"..oddball" sounds/samples washed out underneath a few white noises and a beseeching yet precious voice matched with a few perplexed beats..."
Julia HolterHapless Actuality Theater PopJulia Holter Bio:
Julia Shammas Holter is a classically-trained keytarist from Echo Park. After infiltrating Human Ear Music headquarters dressed as an intern, she wrote and recorded her own release on the label.
Her music is witty, surreal and optimistic. She plays without sarcasm in the terrains that divide sentimentality, passion, and control. Her songs are written instinctively, and treated with an off-kilter fastidiousness, working orchestral variety from minimal instrumentation. Her singing voice is crystalline either like sugar or jewelry.
Julia has an unusual fascination with thought and art of the middle ages. Arcane poetry and mystical saints adorn her music, as well as her faux-naif take on medieval figurative art.
Julia has performed with Super Creep band, Ariel Pink and Human Ear Music at the American Apparel Mystery House. She also composes and performs for an ensemble of Indian hand-pumped harmoniums.
Hello, how are you?
Refreshed
What are you currently listening to?
Today I think I heard John Dowland, Elvis, Wu-Tang Clan, and Ariel Pink. Everyday is different I suppose, it is whatever the radio brings to me, my students bring to me, anything.
When you began writing music did you have an idea of the sound you were trying to achieve?
Interesting question! Actually yes, I think I did and it took me a long time to figure out how to get that sound. Mainly it had to do with letting myself do whatever I wanted to get there. And also to stop having an idea of the sound I was trying to achieve and have an idea of an IMAGE I was trying to achieve through sound. Or something less direct, so to allow myself freedom to experiment.
I kind of get the sense that early 4AD and Laurie Anderson may have been influences of yours, would you agree?
Actually I don't know what early 4AD is, except I would imagine it might be Cocteau Twins? which I just recently heard for the first time. I really like it! I also don't know much Laurie Anderson, but what I've heard I like.
Are your live shows more about improv or is everything specifically laid out?
It always used to be laid out, because I used to loop things a lot more intricately. These days, I play it like a folk singer--just play the (digital--unless there is an acoustic) piano and sing. I like it because it allows me freedom to be more expressive and I don't feel held down by the pressure of timing issues with digital technology. Nowadays I am not planning my sets as much. I practice for them just as much, but I don't need to plan everything out so intensely. I can perform the song I feel like performing. I think it was a matter of time before I got to that point. But I will always want to be changing it up. I really want to find other performers to play my songs with, ultimately. That is the ideal.
If you could tour with any two bands of your choice whom would it be with?
I don't know! I've never even been on my own tour so I can't tell who I would want to tour with. I've always toured with friends. I always would want to know them personally.
Got any side projects/collabs coming up?
LINDA PERHACS!
Who was your favorite new artist of 2011?
I don't know!
You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
This really terrifies me. I don't know. I know if I was forced to only be able to listen to one of my favorites for my whole life, I would start to hate it. I would not listen to it. If you're wondering what one of my recent favorites is though, that I listen to all the time, Bryan Ferry's "Boys and Girls".
Are you living your dream?
I am happy and grateful for all that I have. I could do better for myself as a professional musician though, since I barely make any money from my music. I am working on that. Hopefully, that will improve. My jobs right now are gratifying though--I work with youth, in after school programs and arts programs.
Thanx Julia!
Julia Holter is currently (yet another) amazing talent that is going (somewhat) unnoticed, you should do yourself a favor and get her debut album NOW...
"..a gentle flowing stream of droney/modular/cosmic synths bending, morphing and turning in between simple bass lines/drum loops. Imagine the kind of sounds you might hear in an outer space score done by John Carpenter. (you got it) This music is very easy to take in.."
ArpNeo Metagalactic FabricatorArp Bio:
When Arp's "In Light" came out in late 2007, it stood out, marrying an eye–catching prismatic pop art/New Age aesthetic with glowing exercises in coastal analog synth minimalism, appealing to fans of Krautrock, Avant Pop, Cosmic, Balaeric, Drone, and those generally inclined towards Minimalism. The artwork (with hand–drawn neon text by artist Tauba Auerbach) simultaneously evoked Ed Ruscha, Harmonia's Deluxe and the otherworldly sunset in Eric Rohmer's film The Green Ray.
