Have you seen the Xtranormal site yet? It allows you to select from various characters and backgrounds — including your choice of gender and language — then animate them using various actions and expressions. Type in what you want them to say and how you want them to say it — even choose which camera angle — and the site turns your script into an animated video. It is way too fun! I had heard of it somewhere, but once I saw it in action – via a video by Ryan Coseboom of Stripmall Architecture, I knew I had to try it out.
“… Now my sad little cubical is filled with beautiful tunes!”
What the heck? Here’s my first movie, about the new Lovespirals album. I think it’s pretty cute, anyway.
“Is Lovespirals that old Goth band?” “No. They are so not Goth.”
This week’s episode is quite reminiscent of my short-lived podsafe music podcast, Unwind, which – in case you aren’t familiar with it – was designed to be listened to as you drift off to sleep. You see, I had a mind shattering headache the day I put this together, so I really needed to keep things chill. Expect a soft mix of quiet sounds, soothing voices, and beautiful atmospheres in this one-hour show. I am taking “chillout” to a whole new level – so kick back, relax, and enjoy!
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The band are really excited about finishing up their upcoming album! Ryan and Anji talk the mixing process, discuss what’s next, and chat about some of the promotion they’ve already begun. Anji asks listeners to send in questions for the in-studio videos they are uploading to the Lovespirals Facebook page, and urges them to add themselves as fans. The duo also talk about spending the day at Village Studios for the Audio Underground talks, attending the Blame it on Rio show at Hollywood Bowl and Bob Weir show at the Greek. Be sure to join the band email list to keep up with album release news and to get a free download of Lovespirals’ cover of “Cymbaline” — which the band play a clip of at the show’s end.
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Lovespirals are in the final stages of producing their 4th full-length album, tentatively titled, Future Past. The 11 songs comprising this new collection include some of the band’s most ambitious work to date. Band founder, Ryan Lum, has achieved what he feels is truly a big-studio sound in his private home studio. His attention to detail in sound design is born of a true love of the craft, and he’s been perfecting these skills since his first indie release, Idylls, back in 1992. Lum has updated his musical equipment and recording system quite extensively since Lovespirals’ 2007 album, Long Way From Home. This might be most noticeable to the listener in the range of guitar and keyboard sounds used on this album. In addition to the Rhodes piano and Hammond organ featured in the past, Lum has enhanced his vintage keyboard palette with analogue synth and string machine sounds. And guitar tones too have been pushed into new future retro sonics, utilizing both vintage and modern boutique guitars, tube amplifiers, and effects pedals.
Ryan Lum strums acoustic guitar in Chillcuts Studio
Band vocalist, Anji Bee, who began collaborating with Lum in the early 2000’s, has also worked hard to improve upon her sound and performances. Armed with a new microphone, cabling, and preamp, she has pushed her voice to new heights, exploring diverse vocal territory. From deep, sultry rhythm and blues soulfulness to bright, ethereal breathiness — and all points in-between — from a single voice to a 3-part harmony; Bee is the vocal equivalent of a one-man band. And lyrically, Bee has dug deep to unearth some of her most revealing and intimate lyrics yet. Though her song topics have always touched upon more than personal relationships, the abundance of such fare in the past has led critics to label Lovespirals as purveyors of “love songs.” Bee feels confident that will not be the case this time. Interestingly, the two songs most obviously tied to romance are not ballads, but upbeat numbers; “Feel So Good” is soulful funk with a distinctly retro feel, while “Love” is an atmospheric drum ‘n’ bass song, reminiscent of the duo’s earliest work together.
