As we know, the entertainment world is full of triple threats who constantly surprise us with their various creative abilities. However, sometimes these revelations slip through the cracks, and we find pleasant surprises when we realize that one of our favorite songs features vocals from one of our favorite actors. Here's a list of ten musical groups featuring familiar faces from other endeavors.
Tyrel Jackson Williams - grouptherapy.
Starting off with the pinnacle of former childhood entertainers turned musicians, grouptherapy. was a trio formed in 2019 comprising of Coy Stewart, Janagrace, and Tyrel Jackson Williams. If all the names sound familiar, it's because the entirety of the group were child actors. Stewart was a part of various programs in the 2000s such as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and The Electric Company, while Janagrace was featured in the 2009 film Terminator Salvation. The most memorable name of the group for me, personally, has to be Tyrel Jackson Williams, who gained fame from his starring role as Leo on the Disney XD show Lab Rats. Grouptherapy. was featured on the iconic On The Radar Radio freestyle series, where Williams' musical ability was truly highlighted. As of March of this year, Williams announced his departure from the group, but the now duo of Janagrace and Stewart is still going strong with the promise of new music soon.
Song Recommendations:
"Disco Pantz"
"American Psycho"
"DYSBF!"
"Light Day Cypher"
"watercolor."
Finn Wolfhard - The Aubreys
While you may know Finn Wolfhard from his iconic role as Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things and Richie Tozier in It, he has another vast career as a musician. Starting off in a band called Calpurnia, Wolfhard was a rhythm guitarist and vocalist performing alongside fellow band members Ayla Tesler-Mabe, Jack Anderson and Malcolm Craig. The group's cover of "My Kind of Woman" by Mac Demarco blew up on TikTok, amassing over one million likes and was a big introduction of Wolfhard as a musical artist to many who only knew him as an actor. Calpurnia released one EP together titled Scout before disbanding in 2019. Shortly after, Wolfhard and Craig announce their new musical duo, The Aubreys, and have been making music together ever since. Their discography includes three singles and an album released in 2021 titled Karaoke Alone.
Song Recommendations:
"Same as You"
"Need to Leave the Theatre"
"Smoke Bomb"
"No Offerings"
"Afraid to Drink"
Ricky Gervais - Seona Dancing
When I found out renowned comedian and actor Ricky Gervais was in a new wave British music duo in the 80s I nearly fell out of my seat. Known for his comedy specials that tour around the world and his acting roles, it may shock you to find that Gervais started out as a musician in a musical duo called Seona Dancing. Gervais, alongside band member Bill Macrae, released two double sided singles that experienced moderate success in the UK. There is a rumored 16-song demo tape that got them signed to London Records, but those songs have never been released to the public. While they weren't a smash hit in the UK, their track "More to Lose" really gained traction in the Philippines and was regarded there as a teen anthem. Before discovering this band, the only time I had ever heard Ricky Gervais sing was during his role in the hilarious 2014 movie Muppets: Most Wanted, but learning about his extensive musical past really adds to the holistic nature of Gervais' celebrity.
Song Recommendations:
"More to Lose"
"Bitter Heart"
"Tell Her"
"You're On My Side"
Ross Lynch - The Driver Era
Ross Lynch rose to fame on the Disney Channel TV show Austin & Ally, and unlike some others on the list was always hailed as an actor with massive musical talent. During the show's run time, Lynch released a handful of songs under his character's pseudonym Austin Moon, but also simultaneously released music with his siblings in a band they called R5. R5 saw a lot of success especially with Ross' dedicated Disney Channel fan base, but once they disbanded, Ross sought to diversify his discography. Since then, Ross and his brother Rocky split off from the other siblings and founded musical duo The Driver Era. This new endeavor brought forth a genre shift from Ross' familiar teen pop roots to alternative/indie music. The Lynch brothers have seen their celebrity expand at an even rapider rate since forming The Driver Era in 2019 and have since released three albums and a plethora of singles and EPs.
Song Recommendations:
"A Kiss"
"Rumors"
"Preacher Man"
"Get Off My Phone"
"Malibu"
Johnny Depp - Hollywood Vampires
Icon Johnny Depp is incredibly famous (or infamous depending on your viewpoint), but regardless of your opinion on him as a person, his impact in the entertainment sphere is undeniable. While his acting work is what arguably rose him to the levels of fame he is at now, Depp is an incredibly seasoned musician. Having been a part of three musical groups since the 80s, including Rock City Angels and Pink Grenade, but since 2012 he has been steady with his rock band Hollywood Vampires. The group is comprised of Depp, Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, and Tommy Henricksen. With two studio albums and a live album, the group's plentiful discography is incredibly enjoyable for any rock fan. Somewhere out there in an alternative universe, I guarantee that Jack Sparrow is rocking out on his pirate ship to Hollywood Vampires.
