Superorganism’s Mark Turner Sought Restraining Orders Against Two Women Who Spoke Out Against Him

Superorganism’s Mark Turner Sought Restraining Orders Against Two Women Who Spoke Out Against Him
Emily, aka Mark Turner, of Superorganism. Photo by Roberto Finizio/NurPhoto through Getty Images.

Since arriving in 2017 beneath a cloud of anonymity, Superorganism have shortly risen by means of the indie ranks. Their self-titled debut album was launched to crucial acclaim final spring, and so they have been introduced as a part of this yr’s Coachella lineup. But lengthy earlier than hypothesis swirled about who may be behind the mysterious London-based mission, 4 Superorganism members—Mark Turner (aka Emily), Chris Young (aka Harry), Tim Shann (aka Tucan), and Blair Everson (aka Robert Strange)—began taking part in collectively in New Zealand because the Eversons.

During his time as a part of the Eversons, Superorganism songwriter/producer Turner utilized for restraining orders towards two girls. The authorized proceedings have been filed in 2013 and settled on a confidential foundation, and the case paperwork are sealed from public view, an Auckland District Court choose just lately confirmed to Pitchfork. Turner’s restraining order filings got here amid statements the 2 girls made about him on-line. Representatives for Turner and Superorganism didn’t reply to requests for remark.

One of the ladies was Johanna Freeman, Turner’s ex-girlfriend and former bandmate within the synth-pop duo Little Pictures. The phrases of the settlement prohibit Freeman from talking concerning the case, individuals who have been with aware of the proceedings advised Pitchfork, and Freeman declined to remark for this story.

Turner’s submitting towards Freeman got here months after a public debate over the Eversons’ B-side “Harlot,” a music sung from the attitude of a person whose ex-girlfriend turns into a intercourse employee. In October 2012, Lil’ Chief—a New Zealand label that was residence to each the Eversons and Little Pictures—posted an apology for releasing “Harlot” and pulled the music from sale on Bandcamp. Freeman and others had famous on social media that the music was demeaning to her personally and to girls generally.

The second girl who confronted a restraining order software from Turner in 2013 was one other New Zealand musician, who requested Pitchfork to determine her as June. She stated the case arose after she posted about Turner on her Facebook account in October 2013, objecting to a video for the Eversons’ “Marriage.” In the clip, Turner will be seen showing to poke a gap in a condom, as he sings lyrics from the attitude of a person who desires to trick his girlfriend into getting pregnant.

In November 2013, the Eversons have been dropped from a gig on the Wellington venue Puppies. That live performance was booked by veteran supervisor and promoter Ian Jorgensen, now a lecturer in business music at Massey University, who confirmed to Pitchfork that he canceled the reserving for causes related with June’s submit.

Earlier as we speak, Lil’ Chief introduced it was ending its relationship with the Eversons amid points it stated have been “unresolved” in 2012 and 2013. “We have made the arrangements for their catalog to be taken down,” a spokesperson for Lil’ Chief wrote in a blog post. “In hindsight we wish we had done that years ago but we didn’t and we accept the responsibility for that inaction. We apologize unreservedly to anyone we have hurt.”

 
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