HopesAndDrums
Hailing from the end of hurricanes, where the ocean pulls sand into the undertow, HopesAndDrums generate impressions of a time that land forgot.
biography
HopesAndDrums’ distinct voice cuts through the noise with a blend of dreamlike imagery, evocative symbolism, and conceptual nuance; a mysterious persona, crafting works representing what they call “a time that land forgot.”
Using mixed media techniques, including writing, music, digital art, painting, bookmaking, and video, HopesAndDrums work is rooted in personal experience, often serving as a diary or memoir, transforming fleeting moments into vibrant expressions.
Their visual art has been featured in the Italian art magazine Prompt, exhibited at the Mass MOAA museum, and can be seen in the pages of Mood Bling and Design Innovation.
HopesAndDrums’ music has been described as “cobbled scraps of sonic tech ... a must-listen for anyone who appreciates the history of electronic music.” Their forthcoming releases on the Mashit label have been leaking as a series of enigmatic and disorienting music videos that defy interpretation. Some speculate the videos may hold a sort of hidden code, while others are content to let their lucid dream-like quality be as it is. HopesAndDrums is also said to have co-founded the Earlymusicrave movement.While their work adds to the rubbish pile of fleeting, superficial trends, it also brings audiences to fantastical places where familiar motifs can bend into forms just disorienting enough to encourage self-reflection.
other works
D.U.A.L.I.D.Y. The Game
Dichotomy Unveiled Amid Light Into Darkness: Yin-Yang
A dynamic conversation game where participants explore the balance of opposites to uncover hidden connections and discover how divergent themes can bring us closer together.
Instructions for Play
The cards can be used on their own, but the game is designed for 2 or more players and would best be played at a party. We will be producing a physical deck of party cards in the coming months.
- Generate Topic Card Above
- Discuss & Exchange Ideas: Use the topic as a catalyst for conversation. Explore the depths of dichotomy, sharing personal experiences, insights, and reflections.Observe the interplay between light and darkness, good and evil, and other opposing forces. Seek unity amidst diversity, finding common ground and understanding amid difference.
- Switch Topic Cards: Set a timer to go off every 5 minutes and switch to a new topic card. This ensures that conversations remain dynamic and participants engage with various perspectives.
- Collaborative Sharing: After you've discussed 5 cards, take turns briefly sharing interesting insights or stories from the discussions.
- Wrap-Up: Reflect on the connections made and insights gained. Appreciate the unity in diverse perspectives and the understanding that embracing contrasts can lead to deeper understanding.
- Generate Topic Card Above
story
A few miles inland, where the last local Indian was killed, and the hill was not named for him, the mighty Sachems became small-town mascots, revered by sports fans with no knowledge of their legacy. This is where HopesAndDrums ate wild apples and strawberries and cut their teeth on 4-track soundscapes.
The rural farmland turned commuter town, nestled between tourist destinations and post-industrial decay, was fertile for the underground mainstream of HopesAndDrums.
The haze of bouncing between town and garden gave way to dusk crickets, forming a backdrop for HopesAndDrums.
Meanwhile, as car-oriented development increased the online disruption of another formerly vibrant downtown, HopesAndDrums’ music lived on in lieu of an outlet. In fact, the farther it moved from the mainstream, the more cohesive their sound became.
HopesAndDrums laid on old oak floorboards and blasted sonic experiments across the pond behind the asbestos-clad house.
Four distinct seasons each felt special as framed by the others and played a crisp role in the development of HopesAndDrums’ sound.
As coldness dropped to meet post-Puritan isolation, HopesAndDrums developed connections to deeper truths.
Moments of near-perfection can exist if one is open to the possible of everything. All HopesAndDrums converge there, awaiting experience.