Galen Crew
Birth dateJuly 11, 1990 (age 36)
Death dateMM NaN, YYYY
Genre
  • Pop
  • folk
  • singer-songwriter
Occupation
  • Artist
  • music producer
  • singer-songwriter
Instrument
  • Acoustic guitar
  • electric guitar
  • ukulele
  • piano
  • bass guitar
Years active2009–present
Websitegalencrew.com
Associated acts
  • Roger Cook
  • Kelsea Ballerini
  • Phil Joel

Galen Michael Crew (born July 11, 1990) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and music producer. In 2015, his songs went viral throughout China and they since have been streamed hundreds of millions of times on Chinese music platforms including NetEase and Xiami.[1][2] In response to his following in China, Crew has often toured the country beginning in 2016 including a January 2024 trip.[3][4][5] His music video for the single "Fragrance" was filmed in Shanghai, China and has footage from concerts in other cities in the country.[6] The single "Princess" from his solo album Better than a Fairy Tale has been featured on ABC's Good Morning America.[7] In 2020, Crew made a guest appearance in the music video for the Newsboys single "Love One Another."[8][9] He has written and toured with Phil Joel, Roger Cook, Kelsea Ballerini and other Nashville artists. Crew's latest, fourth studio LP, Troubadour, was released November 22, 2023.

Early life

Crew was in a rock band while in high school, Seraph, which was composed of Crew on electric guitar, Josh Caste on lead vocals, Nicky Hackett on bass, and Jordan Thompson on drums.[10] Crew was part of the rock-pop group Vinyl Relay while attending college.[11] He became a solo artist in 2011 and began writing songs with Roger Cook at the same time.

Touring

In 2013, Crew toured with Cook in the United Kingdom.[12] In 2014, he toured with Phil Joel in the U.S.[13][14] As of 2024, Crew's songs have reached the hundreds of millions on Chinese sites like NetEase Cloud Music.[1][15][16]

Crew was sponsored by the Chinese company XiaoKang and toured China for the first time in May 2016.[3][4] He since went to Shanghai,[17] Guangzhou, Beijing, and Hong Kong. Crew returned to China for a second tour in the fall of 2016, touring 13 cities including Zibo.[18] In 2019, performed in seven cities including Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chongqing, and Chengdu.[19][20] He toured China a fourth time in early 2024.[21]

Music and influences

Most of Crew's catalogue is co-written with legendary British songwriter Roger Cook. Crew's music often features whimsical themes and otherworldly elements drawn from fairy tales and fantasy to form modern parables in the form of song.[22] He draws inspiration from the troubadours of medieval Europe who were often both knights and poets.[23] His style is said to be "a blend of pop and alternative with some electronic and folky elements."[20] Crew's musical influences include "the Beatles, Coldplay and John Mayer," and songwriting inspiration is taken from mythical works in addition to J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Hermann Hesse, and other fantasy authors.[20] As a tribute to his success in China, Crew prominently featured the erhu, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument, in the single "Fragrance."[19][20] The music video for the single contains shots of scenery in Shanghai and everyday life in China.[24] In 2022, he released a song written in Mandarin Chinese entitled I Know Your Name.[25]

Discography

Crew has released several singles, eight EPs, and four LPs:

  • Better Than a Fairy Tale (2012)
  • Acoustic Daydreams (2012)
  • Like Fire EP (2013)
  • Christmas Spirit EP (2013)
  • Let Them Sing (2014)
  • Sleepyhead EP (2016)
  • Apologue, Vol. 1 EP (2018)
  • Apologue, Vol. 2 EP (2018)
  • Apologue, Vol. 3 EP (2018)
  • Apologue, Vol. 4 EP (2019)
  • Tunnels, EP (2021)

References

  1. ^ "Sleepyhead". v.youku.com. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  2. ^ "口碑响至全球 网易云音乐迎来欧美大牌艺人批量入驻". yue.ifeng.com. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Galen Crew 2016 China Tour in Shanghai". en.damai.cn. Retrieved 17 July 2016.[dead link]
  4. ^ "盖伦 Galen Crew". galen.xiaokang.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  5. ^ 顾馨. "Overseas sound waves crescendo". enapp.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  6. ^ "Top 5 New Indie Pop Week 11". Wolf in a Suit. March 20, 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Princess Annie's greatest wishes come true at Make-A-Wish Grand Royal Ball". December 7, 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  8. ^ Kohl, Emily (2020-03-23). "NEWSBOYS DELIVER HOPE AND HUMOR WITH 'LOVE ONE ANOTHER' MUSIC VIDEO". Turning Point Media Relations. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  9. ^ "Newsboys - Love One Another (Official Music Video)", retrieved 2021-03-30
  10. ^ "Seraph (TN)". PureVolume. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Good times and good tunes at fair's Battle of the Bands". August 19, 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  12. ^ "Review: Roger Cook at St George's – Bristol-born legend we should be very proud of by Keith Clark 8/10". The Bristol Post. April 12, 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.[dead link]
  13. ^ "Phil Joel & Galen Crew – SLC". SOS Radio. November 14, 2011. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  14. ^ "Galen Crew – Phil Joel". Eventful. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  15. ^ "Acoustic Daydreams – Galen Crew". kuwo.cn. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  16. ^ Music, NetEase Cloud. "NetEase Cloud Music Continues to See Growth for International Artists on its Platform". PR Newswire. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  17. ^ "Top Things To Do This Week in Shanghai". cityweekend.com.cn. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  18. ^ "Galen Crew – Crazy Tour Stories". digitaltourbus.com. March 16, 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  19. ^ 周冰. "Foreign musicians make overtures to China". enapp.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  20. ^ "Fragrant fame for Captain from the Crew". SHINE. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  21. ^ 顾馨. "Overseas sound waves crescendo". enapp.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  22. ^ "SubmitHub". www.submithub.com. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  23. ^ "Galen Crew - Puzzle". CHILLFILTR - art is truth. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  24. ^ "Galen Crew - Fragrance (Official Music Video)", retrieved 2021-03-30
  25. ^ "Spotify". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.