Cassettes Won't Listen
Cassettes Won't Listen is the brainchild of Los Angeles-based, multi-instrumentalist and producer Jason Drake. A partner and previous director of marketing for famed indie hip-hop record label, Definitive Jux, Jason relocated from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 2009 to record his latest solo record, KEVINSPACEY. A follow up to his 2008 release, Small-Time Machine, CWL's newest project is a synth/sample-driven record showcasing Jason's contemplative and melodic vocals while experimenting with dark and otherworldly themes of travel, distance and despondency. Three years in the making, the title is a nod to his newly adopted hometown, his fascination with exploration, observations of broken hope within the city, and of course, those who sit on top.
Cassettes Won't Listen was initially just a bedroom affair; in 2004, he picked up the microphone for the first time after years of producing instrumental hip hop and electronic inspired beats. The result...¦future fan favorite and eventual single, "Cutting Balloons". He soon saw the mp3 appearing on influential blogs including Gorilla vs. Bear and Scissorkick. As this fan base grew, Jason served up the digital-only EP Nobody's Moving in October of 2005. Cutting Balloons reached #1 on WOXY's Top 20 charts after just weeks of being added to rotation.
In the wake of the release of Nobodys Moving, a wide range of artists, commissioned countless Cassettes Won't Listen remixes, including El-P, (featuring Trent Reznor), Midlake, Asobi Seksu, Dr. Octagon, Pela, Dirty on Purpose, Mr. Lif, and Morcheeba, amongst others.
Cassettes Won't Listen followed up Nobody's Moving with 2008's Small-Time Machine and 2009's instrumental album, Into The Hillside. Both have received much critic fanfare, including radio tastemakers WOXY, KEXP, KCRW and favorable featured press from SPIN, Stereogum, Wired, Billboard, Playboy, NY Press, MTV, and many others.
Throughout the three years of recording KEVINSPACEY, CWL has continued to pursue his passion for remixing and producing work for other artists. This past year has seen remixes for The Death Set featuring Diplo, Gold Panda, Homeboy Sandman, and Houses, to name a few. His production has led to the formation of hip-hop group The Freeze Tag with Brooklyn-based MC Bisco Smith, experimental-downtempo band, Eka, and newly announced instrumental side project, Dfalt. He is also founder of NY/LA based artist collective, Daylight Curfew, showcasing solo hip-hop and electronic producers, indie bands, and visual artists nationwide. Plans for monthly Daylight Curfew events on both coasts as well as art gallery openings are in the works for the near future. Recently, CWL hosted MTV2's Subterranean and premiered 3 videos on the network gaining him international traction and notoriety.