Biography
Over the course of his career, Father John Misty a.k.a. J. Tillman went from ultra-underground to mainstream without commercializing his sound. Joshua Michael Tillman was born on May 3, 1981 and grew up in Rockville, Maryland. He self-released his first album as J. Tillman in 2003. His fourth, 2006's Minor Works, was his first to receive proper distribution from an indie label. Tillman's solo records were dominated by stark, acoustic-based production and indie-folk balladry, with his warm vocals and imagistic lyrical approach creating a signature sound. In 2008, Tillman-who started out as a drummer-was tapped to play drums for alt-folk kings Fleet Foxes. He remained with the band through early 2012, and appeared on their 2011 album, Helplessness Blues. He released three more solo albums during his time with the group. After parting from Fleet Foxes, Tillman made a shift that would drastically alter his career. Adopting the moniker Father John Misty, he changed his sound from hushed, minimalist folk to a more full-bodied blend of indie pop and folk rock, while his lyrical imagery became even richer. The first Father John Misty album, Fear Fun, was released on Fleet Foxes home Sub Pop in 2012 and marked Tillman's first appearance on the U.S. album charts. His next two LPs, 2015's I Love You, Honeybear and 2017's Pure Comedy, earned him an increasing level of renown, with the latter making it to the Top 10 in both America and England. Tillman's status became such that he ended up contributing to the 2016 releases of both Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. Unexpectedly soon after the release of Pure Comedy, Father John Misty released his fourth album, God's Favourite Customer (2018), barely a year later.
