Craig Wedren

Career

Wedren began his career as the singer and primary songwriter for Washington, DC–based Shudder to Think, a band that started out in the hardcore music scene, only to challenge the aesthetics and limitations of this then-emerging musical genre. After breaking indie music tradition by signing with Epic Records (Sony Music), Shudder to Think released three major label albums including their opus Pony Express Record. Shudder to Think toured widely with bands like Smashing Pumpkins, Fugazi, and Pearl Jam, and their videos were featured in regular rotation on MTV. At the peak of their career, a battle with Hodgkin's Disease grounded Wedren and the band, but following successful treatments Shudder to Think returned with a new goal in mind – to create music for film. With Shudder to Think, Wedren scored the independent films First Love Last Rites, and High Art, and contributed music to the film Velvet Goldmine. Shortly after making the transition to film work, the band dissolved their partnership, and Wedren continued his dual career as both film composer and solo artist.

As a composer, Wedren has scored a host of popular feature films including Wanderlust, Role Models, School of Rock, Wet Hot American Summer, By the People: The Election of Barack Obama, Laurel Canyon, Reno 911!: Miami, Roger Dodger, The Baxter, and Boxers and Ballerinas. Wedren has also written and performed music for the television shows Hung, United States of Tara, Reno 911!, Stella, The State, The Whitest Kids U' Know, Dawson's Creek, Bones and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23.

In 2004 Wedren released a recording by his band BABY, which was in an electronic dance vein, but distinguished by glam and pop sensibilities.

While continuing to grow creatively and commercially as a composer, Wedren has also developed a career as a solo artist. In 2005 he released his first solo album Lapland on the Team Love label, after which he toured supporting Foo Fighters, and Greg Dulli of Afghan Whigs. In September 2011, Wedren released Wand. To accompany the release of Wand, Wedren toured the United States with Chris Cornell, and he worked with director Tim Nackashi to create a series of 360-degree interactive videos.

In 2012, Wedren re-released recordings by his band BABY. The release included previously unreleased demos, and mixes, as well as a mixed tape which includes covers, and other unreleased material.

Wedren has also contributed vocals to the musical act Tweaker with Chris Vrenna, formerly of Nine Inch Nails, The Verve Pipe's self-titled album, the musical act Cex, The Dead Science's album Villainaire and Someone To Run Away From with Pocket, Jherek Bischoff, and a Fleetwood Mac cover with St. Vincent on Fleetwood Mac Tribute record Just Tell Me That You Want Me.

Wedren wrote the theme for and was a regular extra on MTV's The State and was close friends with many members of the show. Wedren also played a part in 2009's I Love You, Man as a member of the wedding band, as well a role in David Wain's 2012 film Wanderlust. He is a regular player with Wain's cover band the Middle Aged Dad Jam Band.

Wedren also wrote and performed the title track for the movie Balls of Fury. Additionally, he wrote the song "Bondage" for the movie soundtrack.

In 2021, Wedren and Anna Waronker collaborated on the soundtrack to Showtime's Yellowjackets. The original theme song No Return, for the opening credits, was composed by the duo, alongside the score for the show. They also collaborated on the soundtrack for Hulu's Shrill in 2019.

Personal life

Wedren was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1995. He successfully fought the disease and, after several years of treatments, remains in remission. Since 2006, he has been married to Meggan Lennon, the sister of his The State collaborator Thomas Lennon. They share a son.

He is Jewish.

Discography

Solo discography

• Lapland (2005)
• The Spanish Amnesian (2009)
• Wand (2011)
• Adult Desire (2017)
• "Sanctuary" from Hanukkah+ (2019)
• Sabbath Sessions, Vol. 1 (2020)
• Sabbath Sessions Spring 2022 (2022)
• Sabbath Sessions Summer 2022 (2022)
• Sabbath Sessions F/W 2022-23 (2023)
• The Dream Dreaming (2024)

With Shudder to Think

• Curses, Spells, Voodoo, Mooses (1988)
• Ten Spot (1990)
• Funeral at the Movies (1991)
• Get Your Goat (1992)
• Pony Express Record (1994)
• 50,000 B.C. (1997)

With Baby

• Baby (2004)

With Jefferson Friedman

• On in Love (2014)

With Flesh Car

• Flesh Car (2024)

Film and television soundtracks

• First Love, Last Rites (1998; with Shudder to Think)
• High Art (1998; with Shudder to Think)
• The Ten (2007)
• Role Models (2009)
• Wet Hot American Summer (2016; with Theodore Shapiro)
• Dog Days (2018; with Matt Novack)
• New Amsterdam (2021)
• Blood Hive (Original Score from the Showtime Series Yellowjackets) (2022; with Anna Waronker)
• Blood Hive 2 (Original Score from the TV Series Yellowjackets (2023; with Anna Waronker)

References

References

1. (January 2018)
2. Billboard Staff. (October 9, 2004). "Wedren Dances Again With Baby".
3. "Balls of Fury (2007) - Soundtracks".
4. (2022-01-10). "Inside the Alt-Rock Sound of Yellowjackets, TV's Most Thrilling Show".
5. (9 December 2021). "Yellowjackets (2021) - Opening Credits".
6. (4 November 2005). "Making a transition into pop simplicity". Today.
7. (25 November 2019). "We Finally Have an Album of Original Hanukkah Songs". Hey Alma.
8. (28 March 2020). "Composer Craig Wedren on New ‘Sabbath Sessions’ Podcast and Meditatios". Jewish Journal.
9. (4 August 2017). "Meet The Man Behind The Iconic Soundtrack To ‘Wet Hot American Summer’". Forward.
10. (16 December 2022). "How HAIM and Jack Black Helped This Grammy-Winning Music Supervisor Curate a Hanukkah Album".
11. (2020-12-04). "Sabbath Sessions, Vol. 1 by Craig Wedren on Apple Music".
12. (2022-03-23). "Sabbath Sessions Spring 2022 by Craig Wedren on Apple Music".
13. (2022-09-09). "Sabbath Sessions Summer 2022 by Craig Wedren on Apple Music".
14. (2023-02-23). "Sabbath Sessions F/W 2022-23 by Craig Wedren on Apple Music".
15. (2024-01-26). "The Dream Dreaming by Craig Wedren on Apple Music".
16. (2014-05-27). "On In Love by Jefferson Friedman, Craig Wedren & American Contemporary Music Ensemble on Apple Music".
17. "Flesh Car".
18. (2024-06-07). "Flesh Car by Flesh Car on Apple Music".
19. (2007). "Craig Wedren - The Ten - Film Soundtrack".
20. (2009-03-24). "Craig Wedren - Role Models (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)".
21. (2016). "Craig Wedren, Theodore Shapiro - Wet Hot American Summer - Original Score & Music".
22. (2018-08-10). "Dog Days (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Craig Wedren & Matt Novack on Apple Music".
23. (2021-03-02). "New Amsterdam (Music From the Television Series) by Craig Wedren on Apple Music".
24. (2022-04-15). "Blood Hive (Original Score From the Showtime Series Yellowjackets) by Craig Wedren & Anna Waronker on Apple Music".
25. (2023-06-16). "Blood Hive 2 (Original Score from the TV Series Yellowjackets) by Craig Wedren & Anna Waronker on Apple Music".