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Some of music's most iconic acts are actually just one person pulling all the strings. Join us as we count down our picks for the most surprising musical acts that fans mistook for full bands, but turned out to be a one-person show! Which of these solo masterminds impressed you the most? Let us know in the comments below!
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00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for music groups that are basically composed of one member,
00:11but still mistaken for multi-member bands.
00:14For this list, we're also considering bands who may have included other musicians at some point during their lineups, but
00:19ultimately have one sole constant member.
00:27Number 10. Leviathan
00:37The final product may sound like a group pulling all their intense artistic skills together, but don't get it twisted,
00:43all of that musical chaos comes from one man alone.
00:46Since 1998, Jeff Whitehead has been the only artist behind Leviathan, a black metal band.
00:51His role goes far beyond the performance aspect, of which he serves as the lead singer, guitarist, bassist, and drummer.
01:05He's also produced his own discography over the years, including painstakingly recording every instrument on his debut album separately and
01:13getting samples by holding a microphone up to his television.
01:15Whitehead's refusal to perform Leviathan's work live only asks the illusion, making the revelation that he does it all by
01:22himself even more mind-blowing.
01:32Number 9. Cloud Kicker
01:42As if being a pilot wasn't impressive enough, Ben Sharp is another who acts as every single member of a
01:47multi-piece band.
01:48As Cloud Kicker, he creates atmospheric post-metal all from his home studio.
01:53Each track usually starts as a single guitar riff.
01:55From there, Sharp builds upon it until a rich musical world has been created.
02:08It's arduous work, with him taping every line separately, sometimes multiple times, layering it into his software, painstakingly choosing what
02:15works best, re-recording the strings, and fine-tuning the drums.
02:19Would it be easier if he had someone else playing those instruments?
02:22Absolutely.
02:23However, when one listens and is in utter disbelief that it all came from the mind of one person, all
02:28that hard work instantly pays off.
02:30The idea of touring has become much more realistic to me because I've been doing it for the last month
02:35and it doesn't seem like something just totally out of control and out of the range of things that I
02:41can accomplish.
02:43It seems like a very natural extension of the whole music thing.
02:51Number 8. The Ready Set
02:59You might see a backing ensemble on stage, but everything they're playing was concocted and originally made by Jordan Witsegruder.
03:06Known more by his moniker The Ready Set, he began making music as a teenager in his mom's basement.
03:18When he started out, his talent centered around his vocals, the drums, the bass, and the keyboard.
03:24The latter allowed him to integrate various tech programs, which helped him create an effortlessly modern pop-punk vibe.
03:37He's since added guitar to his repertoire, allowing him to recreate the sound of a multi-member group on his
03:42own.
03:42As of 2018, he's even taken on the brunt of the technical work, essentially eliminating the need for any outside
03:47help beyond live shows.
03:56Number 7. Owl City
04:08Even now, it's amazing to us that Adam Young does not have several others helping him craft his electro pop
04:13-ups.
04:14How does the one and only member of Owl City achieve such a rich sound on his own?
04:17Rather than just relying on classic instruments, he also utilizes technological innovations like synthesizers and MIDI controllers.
04:24Brighter than a shooting star, so shine no matter where you are.
04:32Young's process often starts with something small, such as a simple drum loop, a guitar strain, or a short synth
04:38preset.
04:38He uses that simple start as a bass to stack other instruments, production tools, and vocals atop it.
04:44With that method, and a bit of auto-tune magic, he was able to briefly fool fans into believing he
04:49had help behind the scenes.
04:51Oh, if my boys could reach back through the past, I'd whisper in your ear.
04:58Number 6. Marina and the Diamonds
05:08That's right, the diamonds of Marina and the Diamonds never existed at all, at least when it came to music
05:14making.
05:14The name served as a stage moniker for Marina Diamandis, the mastermind behind some pure alt-pop perfection.
05:20I know exactly what I want and who I want to be. I know exactly why I walk and talk
05:27like a machine.
05:28She's controlled her sound since the beginning, teaching herself piano and taking on the arrangement and production of each piece.
05:34She does employ other musicians, but the total sound comes from her.
