With the FEMM-EDM Showcase quickly approaching at Dante’s, time to go deep into how EDM has reshaped not just the music of Amanda and Jenni Price and Laura Ivancie but created a full-on EDM EVENT!
SOUL WOMP!!
Acoustic Minds are at it again. For the powerhouse duo that is Amanda and Jenni Price, this time it’s all about bringing together some of the hottest up and coming female EDM artists in the US to Portland. Dante’s hosts the FEMM-EDM Showcase September 19th, 2014. Get your tickets HERE. And read on, to get into the minds of Amanda, Jenni, Laura, and LA headliner, Hopscotch. I give them The 5 Questions that range from influences to favorite eating.
THE ACOUSTIC-MINDSET
The band has gone through amazing changes since they began making music. And now, there’s even more to dig into.
Acoustic Minds are Portland natives and have been changing the game with their groundbreaking LIVE Electronic Dance Music. The four piece is fast on their way to releasing their second album. (collectively AM’s 7th album) With repeat trips to SXSW in Austin and sponsorship by Chipotle! they are hitting the ground running! This dynamic live show ranges from fun and flirty to dark and grimy. Their SOUL WOMP is a force with lighting, choreo and tight three part harmonies. Recent success includes new songs “Undertow” and “Breathe In” being chosen for publication through CBS Radio!
LAURA IVANCIE
Laura has alos evolved since she first began to find her music voice. The move was toward electronica but with a desire to retain live instrumentation. So the term “folktronic” really nails it. I talked with Laura last year in April. Want to know more about what moves her? Here it is. In part.
LIVE AT PRP
L-R: Amanda Price, Laura Ivancie, Jenni Price
The first of two scheduled visits to our studios brings in Laura Ivancie with Amanda and Jenni. They offered new tracks to check out and we talked influences from kid days to what is making motion in their music lives NOW.
Laura, Amanda, Jenni and Hopscotch on the phone from Vancouver. BC for Round Two of the Babe-Squad.
THE 5 QUESTIONS
Jenni Price
- What got you interested in making music and what were the steps you took to get there?
I was born into a musical family. My father sang and lead the worship group in church… I’ve wanted to sing since I can remember, and WOULD sing everywhere and anywhere. I feel like this is my gift and I knew I needed to share it, and did EVERYTHING in my power as a child to pursue that passion. That carried over into my adult life and what is now my full time profession. I love music… like a Iove my momma, like I love my best friend and twin sister, its always been there. I feel like I get to know myself a little better with music in my life, especially with writing. I feel my best writing has just NOW in the last 4-5 years really started flowing out of me. Before I was intimidated to write my own music so I collaborated with others to fill the gaps where I felt lacking. But now I am on a new wave of fluidity, and that can be rare as an artist… I say song writing is like feast or famine, the well is either over flowing or it is dry. Right now my cup is full and I’m so grateful for that.
- What kind of music do you make. Why and Where?
Soul WOMP, music that stirs your insides, makes you think, makes you feel confident, sexy, flirtatious. Music from the heart.
Why, cause I love it, I’ve said since I was a kid “music and singing to me, are like breathing, without it, I don’t know how I’d live” haha dramatic I know, but there is much truth to this statement to me.
Where, anywhere really, most of the time very early in the morning when I wake, or right before bed, I cary my phone with me everywhere, you never know when a melody or thought and lyric will pop up.
It is truly amazing and strange the places I’ve been inspired to write, or a hook will come to me. I’d have to say the most OUT THERE place was the ocean in Maui, like physically in the ocean I wrote the hook for “Undertow”. I RAN out of the ocean and to my phone to record it real quick so I didn’t forget :)
- What’s the most memorable show you’ve done and why?
There have been many memorable shows but one that comes to mind is, this year at the Oregon Country Fair, Tooth and Nail Booth Saturday night set, the band and I played in a small booth the size of a large closet, which sat on the corner right by the Youth Stage, we were surrounded by sooo many fair family. Every song, every movement they were in it with us… At one point I said “Lets all raise our voices as loud as we can, to let main stage hear what they are missing!” Without a seconds hesitation the thunderous roar that came back at me, gave me goosebumps all over and tears in my eyes.. It sounded like there were thousands of people surrounding us. In the pitch black with no lights to be seen, but on the stage. Who knew how many people were really out there, and to hear that power… it was the biggest RUSH and surge of joy throughout my entire body, and I said to the crowd “this is why I do this, right here”. I meant it.
