Hayden Dunham

Last updated

Hayden Dunham
Hey QT 1.jpg
Dunham performing as QT in March 2015
Background information
Also known as
  • QT
  • Hyd
Born (1988-06-16) 16 June 1988 (age 35)
Austin, Texas
Origin New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Performance artist
  • designer
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • DJ
Years active2014–present
Labels

Hayden Frances Dunham (born June 16, 1988) is a performance artist, designer, singer, songwriter and DJ. They grew up in Austin, Texas and attended the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at NYU. [1]

Contents

They are best known for their work as QT (an initialism for Quinn Thomas) a music project founded in 2014, in collaboration with English producer A. G. Cook, and Scottish producer Sophie. [2] [3] QT is a pop singer, portrayed by Dunham and sung by Harriet Pittard, [4] who promotes and is the living embodiment of the semi-fictitious DrinkQT energy drink. Their debut single "Hey QT" was released in 2014.

Dunham began operating under the pseudonym Hyd in 2020, [5] releasing their debut single "No Shadow" in September 2021. A four-track EP was released November 5. [6] Hyd's debut album Clearing was released on November 11, 2022, via PC Music. [7]

Career

2014–2016: QT

A package with the DrinkQT energy drink QT Energy Elixir Package 2.jpg
A package with the DrinkQT energy drink

Before the QT project, Dunham had done work as a designer and artist. [2] [8] [9] They met Scottish producer Sophie after the two had seen each other at various events. They found Cook, head of the PC Music record label, through his work online. Dunham originally wanted to do a song as a way to market a QT energy drink, and asked the producers to repeat the name regularly. [10]

QT is, in effect, a virtual character. The concept drew comparisons to the 2002 science fiction film Simone and the virtual Japanese pop star Hatsune Miku. [2] [11] [12] The project includes DrinkQT, an "energy elixir" with a design by Kim Laughton. [13] The music and drink are intended to be two manifestations of the same product. [14] Both have been described as "fizzy" and "energetic", with Dunham stating that they wanted "to be able to talk about 'Hey QT' and have DrinkQT talk about 'Hey QT' and 'Hey QT' talk about DrinkQT." [15] The drink was distributed at performances, and in May 2015 DrinkQT was made available for pre-order. [16] Journalist Sasha Geffen described it as tasting "like Red Bull, only a little more tart." [17] Distributing the drink was a source of friction with the Red Bull Music Academy's sponsorship of a PC Music show. [18]

2017–2019: Art and musical hiatus

The QT project would take various forms after 2016, such as an official short film [19] and DJ sets, [20] but lay mostly dormant. Dunham took a musical hiatus and worked on multiple art exhibitions and projects in this time, [21] [22] notably a performance piece at MoMa titled 7 Sisters in early 2019. [23]

2020–present: Hyd

August 2020 marked a return to music, as Dunham appeared on A. G. Cook's debut album 7G , under the pseudonym Hyd, featuring again on their second album Apple only a month after. Cook teased Hyd solo material throughout the promotion cycles of the two albums. [4]

In September 2021, Hyd's debut single "No Shadow" was released via Cook's PC Music label. It was written after a temporary period of Dunham losing their eyesight in 2017. [24] "Skin 2 Skin", co-produced by Cook, American musician Caroline Polachek, and Scottish producer SOPHIE, was also released as a single. [25] [26] A 4-track self-titled EP was released on November 5, 2021, [6] and they performed a number of live shows, including one at a PC Music event at Pitchfork Music Festival London. [27] Hyd released a cover of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' "Into My Arms" in January 2022, produced by Easyfun.

Dunham released the Polachek-produced single "Afar" in July 2022. [28] On September 8, 2022, they released the single "So Clear", featuring posthumous production from Sophie and Easyfun, [29] and announced their debut album Clearing . [7]

Discography

Studio albums

Studio album with selected details
TitleAlbum details
Clearing
  • Released: November 11, 2022
  • Label: PC Music
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming

Extended play

Extended play with selected details
TitleDetails
Hyd
  • Released: September 9, 2021
  • Label: PC Music
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming

Singles

List of singles
TitleYearAlbum
"Hey QT"
(as QT)		2014Non-album single
"No Shadow"2021Hyd
"Skin 2 Skin"
"The Look on Your Face"
"Into My Arms2022Non-album single
"Afar"Clearing
"So Clear"
"Breaking Ground"
"Fallen Angel"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charli XCX</span> English singer and songwriter (born 1992)

Charlotte Emma Aitchison, known professionally as Charli XCX, is an English singer and songwriter. Born in Cambridge and raised in Start Hill, Essex, she began posting songs on Myspace in 2008, which led to her discovery by a promoter who invited her to perform at warehouse raves. In 2010, she signed a recording contract with Asylum Records, releasing a series of singles and mixtapes throughout 2011 and 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caroline Polachek</span> American singer (born 1985)

Caroline Elizabeth Polachek is an American singer, producer, and songwriter. Raised in Connecticut, Polachek co-founded the indie pop band Chairlift while studying at the University of Colorado. The duo emerged from the late-2000s Brooklyn music scene with the sleeper hit "Bruises".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie (musician)</span> Scottish music producer and DJ (1986–2021)

