Taylor Deupree (b. 1971) is a sound artist, graphic designer, and photographer residing in Brooklyn, New York. On January 1st, 1997, he founded 12k, music label that focuses on digital minimalism and contemporary forms. In September 2000, Deupree and collaborator Richard Chartier launched LINE, a sublabel of 12k that explores conceptual, ultra-minimalist digital sound and the relationship between sound, silence and the art of listening. LINE is a carefully balanced counterpoint to the rhythmic, granular textures of 12k. In January 2002 (as a celebration of 12k’s fifth anniversary) Deupree launched term., an online series of MP3 files from artists around the globe. While 12k’s emphasis lies not only in sound but also on design and presentation, term.’s function is the exact opposite: existing entirely in the digital domain with no tangible object or package, term. is the representation of pure data and imageless sound information. In September, 2003, Deupree started a 3rd label called Happy to release what he terms as “unconventional japanese pop.” Happy was born from Deupree’s interest in Japanese pop music and the fact that it is quite unknown outside of Japan. He hopes to change that with Happy.
Deupree also records for a number of other labels including Spekk (Japan), Ritornell/Mille Plateaux, Raster-Noton (Germany), Sub Rosa (Belgium), BineMusic (Germany), Fllt (Ireland), and Audio.NL (Netherlands). In addition, over the past 11 years he has worked with Instinct Records, Caipirinha Music, Plastic City (USA), Disko B (Germany), and Dum (Finland), among others. In January 1999, Deupree currated a compilation for New York’s Caipirinha Music label that he called “Microscopic Sound.” This release was among the first to gather together artists of this style and helped put a name to a rising genre of electronic music. Deupree has received much critical acclaim and recognition for his past musical projects including the techno and ambient sounds of Prototype 909, SETI, Human Mesh Dance, and Futique (1992-1996) and has many recording accomplishments and a substantial discography. His design work has appeared on dozens of record labels around the world and published in a number of design books in Japan and the UK.
For the past 8 years Deupree has focused his energy on 12k, solo productions under his own name, networking with a family of like-minded sound artists, and the furthering of his sound experiments that take influences from his passion for architecture, photography, and interior design.
www.12k.com |