3/20/24, 3:36 PM Tapir!

- Wikipedia

Tapir!
Tapir! is a six-piece indie folk band from London.
Tapir!
Known for their blending of folk music with genres
such as post-punk and art pop, their first album, The
Pilgrim, Their God and the King of My Decrepit
Mountain, was released on 26 January 2024.

History
Tapir! is made up of six South London
musicians,[1][2] many of whom are a part of other
projects.[3] While the band formed in 2019,[2] they
Tapir! performing in July 2023
only began releasing music in 2022. They released
Background information
"My God" (their first single,[4] written during the
COVID-19 pandemic)[5] and the EP Act 1 (The Origin London, United Kingdom
Pilgrim) in 2022.[6] These were both later re- Genres Folk · indie folk · art pop
released, with "My God" becoming a single for their Years active 2022–present
first album[7] and Act 1 (The Pilgrim) being
Labels Heavenly
remastered and re-released to coincide with the
signing of the band to Heavenly Recordings in May Members Ike Gray
2023.[6] Ronnie Longfellow
Emily Hubbard
Tapir! began playing live shows in 2022, opening for
Ian Sweet in May 2022[8] and performing at Paper Tom Rogers-Coltman
Dress Vintage in August 2022.[9] Also in August Will McCrossan
2022, they performed at Green Man Festival.[2] In Wilfred Cartwright
March 2023, they were announced as part of the
Website tapirband.co.uk (https://tapirban
October 2023 Left of the Dial festival.[10] On 8
November 2023, Tapir! opened a concert for post- d.co.uk/)

rock band Explosions in the Sky at Troxy.[11]

Tapir!'s first album, The Pilgrim, Their God and the King of My Decrepit Mountain, was released
on 26 January 2024.[12] It is composed of three acts:[13] their two previous EPs – Act 1 (The
Pilgrim) and Act 2 (Their God) – as the first two acts, plus four songs in a third act exclusive to the
full album.[12] The first song of each act contains narration by Kyle Field.[12] The album tells the
story of "The Pilgrim"[12][2] or "Pilgrim",[9] a being travelling through a fictional world of green
hills and red creatures.[4][9][5] The album was described by DIY as "immersed in the cinematic, the
mythological and the art of experimenting... an escapist dream, and immersive story".[14]

Musical style and reception

Clash describes Tapir! as "blend[ing] post-punk with folk, indie with skittering electronics" and as
art pop.[3] Describing the track "Gymnopédie", Circuit Sweet called its climax "a glorious lo-fi
symphony that sounds like it's performed teetering on the edge of a cliff".[1] Writing for Hideous
Magazine, Angelika May wrote of the song "My God" that it "exudes an abundance of esotericism
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3/20/24, 3:36 PM Tapir! - Wikipedia

and eccentricity, offering intricate and thorough conceptions that make you want to crack open
their crimson, mammalian heads in an attempt to understand their process".[15] In a review of the
2022 version of Act 1 for Hard of Hearing Magazine, Lloyd Bolton compared the music's aesthetic
to pagan folk art, saying "amid the crackle, artless singalongs create the impression of a fictional
pagan ceremony, celebrating the folklore of this imaginary region".[16]

Many of the drums in Tapir!'s music are electronic,[9] although they do have a drummer when
playing live.[17] Much of the lyrical inspiration on Act 2 is from biblical, mythical, and literary
sources, such as the track "Eidolon" being inspired by a Walt Whitman poem.[18] The band often
wears red papier-mâché heads,[9][12] representing the character of Pilgrim.[5][19]

Members
Ike Gray – vocals, guitar
Ronnie Longfellow – bass guitar
Emily Hubbard – cornet, synths
Tom Rogers-Coltman – guitar
Will McCrossan – keyboard
Wilfred Cartwright – drums, cello[17]

Discography

Albums
The Pilgrim, Their God and the King of My Decrepit Mountain (2024)[13]