Sophie Xeon, known mononymously as Sophie, was a Scottish music producer, songwriter, and DJ. Sophie's work was known for its brash take on pop music and distinguished by experimental sound design, "sugary" synthesized textures, and incorporation of influences from underground dance styles. It would help pioneer the 2010s hyperpop microgenre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PC Music</span> UK-based record label and art collective

PC Music is a record label and art collective based in London and run by producer A. G. Cook. It was founded in 2013, uploading its first releases to SoundCloud that year. Artists on its roster have included Hannah Diamond, GFOTY, Danny L Harle, EASYFUN, Namasenda, and Planet 1999. The label's releases have been showcased on the compilations PC Music Volume 1 (2015), Volume 2 (2016), and Volume 3 (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. G. Cook</span> British music producer (born 1990)

Alexander Guy Cook is an English music producer and the head of the UK record label PC Music. Cook released his first solo singles in 2014. He has also collaborated with PC Music artists such as Hannah Diamond, GFOTY, EASYFUN, Danny L Harle and felicita. He formed the one-off project QT with musician Sophie and performance artist Hayden Dunham, producing the 2014 single "Hey QT".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hannah Diamond</span> British singer, songwriter, photographer and visual artist

Hannah Amond, known professionally as Hannah Diamond, is an English singer, songwriter, photographer, and visual artist. She has recorded on A.G. Cook's PC Music label since 2013, beginning with her debut single "Pink and Blue". Diamond also produces visual artwork and promotional materials for both herself as well as other artists and publications. Her music and visual art employs an aesthetic of hyperreality and heavily produced cuteness in tension with sincerity. Her debut studio album, Reflections, was released in November 2019. Her upcoming second studio album, Perfect Picture, is set to be released on 6 October 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hey QT</span> 2014 single by QT

"Hey QT" is the only single by the one-off music project QT. The project consisted of American performance artist Hayden Dunham, English producer A. G. Cook, Scottish producer Sophie, and British singer Harriet Pittard. The song was released on 26 August 2014 via XL Recordings. The single's release was accompanied by a photo of QT with a blonde wig trimmed into a messy bob cut. The promotional image was made by Diamond Wright, a team that includes PC Music musician Hannah Diamond.

Daniel Jack Eisner Harle is a British music producer and composer who records under the name Danny L Harle. He was formerly signed to the London-based PC Music label and is a member of Dux Content with A. G. Cook. He has produced, composed, and remixed music for a number of artists; most prominently, he executive produced Caroline Polachek's 2019 album Pang and 2023 album Desire, I Want to Turn Into You. He released his debut album Harlecore (2021) through the label Mad Decent, featuring collaborations with Polachek, Hudson Mohawke, and Lil Data.

<i>Pop 2</i> (mixtape) 2017 mixtape by Charli XCX

Pop 2 is the fourth mixtape by British singer Charli XCX, released on 15 December 2017 by Asylum Records. Executive produced by A. G. Cook of PC Music, sessions for the mixtape began just several months before its release and featured a wide variety of guest contributions. The project received acclaim from music critics, and was backed by the single "Out of My Head" featuring Alma and Tove Lo.

Dominik Dvorak, known by their stage name felicita, is an English record producer and DJ based in London. They came to prominence through early collaborations with Nabihah Iqbal, Palmistry and Sophie. In 2014, they released the Frenemies EP with Gum Artefacts on digital platforms and vinyl.

Marylou Mayniel, better known by her stage name Oklou, is a French musician, singer, music producer, DJ, composer, and actress.

<i>Pang</i> (album) 2019 album by Caroline Polachek

Pang is the third and major-label debut studio album by American singer-songwriter and producer Caroline Polachek, and debut under her given name. It was released by Sony Music, The Orchard, and Polachek's imprint Perpetual Novice on October 18, 2019. The album received critical acclaim from and was placed on several critics' year-end lists, topping Dazed's list. Commercially, Pang peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and number 40 on the Independent Albums chart, making it Polachek's first charting solo album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings</span> 2019 single by Caroline Polachek

"So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings" is a song by American singer Caroline Polachek from her third studio album Pang (2019). The song was released on September 16, 2019 through Perpetual Novice. It has been described as a new wave and indie pop track. While it did not chart at the time of its release, the song became a sleeper hit after it went viral on TikTok in early 2022.

<i>7G</i> (album) 2020 studio album by A. G. Cook

7G is the debut studio album by English music producer, singer and PC Music label head A. G. Cook. It was released through PC Music on 12 August 2020.

<i>Apple</i> (A. G. Cook album) 2020 studio album by A. G. Cook

Apple is the second studio album by English music producer, singer and head of record label PC Music, A. G. Cook. It was released through PC Music on 18 September 2020, coming only just over a month after the release of his debut studio album 7G.

Hyperpop is a loosely defined electronic music movement and genre that predominantly originated in the United Kingdom during the early-to-mid 2010s. It is characterised by a maximalist or exaggerated take on popular music, and artists within the genre typically integrate pop and avant-garde sensibilities while drawing on elements commonly found in electronic, hip hop, and dance music.

