All posts by ryan

Chillin' with Lovespirals Episode 19

Anji and Ryan go on a rant about illegal Russian download sites, complain about the Amazon Advantage Program, answer fan email, share recent band news, ask the listeners for a favor, and play a recent Lovespirals cover of Pink Floyd’s “Welcome to the Machine.”

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Chillin’ with Lovespirals Episode 18

Ryan and Anji talk about their recent trip to Phoenix to play a show with Mr. Meeble, discuss the US Meth addiction situation, announce a special podcast listener sale, answer fan email, and more in this “coming of legal age” episode. Includes some road trip audio!


Micheal Plaster & Anji Bee
Michael Plaster & Anji Bee in Phoenix


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Lovespirals Play Phoenix, Arizona

On Cinco de Mayo, Lovespirals will perform along with Mr. Meeble (featuring Michael Plaster of Soul Whirling Somewhere) and Novelty with DJ Seduce as part of the First Fridays Artwalk celebration in downtown Pheonix.

The One Place
825 N. 1st Street
Phoenix, Arizona
All Ages – Free – Show begins @ 9pm

The show follows a 6-9 pm art opening. Lovespirals play the middle spot, 10:30 ish. Should be a fun night!

Mr. Meeble

Church of Girl Radio Stars reviews Free & Easy

RadioGirl reviews Free & Easy

Lovespirals are Anji Bee and Ryan Lum. They create chill music that makes us feel all swank, adult, sexy and in love with love…all at once!!! Their CD Free and Easy was released in late 2005 and is currently in distribution all over the US, Hong Kong and Mexico.

Anji’s name was familiar to us somehow. It turns out a number of years ago, we read a fantastic interview she did with Miranda July. A great read, especially for anyone interested in Ms. July’s early involvement with in the Olympia Scene.

Years later, Anji’s creative path continues to intrigue us. Lovespirals make electro-acoustic pop songs which are dreamy, sensual, smooth and romantic. Ryan’s guitar work incorporates elements of jazz, soul and rock with modern electronic and organic sounds. Anji Bee contributes the lyrics, vocals and vocal arrangements. No auto-tune was used in the recording – preserving the essence of Lovespirals and creating a creamy hi-fi stereo sound.

View the full review at churchofgirl.com

Lovespirals Atmosphere 69 Artist Profile

The Lovespirals feature on Atmosphere 69 turned out pretty cool. It’s always kind of surreal to hear oneself on radio, but in a way, it puts your work in perspective. I was pleased to hear our music in another context, to find that it actually sounds really good. Not to be vain, it’s just that we tend to take our stuff forgranted after hearing it so much in the studio. To hear it outside of the studio is like a reality check of sorts. It’s like hearing it fresh for the first time again. I really, really like “Free and Easy.” That song is really personal. I tend to forget that fact. Anyway, I’m really happy we met up with the Lounge King and Agent 69 because this was a very nice interview and a great experience.

Atmosphere69 Lovespirals Artist Profile

The Lovespirals “Music Therapy” Artist Profile with DJette Agent69 is now available for free download as part of the launch of the Atmosphere69 podcast. This half hour feature produced for The Lounge King Radio Network was previously aired on April 2nd via Mix96 FM Canada, as well as on the streaming internet radio stations Luxuria Music and Lounge Radio.

California shows

Looks like things are coming together for a few California shows over the next 2 months. Still working out details, but it looks like they’ll be a small one near us, and a big one up north. Maybe an intimate one up north, as well. Hoping to hear back from a venue or two in L.A., as well. Keep your eyes peeled on the news area for some announcements!

Back from our Mexico City show

Anji and I just got back from our weekend in Mexico City. I was hoping that we’d be able to make a podcast from there, but there was no time to be found. As always, we were treated wonderfully in Mexico by both our fans and the producer of the show, Joseph of Noise Kontrol, who also happens to be our distributor in Mexico. In our set, we played many songs from Free and Easy for the first time. In addition, we debuted two brand new songs that we had just recently written. We might have been a little rusty having not played a show since last year, but we gave it our all and the enthusiasm of the crowed had a positive effect on us for sure. I’m looking forward to returning again. In the meantime, can someone in Mexico please Fedex me some enchilada suissas or mole poblano?

Top: Anji & Ryan and Joseph & Anji backstage at Dada X before the show

Bottom: Anji & Ryan outside of the hotel the morning after the show

Header: Dada X crowd just before the show, photo by Anji

Music Tap interview with Ryan & Anji of Lovespirals

March 13, 2006: Music Tap by Matt Rowe

“Honey and Cool Jazz ‘n’ Rock: An interview with Ryan Lum and Anji Bee of Lovespirals”

Matt: Ryan – Anji’s voice is hauntingly memorable; her voice sticks in my mind long after I heard the songs. Are you as hypnotized by her ability to mesh with your vision of how Lovespirals songs should be communicated as we are hearing it?

Ryan: Yeah, it’s surprising how her voice just fits perfectly. I’m very lucky. Her voice has been as important as anything in the evolution of our music together.

Matt: Anji, obviously you are an excellent fit with Lovespirals. The forward progression of the band incorporates you better than many bands undergoing a shift in style. How do you feel your involvement with Lovespirals changes the band? Have you brought your own influences into the structure of the band’s musical vision?

Anji: It would be impossible for me not to bring my own influences into the band, since we are a collaborative team. I think I bring an earthier element to the music. My vocals are very lyrically based, as opposed to Suzanne’s more non-verbal stylings, and my sound is more soulful compared to her purely ethereal sound.

Continue reading Music Tap interview with Ryan & Anji of Lovespirals

Antheil coincidence

How odd! I just finished reading a book about George Antheil yesterday, only to see on Yahoo! News that his “Ballet Mecanique” is about to be performed – with the 16 baby grand pianos and various percussion mechanically controlled, as he originally wished. But the nutty composer called for a 152bpm performance, whereas — apparently — pianos can only be played at 138bpm by machine, and 120 by humans. Interesting…

Lovespirals’ Free & Easy in Jazz Review

Sheldon T. Nunn reviews Free & Easy

Lovespirals’ latest CD entitled, Free & Easy, continues a formula that has made the duo a recognizable force in smooth jazz arenas; however, much of their music cannot be classified under one umbrella or style. Collectively, Ryan and Anji can be surprisingly creative and inventive, especially on this latest release. One of the more promising components of Free & Easy is that is commercially viable. On previous efforts, Lovespirals have taken an eclectic approach to jazz, which has often left them lacking widespread appeal. Historically, they have drawn upon world, house, light and airy music to make their presence known, which has created a highly evolved level of crossover appeal.

With Ryan serving up a heaping helping of guitar, keyboards, bass, percussion and programming, Anji takes on the tasks of vocals and vocal arrangements. As independent artists and without the support of a major record label, the two have recorded Free & Easy on their own Chillcuts Label, which has given them the freedom and flexibility to be more adventuresome and creative.

Free & Easy is an album that pushes the envelope of enthused imaginative thought processes. Tracks such as “Trouble” and “Deep In My Soul” provide a dance feel, while a more laid back appeal occurs on tracks that include “Walk Away” and “Love Survives.” In the end, what comes together are nine tracks of nicely-crafted music. Anji and Ryan cover the gamut of pop melodies, R&B infused grooves as well as pop-oriented licks to make Free & Easy a good bet to chart on Internet radio stations, which is where much of Lovespirals’ popularity resides. Given a broader range of discovery commercially, Anji Bee and Ryan Lum are sure to not only surprise listeners, they will generate a cadre of new fans.