Music Industry News

Alphabethead is the musical project of David Morrison (he/him), a producer and turntablist based in Whanganui.

At any point in time Alphabethead finds himself adrift in the musical cosmos, somewhere between the constellations of Hip Hop, Electronica and Experimental Rock. At the age of 18 Morrison won the 2002 New Zealand DMC DJ Championship and this title sent him performing across the globe. Over the next twenty years he would go on to make six albums as Alphabethead, five albums as one third of cult genre-shredders The All Seeing Hand and two records as half of the psychedelic Hip Hop duo Bad Taste alongside Young Gho$t. Morrison also contributed production or turntable scratching for Home Brew, Tourettes, Benny Tones, Death & The Maiden, The Etymologists (featuring Richard Nunns and David Long (The Mutton Birds) and The Village Of The Idiots (a modern jazz ensemble led by Anthony Donaldson (The Front Lawn, Six Volts, Primitive Art Group)). His musical prowess has led to tours through Aotearoa, Australia, UK and China and performances at festivals like WOMAD, Splore, Laneway and Camp A Low Hum.

After signing with Sunreturn in July Alphabethead has shared four mind melting singles; ‘I’m Lucy Lawless’, ‘Kirby’s Word’, ‘No Control’ and ‘Finger Dance’. Today he celebrates the release of the new album My Name Is David which is out digitally, on cassette and long sleeve tee. Do not miss Alphabethead on his seven date tour of Aotearoa with Displeasure and Birdparty (tickets available now from Undertheradar.co.nz).

My Name Is David is a vivid testament to Alphabethead’s restless curiosity. The album is a kaleidoscopic journey through an imagination that creatively collides philosophy, video game nostalgia, mutated breaks, dubbed synthesis and DJ bravado. After years of sampling vinyl Morrison reinvents the wheel, delivering a new record based in sound design and electronic production.

“My previous work has always centred around vinyl sampling and turntable scratching,” notes Morrison. “I was striving for a new process for creation to force myself out of my comfort zone and disrupt my usual songwriting process. This new way became sound design and synthesis and I threw myself into it with gusto! “I imposed a rule that I had to fabricate the sounds myself for this project. The music on My Name Is David is mostly synthesized with the turntablism and vinyl sampling elements only adding dusty little embellishments.”

“Within the track listing itself my intent was to represent a full range of moods from the optimistic and ecstatic to the pessimistic and rippling with despair. I constantly find myself oscillating between these states depending on where I am reading my news. Although few and far between there are a couple passages where my goal was to freeze time and create a more contemplative, tranquil moment.”

After months of build up Morrison admits that “there’s always a little lump in my throat when I have to finally write ‘The End, Farewell Folks’ on a project. But, I’m excited for it to reach people’s ears and brimming with anticipation to hear if the music tickles the audience! It has been a time intensive album due to all the experimentation and new methods but a very rewarding one.”

Catch Alphabethead live when he hits the road in December with Displeasure and Birdparty. They’ll be performing in Ōtepoti/Dunedin, Ōtautahi/Christchurch, Tākaka, Kirikiriroa/Hamilton, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington and Whanganui. Tickets are available now from Undertheradar.co.nz.

Check out all things Alphabethead below:
Bandcamp
Apple Music
Instagram

Photo Credit: Abby Stewart