User:Topherjules/Chris Barth

Chris Barth is a Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist originally from Indianapolis, IN. He is best known for his work with such bands as The Impossible Shapes and The John Wilkes Booze, as well as his solo work under his own name and the alias Normanoak. He currently resides in Bloomington, Indiana where he performs in a variety of musical projects and works in Early childhood education, writing and performing original music for young children.

Music Career
Barth began his music career in Indianapolis, forming The Impossible Shapes while still in high school, with friends Aaron Deer and Peter King. In 1999 he moved to Bloomington, IN to attend Indiana University (Bloomington), and the band expanded to include Mark Rice and Jason Groth. The band released their first record The Great Migration in 2000, and followed with Laughter Fills Our Hollow Dome and Bless The Headless, all released by Indianapolis-based label Recordhead/Mr.Whiggs. Barth also released a solo album that year on Mr. Whiggs titled Loving Off the Land. In 2003, The Impossible Shapes signed with Bloomington, IN label Secretly Canadian and released We Like It Wild, touring nationally and internationally with Jens Lekman and Songs: Ohia. The Impossible Shapes also shared the stage with Wilco, Guided by Voices, and Interpol (band), going on to release three more albums on Secretly Canadian: Horus(2005), Tum(2006), and The Impossible Shapes(2008). In 2002 Barth also joined another Bloomington band, The John Wilkes Booze, touring the U.S. with them from 2003 - 2006, releasing two albums with the Olympia, WA based label Kill Rock Stars. In 2004 Barth released Born A Black Diamond on Secretly Canadian under his new moniker Normanoak. Subsequent Normanoak releases include A Double Gift of Tongues(2007), Estra(2008), and Elixir(2010).