iProng Magazine Artist Feature

April 2, 2008: 100% PodSafe Edition, iProng Magazine Artist Feature

For someone who isn’t familiar with Lovespirals, how would you describe it to them?

We write and record all of our music together in our own home studio. As such, our music has a very intimate feel. Our sound doesn’t follow any particular genre model, instead, we play what we feel at the moment. We tend towards very melodic, bittersweet, and dreamy music that focuses on beautiful vocal harmonies and soulful guitar work, with liberal sprinklings of electric piano.

There’s always been a sort of tug of war in Lovespirals between jazzy electronica and folky rock. Each of our releases have come upon a different solution to this tension between the modern and vintage sides of our musical personalities. One the one hand, we both love the old vinyl albums we grew up with as kids, but on the other, we’re drawn to contemporary music and production techniques. The interesting thing about this is that while the casual listener assumes a song like “Caught in the Groove” from Long Way From Home was recorded with a full band, in actuality Ryan programmed the drums using a keyboard controller and samples, the piano is recorded with midi, and the guitars and bass were performed one track at a time in ProTools. The thing is, just because we’re using computer based recording techniques doesn’t mean our music has to sound like it was made with a computer, you know?

How did you end up being both a podsafe musician and a podcaster?

I started the Chillin’ with Lovespirals podcast back in June of 2005 to share information and music from our then-upcoming 2nd album, Free & Easy. I’d been itching to start a podcast for several months and it just seemed like a band podcast was the perfect project to start out with. I used to be a college DJ, and then I was an Internet DJ, so it was pretty no-brainer to become a podcaster! And we already had our own recording studio, so it just made a whole lot of sense.

How has podsafe music affected your career as a musician?

The podsafe music movement was really just a natural evolution of all the Internet promotions I’d been doing for the band since our inception in ’99. I just try a little of everything online to see what works and where the best music scene is, and go there. Podcasting is one more of those things.

How else do you promote your music?

One of the more exciting ways our music is promoted is via licensing to TV and cable. The first placement the band ever got was for a song called “Psyche” with guest vocalist, Kristen Perry, on Dawson’s Creek. “Psyche” is listed on iTunes as their most popular track, and I suspect we can contribute that to Dawson’s Creek in no small part. The second most popular LSD song on iTunes is the 1998 remix of “Sunset Bell,” which I’ve seen listed online as having been included on the show La Femme Nikita – even on Wikipedia – though we were never contacted about that. Lovespirals’ music has been included on multiple shows for MTV and VH1 as well as E!, WE, A&E, HGTV, Travel Channel, and lots of others. I think Oprah was probably the most fun inclusion on TV. We’ve also been on some DVDs. No films or commercials yet, but hopefully soon.

Do Lovespirals have any tour plans?

The past year or two we haven’t gotten out to play many live shows. We’ve found that the amount of time and effort it takes to organize and prepare for shows and tours is too draining. Honestly, we would rather be writing and recording new music than revisiting our past works. I guess you could say we are more like recording artists than performing artists. But as someone who enjoys live music, I understand the fans interest in seeing us perform. So for this album we decided to try something new. The weekend of our album release, we performed in Second Life on PodShow Island. It turned out to be a really cool event that was simulcast via multiple audio streams to 760 listeners in the US, UK, and Europe in addition to the maxed out sim in Second Life. So that was really exciting. And then we took the recorded audio and released it as an episode of our podcast which has had about 12,000 requests. Would we get that many folks at a gig in LA? Probably not.

Read the full feature iProng Magazine 4/2008

Interview with Anji Bee in iProng Magazine

iprong mag The April 2nd “100% Podsafe” issue of iProng Magazine features an interview with Anji discussing Lovespirals, going podsafe, getting into podcasting, music licensing, live performance vs studio recording, and much more. Also included this issue is a great article on eMusic vs Amazon downloads, interviews with fellow podsafe artists Geoff Smith and Natalie Gelman, and an article with Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes, who released their new single to the Podsafe Music Network. By the way, you can check out tons of Lovespirals tracks on the PMN for use on podcasts, internet radio, Second Life DJ sets, and more!

Lovespirals Remix Contest Ends April 1st!

