Strange Language was originally started in 2005 by Tate Peterson for a one-off gig to cover for his band at the time, Savitri, which was in the midst of disintegrating and as such were not playing any shows. The original line-up of Strange Language consisted of Tate Peterson on guitar, keyboards and electronics, Justin Birge on percussion and Charles Carr on bass and electronics. They played a mixture of styles that explored the experimental electronic sounds, ambient loops, and dynamic beats that they wanted to delve into, all with a playful approach to creating songs. After that fateful gig, however, the three went their separate ways; but the seeds of creation had been sewn.
Left to marinate in its own creative juices, Strange Language was essentially shelved and existed only as shell waiting to be filled with the right contents. Over the years, the ideas that were explored in the original trio were incorporated into Peterson's repertoire. Through playing with bands such as Touch of the Panda, regular tuesday night solo performances at Eugene, Oregon's local music favorite, Luckey's, and through simply listening to the music of his past and present with an open ear and heart, these ideas continued to grow and the empty shell slowly began to fill.
Finally in 2008, Strange Language re-emerged in its newest form, performing as a one-piece.
Tate Peterson, currently the only member of Strange Language, incorporates the ideas, skills, and musical sensibility crafted and honed in his previous creative endeavors and college studies to create a sonic collage unique to his vast palette of tonal colors. Utilizing new technology combined with a dedication to the roots of his past, Peterson layers fuzzy effect-laden electric guitars with ethereal rhodes keyboards, clean and soulful funk rhythms against driving, angular drum loops, and much more. While performing, Peterson either plays, loops, triggers, effects and/or remixes all of the music live, in real-time. The end result is a moving, diverse sound that still remains cohesive and engaging, one that truly must be heard and seen live.
As the years fly by, things change, and bands come and go, Strange Language has become something constant. Of course, something that will be certainly ever-changing, as new members are constantly in consideration and new sounds are yet to be explored, but something that will remain at the core of Tate Peterson's creative output for hopefully years to come.