<i>Apple vs. 7G</i> 2021 remix album by A. G. Cook

Apple vs. 7G is the debut remix album by British producer A. G. Cook. It compiles reworked versions of songs from his first two albums 7G and Apple, both released in 2020. It was released on 28 May 2021 by Cook's label PC Music. A deluxe "Silver Edition" includes 7 extra tracks and is exclusively available for purchase on Bandcamp. Many of the remixes featured were premiered on various compilation albums, DJ mixes or hidden zip files prior to Apple vs. 7G's release. The album was promoted by seven singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Shapes</span> 2021 single by Charli XCX featuring Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek

"New Shapes" is a song by English singer Charli XCX, featuring French singer Christine and the Queens and American singer Caroline Polachek. It was released on 4 November 2021 as the second single from XCX's fifth studio album, Crash (2022). The song has been described as an '80s-inspired synth-pop, indie pop, and electro-funk track.

<i>Clearing</i> (Hyd album) 2022 studio album by Hyd

Clearing is the debut studio album of multidisciplinary artist Hayden Dunham, under their musical alias Hyd. It was released on November 11, 2022, via PC Music. The album was many years in the making, with songs being premiered live as far back as 2018. Material from the album was recorded on Spanish island Lanzarote, which Hyd has stated served as strong inspiration for the album's natural and environmental themes and soundscapes. The album features contributions from the late Sophie, as well as A. G. Cook, Jónsi, and Caroline Polachek, among others.

<i>Desire, I Want to Turn Into You</i> 2023 album by Caroline Polachek

Desire, I Want to Turn Into You is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter and producer Caroline Polachek, and second under her given name. It was released on February 14, 2023, by Sony Music, The Orchard, and Polachek's imprint Perpetual Novice.

References

  1. ↑ Sullivan, Tavaner (November 8, 2011). "Austin native turns heads in NYC, Paris and London with unique necklace designs symbolic of her Southern roots". CultureMap Austin. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Taylor, Trey (December 16, 2014). "Is QT the musical S1m0ne?". Dazed & Confused . Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  3. ↑ Carley, Brennan (March 25, 2015). "The 'Hey QT' Video Is the Strangest, Bubbliest Thing You'll See All Year". Spin . Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "A. G. Cook AMA". r/popheads. September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  5. ↑ "7G, by A. G. Cook". A. G. Cook. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Hayden Dunham, Formerly of PC Music's QT, Shares First Solo Song". Pitchfork. September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Hyd announces debut album with SOPHIE and EASYFUN-produced single "So Clear"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  8. ↑ Armstrong, Liz (September 27, 2011). "New Dust Is Full of Hair and Leather". Vice . Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  9. ↑ Schwendener, Martha (April 18, 2014). "Hayden Dunham and Meriem Bennani: 'Paste'". New York Times : C27. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  10. ↑ Lea, Tom (September 9, 2014). "Hey QT! An interview with 2014's most love-her-or-hate-her pop star". Fact . Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  11. ↑ Martin, Clive (September 12, 2014). "PC Music: Are They Really the Worst Thing Ever to Happen to Dance Music?". Vice . Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  12. ↑ Frank, Alex (September 23, 2014). "A Rational Conversation: Is PC Music Pop Or Is It 'Pop'?" (Interview). Interviewed by Erick Ducker. National Public Radio . Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  13. ↑ Jones, Charlie Robin (September 11, 2014). "PC Music's digital dreams". Dazed & Confused . 4: 178–183. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Hey QT". One Point Four. March 26, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  15. ↑ Stephens, Huw (March 25, 2015). "PC Music Interview". BBC Radio 1 . Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  16. ↑ "You can finally drink QT". Fact. May 12, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  17. ↑ Geffen, Sasha (March 30, 2015). "PC Music's Inverted Consumerism". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  18. ↑ Zoladz, Lindsay (May 15, 2015). "The Enigmatic PC Music Is Ready for Real Life". Vulture . Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  19. ↑ Quinn Thomas (Official Short Film) [EN/DE/ES] , retrieved September 8, 2021
  20. ↑ "This Party Is Extremely Fake and Gay". PAPER. April 24, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Where is the solid form? Hayden Dunham talks energy as a means of exchange + enabling infiltration on a tour of a Los Angeles spa | atractivoquenobello". www.aqnb.com. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Company Gallery : Burns Blue". companygallery.us. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Hayden Dunham, 7 Sisters | MoMA". The Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Hyd Wrote 'No Shadow' When She Temporarily Lost Her Vision". PAPER. September 11, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Hyd – "Skin 2 Skin"". Stereogum. September 23, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Caroline Polachek Puts the Finishing Touches on Hyd's Mercurial "Skin 2 Skin"". Flood. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  27. ↑ "PC Music via Instagram: Love Goes On tonight 💗" . www.instagram.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Hyd Shares Video for New Caroline Polachek–Produced Song "Afar"". Pitchfork. July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Hyd Finds Heartbroken Clarity on 'So Clear'". PAPER. September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.