Dexter Tortoriello
{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Dexter Tortoriello
| alias = Dawn Golden
| birth_name = Dexter Miles Tortoriello
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|08|05}}
| origin = Chicago, United States
| genre = Electronic, indie pop
| occupation = Singer, songwriter, musician, producer
| years_active = 2009–present
| label = Downtown Records, Mad Decent, Lefse
| website = {{URL|housesmusic.com}}
}}
Dexter Miles Tortoriello{{Cite web|url=https://dawngolden.tumblr.com/?og=1|title=DAWN GOLDEN|website=Dawngolden.tumblr.com|access-date=2020-03-31}} (born August 5, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He rose to prominence as part of the group Houses and is also known for his work as Dawn Golden, as well as his production for pop and hip-hop artists.
Life and career
=Early life and career beginnings=
Tortoriello grew up in Chicago.{{cite web|last1=Almufti|first1=Omar|title=Golden Harvest|url=http://levelmag.com/goodstuff/golden-harvest|website=Level|access-date=27 March 2018|date=27 May 2011}} One of his father's friends owned a recording studio, so Tortoriello and his brother had access to a wide range of analog recording equipment, including eight-track recorders and effects racks, from at least the age of twelve. This led to him starting numerous musical projects, initially focusing on electronic music but later developing into doom metal, noise, and ambient styles.
=Houses and ''All Night'' (2009–2011)=
After spending several months off the grid in Hawaii at the beginning of 2010, Tortoriello and his partner Megan Messina returned to Chicago, where he began to combine samples of older projects with field recordings from the island to create his first songs as Houses.{{cite web|last1=Katzif|first1=Mike|title=Houses: Falling In Love and Finding Peace|url=https://www.npr.org/2010/12/16/132109644/houses-falling-in-love-and-finding-peace|website=NPR Music|publisher=NPR|access-date=27 March 2018|date=16 December 2010}}{{cite web|last1=Galil|first1=Leor|title=Everything's Coming Up Kittens|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/houses-dexter-tortoriello-megan-messina/Content?oid=2559719|website=Chicago Reader|publisher=Sun-Times Media Group|access-date=27 March 2018|date=14 October 2010}} Houses' style was a significant departure from his previous work, showcasing a blissed out, hypnagogic pop sound. Soon after Tortoriello posted the song "Endless Spring" on his Myspace page, Pitchfork featured the track on their website, and within three days Houses was signed by Lefse Records. Messina joined the group soon after. Houses released the album via Lefse on October 19, 2010, and played their first shows on October 20 at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York.{{cite web|last1=Hoffman|first1=K. Ross|title=All Night - Houses|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/all-night-mw0002058680|website=AllMusic|publisher=All Media Network|access-date=27 March 2018}} At the same time, their single "Soak It Up" was featured as part of a multimedia photography retrospective at the New York Public Library Main Branch.{{cite web|title='Recollection: Thirty Years of Photography at The New York Public Library' celebrates the history of NYPL's Photography Collection with multi-media exhibition|url=https://www.nypl.org/press/press-release/2010/09/29/recollection-celebrates-history-nypls-photography-collection|website=New York Public Library|access-date=27 March 2018}} In 2011, the band toured North America and performed at South By Southwest.{{cite web|last1=Depland|first1=Michael|title=Dexter Tortoriello of Houses|url=https://www.avclub.com/dexter-tortoriello-of-houses-1798223160|website=The A.V. Club|publisher=The Onion|access-date=27 March 2018|date=13 December 2010}}
