Artists
Dave Bianchi
It's been four years since Dave left the United States of America. Within minutes of the re-election of Bush Jr., he looked around the room of his Brooklyn apartment at his disappointed friends, and said 'I'm leaving'. An opportunity in Switzerland came up, but was short-lived-so he quickly found himself pulled to Barcelona with an almost magnetic force. A city that is teeming with creativity - it's in the air and water itself - so it was the perfect place to open a studio and produce some of the amazing musicians from around the world who were also drawn to the Catalonian capitol.
While living in New York and Los Angeles, Dave produced the syndicated shows Rockline and Modern Rock Live, and went on to create and produce the nightly program Nights with Alice Cooper, hosted by the shock-rock legend and broadcast to 120 stations internationally. While he remains the head writer for the show, his passion for music production took over once he breathed in the Mediterranean air...
In 2006, Dave started Whatabout Music, a label for the artists he produces and develops. In the L'Hospitalet suburb of Barcelona, he opened the Emergency Room studio and produced the critically-acclaimed albums 'Communication' and 'Battery Park' for the band Melou, as well as the debut solo effort 'Swoon' for gypsy-folk songwriter Amanda Jayne. The Emergency Room has become known as one of the most comfortable and creative studios to record in Barcelona.
After three years and hundreds of musicians passing through the Emergency Room, Dave put together his 'dream team.' A 'band' of people from different cultures - Argentina, Portugal, the USA, Africa, Israel, Japan, or Spain - cellos, clarinets, saxophones, harps or trombone all coming together to translate the songs he wrote and orchestrated. And Baby Disco was born. Thirteen songs, but one piece. Even the cover of the Doors' "People Are Strange" seems to fit right in with Bianchi's songs, especially with the famous riff played by accordions and trumpets instead of Robby Krieger's electric guitar.
With director Laurent Briet (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tori Amos, Moby), the video for the single "That Stare" was shot in New York at the end of 2008. A simple yet fresh idea from a director who not only directed commercials and music videos for top clients, but has also gained a reputation for his innovative post-production.
And while Dave will be busy at work in the Emergency Room for 2009 producing new bands and creating his next album, a live show likely won't follow until 2010. But when it does, prepare for a 10-piece band, complete with dancers, cello players on stilts, and an accordion player who doubles as a trapeze artist...
→ Listen Ι Releases Ι Myspace
While living in New York and Los Angeles, Dave produced the syndicated shows Rockline and Modern Rock Live, and went on to create and produce the nightly program Nights with Alice Cooper, hosted by the shock-rock legend and broadcast to 120 stations internationally. While he remains the head writer for the show, his passion for music production took over once he breathed in the Mediterranean air...
In 2006, Dave started Whatabout Music, a label for the artists he produces and develops. In the L'Hospitalet suburb of Barcelona, he opened the Emergency Room studio and produced the critically-acclaimed albums 'Communication' and 'Battery Park' for the band Melou, as well as the debut solo effort 'Swoon' for gypsy-folk songwriter Amanda Jayne. The Emergency Room has become known as one of the most comfortable and creative studios to record in Barcelona.
After three years and hundreds of musicians passing through the Emergency Room, Dave put together his 'dream team.' A 'band' of people from different cultures - Argentina, Portugal, the USA, Africa, Israel, Japan, or Spain - cellos, clarinets, saxophones, harps or trombone all coming together to translate the songs he wrote and orchestrated. And Baby Disco was born. Thirteen songs, but one piece. Even the cover of the Doors' "People Are Strange" seems to fit right in with Bianchi's songs, especially with the famous riff played by accordions and trumpets instead of Robby Krieger's electric guitar.
With director Laurent Briet (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tori Amos, Moby), the video for the single "That Stare" was shot in New York at the end of 2008. A simple yet fresh idea from a director who not only directed commercials and music videos for top clients, but has also gained a reputation for his innovative post-production.
And while Dave will be busy at work in the Emergency Room for 2009 producing new bands and creating his next album, a live show likely won't follow until 2010. But when it does, prepare for a 10-piece band, complete with dancers, cello players on stilts, and an accordion player who doubles as a trapeze artist...
