All posts by anji

Re:Gen Mag Reviews Future Past

Re:Gen online magazine posted a review of the latest Lovespirals album:

Ryan Lum and Anji Bee go big on their fourth full-length album, adding ‘70s blues and progressive rock elements to their chilled out soul-tinged electronica.

Their fourth album together is a step into a bigger sound for Ryan Lum and Anji Bee. The duo’s fascination for ‘70s soul and jazz is amplified in Lum’s production, with the Rhodes piano that gave 2007’s Long Way from Home so much of its signature warmth joined by lush, almost disco-tinged strings on the languid, smokey “Rain” and the laidback but funky “Water Under the Bridge.” The guitars are bigger too, the spaced out progressive instrumental “Meanwhile, Irreplaceable Time Flees” segueing into the wah-wah-laced soul of “Insignificant.” Bee’s voice is stronger, more mature, and more powerful this time around as well; Lum and Bee have a reputation for love songs, but “Feel So Good” and “Shine” are positively lusty, highlighting both Bee’s range and her sensuality. The real standout on this album, though, is “Home,” which is more reminiscent of earlier Lovespirals songs in its cozy romantic vibe but features the best singing the pair have ever recorded, with subtle multi-tracking enhancing an already impressive vocal showing. 

While Future Past is undeniably warm throughout, there are also hints of the cooler, more dreamlike elements present in their earliest work. “Love” is the project’s most unabashedly electronic offering in years, all emphasis on the groovy breakbeats, and both “Shine” and “Believe” utilize softly insistent guitar strumming in the vein of Lum’s earlier project, Love Spirals Downward, in addition to the warmer grooves and subtle jazz instrumentation that characterize much of his work with Bee. The end result is an album that’s at once a leap forward and a fond glance back; the duo could hardly have picked a better title than Future Past.

— Matthew Johnson for regenmag.com
Future Past by Lovespirals on sale NOW!

Anji Bee Guests Properly Chilled

Lovespirals vocalist, Anji Bee, guest hosted a one hour set on the radio show, Properly Chilled, last weekend. The show airs on 101.5 FM WXGR in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, every Saturday from 6-8 pm, and streams live worldwide via http://www.wxgrfm.org. Luckily for you, it is also released as a podcast the following week. You can Check out Properly Chilled Podcast #44 (B): Guest Anji Bee on Mixcloud or check out the full show and view the complete shownotes for Properly Chilled #44 with Guest DJ Anji Bee on Properly Chilled.com.

Included in Anji’s set is Lovespirals’ brand new track, “Try To Forget,” as well as her solo song, “Put Some Music On” (produced by Ryan Lum, of Lovespirals, btw…), along with several other cuts from her new 5 Years of Chillin’ compilation. In addition, she featured several recent Lovespirals remixes, including the winner of the “Feel So Good” remix competition held by Sony Acid Planet earlier this year. Also in the mix are 2 brand new Anji Bee collaborations; one with The Grooveblaster, and the other with Karmacoda and Beth Hirsch, as well as her recent collaboration with 7 Day Visa.

Properly Chilled was founded in January 2005. Dedicated to downtempo music and culture, their approach is a widely inclusive one, bringing together the sounds of nu jazz, broken beat, world fusion, dub, trip hop, deep house, jazzy hip hop, ambient electronic, idm, glitch, reggae, acid jazz, afrobeat, cosmic disco, dubstep and pretty much any other laid back child of electronic music.

Continue reading Anji Bee Guests Properly Chilled →

Try To Forget (Lyrics)

I’ve been thinking about my life
Wondering why its so filled with strife
Things should be easier than this
That is my wish — oh yes, it is

Let’s get away
Just for today
Try to forget
(x2)

When I lay in my bed at night
Wondering why nothing’s going right
Things should be easier than this
That is my wish –oh yes, it is

Let’s get away
Just for today
Try to forget
(x2)

Divided by the seasons
Divided by the tides
The days become the reasons
And the meanings of our lives
(x2)

Try to forget…

— by Anji Bee (BMI)

Released on 5 Years of Chillin’ compilation March 18, 2011

Re-released as Anji Bee on Love Me Leave Me on November 11, 2013

Lovespirals Remix Premiers on Chillcast

Lovespirals are wrapping up production on a new digital release featuring remixes of “Feel So Good” from their 2010 album, Future Past. For a sneak peek, check out the latest episode of The Chillcast, hosted and produced by Lovespirals vocalist, Anji Bee. Chillcast #255: Keep It Chill closes with an upbeat electropop mix by Electer, who previously won 2 Karmacoda video remix contests under the name “Bassic” on the Sony ACIDplanet site. Lovespirals plan to release the Feel So Good EP in conjunction with the 5 year anniversary of Bee’s podcast this March.

