Alex Calder

Specializing in trippy, lo-fi guitar pop, Edmonton, Canada native Alex Calder first made his name in indie rock when he moved to Vancouver and played drums in the group Makeout Videotape. Featuring fellow future <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Captured+Tracks%22">Captured Tracks</a> labelmate <a href="spotify:artist:3Sz7ZnJQBIHsXLUSo0OQtM">Mac DeMarco</a>, the group existed between 2008 and 2010, and released a series of CD-R EPs and an album, 2010's Ying Yang. After the duo parted ways, Calder moved back to Edmonton and began crafting music that was a woozy bedroom pop take on <a href="spotify:artist:3oDbviiivRWhXwIE8hxkVV">the Beach Boys</a>, mixed with a little <a href="spotify:artist:77tT1kLj6mCWtFNqiOmP9H">Hall & Oates</a>. First going under the name Collage Party, he released songs on blogs and Bandcamp before signing with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Captured+Tracks%22">Captured Tracks</a>, moving to Montreal, and ditching the band name in favor of his own. His first official release was the Time EP, which came out in early 2013. Calder's first full-length album, the murky and mysterious Strange Dreams, was released by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Captured+Tracks%22">Captured Tracks</a> almost two years later. He followed it in early 2016 with a self-released collection of covers of <a href="spotify:artist:7w29UYBi0qsHi5RTcv3lmA">Björk</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1xgFexIwrf2QjbU0buCNnp">the Breeders</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:3Rj0tDHoX7C5NFq5DKIpHt">Stereolab</a> (Covers EP). Later that year, he toured the U.S. and Canada in support of <a href="spotify:artist:0IlQRCafsMrd0QkTRBU6n0">Surfer Blood</a>.

In October 2017, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Captured+Tracks%22">Captured Tracks</a> canceled the imminent release of a self-titled album following a sexual assault allegation against Calder. In a public apology, Calder confirmed that he'd canceled any upcoming shows and was taking a break from musical pursuits. <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Captured+Tracks%22">Captured Tracks</a> also nixed distribution of Time and Strange Dreams. ~ Tim Sendra, Rovi