Man, I was pretty exhausted when we recorded the podcast yesterday. After starting over from the top a few times, we got kinda cranky and almost didn’t do one, then we suddenly got really silly, instead. We were like, “How are we going to make a 10 minute show about how we’re about to announce news, but aren’t quite there yet?” Then I forgot to mention that we had just done a new photo shoot yesterday. We’ve had bad luck arranging a shoot for the past year, with different photographers. Like 4 different people… Isn’t that kind of weird? But we finally did a quickie yesterday so hopefully something good will come of it. If so, you’ll be seeing it soon, I expect.
Now that the end is in sight for our CD release, we are just running around like chickens with our heads cut off! Last night we took some time to actually play music, which was a refreshing change of pace. We played through our set using just electric guitar and a mic through amps, which was a first. The rawness sounded kind of interesting, actually. I could see us maybe doing a quick ‘n dirty show like that sometime. I’ve been talking with a cool LA space about hosting a launch party show, so hopefully we can set up a good time for that. Doing it around the holidays might be a little stressful, but hopefully not overly so. I will be pretty surprised if we’re able to set up some Mexico shows this winter, as we hoped, but you never know. Things can fall together beautifully at the last minute sometimes.
With the new album comes a new band bio. Check it out:
Lovespirals’ sophomore offering, Free & Easy, is actually band founder Ryan Lum’s 6th album, having released 4 other 10,000+ selling Projekt titles under the extended moniker, Love Spirals Downwards. Since 1991, multi-instrumentalist/producer Lum has been slowly but steadily perfecting his craft, mesmerizing listeners with a dreamy combination of ethereal rock, folk, and electronica, enhanced by female vocals ranging from the sensual to the sublime. 1998’s crossover electronica/rock breakthrough, Flux, possessed a more contemporary appeal than earlier efforts; the drum ‘n’ bass infused “Psyche” was even featured on the WB’s Dawson’s Creek. Enthused by the embrace of both his past fanbase and a newly growing listenership, Lum continued to evolve in a dance-oriented style, creating atmospheric jazz-step club tracks — including a remix of darkwave classic, “Bittersweet,” for Claire Voyant’s Time Again released through Metropolis Records.
By 1999, Lum was closely collaborating with new vocalist/songwriter, Anji Bee, under the condensed name Lovespirals. After a series of singles released on compilations such as Chill Out Lounge Vol. 2 and Chill Out in the City, Lovespirals changed gears and began seriously composing material for their first full-length album. Knowing that the album would be released on Projekt, who are known for darker ambient tinged offerings, Lum and Bee decided to hold back on their more upbeat compositions during song selection for their debut 2002 album, Windblown Kiss, focusing instead on darker, jazz-infused rock and folk tracks more in line with Robin Guthrie’s Violet Indiana and the Twin Peaks soundtracks by Angelo Badalamenti and Julie Cruise.
Fastforwarding to the present, Lovespirals are releasing their second album, Free & Easy, which includes lovingly completed versions of their previously unreleased dance songs, as well as a host of new tracks written between 2002 and 2004. With the freedom of launching their own label, Chillcuts, comes a celebration of high energy electronica tracks sprinkled amongst the moodier fare Lovespirals have come to be known for. From the bittersweet trip hop of the album single, “Love Survives” (featured in new webseries,The Strand), to the catchy deep house of “Trouble” (featured in E!’s Gastineau Girls), to the dark bluesy chill out of “Walk Away” (featured in the WB’s Popular DVD), Free & Easy, truly runs the gamut of downtempo sounds and styles. But Lovespirals could never be content writing only electronica; consider the mood masterpiece of the album, “Habitual,” with it’s soaring ethereal vocal harmonies and organic instrumentation.
Lovespirals’ first truly independent release is sure to surprise and delight their longtime fans, while attracting a new audience with it’s diverse range of genres graced by the smoothly sensual Lovespirals touch.