=Dawn Golden (2011)=
After releasing All Night, Tortoriello began posting solo material on Bandcamp.{{cite web|last1=Hopper|first1=Jessica|title=Dawn Golden and Rosy Cross: A guy who makes delightful dance music|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/08/12/dawn-golden-and-rosy-cross-a-guy-who-makes-delightful-dance-music/|website=Chicago Tribune|publisher=Tronc|access-date=27 March 2018|date=12 August 2011}} The sound was a significant departure from Houses, described by Time Out as "dark, droning and ethereal."{{cite web|last1=DiCrescenzo|first1=Brent|title=Dawn Golden and Rosy Cross|url=https://www.timeout.com/chicago/music/dawn-golden-and-rosy-cross-interview|website=Time Out|publisher=Time Out Group|access-date=27 March 2018|date=9 August 2011}} He released the Blow EP in early 2011 via Bandcamp. Soon after, Diplo reached out to Tortoriello via Myspace and signed the act to his label, Mad Decent. On April 12, 2011, he re-released Blow via Mad Decent and Downtown Records. The EP was generally well received, described by NPR Music as "aggressive and immediate" and by the Chicago Reader as "vital and exciting."{{cite web|last1=Katzif|first1=Mike|title=Dawn Golden And Rosy Cross: A Bed Of Noise|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/07/20/138512330/dawn-golden-and-rosy-cross-a-bed-of-noise|website=NPR Music|publisher=NPR|access-date=27 March 2018|date=20 July 2011}}{{cite web|last1=Raymer|first1=Miles|title=Mad Decent's Newest Curveball|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/sharp-darts-mad-decent-houses-dawn-golden-rosy-cross/Content?oid=3514167|website=Chicago Reader|publisher=Sun-Times Media Group|access-date=27 March 2018|date=31 March 2011}} Tortoriello played the Mad Decent Block Party as Dawn Golden in August 2011.
=''A Quiet Darkness'' and ''Still Life'' (2011–2014)=
In 2012, Tortoriello and Messina began work on their second record, an apocalyptic concept album titled A Quiet Darkness.{{cite web|last1=Symonds|first1=Alexandria|title=Houses, With Abandon|url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/houses-a-quiet-darkness|website=Interview|publisher=Brant Publications|access-date=27 March 2018|date=16 April 2013}} The duo used field recordings from abandoned houses, schools, and cabins in Desert Center, California to build out their ambient electronic soundscapes.{{cite web|last1=Makarechi|first1=Kia|title=Houses' 'A Quiet Darkness' Stream: Band Returns With Impeccably Brooding Concept Album|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/09/houses-a-quiet-darkness-stream_n_3045944.html|website=HuffPost|publisher=Oath Inc.|access-date=27 March 2018|date=9 April 2013}} Tortoriello turned samples of light switch clicks, stomping feet and sweeping dust into drum kits, and augmented studio instrumentation with impulse responses from inside and outside the buildings.{{cite web|last1=Herr|first1=Lindsay|title=Earmilk Interview: Houses|url=https://earmilk.com/2013/04/22/earmilk-interview-houses/|website=Earmilk|access-date=27 March 2018|date=2013}} They finished the album at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, before relocating to Los Angeles. Houses released videos for "The Beauty Surrounds" and "Beginnings" in February and March 2013, respectively.{{cite web|title=Houses - The Beauty Surrounds (Official Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBu5BRlDDDM|website=YouTube|access-date=27 March 2018|date=11 February 2013}}{{cite web|title=Houses - Beginnings (Official Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIuvpwDLShs|website=YouTube|access-date=27 March 2018|date=4 March 2013}} They released A Quiet Darkness on April 16, 2013 via Downtown Records, after pre-streaming the album on The Huffington Post.
