The Crystal Ark
AVAN LAVA, Kim Ann Foxman, DJ Sean B (Spank / Best Mate)
Wed, May 30, 2012
Doors: 8:00 pm / Show: 9:00 pm
Music Hall of Williamsburg
Brooklyn, NY
$10 advance / $12 day of show
Tickets
This event is 18 and over
http://www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com/event/115493/
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The Crystal Ark
The Crystal Ark is producer Gavin Russom's deepest foray into rhythm, physicality and movement.
Inspired by music he heard during a 2007 trip to Brazil, Russom returned to his Berlin-based studio and composed the first Crystal Ark songs, which drew upon both his love of psychedelic rave tracks like "Inner Light" by Phantasia and his long and deep interest in Latin rhythms. Though those intricately woven, vivid early instrumentals were compelling in their own right, Russom continued to seek out elements that would push the music’s arresting energy forward. The group truly took form when he invited filmmaker Viva Ruiz, whom he met by chance as she was passing through Berlin on tour, to add Spanish lyrics and vocals to the raw tracks. Ruiz’s fevered vocalizations on the Crystal Ark’s first single, “The City Never Sleeps,” helped heighten the song’s already visceral intensity through to its pulsating end. Alberto Lopez, Russom’s long-time friend and high school collaborator, joined the outfit shortly thereafter, contributing live percussion to follow-up “The Tangible Presence of the Miraculous.” That track, filled with polyrhythmic drumming and a persistent acid bassline, is an intensely affecting musical sojourn made all the more rapturous by Lopez’s drumming.
Following DFA’s release of those two 12”s, Russom returned to New York City, a move that further informed the sound of the music. Like New York itself, the Crystal Ark’s output – with its cross-blend of genres, languages, and sounds – increasingly reflected the intensity, physicality and sexuality that pervades the city in which it was made. Russom and Ruiz continued expanding the band for live performances, and to further enrich and enliven the Crystal Ark’s music on recordings. The lineup has grown to include vocalists Jaiko Suzuki and Sokhna Heathyre Mabin, both of whom previously collaborated with Ruiz, as well as electronics master Matt Thornley and bassist Tyler Pope, with whom Gavin worked during LCD Soundsystem's farewell tour. This incarnation first appeared on the Crystal Ark’s third single, “Touch,” a song that melds funk basslines, Afro-Carribbean percussion and Ruiz and Russom’s vocals into a singular inducement to dance. Live performances further the band’s body-centric agenda by seamlessly integrating dance and visuals into a vivid multimedia performance: Dancers Irene "Discos" Deros and Alberto Cortes make expressed the physicality implied in the group's sound, while video artists Bec Stupak and Johnny Woods transform performance spaces with color and movement.
The stunning results of this collaboration can be seen in the Crystal Ark’s live performances during their upcoming tour of Europe and the United States, and heard on their DFA album debut, to be released in early 2012.
Inspired by music he heard during a 2007 trip to Brazil, Russom returned to his Berlin-based studio and composed the first Crystal Ark songs, which drew upon both his love of psychedelic rave tracks like "Inner Light" by Phantasia and his long and deep interest in Latin rhythms. Though those intricately woven, vivid early instrumentals were compelling in their own right, Russom continued to seek out elements that would push the music’s arresting energy forward. The group truly took form when he invited filmmaker Viva Ruiz, whom he met by chance as she was passing through Berlin on tour, to add Spanish lyrics and vocals to the raw tracks. Ruiz’s fevered vocalizations on the Crystal Ark’s first single, “The City Never Sleeps,” helped heighten the song’s already visceral intensity through to its pulsating end. Alberto Lopez, Russom’s long-time friend and high school collaborator, joined the outfit shortly thereafter, contributing live percussion to follow-up “The Tangible Presence of the Miraculous.” That track, filled with polyrhythmic drumming and a persistent acid bassline, is an intensely affecting musical sojourn made all the more rapturous by Lopez’s drumming.