Lovespirals Remix Contest

Only a few days remain to enter the Peace Love Productions Lovespirals Remix Contest! All entries are due in by April 1st for consideration to win an iPod Touch, a year’s subscription to the PLP Producer’s Vault, all 3 Lovespirals’ CDs – personally autographed by Anji Bee and Ryan Lum – and inclusion on a Lovespirals remix digital EP and CD. Many cool remixes have been submitted, but there’s still room for more entries. The top 5 remixes will be featured on Lovespirals Podsafe Music Network remix page and considered for inclusion on a digital-only “This Truth” remix EP, and the runner-up remix will also receive all 3 Lovespirals’ CDs, personally autographed by the band. This is a great way for remix producers to get some exposure through podcasts and cross-promotion, so come join the fun!

Download the Lovespirals remix contest promo mp3 for your podcast or radio show!

Listen to the remix contest promo:
[audio:http://chillcuts.com/promos/Lovespirals_Remix_Contest_Promo.mp3]

Listen to the original mix of “This Truth:
[audio: http://www.chillcuts.com/audio/mp3_128/this_truth.mp3]

Anji Bee Interview on Podfinder UK

Mini Interview with The Chillcast’s Anji Bee

Anji Bee is the soft, sultry, sexy voice of the Chillcast, and one half of the Lovespirals.

When & why did you begin podcasting?

I used to be a college DJ, hosting several music shows and working in station management for 3 years. After I left, I discovered online radio. I started a Live365 station back in January 2000. Eventually I produced some half hour interview features, such as one with Hungry Lucy in May 2005. Garageband had just begun their free podcast service, so I uploaded it there, too. I followed up with a feature on Lovespirals, and then decided it was high time I did a podcast proper.

My first podcast was Chillin’ with Lovespirals, which launched in early June 2005. The idea was that a podcast would be the perfect way to share information and music from our upcoming new album, Free & Easy. I had already been sharing audio interviews online on sites like Mp3.com and SoundClick for years, so I knew our fans enjoyed hearing us discuss our music. I had a hard time, though, convincing my partner, Ryan Lum, that it was a good idea because there weren’t any band podcasts out there yet and he was worried about our bandwidth. Our first episodes were fairly short because of the bandwidth issue.

I still really wanted to do a music podcast, too, and I briefly toyed with the idea of combining concepts into one show, but I’m glad I didn’t, because it would have been too confusing. Chillin’ with Lovespirals is a talk show, whereas The Chillcast is a music show. Sure, sometimes we play a little music on Chillin’ with Lovespirals, and sometimes I have conversations on The Chillcast, but they are totally different. Ryan and I do a much more informal show than when I’m alone in the studio, and you really get to see more of who I am as a person, rather than as a DJ.

Anyway, The Chillcast with Anji Bee, began its life as The Chillcuts Chillcast as more of a tie-in to Lovespirals, since our label name is Chillcuts. I hosted the first 3 episodes on OurMedia.org in January 2006, then I was picked up by PodShow, and the rest – as they say – is history…

What is the most significant thing to happen to you personally as a direct result of producing your podcast?

Podcasting has changed my whole life, honestly! The biggest and best result is that I was able to “quit my dayjob” just like Adam Curry talked about on the DSC when he signed me as part of the first big group of producers to the PodShow network. It has been incredibly liberating to be able to focus solely on audio production, whether it be podcasts or music. And since I have more time to devote to my craft, I’ve been able to improve my skills – both with my singing and my voiceover work. Likewise, I’m able to spend more time developing my marketing, which increases my listener base, so all the way around, it has been fantastic. I’ve met so many wonderful people through podcasting, too, and many of them have inspired me to try new things and reach new vistas. I really can’t say enough about what a great growing experience podcasting has been for me.

What podcasts, if any, do you regularly listen to or watch?

