While most bands only dream of finding the right chemistry, Los Angeles-based duo Mad Planet oozed it from the very beginning. Vocalist/bassist Cooper Gillespie and drummer Greg Gordon were bartending at the now defunct Hollywood nightclub Safari Sam’s when sparks flew–both musically and romantically–and they decided to pair up as a couple and a band.
The duo immediately discovered a shared love of trip-hop, rock and jazz. “We wanted to go in more of a Massive Attack, Portishead direction,” says Gordon, who had previously been a member of the Nervous Return, a punk-rock outfit that toured with the likes of Blink 182 and No Doubt. Gillespie had fronted Bang Sugar Bang, an aggressive punk-rock trio, and felt compelled to try something new.
Mad Planet began recording their debut album in early 2009, using their Silver Lake apartment as a studio. Gillespie and Gordon wanted to craft their own distinct sound and turn their musical vision into a reality, so they decided to record and produce the album themselves. “It felt great to do everything just the way we wanted it,” says Gillespie.
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The problem with rising acoustic talents is that a lot of them sound the same; but there is no mistaking the sultry sounds of Adam Payne. With a smile and sound as big as his afro, Adam entertains full crowds with his fusion of Funk, R&B, Folk, and Acoustic. There’s no denying his musical talents…so the question is, who is he?
When contractor Rob Frail lost a computer programming gig in 2003, he seized the chance to listen more closely to the voices that were harmonizing in his head, and wrote their songs. These songs combined themes of social injustice and quirks of love with compelling music. Think Bob Dylan meets David Byrne; they fall madly in love.
In her elegant fusion of R&B, Jazz, Hip-Hop and various International influences, Mariami possesses an unrefined quality that is beginning to fade in contemporary songwriting. Her approach to music is original, yet her sound resonates on a universal level. Her keen attention to lyrical detail and melody is intelligible, yet her compositions are simple, sexy and inspiring. With an undying passion for writing and playing music, her talent is undeniable.
"Though these eyes are broken, well these ears truly see right…in black and white." Lachi sings, referring to her visual impairment, and her true ability to see through black and white piano keys.
The daughter of two musicians & raised in a recording studio, its no surprise that Casey Desmond shares her bedroom with many vintage synths & keyboards, guitars and recording gear, and converted her living room into a practice space for her band. Home is where the music plays any time of night or day. Writing and recording with multi gold and platinum producer Anthony J Resta (Elton John,Collective Soul, Shawn Mullins, Duran Duran), Grammy winner Will Ackerman & bassist Tony Levin, her music has collectively garnered her over 2 dozen songwriting awards & prizes, film & TV placements, composition work with a major TV network and music library as well as 2 tracks on a compilation with Amy Winehouse & Duffy.
CEM a.k.a Patafunk began his career as an eclectic music DJ in 2000 and in 2001 he created Patafunk™, a Venezuelan music brand based on his own sounds and lifestyle and shown through his Live Band, DJ Set (both called Patafunk), nationwide Radio Show (Patafunk Radio at La Mega 107.3fm, (www.lamegaestacion.com), a Record Label (Patafunk Music) and a Clothing Line (Patafunk Clothing). His career as a DJ has led him to countries like Aruba, Lebanon, Spain, USA, France and the Dominican Republic making people of different cultures dance to one amazing sound.
Chris Volpe has won multiple awards for his live solo album “Refugee Blues”, recorded in one take, and transformed it into a larger sound in Nashville with his new album “Shipwrecked!”
Rooted in a staunch refusal to be pigeonholed, NADIA KAZMI is as adept at writing a '70s inflected soul groove as she is at writing a singer-songwriter ballad or coming up with a reggae beat.
