Beck – The Polymath
Beck is a pop icon renowned for his eclectic taste in style and genre. Drawing inspiration from everything from hip hop and folk music to Tin Pan Alley sheet music, Beck has released albums that span multiple decades and remain essential parts of contemporary musical landscape.
His 1994 hit single “Loser,” a lo-fi blend of hip hop and folk, set the stage for his multi-genre work and usher in an entirely new era. Though many expected him to be just another one-hit wonder, the Los Angeles native proved otherwise.
After a brief stint in New York City, Beck returned to Los Angeles and immersed himself in the power-pop scene. While playing clubs around town, he improvised lyrics, donned a Stormtrooper mask, and created his own unique path into pop culture. Through BMG Music Publishing and Bong Load Custom Records–an L.A. label that combined Beck’s folk sound with hip-hop beats created by producer Karl Stephenson–Beck developed his craft as an artist for both labels.
On his debut album Mellow Gold, Beck blended alternative rock with rap to create an intoxicating blend that helped define the 1990s. Since then, Beck has continued to innovate with each release, fusing folk with jazz, pop and funk while exploring all manner of genres and time periods to craft music that would transcend its specific location.
Over several generations, Beck has profoundly shaped and inspired thousands of musicians from Sonic Youth to Tom Waits with his singular approach to genre and style. Whether releasing a folk-rock record, pop anthem or classical masterpiece, his results have been universally praised as groundbreaking, resonant and unforgettable.
2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee and eight-time Grammy winner Beck has consistently challenged the boundaries of his genre-defying music, creating masterpieces that will last a lifetime. Best known for his 1994 debut Mellow Gold, the enigmatic musician has released several other acclaimed records over the past decade such as 2014’s Sea Change LP and Morning Phase (2016).
Since moving to Malibu with his wife and two children in 2013, Beck has continued to pursue his music career while also engaging in other creative ventures. He produces recordings for Charlotte Gainsbourg, Thurston Moore and Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks as well as working on soundtracks to Edgar Wright films such as Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
He’s also a songwriter-for-hire, working with artists like Dave Eggers, Christina Ricci and Will Ferrell to craft tracks for their movies and television shows. A passionate and tireless worker, his passion for creation surpasses even his talent as a musician.
Los Angeles-born musician began his career playing in bars and clubs with a group of friends. However, it was his 1994 mixtape of rap and folk, “Loser,” that put him on the map. The hit song quickly went viral, launching an eclectic career in pop music that has seen the multi-genre artist blend slack alternative rock with skateboard hip-hop, acoustic folk and funk music as well as Tin Pan Alley sheet music.