Jonathan Patrick Wimberly (born May 29, 1983) is an American record producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and mixing engineer best known as being one-half of the synth-pop duo Chairlift. The band parted ways in 2017 so Wimberly and former bandmate Caroline Polachek could focus on their careers as producers/songwriters.
Wimberly has worked on Grammy-winning albums such as Beyoncé's self-titled album and A Seat at the Table by Solange, both of which topped the Billboard charts, and produced Joji's five-times Platinum-certified song "Slow Dancing In The Dark", as well as MGMT's album Little Dark Age and Lil Yachty's fifth studio album Let's Start Here. He also has writing and production credits on critically lauded albums by Blood Orange, Ellie Goulding, Paloma Faith, Empress Of, Wet, and many others. In addition, Wimberly has scored for both film and television, with an example being High Maintenance on HBO.
Career Producing Wimberly has been actively producing records since 2010. Since the disbandment of Chairlift in 2017, he has spent the majority of his time producing records and collaborating with different artists. In 2018, he produced MGMT's fourth record Little Dark Age. Public Access T.V.'s February 2018 release Street Safari was also produced by him. This record was produced at his studio in Brooklyn. Wimberly produced the single "Sweet Sound of Ignorance" by Soko, French-born and LA-based singer-songwriter and musician, which came out in 2017.
Wimberly has also worked with Solange, Beyoncé, and Dev Hynes. He was a collaborator with Solange from 2011, and produced several tracks on her 2016 album A Seat at the Table, which reached number 1 on the Billboard 200. Wimberly produced "No Angel" with Caroline Polachek, which was featured on Beyoncé's self-titled album in 2013, which also was a number 1 record on the Billboard charts. In 2016, Wimberly worked with Dev Hynes of Blood Orange in which he produced, composed, and performed on several tracks. During the same year, he also worked with Wet to produce their debut record Don't You. Chairlift released their third album during this time, which Wimberly had a prominent role in producing with Polachek. Kelsey Lu co-produced her live EP Church with Wimberly in 2016.
Wimberly produced the Das Racist album Relax, also recording and mixing, and produced Acrylics' album Lives and Treasure. Both were 2011 releases. Latin singer Tecla released We Are The Lucky Ones in 2013, which Wimberly produced.
Chairlift Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Wimberly met bandmate Caroline Polachek at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2004. After moving to New York City in 2006, Wimberly and Polachek formed Chairlift in early 2007 with Aaron Pfenning.
In 2008, Wimberly went on tour with Chairlift to open for the experimental indie rockers Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. Shortly thereafter, Chairlift's song "Bruises" was featured in the September 2008 commercial for the iPod nano, becoming their most widely known and breakout single following the release of their debut album Does You Inspire You.
Following Does You Inspire You, Wimberly worked on Chairlift's 2012 album Something (Chairlift album). The album features singles "Amanaemonesia" (2011), "Met Before" (2012), and "I Belong In Your Arms" (2012)
In January 2016, Chairlift released their third and final album, Moth.
Collaborations Wimberly has collaborated on many records and television series, including with MGMT on their fourth LP, Little Dark Age. Public Access T.V. also enlisted Wimberly to produce their sophomore LP Street Safari. His television contributions include composing music for the HBO series High Maintenance on the "Globo" episode.
Some of Wimberly's most notable collaborations include working with Beyoncé on her self-titled surprise album Beyoncé on the track "No Angel." Beyoncé debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Wimberly procured this opportunity being a part of Solange's band, in which he was also a part of her 2016 LP A Seat at the Table. Among his other collaborations that year were work with Dev Hynes (Blood Orange) on his album Freetown Sound, where Wimberly played drums, percussion, and bass on the song "Desirée." He worked on Wet's second album Don't You (Wet album) as well. In 2014, he mixed Arcadia, the debut album of Caroline Polachek's side project Ramona Lisa. Within the same period of time, he also mixed Tune-Yards album Nikki Nack and worked with Kelela and Tink on their song "Want It."
Wimberly's collaborations reach across a spectrum of artists and genres, including working with Fort Lean on their 2012 Change Your Name EP. During this time, he also worked with Latin singer, Tecla, in which he composed, produced, and performed on the record We Are The Lucky Ones. Das Racist also employed him during this period, having him collaborate on their album Relax.
More recently, he gained recognition for producing Joji's song "Slow Dancing in the Dark" (which was certified five-times Platinum in November 2022) and his subsequent album Nectar. He also worked on critically acclaimed albums by MGMT, Ellie Goulding, Paloma Faith, and James Vincent McMorrow, and Let's Start Here by Lil Yachty.
Television appearances Wimberly has had multiple television appearances. In 2016, he appeared on Saturday Night Live with Solange performing "Cranes in The Sky" and "Don't Touch My Hair." This was not the first time he has appeared live with Solange, as he played alongside her on December 10, 2012, on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon performing "Losing You," her lead single, off her True EP. In 2013, he appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly, with fellow Chairlift band member Caroline Polachek performing "Amanaemonesia". His first appearance on television with Chairlift, was on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson playing their breakout single "Bruises" off their first LP. Other notable television performances, include playing drums with Das Racist on November 28, 2011, playing their hit "Michael Jackson" on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.
