Have a Nice Life is the American experimental rock duo of Dan Barrett and Tim Macuga, formed in Middletown, Connecticut in 2000. Deathconsciousness (2008) went from self-released obscurity to word-of-mouth cult classic — start there, then The Unnatural World and Sea of Worry. Browse Have a Nice Life vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Have a Nice Life formed in Middletown, Connecticut in 2000 around Dan Barrett and Tim Macuga. The duo's 2008 double album Deathconsciousness (released on their own Enemies List Home Recordings label) became a cult phenomenon, gaining widespread critical attention years after its initial release through internet word-of-mouth and music discovery communities. The album is widely cited as one of the defining experimental rock albums of the 21st century. The duo has continued releasing material across multiple decades alongside Barrett's parallel project Giles Corey.
Have a Nice Life's sound combines experimental rock, post-rock, shoegaze, drone, industrial, gothic rock, and lo-fi indie with extremely dense distorted production, atmospheric drones, and lyrical content engaging extensively with death, religion, and existential themes. Their work is widely cited as a defining contemporary experimental rock template.
The Flenser pressings of the Have a Nice Life catalog have been issued in multiple color variant editions and limited deluxe pressings. Deathconsciousness in particular has had multiple anniversary editions with secondary market demand.
Listeners new to Have a Nice Life typically start with Deathconsciousness (2008).
