Alaska in Winter is an American electronic band, consisting of frontman Brandon Bethancourt, who dropped out of art school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and reportedly, "spent a semester in a tiny cabin out in the middle of nowhere Alaska recording music on a laptop during the winter", and which later came to be known as the project, "Alaska in Winter".

History

After completing his project in Alaska, Bethancourt returned to New Mexico and enlisted the help of fellow musicians Zach Condon ( Beirut),

Heather Trost Heather Trost (born July 18, 1982) is an American violinist and singer. Biography Trost was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is one of the two members of the American Balkan Folk band A Hawk and a Hacksaw, with husband Jeremy Barnes (of Neu ...

( A Hawk and a Hacksaw), Hari Ziznewski, Stefanie Lamm, Rosina Roibal, Hilary Bethancourt, and Naila Dixon to help with his later musical project. The band's debut album, ''

Dance Party in the Balkans ''Dance Party in the Balkans'' is the debut album of the American electronic band Alaska in Winter Alaska in Winter is an American electronic band, consisting of frontman Brandon Bethancourt, who dropped out of art school in Albuquerque, New M ...

,'' featured Zach Condon, who later founded Beirut. Bethancourt has been living in Berlin, Germany, where he recorded his second album, ''Holiday'', which was released November 17, 2008. After releasing "Holiday," Bethancourt moved to

Santa Fe, New Mexico Santa Fe ( ; , Spanish for 'Holy Faith'; tew, Oghá P'o'oge, Tewa for 'white shell water place'; tiw, Hulp'ó'ona, label=Tiwa language, Northern Tiwa; nv, Yootó, Navajo for 'bead + water place') is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. ...

, where he currently resides. Under his independent label, AIWM, Bethancourt released his third and most recent album,

Space Eagle (the motion picture soundtrack) ''Space Eagle (the motion picture soundtrack)'' is officially the 3rd full-length release from Alaska in Winter. It debuted 16 February 2010 via iTunes and a note published on Alaska in Winter's Facebook Facebook is an online social m ...

, on February 16, 2010. Only 100 copies in cassette tape form have been printed, as announced by Bethancourt. On October 6, 2010, Bethancourt released the cover art for an upcoming EP, which he has entitled, "B-Sides and Other Missed Opportunities EP." He followed up the announcement with the release of the extended play on February 15, 2011. On May 31, 2011, Bethancourt announced the "pre-release" for his second extended play for 2011, which he dubbed ''

Suicide Prevention Hotline ''Suicide Prevention Hotline EP'' is an official extended play release from Alaska in Winter. It debuted 31 May 2011 through the band's Blogspot account, and a note published on its Facebook page. According to frontman Brandon Bethancourt Al ...

''. Additionally, Alaska in Winter won the ninth-annual

Independent Music Award The Independent Music Awards (IMAs) is an international awards program created by Music Resource Group (MRG) in 2000 to recognize self-distributed recordings and releases from independent record labels. The IMAs honor works in over 100 categorie ...

Vox Pop vote for best Dance/Electronica Album "Berlin".

Discography

* ''Ivan Fyodorovich is Not a Real Person (self release/unreleased)'' (2005) * ''

(European release)'' (July 2007) * ''Dance Party in the Balkans (US release)'' (March 2008) * ''Close Your Eyes- We Are Blind 7" split vinyl'' with Marianne Dissard (May 2008) * ''Remixes 12" vinyl'' (October 2008) * ''

Holiday A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tra ...

'' (November 2008) * ''

'' (February 2010) * '' B-sides & Other Missed Opportunities EP'' (February 2011) * '' Suicide Prevention Hotline EP'' (May 2011) * ''Memorex Floppy Disk 7" Vinyl EP'' (October 2011) * ''Airwolfe Flexi Disc'' (November 2011) * ''December Compositions'' (December 2011)

References

External links

Official MySpace

Review of ''Dance Party in the Balkans''
on Pitchfork Media *
Review of ''Close Your Eyes - We Are Blind''

Regular Beat Records (European label)

Milan Records (US label)

Interview with Brandon Bethancourt
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alaska In Winter Musical groups from New Mexico American electronic musicians Independent Music Awards winners