Song Recommendations:
"Heroes"
"I Got a Line On You"
"Git From Round Me"
"Who's Laughing Now"
"Raise the Dead"
Keanu Reeves - Dogstar
You may know Keanu Reeves from his iconic roles such as John Wick and Neo in The Matrix, but did you know that he is also an extremely talented bassist in the band Dogstar? Founded in 1991, Dogstar consists of Reeves on bass, Robert Mailhouse on drums, and Bret Domrose on guitar and vocals. Mailhouse is also an established actor, with roles on hit shows like Seinfeld and Days of Our Lives. Dogstar’s true highlights are their live performances, such as their performance of "Breach" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and "Everything Turns Around" on SiriusXM. It is evident how much this group genuinely enjoys playing together, and it shows through their stellar musicality and the fun they have on stage. The band's latest release is their self titled 2023 album, and from what it looks like their musical journey isn't stopping anytime soon.
Song Recommendations:
"Blonde"
"How The Story Ends"
"Lust"
"Glimmer"
"Everything Turns Around"
Nat Wolff and Alex Wolff - Nat & Alex Wolff
Brother duo Nat & Alex Wolff rose to fame through their show about a faux rock band, The Naked Brothers Band, on Nickelodeon. The show followed a mockumentary format, similar to the hit shows Big Time Rush and Jonas of the same time period and was actually created by the duo's mother Polly Draper. They released two albums and two singles during the show's two-year run time. However, even when the show ended in 2009, the talented musical duo had no plans to stop their musical careers. Rebranding as Nat & Alex Wolff in 2011, fans watched the brothers grow and evolve as musicians right in front of their eyes. They have released three albums and nine Singles/EPs under their new name. The hit song "Glue" off their album Table For Two is actually one of my personal favorite songs of all time.
Song Recommendations:
"Glue"
"Rollin Around"
"San Francisco"
"25"
"Public Places"
Ryan Gosling - Dead Man's Bones
While you might known of Ryan Gosling's musical talent from his role as Sebastian Wilder in the smash hit La La Land, over a decade earlier he was actually a part of a rock duo with Zach Shields titled Dead Man's Bones. While they only released one studio album during their five-year run, Dead Man's Bones had a unique creative ideology that helped them conceptualized the sound and storylines for their songs. When recording, they tried to limit themselves to three takes maximum when recording their album to let the imperfect nature enhance their artistry. Both Gosling and Shields had a deep fascination with ghosts and the paranormal, and so what started off as a soundtrack for a potential monster-ghost love story turned into their first and only studio album. Knowing this, listening to the album is a really comprehensive experience from start to finish that weaves a deep understanding of music with a compelling storyline.
Song Recommendations:
"Dead Hearts"
"Pa Pa Power"
"Lose Your Soul"
"Dead Man's Bones"
"In The Room Where You Sleep"
Taylor Momsen - The Pretty Reckless
Jenny Humphrey from Gossip Girl (post goth rebrand, of course) is reborn in her actress Taylor Momsen's band The Pretty Reckless. The quartet featuring Momsen, Ben Phillips, Mark Damon, and Jamie Perkins got their start in 2010, smack in the middle of Gossip Girl's run and during the height of Momsen's acting career. Ever since she stepped into the musical spotlight, though, it was evident that this is what she was made for. She broke boundaries in the rock world, with The Pretty Reckless being the first female-led rock band to have seven songs hit number one on the Billboard Rock Charts. The group boasts an impressive four album discography, not even including their various singles, EPs, and extended versions of albums. The band is currently opening on tour for AC/DC, one of the most renowned rock bands in the world.
Song Recommendations:
"Death By Rock and Roll"
"Heaven Knows"
"Factory Girl"
"Only Love Can Save Me Now"
"Got So High"
Zoey Deschanel - She & Him
Talented Actress Zoey Deschanel has been providing the lead vocals for her twee/indie duo She & Him since it's start in 2006. Alongside Matthew Stephen Ward (professionally known as M. Ward), the duo have created some adorable and unique songs, as well as released some stellar covers. Zoey is actually the singer of the theme song of her hit show New Girl, and even has vocal features during her roles in 500 Days Of Summer and the Christmas classic Elf. However, those examples only show a glimpse into the depth that is her musical ability. Definitely inspired by the twee music resurgence of the 2000s, Deschanel's unique vocals are perfect for the genre. Earning themselves a GRAMMY Nomination for "So Long" in the Best Song Written for Visual Media category and topping the Billboard Folk charts upon the release of their cover album Classics, their accolades are nothing short of incredibly impressive.
Song Recommendations:
"Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"
"We'll Meet Again"
"Stay Awhile"
"So Long"
"Black Hole"
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