- What have you learned about music and your own work in the last few years?
Over the years I have learned and grasped the energy of healing that music is. For ME while creating, writing or performing. For the people tuned in and listening its phenomenal how therapeutic a song or show can be. I have found a very personal part of my mind or heart that I can write from. When I first began music I was in love of the feeling I got from performing but knew there was something bigger then that. I now know it’s about inspiring, motivating, and pushing people to stand up for themselves, to take charge in their own destiny, and to not live in regret and the past and by far have fun with it! Don’t be afraid to take chances.
- What are you reading, listening to, watching, following, eating?
I wish I had more time to read, I’ve been listening to Beyonce’s new album religiously on repeat for the past month or so, it never gets old to me!
Watching a really creepy new show called “The Strain” (not sure I can make it through though, it’s a pretty graphic and gross interpretation of vampires). I love series that I can really grasp onto, so Netflix is my close friend, especially for late night insomnia. (yes I’m answering these questions at 1AM on a Tuesday late night/morning). “Orange is the New Black” was pretty gritty and great dialog, “Grey’s Anatomy” (which we can thank our momma Price for getting us addicted too, last year while visiting her in Cali) We held off on watching all 10 seasons but broke down earlier this year… THAT was a commitment!!! You really have to invest yourself for that kind of series HAHA!
Eating? My twinnie and I are currently on a 10 day cleanse, eating lean and green, with no processed sugars, dairy, red meat, caffeine, or alcohol. We try to do some sort of detox or cleanse once a season… Traveling, being on the road, can be toxic to your system if you don’t take care of yourself, and we want to be able to tour another 20-30 years performing for people, so health is our first priority besides music and FUN!
Amanda Price
- What got you interested in making music and what were the steps you took to get there?
I have been singing with my twin since I could talk. So music has always been in my life. I learned to play guitar when I was 18 and truly found my voice in these years. Singing as a duo for the first 15 years of my life I had learned to blend and hone my tone and range but I hadn’t really found my voice. It was the guitar that helped me do this and the music I make is still very centered around me playing it and discovering the songs.
- What kind of music do you make. why and where?
I write music for your heart, the stuff that hopefully rocks you to the core.. That so the music I love and whether that is with a full band or acoustic guitar that is the music I want to create.
- What’s the most memorable show you’ve done and why?
There have been soo many epic shows. From large to small and the connecting factor that makes them epic is the crowd vibing and that transfer of energy.. One do my lyrics is “one connecting heartbeat the music flowing out of me”
- What have you learned about music and your own work in the last few years?
Music is the message and we are all the vessel. This gift is one to not be squandered!
- What are you reading, listening to, watching, following, eating?
The last book I read was the Golden Compass but it’s been too long as I love to read! Listening to Phaeleh from the UK he is my absolute fav right now and just has that sexy grimy down tempo music on lock! Perfect mash music. Been watching old episodes of Grey’s Anatomy thanks to my mom!! Lol. Following Beyoncé like the true fan I am.. (Always comparing our music careers with her and her path) I have been eating clean and green and loving taking control of my health!
Laura Ivancie
- What got you interested in making music and what were the steps you took to get there?
I always knew I was a singer; however, never picked up a guitar until my sophomore year of college at La Sierra University in Riverside, CA. My roommate Zakia had a baby toy guitar and I learned every cover song I could get my hands on, just so I could sing. Later during my junior year of college at Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls, OR, I remember the first time my friend Kong played me “Untouchable face” by Ani DiFranco. I was stunned at how she could lyrically be so honest about her relationships; she was the most clever modern female songwriter-poet I had ever heard. I especially loved her sassiness and even anger toward the patriarchy (and it surprised me that more women weren’t). I appreciated her music surrounding her views on politics as well, which were also particularly angry. Overall, at the time, I think I was so drawn to her because I was a little bit angry about it all too, and she helped me feel a bit more sane about the world.
