Ed Schrader's Music Beat

Ed Schrader's Music Beat

Ed Schrader's Music Beat is a United States group from Baltimore, Maryland, made up of Ed Schrader and Devlin Rice. The duo begins as a live solo project for Schrader, who performs with a floor tom, a single light, jokes and a forceful vocal style. After touring alone, he asks Rice to help expand the songs with bass, turning the act into a two-piece.

Style and live performance

The group’s performances centre on a stark setup: one musician plays drums and sings under a light while the other plays bass in the dark. The early solo version of the act is described as raw and unsettling, while the duo format keeps the same intensity in a form that feels more familiar. Their music is associated with noise rock, punk, lo-fi rock and experimental rock.

Releases and collaborations

The duo releases Jazz Mind on Load Records. The record includes collaborations with Randy Randall of No Age and Matmos, and it reflects the group’s live sound, with songs described as loud, abrasive, pensive and haunting. Their follow-up, Party Jail, continues from that release and places more emphasis on the idea that the group writes pop songs as well as punk-oriented material.

Touring and associated acts

After the release of Jazz Mind, the group tours extensively across North America and Europe, mainly on its own. It also appears in support slots with Dan Deacon, Future Islands and Ceremony.