Curriculum
| Curriculum | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Mississippi/Georgia, United States |
| Genres |
Alternative Indie pop |
| Years active |
2006 — 2016
|
| Labels | Blacklight Records |
| Associated acts |
Dresden & Bareilles Syd Wolfe Blonde Ambition Sandi Cohen Travis Horn |
| Past members |
Gregory Preston Olivier Wyatt van Cleef Dana Breckenridge Phillip Mandelbaum |
Curriculum (also formerly known as The Found, The Weekenders, and Blackened Gold Chariot) was an American alternative pop band. The band consisted of Gregory Preston Olivier, Phillip Mandelbaum, Wyatt van Cleef, and Dana Breckenridge.
The band formed in 2006 under management deal with Olivier's four uncles who were well-liked and highly successful country singers, and helped launch the careers of other up-and-coming artists. The band states that their management deal contract was "highly restrictive" and essentially prohibited them from artistic, creative, and professional control of their careers. Desiring artistic freedom, the band secretly sought out English producer Shawn Middlesbrough and began to work on the music that they really wanted to record. To avoid legal issues, as well as any other problems with Olivier's four uncles, the band began to record and form under different reiterations of themselves, even using fake alias for their personal names as band members, before essentially releasing music using their real identities as Curriculum.
In 2009, the band released their first two singles as Blackened Gold Chariot, and in 2010, as The Weekenders, co-produced Wildfire, the debut album from French-English indie pop singer Beastette. In 2011, the band became The Found and released three singles and their debut album (and their only as The Found) Models of Symbolism. By September 2011, the band's management deal with Olivier's four uncles expired. Free from contractual obligations, the band decided to continue recording music using their real identities but under a new band name.
In September 2011, the band reintroduced themselves as Curriculum. Under Curriculum, the band had their most active and successful period to date, scoring three number one albums and two number one singles in the UK. They also had two other singles, which did not reach number one, become two of the best selling singles of all time in the UK.
The band managed to convince the public, media, and their fanbase that The Found, Blackened Gold Chariot, and The Weekenders were entirely different and separate groups from each other and never publicly revealed themselves as being any one of these bands during their career as Curriculum, though some fans and plenty of conspiracy theorists noticed striking similarities between The Found and Curriculum.
In 2016, upon the controversial release of their third album and greatest hits set, the band announced their breakup and after the album was released, revealed their true and past identities to their fans, media, and public while also apologizing for withholding the truth from them.
Background[edit | edit source]
All some details of their beginnings contradict each other, it is confirmed that the band was primarily born and raised in Georgia and Mississippi and that they had been friends since infancy, because their families are friends with each other and had been for generations.
All of the members have similar backgrounds: each of their families are described as "extremely" wealthy, their technically considered heirs to their parents and grandparents' massive fortunes, they were academically successful in school, are approximately the same age as each other, they and their families often went on holiday trips with each other, and they all share a love of music, dance, geography, academics, education, intellectualism, shopping, partying/clubbing, and traveling. They all also had significant problems and issues with each of their families as well. They also all went to the same schools together, even attending Columbia University together in New York City. Out of the four, only Olivier completed his studies there and graduated in 2013.
The band members were also interested in dancing when they were younger and took a number of dance classes which covered various different dancing styles such as ballet, ballroom dancing, and urban contemporary choreography. Once they were able to develop their dancing skills, the band members together and also separately entered plenty of dancing competitions throughout the southern United States, often winning or at least placing within the top three.
2006-2009: Formation and management deal[edit | edit source]
Mostly interested in music, the band was formed in 2006 and approached Olivier's four country superstar uncles to help them secure a record deal. In return, the band signed a management deal contract with the four uncles. According to the band, the management deal contract was "highly restrictive" and prohibited them "significant" artistic, creative, and professional control. The contract allegedly stated that they were only allowed to record country and country pop songs and were restricted from experimenting with other genres, writing their own lyrics, playing their own instruments, or even releasing their own material independently unless permitted by all of the uncles unanimously.
Olivier's uncles deny most of the allegations about the contract; one of the uncles, Lucas Alistair, admitted that he and the other uncles did not want the band to release any material unless they heard it first but, even then, states they were never keen on withholding any material from the band for release. The band claims to have recorded "five albums worth" of material, which kept getting rejected by the uncles. The band claims this was because the material wasn't "country enough" and was still "too pop all over"; Alistair, in an interview about the band, stated that the material wasn't "consistent enough" and was "too all over the place". Alistair, also states that if the boys "wanted to put their foot down and release the material anyway, despite our advice and opinions, we would've helped release the music they wanted to release anyway. We would've not stopped them."