At the same time, Tortoriello was working on Still Life, his debut full-length as Dawn Golden. On April 25, 2014 he released the single "All I Want" as Dawn Golden. A video for "All I Want" was released on Majestic Casual's YouTube channel, directed by Tyler T. Williams.{{cite web|title=Dawn Golden - All I Want (Official Music Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwyzdWVDGZ4|website=YouTube|access-date=27 March 2018|date=3 March 2014}} On May 13, 2014, he released Still Life, via Mad Decent and Downtown Records.{{cite web|last1=Thomas|first1=Fred|title=Still Life - Dawn Golden|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/still-life-mw0002642791|website=AllMusic|publisher=All Media Network|access-date=27 March 2018}} Later that year, he released a video for "Still Life" directed by Kyle DePinna and Still Life (Remixes) featuring contributions from Diplo and Manila Killa.{{cite web|last1=Thomas|first1=Fred|title=Still Life [Remixes] - Dawn Golden|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/still-life-remixes-mr0004527419|website=AllMusic|publisher=All Media Network|access-date=27 March 2018}}
=Production and songwriting (since 2015)=
Since 2015, Tortoriello has worked as a producer and songwriter for numerous electronic, hip-hop and R&B artists. As Dawn Golden, he appeared as a featured artist and co-writer on Ryan Hemsworth's "Snow in Newark" (2014),{{cite web|title=Snow in Newark - Dawn Golden / Ryan Hemsworth|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/snow-in-newark-mt0050611196|website=All Music|publisher=All Media Network|access-date=27 March 2018}} What So Not's "Arrows" (2015){{cite web|title=Arrows Feat. Dawn Golden (Original Mix) by Dillon Francis, What So Not on Beatport|url=https://www.beatport.com/track/arrows-feat-dawn-golden-original-mix/7452341|website=Beatport|access-date=27 March 2018}} and Martin Garrix's "Sun Is Never Going Down" (2016),{{cite web|title=Sun Is Never Going Down (Extended) by Martin Garrix, Dawn Golden|url=https://www.beatport.com/track/sun-is-never-going-down-extended/8532943|website=Beatport|access-date=27 March 2018}} and has co-writing and production credits on Kali Uchis' "Melting" (2015){{cite web|title=Kali Uchis - Melting|url=https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/Kali-Uchis-2/Melting|website=Musixmatch|access-date=27 March 2018}} and Lil Yachty's "Forever Young" (2017).{{cite web|title=Lil Yachty feat. Diplo - Forever Young|url=https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/Lil-Yachty-feat-Diplo/Forever-Young|website=Musixmatch|access-date=27 March 2018}}
=''Drugstore Heaven'' (since 2017)=
On August 24, 2018, Tortoriello released the single "Fast Talk" under his Houses moniker and announced a new EP, Drugstore Heaven, which was released on September 28, 2018.{{cite web |last1=Robles |first1=Jonathan |title=Houses returns with spellbinding, yet morbid new single 'Fast Talk' |url=https://variancemagazine.com/sounds/9682-houses-fast-talk |website=Variance |access-date=15 February 2019 |date=24 August 2018}} A lyric video for "Fast Talk" was released on October 22, 2018,{{cite web |title=Houses - Fast Talk (Lyric Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krSUz9x-V_k |website=YouTube |access-date=15 February 2019 |date=22 October 2018}} with an official video released on January 28, 2019.{{cite magazine |last1=Graff |first1=Gary |title=Houses Drives Down Memory Lane In 'Fast Talk' Video: Premiere |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8495181/houses-fast-talk-video-premiere |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Billboard-Hollywood Media Group |access-date=12 February 2019 |date=28 January 2019}} The vinyl version of the EP features remixes from Com Truise, Willy Moon, Still Woozy, and Vexxed on the b-side.{{cite web |title=Houses - Drugstore Heaven (Vinyl, LP, Album) |url=https://www.discogs.com/Houses-Drugstore-Heaven/release/12811409 |website=Discogs |access-date=15 February 2019}}
{{anchor|Still Woozy}}
