Orchid Tapes

Orchid Tapes is an independent record label based in New York City. It was founded in 2010 by Warren Hildebrand.[1] Operated by Hildebrand, the label has released a number of indie compilations and original releases on cassette tape, limited edition vinyl, and digital download.[2] Among Orchid Tapes' signed bands are Coma Cinema, Foxes in Fiction, and Alex G. The label focuses on "music and artwork that breaks free of the established norm...reflects the dedication of its creator and provokes a strong emotional resonance..."[3]

Orchid Tapes
Founded2010 (2010)
FounderWarren Hildebrand
GenreIndie rock, indie pop, experimental, electronic
Country of originU.S.
LocationNew York City
Official websitewww.orchidtapes.com

History

Founding

Orchid Tapes was first founded in 2010 by Warren Hildebrand, while Hildebrand was attending an art university in Toronto, Ontario. He had first started putting the idea for a label together in 2009, and had picked the name Orchid Tapes partly after a song by the band Deerhunter, called "Tape Hiss Orchid." According to Hildebrand, "I was really inspired by all the little cassette labels that were popping up on different blogs around that time. It seemed like a really cheap and easy way to get music out into the world beyond just the proliferation of mp3s."[4]

He founded Orchid Tapes while living in his apartment in downtown Toronto[5] and working on the debut album of his solo project, Foxes in Fiction.[4] Hildebrand had started Foxes in Fiction in April 2005 while still in high school, and began to take the project more seriously in 2008, while inspired by artists such as Brian Eno and Atlas Sound.[6]

First album

Hildebrand states that the label was originally started as a vehicle for his solo project, Foxes in Fiction.[6] The label's first release was the Foxes in Fiction album Swung from The Branches, released on February 19, 2010.[2] The album became a surprise hit on the internet, eventually being covered by Pitchfork.[5]

Many of the other early bands signed to the label met Hildebrand through MySpace. According to Hildebrand, "It felt good meeting a group of other sad weirdos that recorded music from home that I felt like I genuinely connected with, even through something as seemingly alienating as the Internet."[4]

Move to New York

In 2012, Hildebrand moved from Toronto to New York.[6] Brian Vu joined the label later that year,[4] helping expand the roster and the label's scope. For most of the label's lifespan, Hildebrand would dub each cassette tape on his stereo tape deck, a several-day process he was still using after the 20th release. Finally in the fall of 2013, he purchased a cassette duplicator for the label.[5] According to No Fear of Pop in 2013, "Orchid Tapes embodies the D.I.Y. aesthetic that has implanted itself on the internet. Digital downloads are always free and cassette prices are reasonable, and the quality of music is so good that it entices intrigued listeners to search through the rest of the catalog."[7]

Orchid Tapes states on its website that it seeks "music and artwork that breaks free of the established norm, disregards trends, reflects the dedication of its creator and provokes a strong emotional resonance within whoever experiences it."[3]

The label's first release on vinyl was the Three Love Songs LP by Ricky Eat Acid, released in late 2013 with limited copies available.[5] According to Noisey in January 2014, "a largely ambient project from Maryland's Sam Ray, Three Love Songs sold out its pre-release vinyl run on the up-and-coming Orchid Tapes label in two days." Noisey reviewed the album positively, stating "Featherweight electronics, aching piano, snippets of speech, even a pitched up Drake sample swirl around in a stew of delicately rendered pathos."[8]

In February 2014, the label released Virgo Indigo by Fog Lake, which is the solo project of Aaron Powell from Newfoundland. The album was mastered by Hildebrand.[9] Later that month, the label released the vinyl compilation Boring Ecstasy, which features tracks by artists such as Alex G, Ricky Eat Acid, R.L. Kelly, Home Alone, and Four Visions.[10]

As of 2016, Orchid Tapes has been solely operated by Warren Hildebrand.

Showcases

Orchid Tapes periodically organizes and hosts musical showcases, with three in 2013 alone.[5] Venues have included Hildebrand's rooftop, a 100-year-old synagogue in Los Angeles,[6] in conjunction with The L.A. Fort and multiple New York venues.[11][12] For the March 2014 release of Boring Ecstasy, artists including Elvis Depressedly, Alex G, Ricky Eat Acid, R.L. Kelly, Home Alone, and Four Visions played a showcase at Brooklyn's Shea Stadium.[10]

