God Is an Astronaut

God Is an Astronaut are an Irish post-rock band from County Wicklow, formed in 2002 by Niels and Torsten Kinsella. Their style employs elements of electronic music, krautrock, and space rock, reminiscent of Tangerine Dream.[2] The band consists of Niels and Torsten Kinsella and Lloyd Hanney. They have released eleven studio albums to date.

God Is an Astronaut
Background information
Also known asGIAA
OriginCounty Wicklow, Ireland
GenresPost-rock[1]
Years active2002–present
Labels
MembersTorsten Kinsella
Niels Kinsella
Lloyd Hanney
Past membersGazz Carr
Robert Murphy
Jamie Dean
Websitegodisanastronaut.com

History
God Is An Astronaut playing in Barcelona in 2010

The band was formed in 2002 by twin brothers Niels and Torsten Kinsella, who took the inspiration for its name from a quote in the movie Nightbreed.[3] God Is an Astronaut's debut album, The End of the Beginning, was released in 2002 on the Revive Records label, which is independently owned by the band. The album was intended to be a farewell to the industry.[4] Two music videos, for "The End of the Beginning" and "From Dust to the Beyond", both produced by the band, received airplay on MTV UK and other MTV Europe networks.

GIAA consider each of their albums to be a sonic "photograph or snapshot of who we are in that moment of time". In mid-2006, a licensing deal with U.K. label Rocket Girl[5] saw both an EP, called A Moment of Stillness, and their second album, All Is Violent, All Is Bright, being re-released.[6]

The band's third album, Far from Refuge, was released in April 2007 on Revive Records and as a download via their website. Their fourth, the self-titled God Is an Astronaut, came out on 7 November 2008. On 12 February 2010, a single was released on the band's website, titled "In the Distance Fading", the second song from their fifth album, called Age of the Fifth Sun, released on 17 May 2010. That year, the band became a quartet, with keyboardist/guitarist Jamie Dean joining.

God Is an Astronaut's sixth full-length album, Origins, was released in 2013. They then went on tour, performing in places such as China, Russia, Brazil, and Europe.

In June 2015, the band's seventh full-length album, Helios | Erebus, was released.

In 2018, GIAA published Epitaph, their eighth full-length studio album.[7]

In February 2021, the band released Ghost Tapes#10 on Napalm Records.

Live performances

God Is an Astronaut performed at the Eurosonic Festival in 2012, when Ireland was the "Spotlight Country".[8] The band's live shows often make use of projected, self-edited footage along with lighting arrangements, to form what they call a "full audiovisual show". Each song is accompanied by its own video.

2008 US tour incident

In early 2008, GIAA embarked on their first tour of the United States. On the day they were set to return home, $20,000 worth of equipment was stolen from their van in New Jersey. Their equipment was not insured, and a tour that had reportedly already cost them $20,000 to organize suddenly doubled in cost.[9]

Band members

Current

  • Torsten Kinsella – vocals, guitars, keyboards (2002–present)
  • Niels Kinsella – bass, guitars, visuals (2002–present)
  • Lloyd Hanney – drums (2003–present)

Past

  • Gazz Carr – keyboards, synthesizer, guitar (2012–13, 2019)
  • Robert Murphy – keyboards, synthesizer, guitar (touring, 2017–2019)
  • Jamie Dean – keyboards, guitar (2010–2017, 2020–2022)

Discography
Main article: God Is an Astronaut discography

References
  1. "Origins by God Is an Astronaut". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  2. Eremenko, Alexey. "God Is an Astronaut – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  3. "God Is An Astronaut". Discogs. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  4. HENDICOTT, James (12 December 2012). "God Is An Astronaut". Golden Plec. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  5. "God Is an Astronaut sign to Rocket Girl". Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  6. Cowen, Nick. "God Is An Astronaut". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  7. "God Is An Astronaut mourn tragic loss on 'Epitaph' (watch the title track's video)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  8. "RTÉ 2fm gearing up for EuroSonic". RTÉ Ten. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 5 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  9. "God Is an Astronaut". Cork Independent. IFN Group. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
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