Dirty Beaches is the project of Alex Zhang Hungtai, a Taiwanese-born Canadian musician from Taipei, Canada, born in 1980. He begins the project in 2005 and works in styles associated with lo-fi, ambient, experimental, hypnagogic pop and neo-rockabilly.

Project overview

Dirty Beaches is based around Hungtai’s own writing and performance, with drum loops, his croon and melodic lines forming the core of the music. The project’s sound draws on rockabilly, psychedelic and noise elements, while also using minimal, repeated structures. Its compositions are described through comparisons with Bo Diddley and the group Suicide, pointing to a stripped-back approach that focuses on mood, rhythm and atmosphere.

Release history

Under the Dirty Beaches name, Hungtai releases the tape Knave of Hearts on Ascetic House and the album Divine Weight on NON Worldwide. Divine Weight is described as a highly acclaimed release.

End of the project and later work

In 2014, Hungtai announces the end of Dirty Beaches and performs one of his final concerts at GNRation in Braga, Portugal. From 2016, he releases music again under his birth name.