Dash Hammerstein – Silence, Memory (2023)
Formed back in 1988 when his mother gave birth to him, Dash Hammerstein has been an unduplicated fascination in the 21st-century music scene. Working as a film composer, Hammerstein has had work featured on notable releases including the Sundance premiere Pretty Baby; however, it is his solo musical project that we’re dipping our toes into (metaphorically, of course). Known on the New York live scene, Hammerstein is familiar with venues like Rockwood and Bowery Electric engaging audiences with his unique sound. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Silence, Memory’.
Following his EP, Time Travel/Hot Pretzel, Dash Hammerstein steps into 2023 with ‘Silence, Memory’. A multi-instrumentalist, this singer-songwriter plays most of the instruments in his melodies with a rotating cast of musicians contributing background vocals, strings, horns and all the instruments he cannot even pretend to play. In ‘Silence, Memory’, Hammerstein is accompanied by his sister Grace and friend Adam as guest vocals. Hammerstein explains that he wanted to “create something very musically repetitive, sectionally differentiated only by the vocal melodies…”; thus, we have ‘Silence, Memory’.
Reminding me slightly of Elliot Page’s folk songs for Juno but with a bold electropop beat, ‘Silence, Memory’ is a diverse fusion of genres seemingly “on loop”. While there is a soothing sensibility to the single, the track has a strange distortion woven into the melody. It is this distortion that enhances a sense of disconcerted discomfort, but also a mellifluous obscurity tossing you into a kaleidoscopic sonic whirlpool.
In Time Travel/Hot Pretzel, Hammerstein demonstrated his versatility by transitioning from folk-inspired tracks to sensual soul songs. ‘Silence, Memory’ presents a different side of this artist with an eclecticism that have you staring in stupid adoration at its oddness.
For more from Dash Hammerstein, check out his Facebook and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