- What kind of music do you make.. why and where?
I write songs on the acoustic guitar first. They are soulful, alternative folk songs with a tinge of blues and Americana. The songs are generally relationship oriented, often beginning with some type of struggle and usually ending with a lesson or a constant questioning, with some light at the end of the tunnel.
Many of these acoustic songs are now morphing into “folktronic soul and pop” songs, produced by Auditory Sculpture/ Keith Schreiner (Jeff Trott, Sheryl Crow, Mike Elizond) and now Kevin Hahn is in the mix. I’m elated to have attracted some fine gentlemen to mold my sound into more of a “live instrumentation meets electronic trip hop and dance” feel. It’s been a long time dream of mine to create this sound from my raw acoustic material, ever since I heard similar sounds ft. female vocals such as Portishead and Zero Seven. It may also be that I was weaned on Depeche Mode, The Cure, New Order, and the Church in my formative years).
- What’s the most memorable show and why?
Definitely the all-female showcase “Epiphany” that I recently put on at the Star Theater last May 10th. My performance was nothing short of a miracle and it’s a long story, but it was my best to date. Let’s just say that I had pneumonia and some very good friends of mine came to my spiritual rescue. In short, I didn’t feel like it was only me singing up there on stage and I am forever changed for the positive by this experience.
- What have you learned about music and your own work in the last five years?
Music is the universal language and passport into feelings. It is the most thrilling experience to be able to perform in front of people, I get nervous all the time, although it is so satisfying to connect to everyone. Unfortunately, in order to do this full-time, you also have to be a good business person and be very diligent about how you allocate your funds, who you work with, how you strategize in general. In short, the music business has tested me in every way possible and I love the challenge of it all. My sound keeps evolving and I love this! I have let go of all expectations that I may have had in my earlier years and am simply grateful for whatever it continues to bring into my life, simply because I enjoy making it and doing it, whether or not it can feed my bank account, it surely feeds my soul and this type of freedom is worth working a part-time job that I don’t like, to do it. It all keeps getting better and better!
- What are you reading, listening to, watching, following, eating?
I’m reading “The Universal Traveler – A soft systems guide to creativity, problem solving, and the process of reaching goals” by William Kaufman as well as “All you Need to Know about the Music Business,” by Donald Passman as well as “The Business of Music,” by Krasilovsky/ Shemel/ Gross/ Feinstein and “The Daily Adventures of Mixerman” by Anyonymous. I don’t watch T.V. Sometimes I watch movies, usually fantasy like “Maleficant” and “Beautiful Creatures”. Right now I’m doing a cleanse and I usually eat organic fruits, grains, veggies and meat as much as possible. I listen to everything except heavy screamer metal and heavy punk rock.
Hopscotch
- What got you interested in making music and what were the steps you took to get there?
I have been involved and interested in music from the womb. I grew up singing. It’s something I’ve always done. I went to school for audio engineering and I definitely know my way around the studio, more so than ever I like working with other producers and different ears now. Producing is just like playing instruments, no two people do it alike, and I like playing in that space a lot more these days. I always want to make music with people who challenge me to be better and vice versa.
- What kind of music do you make, why and where?
I make Electronic Dance Music for your body and soul. My sound has been described as ‘electronic pop’, ‘chillwave’, ‘trap’, ‘future bass’ and I coined the term ‘witch trap’ to describe my genre when putting out my single ‘Emotion’ and my last EP ‘Archer’.
- What’s the most memorable show you’ve done and why?
Actually in Australia my fav highlight of that tour was at The Solar Eclipse festival I played… Mid-set a heap of people were dancing and writhing in a big mud puddle. The pure earthy expression of their dance and experience to my music gave back to me in a beautifully strange way. They were so into the vibe I couldn’t help but give ‘em more, I love that call and response. That’s what it’s all about! Head to toe muddy fans experiencing something genuine to my music is a huge reward for all of the unglamorous time I spend off stage working hard.
- What have you learned about music and your own work in the last few years?
GO BIG OR GO HOME.
- What are you reading, listening to, watching, following, eating?
