Decorated Tapes Except it’s a Web Page and Not The Actual Project

It is now the case that a new release of mine exists. It should be available on all the streaming services you know. If you would like to support this project, and get some high quality audio files along the way, you may consider purchasing it on BandCamp via the following link:

https://djangobeaudoin.bandcamp.com/album/decorated-tapes

Context

At the start of summer 2024 I committed myself to a project: make whatever I could musically, relying heavily on a 4 track cassette recorder, and release whatever was ready come September. The astute among you may have noticed something: I did not release anything in September of 2024. There’s no shortage of spanners ready to be thrown into various works.

While the project was certainly held back by developments in my personal life, it was equally held back by the surrealities of being American and wondering where my artistic voice fit into our increasingly strained social and cultural fabric.

It’s a tough question for anyone to answer, and one which I am in constant reflection on. Regardless, when summer 2025 arrived I set a new goal: finishing that summer 2024 project and releasing whatever was ready in September. And I almost pushed it back another year, until a friend happened to ask when my next release was. I didn’t sleep that night until the project was uploaded for release.

Ethos

Time spent in the music industry is often inversely proportional to emotional fulfillment from music creation. From a personal standpoint, this project is a rejection of that. The constant inner nagging of “does this sound right? Are these lyrics good? Is this cohesive?” matters insomuch as it contributes to an intentional artistic work. The artist usually will ask themselves these questions far in excess of that point. I am choosing to commit that this project is what I have made, that it is imperfect, and that I don’t mind that because I am imperfect too.

On a broader scale, your relation to this art is your own. All I would ask if this project interests you – or if you in any way care what I have to say – is that you consider the following idea: that a person’s value is not derived from their perspective, nor the objectivity of their opinion. It is derived from the simple reality that they exist, that you are just like them in every manner except for circumstance. I ask that you not fool yourself into believing you are better than others, just as I ask myself. Our circumstances will never improve if we can not accept this nuance in others. Whether this message is perfectly conveyed in the lyrics is up to your interpretation

Some Words About The Tracks

Track 1 – dreamscapes

This first track has been through oh so many iterations, to the point that I could viably release an alternate version (quite alternate to be clear) with little more than the click of a button. I’m debating this possibility. This tune is quite important to the project in that the first section of it – the tape part of the decorated tape equation – was the foundation from which everything else was built, and the high-feedback delay sound I enjoy in this section led to many other fun experiments. Which neatly transitions into

Track 2 – experimental music volume 01

This track utilizes one instrument: voice. A total breakdown of tools used to create this are as follows:

• Microphone
• Yamaha MT4x cassette recorder
• T.C. Electronic Nova Delay pedal
• Cables

Now, if you happen to already have an interest in this sort of thing, perhaps you just intuitively get it. I imagine many people though may be wondering: why?

Track 3 – breathe in cassette

This is a summer 2025 song. Missing from this recording (but certainly present on the tape), is the phrase immediately following the final line: “I’m gonna need some more takes of that.” Evidently my mind has changed.

Track 4 – purest expression

Despite the transition from track 3, this was created entirely isolated from track 3, as part of a longer and no longer existing song I was working on in 2024. I must address something: this particular track contains no tape, only decoration. I have decided not to mind this reality. There are more important realities to mind.

Track 5 – experimental music volume 02

A funny track, as I’m not sure I was conscious for its conception. I vividly remember feedback patching a cheap behringer mixer in the interest of making fun noises, just as I remember recording my wind chimes soundscape onto the cassette. What I don’t remember is everything that happened afterwards; I must have made this in 2024 but I really don’t know when; all I know is that I was pleasantly surprised to hear this strange composition when I returned to the project this year.

Track 6 – mandolin intermission

Where my past projects had bongo breaks, this project has the mandolin intermission. Mostly because my bongos live very far away from me.

Track 7 – spruce tree

What I would love to say is: “yes, I made this song with nothing but a 4-track cassette recorder.” Unfortunately I can’t say that, and instead the tape here is regular old 1/4 inch studio tape. Nonetheless, I find this song emotionally resonant. I hope you might as well.

Track 8 – one glance

Does the IOS voice memo app count as a form of tape? Objectively, no. But subjectively? Also no. But it is very much the case that you are hearing a voice memo, with a bit of decoration. Heating enjoyers everywhere will be pleased to know the background noise is my apartment radiator.

Closing Remarks

I can not tell you how to feel about this project. I invite you to hear it, though presumably if you’ve made it this far into the page you’ve invited yourself to hear it already. Take care of yourself, and those around you.