Chess Match
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Chess Match | |
|---|---|
 Chess Match in his studio in 2015. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Matthew Dilliner |
| Born | July 22, 1985 |
| Origin | Long Beach, California, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Website | chessmatch |
Matthew Dilliner (born July 22, 1985) is an American musician, record producer, composer, and songwriter. He is known professionally as Chess Match for his stage name, photography, and design work.[1] His music incorporates elements of downtempo, ambient, and electronic styles, often featuring analogue and digital synthesizers, cassette tape recorders, drum machines, and guitars. His work is largely influenced by media and electronic music from the 1970s-90s, incorporates samples, analog equipment, and hip hop-inspired beats. It has been described as exploring themes related to nostalgia and childhood memories, science, space, environmental concerns, and esoteric subjects.[by whom?]
The name Chess Match is inspired not only by the game of chess, but also as symbolism for life itself and was inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film The Seventh Seal.
Musical career
[edit]In May, 2012, Matthew was asked to provide an original score for the independent horror short film Erasers: Episode II. The film was publicly shown on June 30, 2012, in Battle Creek, MI at Rogue Artist Gallery and debuted in front of a sold-out crowd.[2]
Soon after the release of the film, Matthew got to work recording the tracks for his debut EP. Chess Match released his first EP, Plastic Paradise, via Space Station Ltd. on July 28, 2014, on limited lathe cut vinyl records, CD, and on cassette tape via the 2014 edition of Cassette Store Day.[3] His full-length debut, Fragmented Reality, followed in 2015 on Space Station Ltd. and again saw an exclusive tape release during the 2015 edition of Cassette Store Day.[4][5]
A series of singles followed the full-length album with Blue Moon (2015), Afterburner (2016), and Facility (2017).[6]
In 2018, Chess Match released his second studio EP, Virtual Fantasy via Space Station Ltd. which was released again on digital, CD, and cassette tape. In 2019, Chess Match released his third studio EP, Memory Card. He then returned in 2022 to release a single, Unknown Origins.
In early-2025 it was announced that Chess Match had signed to the record label High Fantasy and his entire discography was re-released and remastered in July, 2025.[7][8]
Artistry
[edit]Dilliner's music project, Chess Match, has drawn comparisons to artists such as Boards of Canada, Aphex Twin, and Autechre.[by whom?] His style incorporates lo-fi analogue textures with electronic instrumentation, often featuring themes of nostalgia and nature. His compositions often feature ambient textures, drum beats, and layered synthesizers.
Dilliner works as a solo artist, using the Digital Audio Workstation Studio One (software) with virtual analogue and digital hardware, VSTi synthesizers, and samples of live instrumentation recorded by Dilliner. He also records on cassettes and makes heavy use of tape loop processing.
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
- Fragmented Reality (2015)
EPs
- Erasers: Episode II (2012)
- Plastic Paradise (2014)
- Virtual Fantasy (2018)
- Memory Card (2019)
Singles
- Blue Moon (2015)
- Afterburner (2016)
- Facility (2017)
- Unknown Origins (2022)
References
[edit]- ^ "Bio >> Chess Match". chessmatch.org. July 11, 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ "New film crew to show short films". chessmatch.org. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ "Cassette Store Day reveals initial list of 2014 releases". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ "Cassette Store Day 2015: full list of exclusive titles". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ "Cassette Store Day Reveals 2015 Exclusives". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ "Chess Match on Discogs". Discogs.
- ^ "Chess Match on Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ "Chess Match on BandCamp". BandCamp. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Chess Match discography at Discogs