EPs
Act 1 (The Pilgrim) (2022, re-released 2023)[6]
Act 2 (Their God) (2023)[18]

Singles
"My God" (2022, re-released 2023)[4][15]
"On a Grassy Knoll (We'll Bow Together)" (2023)[6]
"Gymnopédie" (2023)[1]

References
1. "Tapir! Share New Single & Video "Gymnopédie" & Release EP "Act 2 (Their God)" Out Via
Heavenly Recordings" (https://circuitsweet.co.uk/2023/08/tapir-share-new-single-video-gymnop
edie-release-ep-act-2-their-god-out-via-heavenly-recordings/). Circuit Sweet. 30 August 2023.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20240126042130/https://circuitsweet.co.uk/2023/08/tapir
-share-new-single-video-gymnopedie-release-ep-act-2-their-god-out-via-heavenly-recordings/)
from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
2. "The debut album from Tapir! has finally arrived" (https://www.pias.com/tapir-debut-album/).
[PIAS]. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.

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3. Murray, Robin (31 May 2023). "Tapir! Sign To Heavenly Recordings, Line Up New EP" (https://
www.clashmusic.com/news/tapir-sign-to-heavenly-recordings-line-up-new-ep/). Clash
Magazine. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20240126040527/https://www.clashmusic.co
m/news/tapir-sign-to-heavenly-recordings-line-up-new-ep/) from the original on 26 January
2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
4. Thirlwell, Elvis (17 February 2022). "Tapir! Share Debut Single 'My God' " (https://soyoungmaga
zine.com/tapir-share-debut-single-my-god/). So Young Magazine. Archived (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20240126040529/https://soyoungmagazine.com/tapir-share-debut-single-my-god/)
from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
5. Carter, Daisy (27 October 2023). "Tapir!: "this project is very much alive" " (https://diymag.com/i
nterview/tapir-the-pilgrim-their-god-and-the-king-of-my-decrepit-mountain-october-2023). DIY.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20240108093656/https://diymag.com/interview/tapir-the-
pilgrim-their-god-and-the-king-of-my-decrepit-mountain-october-2023) from the original on 8
January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
6. Kelly, Tyler Damara (30 May 2023). "London-based band Tapir! sign to Heavenly Records" (htt
ps://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/london-based-band-tapir-sign-to-heavenly-records). The
Line of Best Fit. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20240126040527/https://www.thelineofb
estfit.com/news/london-based-band-tapir-sign-to-heavenly-records) from the original on 26
January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
7. Kelly, Tyler Damara (24 October 2023). "Tapir! announce their debut album, The Pilgrim, Their
God and the King of My Decrepit Mountain" (https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/tapir-annou
nce-their-debut-album-the-pilgrim-their-god-and-the-king-of-my-decrepit-mountain). The Line of
Best Fit. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20240126040528/https://www.thelineofbestfit.co
m/news/tapir-announce-their-debut-album-the-pilgrim-their-god-and-the-king-of-my-decrepit-m
ountain) from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
8. "Ian Sweet" (https://www.thegrace.london/gigs/ian-sweet/). The Grace. 26 May 2022. Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20240126040532/https://www.thegrace.london/gigs/ian-sweet/)
from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
9. Linazasoro, Nick (1 August 2022). "Get out your 'Sunnbrella' and put on that vintage dress" (htt
ps://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2022/08/01/get-out-your-sunnbrella-and-put-on-that-vintag
e-dress/). Brighton and Hove News. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20240126040528/ht
tps://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2022/08/01/get-out-your-sunnbrella-and-put-on-that-vinta
ge-dress/) from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
10. Mason, Julia (24 March 2023). "NEWS: Left Of The Dial Continues To Add To Its Impressive
Line-up For October Festival" (https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2023/03/24/news-left-of-the-
dial-continues-to-add-to-its-impressive-line-up-for-october-festival/). God Is In The TV. Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20240126040530/https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2023/03/24/
news-left-of-the-dial-continues-to-add-to-its-impressive-line-up-for-october-festival/) from the
original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
11. "Explosions In The Sky" (https://troxy.co.uk/event/explosions-in-the-sky/). Troxy. 8 November
2023. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20240126040528/https://troxy.co.uk/event/explosi
ons-in-the-sky/) from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
12. Stark, Emily (22 January 2024). "Tapir! - The Pilgrim, Their God, And The King Of My Decrepit
Mountain (Heavenly Recordings)" (https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2024/01/22/tapir-the-pilg
rim-their-god-and-the-king-of-my-decrepit-mountain-heavenly-recordings/). God Is In The TV.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20240126040528/https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/20
24/01/22/tapir-the-pilgrim-their-god-and-the-king-of-my-decrepit-mountain-heavenly-recording
s/) from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.

