Hype Williams
Hype Williams?

Hype Williams' new album out now; Dean Blunt & Inga Copeland touring separately

by Kristian Brito

Hype Williams?

Things are bustling in the world of cryptic UK experimentalists Hype Williams, the mysterious electronic project previously thought to be comprised of Dean Blunt and Inga Copeland. On July 27, the group quietly uploaded 10/10, their first release in five years, to their Bandcamp without any further details. In the following days, Copeland claimed not to know anything about the record, leaving us to wonder whether old rumors that Hype Williams is actually a curated 18-year “relay project” passed between alternating lineups was more than clever fabrication. Later that week, shady HW ‘representative’ Denna Frances Glass (who some have suggested is not even a real person) told Thump that Blunt/Copeland are no longer part of Hype Williams and that the project will continue with other members. As ever with these guys, the reality remains hazy and unclear. Check out the new album, which is available for purchase (but not streaming) at Bandcamp.

In the meantime, Blunt and Copeland have been busy with their respective solo work. Blunt has announced a 5-date North American tour with his Babyfather project, which kicks off in the Fall with a NYC show on 9/14 in Output’s Panther Room (tickets) It’ll be Blunt’s second batch of US performances behind this year’s Platinum Tears mixtape. See Blunt’s upcoming schedule below. Also below you can check out a new Babyfather track, which samples Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights,” and the new Babyfather remix of 18+’s “Drama.”

Meanwhile, Copeland will be performing a few shows across the US behind the release of her live album Live in Paris under the pseudonym Lolina. Dates include a September 10 gig at NYC’s Trans-Pecos on September 10 with Giant Claw (tickets). Before hitting New York, she’ll be making two US festival appearances, first on August 12 at LA’s Berserktown III and then on September 9 at North Carolina’s Hopscotch 2016 festival. See Copeland’s full schedule below, and check out the initial video release of her Live in Paris as well.

https://soundcloud.com/urbansocialmedialounge/babyfather-skywalker-ft-triumph-allah

https://vimeo.com/156627557

Babyfather – 2016 Tour Dates
08.26 – Aarhus, DK Flux Festival
09.14 – New York, NY – Panther Room
09.15 – Detroit, MI – El Club
09.17 – Atlanta, GA – 787 Windsor
09.21 – Toronto, CA – The Velvet Underground
09.22 – Montreal, CA – POP Montreal
09.24 – Eupen, BE – Meakusma Festival
10.20-22 – Krakow, PL – Unsound Festival
10.28 – Manchester, UK – Soup Kitchen
10.29 – Bristol, UK – The Black Swan
10.03 – Athens, GR – Plissken Festival

Inga Copeland – 2016 Tour Dates
08-12 – Los Angeles, CA – Berserktown III
08-17 – London, UK – Echoes
08-19 – Libson, PT – Noites de Verão / Summer Nights
09-09 – Raleigh, NC – Hopscotch 2016
09-10 – New York, NY – Trans-Pecos
09-16 – Chicago, IL – TBA