Following DFA’s release of those two 12”s, Russom returned to New York City, a move that further informed the sound of the music. Like New York itself, the Crystal Ark’s output – with its cross-blend of genres, languages, and sounds – increasingly reflected the intensity, physicality and sexuality that pervades the city in which it was made. Russom and Ruiz continued expanding the band for live performances, and to further enrich and enliven the Crystal Ark’s music on recordings. The lineup has grown to include vocalists Jaiko Suzuki and Sokhna Heathyre Mabin, both of whom previously collaborated with Ruiz, as well as electronics master Matt Thornley and bassist Tyler Pope, with whom Gavin worked during LCD Soundsystem's farewell tour. This incarnation first appeared on the Crystal Ark’s third single, “Touch,” a song that melds funk basslines, Afro-Carribbean percussion and Ruiz and Russom’s vocals into a singular inducement to dance. Live performances further the band’s body-centric agenda by seamlessly integrating dance and visuals into a vivid multimedia performance: Dancers Irene "Discos" Deros and Alberto Cortes make expressed the physicality implied in the group's sound, while video artists Bec Stupak and Johnny Woods transform performance spaces with color and movement.
The stunning results of this collaboration can be seen in the Crystal Ark’s live performances during their upcoming tour of Europe and the United States, and heard on their DFA album debut, to be released in early 2012.
AVAN LAVA
AVAN LAVA began as a conversation between Producers/Musicians Le Chev and Ian Pai during an overnight bus ride after performing at the Sao Paulo Bienal with Fischerspooner, a band with which both still work and perform. That night in the fall of 2008, en route to Rio de Janeiro, Le Chev and Ian shared their love of Prince, Daft Punk, electronic beats, R & B, and Indie music and contemplated how those things could all be melded into one sound, one band. A few months later, back in NYC, while at a reading of “The Last Goodbye” (a musical adaptation of Romeo & Juliet set to the music of Jeff Buckley), they discovered vocalist Tom “TC” Hennes. They knew that they had found the perfect vocalist for their project the moment he sung the first words of "Corpus Christi Carol."
AVAN LAVA became official in early 2009, when Le Chev began working with TC while Ian went on tour with Fischerspooner (Drums/DJ/Performer) and Blue Man Group (Drums/Music Direction). In the following months Le Chev and TC completed AVAN LAVA’s first EP, “Vapors”, which was released on Faux Pyre Records in March 2010. The Village Voice wrote “AVAN LAVA is lush, sparkling,” and Big Stereo added “…at times chill, other times experimental and lush. And then there is this pop moment, “The Easy Way,” which leans on Prince a bit but is also deeply rooted in electronic sounds.” In 2011 they went back into the studio.
They self-released their sophomore EP titled “Flex Fantasy” on February 21 2012 which was produced and mixed by AVAN LAVA and mastered by Tom Coyne (Robyn, Beyonce, Jay-Z, D'Angelo) at Sterling Sound. Warren Fischer (Fischerspooner, Bunker) produced their first music video for “It’s Never Over,” which premiered as a feature on YouTube Music. They also released an official music video for their song “Sisters” which was shot on location in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It became an instant “Staff Pick” on Vimeo with over 120K views and counting. They have also worked as Producers, Composers and Mixers for recorded works and live performances with bands such as Cold Cave, Fischerspooner, Cat Power, CSS, Casey Spooner, Frankie Rose, SSION, Lemonade, Lia Ices, Matthew Barney and The New York Philharmonic. They have also made remixes for R.E.M., Passion Pit and New Villager among others. Warner Bros. released their most recent remix (made with Casey Spooner) of R.E.M.’s “Blue (with Patti Smith)” from R.E.M.’s final release “Collapse Into Now”, in early 2012. They also compose original music for world-renowned photographers Inez & Vinoodh, collaborating on fashion campaigns such as Nina Ricci, Mango, Donna Karan, Givenchy, Juicy Couture, Dior, Viktor & Rolf, and more.
Every show in 2012 was sold out. AVAN LAVA played Mercury Lounge, Bowery Ballroom, Music Hall of Williamsburg, The Brooklyn Museum, DC9, The W Hotel Singapore Opening with Mark Ronson (they released a cover of Mark Ronson & Boy George’s “Somebody To Love Me”, which premiered on VIBE), and Club Deus in Bali, Indonesia. For live performances, they add vocalist, percussionist and theatrical technician Andrew Schneider (The Wooster Group, Fischerspooner) and musicians/vocalists/dancers Drew Citron and Jo Lampert. They are currently in the studio recording their debut full-length album slated to drop in 2013.