In the intervening years, Alexis Georgopoulos, the man behind the music, hasn't stood still. After all, this is someone who's released 10 albums and as many singles in various incarnations over the past 7 years on labels such as DFA, RVNG INTL, Troubleman Unlimited, Lo, Rong, Type, Root Strata, Eskimo, and Deitch Projects, to name a few.
Recorded as Georgopoulos relocated from San Francisco to New York, The Soft Wave is expansive in scope, unfolding like a collection of short stories or filmic vignettes, each piece building upon the other. Whereas In Light was made with only vintage analog synthesizers, The Soft Wave incorporates guitars, piano, flute, and Ebows to create a dense brocade of sound. Georgopoulos even steps up to the mic for the gorgeous centerpiece "From A Balcony Overlooking The Sea", calling to mind classic John Cale and Brian Eno along the way. Though Georgopoulos still has a knack for creating environments in which you want to recline, hammock–style, he's also peppered The Soft Wave with soft blasts of blissed–out fuzz. Recorded to 2–inch tape, it's warm glow and blown–out formalism will undoubtedly appeal to a broad, sophisticated range of tastes.
Leading up to the release of The Soft Wave, Georgopoulos composed his first score for modern dance in Replica, a duet between Merce Cunningham and Trisha Brown dancers, which debuted at New York's New Museum. He played a live score to artist Doug Aitken's film Migration at 303 Gallery (New York), participated in the Boredoms-curated 8.8.08 88-drummer extravaganza in Los Angeles, and remixed Lindstrøm. His music was featured in director Gary Hurstwit's film Objectified. He also made music in Q&A (formerly Expanding Head Band), his new DFA project with partner Quinn Luke, and his band The Alps released two albums III & Le Voyage (Type) to critical acclaim. Arp shared bills with Cluster on the coast of Big Sur, Sonic Boom, White Rainbow, Four Tet, Lucky Dragons, Growing, and Wooden Ships, among others. The track "Potentialities" from In Light was recently featured on James Holden's DJ KICKS. Most recently, he released FRKWYS Volume III, a collaborative album with minimalist composer Anthony Moore, as part of RVNG's new FRKWYS series. The duo recently performed with a string section as part of New York City's Wordless Music Festival.
The 12-inch single Pastoral Symphony will be released in August and will feature remixes by Swedish luminaries Studio (Information), Carl Craig chum Etienne Jaumet (Domino) and Mauve Deep, the alias of visual artist Keegan Mchargue (Metro Pictures).
Arp’s "The Soft Wave" came out September 7, 2010 on Smalltown Supersound.
Hello, how are you?
Doing well, thanks.
What are you currently listening to?
At the moment, the new Ariel Pink record, Charanjit Singh "Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat", Caetano Veloso "Transa", pretty much anything by Omar S, Sonny & Linda Sharrock's "Black Woman", and Paradise, the McDonald & Giles album, Dvořák string quartets, Chris & Cosey "Heartbeat", Clara Mondshine Luna Africana. Elvis Costello's "This Year's Model". Fleetwood Mac's "Albatross".
Can you tell us a random/obscure fact about yourself?
My freshman year of high school, I was selected to try out for the Under 19 National Soccer Team.
When is the best time to listen to your music?
5AM
Love the new album. Care to share the overall theme?
I'd prefer to leave things open. It's more about subconscious association and memory.
But if pressed... I'd say it's a Goodbye/Hello album. A transitional album. I think that will become clear when the next album comes out.
What exactly do you mean by "Soft Wave"?
Well, I liked the idea of coining a movement. And then, of course, the record is filled with references to water. There's also the idea of waving goodbye to someone. Not goodbye forever, just a soft wave.
The song “From A Balcony Overlooking The Sea” specifically is AMAZING. Were you influenced by Eno’s “Before And After Science” era when you wrote it?
Oh thanks! Hmm, not intentionally. I've always preferred the first three Eno vocal records and the Eno/Fripp records. There was also a lot of John Cale, Robert Wyatt, & Arthur Russell on the turntable. Durutti Column's "Sketch for Dawn (1)" was also floating around. Did you know he (Vini Reilly) played on the first few Morrissey albums?!? I had no idea til recently.
What do you do when your not writing music?
Read. Work. Make art. Play frisbee. Listen to records. Swim.
You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ...which album would it be?
Oh god. I have no idea. That sounds like torture.
Are you living your dream?
(Alexis prefers to keep this one a mystery)
Thanx Alexis!
Arp is currently on tour, make sure to check out a show if you can (please, do it for me?)...
