Stelth Ulvang

Stelth Ulvang is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known as a touring member of the folk rock band The Lumineers. He is also the co-founder of the Front Range-based band The Dovekins.[4][5] In February 2015, Ulvang released his debut album, And, as Always; the Infinite Cosmos. He released three more albums (one LP and two EPs) in 2018.

Stelth Ulvang
Ulvang in 2019
Ulvang in 2019
Background information
Also known asBarefoot Wanderer
BornFort Collins, Colorado, United States[1]
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Piano
  • keyboard
  • guitar
  • accordion
  • percussion
Years active2009–present
Websitewww.stelthulvang.com

Career

While working at a coffee shop on Laurel Street in Fort Collins, Ulvang developed an interest in music and decided to become a musician. Being an avid traveler, he used to busk to cover his expenses.[6][7][8] Due to his habit of performing barefoot on stage, he has acquired the nickname "Barefoot Wanderer".[9][10][11]

2009-2011: The Dovekins

In 2009, while sailing from Hawaii to Seattle with singer-songwriter Griff Snyder on Robin Lee Graham's The Return of Dove, Ulvang came up with the idea of forming the band The Dovekins.[12] The band's lineup included five members, all rooted in Denver's folk punk scene. The Dovekins generally played mountain-town folk and indie rock style-music. The group released two studio albums, Assemble the Aviary and (A)live, in 2010. After touring regularly, The Dovekins disbanded following a final show in Austin in October 2011.[13][14] The band has reunited on a few occasions since then, including at the 2018 Treefort festival in Boise.[15][16]

2011-present: The Lumineers
Main article: The Lumineers

Ulvang came in touch with The Lumineers in 2009, when the latter, seeking advice on self-booking Colorado shows, interacted with him through Myspace. Ulvang joined the band as a touring member in 2011.[17] The Lumineers joined The Dovekins for their first Denver gig.[14][18] Initially, Ulvang was slated to play bass guitar for The Lumineers, but he later switched to piano.[6][19] He has assisted in the composition of various songs by The Lumineers, including "Stubborn Love". With The Lumineers, Ulvang has opened for U2 and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.[20][21][22]

2012-present: Solo career

Ulvang started to compose his own music in 2012. He has since released two full-length albums and two EPs. His full-length debut album, And, as Always; the Infinite Cosmos, was released in February 2015. In February 2018, Ulvang released two EPs, Greetings From Perpetual Summer and Take Time, as well as a full-length album entitled American Boredom.[23] TED.com described And, as Always; the Infinite Cosmos as "a balancing act of heavy truths, humour and observation".[24] Ulvang told the Colorado Public Radio that American Boredom is more politically themed than his other albums, which are mostly focused on environmental issues.[25][26][27]

In live performances, Ulvang is accompanied by collaborator and drummer Max Barcelow and by multi-instrumentalist Dorota Szuta.[28][29]

Musicianship

Ulvang's major influences include Paul Simon, Fleetwood Mac, Jason Molina, Weezer, Elton John, Nina Simone, Jonathan Richman, Pavement, Leonard Cohen, Joan Baez, Dave Van Ronk, Tom Waits, Jerry Lee Lewis, Neil Young and Bob Dylan. Among genres, he has been specifically influenced by garage rock.[30][31][32] Known for his ability to play a variety of instruments, Ulvang states that he plays more than 18. He mainly plays guitar, piano and mandolin.[18][33] His favourite gear consists of Collings mandolin, Korg SV1 keyboard and Martin guitars.[34]

In a review of Ulvang's 2017 performance at Café Roux, Tecla Ciolfi wrote: "Ulvang’s impeccably eccentric and charming charisma effortlessly infatuated the audience before him. The artist’s peculiar foot-stomping and incredibly animated antics amongst his powerful, minimally-layered sound was a treat for anyone, familiar or not".[35] Reviewing Ulvang's short-notice performance at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney, The AU review author Carine Nilma wrote: "For a very short-notice stint filling in, Ulvang managed to literally win over the entire room after playing for about half an hour".[36][37][38] Folk/rock musician Paul De Haven described Ulvang's American Boredom as the best album of 2018 from the Denver music scene.[39] In a review of a concert by The Lumineers, Lexington Herald-Leader writer Walter Tunis called Ulvang the "MVP of the show" and labeled him "resourceful" for his ability to rapidly change instruments during performances.[40] Ulvang has been praised for his adeptness at playing keyboard and has been seen playing it with his feet on multiple occasions.[41][42]

Personal life

Ulvang was born in Fort Collins and lived in Loveland.[1] He is married to musician Dorota Szuta.[43][44]

Discography

Solo discography

[45][46][47]

Year Album Label Format
2015 And, as Always; the Infinite Cosmos Self-released LP, Digital
2018 Greetings from Perpetual Summer Self-released CD, Digital
2018 Take Time Self-released CD, Digital
2018 American Boredom Self-released LP, CD

The Dovekins

[13][48]

YearArtistAlbumCo-written with
2010The Dovekins"Assemble the Aviary"Blake Stepan, Laura Goldhamer, Nate Wheeler, Max Barcelow
2010The Dovekins"(A)live"Blake Stepan, Laura Goldhamer, Nate Wheeler, Max Barcelow

