Biography
The Canadians Corin Roddick and Megan James formed Purity Ring, a project whose work shaped synth pop throughout the 2010s and afterward. Shrines, issued in 2012, paired James’ deceptively innocent soprano vocals and unsettling, often graphic lyrics with Roddick’s adventurous production that drew from R&B, hip-hop, and more conventional electronic pop, yielding a singular approach later emulated by numerous acts. The duo kept developing, reworking mainstream pop sheen on Another Eternity in 2015, joining Katy Perry for three tracks on her 2017 album Witness, and exploring the darker corners of their palette on the 2022 EP Graves.
Roddick first began crafting beats in the late 2000s, drawing from current R&B and hip-hop. He recruited longtime friend and former Gobble Gobble bandmate James—who later performed with Born Gold—to supply vocals, with the pair exchanging files while James resided in Halifax and Roddick lived in Montreal. Their debut track, “Ungirthed,” surfaced in January 2011 and drew widespread acclaim; after “Belispeak” followed, the duo signed to 4AD Records in April 2012. Shrines arrived that July, earning further praise for its blend of James’ delicate vocals and Roddick’s polished production while reaching number 32 on the Billboard 200. In October 2012 they teamed with Danny Brown for “Belispeak II,” then reunited with him the next year on the Old cut “25 Bucks.” Also in 2013 they covered Soulja Boy’s “Grammy,” reworked Lady Gaga’s “Applause,” and received a Polaris Music Prize nomination.
Once touring for Shrines concluded, Roddick and James started writing together in person in Edmonton. Another Eternity, released in March 2015, featured a more streamlined sound and more candid lyrics, climbing to number 26 on the Billboard 200 and number 25 on the Canadian Albums Chart—their first appearance on a domestic tally. Subsequent remixes for Mew, HEALTH, and Katy Perry led to the three Witness collaborations. In July the duo marked Shrines’ fifth anniversary with the single “Asido,” pronounced “as I do,” which revisited the bodily imagery of their debut. By 2018 they were previewing unreleased material; the searching, subdued third album Womb surfaced in April 2020 and topped the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart. After the 2021 single “soshy,” Purity Ring issued Graves—their first EP and first release on their own imprint, The Fellowship—in June 2022.
Roddick first began crafting beats in the late 2000s, drawing from current R&B and hip-hop. He recruited longtime friend and former Gobble Gobble bandmate James—who later performed with Born Gold—to supply vocals, with the pair exchanging files while James resided in Halifax and Roddick lived in Montreal. Their debut track, “Ungirthed,” surfaced in January 2011 and drew widespread acclaim; after “Belispeak” followed, the duo signed to 4AD Records in April 2012. Shrines arrived that July, earning further praise for its blend of James’ delicate vocals and Roddick’s polished production while reaching number 32 on the Billboard 200. In October 2012 they teamed with Danny Brown for “Belispeak II,” then reunited with him the next year on the Old cut “25 Bucks.” Also in 2013 they covered Soulja Boy’s “Grammy,” reworked Lady Gaga’s “Applause,” and received a Polaris Music Prize nomination.
Once touring for Shrines concluded, Roddick and James started writing together in person in Edmonton. Another Eternity, released in March 2015, featured a more streamlined sound and more candid lyrics, climbing to number 26 on the Billboard 200 and number 25 on the Canadian Albums Chart—their first appearance on a domestic tally. Subsequent remixes for Mew, HEALTH, and Katy Perry led to the three Witness collaborations. In July the duo marked Shrines’ fifth anniversary with the single “Asido,” pronounced “as I do,” which revisited the bodily imagery of their debut. By 2018 they were previewing unreleased material; the searching, subdued third album Womb surfaced in April 2020 and topped the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart. After the 2021 single “soshy,” Purity Ring issued Graves—their first EP and first release on their own imprint, The Fellowship—in June 2022.
Albums
purity ring
2025
graves resurrection ((remixes))
2023
shrines X
2022
graves
2022
WOMB
2020
another eternity
2015
shrines
2012
Singles
