Northern State (band)

Northern State
Origin	Long Island,New York,U.S.
Genres	Alternative hip hop,Indie rock
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Wichita Recordings Ipecac Recordings Columbia/SME Records
Members	Spero, Sprout,Hesta Prynn
Website	NorthernState.net

Northern Stateis an American femalehip-hop/indie rockgroup from New York.The group consists of members Julie "Hesta Prynn"Potash, Correne" Spero "(previously"GuineaLove ", due to her Italian heritage) Spero, and Robyn" Sprout "Goodmark.The group is named after theNorthern State Parkway,one of the highways onLong Island.

Biography

Sprout, Spero and Hesta Prynn attendedHalf Hollow Hills High School Westand graduated in the 1990s.The group was first formed as a joke; Spero stated in 2003, "It was hilarious. Could you imagine three white girls from Long Island opening up their mouths and acting like they could rap?"

In 2002, the group releasedHip Hop You Haven't Heard,a four-song collection, the songs from which ended up in remixed form on the 2003EPDying in Stereo,which was given a scathing review by Michael Idov in Pitchfork magazine.For their second album,All City,the group worked withPete Rock,Questlovefromthe Roots,Har Mar Superstar,andDJ MuggsofCypress Hill.It was released onColumbia/SMERecords, but because of disagreements, the group left the label thereafter.

Northern State collaborated with producerChuck Brodyof Shitake Monkey (Wu-Tang Clan,Yoko Ono,etc.) andAdrockfrom theBeastie Boys,among others, on their most recent album,Can I Keep This Pen?,which was released onIpecac Recordingson August 28, 2007.

They have shared the stage in North America and Europe withThe Roots,Le Tigre,Talib Kweli,De La Soul,The Gossip,Gym Class Heroes,Tegan and Sara,andCake.Their songs "Better Already" and "Iluvitwhenya" were featured in season 4 episodes of the hit showGrey's Anatomy.Their song "Good Distance" was featured in the fifth episode of the showDamages.

The band appeared on an episode of Washington-based television showPancake MountainalongsideTegan and Sara.

Northern State covered "No Surprises"forStereogum Presents... OKX: A Tribute to OK Computer,a tribute album toOK ComputerbyRadiohead.

Discography

Albums

• Dying in Stereo(2002) Star Time/Wichita
• All City(2004)Columbia/SME Records
• Can I Keep This Pen?(2007)Ipecac

EPs

• Hip Hop You Haven't Heard(2002, self-released)
• At the Party(2005,Wichita)
• Better Already(2007,Kanine)