The Silhouet
The Silhouet | |
|---|---|
 Photo courtesy: Marina Paul | |
| Born | Joe Michael Bożek November 9, 1986 |
| Citizenship | American, Polish |
| Education | |
| Occupation | |
| Years active | 2017 - present |
| Musical career | |
 | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | |
| Website | thesilhouet |
Joe Michael Bożek (born November 9, 1986), known professionally as The Silhouet, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, and music video producer.[1] He has worked alongside his songwriter twin brother, Roger Bożek, since The Silhouet's inception. He identifies as a vocal chameleon, integrating dark yet soulful tenderness with a mix of experimental production.[2]
Bożek, born and raised in Chicago, started his musical career in 2017 as The Silhouet, releasing songs on YouTube. As his music video repertoire grew, he attracted greater notice, producing a new video every four months. Death of a Poet and Face Your Fate were two EPs produced by Bożek in 2017. Bożek's debut album, Agent of Change, was released two years later, with his brother, Roger Bożek, serving as the principal songwriter. Bożek was classified as an unconventional songwriter on Agent of Change, capable of merging all of his musical interests together and concocting his own sound. Bożek's vocals are dark and soulful, influenced by electronic rock, grunge, indie, classic alternative, and pop music. He established The Silhouet as a way to express himself musically, penning and recording songs on hope, love, affliction, resistance, loss, exploitation, and revenge.[3]
Early life and education
Bożek was born at Loyola Medicine in Maywood, Illinois. Bożek spent his first 10 years of life in Chicago's Belmont Cragin neighborhood, spending more time outdoors than in his family house.[4]
He relocated to Mount Prospect in 1997, where he was exposed to Rock Music. His mother and father bought him a drum kit for his eleventh birthday. He took guitar lessons at the same time as entering his elementary school's concert band as a percussionist.
With an interest in Political Science and Cultural Anthropology, he moved on to study at Harper College and Roosevelt University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies in 2010. With his degree, he traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia, interacting with diplomats like China's Ding Xiaowen and learning languages like Italian, Arabic, and Japanese.
Bożek currently resides in Rolling Meadows, Illinois with his wife Elizabeth.
Career
- 1998 - 2001: Middle School
Bożek and his twin, Roger Bożek, started their first two rock bands at Holmes Middle School in Wheeling, IL, K-o3 and Silteye, respectively. They primarily performed cover songs but also began writing their own material. Bożek was the drummer in the band and his brother, Roger, was the lead singer and keyboardist. It was at their school's Variety Show where they gained confidence to perform live in front of an audience.
- 2001 - 2005: High School
During their Wheeling High School years, both brothers became more proficient in their instruments, and formed a local rock group called Qäjér with two other friends. Qäjér released two EPs and played a few shows during their two years as a group. Some notable venues where they showcased their material included: Congress Theater in Chicago IL and The Rave/ Eagles Club in Milwaukee, WI. It was during these years where Bożek developed a passion for being an artist.
- 2006 - 2016: The Interim
After a few unsuccessful rock group formations and various shows performed throughout the Chicago-land area, Bożek became enthusiastic about performing as a solo artist. In early 2010, in a desperate attempt at securing a record deal, Bożek made a phone call to Craig Bauer of Hinge Studios and booked studio time for a 3-track EP. With hopes fizzling out, Bożek and his brother, Roger, ended their studio sessions with an unfinished product. Still eager for a shot at securing a placement deal, the brothers then met up with producer Drew Correa and together they pitched their music to Lil Wayne. Although the studio sessions were very experiential, they unfortunately did not yield any fruitful results. Frustrated yet persistent, the brothers began writing new tunes in their home studio, which would later develop into two extended plays.
EPs & Debut Studio Album
On September 22, 2017, Bożek established his YouTube presence by uploading his first EP, Death of a Poet. Three months later, on December 21, he followed it up with another EP titled Face Your Fate. Both EPs were written and produced by Bożek and Roger, co-produced and mixed by Nick Monti and mastered by Jeff Heard at GTR Studios. The EPs primarily featured electronic and synthetic elements.
On October 11, 2019, Bożek released his debut LP, Agent of Change.[5] Many of the songs on the full-length album were written from 2014 to 2019 by his brother, Roger Bożek, who this time served as the primary songwriter of the studio project, and would keep his title moving forward. Some of the songs on the debut album were also co-written by The Silhouet, and all the songs were produced and mixed by Nick Monti, and mastered by Jeff Heard at GTR Studios in Chicago, IL. Agent of Change primarily featured organic sounds of piano and guitar, with enhanced electronic production for supplemental cushion.[6]
Artistry
Influences
Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan and Morrissey are two of Bożek's biggest inspirations. Roger, on the other hand, acknowledges John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Chris Corner of IAMX as major inspirations, prompting him to begin creating more songs.
Discography
Studio Albums
| Title | Album Details |
|---|---|
| Agent of Change[7] |
|
EPs
| Title | EP Details |
|---|---|
| Death of a Poet |
|
| Face Your Fate |
|
Videography
List of Music Videos produced, showing year released, and YouTube views
| Title | Year | Youtube views |
|---|---|---|
| Speak Up | 2019 | 13K |
| Placing it on a Star | 2019 | 9.7k |
| Burnin’ Down Love | 2020 | 13K |
| She’ll Fix You | 2020 | 9.1K |
| In This Night | 2020 | 8K |
| Get Around[8] | 2020 | 12K |
| Let Her Breathe | 2021 | 10K |
| Every Day, Every Time | 2021 | 10K |
| Plaything[9] | 2021 | 2.2K |
| Maniac with You | 2022 | 13K |
Gallery
In the media
References
- ↑ "The Silhouet artist profile". www.submithub.com. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ↑ Frometa, R. J. (3 November 2021). "THE SILHOUET SHARES NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO "PLAYTHING"". Vents Magazine. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ↑ "Watch The Silhouet's Sexy, Seductive and Odd "Plaything" Music Video [Premiere]". V13.net. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ↑ "First Look: The Silhouet - Plaything - Jammerzine". jammerzine.com. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ↑ Passions, Destination (22 November 2021). "The Silhouet : Agent Of Change". Destination Passions (in français). Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ↑ Frometa, R. J. (15 October 2019). "INTERVIEW: The Silhouet". Vents Magazine. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ↑ "The Silhouet Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ↑ Branss, Anthony; Bozek, Roger (31 December 2020). "The Silhouet: Get Around". imdb. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ↑ Branss, Anthony (15 October 2021). "The Silhouet: Plaything". imdb. Retrieved 25 March 2022.