References
  1. "Lumineers' Stelth Ulvang returns to his roots". Daily Camera. 2015-03-18. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  2. "Artist Information - Stelth Ulvang". All Music. n.d. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  3. Joel Thompson (29 September 2019). "FoCo native Stelth Ulvang brings energetic folk to The Whiskey". The Rock Mountain Collegian. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  4. Cavan McGinsie (n.d.). "PLUGGED IN SERIES : A CHAT WITH STELTH ULVANG". DO 317. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  5. "The Lumineers' Stelth Ulvang plays stealth Grand Rapids show". Local Spins. 2014-09-16. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  6. "Stelth Ulvang: A troubadour captivated". Texx and the City. 2018-02-27. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
  7. "Laura Gibson and Stelth Ulvang Soothe The Entry". Music In Minnesota. 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  8. Morford, Lily. "Stelth Ulvang". Scene Magazine. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  9. "Barefoot wanderer, Stelth Ulvang in SA". Ridiculously Insane. 2015-06-17. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  10. "The Opening Act: Stelth Ulvang". 91.9 WFPK Independent Louisville. 2019-01-17. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  11. Wolgamott, L. Kent. "Lumineers rise fast and high on Americana wave". mcall.com. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  12. Tiffany Harms (17 August 2011). "Some by Sea". Inlander. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  13. "The Dovekins' Discography". Discogs. n.d. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  14. Pareles, Jon (2013-02-06). "Go West, Young Band". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  15. Adam Perry (31 December 2019). "Dovekins Sails Again". Westword. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  16. "Q&A: Dovekins rustling up success (VIDEO)". Colorado Daily. 2010-04-22. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  17. "The Lumineers: Family Ties". Relix Media. 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  18. Rob Duguay (4 May 2018). "Multi-instrumentalist Stelth Ulvang brings an air of storytelling to Rhode Island". The Independent. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  19. "Review: The Lumineers, The Albert Hall Manchester". Manchester’s Finest. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  20. "The Lumineers' Jeremiah Fraites on Opening for U2 on Joshua Tree Tour: 'I Started to Cry the First Night'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  21. "What it takes to put on a Lumineers show". The Concordian. 2018-01-23. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  22. "The Lumineers' Grammy Awards Adventure". Rolling Stone. 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  23. "Everything you need to know about the Smoking Dragon Festival". Channel24. 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  24. "TEDxRiNo | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  25. Daniel Mescher (16 April 2018). "Stelth Ulvang Shares Music From Sophomore LP At CPR's OpenAir". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  26. Gomez, Adrian. "On the move: Stelth Ulvang looks forward to Meow Wolf performance". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  27. "Solo Lumineer hits Westerly Friday". The Day. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  28. Bulletin, Brian McElhineyThe. "Stelth Ulvang opens for Wild Child at Volcanic". The Bulletin. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  29. "Packed house for Stelth Ulvang". Colorado Community Media. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  30. "Labor of Love - Stelth Ulvang". Chicago Music Exchange. n.d. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  31. "[Interview] Stelth Ulvang from The Lumineers will be gracing Pretoria this weekend for Park Acoustic's 5th birthday!! - Mixed Apples". Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  32. "Stelth Ulvang". itydity. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  33. Orebaugh, Olivia (2020-02-26). "Lumineers lack variety at PPG Paints Arena". Pittsburgh Current. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  34. Davies, Claire; September 2013, Acoustic Expo 2013 18 (18 September 2013). "The Lumineers talk piano, mandolin and acoustics". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  35. Tecla Ciolfi (9 January 2017). "IN REVIEW: STELTH ULVANG AT CAFÉ ROUX". Texx and the city. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  36. Carine Nilma (29 January 2014). "Live Review: The Lumineers + Stelth Ulvang – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (28.01.14)". The AU Review. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  37. Palathingal, George (2013-03-29). "Stelth recovery helps Lumineers shine". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  38. "Multi-instrumentalist to share music, stories". East Oregonian. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  39. "Denver's Music Industry Pros Talk Best of 2018". 303 Magazine. 2018-12-18. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  40. Walter Tunis (12 October 2013). "Concert review: The Lumineers play a safe, good-natured set at Memorial Coliseum". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  41. Kate Russell (24 October 2012). "Lumineers Connect With House Of Blues Crowd". OffBeat magazine. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  42. Stephanie Bolling (19 October 2013). "Review: The Lumineers enliven Tampa's USF Sun Dome with tons of talent, energy". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  43. Hancock, Amanda (17 July 2020). "Quarantine almost killed Stelth Ulvang's creativity, but this Lumineer didn't give up". The Gazette (Colorado Springs). Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  44. Major, Michael (9 May 2022). "Heavy Gus Announce Debut Album 'Notions'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  45. David Greenwald (26 March 2019). "How the Lumineers' Stelth Ulvang went cosmic with Portland-made solo album". Oregon Live. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  46. "Take Time, by Stelth Ulvang". Stelth Ulvang. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  47. Walker, Donna Isbell. "Stelth Ulvang goes solo with new vibe". The Greenville News. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  48. Weishampel, Steve (2011-09-08). "Colorado Sound". Boulder Weekly. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
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