I wish I had time to read more…the last book i read and I’ll recommend for all the creative heads out there is ‘Mastering Creative Anxiety’ by Eric Maisel. My #1 album I’d recommend from last couple years is Destroyer’s album Kaputt. I am not sick of it yet & that’s crazy considering how many times I’ve listened to it. I’m a fan of Ru Paul’s Drag Race… best show ever! ;) I’m a fashion forward musician, so I follow a lot of fashion heads and forward thinkers and doers. FOOD! Coconut Kale smoothies rock my world… I love mayonnaise and aioli and will find reasons to put it on anything! Watermelon in the summer. Bone broth saved my life. So grateful to have so many choices for food all the time living in LA and on the west coast.
More ’bout Hopscotch.
Josh Lorenzen
- What got you interested in making music and what were the steps you took to get there.
I’ve been Interested in making music as a natural passion since childhood .A friend from grade school had a very musically oriented family.I gravitated to them and spent the majority of time at their home. Because they had a whole collection of instruments, that’s where I started playing the bass and formed a band with my friends. We did talent shows and battle of the bands competitions. Then in high school I started branching out exploring different genres while creating groups and performing out in Spokane. I moved to Portland with aspirations to broaden my skills and network. I was introduced by a friend to the twins and their band Acoustic Minds, I met Aaron, joined AM in June of 2010 and the rest history.
- What kind of music do you make. why and where?
I make music because it makes me happy, what ever emotions I’m feeling translate into the music I make. I make music because it feeds my soul. As of lately I’m able to make music wherever I go due to technology whether it is at home on the road or in the studio.
- What’s the most memorable show you’ve done and why?
Opening for Judith Hill at the iconic Crystal ballroom, because in my mind, it was a pivotal point in my music career, due to the hype of the show and the venue itself.
- What have you learned about music and your own work in the last few years?
I’ve learned that music comes best from a creative stand point and not to push or try to put a song in a box. Meaning I have to let it flow naturally through me because it’s coming from my emotions and not the black and white stand point.
- What are you reading, listening to, watching, following, eating?
I’m reading any and every kind of blog/article in the Edm genre. There is so much information on the internet that I don’t limit myself to a specific source, I read what interests me and take what I deem valuable from it. What I’m listening to is directly connected to my current mood. I’m an emotional guy and listen to all genres. I’m in with love film, I watch as many different types of movies that I can, they inspire me and I really respect the art form that is film. I don’t keep up with tv series but I Love. Dexter. period. Depending on my schedule I vary from eating healthy to absolutely horrible but in a general sense I try to stay away from processed foods
 
Aaron Altemose
- What got you interested in making music and what were the steps you took to get there.
My parents were janitors when I was a kid and I spent hours on a grand piano where they were working. I also had a forward-thinking piano teacher early on who got me hooked on music arrangement and voicing.
- What kind of music do you make. why and where?
My tastes in music don’t truly fall into a just one category. The best songs immediately pull an emotion out of me, good or bad, but they have to take me on a trip. My musical fall-backs include inde electronic, singer-songwriter genres, and rhythm-centric pop ballads. I make music wherever I can. I write to stay sane; to clear my thoughts and put them down on paper. The best songs I’ve written come fast in the most random locations like the DMV or inside Walgreens. I just break out my phone recorder and capture the moment.
- What’s the most memorable show you’ve done and why?
We’ve had a busy summer lineup. I don’t think we’ve mentioned our SXSW experiences yet. We played 9 showcases that week all across the city, making it our busiest SXSW to date. We showed up with an album-worth of new tracks, and some new swag and by the end of the week we were still kickin (despite the lack of sleep, downtime, H20, and our other-halves. South-by is an artists boot camp and we survived it!
- What have you learned about music and your own work in the last few years?
When working in the electronic music realm, it’s important to keep a level of realism and an acoustic element in the song. I’ve also learned that less is more. The fewer synths, arpeggios, and leads going at the same time, the better. This is coming from someone who used to write 6 complementing melodies and I’d try to execute them all at the same time.
- What are you reading, listening to, watching, following, eating?
I just got over the unsettling season 2 finale of Hemlock Grove on Netflix, I find myself watching episodes of House once in a while, and I’m currently selectively reading pages from the book “Google ad words for dummies.”
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