PRESS

AW Logo: Blake T. Brady

Promotional Photography: Alina Patel

Raleigh, North Carolina electronic dream-pop artist Animalweapon captivates audiences with a unique blend of hypnotic beats, atmospherical soundscapes, and enchanting vocal textures. Realised out of the creative mind of musician and producer Patrick Cortes, Animalweapon began in 2010, following his journey into music production that started in 2007. With his first full-length album, Good Luck, released in 2012, Cortes continued to evolve his sound, and after subsequently signing to Nashville, Tennessee’s Polychromatic Records, his EP Flares and Signal Fires was released in 2015.

Throughout his career, Animalweapon has released multiple acclaimed projects, including his second full-length album, Tyrannosaurus, in 2019, and his latest album, Set of Constraints, in 2022. During the Covid pandemic and after the summer protests, Cortes was inspired to write the melancholic and introspective single Summer's Over and performed on SPIN Magazine's Twitch Channel, and continued to live-stream shows from his home while finishing Set of Constraints. The album, featuring guest appearances by Raleigh musician MJ Burns and Nashville cellist Telalit Charsky, was mixed in Nashville at OmniSounds Studios by Rory Rositas and has received praise from Raleigh Magazine, Echoes on NPR/PRX, BlackBook, and more. Following its release, Set of Constraints reached #2 on Echoes on NPR’s album of the month list, behind Norwegian electronic music duo Röyksopp and remained in the Top 10 for several months.

Animalweapon's live performances have included Hopscotch Music Festival day parties and headlining the inaugural Bull City Summit Music Festival in 2022. Beyond his work as a recording artist, Patrick Cortes has showcased his talent in the realm of podcast soundtracks. He composed and produced music for the hit podcast Undisclosed, hosted by Rabia Chaudry and co-produced by Jon Cryer, as well as the theme music for The Hidden Djinn on iHeartRadio by executive producer Aaron Mahnke (The Walking Dead, Grim & Mild).