I have to admit I’m a bit spotty with my podcast listening/watching. The one show that I remain totally loyal to is the first podcast I ever subscribed to, and that’s Diggnation. I’ve been a fan of Kevin Rose since he used to be a supporting cast member of The Screen Savers on Tech TV, and I’ve followed everything he’s done since that time. I’ve been listening to the Daily Source Code since Adam started the Podsafe Music Network in 2005. Once he played Lovespirals on the show, I was pretty hooked! Many people actually discovered me through the conversations that Adam and I have had on his show via audio clips. Sometimes it’s hard to keep with him, he’s so prolific, but I check in to see what’s new. I’m also a big fan of In Over Your Head and was devastated when Julien took an extended hiatus recently, but he just made a new episode so I’m hoping he’ll get back into it. Of course I also like to keep up with my friends and ShowGirls co-hosts, the Rumor Girls! I’m into several more music-based shows as well, like Radio BSOTS and Dave’s Lounge, as well as mixed music and talk shows like Mysterious Universe and Friday Favecast. I also dig Tea with Hungry Lucy – and if I’m not mistaken, I was the one to inspire them to begin their show! There’s so many other podcasts that I check out from time to time that I couldn’t possibly list them all, but just to throw out a few; Accident Hash, Cranky Geeks, TWIT, and tons of others.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Honestly, I had a hard time deciding between an artist, a musician, an actor, or a writer and I think that now I’ve pretty much combined all of those things in what I do. I record and release music, I create my website and album art, I perform in my vidcasts and podcasts, and I write – well, not only lyrics, but blog posts, bios, blurbs, heck even this interview. Seems like there’s lots of writing involved in my line of work, surprisingly.

Read the rest of this Mini-Interview with The Chillcast’s Anji Bee on the Podfinder UK site!

Chillin' with Lovespirals #49

Chillin with Lovespirals logo[audio:http://m.podshow.com/media/3839/episodes/104745/chillinwithlovespirals-104745-03-19-2008.mp3]

Download Chillin’ with Lovespirals #49 MP3

Ryan and Anji return with stories about their new Logic Studio setup vs their old Pro Tools 24 setup, writing and recording new music, entries to Lovespirals PLP Remix Contest, Dig! on DVD, Ariel PR takes on our Motherless Child EP, joining thesixtyone.com, Anji competing in the Pod 5 Idol competition, Lovespirals on Pod 5, the MP3 Taser Holster, seeing Robert Rich live at the Goethe Institute, Anji’s recent Chillcast specials; NIU Support Collabocast and St. Paddy’s Day Chillout Mix. The show ends with “This Truth (donOesterby Mix)” – the full song, not just a clip. Enjoy!

Subscribe:

Chillin’ with Lovespirals is brought to you in part by GoDaddy. Use our money saving GoDaddy promo codes for your next domain name and web hosting purchases at GoDaddy.

More Reviews of Lovespirals' 'Long Way From Home' CD

Reviews are still popping up of Lovespirals recent album, Long Way From Home, in partial thanks to the efforts of Ariel PR who helped to push the album when it was released this past October 23rd.

Jason Moore of Opus writes:

Ultimately, Lum and Bee are all about creating a mood with their music, a relaxed and blissed-out vibe that should be no stranger to fans of dreampop, chill-out electronica, and atmospheric pop. This is music for both late night sessions and noon daydreams, for both listening to at work when you need to escape the pressure of the day and at home when you simply need to unwind with a good book and a glass of wine.

Miles Klee said in Hot Indie News:

Bluesy slide guitar work sometimes shades over into Santana-like finger-meandering, and vocalist Anji Bee’s layered voice paints bright glaze over already dreamy arrangements. It’s as though the glancing disaffection of 80’s and 90’s dream-poppers has been filtered through an AM radio, a mutation that works by dint of sounding completely natural on an evolutionary view.

From the Green Arrow Radio blog:

More than melancholic music, there is a sense that they traveled with you on similar & familiar roads with the radio tuned to the same left of the dial station in the middle of wherever. After nearly a decade of artistic collaboration between singer/songwriter, Anji Bee, & multi instrumentalist & producer, Ryan Lum, it is no wonder that they have managed to put together an album of answers to questions yet asked with a subtle sultry sense of sound security.

The Celebrity Cafe‘s Ray Anderson mused:

Empty and sad, but of full of emotion, their album Long Way from Home is medicine for those that dig the alternative. How can you take a gut-wrenching classic like “Motherless Child” and make it sadder? Let the “Lovespirals” get a hold of it. It’s easy to fall into the loose, country-tinged groove of “Caught in a Groove” and let your soul be taken for a ride. By the time the “upbeat” “Lovelight” comes on, you won’t mind being “A Long Way from Home,” and I think you’ll want to stay there.

Read or written a great review of Lovespirals? Then post a link here, by all mean!

Lovespirals on Shifted Sound Podcast 98

Shifted Sound[audio:http://www.shiftedsound.com/podcasts/shiftedsound098.mp3]

Download Shifted Sound #98 MP3

Two Lovespirals tracks and a promo for the “This Truth” remix contest were included on this week’s Shifted Sound Podcast Episode 98. Also included are some highly enjoyable poppy alternative tracks by Brad Laner, LeConcord and more. Shelby has got a great musical ear for sure!