Listen to Chillcast #255:
[audio:http://m.podshow.com/media/142/episodes/270777/thechillcast-270777-02-24-2011.mp3]

Meanwhile Irreplaceable Time Flees Video

There’s nothing quite as magical as warm Santa Ana winds in Southern California in December! Check out this gorgeous video of Lovespirals founder, Ryan Lum, longboarding at Bolsa Chica State Park Beach, set to his Future Past instrumental, “Meanwhile Irreplaceable Time Flees,” shot and edited by bandmate, Anji Bee.

You can download this video free from Lovespirals Vimeo account. Buy the mp3 of “Meanwhile Irreplaceable Time Flees” on iTunes.

Anji Bee Releases Holiday Single

“Happy Holidays” is the first all-original holiday song released by Lovespirals vocalist/lyricist, Anji Bee. Co-produced by her Lovespirals partner, Ryan Lum, “Happy Holidays” is a deceptively bittersweet pop nugget filled with hear-tugging disco-infused violins, funky bass and wah-wah guitar, with a relaxed house beat and a hint of cool wintry nights wafting through. Bee’s warm, enveloping vocals pleasantly recall Tracey Thorn (of Everything But The Girl) and Karen Carpenter with their laid back yet passionate delivery and personal holiday message.

Podcasters and Internet Radio DJs are free to include “Happy Holidays” in their shows. Check out Anji Bee on Mevio’s Music Alley (AKAPodsafe Music Network.)

Happy Holidays by Anji Bee

Download “Happy Holidays” from the following digital stores:

Chillin' with Lovespirals #80

Anji and Ryan sit down together to share all of Lovespirals latest doings. They open the show chatting about the Junip and Sheryl Crow shows they attended last week, including their thoughts on Sheryl’s album, 100 Miles From Memphis, produced and co-written by their favorite guitarist/vocalist/songwriter, Doyle Bramhall II. The duo also give an update on production of the new Anji Bee album, and working on new song as Lovespirals,  plus collaborations with The Grooveblaster and Bart of Audra. Anji discusses the new video for “Believe,” the behind-the-scenes Future Past photoshoot video, and Chillcast Video show. Ryan introduces the official launch of Anji’s Goodies, a food blog with Anji’s vegan recipes and tips, as well as an update to Ryan’s personal blog.The biggest news is Lovespirals’ Sony ACIDplanet remix contest for “Feel So Good” — the band closes out the show with a great remix by 7 Day Visa.

[audio:http://m.podshow.com/media/3839/episodes/258596/chillinwithlovespirals-258596-11-22-2010.mp3]
Download Chillin’ with Lovespirals #80 (Mp3)

Connect with Lovespirals:

Lovespirals Remix Contest on ACIDplanet

Enter Sony’s ACID Planet remix contest for Lovespirals! Remix the duo’s song, “Feel So Good,” from the 2010 album, Future Past. Download a zip file with a folder of official song stems including Anji Bee‘s main and backing vocals (both dry and with Leslie Rotary Speaker effect) and Ryan Lum‘s phased electric guitar, Fender P bassline, and Hammond organ line, plus a folder of 20 Sony bonus loops consisting of “Organ Donor” organ lines and “What Is It” basslines. Sony is also offering a free download of ACID Express which contestants can use to create a remix if they like. One grand prize winner will receive a copy of ACID Pro, 5 ACID loop libraries and all 4 Lovespirals albums on CD, plus the opportunity to be included on a new remix single for “Feel So Good.” Get started now, you’ve got until December 28th to enter!

Listen to the original mix of “Feel So Good” on Lovespirals album ‘Future Past’ on Bandcamp:

“Believe” Music Video

Back in 2008 and 2009 when Lovespirals were creating their 4th album, Future Past, the band captured some behind-the-scenes moments during the songwriting, recording, and production process — as well as time spent at various beaches in their native Southern California to recharge their creative batteries. “Believe” was filmed by Anji and Ryan, and edited together by Anji.

