Memory Tapes
Encyclopedia
Memory Tapes is a recording alias of New Jersey
-based Dayve Hawk, former frontman of Philadelphia-based Hail Social
.
After initially releasing material under the names Memory Cassette and Weird Tapes., and on signing to Something In Construction to release a Memory Cassette EP (also on Acephale), Memory Tapes' first LP, Seek Magic
was released in September 2009, through the labels Something In Construction, Sincerely Yours
, Acéphale. It was self released in the US. Seek Magic sold over 1000 copies on pre-release via one shop in London (Rough Trade) and has since sold over 30,000 copies. The CD release of "Seek Magic" came bundled with a 4 track Bonus Disc including a Horrors remix and a 22-minute instrumental, "Treeship", which could also be downloaded from his website for free.
Memory Tapes was initially associated with the Chillwave
music genre but is now seen more as a producer in his own right. Each album has its own separate feel and instrumentation. Seek Magic used a lot of dance rhythms and sounds and had touchstones such as New Order and Cocteau Twins. Hawk plays everything on his records and used such unusual sounds as a bicycle pump on the track Bicycle and the sound of sneakers on a basketball court on Green Knight.
His second album is due for release in the summer 2011 via Something In Construction (Europe), Carpark (US) and Inertia (Australia). He is quoted as saying it will be "psychedelic girl group music". The first track from these sessions, Today Is Our Life, was featured on a large number of blogs earlier in 2011.
Memory Tapes debut live performance was in Manchester UK in January 2010 and they have since played all across North America and the EU as far away as Australia. 2010's live shows were with a drummer Matt Maraldo and a backing track. 2011 dates should see an expanded band.
In 2011, Memory Tapes was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video for their video for "Yes I Know."
Hawk lives in rural New Jersey with his wife and daughter.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
-based Dayve Hawk, former frontman of Philadelphia-based Hail Social
Hail Social
Hail Social was a rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.A post on the band's on Thursday, June 18, 2009 stated that Hail Social is "no longer an active band and has not been for years now."...
.
After initially releasing material under the names Memory Cassette and Weird Tapes., and on signing to Something In Construction to release a Memory Cassette EP (also on Acephale), Memory Tapes' first LP, Seek Magic
Seek Magic
Seek Magic is the first studio album of Dayve Hawke, under the alias of Memory Tapes. It was released August 24, 2009.-Track listing:-Reception:...
was released in September 2009, through the labels Something In Construction, Sincerely Yours
Sincerely Yours (record label)
Sincerely Yours is a Gothenburg based independent record label formed in 2005 by the Swedish electronic pop duo The Tough Alliance. The duo created the record label after they left their former label Service...
, Acéphale. It was self released in the US. Seek Magic sold over 1000 copies on pre-release via one shop in London (Rough Trade) and has since sold over 30,000 copies. The CD release of "Seek Magic" came bundled with a 4 track Bonus Disc including a Horrors remix and a 22-minute instrumental, "Treeship", which could also be downloaded from his website for free.
Memory Tapes was initially associated with the Chillwave
Chillwave
Chillwave, sometimes also referred to as glo-fi, is a genre of music whose artists are often characterized by their heavy use of effects processing, synthesizers, looping, sampling, and heavily filtered vocals with simple melodic lines....
music genre but is now seen more as a producer in his own right. Each album has its own separate feel and instrumentation. Seek Magic used a lot of dance rhythms and sounds and had touchstones such as New Order and Cocteau Twins. Hawk plays everything on his records and used such unusual sounds as a bicycle pump on the track Bicycle and the sound of sneakers on a basketball court on Green Knight.
His second album is due for release in the summer 2011 via Something In Construction (Europe), Carpark (US) and Inertia (Australia). He is quoted as saying it will be "psychedelic girl group music". The first track from these sessions, Today Is Our Life, was featured on a large number of blogs earlier in 2011.
Memory Tapes debut live performance was in Manchester UK in January 2010 and they have since played all across North America and the EU as far away as Australia. 2010's live shows were with a drummer Matt Maraldo and a backing track. 2011 dates should see an expanded band.
In 2011, Memory Tapes was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video for their video for "Yes I Know."
Hawk lives in rural New Jersey with his wife and daughter.
Discography
- 2008 - The Hiss We Missed EP (Memory Cassette) (s/r)
- 2008 - Rewind While Sleeping EP (Memory Cassette) (Something In Construction / Acephale)
- 2009 - Bicycle 12" (loog)
- 2009 - Seek MagicSeek MagicSeek Magic is the first studio album of Dayve Hawke, under the alias of Memory Tapes. It was released August 24, 2009.-Track listing:-Reception:...
LP - 2010 - Graphics reModel Edit (single)
- 2011 - Today Is Our Life (feat on the compilation Love SIC Disco via http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2011/jan/25/love-sic-disco-compilation?INTCMP=SRCH
- 2011 - Player PianoPlayer Piano (album)Player Piano is the second studio album of Dayve Hawke, under the alias of Memory Tapes. It was released July 5, 2011.-Track listing:-Reception:...
LP (Carpark, Something in Construction, Inertia)