Artist Review: Liv Lapaz

Sometimes, eccentricity is all that is needed to make good music. A desire to do something different, a willingness to exploit all the available resources and talent can take you places. Don’t believe me? Take a look at Liv Lapaz. Berlin-based independent artist Liv made his album Drown, Yeah with just a $50 guitar bought from a trashy Chinese music store in Beijing, and an iPhone. Apparently, he didn’t even own a laptop when he started recording the songs in 2011-12. But that hardly has any effect on the melodies he was able to coax out of “Li-Li” the guitar.

I was a little sceptical about the attempt at first. I mean, many have failed to create good music even with expensive studio equipment. So it was natural on my part to feel as I did about Liv’s ambitious yet down-to-earth venture. But then I listened to the whole album, song-by-beautiful-song, and it left me appropriately chastised for having pre-conceived notions about the artist’s recording methods.

Though I must admit, Liv is by no means a brilliant singer. But that doesn’t mean you can’t expect great songs from him. I mean, one doesn’t really have to be a Celine Dion or a Whitney Houston to sing a good tune. If it is simple enough, and if you put enough emotion into it, you might just end up with an awesome track that can redefine what good music stands for.

All the layering, all the arpeggios, add to the surreal experience that is Drown, Yeah. The songs have a signature, authentic sound that can only come from a single inspiration on the artist’s part. The lyrics are, more often than not, a little weird. But they are the good kind of weird that can totally pass off as being a tad eccentric. The guitar “Li-Li” is as much an artist on this album as is Liv. She has a presence, constantly emphasized by the haunting sounds and rhythms that he charms out of her.

Amongst the hauntingly honest tunes on offer, my personal favourite would be Lady Lamonade, The Deep and Das Kind und der See. Although, Melancholia is worth a listen too. Actually, you should listen to them all and decide for yourselves. But in my honest opinion, this is one experiment that merits attention.

I was very curious as to the fate of “Li-Li” after listening to the songs. So I went over to Liv’s official website and hunted down this piece of info:

Every Box(of limited edition CDs of Drown, Yeah) also contains a piece of "Li-Li", the acoustic guitar and only instrument that was used on the album. Li-Li was smashed after recording was finished. It was then cut into exactly 100 pieces, one piece for each Limited Edition Box.

I found that quite sad. It kinda reminds you of the typical heroine from Chinese folklore – a peasant girl fakes being a princess to save the Emperor’s life. All goes well, but the heroine dies of a stray arrow from an archers’ tribute. But if you are big on owning unique memorabilia, I’m sure you would like the concept of owning a piece of an instrument which was instrumental (pun totally intended) in the success of the album.

Verdict: An experiment in eccentricity that proves to be quite successful!

Rating: 4.5/5

Artist Review: Hakanstone

What I wouldn't give for a day in the past, when I was a kid and gamboled in the neighborhood for five hours every day. The days when making forts was fun, but defending them was even more so. We would gang up and play pranks on the "grown-ups", trade trinkets and gum for a chance to play on that one kid's Gameboy and plan "expeditions" to the "far corners of the town" (which was usually within a one kilometer radius) on our bicycles. But not one of those smart-arse physicists have invented a time machine (yet). So I'll settle for the next best thing - Indie Ambient Sci-Fi Pop.

HakanStone is an indie pop project by Jens Hills with vocal contributions from KSharp, VHF, AHF and AJ Stubbs. With a signature Brit eccentricity, this act from East London (UK) personifies all that is "trippy". A quirky mix of pop beats from the flower power era and electro-pop from the wacky '80s makes up for majority of their mojo. I could totally envision this kinda music being played at a fashion event or as the soundtrack for a romantic scene in Gossip Girl.

The consistent feature in all the tracks is the very catchy beat. The style relies heavily on sweet vocals (whether male or female) that give the music an effervescent quality. Dance With Me has the potential to be the next "Young Folks". There is an unmistakable PB&J vibe in there somewhere, but HakanStone still remains original. The lyrics are mostly upbeat and peppy, like the music itself. The overall effect is that of minimal, clean, elegant music that exudes freshness.

Here is a track that is NOT on the album, but is really good nonetheless. That belongs in a freakin' club!!

Now a little about the collaborators, straight from the horse's mouth!

Contributors

Most of the time Jens works as an intellectual property and commercial business affairs consultant.

