All posts by anjibee

Cut and Paste: The American Hardcore Fanzine Features Anji & Positive Influence

Anji Bee’s late 80’s hardcore punk zine, Positive Influence, is featured in the new archival book, Cut and Paste: The American Hardcore Fanzine, released by Tribal Publishing. This 300 page full color book collects the covers of over 400 zines, as well as a selection of personal photos and interviews with zine creators. Several pages are dedicated to Anji’s interview, zine, and photos — including a shot of Anji and her brother, Brian, with a bag of fanzines between them.

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Lovespirals “Noumenon” Single & MV Out Now

Lovespirals’ new single, “Not Myself,” is a nostalgic nod to the band’s early millennium chillout sound. In contrast to the darker and more despairing vibe of “Noumenon,” “Not Myself” invites quiet meditation with its minimalist lyrics that exploring themes of self-identity, set against dreamy, slightly jazzy yet ambient soundscapes and soft beats. The perfect soundtrack for late summer moving into early autumn. 🍂

Available now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, Bandcamp, and other digital music platforms.

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Chillcast Theme Songs on Bandcamp

From time to time I get requests from fans asking me about the song played during the intro or outro of my podcast and vidcast known as The Chillcast with Anji Bee. I must admit I’m always tickled that someone has found these brief musical interludes catchy enough that they want to have a copy of the song in their libraries, so today I searched my archive for the original wav files to share on my Bandcamp page.

Over the course of the series produced between 2005 and 2020, I actually used a few different versions of the theme song. The original song was created by my husband and I much in the style of the our Lovespirals album, Free & Easy, released the year prior. Our band podcast, Chillin’ with Lovespirals, used the album’s title track as our show’s theme song and I was looking for something similar for my music show. Ryan was happy to oblige, whipping up a funky baseline and drums topped with moody electric piano and bluesy guitar leads, to which I added my breathy vocals. “Ooh ooh ooh, uh huh — Chillcast!” became the epic calling card of my show, playing into the sensual and sassy persona I’d created for the network, PodShow, where I was known as “The Sexiest Voice in Podcasting,” according to founder and ex-MTV VJ, Adam Curry. This theme song first debuted on Chillcast Episode 10 posted April 24, 2006.

The Chillcast with Anji Bee Podcast logo circa 2006
Continue reading Chillcast Theme Songs on Bandcamp

Lovespirals “Noumenon” Single & Music Video Out

Anji’s band, Lovespirals, return with their first new song in two years. A hybrid of ethereal dream pop and moody trap, “Noumenon” explores the duo’s darker side. A three mix single was just released via Bandcamp featuring a drum n bass mix, guitar focused instrumental mix, plus the original mix. The main single dropped on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music et al on June 14th, while “Noumenon (Drum n Bass Mix)” — also produced by the band — dropped July 12th. Music videos for each mix were released on YouTube, as well. Additionally, the duo revived their Chillin’ with Lovespirals podcast to share the news with their YouTube audience. This is Lovespirals’ first major project since the Smile – Single which also featured three tracks, plus three music videos, and an accompanying podcast. Check out the podcast and music videos on the Lovespirals Official YouTube channel.

Noumenon (Lyrics)

Lovespirals/Love Spirals Downwards “Noumenon” (2024)

Love is just a noumenon
Noumeon

Every day I wake up tired
Only do what is required
My emotions have been mired
So completely uninspired

Love is just a noumenon
(Love is just a noumenon)

And I know its all my fault
Hits my heart like an assault
Feelings locked inside a vault
Waiting for the pain to halt

Find a way to carry on
Trying my best to be strong 
There’s nowhere that I belong
Love is just a noumenon

Love is just a noumenon
(Love is just a noumenon)
Noumenon
Love is just a noumenon
(Love is just a noumenon)
Noumenon

Noumenon
Noumenon
Love is just a noumenon

And I know its all my fault
Hits my heart like an assault
Feelings locked inside a vault
Waiting for the pain to halt

Find a way to carry on
Trying my best to be strong 
There’s nowhere that I belong
Love is just a noumenon

Love is just a noumenon
(Love is just a noumenon)
Noumenon
Love is just a noumenon
(Love is just a noumenon)

Love is just a noumenon
Noumenon

— by ANJI LUM (BMI)

Lovespirals “Misunderstood” Music Video Out

Check out the chill music video I created for the latest Lovespirals single on YouTube. Follow Ryan and I along the California coastline as a sunny afternoon deepens into a gorgeous sunset set to the funky and soulful drum n bass grooves of “Misunderstood” from the new Love Spirals Downwards’ release, ‘Flux Deluxe Edition.’

