Mixtape Volume 4
Since 2012, we have self-released a series of tapes—dubbed "mixtapes"—which have allowed us to explore new ideas, play with compositional techniques, and ultimately discover new sounds. We treat each tape as both a sounding board for the development of new ideas and a self-contained work unto itself. Starting with Mixtape Volume 1 we began to play with the technique of audio collage, juxtaposing a series of seemingly unrelated musical components into one unbroken stream. This technique became the foundation for future tapes as well as our studio albums.
We have now begun work on the next entry in the series—naturally titled Mixtape Volume 4—the centerpiece of which will be an interpretation of the piece “Stay On It” by the composer Julius Eastman. Eastman combined elements of minimalism, jazz and pop music like no one before him, all while pushing the limits of the acceptable in terms of sexual and civil rights. Though under-appreciated in his lifetime, Eastman’s work has enjoyed a rediscovery of late, and we are excited to take part in the celebration of his legacy in performing this beautiful piece.
For the remainder of the tape we will use as a motif voicemails left to us by our listeners on a messaging service we made called the “Horse Lords Hotline.” Not given a specific prompt, callers were free to leave us any message they liked, some reading from academic texts, others reading poems, and some simply expressing their confusion.
Though we will once again do all of the recording, mixing, and mastering ourselves, we will not self-release this mixtape. Instead, Northern Spy Records will release it in cassette and digital form, thus hopefully reaching a wider audience.