SELF

Self (often stylized as sElf) is an American pop rock band formed in 1993 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The band is led by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Matt Mahaffey, additionally consisting of keyboardist Chris James, bassist Mac Burrus, and drummer Jason Rawlings. Former members include guitarist Mike Mahaffey and touring bassist Tim Nobles. The group began as a duo on Spongebath Records with the Mahaffey brothers, immediately picked up by Zoo Entertainment to release their debut album, Subliminal Plastic Motives (1995). It sold over 40,000 copies in its first two years with support from the singles "Cannon" and "So Low". After expanding the lineup for live performances, the band embraced an experimental approach with The Half-Baked Serenade (1997), followed by a compilation of demos, Feels Like Breakin' Shit (1998). The band signed with DreamWorks Records for their third album, releasing Breakfast with Girls (1999), which included lead single "Paint by Numbers". Originally receiving mixed reviews, it has retrospectively achieved critical acclaim despite its numerous production challenges and delays. Their fourth album, Gizmodgery (2000), was created entirely with toy instruments. It featured the single "Trunk Fulla Amps", as well as the sleeper hit "Dead Man". Self also contributed songs to film soundtracks, including "Stay Home" for Shrek (2001), and 'Out with a Bang" for Evolution (2001). The band's fifth album, Ornament & Crime (2017), was planned for release in 2003 but was delayed until 2004 and eventually shelved due to DreamWorks' dissolution. Following the death of Mike Mahaffey in 2005, the band went on hiatus. Matt Mahaffey pursued solo projects, including Wired All Wrong, and continued producing music for and touring with other artists such as Beck and Hellogoodbye. While James worked with Prince, Rawlings played drums in Suburban Tragedy, and Burrus joined the Jimmy Kimmel Live! crew. Self reunited for the EP Super Fake Nice (2014), highlighted by the single "Runaway", and celebrated the twentieth anniversary of Subliminal Plastic Motives with a vinyl reissue and live performances. The EP was distributed by El Camino Media, whom in 2017 gave Ornament & Crime an official release. After years of stagnation, the band returned in 2024 with the single "Love You Less" and the holiday track "Merry Christmas, Santa".