It’s perhaps a little known fact that Ryan and I started dating during his promotions for ‘Flux’ when it dropped in 1998. At the time I was the music director and college radio DJ at KUCI 88.9 fm where he was spending quite a bit of time doing interviews, a live performance, and DJ sets for various music shows, including my own. I even wrote a review of ‘Flux’ for the radio station guide. It’s quite an honor to become a part of this nostalgic album 25 years later.

Check out ‘Flux Deluxe Edition’ on all digital platforms now!

Lovespirals “Misunderstood” Out Now

It’s the 25th anniversary of Love Spirals Downwards’ 1998 album, ‘Flux,’ and to celebrate, Ryan and I released the ‘Flux Deluxe Edition’ on all digital platforms. In addition to the 9 original songs, we’ve included 13 additional tracks (14, if you count the Bandcamp only bonus song). In addition to remixes, a live recording, and a number of previously unreleased outtakes, this epic 147 minute collection includes a brand new Lovespirals rendition of “I’ll Always Love You,” that we call “Misunderstood.” While searching the archives Ryan came across some of the original samples used in the song which tempted him to recreate his fave track from the ground up for 2023. We had a blast revisiting this classic song together!

You can find “Misunderstood” on the Love Spirals Downwards’ ‘Flux Deluxe Edition’ album on all digital music platforms, or grab just the single from our Lovespirals Bandcamp account!

Lonely Sunset Single & Music Video Out Now!

At long last, one of my favorite songs has been official released! Its been ages since my I dropped a house track, especially as “Lovespirals,” so I’m extra excited for everyone to hear this one.

Lovespirals “Lonely Sunset” Music Video

The perfect end of summer soundtrack, “Lonely Sunset” is a chill house song featuring gorgeously ethereal vocals and bittersweet melodies. It’s been a while since Anji and Ryan released a dance track but this ones worth the wait! 

Anji’s plaintive lyrics of lost love were penned and recorded a decade ago and might have made an amazing addition to the 2014 Anji Bee album the duo released as a side project. The late night laid back grooves of this new recording are reminiscent of Bee’s “Got All I Need” and “Try To Forget,” but with an added sheen of sophistication in the production. 

Lovespirals have long straddled the line between dream pop and electronica, but this new track brings both worlds together in a glorious fusion. After the throwback retro shoegaze of the band’s last single, “The Call,” this new single is likely to surprise — but hopefully delight — Lovespirals listeners.  

Lovespirals “Lonely Sunset” single is out now on BandcampSpotifyApple MusicAmazon, and YouTube. Please stream, like, share, and add to your playlists to help get the word out!

Check out the Lonely Sunset lyrics page for the full behind the song story.

DIY Conspiracy Interviews Anji Bee about zines & More

A new interview with the DIY Conspiracy website discusses the Positive Influence Fanzine Anthology and how DIY ethics have continued to fuel my entire career from music to vidcasting to cookbook creation. I also talked about some of the difficulties I experience as a female creator in a male dominated world, my transition from vegetarian to vegan, as well as the difference in the fanzines I created post Positive Influence days. Quite a few images are shared in this well crafted feature, as well as a link to my Positive Influence Playlist on Spotify. Read Anji Bee: The Story of Positive Influence Zine on DIY Conspiracy.

Anji Bee Interview in DIY Conspiracy

The concept was both being inspired by Posicore music and trying to inspire others in return. As I talked about in my intro, I was living in a fairly dark time and wasn’t in the best life circumstances, either. My partner Buster was going through a lot of personal stuff, as well. I thought this project would be a good way for us to channel our energies in a positive direction, to have something to work on outside of our jobs to give our lives meaning and purpose. I wanted to be a part of the scene, meet the bands, and have interactions with people at shows. Sharing our thoughts about the music, the venues, and the scene itself gave us much needed connection.

Anji Bee, in DIY Conspiracy

Baek Kimchi Recipe Demo On Happy Healthy Vegan

Where are my recipe video enthusiasts at? I know you’ve been craving more kitchen time with Anji and *finally* the wait is over! This time around I make my first-ever batch of Baek Kimchi, or white kimchi. I made a vegan version of this non-spicy fermented dish based on Napa Cabbage with some other veggies thrown in for additional flavor and crunch. How did I do? Watch to find out! BONUS: I made a daikon based dish half way through this demo that was a delicious surprise.

Get my first oil free whole food plant based vegan cookbook, ‘Keep It Carbed, Baby!’ in ebook format or my new one, ‘Happy Healthy Vegan Cookbook’ in ebook or print format via shop.happyhealthyvegan.org

Anji Bee tries making Baek Kimchi for the first time on YouTube
Continue reading Baek Kimchi Recipe Demo On Happy Healthy Vegan