Chris Ayer

{{short description|American singer-songwriter}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = 2016-04-25 Chris Ayer Matt Simons flyingpixel.de - 7989.jpg | landscape = yes | caption = Ayer performing in April 2016 | name = Chris Ayer | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|01|07}} | birth_place = McLean, Virginia, U.S. | death_date = | origin = Stanford, California, U.S. | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}} | genre = {{hlist|Blues rock|pop rock|folk pop}} | occupations = {{hlist|Singer-songwriter|musician|producer}} | website = {{URL|chrisayermusic.com}} }}

'''Chris Ayer''' (born January 7, 1984) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and producer based in Los Angeles. His music incorporates elements of folk pop, pop rock, electropop, and Americana. As a songwriter, he co-wrote "Lay Your Worry Down" for Milow featuring Matt Simons, which has accumulated over 9 million streams on Spotify.<ref name="411music">{{Cite web |title=Chris Ayer |url=https://www.411musicgroup.com/artists/chris-ayer/ |access-date=April 4, 2026 |website=411 Music Group}}</ref>

==Early life and education== Ayer was born in McLean, Virginia, and attended The Potomac School from kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref name="apple">{{Cite web |title=Chris Ayer |url=https://music.apple.com/us/artist/chris-ayer/157666575 |access-date=April 4, 2026 |website=Apple Music}}</ref> He graduated from Stanford University, where he studied philosophy and music.<ref name="apple" /> While at Stanford, Ayer sang with the Stanford Mendicants, an all-male a cappella group.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stanford Mendicants Review |url=https://www.rarb.org/reviews/354.html |access-date=April 4, 2026 |website=Recorded A Cappella Review Board}}</ref> He began playing guitar and writing songs at age 18.<ref name="apple" />

==Career==

===Early career (2003–2012)=== Ayer self-released his debut EP, ''Static'', in June 2003 while still at Stanford.<ref name="apple" /> After graduating, he spent a year performing in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Brooklyn in 2005.<ref name="apple" /> He released a second EP, ''New Songs'', in August 2005, which received national radio airplay.<ref name="apple" /> His first full-length album, ''This Is the Place'', was recorded in Nashville and released in November 2006. The album was produced by Jason Gantt, who had previously worked with the Chieftains, Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill.<ref name="allmusic">{{Cite web |title=Chris Ayer |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chris-ayer-mn0001751600 |access-date=April 4, 2026 |website=AllMusic}}</ref> The album included the song "Evaporate", which won in the folk category of the 2006 John Lennon Songwriting Contest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2006 John Lennon Songwriting Awards |url=https://www.jlsc.com/winners/2006b/lennon_awards.php |access-date=April 4, 2026 |website=John Lennon Songwriting Contest}}</ref> In 2006, he also toured the United Kingdom twice as a live guitarist and singer with MC Lars.<ref name="allmusic" />

Ayer released ''Live Sessions'' and the ''Center Ring'' EP in 2007, followed by the full-length album ''Don't Go Back to Sleep'' in 2009, which he co-produced with Grammy-winning producer Will Hensley.{{cn|date=April 2026}}

===European breakthrough and ''The Noise'' (2013–2016)===

In January 2013, Ayer signed with Sony Music in the United Kingdom and Europe, and subsequently released material through Sony Europe, Epic Amsterdam, and [[PIAS Recordings|[PIAS] Holland]].<ref name="411music" /> His album ''The Noise'', released in March 2013, reached number six on the iTunes Singer-Songwriter chart.<ref name="bandcamp">{{Cite web |title=Chris Ayer |url=https://chrisayer.bandcamp.com/merch |access-date=April 4, 2026 |website=Bandcamp}}</ref> He toured the Netherlands with fellow musician Matt Simons in April 2013, and then toured in Switzerland and Italy for the rest of the spring.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

===2017–present=== In June 2017, Ayer performed at the Pinkpop Festival in Landgraaf, Netherlands, appearing alongside acts such as Green Day, System of a Down, and Martin Garrix.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pinkpop 2017 Lineup |url=https://www.jambase.com/festival/pinkpop-2017 |access-date=April 4, 2026 |website=JamBase}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pinkpop 2017 – Everything You Need to Know |url=https://www.allthingsloud.com/pinkpop-2017-everything-you-need-to-know/ |date=2017 |access-date=April 4, 2026 |website=All Things Loud}}</ref> That same year, he supported Matt Simons before a crowd of 5,500 at AFAS Live in Amsterdam.<ref name="oiam">{{Cite web |title=Chris Ayer |url=https://www.oneinamillionmedia.com/chris-ayer |access-date=April 4, 2026 |website=One in a Million Media}}</ref>

His song "Heavy" won the 16th Independent Music Award for Best Adult Contemporary Song in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Now Hear This! The Winners of The 16th Independent Music Awards |url=https://nowhearthis.bandcamp.com/album/now-hear-this-the-winners-of-the-16th-independent-music-awards |date=April 24, 2018 |access-date=April 4, 2026 |website=Bandcamp}}</ref>

In 2018, Ayer began exploring electropop production, collaborating with producer Keith Varon and songwriter Jessica Vaughn (known as LACES).<ref name="atwood">{{Cite web |last=Mosk |first=Mitch |title=Premiere: Finding Connection in Chris Ayer's Vulnerable, Raw "Stranger" |url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/cast-stranger-chris-ayer-song |date=September 18, 2018 |access-date=April 4, 2026 |website=Atwood Magazine}}</ref> He released the LP ''Endless Wonder'' in October 2019.<ref name="bandcamp" />

As a songwriter, Ayer co-wrote "Lay Your Worry Down" with Milow and Matt Simons, released in 2018.{{cn|date=April 2026}} The track, distributed by Sony Music Entertainment Netherlands, has accumulated over 9 million streams on Spotify.<ref name="411music" /> Ayer has also developed a catalog of over 200 licensable tracks used across broadcast, streaming, and advertising campaigns, with placements in productions by Paramount, NBCUniversal, CBS, Showtime, and during Super Bowl LVIII.{{cn|date=April 2026}}

==Discography== ===Albums/EPs=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Date of Release ! Title ! Label |- |March 19, 2013 |''The Noise'' |Self Released |- |August 18, 2009 |''Don't Go Back to Sleep'' |Another Record Company |- |November 7, 2006 |''This Is The Place'' |Self Released |- |August 2005 |''New Songs'' |Self Released |- |June 2003 |''Static'' (EP) |Self Released |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.chrisayermusic.com/}} * {{YouTube|u=chrisayer446|Chris Ayer}} * {{Discogs artist|1507116}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayer, Chris}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American guitarists Category:21st-century American male singers Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters Category:American male guitarists Category:American male pop singers Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:American rock guitarists Category:American rock singers Category:American rock songwriters Category:People from Stanford, California Category:Singer-songwriters from California