→ Listen Ι Releases Ι Myspace
Amanda Jayne Wright
Born in Smalltown, Pennsylvania, Amanda Jayne soon became bored with trying to talk to the trees and went out into the world in search of more stimulating conversation. So she put on her shoes and grabbed whatever portable instrument happened to be on hand--in this case, the accordion. After winding around the States a few times, she ended up in Europe hitch-hiking through Bulgaria and busking in Greece, until she landed in Barcelona, Spain.
What started off as a fairly innocent love affair with the city turned into a 8-year long relationship. While playing on the street in Barcelona, Amanda met Dumbala Canalla, a local gypsy-circus-folk band. Eventually she was asked to join them in their mad circling of Catalunya and Spain, France, and Italy.
After 4 years of playing with Dumbala, she gathered her 30 some-odd songs she had written during her travels and funneled them into her solo project; a masterpiece called "Swoon". It's available NOW through Whatabout Music!
→ Listen Ι Releases Ι Myspace
What started off as a fairly innocent love affair with the city turned into a 8-year long relationship. While playing on the street in Barcelona, Amanda met Dumbala Canalla, a local gypsy-circus-folk band. Eventually she was asked to join them in their mad circling of Catalunya and Spain, France, and Italy.
After 4 years of playing with Dumbala, she gathered her 30 some-odd songs she had written during her travels and funneled them into her solo project; a masterpiece called "Swoon". It's available NOW through Whatabout Music!
→ Listen Ι Releases Ι Myspace
Selva de Mar
Sasha Agranov and Pablo Wayne define their music as "aquatic": a tapestry of timeless, almost utopian atmospheres that bewitch the imagination, constructed over an acustic base (cello and hang), superimposed with a variety of different objects and ethereal use of electronic processes.
Selva de Mar create a soundtrack to an imaginary (but not made-up) mediterranean that lies in the subconscious memory of a territory that was once both mystical pastoral, enigmatic and familiar. Perhaps that's why they've taken their music to Israel and Jordan, as much as Spain and France.
(Sebastiá Jovani for LEM Festival, Barcelona 08)
→ Listen Ι Releases Ι Myspace
Selva de Mar create a soundtrack to an imaginary (but not made-up) mediterranean that lies in the subconscious memory of a territory that was once both mystical pastoral, enigmatic and familiar. Perhaps that's why they've taken their music to Israel and Jordan, as much as Spain and France.
(Sebastiá Jovani for LEM Festival, Barcelona 08)
→ Listen Ι Releases Ι Myspace
Melou
Another year has passed, and after traveling through Europe in a big red camper, making friends and writing music along the way, the eclectic group of musicians that make up Melou are proud to present their sophomore release, Battery Park. Boston native Annie Goodchild was once again joined by a cast of characters from around the globe, all bringing something special into the mix...
Once Goodchild and Dutch guitarist/songwriter Maarten Reijnierse finished recording their debut album Communication in Barcelona during the winter of 2006, they returned to Boston to play shows and solidify their rhythm section of Max Comaskey on bass and Jim Lavin on drums. While in Boston, the band earned the support of local radio station WERS, which had the following to say about Communication: "It's difficult to epitomize a sound so far-reaching, a style that has spanned various regions of the globe, and experience from orchestras to traditional South American bands, but Melou manages to bring all of this together delicately and gracefully, to communicate, if you will, all of this experience into a sound that is truly their own. Something this unique and this special is simply invaluable."
After a long and winding road with 40 some-odd shows during the summer of 2007 which brought them through Holland, Germany, Belgium, and England, the band returned to Barcelona in the fall with 12 new songs and a desire to create. Teaming up once again with producer Dave Bianchi at the Emergency Room studios, the group set out to take their unique sound even further for their second album. This time there was a different theme - as the title Battery Park would suggest, "Organic vs. Electronic."
To follow the theme, they seamlessly worked in an original mix of Reggae, Soul, Gospel, Electronic, Bossanova, Latin, Drum n' Bass and even 50s Surf. Featuring a lineup of all-star musicians from around the world who currently reside in Barcelona, Melou have once again tastefully created a blend that showcases the band's talent, and brings Goodchild's vocals to a new level. Maybe that's why URB Magazine compared her to Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill...
The band played a 60-show summer 2008 tour in Europe, which took them through Spain, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and England, as well as appearances on numerous Dutch radio and TV programs. They'll be touring Europe in 2009, so get tour dates and more info from the band's website melou-music.com.