Anji & Ryan of Lovespirals listening to a fresh take
Not that this new album is wholly composed of electronica vibes; on the contrary. Lovespirals have achieved a fine balance between their various influences, including moody classic-rock ala Pink Floyd or Fleetwood Mac; groovy late-period Motown soul & funk; bittersweet electropop in the vein of Air or Zero 7 — with a sprinkling of sensual slow-burning blues, and a dash of the soaring ethereality that the band has long been known for. Somehow Lum and Bee are able to take such disparate elements and combine them into an easily identifiable sound that can only be described as “Lovespirals.” Though it’s hard to label their music for today’s highly genre-defined culture, Lovespirals are not concerned. The joy of independent music is that it is not bogged down by marketing research and sales strategies; it exists because of the creator’s love of music. And Future Past is certainly a labor of love for Lovespirals.
Anji Bee in Chillcuts Studio working Lovespirals’ new album
Ryan Lum in Chillcuts Studio working Lovespirals’ new album
Please add yourself to the Lovespirals newslist to stay informed of release date, news, events, and specials.
Jazzy chillout artist, The Grooveblaster, is working on a new album and is once again collaborating with me on a sensual electro-lounge tune. I thought I’d share a video snippet of me working on the vocals here in the Chillcast studio. The song is tentatively titled, “Put Some Music On.” Release date is unknown at this time, but you can be sure you’ll hear it on The Chillcast just as soon as it is available!
While you’re waiting, be sure to pick up our summer-themed single from last year, “Summer Days,” if you haven’t already. That track plus Grooveblaster’s remix of my big Lovespirals‘ single, “This Truth,” and another original song called, “Whole Wide World,” are all available on the 2008 album Cities, Streets & Bebop Nights on iTunes.
Ryan and Anji detail the horrors of their recent hard drive crash just after completing a vocal session for their new album and their attempts to recover the data, fill you in a little more on album progress, talk about their reaction to Jack White in the new documentary, ‘It Might Get Loud,’ as well as how they started a Facebook flame war on the subject, give a review of a recent Buddy Guy concert, and more in this half hour episode. Be sure to follow twitter.com/lovespirals for regular updates. You can also follow twitter.com/ryanlum and twitter.com/anjibee for additional posts of all kinds.
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Buddy Guy Live at Hollywood Bowl 8/12/2009 filmed by Anji Bee
This week’s one hour episode is a bit more moody than usual with a lot of dream pop and world beat music thrown into the mix. Ambient and ethereal are the order of the day, with plenty of gorgeous female vocals – and some male vocals, as well. I present some great new special permissions music as well as some solid new Podsafe tracks, including several nice free downloads. For those of you in the wintry part of the world, this mix should suit your long dark nights quite nicely… As for the rest of us, it serves as a reminder that cold days are just around the corner.
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Ryan and Anji bring you a final update (*crossing fingers*) on the noisy neighbor’s construction project and getting back into the studio to record again. Lots of talk about Lovespirals’ new song, “One Of Those Days,” plus a preview of it at the end of the show. Ryan describes his new Howie pedal and how it mimicks a Dumble amp sound which leads into to a conversation about various studio upgrades the band have made this year. They also discuss the their recent quest for an outside recording space, share the religious experience they had at the final Clapton & Winwood show at the Hollywood Bowl, mention their excitement at going to see Doyle Bramhall II with the Arc Angels this week, and talk about participating in the Meals For Seals sponorship program at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.
Steve Winwood “Low Spark of High Heel Boys” Live at Hollywood Bowl
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Ryan and Anji sit down for a post-Earth Day chat about green living with some tips from the Hip Tranquil Chick, wax poetic about their recent trip to San Francisco to take photos with Susan Jennings and meet up with Karmacoda, respond to recent listener feedback, give a super quick album and website redesign update. Plus they share a recording of Buddhist Bhutanese monks chanting at the Asian Art Museum as part of the amazing exhibit, The Dragon’s Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan.
Heather and B of Karmacoda with Anji Bee on a sunny San Fran day
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This week I bring you the lucky winners of the big 46bliss “Remix Me Away” contest – as well as another new mix from the band – plus tons of great new tracks, including a brand new exclusive from Blu Mar Ten and a sneak peek at Avatar One’s upcoming album! Stay tuned next week for a special 90 min DJ mix of ultra chill tunes.
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