Digital Leather

Digital Leather is the musical project led by multi-instrumentalist Shawn Foree. It is recognized for having characteristics of electropunk, new wave, pop, lo-fi, and psychedelic music.[1]

Originally from Yuma, Arizona, Foree began calling his project Digital Leather when he moved to Tucson, where he studied American Literature at University of Arizona.[2] He used student loan money to buy equipment.[3] He managed to release his first three albums after recording them in his bedroom on labels such as Tic Tac Totally, Jay Reatard's Shattered Records imprint, and FDH Records.[4] He supported this “bedroom project”[1] with several nationwide and European tours.[5] Sorcerer, released on Goner Records in 2008, is a half-live, half-studio record.[6]

In 2009, friend and fellow musician Jay Reatard took over managing duties for the band.[7] Around this time Foree began working on a collection of songs in a fully operational studio.[2] Released in September 2009 by Fat Possum Records, Warm Brother garnered positive reviews. Pitchfork, for example, referred to Foree as sui generis, calling the album a “charming curio.”[8] Reportedly, the label did not initially support the album’s artwork, which features a shirtless man with the album name taped across his chest.[4]

In 2013, Todd Fink of The Faint joined Digital Leather as a full-time keyboardist and additional recording engineer. They spent the next year and a half playing shows around Omaha and preparing a full-length record with the live band recording its own parts (as opposed to Foree recording all the parts himself as was done on previous output). During this time Foree managed to also write and record a Split LP with Madison, WI's The Hussy for Southpaw Records. The Digital Leather side is a more laid back and sensitive record than ever before, and Foree also added keyboard on The Hussy's side. This was a large sonic departure for both Digital Leather and The Hussy that was critically well received.[9][10][11] In 2014, this collaboration between Shawn Foree and The Hussy became the catalyst for Foree and The Hussy's Bobby Hussy to create their synth driven minimal wave duo TIT. The band wasted no time by instantly writing and recording their debut self-titled EP 12" over the course just 5 days while Hussy was visiting Foree's home in Omaha. FDH and Volar Records co-released the 12" in late 2014.[12] TIT played their first show in Omaha, NE at O'Leaver's on January 22, 2015 with Todd Fink as an additional keyboardist and Noah Kohll as the drummer.[13] Digital Leather's 9th LP, "All Faded" was recorded by Todd Fink and Clark Baechle of The Faint between 2013 and 2015. At this point, Fink was an integral member of the band, adding layers of keyboards and backing vocals while also recording, mixing and producing the record. Additional guitar was added by Bobby Hussy for two of the songs while he and Foree were preparing to perform as TIT.[14] "All Faded" was released by FDH Records in November 2015.[15]

Selected discography

Albums

Singles

Other Projects

Featured

References

  1. 1 2 "Digital Leather, The Mistreaters, CoCoComa, The Hex Dispensers, and Drugs Dragons | Music | Events | The A.V. Club Milwaukee". Avclub.com. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  2. 1 2 Swedlund, Eric. "Rise of the Synth | Music Feature". Tucson Weekly. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  3. ↑ Deming, Mark. "Digital Leather". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  4. 1 2 "Welcome to the warped world of Digital Leather". MLive.com. 2009-11-12. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  5. ↑ "new Digital Leather video & 2010 tour dates (SXSW)". Brooklynvegan.com. 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  6. ↑ "This Week's Recommended Shows: Jay Z, Grizzly Bear, Sunny Day Real Estate - Seattle - Slideshows". Seattleweekly.com. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  7. ↑ "Night Life". The New Yorker. 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  8. ↑ "Digital Leather". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  9. ↑ "Digital Leather/The Hussy". styrofoamdrone.com. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  10. ↑ "Shake Appeal #30 - Giant Sized Edition". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  11. ↑ "The Hussy releasing a split with Digital Leather...". brooklynvegan.com. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  12. ↑ "Shake Appeal". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  13. ↑ "Tit Oleaver's Photo Essay". hearnebraska.org. 2015-01-23. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  14. ↑ "Track Premiere Digital Leather". cmj.com. 2015-05-20. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  15. ↑ "Stream Digital Leathers New Album All Faded". noisey.vice.com. 2015-06-16. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
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