→ Listen Ι Releases Ι Myspace Ι Official website
Once Goodchild and Dutch guitarist/songwriter Maarten Reijnierse finished recording their debut album Communication in Barcelona during the winter of 2006, they returned to Boston to play shows and solidify their rhythm section of Max Comaskey on bass and Jim Lavin on drums. While in Boston, the band earned the support of local radio station WERS, which had the following to say about Communication: "It's difficult to epitomize a sound so far-reaching, a style that has spanned various regions of the globe, and experience from orchestras to traditional South American bands, but Melou manages to bring all of this together delicately and gracefully, to communicate, if you will, all of this experience into a sound that is truly their own. Something this unique and this special is simply invaluable."
After a long and winding road with 40 some-odd shows during the summer of 2007 which brought them through Holland, Germany, Belgium, and England, the band returned to Barcelona in the fall with 12 new songs and a desire to create. Teaming up once again with producer Dave Bianchi at the Emergency Room studios, the group set out to take their unique sound even further for their second album. This time there was a different theme - as the title Battery Park would suggest, "Organic vs. Electronic."
To follow the theme, they seamlessly worked in an original mix of Reggae, Soul, Gospel, Electronic, Bossanova, Latin, Drum n' Bass and even 50s Surf. Featuring a lineup of all-star musicians from around the world who currently reside in Barcelona, Melou have once again tastefully created a blend that showcases the band's talent, and brings Goodchild's vocals to a new level. Maybe that's why URB Magazine compared her to Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill...
The band played a 60-show summer 2008 tour in Europe, which took them through Spain, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and England, as well as appearances on numerous Dutch radio and TV programs. They'll be touring Europe in 2009, so get tour dates and more info from the band's website melou-music.com.
→ Listen Ι Releases Ι Myspace Ι Official website
Contributing Artists
Sasha Agranov (of selva de mar)
Cello, Saw
Oriol Roca
Drums
Maru DiPace
Guitar, Harp
Miguel Serna
Double bass
Ivo Herrera
Violin, Handsaw
Xabi Eligarçy
Banjo
Marc Mena
Trumpet
Mû
On "DH Hell" (Dave Bianchi - "Baby Disco")
Brian Bender
Trombone
Emma Gawlinski
Flute, Tenor sax
Daniel Gil
Electric guitar
Sam Watson
Clarinet, Alto sax
Petxis
Electric guitar on "People Are Strange" (Dave Bianchi - "Baby Disco")
Daniel Dalança
Second vocals on "Vicious Game" (Dave Bianchi - "Baby Disco")
Paul Sessions
Sauzophone
Clara Peya
Piano on "Last Tango" (Dave Bianchi - "Baby Disco")
Pablo Wayne (of selva de mar)
Bells on "The Bells Are Ringing" (Dave Bianchi - "Baby Disco")
Daiho
Toys on "Personal Solar System" (Dave Bianchi - "Baby Disco")
Emiliano Roca
Contrabajo on "Baby Disco" (Dave Bianchi - "Baby Disco")
Paco Mendez
Double bass, Electric bass (Melou - "Communication")
Max Comaskey
Electric bass (Melou - "Communication")
Phillippe Lemm
Drums (Melou - "Communication")
Coen Kaldeway
Saxophone (Melou - "Communication")
Tyler Brooks
Drums (Melou - "Communication")
Amanda Jayne Wright
Accordion, Cat sounds, Candles (Melou - "Communication")
Dave Bianchi
Piano, Rhodes, Programming, Backup Yelps (Melou - "Communication")
Miguel de Braganca
Backing vocals, Guitar, Percussion, Bass, Vibraphone, Clavinet (Melou - "Communication")
Oscar Zanon
Mandolin (Melou - "Communication")
Francesc Vives
Trumpet (Melou - "Communication")
Daniel Carbonell
Clarinet (Melou - "Communication")
Carlos
Eelectric bass (Melou - "Communication")
Pablo and Diego (of Negritos)
Percussion, Flute, Vocals (Melou - "Communication")
Eva Custar
Cello (Melou - "Communication")
Ivo!
Violin (Melou - "Communication")
Dani (of Negritos)
Percussion (Melou - "Communication")
© Whatabout Music 2009 Email: info@whatabout-music.com