Artists

Discography

Orchid Tapes discography[2]
Cat# Released Album title Artist(s) Notes
OCT001February 19, 2010Swung from The BranchesFoxes in Fiction
OCT002June 7, 2010Isolation Tape Night Teenage Reverb
OCT003May 31, 2010Elmwood EPTrans-Bedroom Sound
OCT004June 29, 2010 *LUHN *LUHN
OCT005July 20, 2010 The Concrete Thoughts of Felix Tengen EPRyan S. Welfle
OCT006July 25, 2010 M M R Mickey Mickey RourkeCass, Album, Ltd
OCT007August 2, 2010 Beko_CS02 August CompilationVariousCass, Ltd
OCT008September 30, 2010 Summertime in Heaven Ghost Animation
OCT009December 23, 2010Alberto EPFoxes in FictionCass, Ltd, c35
OCT010October 18, 2010 Double Negatives Actual Water
OCT011October 20, 2010 Octogasm Lazy Dre
OCT012October 30, 2010 Descending Dusk Trans-Bedroom Sound
OCT013November 23, 2010 Lost in a Dark Aquarium Paneye
OCT014January 22, 2011Down in The Valley EPWeed (Will Anderson)Cass, EP, Ltd
OCT015January 2, 2011 Old Friends Happy TrendyCass, Ltd
OCT016June 1, 2011Golden Years + G A L A Wonder Bear
OCT017November 1, 2011 We Grew Up Young Waves
OCT018November 20, 2011 Die Young Happy TrendyCass, Ltd
OCT019December 6, 2012 Nothin’ Compares CompilationVariousCass, Ltd
OCT020January 28, 2014 LUST Meishi Smile
OCT021October 2, 2012 Lately EveningsCass, Album, Ltd
OCT022October 9, 2012 Hotter Sadness Elvis DepressedlyCass, Ltd
OCT023December 13, 2012 Bluest of Them All AnthologyComa CinemaCass
OCT024December 17, 2012 You Get Sick; You Regret Things Ricky Eat AcidCass, Ltd
OCT025January 21, 2012Alberto EP (reissued edition)Foxes in Fiction
OCT026October 27, 2013 What Would Your Closest Friend Do?
Showcase Compilation
VariousCass
OCT027February 16, 2013 Teddybears & Weed Home Alone
OCT028February 19, 2013 Life’s a Bummer EPR.L. Kelly
OCT029April 16, 2013 Holo Pleasures Elvis Depressedly
OCT030June 11, 2013 Posthumous Release Coma CinemaCass, 250
OCT031September 28, 2013 ANGELTOWN Showcase CompilationVarious
OCT032June 27, 2013 When We’re Snow Infinity Crush
OCT033December 14, 2013 Euphoria Again Euphoria Again
OCT034February 4, 2014 Virgo Indigo Fog LakeCass, digital[9]
OCT035January 21, 2014 Three Love Songs Ricky Eat AcidLabel's first vinyl release,[5] digital
OCT036January 25, 2014 Three Love Songs: B-Sides & Outtakes Ricky Eat AcidCass
OCT037March 4, 2014 Their Bodies in a Fog Arrange
OCT038March 15, 2014 There’s A Light Coming Through Home Alone
OCT039March 25, 2014 Boring Ecstasy: The Bedroom Pop of Orchid Tapes VariousDigital, vinyl[10]
OCT040October 4, 2014 Brown Horse Spencer Radcliffe & R.L. Kelly
OCT041August 26, 2014 Flow Ex-Confusion
OCT042June 17, 2014 DSU Alex G
OCT043July 15, 2014 HEAVEN The Bilinda Butchers
OCT044October 28, 2014 Shadow Mister Lies
OCT045September 23, 2014 Ontario Gothic Foxes in Fiction
OCT046January 13, 2015 Angeltown II Various
OCT048May 12, 2015 New Alhambra Elvis Depressedly
OCT049July 28, 2015 You're Worth More To Me Than 1,000 Christians Les MouchesVinyl reissue[13]
OCT052June 11, 2015 asdfasdf Katie Dey
OCT053June 30, 2015 Victoria ParkFog Lake
OCT054December 11, 2015 HaloedHigh BloomCass, 200
OCT055January 16, 2016 Face Always Toward The SunBlithe FieldCass
OCT056December 17, 2015 Child DeathBalam AcabVinyl
OCT057April 7, 2016 PoppyGhost OrchardCass
OCT058April 8, 2016 BlissGhost OrchardCass
OCT059June 17, 2016 For Young Hearts Soccer MommyCass
OCT060August 12, 2016 Radiating Light: Orchid Tapes & FriendsV/AVinyl
OCT061September 9, 2016 PatientnessYohunaVinyl
OCT062October 28, 2016 SpellEmily ReoVinyl
OCT064February 17, 2017 DragonchaserFog LakeCass
OCT065July 14, 2017 Crashing Into NowhereApollo VermouthCass
OCT066June 7, 2019 Mirroring YohunaVinyl
OCT067August 23, 2019 Bunny Ghost OrchardVinyl

Further reading

Interviews
  • "Cassette Tapes and Synesthesia with Warren Hildebrand". Composer Quest. March 23, 2013.
  • "Label Profile: Orchid Tapes". Caterwaul Magazine. February 2014.
  • "Warren Hildebrand's radiant Orchid Tapes". Interview Magazine. March 18, 2014.

References

  1. McCarron, Charlie (March 23, 2013). "Cassette Tapes and Synesthesia with Warren Hildebrand". Composer Quest. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  2. "Discography". Orchid Tapes. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  3. "About". Orchid Tapes. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  4. Hodges, Nicholas (February 2014). "Label Profile: Orchid Tapes". Caterwaul Magazine. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  5. Wilson, Andi (November 11, 2013). "Label Profile: Orchid Tapes". No Fear of Pop. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  6. Joyce, Colin (March 18, 2014). "Warren Hildebrand's radiant Orchid Tapes". Interview Magazine. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  7. "orchid tapes and the importance of the microlabel". dimestore saints. January 5, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  8. Marcus, Ezra (January 17, 2014). "Listen to Ricky Eat Acid's New Album "Three Love Songs"". Noisey. Vice Magazine. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  9. "Fog Lake - Virgo Indigo". Scary Pretty. February 5, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  10. Cooper, Duncan (February 27, 2014). "Orchid Tapes Announces Boring Ecstasy: Bedroom Pop Compilation". The Fader. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  11. "ORCHID TAPES SHOWCASE 2: FOXES IN FICTION, HAPPY TRENDY, MEISHI SMILE, RL KELLY, EUPHORIA AGAIN, THE SWEATER I GAVE YOU". Do LA. September 28, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  12. "ORCHID TAPES IV: LOS ANGELES". Do LA. August 2, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  13. "Orchid Tapes Treats Les Mouches to Reiusse". Exclaim. May 13, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
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