Accident Hash Podcast #260 Includes Lovespirals

[audio:http://m.podshow.com/media/212/episodes/100328/accidenthash-100328-02-22-2008.mp3http://m.podshow.com/media/212/episodes/94198/accidenthash-94198-01-10-2008.mp3]

Download Accident Hash #260 MP3

Our buddy C.C. Chapman has once again shared his love of Lovespirals with his loyal audience in this “snowy afternoon” chillout session, Accident Hash style. If you’ve somehow been under a podcasting rock and haven’t heard his award winning show yet, check it out today! C.C.’s good humor, positivity, and love of music shines through in every podcast and never fails to bring a smile…

Chillin’ with Lovespirals #48

Chillin with Lovespirals logo[audio:http://media.podshow.com/media/3839/episodes/99999/chillinwithlovespirals-99999-02-19-2008_pshow_228164.mp3]

Download Chillin’ with Lovespirals #48 MP3

Ryan and Anji are back with news and updates about their recording gear, “This Truth” Remix Contest, launch of a new Lovespirals/The Chillcast Beach Cottage created by Kirsty Hawkshaw in SecondLife, Lovespirals Feature on SolipsisticNATION, and 2 touching listener emails; one from fellow indie musician Tony Pucci, and the other from a NIU Grad Student. Please feel free to send your own listener email or audio comments into the band at info[at]lovespirals.com or just leave a comment on our blog at lovespirals.com!


The Chillcast in Second Life


Lovespirals Chillin’ in their SecondLife Beach Cottage

Subscribe:

Chillin’ with Lovespirals is brought to you in part by GoDaddy. Use our 3 money saving GoDaddy promo codes for your next domain name and web hosting purchases at GoDaddy.

New Lovespirals Remix Contest on PeaceLoveProductions

Lovespirals Remix Contest

Remix Lovespirals‘ podsafe single, “This Truth,” from their latest album, Long Way From Home, for the PeaceLoveProduction Remix Contest! The finalist will win an iPod Touch, a year’s subscription to the PLP Producer’s Vault, and all 3 Lovespirals’ CDs – personally autographed by Anji Bee and Ryan Lum – plus inclusion on a Lovespirals remix digital EP and CD. The runner-up will win the 3 CDs plus inclusion on the remix EP and CD. Additionally, the top 5 remixes will be offered as podsafe singles on the Podsafe Music Network. The contest began 2/8/2008 and runs until 4/1/2008. Good luck!

Listen to Anji’s audio promo: [audio:http://chillcuts.com/promos/Lovespirals_Remix_Contest_Promo.mp3]

Podcasters & Radio DJs:

Solipsistic NATION Podcast Features Lovespirals

solipsistic nation logoIn honor of Valentine’s Day, the excellent Solipsistic NATION podcast is featuring Lovespirals! Bazooka Joe interviews Ryan and Anji via Skype about the band’s evolving sound, their musical history, the effect of technology on the band, the duo’s songwriting process, and much more. Interspersed with the interview are 7 full length songs — including several special permissions (non-podsafe) tracks — and a few of Anji’s side projects.

[audio:http://media.podshow.com/media/9683/episodes/98300/nation-98300-02-07-2008_pshow_226443.mp3]

Download Solipsistic NATION Lovespirals Feature MP3

Chillin' with Lovespirals #47

Chillin with Lovespirals logo[audio:http://media.podshow.com/media/3839/episodes/98136/chillinwithlovespirals-98136-02-06-2008_pshow_226291.mp3]

Download Chillin’ with Lovespirals #47 MP3

Ryan and Anji are back with lots of personal and band news including the extended celebration of Anji’s birthday, the band’s harrowing winter storm incident, new recording gear, broken mixer update, a Lovespirals feature on Solipsistic Nation podcast, Long Way From Home on Pandora, Lovespirals guest DJing Yourgasms radio show, audio feedback from War-n of Hungry Lucy, and a clip of the new Chandeen song, “Tomorrow” featuring Anji’s vocals and lyrics.


Birthday Sunset
Anji enjoying the sunset on her birthday

Subscribe:

Chillin’ with Lovespirals is brought to you in part by GoDaddy. Check out our 3 money saving GoDaddy promo codes for your next domain name and web hosting purchases at GoDaddy.