I mentioned in a podcast last month that we had a collaboration in the works with Philly band, Beauty’s Confusion. They are a great up and coming band so I’m excited to be doing something with them. They just sent us a copy of their recent album, which is really enjoyable. I knew quite a few songs already because they are pretty generous about sharing their music online, but there were a couple sweet tracks I hadn’t heard before, like “City.” Actually, if you haven’t heard BC yet, you should go check out their download page at beautysconfusion.net or visit their myspace page. Anyway, Skip is working on a final mix now, which I’m looking forward to hearing and to sharing with everyone on a future podcast. Oh, I should mention that this is the first time Ryan’s gotten involved in an internet collaboration. I’m really stoked he liked the song enough to take some time out and go into the studio with me to work on it. Depending on how busy we are promoting the new album, I might get him to do an official Lovespirals mix of it, too. Time shall tell…
Man, they didn’t get around to making our changes and sending out a new proof today. Ryan seems pretty stressed out. A whole week of production time down the tubes last week and now no early start this week. Wahh wahh wahh wahhh (sad slide trombone sound)…
Sheesh… sometimes it seems like we’ll never get the new album out. It was totally done last year, aside from mastering and artwork. We started mastering it around New Years, I seem to recall. But then all this rain came and our studio roof was leaking so we had to get that fixed. While we had the guy working, we figured we’d get our electrical upgraded in there, since nothing was grounded, so that took a bunch of time. Before you knew it, any potential summertime release was out of the question. I was still hoping to get it out in early fall somehow… But now the artwork is getting delayed over at the plant. I thought we had all the kinks worked out, but their artist still found errors that had to be fiddled with and in the process somehow moved the main cover image over a half inch and didn’t notice it on the proof! Now it’s Friday, so we may not see another proof until Monday. Boo!
At long last, the newest episode is here! Ryan and Anji have been busy with final preparations for the release of their 2nd full length album, ‘Free & Easy,’ but have taken time out to put together a light-hearted podcast to share some recent news.
In the sprit of old jazz, blues, and bossa nova records, we thought we’d include a description of the album on the back cover of the CD written in that type of style. Here is the text:
Lovespirals are the very sound of life’s earthly joys and sorrows. Anji Bee’s voice shifts from little girl purity to breathy sensuality, then ascends gracefully to angelic heights, while Ryan Lum’s soulful electric guitar and groovy Rhodes piano weave tantalizing patterns of melodious harmony. Combining jazz, soul, and rock with modern electronica styles, Free & Easy lives up to it’s name in the genre-specific world of today’s music. In a time of rampant overproduction, Lovespirals bring organic sounds and old time song styling back into focus. No auto-tune was used in this recording, baby! Realizing the best of digital audio’s promise while preserving the heart and soul of their music is what Lovespirals do best; creating a smooth as silk hi-fidelity stereophonic sound. So sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy, as Anji and Ryan soothe your soul…
Haha, apparently “Trouble” was used in an episode of that E! channel show, “Gastineau Girls” sometime this year! I don’t know how, but I know I saw that show one night and though it was kinda crazy. It’s like a reality show about a rich mom and her hot daughter just, like, trying to be sexy and cool all the time. I can see how that song is perfect for the show though, with that chorus hook “I’m old enough to know better – you’re just trouble!” Kinda makes me want to see it, actually, just thinking about it.
Which reminds me, I noticed that “Popular” DVD is available at Blockbuster so I’m going to check it out.
I guess we were also used on a show called “Taste of America” which sounds like a Travel Channel show. Hopefully they were enjoying a summer wine or eating on a yacht, something sweet like that. Ah well, any publicity is pretty nice. Especially non-gothic publicity. Heh heh!
Lovespirals’ song “Walk Away” from the upcoming CD Free & Easy is included on the recent Disney/Buena Vista release of the WB Network’s Popular: Season 2 DVD. The original mix of this slow burning bluesy number is included in Episode #38, entitled “Fag.” Lovespirals are happy to be included in a program that attempts to tackle predjudices of all kinds.
At long last, we have sent off the CD master and artwork for production! I had a panic attack yesterday when I realized that I did not have color separations for the disc artwork, but then Ryan remembered that his old pal from Mexico, Roberto, was not only proficient in such matters – being a graphic designer – but recently moved nearby. Lucky for us, Roberto was more than willing to drop by and help us get all our unruly files into order. Not only did he create the color separations, but he cleaned up the Chillcuts logo and gave me a pretty thorough crash course in Photoshop pre-press techniques. In turn, I loaded him up with CDs, postcards, photos, and posters, plus we shared a tasty bottle of Rose and some of my home cooking. Always best to mix pleasure with business! It looks like he’ll also be helping us to get together some much needed business cards and new band glossies. It’s so good to have a friend connected to the print business! What a life saver! Muchas gracias, Roberto!
Just thought I’d address the fact that we’re lagging on getting out the new podcast… There’s a few reasons for this. One, I am totally wrapped up in designing the album art, which always takes longer than I think it will because I am such a perfectionist. Two, we’ve had no less than 3 weddings to attend in the last 2 months. Three, it is too fricken hot to go into the studio right now. We’re in the midst of a record high heatwave for this area, and there is no airflow in the studio, so once those monitors and computers come on, it heats up real fast! Maybe I’ll break down and try recording something using my Griffin iTalk peripheral, just to get through this little phase, or maybe I’ll send out this Lovespirals/LSD Chillcuts feature I put together about 2 weeks ago but haven’t had time to convert and upload to Chillcuts yet. I dunno yet. Anyone have a preference?