Praise for "Fast Talk" and Drugstore Heaven has come from a range of publications including Nylon{{cite web |last1=Stubblebine |first1=Allison |title=Soundcheck: The 12 Best Music Releases Of The Week |url=https://nylon.com/articles/soundcheck-9-29-2018 |website=Nylon |access-date=15 February 2019 |date=29 September 2018}} and Billboard, with the latter calling the single "entrancing."{{cite magazine |last1=Payne |first1=Chris |title=Artists to Watch: 17 Alternative & Indie Breakouts For 2019 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8492716/17-alternative-rock-indie-artists-to-watch-2018 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Billboard-Hollywood Media Group |access-date=15 February 2019 |date=15 February 2019}} In January 2019, "Fast Talk" began to chart on the Alternative Songs,{{cite magazine |title=Alternative: January 12, 2019 |url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2019-01-12/hot-modern-rock-tracks |magazine=Billboard.Biz |publisher=Billboard-Hollywood Media Group |access-date=15 February 2019}} Rock Airplay,{{cite web |title=Rock Airplay: Jan 05, 2019 |url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2019-01-05/rock-airplay |website=Billboard.Biz |publisher=Billboard-Hollywood Media Group |access-date=15 February 2019}} and Hot Rock Songs{{cite web |title=Hot Rock Songs: Jan 05, 2019 |url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2019-01-05/rock-songs |website=Billboard.Biz |publisher=Billboard-Hollywood Media Group |access-date=15 February 2019}} charts in the US, the first of any Houses single to do so. In 2019, the song "Fast Talk" reached the top 10 on alternative radio charts.{{cite web |date=2019-02-18 |title=HOUSES- "Fast Talk" Top 10! |url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=315284 |accessdate=2023-09-27 |publisher=Hits Daily Double}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
==As Houses==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" border="1" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:9em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Heat |
| a
! scope="row"| All Night |
| — |
| scope="row"| A Quiet Darkness
|
| 33{{cite magazine|title=Heatseeker Albums: May 4, 2013|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2013-05-04/heatseekers|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=27 March 2018}} |
| scope="row"| Drugstore Heaven
|
| — |
==As Dawn Golden==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Album details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Still Life
|
|
=Extended plays=
==As Houses==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Album details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Drugstore Heaven
|
|
| scope="row"| Drugstore Heaven (Remixes)
|
|
==As Dawn Golden==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Album details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Blow
|
|
| scope="row"| Blow (Remixes)
|
|
| scope="row"| Still Life (Remixes)
|
|
=Guest appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col" style="width:11em;"| Title
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Artist(s) ! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Album |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Snow in Newark" {{small|(featuring Dawn Golden)}} | 2014 | Alone for the First Time |
| scope="row"| "Arrows" {{small|(featuring Dawn Golden)}} | 2015 | Gemini EP |
| scope="row"| "Sun Is Never Going Down" {{small|(featuring Dawn Golden)}} | 2016 | Seven |
=Remixes=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col" style="width:23em;"| Title
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col" style="width:17em;"| Artist |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Transcendence" (Dawn Golden Remix)
| rowspan="2"| 2014 |
| scope="row"| "Sleepwalking" (Dawn Golden Remix) |
| scope="row"| "You Haunt Me" (Dawn Golden Remix)
| 2015 | Sir Sly |
| scope="row"| "All We Need" (Dawn Golden Remix)
| rowspan="2"| 2016 |
| scope="row"| "The Struggle" (Dawn Golden Remix)
| Grizfolk |
=Songwriting and production credits=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col" style="width:160px;"| Title
! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Artist(s) ! scope="col" style="width:180px;"| Album ! scope="col" | Credits ! scope="col" | Written with ! scope="col" | Produced with |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Snow in Newark" {{small|(featuring Dawn Golden)}} | 2014 | Co-writer | Hemsworth | |
| scope="row"| "Melting"
| 2015 | Por Vida | Co-writer/producer | Karly-Marina Loaiza, Alex Epton, Thomas Pentz | Alex Epton, Diplo |
| scope="row"| "Sun Is Never Going Down" {{small|(featuring Dawn Golden)}} | 2016 | Seven | Co-writer | Justin Broad, Jem Cooke, Martijn Garritsen, Paul Herman, James McCollum | |
| scope="row"| "Forever Young" {{small|(featuring Diplo)}} | 2017 | Co-writer/producer | Miles McCollum, Thomas Pentz | Diplo |
| scope="row"| "Found"
| 2023 | Crosses | Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete. | Co-writer/producer | colspan="2"| Crosses |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
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Category:American male singer-songwriters
Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters
Category:21st-century American male singers