The band began attending Columbia University in New York City in 2009. While attending a college party, they met English producer Shawn Middlesbrough, who was married to Stephanie Kesh, an associate of theirs they had known since they were teenagers. The band ultimately recruited Middlesbrough as their chief producer and secretly began recording the music they wanted to record and behind their uncles' backs, leading them to later assume multiple identities and alias as bands and band members.
Lucas Alistair, in another interview about the band, has since surmised that the band's reasoning for going through multiple identities and alias was to avoid "legal, professional, and personal conflict" between the band and the uncles, though Alistair has stated that "they would've done nothing detrimental to the band or undermine their careers if they released music without our permission. We would've done nothing except probably go off on them a bit but that's it. We wouldn't have destroyed their careers or make life hard for them like they assumed."
2009-2011: Early career[edit | edit source]
2009: Blackened Gold Chariot[edit | edit source]
In early 2009, the band began secretly recording material with Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough suggested that they go for a more alternative and electropop sound. After recording some material featuring their new sound, the band wanted to release their material but feared coming into conflict with Olivier's uncles since they were still under contract. They ultimately decided that they needed new identities and alias and pretend they were a different band.
Inspired by a recent trip to Brazil, their appreciation of Brazilian culture, and Olivier being partly of Brazilian descent, the band decided to publicly present themselves as a duo, consisting of two Brazilian brothers from São Paulo named João and Paulinho. As a band, they decided to call themselves Blackened Gold Chariot and, after further discussions, it was decided that Olivier would publicly be João, while van Cleef would be Paulinho. The origins of the band's name is unknown. Pretending that they were a new unsigned act, the band signed a second management deal with struggling public relations firm SIRHC, who were unaware that they already had a management deal with Olivier's uncles. Despite presenting themselves as duo, all of the band members wrote and arranged most of the songs they recorded for the band, while Middlesbrough, despite not publicly receiving credit (but still got paid regardless), produced for the band.
As Blackened Gold Chariot, oftentimes abbreviated to BGC, they released their debut single titled "Brave New World", which was lyrically based on the novel of the same name by Aldous Huxley. The song received mixed reviews and its promotion was panned, leading to the single to peak at number twenty-three on the UK Singles Chart. The band's next single, "Boyfriend", was penned and produced by Phoenix Rising member James Moss. Critically praised, "Boyfriend" peaked at number ten on the UK Singles Chart, becoming their first top ten single. It was also their first charting single in the United States, where it peaked at number fourteen. The band planned on releasing a third single titled "Taste Test", which was penned by pop songstress Esmeralda Dimuzio but was never released.
The band ultimately ceased being Blackened Gold Chariot, due to poor reception and rising criticisms of the band. Their reputation went into a decline after they engaged in a feud with pop singer Danelle Becker, who was critical of the band's promotional skills, music, image, and public persona. The band also felt that they were "almost exposed as frauds" after having a conversation with Brazilian R&B singer Paulo Araujo (who is actually from São Paulo) after he began speaking partially to them in Portuguese and had ask them what part of São Paulo were they from. The band has since expressed regret being Blackened Gold Chariot, stating it was the "worst ever display of cultural appropriation" and that they made "complete ignorant fools of ourselves".
The band planned on releasing their debut album which was tentatively titled Brave New World, along with a Portuguese-language version of the album. The albums were never completed after the band ceased being Blackened Gold Chariot.
2010: The Weekenders[edit | edit source]
In 2010, the band had reinvented themselves as The Weekenders, trying to pursue and go with a more alternative pop sound at this point. As The Weekenders, the band was invited by Middlesbrough's wife Stephanie Kesh and her sister Beastette, to work on the latter's debut album Wildfire. The band helped contribute to the album by co-writing and co-producing some of the tracks and also providing additional vocals on some of the songs as well.
Beastette has since stated that she knew about the band's past history of switching alias and identities before they eventually became Curriculum and has also revealed that the feud between her and them were "mostly fake".
While helping contribute to Wildfire, The Weekenders recorded a song titled "I Wish A Bitch Would". The song was never released until it appeared as the final track on their Flunking Out EP that they released as Curriculum. Wanting to take their career seriously, the band switched names and identities again because they felt that their brief stint as The Weekenders had "gone stale rather rapidly".
