Damien Jurado

Damien Troy Jurado (; born November 12, 1972) is an American singer-songwriter from Seattle, Washington, United States. Over the years, he has released albums on Sub Pop, Secretly Canadian, Loose, and is currently on his own label, Maraqopa Records.

Music career Jurado's solo career began during the mid-1990s, releasing lo-fi folk based recordings on his own cassette-only label, Casa Recordings. Gaining a local cult following in Seattle, he was brought to the attention of Sub Pop Records by Sunny Day Real Estate singer Jeremy Enigk. After two 7-inch releases (Motorbike and Trampoline) Sub Pop issued his first full album, Waters Ave S. in 1997. His second album, Rehearsals for Departure, was released in 1999, produced by Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, Big Star, R.E.M.).

He often makes use of found sound and field recording techniques, and has experimented with different forms of tape recordings. In 2000 he released Postcards and Audio Letters, a collection of found audio letters and fragments that he had found from sources such as thrift store tape players and answering machines. Also released in 2000 was Ghost of David, Jurado's bleakest and most personal sounding record to date. I Break Chairs (2002) was produced by long-time friend, Pedro the Lion's David Bazan. It was his last album for Sub Pop, and was a much rockier, electric affair.

After signing for the Indiana-based label Secretly Canadian, Jurado reverted to his trademark folk ballad-based style, releasing four more albums: Where Shall You Take Me? (2003), On My Way to Absence, (2005) And Now That I'm in Your Shadow (2006) and the rockier Caught in the Trees (2008).

In 2009, Jurado teamed with his brother Drake to issue an LP under the moniker Hoquiam, released on February 23, 2010. The album preceded Damien's next solo release, Saint Bartlett, which was released May 25, 2010, and was produced by label mate Richard Swift. After touring the album with Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, Jurado began work on his next album. On February 21, 2012, he released his 10th studio album, Maraqopa, his sixth for Secretly Canadian. In January 2014, Jurado released Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son, an album which marked the third straight collaboration with producer Richard Swift. In March 2016, Jurado released Visions of Us on the Land, and in December of the same year he and Swift released a collection of covers from 2010, Other People's Songs, Volume 1. In 2016, Damien Jurado released The Horizon Just Laughed, his first self produced album, recorded at L.A. studio Sonikwire. In 2018, Jurado left Secretly Canadian to join Mama Bird Recording Co. and Loose Music, and subsequently released the albums In The Shape Of A Storm (2019), and What's New, Tomboy? (2020)

In 2021, Jurado established Maraqopa Records for all of his future releases.

On the 14th of May 2021, Jurado released his 17th full length studio album, The Monster Who Hated Pennsylvania.

On the 24th of June 2022, Jurado released his 18th full length studio album, Reggae Film Star.

On March 31, 2023, Jurado released his 19th studio album, Sometimes You Hurt the Ones You Hate. Prior to the release, Jurado announced that he would no longer be releasing music on Spotify, citing the company's low royalty rates for artists. Jurado eventually decided to release this album, and all future releases, on Spotify.

On October 12, 2023, Jurado released his 20th studio album, Motorcycle Madness. Physical copies of the album were limited to 200 vinyl records, and 100 compact discs.

On November 1, 2023, Jurado released his 21st studio album, Passing the Giraffes. The release marked Jurado's third studio album of 2023.

On January 8, 2024, Jurado released, Roger's Audition: The "Reggae Film Star" Demos. Physical copies of the album were limited to 100 compact discs.

Jurado released two non-album singles, "I've Never Known Alice" and "Call Me, Madame", on August 5, 2024.

Jurado released Motorcycle Madness ('25) on February 14, 2025. In an online post, Jurado described the album as the "completed" version of the previous 2023 release. He elaborated, saying the 2023 release of Motorcycle Madness was essentially a "rehearsal" for the upcoming release. Unlike the 2023 version, Motorcycle Madness ('25) has a stereo mix.

On October 30, 2025, Jurado released his 22nd studio album, Private Hospital. Jurado made the decision to forego traditional formats, and released it as a book.

On May 1, 2026, Jurado released, Did Something In Me Break?, a collaborative full-length LP with folk musician, Lilly Miller.

Collaborations and contributions Jurado features on the song, "Almost Home," from Moby's album, Innocents.

He is also featured in an episode of the BYUtv music documentary series Audio-Files.

