Alex Ebert

Alexander Michael Tahquitz Ebert was born on May 12, 1978, in Los Angeles, California, to psychotherapist Michael Ebert and actress Lisa Richards. His early life was influenced by various musical genres, from Patsy Cline to Beethoven, and he initially planned to become a rapper. A school project on Marlon Brando sparked an interest in film, leading him to take extracurricular filmmaking classes. After attending Oakwood School for high school and a period at Emerson College before dropping out, Ebert directed a short film and wrote screenplays. His return to professional music was influenced by childhood friends.

Ebert co-founded the band Ima Robot in 1997 with Tim “Timmy the Terror” Anderson, eventually signing with Virgin Records in 2002. Their debut album, “Ima Robot,” was released in 2003, followed by “Monument to the Masses” in 2006. After gaining independence from Virgin Records in 2007, they released “Another Man’s Treasure” in 2010. Following a period of personal challenges, Ebert developed the alter ego Edward Sharpe, leading to the formation of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. The band released their debut album, “Up from Below,” in 2009, followed by “Here” in 2012 and “Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros” in 2013, with a further album, “PersonA,” released in 2016.

Ebert also embarked on a solo career, releasing his debut solo album “Alexander” in 2011. In 2013, he composed the musical score for the film “All Is Lost,” which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score in 2014. In 2015, he collaborated with Avicii on the single “For a Better Day.” He released the political anthem “Feel the Bern” in 2015 and his second non-soundtrack solo album, “I vs I,” in 2020. Ebert contributed the song “Daddy Knows Best” to “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical,” receiving an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Tony Award nomination for Best Original Score.