Daughters were an American rock band formed in 2002, in Providence, Rhode Island. The band's most recent lineup consisted of vocalist Alexis Marshall, guitarist Nick Sadler, drummer Jon Syverson, and bassist Samuel Walker.
The band started out as a grindcore outfit, developing their sound with each album, with later albums often described as noise rock. Daughters disbanded in August 2009 after Marshall left the band, and their self-titled third album was released in 2010 while the band was broken up.
The band reunited in 2013. In 2018, the band signed to Ipecac Records and released the album You Won't Get What You Want, which released to universal critical acclaim, with many critics naming it one of the best albums of the year. It marks a significant departure from the band's earlier style, with relatively more conventional song structures and vocals.
History
Formation and Canada Songs (2002–2003)
Prior to forming Daughters, vocalist Alexis S.F. Marshall, guitarist Jeremy Wabiszczewicz and drummer Jon Syverson played in the American grindcore[1][2] band As the Sun Sets.[3] Following its disbandment, Marshall, Wabiszczewicz and Syverson went on to form Daughters along with guitarist Nicholas Andrew Sadler and bassist Pat Masterson.[4] As the Sun Sets' final release, 8949, contained an insert which had a message from the band on it. The message said "...This is As the Sun Sets' final recording. March 21st, 2002, the sun set for the last time. March 22nd, 2002, we begin anew as Daughters".[5] Marshall has since revealed that the announcement in 8949 was a mistake and it was not meant to be put into the EP's liner notes, since he saw Daughters as a new band and he didn't want people to see Daughters as a continuation of As the Sun Sets.[6]
On March 25, 2002 (only three days after the band officially formed) Daughters released their debut EP, Daughters, through City of Hell Records.[7] Daughters played their first show in late May at the Munch House in Providence, RI. Daughters played alongside Backstabbers Inc. and Dead and Gone.[8] In October, 2002 Daughters focused on writing new material for their debut album.[9] On August 12, 2003, Daughters released their debut album Canada Songs, through Robotic Empire.[10]
Hell Songs (2004–2006)
In June, 2004 Daughters released its first live album, Live at CBGB, through City of Hell. The album contained a new song, "Boner X-Ray". In July 2004 "Boner X-Ray" was later released for free as a download from Daughters' website,[11] a studio version of the song would also appear on Daughters' upcoming album, Hell Songs under the title "X-Ray". In mid-2005 Daughters signed to Hydra Head Records.[12] While touring throughout 2004 and 2005 Daughters played many early versions of the songs that would appear on Hell Songs, such as, "Feisty Snake-Woman", "Boner X-Ray", "Fiery Wolves", "Crotch Buffet" and "Fuck Whisperer".[13] Daughters entered the studio in March, 2006 to begin recording their next album at Mad Oak Recording Studios.[14] In May, 2006 the band released details about the album such as its title, producer, recording studio and the track list.[15] On August 8, 2006, Daughters released their second album Hell Songs, through Hydra Head.[16]
Daughters and break-up (2007–2010)
The writing process of the band's third album started three years prior to the album's release, Sadler has said he would take song ideas and riffs to bandmate Syverson "to hash them out".[4] Recording for Daughters' third album began in late April, 2009,[17] and the tracking process was finished by June.[18] In August, Daughters had abruptly broken up.[18] After finishing recording for the album Marshall and Sadler got in an argument resulting in Marshall leaving the band.[4][18][19] The rest of the band decided to call a hiatus, expecting Marshall to re-join the band at some point.[4][19] Sadler continued with mastering the record, finalizing the artwork and worked with artist Dave Fisher on a trailer video. Sadler said that he "was essentially trying to keep the band alive for who-knows-what" and "hoping [Marshall] would come back or maybe in few years we would start playing again."[4] Marshall decided that he wanted to rejoin the band, but that Sadler should be replaced.[4][19] This caused bassist Samuel M. Walker to leave the band.[19] This led to the band's break-up.[4][18]
The disbandment was never officially announced, and no one outside of Daughters knew about the breakup before the end of 2009.[18] Some months after the disbandment, Marshall and Syverson reconnected and decided to continue with the band.[18][20] Stating "We started this band and we're the only two people who have been through it consistently, so there was no reason to stop altogether and throw the whole thing away."[18] Marshall continued to say the pair have "no plans to replace anybody, but we're not ruling out the idea that people could come in here and if it works out, they'll stay."[18] Sadler has said "From my perspective, I don't think I'll ever play with Daughters again - I've been through way too much stress and I'm in a way better place with writing and being in a band with Fang Island. With the new album, I think we ended on a really good note with Daughters and if [Marshall] carries it beyond that then I'm happy for him and that's cool. So I didn't really leave, the band just fell apart. In some way, I guess I was kicked out by the guy who quit. (laughs) I don't know where that leaves me or the band, but I'm using that as an excuse to step out officially."[4]
The band performed a one-off secret show at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, where they played most of the songs from their upcoming album.[19] This was the first and only time Daughters played songs off their self-titled album before their reunion in 2013.[19] Despite the "break-up", Daughters released their third album Daughters on March 9, 2010, through Hydra Head.[21][22] The band's management announced there would not be any tour in support of the album.[18] Looking back on the album Sadler said "This album really caught up with us. People were getting a little older, the whole band was extremely poor from touring over the years, so life outside the band really caught up with us and it became hard to really do anything. I'm very proud of this record just because we were able to make it, you know? It was a real struggle."[4]
