Richard Reed Parry




Bio

As the red-headed polymath and multi-instrumentalist at the heart of the endlessly inventive art-rock band Arcade Fire, Richard Reed Parry has performed in front of immense crowds and sold millions of records across the world. But this is only one aspect of an artist whose unconventional trajectory has resulted in work that is as varied as it is surprising and unique.


Born in Toronto in 1977, Parry was raised in a community of ex-British isles oral-tradition folk musicians and medieval scholars, and came of age amidst an endless stream of early music and acapella singing. He attended Canterbury high school in Ottawa, Canada where he graduated from the first generation of its Literary Arts programme. In 1998 he headed to Montreal where he studied electroacoustics and contemporary dance at Concordia
University, immersing himself in Montreal's underground music and art scene.


In 1999 he began teaching himself to play the double bass, formed the acclaimed, Juno award-winning contemporary instrumental ensemble Bell Orchestre with soon-to-be Arcade Fire violinist Sarah Neufeld, and formed The New International Standards with now Aracde Fire guitarist/bassist Tim Kingsbury and drummer Jeremy Gara. He began collaborating with Win and Will Butler and Regine Chassagne, and when the earlier version of Arcade Fire ended, he brought his Bell Orchestre and TNIS bandmates with him to reinvent the band into its current incarnation.


In 2004, when AF's Funeral blazed onto the world stage, he left home to go on tour for two months but didn't come back for a year. He went on to tour the world innumerable times, performing and collaborating with David Bowie, David Byrne, Neil Young, Debbie Harry.

Richard Reed Parry selected for the Society for Arts and Technology Residency Program!

The Society for Arts and Technology is pleased to announce the artists who will join its 2023-24 residency program starting this April. Among its selected artists includes Envision’s Richard Reed Parry!

Between collective immersion, hybridization and interactivity, it is through 21 creative projects from SAT’s last call that these artists will have the opportunity to experiment, develop and advance the field of immersive arts alongside our teams, opening the way to new and striking experiences.

Click here to learn more.

📷: Joe Barker


Richard Reed Parry & Susie Ibarra Performing in Brooklyn, NY

Richard Reed Parry has two upcoming live concerts Brooklyn, New York!

Richard Reed Parry and Susie Ibarra LIVE at Modo Yoga - October 24th, 2022 - 8:00 PM/EST

Richard Reed Parry and Susie Ibarra at Public Records - October 25th, 2022 - 7:30 PM/EST

Click here to buy tickets + for more event details


Richard Reed Parry & Susie Ibarra release "Heart and Breath: Rhythm and Tone Fields (OFFAIR)"

Multi-instrumentalist and composer Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire and world renowned percussionist and composer Susie Ibarra Music record Heart and Breath: Rhythm and Tone Fields (OFFAIR).

Click here to listen today


Richard Reed Perry Scores the domestic drama "The Nest"

Richard Reed Perry scored the film The Nest, which is now streaming on Showtime! The dark drama stars Jude Law and Carrie Coon! Listen to the soundtrack here.


Richard Reed Parry creates soundtrack for film "The Nest"

Richard Reed's debut film score is for the new Jude Law film "The Nest", out September 18 via IFC Films. The film tells the story of a family moving from America to England in the 1980s, is out September 18 via IFC Films. Read the write up in Pitchfork here!


Richard Reed Parry's music part of BBC's "Between the Ears: Shifts"

BB's "Shifts" is a profound and inspirational 30-minute tribute to frontline health workers. In this week's edition, healthcare workers will read poems alongside actors with music by Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry. Read more about it here.


JUST ANNOUNCED: Richard Reed Parry joins Montreal Jazz Festival Lineup

Richard Reed Parry joins the Montreal International Jazz Festival lineup with his magical surrealist 360 video performance piece, Quiet River of Dust Volume 2. His fall debut of Quiet River of Dust Volume 1 sold out, so be sure to grab your tickets early! Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10am at https://www.montrealjazzfest.com/. 


Just Announced: Richard Reed Parry Residency at the SAT

Richard Reed Parry & band will be taking over the dome at Société des arts technologiques [SAT] from Nov 13 - 24 for an immersive and meditative performance of his latest release, 'Quiet River of Dust, Vol 1.' Click here for more details and to buy your tickets.


Richard Reed Parry releases single off of upcoming release

Richard Reed Parry has released a new single off of his upcoming album, Quiet River of Dust Vol. 1. The new single, entitled "I Was In The World (Was the World in Me?)" premiered on Under the Radar Mag. Watch a live performance set in a Scottish forest and see his upcoming US and Canadian tour dates here. 


Richard Reed Parry announces Quiet River of Dust Vol. 1

Arcade Fire's Richard Reed Parry has announced the release of a new solo album, Quiet River of Dust Vol. 1 on Anti- and Secret City Records. Watch the video for the first single, On the Ground, here.


Superhuman Happiness Announces New Album Featuring Colin Stetson, Richard Reed Parry

The group has announced their third full-length album, Beacon.

Beacon features special guest appearances by Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire), Colin Stetson (Bon Iver, Cold Equations), and Dave Harrington (Darkside) bring distinction and new character to the sound of the album. Read more about the upcoming release here.