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13. Kelly, Tyler Damara (26 January 2024). "Tapir! present their debut album, The Pilgrim, Their
God and the King of My Decrepit Mountain" (https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/tapir-prese
nt-their-debut-album-the-pilgrim-their-god-and-the-king-of-my-decrepit-mountain). The Line of
Best Fit. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20240126125331/https://www.thelineofbestfit.co
m/news/tapir-present-their-debut-album-the-pilgrim-their-god-and-the-king-of-my-decrepit-mou
ntain) from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
14. McCarthy, Neive (24 January 2024). "Tapir! - The Pilgrim, Their God and the King of My
Decrepit Mountain" (https://diymag.com/review/album/the-pilgrim-their-god-and-the-king-of-my-
decrepit-mountain). DIY. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20240126184742/https://diyma
g.com/review/album/the-pilgrim-their-god-and-the-king-of-my-decrepit-mountain) from the
original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
15. May, Angelika (25 October 2023). "Tapir! tease debut album with single 'My God' " (https://www.
hideousminkrecords.com/post/tapir-tease-debut-album-with-single-my-god). Hideous Mink
Records. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20240126201704/https://www.hideousminkrec
ords.com/post/tapir-tease-debut-album-with-single-my-god) from the original on 26 January
2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
16. Bolton, Lloyd (21 September 2022). "Indie Rock as Pagan Folk Art: 'Act I' grants us access to
the extended universe of Tapir!" (https://hardofhearingmagazine.com/2022/09/21/tapir-are-the-li
nk-between-our-world-and-one-a-little-greener/). Hard of Hearing. Archived (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20240126201704/https://hardofhearingmagazine.com/2022/09/21/tapir-are-the-link-
between-our-world-and-one-a-little-greener/) from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved
26 January 2024.
17. Cross, Reuben (11 September 2023). "End of the Road 2023: A vintage weekend from a five-
star festival" (https://waxmusicuk.com/2023/09/11/end-of-the-road-2023-a-vintage-weekend-fro
m-a-five-star-festival/). Wax Music. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20240126201705/htt
ps://waxmusicuk.com/2023/09/11/end-of-the-road-2023-a-vintage-weekend-from-a-five-star-fes
tival/) from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
18. Kelly, Tyler Damara (29 August 2023). "Tapir! unveil the brand new EP, Act 2 (Their God)" (http
s://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/tapir-unveil-the-brand-new-ep-act-2-their-god). The Line of
Best Fit. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20240126040529/https://www.thelineofbestfit.co
m/news/tapir-unveil-the-brand-new-ep-act-2-their-god) from the original on 26 January 2024.
Retrieved 26 January 2024.
19. Ward, George (10 October 2023). "Tapir! On Mythology, Multimedia and Exclamation Marks" (h
ttps://clunkmag.com/tapir-on-mythology-multimedia-and-exclamation-marks). Clunk Magazine.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20240301005922/https://clunkmag.com/tapir-on-mytholo
gy-multimedia-and-exclamation-marks/?v=7516fd43adaa) from the original on 1 March 2024.
Retrieved 26 January 2024.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tapir!&oldid=1214628558"

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