Tape Waves

Tape Waves is a Charleston, South Carolina-based duo consisting of Kim and Jarod Weldin. Emerging in the early 2010s, they carved out a niche within the dream-pop and indie-pop landscape by blending the melodic sensibilities of C86-era jangle pop with the atmospheric textures of surf rock.

Their sound is characterized by prominent, reverb-laden electric guitar melodies, minimalist percussion, and Kim Weldin's ethereal, often multi-tracked vocal delivery. Unlike the more aggressive shoegaze contemporaries, Tape Waves prioritizes clarity and melodic hooks, often drawing comparisons to artists like Seapony or Best Coast, though with a more melancholic and subdued emotional palette. Their career arc has shown a consistent dedication to a 'sun-bleached' aesthetic, evolving from the lo-fi charm of their self-titled EP to the more polished but still intimate production of 'Bright'. They occupy a specific cultural space favored by vinyl collectors and fans of 'beach-gaze', maintaining a steady presence in the independent dream-pop scene through labels like Bleeding Gold and Emotional Response.