A phone interview with Anji discussing Windblown Kiss, musical influences, and old vinyl for Outsite Radio Hour by Tom Shulte.
This is a link to a Real Audio file on Music Soujourn.
Anji Bee featured on Mp3.com
Mp3.com is currently featuring Anji on their popular Women of Mp3.com station, as well as the Hot Artist of the Month Spotlight. Jianda Johnson recently interviewed Anji about her musical career, including both Lovespirals and side collaborations. Read — and hear — more at the following URLs:
- Women of Mp3.com
- Mp3.com Interview: Anji Bee
- Hot Artist Spotlight – Easy Listening
From MP3.com Hot Artist Spotlight (July 2002):
Anji Bees one half of the lovely yin-yang equation named Lovespirals (mp3.com/lovespirals). Though her presence and electronic collaborations are quite prominent online, oftentimes people arent fully aware of her Lovespirals connection (to Ryan Lum , other music-half), or the depth of her project involvement. Anji’s soft, seductive voice comforts, rather than crushes you, hitting your consciousness in rolling waves. Hence, her popularity with collaborations in a myriad of other projects. If you love lounge, shoegazer, down tempo, ambient, or classical music (or its variations — from subtle to razor-sharp), visit Anji — it’s a damn good trip. Sugary sweet picks: “Perfect Boy (Bitstream Dream & Anji Bee)” & “Goodbye (Bitstream Dream & Anji Bee).”
– Jianda Johnson
The long pale arm of Goth
Ryan has said that no matter what he does muscially, “the long pale arm of Goth” reaches out to touch him. He doesn’t understand the phenomenon. He thought that making a Jazz/Flamenco/Folk/Rock album would clear him, just as he thought making a Drum n Bass/Trip Hop/Ambient Electronica album would, but it seems he would have to do something much more radical than he’s done so far to duck that association.
Who knows, maybe “Ryan Lum” will be forever associated with Goth?
New Windblown Kiss Reviews
An insightful review of Windblown Kiss went up on High Bias. (“Consistently beautiful treatise on romantic expression.”) The Montclair Times is carrying a nice review, as well. (“Dreamy songs of love and spirituality are perfect for cool summer nights.”) Belgian site, Le Fantastique has written a glowing review, in French. [click links for full review]
First Lovespirals Radio Appearance
We will be making our first radio appearance during our West Coast Tour with Mira, doing a live performance and interview on A Strange Choice of Favourites with DJ Carolee on KPSU 1450 AM in Portland, OR. The date is set for Mon August 26 from 5 – 6 pm. If you aren’t in listening range of this college radio station, no worries! You can tune in online at — http://www.kpsu.org
Lovespirals & Audra acoustic performance
Lovespirals and fellow Projekt artists, Audra, will each perform a short acoustic set at Ipso Facto counter culture boutique on September 29th. Both bands will also be on hand to sign autographs and meet fans. This is a free show!
Ipso Facto | 517 N. Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, CA . | 714.525.7865
HNIA & Violet Indiana
Just picked up a couple new CDs; Violet Indiana’s “Casino,” and His Name is Alive’s “Someday My Blues Will Cover the Earth.” I’m happy to have “Purr la Perla” now, as well as another song or two that I really enjoyed at V.A.’s live show. I guess this album is actually just a compilation of EP and single material, but I didn’t have any of it yet.
The HNIA album is a really nice surpise. I fell in love with “Nothing Special” when I downloaded it off of epitonic.com the other day, but now that I’ve heard the whole album, I think the title track might be even better! I swear, it gave me shivers when I heard it. Ryan noted that our most recent song is reminiscent of this album. I am amazed that Warn should be moving in a similar direction as us! I used to practically worship the ground he walked on, and have enjoyed the many twists and turns HNIA has taken, though I kind of fell out of touch with his work the past few years. Lovetta has a really great voice, and I have to admit that I have a special weakness for soul singers!
Oui Magazine
Lovespirals were mentioned in a recent issue of Oui
Magazine, for their Oui Rocks section. Devil Doll gives
a brief update of the band in her “Oh My Goth” column,
alongside The Empire Hideous and Virgin Black. A
promo photo by Susan Jennings is included (with the
band fully clothed…) Thanks to Elizabeth for the press
clipping!
