 |  | Auralei [play hifi lofi] [license] [download] |
 | | Gravity [play hifi lofi] [license] [download] |
 | | Orbits [play hifi lofi] [license] [download] |
 | | Truth (original and remixes) [play hifi lofi] [license] [download] |
 | | Undone [play hifi lofi] [license] [download] |
"A sensual blend of daydreamy beats and starry-eyed breaks."—San Francisco Examiner
"A world class creation."—Keyboard Magazine
If such a joyous sonic welter as the music of Oakland's Artemis needs a handle,
then call it "pavement psychedelia," or "urban robot raga" or "trip-pop." On a
song like "Hypno," spectral keyboard washes and sinuous dance beats set up a
feeling of warm alienation before the singer's voice heats things further. Over
the thump and shimmer, she croons with detached fervor, the production
dissolving in a storm of pixie-dust disco until a rude riot of effects snaps the
tether and she vanishes.
Aesthetically, the band is a poppier variant on trip-hop, with layers of beats
and synth effects providing atmospherics for sophisticated classic rock song
structures and the velvet swoop of Artemis's vocals. Artemis co-produces and
performs with various members of the RTFM collective, which includes the
polymathic likes of Daniel Berkman (aka Colfax, multi-instrumentalist and wizard
of the kora, a twelve-string harp-lute used extensively in West African music),
Cliff Tune (the drummer, who adds to orthodox skin-pounding masses of programmed
beats layered for pallidly funky effect) and Keith Crusher (producer, programmer
and sonic theoretician) lowering the ambient temperature to dry-ice. Despite the
variety of syncretic means, the whole wraps around the singer in true rockist
fashion like a flash-frozen Big Brother & the Holding Company.
The music pulses with downtempo beats while ambient sound FX sinks tethers from
the world outside into the listener only to pull them pleasantly loose with the
band's coruscating riffs and hooky churn. Artemis presides over this aural
slow-burn like one of Wim Wenders' angels; warm, wise, detached and waiting for
you.
Press and Praise
A promo snippet video for the song 'Ella' from the Auralei EP.
Daniel Berkman also has his own solo project on Magnatune.
All photographs by John Buckman.
Artemis' releases Orbits (2007), Gravity (2005)
and Undone
(2001) have been consistent top sellers on Magnatune, and have garnered praise
and press in publications from the New York Times to Remix, Electronic Musician
and Keyboard magazines. Her music receives global airplay and is featured
regularly on major podcasts and popular online radio shows such as Dave's
Lounge, SomaFM, Groovera, and Below Zero. Songs have been licensed for
television, video and compilations, and she has recorded and collaborated with
producers worldwide including Banco de Gaia's Toby Marks and former Duran Duran
manager Paul Berrow. Tracks from her most recent release, the Auralei EP (2010),
have already won awards and spotlights, with the Colfax remix of 'Here and Now'
earning top marks at the first Epiphyte Records Test Press event of 2010.
Keith Crusher
Producer and Songwriter with Artemis
Daniel Berkman
live electronic percussion (handsonic), kora, gravikord (electric kora) and guitar.
 | A high res photo of this artist is available. |