AVAN LAVA became official in early 2009, when Le Chev began working with TC while Ian went on tour with Fischerspooner (Drums/DJ/Performer) and Blue Man Group (Drums/Music Direction). In the following months Le Chev and TC completed AVAN LAVA’s first EP, “Vapors”, which was released on Faux Pyre Records in March 2010. The Village Voice wrote “AVAN LAVA is lush, sparkling,” and Big Stereo added “…at times chill, other times experimental and lush. And then there is this pop moment, “The Easy Way,” which leans on Prince a bit but is also deeply rooted in electronic sounds.” In 2011 they went back into the studio.
They self-released their sophomore EP titled “Flex Fantasy” on February 21 2012 which was produced and mixed by AVAN LAVA and mastered by Tom Coyne (Robyn, Beyonce, Jay-Z, D'Angelo) at Sterling Sound. Warren Fischer (Fischerspooner, Bunker) produced their first music video for “It’s Never Over,” which premiered as a feature on YouTube Music. They also released an official music video for their song “Sisters” which was shot on location in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It became an instant “Staff Pick” on Vimeo with over 120K views and counting. They have also worked as Producers, Composers and Mixers for recorded works and live performances with bands such as Cold Cave, Fischerspooner, Cat Power, CSS, Casey Spooner, Frankie Rose, SSION, Lemonade, Lia Ices, Matthew Barney and The New York Philharmonic. They have also made remixes for R.E.M., Passion Pit and New Villager among others. Warner Bros. released their most recent remix (made with Casey Spooner) of R.E.M.’s “Blue (with Patti Smith)” from R.E.M.’s final release “Collapse Into Now”, in early 2012. They also compose original music for world-renowned photographers Inez & Vinoodh, collaborating on fashion campaigns such as Nina Ricci, Mango, Donna Karan, Givenchy, Juicy Couture, Dior, Viktor & Rolf, and more.
Every show in 2012 was sold out. AVAN LAVA played Mercury Lounge, Bowery Ballroom, Music Hall of Williamsburg, The Brooklyn Museum, DC9, The W Hotel Singapore Opening with Mark Ronson (they released a cover of Mark Ronson & Boy George’s “Somebody To Love Me”, which premiered on VIBE), and Club Deus in Bali, Indonesia. For live performances, they add vocalist, percussionist and theatrical technician Andrew Schneider (The Wooster Group, Fischerspooner) and musicians/vocalists/dancers Drew Citron and Jo Lampert. They are currently in the studio recording their debut full-length album slated to drop in 2013.
Kim Ann Foxman
There is one word to sum up Kim Ann Foxman when she is behind the turntables...classic. Having started her career in dance music in the mid-90's performing in various electronic music acts. She essentially grew up on the sounds of English ex-pats the Wicked Crew (some of whom transformed into disco sensation Rub-N-Tug), Los Angeles legend Doc Marten and the many Chicago house djs that came through San Francisco during the period. These heavy hitters provided an education that she carried through and still does when finding music. Moving to New York she became involved in Hercules and Love Affair, touring with them for 3 years, appearing on two Hercules albums and various singles. Pushing forward, she dropped her debut Ep Creature/ What You Need in 2010, featuring remixes by James Curd and Faze Action. In 2011 she collaborated with Kink &Neville Watson on a track called A Saturday In Nov released on Your House is Hour Rush. She has also done remixes for artists such as Max Essa, X-press 2, The Opiates, and more. Kim Ann Foxman is now concentrating on her solo works, and side projects while appearing on various albums from prominent artists that will be released this year. Keep your ears peeled for her solo works, remixes, and collaborations. Booking her means three things: the party will be deep, classic, and go off!
DJ Sean B (Spank / Best Mate)
Djing in NYC clubs since 1996, at spots including Le Bain, Chelsea Hotel, Mr. Black, Santo’s Party House, APT, The Limelight, Element, Bar 169, and 205 Club Sean B now helms two of NYC's most well regarded underground gay parties –Spank and Xanadude. His multiple mixes for THE FADER magazine (including the much loved Suite 903 DJ mix series) brought him attenention across the U.S. and gig's in Berlin, Tokyo, London, Vienna, Lisbon and Porto have followed. Look out for remixes and original production as Best Mate and Apokalipps.
Venue Information:
Music Hall of Williamsburg
66 North 6th St
Brooklyn, NY, 11211
http://www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com/
Music Hall of Williamsburg
66 North 6th St
Brooklyn, NY, 11211
http://www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com/