Jurado's song, "Everything Trying," appeared in the NBC series, The Blacklist (Season 1, episode 12), in the 2013 Best Foreign Film Oscar film The Great Beauty, in the Fox series House M.D. (Season 7, Episode 14), and in the 2011 film The Dilemma.

The 2014 Joe Carnahan directed crime thriller, Stretch, features Jurado's song, "Let Us All In," during the end of the film.

He duets with Lotte Kestner on her song, "Turn the Wolves," on the 2013 album, The Bluebird of Happiness.

The soundtrack for the 2015 romantic comedy, Tumbledown, includes several songs by Jurado.

Richard Swift produced 4 of his albums.

Jurado's track "A.M. AM" from Visions of Us on the Land is prominently featured in Episode 3 as well as "Cloudy Shoes" from Saint Bartlett in Episode 6 of the 2018 Netflix documentary series Wild Wild Country.

Jurado's song, "Silver Joy," is featured on the soundtrack to the 2023 Christmas comedy-drama, The Holdovers.

Albums Title Album details Waters Ave S. Released: January 1997 Label: Sub Pop Formats: CD, LP, Digital Rehearsals for Departure Released: March 1999 Label: Sub Pop Formats: CD, LP, Digital Postcards and Audio Letters Released: 2000 Label: Made in Mexico Formats: CD Ghost of David Released: September 2000 Label: Sub Pop Formats: CD, LP, Digital I Break Chairs Released: February 2002 Label: Sub Pop Formats: CD, LP, Digital Where Shall You Take Me? Released: March 2003 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: CD, LP, Digital This Fabulous Century Released: October 2004 Label: Burnt Toast Formats: LP, Digital On My Way to Absence Released: April 2005 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: CD, LP, Digital And Now That I'm in Your Shadow Released: October 2006 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: CD, LP, Digital Caught in the Trees Released: September 2008 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: CD, LP Saint Bartlett Released: May 2010 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: CD, LP, Digital Live at Landlocked Released: April 16, 2011 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: LP (Record Store Day exclusive), Digital Maraqopa Released: February 21, 2012 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: CD, LP, Digital Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son Released: January 21, 2014 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: CD, LP, Digital Visions of Us on the Land Released: March 18, 2016 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: CD, LP, Digital Other People’s Songs, Vol. 1 (with Richard Swift) Released: December 2, 2016 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: CD, LP The Horizon Just Laughed Released: May 4, 2018 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: CD, LP, Digital In the Shape of a Storm Released: April 12, 2019 Label: Mama Bird Recording Co. / Loose Formats: CD, LP, Digital What’s New, Tomboy? Released: May 1, 2020 Label: Mama Bird Recording Co. Formats: CD, LP, Digital The Monster Who Hated Pennsylvania Released: May 14, 2021 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: CD, LP, Digital Reggae Film Star Released: June 24, 2022 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: CD, LP, Digital Sometimes You Hurt the Ones You Hate Released: March 31, 2023 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: CD, LP, Digital Motorcycle Madness Released: October 13, 2023 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: CD, LP, Digital Passing the Giraffes Released: November 1, 2023 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: CD, Digital Roger’s Audition: The "Reggae Film Star" Demos Released: January 8, 2024 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: CD, Digital Motorcycle Madness ('25) Released: February 14, 2025 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: LP, Digital I Lost My Wig: The "Motorcycle Madness" Home Demos Released: April 15, 2025 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital Cutting: "Caught in the Trees" Studio Outtakes & Home Demos Released: September 20, 2025 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital Taller Than Trees and Brighter Than Starlight: "Saint Bartlett" Home Demos Released: September 21, 2025 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital "Sometimes You Hurt the Ones You Hate" Home Demos Released: September 26, 2025 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital Private Hospital Released: October 30, 2025 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital "Hoquiam": Bon Fire Demos Released: November 10. 2025 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital Horses On The Runway: "Passing The Giraffes" Demos & Studio Outtakes Released: November 21, 2025 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital Everyone A Star: "Maraqopa" Live (2012) Released: December 05, 2025 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital Motorcycle Madness: Rehearsal Demos - November 4th 2022 Released: February 6, 2026 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: CD, Digital Motorcycle Madness: Studio Day 1 - November 28th, 2022 Released: February 6, 2026 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: CD, Digital All Are Welcome In: A Return To "Maraqopa" Released: March 16, 2026 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital Live At Mohawk Place: Buffalo, NY - October 22nd, 2002 Released: April 25, 2026 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital Did Something In Me Break? (with Lilly Miller) Released: May 1, 2026 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital Soft Violence: Demos Released: June 5, 2026 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital

