Battle Tapes is an American electronic rock band, based in Los Angeles, California, United States, formed in late 2010. The band consists of Josh Boardman (vocals, guitar, synthesizer), Riley Mackin (keyboards, programming, vocals), Josh D'Elia (bass guitar, backup vocals) and Pete Kraynak (drums, percussion). Battle Tapes is known for its live performances, fully sequenced lighting and visuals and integrating electro and indie influences into its music and image.
To date, Battle Tapes has released four EPs: Sleepwalker (2011), Sweatshop Boys (2012), Solid Gold (2016), and Form (2017). They released their first studio album Polygon on November 20, 2015. They have released several singles: Valkyrie (Radio Edit) (2015), No Good (2017), Weight of the World (2019), If Only (2022), In Too Deep (2022), One Night in Burbank (2023), and Brand New (2023). Their second studio album Texture was released on May 5, 2023.
Battle Tapes gained increased popularity in 2013, when their song "Feel the Same" from the Sweatshop Boys EP was featured in Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto V, on the in-game radio station Radio Mirror Park. The band also gained additional popularity in 2018, when several of their songs were featured in the Rooster Teeth web series Gen:Lock, with "Belgrade" used as its main theme.
Battle Tapes made their festival debut in 2014, performing at The Sunset Strip Music Festival in Los Angeles, as well as SXSW in Austin, Texas. In early 2015, Battle Tapes announced they would be playing at the BottleRock Napa Valley Festival in May later that year.
Discography
Studio albums TitleDetailsPolygon Released: November 20, 2015Texture Released: May 5, 2023
Extended plays (EP) TitleDetailsSleepwalker Released: May 12, 2011Sweatshop Boys Released: April 13, 2012Solid Gold (feat. Party Nails) Released: April 3, 2016Form Released: July 14, 2017
Singles TitleDetailsValkyrie (Radio Edit) Released: October 10, 2015No Good Released: April 21, 2017Weight of the World Released: February 22, 2019If Only Released: July 8, 2022In Too Deep Released: September 9, 2022One Night in Burbank Released: March 17, 2023Brand New Released: May 5, 2023
Remixes (by other artists) TitleArtistAlbumDetailsSleepwalkerSlighter (As Slighter's Wide Awake Remix)Sleepwalker EP Released: May 12, 2011The RadishLordxSolid GoldStory of the Running WolfSolid Gold EP Released: April 3, 2016The Beta MachineIf OnlyThe Anix Released: July 29, 2022Snakes of Russia Released: August 5, 2022In Too DeepLenno Released: October 7, 2022
Remixes (by Battle Tapes) Some of these remixes were never officially released on any streaming platforms. TitleOriginal ArtistAlbumDetailsSleepwalker Pt. IIIBattle Tapes (As Abstracted Camouflage Remix)Sleepwalker EP Released: May 12, 2011LA WaterHelmet Released: January 7, 2011BalloonWendy & Lisa Released: January 7, 2011I Like Van Halen...El Ten Eleven Released: September 14, 2011Palm Springs ResetJulien-KWe're Here With You (Deluxe Edition) Released: September 11, 2012 TimeUh Huh HerUhh Remixed Released: May 13, 2014SweatpantsChildish Gambino Released: July 31, 2014Solid Gold (Remix 1 & 2)Battle TapesSolid Gold EP Released: April 3, 2016You Don't Get Me High AnymorePhantogram Released: May 4, 2017Never Dance AgainSunset NeonStarlight (Remixes) Released: May 10, 2018 (Single) Released: January 24, 2019 (Album)100KaufRegrowth Remixed Released: August 31, 2018Have You Ever (feat. Party Nails)Urban Heat Released: December 23, 2022
Skeleton Crüe Josh Boardman and Riley Mackin often perform as a duo under the moniker "Skeleton Crüe" — a name derived from the stripped-down size of Battle Tapes, focusing more on a live DJ-style use of drum machines, samplers and synths, in addition to traditional DJ decks.
In other media Teen Wolf (season 3, episode 4) - "Made" Grand Theft Auto V - "Feel the Same" Elementary (season 2, episode 4) - "Sleepwalker" National Geographic Channel (Ad Campaign) - "Sweatshop Boys" BBC One - Casualty (Series 32 finale promo) - "Feel the Same" Need for Speed (Trailer) - "Feel the Same" The Originals (season 1, episode 17) - "Feel the Same" NBC Sports (Formula 1/Monaco GP) - "Feel the Same" State of Affairs (season 1, episode 12) - "Feel the Same" Need for Speed (drift races) - "Valkyrie" Asphalt Xtreme - "Belgrade" Lucifer (season 1, episode 2) - "Valkyrie" Bones (season 9, episode 14) - "Sweatshop Boys" Now You See Me 2 - "Belgrade" Girls - "Solid Gold" Lethal Weapon - "Made" The Crew 2 - "Dreamboat" & "Mulholland" Asphalt 9: Legends - "Valkyrie" S.W.A.T. - (season 3, episode 14) - "Made" Gen:LOCK (Web series) - "Belgrade" (Main theme), "Syntax" (season 1, episode 2), "Alive" (season 1, episode 3), "Sweatshop Boys" (season 1, episode 4), "Last Resort & Spa" (season 1, episode 4), "Weight of the World" (season 1, episode 8) Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Announce Trailer) - "Feel the Same"Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: The Blacklist (season 4, episode 21) - "Last Resort and Spa" Hyper Scape - "Feel the Same" Invincible (TV series) (episode 5) - "Alive" The Naked Director (season 2 trailer) - "In Too Deep" The Flash (2014 TV series) (season 6, episode 3) - "Made"
References
External links Rockstar Network - Battle Tapes interview Battle Tapes Rave's Faves - Battle Tapes BottleRock band of the day - Battle Tapes Battle Tapes Website