Kurt Feldman

{{Short description|American musician, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist (born 1984)}}

{{Multiple issues|

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{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Kurt Feldman

| image = KurtFeldmanPainsBeingPure2009.jpg

| caption = Kurt Feldman performing in Berlin with The Pains of Being Pure at Heart in 2009

| background = person

| alias = Ice Choir

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|01|29}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| genre = {{hlist|Synthpop|dreampop|shoegaze|video game music}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|musician|composer|producer|

}}

| label =

| current_member_of = The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

| past_member_of = The Depreciation Guild

| website = [http://www.winter-station.com www.winter-station.com/]
[http://www.icechoir.com www.icechoir.com/]

| years_active = 2005–present

}}

Kurt Feldman (born January 29, 1984) is an American musician, composer, and multi-instrumentalist based in New York City, United States. He is best known as the former frontman for the Depreciation Guild and as a current member for Ice Choir, as well as for playing drums in the Pains of Being Pure at Heart.{{Cite news |title=Kurt Feldman |work=last.fm |url=https://www.last.fm/music/Kurt+Feldman |access-date=2023-09-06}}

Early life

Feldman grew up primarily in Westchester and West Village, New York.{{Cite web |title=Interview: Kurt Feldman (Ice Choir) |url=https://kdvs.org/interview-kurt-feldman/ |access-date=February 23, 2024|website=KDVS|date=September 5, 2014}} From a young age, he was surrounded by a musical environment. He started playing guitar at around age 8 or 9 and in bands at age 11.{{cite web|url=https://www.douban.com/note/203274811/?_i=1668548OMWPYy4,2343148OMWPYy4|title=the depreciation guild - Interview|access-date=July 30, 2024|date=March 2, 2012}} He told Westword about his childhood, "I went to a music camp when I was eleven, and I became friends with a lot of kids who were older than me, like eighteen. There were a couple of summers where I would go to concerts with them, and they'd show me cool stuff and make me mixtapes."{{Cite web |last=Murphy|first=Tom|title=Kurt Feldman of the Depreciation Guild expresses his love for Tears for Fears |url=https://www.westword.com/music/kurt-feldman-of-the-depreciation-guild-expresses-his-love-for-tears-for-fears-5110122 |access-date=February 15, 2024|website=Westword |date=October 7, 2010}}

In 2006, he finished his studies in childhood education at New York University. Despite his educational background and teaching experience in a music school, he was more interested in pursuing a musical career. He spoke to the Gothamist in 2009, stating that "[...]teaching has always been a fallback plan. I teach now at a music school, but I'd much rather be playing music professionally."{{cite web|last=Carlson|first=Jen|url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/depreciation-guild-band|title=Depreciation Guild, Band|access-date=February 15, 2024|website=Gothamist|date=January 28, 2009}}

Career

= The Depreciation Guild =

In 2003, Feldman started operating the Famicom (NES) that then was heavily incorporated into the music he made with the Depreciation Guild. The band was formed in 2005. It was initially aimed as an outlet to express his musical hobby and interests in old video games, guitar pop, and electronic music. The band eventually took a more serious path, releasing their debut EP in 2006 and playing live shows. Feldman was aided by his high school friend Adrian Hashizume on guitar until 2007. Hashizume was then replaced by Feldman's college friend Christoph Hochheim. In 2008, Hochheim's identical twin brother Anton was added on drums. The three became the most well-known lineup of the band, and were joined by Feldman's former student Raphael Radna on bass and synthesizer in the summer of 2010. The band announced their dissolution in early 2011. They released two studio albums throughout their career: In Her Gentle Jaws (2007) and Spirit Youth (2010). Feldman has twice played reunion shows, with two different lineups: with Hashizume in 2013, and with the final lineup (the Hochheim twins and Radna) in 2023.