Reunion and recording sessions (2013–2014)
Marshall has credited Andy Low of Robotic Empire for reuniting Daughters. While Marshall and Sadler were not speaking to each other, Low told them both that one wanted to see the other. However, neither member had actually expressed any feelings to Low about wanting to see the other. Not knowing this, they both reluctantly agreed to have dinner together. They found out during the dinner that Low had tricked them to get them to talk to each other again.[6] The situation was described by Marshall: "We sat down and had dinner and within 15 minutes we started talking about plans. We just needed to be in the same room I guess." He then went on to say, "It felt that enough time had gone by that any issues that Nick and I had had been not necessarily forgotten but they didn't seem that important anymore."[23]
Speaking about Daughters' reunion Marshall stated the band had been talking about it for a while. He also mentioned how fans would regularly ask him "what was going on with Daughters" while he was on tour with his other band Fucking Invincible. He stated "It's crazy. People are actually still into it" referring to Daughters.[24] When Marshall got home from touring with Fucking Invincible he sent out a group text to the other members of Daughters saying, "People are interested in us doing something. We shouldn't fuck around. We should just go out and play some shows, because this writing thing is taking way longer than it was supposed to. Let's not concern ourselves with that; let's just play some shows and things will happen after that. Everything will happen by itself once we get in the mindset of being in Daughters and being with each other."[24]
On September 13, 2013, Daughters reformed for one show in Rhode Island.[25][26][27] Owing to popular demand, a second show was added on September 15.[28] Although at the time no further official statements had been made, ever since the reunion the band has had heavy activity on social media and had been recording "bits and pieces" and making demos.[24] In the summer of 2014 the band started recording at Providence-based studio, Machines With Magnets. In July, 2014 during these recording sessions the band hinted at new material on Facebook.[29][30] However, all recordings from this session were shelved because the band were unhappy with the outcome, with Marshall claiming they "forced it" and that the recordings ended up sounding "unfinished".[24] Sadler has said the recordings were shelved so the band could "experiment with new ideas."[31]
You Won't Get What You Want and hiatus (2015–2021)
Alexis Marshall performing with Daughters at Haldern Pop Festival 2019
In 2015, Daughters posted a photo on Facebook of its members at recording studio Machines With Magnets.[32] In September 2016, the band announced via Instagram that they will "Record, once again, during [their upcoming tour] with no real agenda nor timeline for release."[33] On this tour, Daughters played the new song, "Long Road, No Turns".[34] In a June 2017 interview Marshall said he expects Daughters to release their fourth studio album by the end of the year.[35] On December 28 and 29, Daughters and Code Orange supported The Dillinger Escape Plan on their final two shows.[36] In April 2018, Daughters reported that the recordings of the guitars for their upcoming album were complete.[37]
On July 13, 2018, Daughters released "Satan in the Wait", the lead single from their upcoming album on Ipecac Recordings.[38] Its title, You Won't Get What You Want, was revealed on August 17 along with its second single, "The Reason They Hate Me", which was described as "noisier and more abrasive" than the lead single.[39] The third single, "Long Road, No Turns", was released on October 2, which Rolling Stone praised for being "another unique beast: off-kilter rhythms pierce through a seething veneer of distortion and Marshall, his voice sounding crystal clear, sings about making mistakes and coming undone."[40]
You Won't Get What You Want was released on October 26. It received universal critical acclaim and placed on numerous publications' year-end lists. The band's first career music video, for "Less Sex", came out on January 14, 2019 and was directed by former Daughters guitarist Jeremy Wabiszczewicz.[41]
In October 2021, Marshall was accused of abuse by his ex-girlfriend Kristin Hayter, who performed under the alias Lingua Ignota at the time. Hayter elaborated on the allegations in December, alleging that Marshall committed rape, domestic violence and mental abuse during their relationship from July 2019 to June 2021.[42][43] Marshall denied the allegations and announced that he would investigate legal options.[44]
Days before Hayter released her impact statement in December fully documenting the abuse allegations against Marshall, Daughters announced on Patreon that they were "pressing pause on Daughters activity for the immediate future", canceling a pair of scheduled January 2022 shows at New York City's (Le) Poisson Rouge.[45]
Sadler joined as the guitarist for Greg Puciato's live band during his first solo tour in 2023.[46]
With the release of the band's second album, Hell Songs, Marshall's vocal style had noticeably changed from high-pitched screams[54] to a singing style that over the years has been compared to David Yow,[55][56]Nick Cave[57][58] and Michael Gira[58] and also has been described as "Elvis Presley being tortured"[23][59] and "Jerry Lee Lewis on hallucinogenic drugs."[59] Marshall explained the reason for the change in vocals saying "It's intimidating [to be in this band]. These guys can play. I don't want to be like, 'You guys be impressive and I'll just scream.' We're not a band like that. Our music is not like that, so why should the singing be like other bands?"[55]