When not singing K Sharp mostly works in corporate responsibility - yep, corporate responsibility!

Jens and K were at university together.

Anthony Jackson-Stubbs does his thing with Paleday from his base in Brighton.

VHF is working through college and planning to be an artist, whilst looking to do some sessions and acoustic appearances.

AHF is going to tour South America, maybe with her sax, before studying Spanish and Portuguese at university.

VHF and AHF are Jens' daughters. It's a family affair.

Simon Rogers makes or produces music full time, including for film and tv. 

 The Album Story

Jens trained as a classical guitarist, gave up. Went to university, played in a band (yes K Sharp was the lead singer!), got offered a record deal. Didn't do it, became a lawyer. Simon Rogers went to the Royal College of Music and won the guitar prize. Became a successful artist and producer.

Simon was Jens' client.

Jens did lots of interesting work, including a number of copyright infringement cases, kept a project studio for this work and for fun. Discovered Garageband in 2008, worked up some tracks. Simon liked them and came on board. Daughters did their bits...

So now you know! Most of the guitar work and other instrumentation on the album is Jens with production touches by Simon. The drums are a mixed of samples, loops and fills, mostly sourced from www.drumsondemand.com, some from midi-guitar work. Idea was to create a virtual band...

Jens writes the lyrics himself, except for the lyrics on  Late Call, Impressions, Dance With Me, States of Mind, Chains and Control, which he co-wrote with K Sharp. About the future of HakanStone, Jens says, "I am lucky in that I have been able to do something to a result that reflects what I wanted to achieve creatively because of the friends I made in the music industry. Most importantly I have gained a lot of experience about the realities of trying to exploit music in the current climate. I hope to take this into a model for an Internet music streaming service which is an alternative market to the majors and which actually makes money for the musical contributors as opposed to the owners of the service. On the music side, I have a remix album planned (about 10-12 remixes), about 4 videos and a further album which will go into production later in the year. Big issue is whether we go live. It is essentially a studio project, although people think it is a band and we have received several enquiries from promoters."

My personal favorites from this 19-song double album are Spilt Milk (feat. VHF), Save My Soul (feat. A. J. Stubbs) and States of Mind (feat. KSharp). Another track to take note of is Gaston (feat. VHF).

You can listen to the whole album here or buy it from CDBaby.com. Trust me, it's TOTALLY worth the money spent! Follow HakanStone on Twitter and Facebook.

Verdict: Impeccable production and AWESOME music!

Band Review: Splendid Chaos

I am HOOKED! I just can't stop listening to this band ever since I found them a month or so ago. It won't be too far away from the truth if I said that their song "Staring at the Sun" has been kind of a soundtrack for some of my more intense moments. It gives me a kind of enthusiasm, a zest to tackle the difficult phase I've been facing lately. Well, that and my beloved books and close friends. The chorus that goes "I'm not the one/ who will burn out/ staring at the sun/ Inside of me/ is a fire like you've never seen", perfectly describes what I feel right now.

Band Name: Splendid Chaos

Members: Mike Hall - Vocals/Guitars

Terry Sharp - Guitars/Backing Vocals

Mike Oakley - Drums/Samples

Jake Fountain - Bass/Backing Vocals

Genre: Rock/Alternative Rock/Metal

Formed: 2000

Location: Brandon, Mississippi (USA)

The band from Brandon, MS (USA) was formed in the year 2000 and has made music that spans the Alternative/Hard Rock/Metal genres. They’ve performed with such bands as Hinder, Staind, Trapt, Saliva and Three Days Grace. Their music could well be categorized as being a reflection of the bands they’ve performed with. Emotions and angst just ooze out of every one of their compositions, painting before us a brilliant display of creativity coupled with prodigious skill.

They released the CD Burn It Down in early 2010, of which “Staring at the Sun” is a product. Mike Hall’s vocals, Terry Sharp’s guitars, Mike Oakley’s drums, and Jake Fountain’s bass do make a truly splendid chaos! “Come and Get It”, “Energy”, and the titular track “Burn It Down” literally pulsate with a raw energy that is totally infectious. The various element of the band gel together so perfectly, they seem as various limbs of the selfsame being. Okay, enough said; I better let you sample their music and decide for yourself whether YOU like them or not.

Verdict: Abso-fucking-lutely AWESOME music! \m/