Discography Albums / EPs Release dateArtistAlbum / EPLabelChartsJune 2007Patrick WimberlyDaylight Savings EPself released -September 11, 2008ChairliftDoes You Inspire YouKanine Records -January 24, 2012SomethingColumbia Records / Young TurksUS: No. 184 UK: No. 131January 22, 2016MothColumbia Records -
Singles YearArtistTitleRecord labelCharts2007ChairliftEvident UtensilKanine Records2008BruisesUS: No. 101 UK: No. 502011Sidewalk SafariAmanaemonesia2012Met BeforeI Belong In Your ArmsI Belong In Your Arms (Japanese Version)2015Ch-ChingColumbia RecordsRomeo2016Crying In PublicMoth to the FlameGet Real
Mixing credits YearArtistAlbum / EPTitle2010Empress Of -Hat TrickRamona LisaArcadia -2011Das RacistRelax -2013Empress Of -Realize You2014Kool A.D.Word O.K. -2015Kelela -Want It (feat. DJ Dahi & Tink)Tune-Yardsnikki nackSink-OTei ShiVerde EP -2016Fort LeanQuiet DayMight've MisheardKelsey LuChurch EPDreams2017Confidence ManConfident Music for Confident PeopleBubblegumThe LifeThe Seventeen EP2018Kevin KrauterToss UpKeep Falling In LoveJojiBALLADS 1Slow Dancing In The Dark2019Buscabulla -Vamano2020 -NTE
Production / Writing credits YearArtistAlbumTitleCreditRIAA2008ChairliftDoes You Inspire You -Producer / Writer2010Das RacistSit Down, Man -2011Acrylics -Asian Pear2012Das RacistRelaxRelaxExecutive ProducerMichael JacksonBrand New DanceBooty in the AirSelenaFort LeanChange Your Name EPProducerChairliftSomething -Co-prod / Writer2013BeyonceBeyonceNo AngelCo-ProdAlbum: 5× Platinum2014Kelela -Want It (feat. DJ Dahi & Tink)2016ChairliftMoth -Co-prod / WriterWetDon't YouWeakCo-Prod / WriterIslandBodyThese DaysBlood OrangeFreetown SoundDesireeWriterKelsey LuChurch EPDreamsJade De LaFleur -ShotgunProducer / WriterSolangeA Seat at the TableInterlude: Tina Taught MeCo-Prod / WriterAlbum: GoldDon't Touch My Hair (feat. Sampha)Where Do We GoScales (feat. Kelela)2017SokoSweet Sound of IgnoranceProducer2018The Dawn of MAYPhantom -ProducerMGMTLittle Dark AgeFull AlbumProducerPublic Access T.V.Street SafariProducer / WriterBlanche -Wrong TurnProducerJojiBALLADS 1Slow Dancing In The DarkProducer / WriterSingle: 5× Platinum Album: Platinum2019Hobo JohnsonThe Fall of Hobo JohnsonMover AwayerAddt'l ProdAnna of the NorthDream GirlDream GirlProducerMy LoveLonely LifeWhen R U Coming HomeQuinn XCIIFrom Michigan With LoveLife Must Go OnProducerBuscabulla -VamanoAddt'l Prod2020 -NTESoko Feel FeelingsBeing Sad Is Not A CrimeProducerAre You A Magician?BlasphemieOh, To Be A Rainbow!Quiet StormReplaceable HeadsLet Me Adore YouTime Waits For No OneHurt Me With Your EgoJames Vincent McMorrowGrapefruit SeasonHeadlightsProducerEllie GouldingBrightest BlueNew HeightsWriter / ProducerBleachProducerJojiNectarPretty BoyWriter / Producer2023Lil YachtyLet's Start Here Full AlbumProducer, Executive Producer Totally Enormous Extinct DinosaursWhen the Lights Go The SleeperProducer, Writer2024Kid CudiINSANOFunky Wizard SmokeWriter / ProducerPapoozResonateFull AlbumMixer / ProducerMGMTLoss of LifeFull AlbumProducer, Executive Producer
Remixes YearArtistTitleLabel2011TV On The RadioCaffeinated Consciousness (Das Racist/patrickWhat remix)InterscopeThe One AM RadioSunlight (patrickWhat remix)Dangerbird Records2013Nite JewelOne Second Love (patrickWhat remix)Secretly Canadian2015R.W. GracePluto (Patrick Wimberly Remix)Liberation MusicBrousThe Sound (Patrick Wimberly Remix) -
Composer credits Air dateNetworkTitleEpisodeJanuary 19, 2018HBOHigh MaintenanceS02E01 "Globo"
References
External links Chairlift