Self (band)

Self
Self in a promotional photo shoot during the release of Breakfast with Girls, 1999.
Background information
Origin	Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Power pop art rock[1] alternative rock new wave[2]
Discography	Self discography
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Spongebath Zoo DreamWorks Fat Possum El Camino
Spinoffs	Wired All Wrong
Spinoff of	Ella Minopy
Members	Matt Mahaffey Chris James Mac Burrus Jason Rawlings
Past members	Mike Mahaffey Tim Nobles
Website	self.is

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 the single "Paint by Numbers". Originally receiving mixed reviews, it has retrospectively achieved critical acclaim despite its numerous production challenges and delays. In 2000, Gizmodgery, an album created entirely with toy instruments, showcased the band's creativity and featured the fan-favorite single "Trunk Fulla Amps". Self also contributed songs to film soundtracks, including "Stay Home" for Shrek (2001). The band's planned fifth album, Ornament and Crime (2003), was delayed and 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 other artists. 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. After years of stagnation, the band returned in 2024 with the single "Love You Less" and the holiday track "Merry Christmas, Santa".