrumentalist Robbie Guertin, former member of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (Do you also still feel a chill of nostalgia when you listen to “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth”?). As a curiosity, Robbie is a talented and recognized artist and graphic designer. You can check his portfolio out here!
The Last Shadow Puppets
British supergroup, result of mixing Arctic Monkeys (Alex Turner), The Rascals (Miles Kane), Simian Mobile Disco ( James Ford) and Mini Mansions (Zach Dawes). The project started after Turner and Kane became friends when Kane's previous band (The Little Flames) supported Arctic Monkeys on their 2005 UK tour and started making songs together.
Theo Impala
After collaborating with artists such as Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson or Travis Scott, it's no wonder that Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) is a polifacetic musician and producer, and Theo Impala where he joins American rapper Theophilus London is just one of his many side projects. And it sounds really good!
The Dead Weather
And another supergroup, this time with Jack White (White Stripes, Raconteurs, …), Alison Mosshart (The Kills), Dean Fertita (Queens Of The Stone Age) and Jack Lawrence (The Greenhornes). The project was started by Jack after Alison went on tour with The Raconteurs in 2009.
Cover photograph by Zackery Michael