2011: The Found[edit | edit source]
Shortly after their time as The Weekenders, the band changed their identities and alias and changed their band name to The Found. Still incorporating an alternative pop sound but now including dark and cynical lyrical themes, the band entered into the studio in late 2010 to begin work on what would be their debut album.
In early 2011, the band reintroduced themselves publicly as The Found and was signed to Blacklight Records soon after. In March 2011, the band released their first single under their new name titled "The Conflict". "The Conflict", which was described by the band as a "somewhat sad, if not whiny, song", peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart while it made an appearance on the lower regions of the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. Their next single, "Boys Don't Dance To Disco", which addressed toxic masculinity and actually incorporated disco music, surprisingly reached number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's first top three entry in the UK.
Their debut album, Models of Symbolism, was released in June 2011. Their only album to be released as The Found, Models of Symbolism was considered a surprise hit when it debuted and peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart; it also earned mixed to positive reviews and was ultimately certified Silver by the Urapopstar Recording Association Phonographic Society (URAPS). In July 2011, the band released the digital only single "Oceania", which peaked at number three on the UK Digital Chart. No further singles were released from the album and promotion of Models of Symbolism ended soon after.
In September 2011, the band's management deal contract with Olivier's uncles expired. Feeling now that they had no reason to hide, the band dissolved being The Found despite their growing popularity. Publicly, the band faked their breakup on live television in Australia and then soon after "disappeared".
Models of Symbolism disappeared from digital music retailers and music streaming services in November 2011 and physically, the album is out of print.
2011-2016: Curriculum[edit | edit source]
During their time as Curriculum, the band led their fan base, the public, and to a degree, their own label and management to believe that Blackened Gold Chariot, The Weekenders, The Found, and Curriculum were different bands from each other due to differing alias, identities, and even modifications to outward appearances which could've easily "thrown people off". Though The Found and Curriculum were heavily compared however, this rumor was mostly limited to as a "conspiracy theory".
Blacklight Records initially did not know that The Found and Curriculum were the same band, despite signing "both" of them to their label. The label apparently found out just as Curriculum was to release their single "So Mainstream", in which afterwards the label helped with the "erasure" of The Found by taking the album out of digital music retailers and streaming services, combating its appearance on P2P sites, and prohibiting the physical sale of the album by destroying its master copy and any tapes of the album. The label also helped dismiss The Found and Curriculum comparisons and rumors that they were the same band as conspiracy theories.
2011-2013: Syllabus[edit | edit source]
After doing away with their The Found personas, the band reintroduced themselves as Curriculum, using their real names as band members for once. They also named Middlesbrough and his wife, Stephanie Kesh, "honorary members" due to Middlesbrough being their chief producer and Kesh being their constant songwriting collaborator.
After releasing a buzz track in summer 2011, the band announced their debut single "So Mainstream". The band was signed as Curriculum in November 2011 and released "So Mainstream" soon after. "So Mainstream" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and was international hit, ultimately becoming their first top ten hit in the United States. In February 2012, the band released their first album as Curriculum Syllabus. The album received generally positive reviews and peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart, ultimately selling over one million copies in the UK and earning a Diamond certification from the URAPS. In the United States, the album was certified Platinum by the RIAA. The album spawned three more singles: "At A Party", "Teamwork", and "Honeymoon Anthem", with the former two also reaching number three and the latter reaching number nine on the UK Singles Chart. The also released numerous digital promotional singles as well during this era; the album itself spawned a total of three promotional singles. The band was nominated for numerous awards during this time, including Grammys, BRITS, and Urapopstar Awards.
2013-2015: "All Pink Everything", Sophomore, and Flunking Out/Remedial[edit | edit source]
Between late spring/early summer 2012 to autumn 2013, the band worked on their sophomore album which they decided to aptly title Sophomore. The title to Sophomore was announced in December 2012 and was initially planned on being released in January or February 2013. However, the album's release was set and later postponed numerous times, along with a series of singles, EPs, and other material that were cancelled due to a variety of issues concerning the band including their waning and struggling management, Olivier's surprising cocaine and medication addiction that sent him to rehab, and members van Cleef and Mandelbaum pursuing solo careers. The band also faced rumors that they were breaking up which they adamantly denied.