Lovespirals “Believe” Music Video

Additional Links:

Chillin' with Lovespirals #79

After a 2 month hiatus, Ryan and Anji are back with a new episode detailing all the latest and greatest Lovespirals news. The duo chat about their rejuvenating Catalina Island camping trip and the sunset video for “Insignificant” that resulted from their getaway, getting excited about the Lakers’ new season starting, working on music for the upcoming debut Anji Bee album, Ryan’s discovery of the Airwindows audio plug-ins, musical collaborations with Karmacoda (and Beth Hirsch), a Sony Acid Planet remix contest, and more. Check out Anji Bee’s Catalina camping trip blog to view videos and photos from our trip. Read more about the Lomography Diana F+ Camera that the band brought camping. See our post about the sunset video set to “Insignificant” for more details on that. Read Anji Bee’s full questionaire for NPR’s Hey Ladies: Being a Woman Musician Today and see her quote in the NPR piece, Pop Star Pomp, Real World Circumstance. The show closes out with a clip of the brand new recording of “Perfect Boy”.

[audio:http://m.podshow.com/media/3839/episodes/252074/chillinwithlovespirals-252074-10-05-2010.mp3]
Download Chillin’ with Lovespirals #79 (mp3)

Show Links and Sponsors:

Diana F+ Medium Format Camera Photo Gallery:
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NPR Article Quotes Anji Bee

National Public Radio is in the midst of a radio series called, “Hey Ladies: Being A Musician Today,” using research gathered from questionnaires answered by hundreds of women working as musicians and/or vocalists today. Additionally, they are publishing solid articles on their music blog, The Record: Music News from NPR. In the latest installment, “Pop Star Pomp, Real World Circumstance“, writer Frankie Kelly includes a quote by Anji:

But some say they’re annoyed by what they see as attention-grabbing antics. Do pop stars’ constructions (be they costumes or stage sets) put pressure on less well-funded women musicians to be outrageous, to get more naked or cross more lines just to get noticed?

Anji Bee, Lovespirals: From my perspective, the most important thing is to develop a strong internet presence that includes quality audio, video, and photos. The more professional you come across, the more likely people are to take you seriously. I personally wouldn’t rely on gimmicks to get attention, but that seems to be working out for Lady Gaga, so who am I to say anything against it?

For the record, the question she was answering was: “What advice would you give to a woman musician just starting out?” You can read all of Anji’s responses to the NPR Hey Ladies questionnaire.

This is a great series which includes many fantastic female artists so we highly recommend you check it out!

Feel the Love with a New Lovespirals EP

The first single from Lovespirals’ fourth album, Future Past, to get the full remix treatment is “Love” – an atmospheric drum ‘n’ bass tune that recalls some of the duo’s earliest work together. A half dozen producers from  different musical schools of thought set Anji Bee‘s poppy yet ethereal vocals to completely new musical scores. From angular drum ‘n’ bass, to lush downtempo, to atmospheric ambient music, this moody collection covers a lot of sonic ground. And Anji’s Chillcast listeners should be familiar with most — if not all — of the contributing producers which includes: Chill Factor-5, 7 Day Visa, Divasonic, Soul Whirling Somewhere, Xurba and Falling You (who, btw, created the only mix which contains Ryan Lum‘s original guitar solo.)

Remixes by Chill Factor-5 and & Day Visa are available as a FREE DOWNLOAD from LastFM (mark you favorite remixes with “Love This Track”) and SoundCloud. Both sites have built-in social media tools that allow you to easily repost links to emails, Twitter, Facebook, and other services with the “Share” pull down menus, so be sure to tell a friend!

Purchase the full EP or individual tracks from iTunes, Amazon Mp3, CDbaby, eMusic, Rhapsody, or Bandcamp

Podcasters, DJs, Internet DJs, and music bloggers are all encouraged to share these tunes with their audiences, as well. If you’re feeling the love, please write a review of the Love EP as Lovespirals would really appreciate you giving them a little love in return.

Stream or Purchase the Love EP:



The Love EP artwork was created by ithinkitsnice and we think its nice, too!