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Penguin Prison
Penguin Prison in October 2010
Penguin Prison in October 2010
Background information
OriginNew York City, New York, U.S.
GenresSynthpop, dance-pop, indietronica, Disco
Years active1999–present
LabelsDowntown
Members
  • Chris Glover
  • Andrew Pertes (on tour)
  • Ben Grubin (on tour)
  • David Gross (on tour)
Past members
  • Ernesto Karolys (on tour)
Websitepenguinprison.com

Penguin Prison (born 1983) is an electropop project composed solely of New York City singer, musician, producer and remixer Chris Glover.[1] His stage name comes from a song he created with his friend Bob that was about George W. Bush, when they started freestyling and saying "He's a penguin vision, he went to the penguin prison, and assumed a penguin position"[2]. While Glover creates music by himself, he has a band for live shows and tours consisting of Andrew Pertes, David Gross, Ben Grubin, and formerly Ernesto Karolys[3].

Life and career

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Early life

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Chris Glover was born in 1983 and grew up in New York City's Upper East Side. His early musical influences came mostly from his mother's love of country music[citation needed]. Glover's favorite artists growing up were Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and Hank Williams.[citation needed] Glover showed an interest in performing music at an early age when he joined his school's gospel choir at age 10, singing alongside future R&B artist Alicia Keys[1]. While a teen, he performed at CBGB's with his punk band The Museum[citation needed].

1999-2008: Career beginnings and first album

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He attended Bard College, where he formed a popular "crazy, fake boy band" called Smartest People At Bard, which he describes as "a cross between Backstreet Boys and Beastie Boys"[1][4]. He was signed to Interscope in 2005 under his birth name in quotes, and recorded an unreleased pop-rap album called Hell Isn't Even That Funny[5]. The album was promoted with the single "Stand On Your Seat" (2005)[5][6]. The album went unreleased because "[The record label] didn't really seem to know what to do with it so I just waited... and then finally said I'm gonna just do something else... and I started doing Penguin Prison shortly after that."[2].

2009-2014: Penguin Prison

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As Penguin Prison, he started remixing with the Jamiroquai song "White Knuckle Ride", the Faithless song "Feel Me", the Goldfrapp song "Rocket", and the Marina and the Diamonds song "I Am Not a Robot". These remixes, among others, led into the release of his self titled album Penguin Prison on October 11, 2011 through Downtown Records to positive reviews[7]. After this, he continued remixing songs, and created two songs for the soundtrack of the web series "Dirty Work"[8].

2014-2016: Lost In New York

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In 2014, Glover collaborated with other artists such as RAC and Viceroy, and made covers of "All Night Long" by Lionel Ritchie and "Hang On To Your Love" by Sade[9][10]. On May 5, 2015 he released his sophomore album "Lost In New York"

2017-Present: Turn It Up EP and singles

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Glover continued making remixes, and released the Turn It Up EP on February 9, 2018[11]. On May 10, 2019, he released "The Heat"[12]. On October 9, 2020, he released "Better"[13], a song about the COVID-19 pandemic. Glover stated on his Instagram "This has been a very difficult year for a lot of people - a global pandemic, social injustice, climate change and countless other troubling developments. I wanted to make a song about rising above it all"[14]. On February 12, 2021, he released "All Your Love"[15]. He explained the meaning of the song on his Instagram, saying "This song is my version of a ballad and a dedication to my wife - an acknowledgement put into record. The past year has brought on a lot of feelings for everyone. For me, a renewed sense of gratitude for the people closest to me."[16] On February 23, 2024, he released a remix of "The Worst" by The Sometimes Island[17].

Discography

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With Smartest People at Bard

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  • Welcome To The CD (1999)[18]
  • ...Or Both (2001)[19]

As "Chris Glover"

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Studio albums

  • Hell Isn't Even That Funny (2005) [5]


Singles

Stand On Your Seat (2005)

As Penguin Prison

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Studio albums
Extended Plays
  • Calling Out Remixes EP (December 15, 2014)[22]
  • Turn It Up EP (February 19, 2018)[11]
Singles
  • Calling Out (October 14, 2014)
  • Never Gets Old (February 10, 2015)
  • The Heat (May 10, 2019)[12]
  • Better (October 9, 2020)[13]
  • All Your Love (February 12, 2021)[15]

Trivia

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Penguin Prison (No 664)", The Guardian. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  2. ^ a b Scott Wood (2016-02-02). The Interview Show with Penguin Prison 2012-24. Retrieved 2024-08-01 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ "Penguin Prison - Audiotree Live, by Penguin Prison". Audiotree. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  4. ^ "Smartest People At Bard | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  5. ^ a b c "Chris Glover - Hell Isn't Even That Funny". Discogs.
  6. ^ BrooklynVegan Staff (March 20, 2005). ""Chris Glover" @ Sin-e, NYC | Pics". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  7. ^ "Penguin Prison Review BBC MUSIC", BBC Music. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  8. ^ Dirty Work Soundtrack (Music from the Original Series) - EP by Various Artists on Apple Music, 2012-05-15, retrieved 2024-08-01
  9. ^ All Night Long (Lionel Richie Cover), retrieved 2024-08-01
  10. ^ Hang On To Your Love (Sade Cover), retrieved 2024-08-01
  11. ^ a b Turn It Up - EP by Penguin Prison on Apple Music, 2018-02-09, retrieved 2024-08-01
  12. ^ a b The Heat - Single by Penguin Prison on Apple Music, 2019-05-10, retrieved 2024-08-01
  13. ^ a b Better - Single by Penguin Prison on Apple Music, 2020-10-09, retrieved 2024-08-01
  14. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  15. ^ a b All Your Love - Single by Penguin Prison on Apple Music, 2021-02-12, retrieved 2024-08-01
  16. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  17. ^ The Worst (Penguin Prison Remix) - Single by The Sometimes Island on Apple Music, 2024-02-23, retrieved 2024-08-01
  18. ^ Welcome To The CD, 2000-01-01, retrieved 2024-08-01
  19. ^ ...Or Both, 2002-01-01, retrieved 2024-08-01
  20. ^ Penguin Prison by Penguin Prison on Apple Music, 2011-11-21, retrieved 2024-08-01
  21. ^ Lost In New York by Penguin Prison on Apple Music, 2015-05-04, retrieved 2024-08-01
  22. ^ Calling Out Remixes - EP by Penguin Prison on Apple Music, 2014-12-15, retrieved 2024-08-01
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