05:46By the time her third album came about, she'd abandoned the need for outside songwriters and created it all herself,
05:52with just one co-producer.
05:53In recent years, she's simply gone by Marina, making it more than clear that there's no one running the show
05:58but her.
05:58Cause I love you, and I know that you love me too. I want you, and I know that you
06:06want me too.
06:07Want even more behind-the-scenes studio secrets about your favorite artists?
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06:24Number 5. Mammoth
06:33After the death of Eddie Van Halen in 2020, you might think that his son Wolfgang would continue the legacy
06:38by putting together another group.
06:40Instead, he took it as a challenge to take his personal work to the next level.
06:44I'm not here to bargain, I'm begging for your pardon.
06:53Since starting Mammoth in 2015, Van Halen has taken on every aspect of the writing and recording process.
06:59Besides taking on the lead vocals, he's also behind six other instrumental tracks on all of his projects, from percussion
07:05to piano.
07:14It's no wonder why it took him two years to complete his first album.
07:17However, with actors playing as band members in some music videos, and the music being so seamless, we wouldn't blame
07:23you for forgetting he does it all on his own.
07:24I'm so happy you found a place.
07:32Number 4. M83
07:44M83
07:45M83 may be named after a galaxy, but there's only one person at the center of its cinematic and earth
07:50-shattering music, Anthony Gonzalez.
07:52He became the band's sole constant member following the departure of Nicolas Fromageau in 2004.
07:57From that point on, he's been at the helm of the creative process, and became the primary songwriter, singer, and
08:03producer.
08:12Every sound you hear on one of those tracks, whether it's a classic instrument or a high-tech synthesizer, was
08:17decided on and often recorded by Gonzalez.
08:19Although some artists will join him for shows and tours, or to provide some other musical support, it's evident that
08:25M83's continued success is the result of his talent.
08:36Number 3. Burzum
08:46This project that became part of the core foundation of black metal was the result of one singular vision.
08:52While dominating the 1990's metal scene, Varg Vikernes took a more unique approach to creating alone.
08:57He opted for the cheapest or lowest quality equipment, and often only taped single takes.
09:02It created a slightly flawed, yet authentic sound that didn't come across like solo work at all.
09:15Vigernes added to the mystery with his constant refusals to perform live.
09:18If you were to listen to a track without knowing who it was by, you might not even guess that
09:22he was involved.
09:22And that's seemingly the way he would have wanted it.
09:32Number 2. Nine Inch Nails
09:42Given Atticus Ross' contributions since joining in 2016, it's easy to assume that Trent Reznor always had other members to
09:49bounce off of.
09:49The reality? The one behind the first 23 years worth of Nine Inch Nails' discography was Reznor himself.
10:02He tried the traditional route, but struggled finding people who could execute his vision.
10:06He went about it alone, and is still the primary songwriter.
10:09He also generally played every instrument, although he did occasionally bring in a session musician.
10:22He was also the one handling the technical side of things, and creating that slightly futuristic industrial sound.
10:28While Reznor has the help of Ross now, he was the only one who built Nine Inch Nails' esteemed legacy
10:32from the ground up.
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11:10Number 1. Tame Impala
11:19By this point, Kevin Parker's solo status is well-known enough for there to be a meme about it being
11:25a frequently mentioned fun fact.
11:26However, we don't blame those who are still surprised to learn that Tame Impala is just one guy.
11:39Live performances feature multiple people, and his absence from many of his own music videos makes it easy to assume
11:44it's a multi-person project.
11:46Yet, he's the only one with any say.
11:48Parker handles everything himself, including providing the vocals and playing multiple instruments.
12:01He also records everything alone, which gives him freedom to experiment without judgement.
12:06The result is some of the freshest work of the modern era, which may have sounded completely different had he
12:11opted to work with others.
12:12The morning light is turning blue, the feeling is bizarre.
12:16The night is almost over, I still don't know where you are.
12:21Who's your favorite one-person band, and were you shocked to find out it was a solo endeavor?
12:25Let us know in the comments below.
12:26Let us know in the comments below.
12:26Let us know in the comments below!
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