Self-recording and playing almost every instrument – including many hand-crafted ones – Chad VanGaalen has become one of Canada’s most celebrated and unpredictable artists. In addition to being a twice JUNO Award-nominated and Polaris Prize shortlisted musician, VanGaalen is also a celebrated illustrator and animator who has shown across Canada and in Europe.
He has animated videos for his own music, Yo Gabba Gabba!, J. Mascis and Holy Fuck, and his animated work and drawings have been shown in galleries and festivals worldwide. In 2010 VanGaalen produced the celebrated second album Public Strain for the band, Women, which brought the band wide acclaim and won VanGaalen praise for his production technique.
Chad VanGaalen has built a cult following with his first four albums, and the 2014 album Shrink Dust is his most resolved and confident album to date.
VanGaalen lives a quiet life with his girlfriend and their two daughters in Calgary. He continues to stay in the basement,
writing songs for his dog, immune to all the fuss, and occasionally emerging to share his discoveries. He can often be found drawing anthills or tossing Frisbee in the local schoolyard. He is also 6’7”.