In October 2013, the band released the single "All Pink Everything". Originally supposed to be Mandelbaum's follow-up to his debut single "Your Love's A Drug" for his solo career before it was re-recorded by the band, the song received negative reviews for its lyrical content. Due to its promotional campaign, however, which centered around breast cancer awareness and the color pink being the designated color for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, the single became a surprise success when it peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and the US Billbaord Hot 100. The song was also surprisingly an international hit for the group. Later in the month, the band received their first ever career win for an award at the Q Awards for Best Video for "Honeymoon Anthem".
In late December 2013, the band released "Like A Narcissist" as the lead single from Sophomore. Premiering in November 2013, the song touched on the subject of narcissistic personality disorder. Critically acclaimed, with some considering it their best single ever, "Like A Narcissist" ended being the band's most commercially successful single. Though it debuted at number four, it eventually peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. It is also their biggest international hit to date. Since its release, "Like A Narcissist" has broken a few sales records in the UK and is currently recognized as the fifth best selling single of all time in the UK. It has been certified Diamond by the URAPS.
Sophomore was released in January 2014, two weeks after "Like A Narcissist". Sophomore received highly positive reviews due to the its lyrical content and production. The album proved to be commercially successful as it debuted at #1 on the UK Albums Chart, becoming their second album to top the chart. Sophomore sold more than 97,000 copies in its first week. In late January 2014, the band won their first Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance for their single "Honeymoon Anthem". In February 2014, Sophomore returned to #1 on the UK Albums Chart in its third week of sales. The album also reached the top two in most countries it was released in. Sophomore has sold over two million copies in the UK; initially certified Diamond once but then downgraded to Platinum, due to new sales certification criteria, the album has been re-certified Diamond by the URAPS.
Sophomore was released in January 2014. Critically acclaimed, the album was commercially successful debuting and peaking at number one on the UK Albums Chart, becoming their second album to top the chart. Sophomore also reached number one in the United States, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, and other countries as well. In late January 2014, the band won their first Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance for "Honeymoon Anthem". Sophomore has sold over two million copies in the UK and has been certified Diamond by the Urapopstar Recording Association Phonographic Society (URAPS).
Sophomore spawned four more official singles: their next single, "I Can Pay Your Rent", was re-recorded with extremely popular and talented pop singer Syd Wolfe for its single release and ultimately peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. The album's third, "To Move On", was released the same day as the band's EP Flunking Out and peaked at number eight in the UK. The final two singles from the album, "Masculine" and "Vice City 1986", both peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, with "Masculine" reaching number one being considered a surprise by many. "Vice City 1986" became the band's first number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100. The band also released "Marigold Mornings" as an official single outside of the UK, where it peaked within the top ten in the United States.
The band released the Flunking Out EP in June 2014 with minimal promotion and distribution, primarily released the set on streaming services and only releasing a limited number of physical copies. Despite subpar promotion, the EP was critically and commercially successful, reaching number two on the UK Albums Chart. After the EP sold over 500,000 copies and went Gold in the UK, the band announced plans to re-release the EP under a new name and album art. The EP was renamed Remedial and re-released in October 2014. The EP has since sold over one million copies in the UK and has been certified Diamond.
2015-2016: Break-up, reformation, and final releases[edit | edit source]
In Spring 2015, the band announced that they would be releasing a special edition version of Sophomore and would go on a free mini-tour where they went all around the city of San Francisco, California and sang at noticeable tourist attractions of the city. The band announced that shortly after the tour, they would be amicably breaking up.
The band stated that the reason for the disbandment was because they wanted to explore their own solo careers and had nothing to do with the rising internal conflicts, mainly those between Mandelbaum and the rest of the band.
In Summer 2015, all four band members were spotted around in London at certain music-oriented places including various recording studios. Five months after they had announced they had broken up, the band publicly confirmed that they had actually gotten back together two weeks after they had announced their disbandment and began working on their third studio album.
The band released a digital single titled "We'll Illuminate You" which created controversy regarding the band's attempt to premiere it on the popular streaming service Bloc. Leading to a fallout between Bloc and the band's label, Blacklight, it was considered a scandal and received heavy media attention.
In Autumn 2015, the band revealed a song titled "White Satin", which is considered as "sequel" to the band's digital hit "Marigold Mornings". The band also released a digital single titled "We'll Illuminate You", which became the band's first ever instrumental track. It peaked at #3 on the UK Digital Chart.
