With debut album Ghosts In The Static out now and a headline show in Bristol ahead, the producer connects dubstep’s past with a new wave of American electronic music.
Electronic music producer and DJ Tape B has released his debut album, Ghosts in the Static, out now following its October 2 release. Later this month, he will bring his project to the United Kingdom for a headline performance at Clock Factory Bristol on October 24.
The American producer was heavily influenced by the UKF era of music, making this a full-circle moment for him. The British music platform UKF was popular when dubstep and other bass-heavy electronic music were gaining traction online. Tape B has built his career through direct online discovery and live performances.
Now, Tape B is bringing his music across the Atlantic to the scene that inspired him.
A Debut Album That Looks Back To Move Forward
Tape B is a part of the American bass scene community. The artist fell in love with electronic music and the UK-rooted culture of the scene during the dubstep era in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
His new 12-track debut album, Ghosts In The Static, is out now and is a fusion of the music that inspires him: dubstep, American hip-hop, and modern bass production. Tape B sees his debut as a continuation of his evolving sound and a fuller, more intentional representation of his artistic identity.
Tape B explains that his newest musical endeavors are rooted in the qualities that first drew him to dubstep. He says it has emotional weight, a deep atmosphere, and a bass-heavy sound.
Ghosts In The Static is the natural result of his progression as an artist who was first drawn into electronic music through UKF. His goal was to take influences from his past and reinterpret them through a contemporary perspective.
From Istanbul To Florida To Bristol
Tape B was born in Istanbul, Turkey, but was raised in the United States after his family emigrated when he was three years old. Growing up in Florida, he decided to attend the University of Central Florida and study architectural design.
His path to music began simply, with him experimenting with GarageBand. Later, he secretly purchased his first production and DJ equipment with around $1,000 of his leftover scholarship money. His original plan was to play at college bars and parties. But after attending the major bass music festival, Lost Lands, Tape B decided to pursue producing original music.
After graduating, the pandemic affected a post-college job he had lined up. Instead of losing ground, he took that opportunity to commit to creating his own music. Rather than pursuing a traditional route in music, he decided to take control of his career and build his audience himself, without a traditional label.
As one of the artists helping move American bass music forward, he understands from his own experience with UKF the power of an online presence, community, and word of mouth. Tape B’s career was developed through SoundCloud discovery, fans sharing live music online, mixtapes and experimental releases, grassroots touring, and building an online community.
Tape B is set to perform at Bristol’s Clock Factory on October 24, bringing his contemporary sound to a country whose music has played a pivotal role in shaping his own.