- Field Day |
- Buildings Alive |
- Visions |
- CLGBT |
- Green Community |
- Fun & Free S#!T |
- Crossword |
- CL Space |
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Wednesday-music.com indie music profile: Ariel Pink
Posted by Jason Green on Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 1:22 PM
Ariel Pink (pronounced "r-real pink") grew up in LA and attended Beverly Hills High School (the same one in the Alicia Silverstone incest-based comedy classic, Clueless). He started writing songs around age 10 and says he has recorded 500+ songs since 1996; most have never been heard by fans.
His eccentric/melodic lo-fi recordings utilize some of the most unconventional instruments to date, namely his mouth and armpit, which he uses to create drum sounds. His music reminds me of 1970s and '80s-era pop rock idols like David Bowie, John Lennon, The Bee Gees, Frank Zappa, Brian Eno and Roxy Music.
In mid-2003, Ariel hooked up with Animal Collective, passing them a CD-R of his work. A few weeks lapsed before John Dibb of Animal Collective actually listened to it. “It sat on the floor of the van for a week or so,” said John. “Finally we played it and we were just like ‘whoa!’”
A few weeks later, John contacted Ariel and signed him to their label, Paw Tracks. The next year, the label re-issued his self-recorded LP, The Doldrums. Since then, the label has also released Worn Copy and House Arrest.
“Having recently broken the scenery of his storied in-house lo-fi factory, rounding up the Haunted Graffiti and recording in a more traditional studio environment, one could rightly expect a turn of the tide,” wrote Kyle Mackinnel. “With Before Today, Ariel achieves congruence in the album’s construction, but does so without sacrificing his peculiar flamingo flair.”
Because Ariel’s music isn’t designed to be played to live audiences, his live gigs historically aren't well received by fans. In fact, he said, “people boo me everywhere. They don't even hide their contempt. I’m used to it now.” However, touring with the same lineup has allowed his live music to become more digestible and tighter.
Click here for Ariel Pink's blog. Click here for a video of an interview. Click here for a link to Ariel’s original drawings, available for $10,000 each; which to me seems a bit high. Visit the band’s MySpace page here and website here.
Check here to see if Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti have any gigs scheduled near you.
Ariel Pink are way bright.
If you agree, please visit wednesday-music.com! Then, join the once weekly (on Wednesday) mailing list or better yet, join the pep squad and get tons of free junk (actually, just wednesday-music stickers and pencils–but really great stickers and pencils).
Latest in Daily Loaf
-
GOP leadership now supporting bill that would allow all employers to deny coverage for contraception
The president thought he had sewn the issue up on Friday.
-
Cyber criminals don't want you to read this ...
Two experts on cybercrime are going to answer all your questions and satiate all your fears, hopefully, about cyber crime on Feb. 28. Take notes and keep yourself safe. It's a cruel world out there.
-
CPAC crowd eats up Sarah Palin's mocking of Barack Obama
"We're not Red Americans, we're not Blue Americans, we're Red White and Blue," declaimed Palin, "and President Obama, we are through with you!"
- More »
Top Commenters
Comments (0)