In October 2015, the band revealed two versions of their new single titled "What If I Did Not See You Again?"; it will be the lead single from the band's third studio album Juniors and Seniors. With both versions charting as one, as they were allowed to do so under chart rules, "What If I Did Not See You Again?" debuted and peaked at #3 on the UK Singles Chart.
In March 2016, the band released a digital single titled "Imperalist". In May 2016, the band upgraded the song to an official release and with a new mix. The single was released 30 May 2016 and reached #5 on the UK Singles Chart.
The band's final release the "single EP" Marigolden which consisted "Marigold Mornings" and "White Satin", both of which were previous digital promotional singles in the UK. Marigolden peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. Selling over one million copies, it is currently recognized as the seventh best selling single in the UK.
The band also released their final studio album Upperclassmen and their greatest hits collection Graduation around the same time they released Marigolden. In the UK, the two albums were released together as a double disc set, where it peaked at number one becoming their fourth number one entry on the UK Albums Chart.
Other ventures[edit | edit source]
Television[edit | edit source]
In summer 2014, the band premiered a show titled Curriculum: On The Record. The six-part reality mini-series primarily detailed the band's recording of their album Sophomore and its aftermath after it started becoming a commercial success. The show drew in high viewership in the UK and internationally.
Curriculum: On The Record was released to Netflix in the Autumn 2014 and on DVD in Spring 2015.
Former band members[edit | edit source]
Discography[edit | edit source]
Main article: Curriculum discography
Albums[edit | edit source]
- 2012: Syllabus
- 2014: Sophomore
- 2014: Flunking Out / Remedial (EP)
- 2016: Upperclassmen at the Graduation
Awards and accolades[edit | edit source]
Awards[edit | edit source]
| Year | Event | Nominated work |
Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | BRIT Awards | International Breakthrough Act | Nominated | |
| Grammy Awards | Best New Artist | Nominated | ||
| Syllabus | Best Alternative Album | Nominated | ||
| Urapopstar Awards 21 | Best Newcomer | Nominated | ||
| Best Group | Nominated | |||
| Best Alternative | Nominated | |||
| "So Mainstream" | Best Male Video | Nominated | ||
| NME Awards | Best New Band | Nominated | ||
| "So Mainstream" | Dancefloor Anthem | Nominated | ||
| Urapopstar Awards 22 | Best Group | Nominated | ||
| Best Alternative Act | Nominated | |||
| Best Promotion | Nominated | |||
| 2013 | The Q Awards | "Honeymoon Anthem" | Best Video | Won |
| Best Act In The World Today | Nominated | |||
| 2014 | Grammy Awards | "Honeymoon Anthem" | Best Rock Song | Nominated |
| Best Rock Performance | Won | |||
| Urapopstar Awards 25 | Best Group | Won | ||
| Best Breakthrough | Nominated | |||
| "Like A Narcissist" | Best Single | Nominated | ||
| Sophomore | Best Album | Nominated | ||
| MTV Video Music Awards | "I Can Pay Your Rent" (with Syd Wolfe) |
Best Collaboration | Won | |
| "Like A Narcissist" | Best Rock Video | Won | ||
| American Music Awards | Favorite Alternative Artist | Won | ||
| 2015 | Grammy Awards | "Like A Narcissist" | Record of the Year | Nominated |
| Song of the Year | Nominated | |||
| Best Rock Song | Nominated | |||
| Best Rock Performance | Nominated | |||
| Sophomore | Album of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Best Alternative Music Album | Won | |||
| "I Can Pay Your Rent" (with Syd Wolfe)" |
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance | Nominated | ||
| BRIT Awards | International Group | Won |
Accolades[edit | edit source]
| Year | Accolade | Rank/Title | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | James Moss' Top 12 Breakout Stars of 2012 | #5 |
|
| 2012 Year-End Best Selling Singles Artist | 73rd |
| |
| 2012 Year-End Best Selling Overall Artists | 92nd |
| |
| URAPS Rate 17 | #30 |
| |
| James Moss' Top 12 Breakout Stars of 2012 Revisited | #2 |
| |
| URAPS Rate 18 | #19 |
| |
| James Moss' Top 12 Breakouts 2012, The Definitive List | #12 |
| |
| 2013 | URAPS Rate 19 | #38 |
|
| 2014 | URAPS Rate 21 | #14 |
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