Magnetic Fields

The Magnetic Fields is an American indie pop band formed in Boston and led by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Stephin Merritt. Known for lyrics that blend irony, humor, and melancholy, the group moves between synthpop, lo-fi, folk, and noise pop, exploring both electronic arrangements and acoustic instrumentation.

On their first two albums, Distant Plastic Trees (1991) and The Wayward Bus (1992), Susan Anway served as the lead vocalist. After her departure, Merritt took over lead vocals, showcasing his deep voice starting with the EP The House of Tomorrow (1992). Throughout their career, the group has featured notable members such as Claudia Gonson, Sam Davol, John Woo, and Shirley Simms — who also shares vocal duties with Merritt.

Global recognition came with 69 Love Songs (1999), a triple album featuring 69 songs that became the group’s most celebrated work. The diversity of styles and the inventiveness of the compositions established Merritt as one of the most distinctive voices in indie pop. In the years that followed, the band released albums such as i (2004), Distortion (2008), Realism (2010), and Love at the Bottom of the Sea (2012), always exploring different sonic approaches.

In 2017, the group released 50 Song Memoir, a conceptual and autobiographical album with fifty tracks, each dedicated to a year from the first five decades of Merritt’s life. Quickies (2020), their twelfth studio album, brings together 28 short songs and reaffirms the songwriter’s affinity for concise narratives, quirky characters, and witty observations on human relationships.