Textbeak

Textbeak
DJ Textbeak
Background information
Birth name	Michael Szewczyk
Also known as	Cobbler
Origin	Elyria, Ohio
Occupation(s)	Disc jockey, record producer
Years active	1991–present
Associated acts	Bath, Body Release
Website	textbeak.com

Michael Szewczyk (born 1973), known as DJ Textbeak, is an American DJ, artist and record producer.

DJ Textbeak is known internationally^[1] for his varied style of dark and experimental music including remixes for ∆AIMON,^[2] Cyanotic,^[3] Yello, Zombie Nation, 3Teeth,^[4] Architect, among others. In 2016, he was a support act for Modern English.^[5]

He is considered influential in the Witch house and Trap genres for his early introduction of the movements and exclusive contributions of remixes.^[6]

Early life

Textbeak grew up under the guardianship of his grandparents who helped explore his interest in sounds from classical composition to film documentaries and environmental noise. In his early teens, he was able to orchestrate these sounds through modular distortion and sampling.^[7]

Forming his sound, Textbeak was musically grouped with and appealed to punk, dark electro, and techno genres. In 1991 he moved to Columbus, Ohio to start the rave group Body Release with Todd Sines, Titonton Duvante (Residual Records) and Charles Noel (Archetype), to tour the United States.^[8]

Bath: (L to R) Textbeak aka Cobbler, Christie Bailey, Lucas Kuzma

By 1993 Textbeak was known as Cobbler and signed and released original material through Jevan Records, a goth and industrial label, in what he classified as musically “alien, cerebral, and scary”. The group project entitled Bath was nominated for music awards.^[9] During this time, he began remixing other acts on the label and befriended artist and poet Lorin Morgan-Richards.

Career

In 1998, he began releasing solo material and performing nationally alongside acts Merzbow,^[10] Tamara Sky, Larry Tee, Nitzer Ebb, and Meat Beat Manifesto to name a few.^[11][12]

In 2011, Textbeak started his own 2 hour satellite program entitled TXTBK's CHVяCH XV BяXK3N 7ANGvAG3 featuring original and remixed tracks of new witch, experimental, industrial, and electro. In the same year, he was invited to participate in an exhibit entitled Necessary Discomforts, a tribute to Rozz Williams at the Hyaena Gallery.^[13] In creating artwork, Textbeak’s approach is similar to his filter of music, applying collage samples of visual information into a base of painting and illustration.^[14] Textbeak also has produced a large body of digital work.

Discography

Solo Albums

Solo Albums

Singles & EPs

DJ Mixes

References

External links

• Textbeak official website
• Textbeak on Soundcloud