EPs Title EP details Motorbike Released: 1995 Label: Sub Pop Formats: 7" Trampoline Released: 1996 Label: Sub Pop Formats: 7" Vary Released: 1997 Label: Tooth & Nail Formats: 7" Gathered In Song Released: 1998 Label: Made in Mexico Formats: CD Four Songs Released: 2002 Label: Burnt Toast Vinyl Formats: 12", Digital Holding His Breath Released: 2003 Label: Acuarela Formats: CD Just In Time For Something Released: 2004 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: CD, Digital Gathered In Song (Re-release with bonus tracks) Released: 2007 Label: Made in Mexico Formats: CD, Digital LEM: Volume 1, January 2010 Released: 2010 Label: Flannelgraph Records / Crossroads of America Formats: CD, Cassette, Digital Our Turn To Shine (Bonus EP to Saint Bartlett, Amazon UK exclusive) Released: 2010 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: Digital The Maraqopa Sessions (Bonus EP celebrating Maraqopa inclusion on Rough Trade’s Best Albums of 2012) Released: 2012 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: Digital Recorded Live At Little Elephant Released: 2017 Label: Little Elephant Formats: 12", Digital Unissued EP Released: 2020 Label: Self-released Formats: CD Left Open EP Released: 2026 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital Keith Is Plane Crazy Released: 2026 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital Suddenly Your're Leaving Town Released: 2026 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital Bird Traps Released: 2026 Label: Maraqopa Records Formats: Digital

Singles Title Single details "Halo Friendly" Released: 1997 Label: Summershine Formats: 7" "Chevrolet" Released: 1998 (UK only) Label: Snowstorm Formats: 7" "Letters & Drawings" Released: 1998 (UK only) Label: Ryko Formats: CD "Big Let Down / Make Up Your Mind" Released: 2002 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: 7", Digital "Traded for Fire / Ghost of David" (Split with Dolorean) Released: 2006 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: 7" "Diamond Sea / Pentagrams" (Part of The Maraqopa Sessions) Released: 2012 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: 7", Digital "Clouds Beyond / Let Us All In" (Part of The Maraqopa Sessions) Released: 2012 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: 7", Digital "Wyoming Songbirds / Ghost of David (The Return)" (Part of The Maraqopa Sessions) Released: 2012 Label: Secretly Canadian Formats: 7", Digital "Birds Tricked Into The Trees" (Limited Record Store Day Release) Released: 2020 Label: Mama Bird Recording Co. Formats: 7"

Digital singles

Year Label Songs 2014 Secretly Canadian "Ohio" (Filous Remix) 2015 Secretly Canadian "Exit 353" 2020 Mama Bird Recording Co. "Birds Tricked Into The Trees" "Alice Hyatt" 2021 Maraqopa Records "Helena" "Take Your Time" 2022 Maraqopa Records "Roger" 2024 Maraqopa Records "I've Never Known Alice / I've Never Known Alice (B-Side)" "Call Me, Madame (Smoking Version) / Call Me, Madame (Non-Smoking Version)" "Sheets ('24) / Des Moines" "Ohio ('24) / Little America / Always Memphis" 2025 Maraqopa Records "The Last Great Washington State ('25)" "For Each Familiar Scene / Robin Oswald As She Appears In 1978" "Wearing Your Violence" "We Will Provide The Lightning: The Notes Of Seasons / We Are What We Dream" "Second Story Story: Montreal / Maine" "Gathered And Stolen By Storm: On The Land Blues (Acoustic 12-String Version) / The Moon/The Sun" "Kola (Technicolor Version)" "Tundra" "Paper Canoe" "Easy Now: Orphans In The Key Of E / Anchors" 2026 Maraqopa Records "The New Kind" "A Place Reserved For Reverse" "Nature With All Her Force Will Have The Final Word" "I Was Always Leaving: Leaving My Keys In Kennewick / It Will Come Back" (Damien Jurado/Lilly Miller split single) "Now And Then: Cheryl Retreats / Cheryl's Cake"