Textbeak

Last updated
Textbeak
Textbeak.jpg
DJ Textbeak
Background information
Also known asThe Cobbler [1]
Born
Michael Szewczyk
Origin Elyria, Ohio
Occupation(s) Disc jockey, record producer
Years active1991–present
Labels Cleopatra Records [2]
Website textbeak.com

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

Contents

DJ Textbeak is known internationally [3] for his varied style of dark and experimental music including remixes for ∆AIMON, [4] Cyanotic, [5] 3Teeth, [6] Architect, among others. In 2016, he was a support act for Modern English. [7]

He is considered influential in the Witch house genre for his early introduction of the movement and exclusive contributions of remixes. [8] He was a contributor to the Zombie Nation song "The Mind of Many."

Early life

Textbeak grew up raised by his single mother and 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. [9]

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. [10]

Bath: (L to R) Textbeak aka The Cobbler, Christie Bailey, Lucas Kuzma Bath (with DJ Textbeak).jpg
Bath: (L to R) Textbeak aka The Cobbler, Christie Bailey, Lucas Kuzma

By 1993 Textbeak was known as The 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. [1] 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 internationally alongside acts Merzbow, [11] Tamara Sky, Larry Tee, Nitzer Ebb, and Meat Beat Manifesto to name a few. [12] [13]

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. [14] 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. [15] Textbeak also has produced a large body of digital work.

In 2016, Auxiliary Magazine nominated Textbeak best DJ of the year. [16]

Personal life

In 2022, Textbeak married artist Noelle Solringen in Detroit.

Discography

As Bath

YearTitleLabel
1996FoolsJevan Records
1998N-GraverJevan Records
1998N-Graver Part TwoJevan Records
2016Endpoint FireworshiperX.O. Skeleton Musick

Solo albums

YearTitleLabel
2007Various Levels of DecayVaatican Records
2008False ShitAmduscias Records
2008Word VesselsBleak Netlabel
2008LovecraftTimetheory
2009Pis*FreakVaatican Records
2009I could be WrongColin Joncho Records
2012Textbeak -N- Tndrond - The Spirit of OppositionI had An Accident Records
2014Textbeak and Tndrond - Ghost Ornithology [17] Dark Daze Music/Moon Sounds Records
2015Textbeak, Decohere & Voctave - Tndrond Live 2003X.O. Skeleton Musick
2018Sick For Songs A Season EatsCleopatra Records
2021Sick For Songs A Season Eats RemixesCleopatra Records

Singles & EPs

YearTitleLabel
2006ThrushPhiltre
2008Watching Birds FallVaatican Records
2008Free Tacos and Cat PissSwishcotehque
2008Operation Anvil RemixesTimetheory
2008Solo Patternswith Eric Walker [18] Lasergun
2008Repeat Repeat DeletePoliticide
2008The MalaisianAudiotie
2008BirdhouseXynthetic Netlabel
2008Four and Twenty Black BirdsColin Johnco Records
2008Indiglo (EP)Tundra
2009Biolmpactive RhythmAudiotie
2010Glorious and SinisterSwishcotheque
2012Amplifii DXCANS - Label/Collective
2013EICV7 No.56EverythingisChemical
2013GatchamanPost Religion
2015Like GhostsSequel Sound
2025Neon Bitch10277431 Records DK
2025Orlando (Featuring Brood Faye)Detroit Industrial
2025Entropy Lock (Featuring Antoni Maiovvi)Detroit Industrial
2025Shoulder Angles and Float Lights (featuring Broken Nails)Detroit Industrial
2025Running Toward the Abyss (featuring Other)Detroit Industrial

DJ Mixes

YearTitleLabel
2011CovenfvckBlack Lodge Music
2011IKONIK A Mix 4МИШКА
2012Precarious2012
2014Swsmix002Swishcotheque
2014CXB7 #165 OutroTXTBK's CHVяCH XV BяXK3N 7ANGvAG3

Soundtracks

YearTitleReference
2025Poor Poor EldonA film by Lorin Morgan-Richards, score by Textbeak and Joshua Kovarik
2026The Decline and Fall of Holly Dew and Walter MelonA film by Lorin Morgan-Richards, score by Textbeak and Joshua Kovarik

References

  1. 1 2 Trickey, Erick. "2000 Scene Music Awards | News Lead | Cleveland Scene". Clevescene.com. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  2. "Cleopatra Records | Video premiere Textbeak feat. Bestial Mouths, "Blood Storm"". Cleorecs.com. 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  3. "(K)ollaps×Textbeak Episose 01 | Fragile フラジャイル 大阪". Fragile-osaka.com. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  4. "Emptiness (Textbeak Remix) | ∆AIMON". Aaimon.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  5. Goose, Jim (2015-10-13). "Cyanotic "Cause + Effect" Textbeak Remix Video Premiere –". Post-punk.com. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  6. "3 Teeth - Nihil (Textbeak Remix) by Textbeak - on Twine". Twine.fm. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  7. "Modern English | Nite | Awen | Dj Mike Textbeak | Things to do in Dallas". timeout.com. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  8. "Textbeak | I Vacation In Your Hell |Electronic, Outsider Pop, Indie, Shoegaze, Dreampop, Experimental, Ambient, Goth, Alternative Music]". I Vacation In Your Hell. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  9. Stewart, Ian C (2011-08-10). "INTERVIEW with Mike Textbeak | AUTOreverse Independent Music Magazine Review". Autoreversetoinfinity.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  10. "Mountain Fighting Records > Textbeak". Mountainfightingrecords.tumblr.com. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  11. Catch Everest Theme by (2016-05-22). "1340 – Substance". Substancemode.com. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  12. "'Heather in Wonderland' rave at Cleveland's Exquisite Night Club". cleveland.com. Associated Press. 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  13. Rozycki, David (2014-09-30). "Upcoming: Cheetah Chrome, Gene Watson, Night Ranger, Rosanne Cash, Skatestock III, etc". Houston Press . Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  14. "Parallel || Planets: Mike Textbeak: Waving the Gucci Goth Flag High". Parallelplanets.blogspot.com. 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  15. "Mike Textbeak". ArtSlant.com. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  16. Auxiliary Magazine (2016-12-28). "Vote for the Best in Alternative Culture and Subculture of 2016". Auxiliary Magazine. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  17. "Ghost Ornithology". Moonsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  18. "Textbeak / Eric Walker (8) - Solo Patterns / E.L.A. (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2008-01-08. Retrieved 2018-02-22.