Sales (band)

SALES (stylized in all caps) is an American guitar-based indie pop band from Orlando, Florida. The band's members are musicians Lauren Morgan and Jordan Shih.[1] They are joined on tour by Malcolm Martin, who serves as the live drummer and percussionist.

Sales
Sales performing in Mexico City, 2019
Background information
OriginOrlando, Florida, United States
GenresLo-fi, dream pop, bedroom pop, indie rock, indie pop
Years active2013 (2013)–present[1]
LabelsSales
Members
  • Lauren Morgan
  • Jordan Shih
  • Malcolm Martin (touring)
Past membersJoy Cyr (touring)
Websitewearenotsales.com

In July 2014, the band was named "Ones to Watch" for the second half of 2014 by The Hype Machine as it being one of the most blogged artists yet to release a long play album.[2][3]

The band is independent and self-released their first 7" single Renee/Tonka Time on December 1, 2013, through the music platform Bandcamp.[4] Their first EP was released in September 2014, and their first album in April 2016.

Artwork for all of the band's releases is done by collage artist and designer Alana Questell.[5]

History

Morgan (guitar, vocals) and Shih (guitar, programming) formed the band in Orlando, Florida after the longtime friends had been recording music together on and off for several years. Their latest musical project, SALES, is based on vocal and instrumental improvisation as well as sampling.[1]

On January 31, 2014, the first day of the Chinese New Year, the band released their second single titled "Chinese New Year".[6] The band subsequently received positive acclaim from music blogs, including CMJ, Stereogum, and Pigeons and Planes.[7][8][9] CMJ described the track as a "...sandy, sashaying tune with singer Lauren Morgan's slightly cooing vocals skipping over upbeat guitars and a little synthy buzz. At least the Year of the Horse is sounding pretty good so far."[7]

On September 16, the band announced the release of their debut EP, along with a remix by fellow Orlando musician XXYYXX.[10] They released their EP, along with a track titled "Getting It On" on September 22, 2014.[11][12]

On April 12, 2016, the band hosted a live Twitch stream and listening party where they played tracks from their upcoming self-titled debut and revealed the artwork by Alana Questell.[13] The album, titled Sales LP, was released on April 20, 2016.[14] In one review by DIY the band's self-titled album was rated at 4/5 stars and described as having "a gift for appearing both shy and direct".[15]

On August 18, 2016, the band announced via their Facebook page that an additional member, drummer Joy Cyr, would be joining for their 2016 touring season.[16]

By April 2017, Cyr had been replaced by Malcolm Martin, who has continued as its touring drummer, and is frequently tagged and featured in photos on their social media.[17] However, Martin is not listed as an official band member on its Facebook or Bandcamp.[18][19] The band still brands itself as a "duo" on its Twitter.[20]

In September 2017, the band released the single, "Talk a Lot". They followed this up with the single "Off and On" in February 2018, and "White Jeans" in May 2018. In July 2018, Sales released its second album, Forever & Ever. The cover photo was taken by Malcolm Martin, a contrast to their previous releases, in which all artwork had been done by Alana Questell. The three single covers also featured photographs, though it is unclear who took the photos from their website.[19] In one review by Pitchfork, Forever & Ever was rated at 7.0/10 and described as "a world of cozy, minimalist pop."[21]

As of April 26, 2020, Sales had 3,647,906 monthly listeners on Spotify.[22] Between March 28 and May 5, 2019, they toured across the southern portion of the United States.[23] In 2020, two of the band's songs, "Renee" and "Chinese New Year" went viral on TikTok.[24][25] In December 2021, the band's song "Pope Is a Rockstar" went viral on TikTok.[26]

Discography

Albums
  • Sales LP (2016, self-released)[27]
  • Forever & Ever (2018, self-released)[28]

Compilations
  • Majestic Casual II (2014, Majestic)
  • Those Who Were Once Friends Are Now Fam (2014, Odd Castles)[29]

EP

Charted singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
CAN
[31]		 IRE
[32]		 UK
[33]
"Pope is a Rockstar" 2016 89 52 82 Sales LP

Other singles
  • "Renee/Tonka Time" 7" (2013, self-released)
  • "Renee" (2013, self-released)
  • "Chinese New Year" (2014, self-released)
  • "Vow" (2014, self-released)
  • "Toto" (2014, self-released)
  • "Jamz" (2016, self-released)
  • "Ivy" (2016, self-released)
  • "For You" (2016, self-released)
  • "Talk a Lot" (2017, self-released)
  • "Off and On"[34] (2018, self-released)
  • "White Jeans" (2018, self-released)
  • "Can't Be Yours Forever" (2021)
  • "Moving by Backwards" (2022)
  • "July" (2022)

References
  1. AFP Relax (May 23, 2014). "Artist in profile: Sales". Yahoo. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  2. Tshepo Mokoena (July 24, 2014). "The 20 acts the Hype Machine thinks you should hear in the rest of 2014". The Guardian. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  3. "Hype Machine Ones to Watch 2014 1/2". Hype Machine. August 7, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  4. "renee / tonka time 7" by SALES". Bandcamp. December 1, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  5. Leah Sandler (January 2, 2017). "Spotlight: Alana Questell". Artborne Magazine. Retrieved November 2, 2022."Girl Spotlight: Alana Questell". The Le Sigh. August 28, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  6. "SALES Bandcamp". Bandcamp. January 31, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  7. Plaugic, Lizzie (January 31, 2014). "Listen: SALES – "Chinese New Year"". CMJ. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  8. Rettig, James (January 31, 2014). "Sales – "Chinese New Year"". Stereogum. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  9. Confusion (May 16, 2014). "Daily Discovery: Sales, an Orlando Duo Making Catchy Guitar Pop Without Any of the Extra Noise". Pigeons and Planes. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  10. "premiere: SALES – toto (XXYYXX remix)". Gorilla vs. Bear. October 19, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  11. "stream SALES' charming debut EP". Gorilla vs. Bear. October 19, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  12. "SALES released an EP with an XXYYXX remix, playing shows, including NYC w/ Mitski & Salt Cathedral (streams)". Brooklyn Vegan. October 19, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  13. "SALES Has it Leaked?". Has it Leaked. August 12, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  14. "SALES LP, by SALES". SALES.
  15. Subscribe. "SALES - SALES". DIY. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  16. "Sales". WeAreNotSales. August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016 – via Facebook.
  17. "SALES (@wearenotsales) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com.
  18. "SALES". www.facebook.com.
  19. "forever & ever, by SALES". SALES.
  20. "SALES (@WEARENOTSALES) | Twitter". twitter.com.
  21. "SALES: forever & ever". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  22. "SALES". Spotify. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  23. "SALES". wearenotsales. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  24. A Reintroduction To SALES, The Unsigned Indie-Pop Duo Making Waves On TikTok Stereogum
  25. How a misheard lyric gave way to a ‘mega-wholesome’ TikTok trend Daily Dot
  26. Horetski, Dylan (December 13, 2021). "What is the "Go Little Rockstar" sound on TikTok? Viral trend explained". Dexerto. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  27. "SALES LP, by SALES". SALES. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  28. "forever & ever, by SALES". SALES. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  29. Moreland, Quinn (May 20, 2014). "Stream odd castles' those who were once friends are now fam mixtape". Impose Magazine. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  30. "SALES EP, by SALES". SALES. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  31. "Canadian Hot 100 - Week of December 25, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  32. "Discography Sales". irishcharts.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  33. "SALES | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  34. "Rainy Day Loop (Parent's House Remix), by SALES". SALES.
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