= The Pains of Being Pure at Heart =

Initially a trio, Feldman was recruited by roommate and the Pains of Being Pure at Heart's frontman Kip Berman as the fourth member in 2007. He served as the band's drummer until 2013, having contributed to their first three studio albums and toured extensively in North and South America, UK, Europe, Asia, Australia as well as New Zealand. In 2024, he rejoined the band alongside founding members Berman and Peggy Wang.{{cite web |title=The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart Announce 15th-Anniversary Reunion Shows |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2276520/the-pains-of-being-pure-at-heart-announce-15th-anniversary-reunion-shows/news/ |website=Stereogum |date=August 16, 2024 |accessdate=March 6, 2025 |language=en}}

= Ice Choir =

Towards the end of the Depreciation Guild, Feldman began writing music without any of the NES programming of the band's previous works, and the other members also started losing interest and focus of the project. Considering that it was much more "guitar pop" than The Depreciation Guild, there were certain limitations and aspects in writing that Feldman did not want to go through, so he decided to try new things and start over with a new project. In the studio and live set up, Feldman is joined by Raphael Radna (former live member of the Depreciation Guild), Patrick South, and Avery Brooks (of Lost Children/formerly of Ravens & Chimes).{{cite web|last=Norris|first=John|url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/ice-choir-the-new-new-romantics/#_|title=ICE CHOIR: THE NEW, NEW ROMANTICS|website=Interview|access-date=February 15, 2024}} As Ice Choir, Feldman has released three studio albums: Afar (2012), Designs in Rhythm (2016), and Gunsport (2020).{{Cite news |title=Music – Ice Choir |work=Bandcamp |url=https://icechoir.bandcamp.com/ |access-date=February 15, 2024}}

= Roman à Clef =

Feldman formed sophisti pop group Roman à clef with A Sunny Day in Glasgow members, Ryan Newmyer and Jen Goma. Feldman acted as producer for the group's debut album, Abandonware, which was released in 2015.{{Cite news |title=Abandonware – Roman a Clef |work=Bandcamp |url=https://romanaclef.bandcamp.com/ |access-date=February 15, 2024}}

= Producing, mixing, and composing =

Since the Depreciation Guild's first release, Feldman has established his role as both composer and producer. Although he departed from the Pains of Being Pure at Heart in 2013, Feldman continued contributing to the band's studio releases which were credited on their albums, The Echo of Pleasure (2017) and Full Moon Fever (2018).{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pains-being-pure-heart-tom-petty-full-moon-fever-album-732172/ |title=Pains of Being Pure at Heart to Cover Tom Petty's Entire 'Full Moon Fever' |magazine=Rolling Stone |accessdate=2019-11-04}} He also actively teamed up with other artists such as Anamanaguchi, Chairlift, Kristin Kontrol, Samantha Urbani, and DIIV, helping for production, mixing, engineering and/or additional instrument needs.{{Cite web |last=Leas|first=Ryan|title=Q&A: Kristin Welchez On The Evolution From Dee Dee & The Dum Dum Girls To Kristin Kontrol |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1866287/qa-kristin-welchez-on-the-evolution-from-dee-dee-the-dum-dum-girls-to-kristin-kontrol/interviews/ |access-date=February 15, 2024|website=Stereogum |date=March 18, 2016 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Lacey|first=Gemma|title=Caturday with Samantha Urbani|url=https://www.pusspussmagazine.com/caturday-samantha-urbani/ |access-date=February 15, 2024|website=Puss Puss|date=November 8, 2017}}{{Cite web |last=Riddell|first=Rosie|title=Interview: DIIV on their sophomore album, 'Is The Is Are’ |url=https://www.coupdemainmagazine.com/interviews/interview-diiv-their-sophomore-album-are |access-date=February 15, 2024|website=Coup de Main |date=February 29, 2016}}

Feldman is currently working as the lead sound designer at a sound branding agency Listen, as well as a video game composer. Under his real name, he has released several collections of VGM songs: Precise Works Ideal Selection, Vol. 001: TileWild (2010), Precise Works Ideal Selection, Vol. 002: StarLicker (2013), and Insert Credit (2021). His latest VGM works have been featured on games such as Slipstream (2024) and Demonschool (2024).{{Cite news |title=Winter Station – About |work=|url=https://www.winter-station.com/about.html |access-date=March 6, 2025}}{{Cite news |title=Music – Kurt Feldman |work=Bandcamp |url=https://kurtfeldman.bandcamp.com/ |access-date=February 15, 2024}}

Influences

Feldman has expressed his love for 80s music artists such as Scritti Politti, Prefab Sprout, Talk Talk, Tears for Fears, and Gangway. He is also a big fan of 80s J-pop artists such as Yellow Magic Orchestra. He has cited Cocteau Twins and Pale Saints that influenced the music he made with the Depreciation Guild.