LOVESPIRALS (formerly Love Spirals Downwards) songwriter/producer, Ryan Lum and singer/songwriter, Anji Bee, are currently preparing for the release of their first full-length album, tentatively titled ‘Oh So Long,’ due out in May 2002. Ryan reports: “There’s lots of little surprises in our sound this time around, including a wonderful guest appearance by Sean Bowley (of Eden) on 2 tracks. As I have recently rediscovered my love of guitar, this album is really based around beautiful melodies on both acoustic and electric guitar, as well as Anji’s gorgeous, versatile vocals. We’ve had a lot of fun working on our first album together and hope that love shines through to our fans!”
— from Oui Magazine
Chain DLK Reviews ‘Windblown Kiss’
A positive review of our debut full-length album has appeared in Chain DLK, ” your #1 source for electronic, industrial, ambient & dark experiments music.” It reads, in part:
With the new group, new influences have come through, with a strong jazz element. To think of it, this is like Billy Holiday with better vocals and more of a mood! “Oh So Long” starts off with a sensual horn section and Anji Bee’s masterful ethereal vocals, which go for mood and emotion, not a high pitch like a lot of ethereal vocalists. She reminds me alot of the girl from Portishead a bit, but softer. As good as Suzanne Perry was, Anji Bee has her matched. The rest of the album flows with a very controlled calm, very laid back and sensual. A welcome shift of direction, and should please fans of both jazz, ethereal, and emotional folk music. And if you’re looking for that CD for you and your lover to listen to under some candlelight, this is it!Very recommended.
9/10 KlingKlangBedlam
Read the full review here.
Blardy blar!
Haven’t posted much lately… Been too busy with promotions and tour travel plans, I guess. We also wrote and recorded a new song. Ryan cut his hand and had to get stitches last week, so that’s slowed him down a bit, but he’s almost recovered now.
We’ve been toying with a new version of “Ring” for the live set, which is kind of interesting. We didn’t do any LSD songs at ProjektFest. Ryan thought they were “kinda boring” compared to the material from the new album. He’s addicted to Jazz chords now! I think he’s also going to work up backing tracks for the new song, which we’ve been calling “Walk Away.”
Still no final word from any of the 3 people who want to set up shows in Mexico. We got a new request this week, too. Eventually we should have something settled, though.
Jazz Review.com, Featured Artist July 2002
Lee Prosser reviews Windblown Kiss for Jazz Review, July 2002
Ryan Lum and Anji Bee are Lovespirals. With a touch of soft blues and world music motifs, this entry into the smooth jazz category is a surefire hit and should appeal to a wide listening audience.
The music is refreshingly original and likeable, enjoyable in all ways. The 10 selections include “Oh So Long,” “Dejame,” “Windblown Kiss,” “Our Nights,” and “I Can’t See You,” among others.
Ryan Lum is a master of guitar, his techniques fresh and pleasant, and the sensual vocals of Anji Bee perfectly reflect the high quality of the musical compositions. Windblown Kiss is a magical listening experience, filled with sensitivity and beautiful soft jazz sounds.
Lovespirals is topnotch.
See the original review at jazzreview.com
The Women of Mp3.com Interview
Jianda Johnson interviews Anji for a feature article on the Women of Mp3.com Station.
JIANDA: How did you get into music, how long have you been making it, and when did you join Lovespirals?
ANJI: I’d say that I first got into music through my dad. One of my earliest memories is circling around the coffee table to “Here Comes the Sun,” when I was barely able to walk. I started singing very early, doing school productions from Pre-School on. Shortly out of High School, I got invovled with different garage bands, doing gigs, and recording 4 track demos. Strangely, I really always wanted to be a guitarist, but I’ve just never been very adept at it! I did play guitar in an industrial noise rock band for awhile, but it was a struggle for me. I played percussion in another band around that time too. It’s funny to think about those old bands now, in comparison to my work with Lovespirals. Speaking of Lovespirals, I began working with Ryan in early 1999.
JIANDA: Can you please explain the difference between Lovespirals and Love Spirals Downwards?
ANJI: When Ryan and I began working back in 1999 on Drum ‘n’ Bass tunes, he was in a transitional period, unsure if he wanted to make another listening album or start releasing 12’s instead. At that time, we weren’t sure if our stuff was going to be released as Love Spirals Downwards or as some kind of side project. We were just recording songs and pressing dubplates for him to spin in his DJ sets, not sending them around to labels or trying to get them released. Then I made those tracks available online through mp3.com and folks started contacting us to include stuff on compilations, so by now all of them have been released somewhere or other, which is really cool. But I digress… It’s tremendously hard to explain exactly where or how things changed between Love Spirals Downwards and Lovespirals, because it was all just a natural progression.
Continue reading The Women of Mp3.com Interview