Yearly Archives: 1997

Interview

Interview in Sturm und Drang, Winter 1997/98

They say that every style has a limited life, from its prosperous origins to decline. There is, however, a current that has been in force for quite a few years and that has not declined at all: the heavenly voices. What began in the 80s with 4AD and continued with Hyperium now stars Projekt, a very successful American label that treasures some of the best ethereal music bands, such as LOVE SPIRALS DOWNWARDS, a Los Angeles duo formed by guitarist Ryan Lum and vocalist Suzanne Perry. In 1992 he made his debut with ‘Idylls,’ followed by ‘Ardor’ and his great and last work, ‘Ever.’

By Sonia Garcia

SUD: What is the meaning of the band name? Love Spirals Downwards? Does it have something to do with the acronyms that are formed with the initials, that is, the psychedelic LSD, and the effect that your music can cause?

Ryan: It’s just a name, we had to call ourselves somehow: it doesn’t mean anything.

Continue reading Interview in Sturm und Drang, Winter 1997/98 →
Interview, News

KUCI 88.9 FM Winter 1997 Program Guide [Scan, Transcript & Audio]

Interview and photography by Ned Raggett

It’s a beautiful name, Love Spirals Downwards. It calls up so many wonderful images, but the name would mean little if the band wasn’t so good as well. With Ryan Lum on guitars and other instruments and Suzanne Perry on vocals, LSD have created three excellent albums for Projekt Records over the past few years. The most recent, Ever, is quite something; a wonderful wash of Lum’s layered, exquisite acoustic and electric guitar work and Perry’s truly angelic vocals. LSD played an acoustic set on KUCI on Friday, November 15, after which they sat down for a talk about many and varied things — and during which they proved to have, as a duo, one of the best repartees around!

Ned: Ryan has mentioned elsewhere that he was trying to experiment more with electronics on this album. As the singer, what do you try to do on the new album that was different from the past?

Suzanne: I don’t know if ever try and aim for anything, I just see what comes out. The only aim is to do something different — or at least feels different. I don’t necessarily make something different, or consciously try to be different… I don’t know if this makes sense?

Ned: I’ve heard stranger explanations!

Ryan: I lost her!

Ned:  Well,  here’s another question for you, Suzanne…

Suzanne: Ask me a simple one, ‘cause I’m really stupid!

Ned: A simple one it is. Who are your influences, singing or lyrically?

Suzanne: Oh… (pause)

Ned: Never mind, that’s not so simple. Cancel!

Continue reading KUCI 88.9 FM Winter 1997 Program Guide [Scan, Transcript & Audio] →
News

Mexico Projekt Fest

We recently got back from another wonderful time in Mexico. After just dealing with a less than ideal audience in Chicago, the Mexico City audience’s enthusiasm for us, Lycia, and Arcanta was rewarded by great performances from us all (I’d say we all performed much better than in Chicago). The show was one of our best to date, with or without the electricity (those of you who were there know what I mean). The U.S. Projekt Fest audience could learn a few lessons from the Mexican audience, who really seemed to be there for the MUSIC rather than socializing.

After the show, Suzanne and I traveled to Cancun, on the Yucatan, for some relaxation and exploring. The highlight was visiting the pyramids and Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza.

Again, we had a great time in Mexico and look forward to the next time.

News

New album, upcoming show

Currently, we are hard at work on a new album. It’s coming together very nicely and I expect to be finished this Spring for a Summer release. If you’ve been to any of our shows this year, then you’ve heard some of the new songs, and can probably figure the direction it’s heading.

Also, and this is still very tentative, we may be doing a big Los Angeles show in March. I’ll post more information later.

Review

Ephemera Reviews ProjektFest ‘97

A huge feature on the Chicago ProjektFest is featured in Epherma, packed with photos from this multi-day event.

Love Spirals Downward usually plays a mellower type of acoustic rock, most easily compared to the Cranes or bands of a like nature. Tonight they would debut a new style that sees more of an electronic feel. Suzanne admitted to a bout of nervousness, that preceded this appearance, and related a story about an X-files monster (the Chupacabra??) and how it’s name could be said to the beat of one of their songs. It was really quite refreshing to see a band get off their high horse and actually be friendly and personable to the audience. You felt like they were performing for you in their living room. It was nice and intimate. Except for a few NOISY people who talked all through the set it was good. The electronic songs brought up comparisons of Portishead or Lamb and still sounded a bit rough around the edges, but eventually those gave way to the acoustic guitar style that most are used to hearing form these two. What can you say, it’s sheer beauty to hear Suzanne’s voice pierce the still air. There is nothing more honest and breathtaking. They wrapped up with another electronic bit. All in all I could say that it was a very surreal performance. You would have these very beautiful songs juxtaposed with anecdotes and silly songs about a “pickleman.” It wasn’t as jarring as, say, Rasputina’s commentary but it was equally bizarre. I liked it a lot. No one should miss the opportunity to see these guys. No one.

News

Projekt Festivals

2 Comments

I would like to say thanks to everyone that came to see us at the Projekt Festival (and at our Border’s in-store) in Chicago. Suzanne and I had a fun time once again. For those of you who were trying to enjoy our set, I am sorry about all the rude loud motherfuckers that talked during our set and the sets of all the more quiet bands. Those people obviously did not come for the music and ruin it for those who did. If there is another festival next year, I hope to have a solution worked out with Projekt and the venue for dealing with such situations. Anyway, we’re just a fews days from the Projekt Festival Mexico, in Mexico City, with Lycia and Arcanta! I should probably go pack.

Love Spirals Downwards performing at the Vic Theatre in Chicago Friday August 1, 1997
Interview, News

Projekt Fest 1997 Guide: LSD Interview Feature

Love Spirals Downwards interviewed by Pat Ogl

The duo of Ryan Lum and Suzanne Perry had no clear musical ambition —or even a band name— when they contacted Projekt Records. They jokingly called themselves as “The Flower People.” The response to their first full length CD ‘Idylls’ was no joke.  At that time Projekt was run out of Sam’s house with a fairly small advertising budget. Nonetheless the band sold over 10,000 copies. Two years later the bands sophomore effort ‘Ardor’ again sold over 10,000 copies– this time taking far less time to do so. 

Eschewing comparisons to “shoegazer” and “gothic” acts, Love Spirals Downwards have crafted a following that transcends genre and even generational “pigeon holes.” The label has received enthusiastic fan letters from teeny boppers and sitting Circuit Court Judges.The band has gradually evolved over the past five years. ‘Idylls’ dreamy aura, layered acoustic guitars and electronic was taken in an ever so slightly darker direction on ‘Ardor.’ The band’s third release ‘Ever’ combines elements of their acoustic live show with Ryan’s trance ambient influences. Currently a remix single for “Madras,” off the ‘Ever’ CD is in the works.

Ryan: Well, I don’t remember it being that overwhelming of a response. But I suppose that many people that had an initial liking to our music was because our songs are pretty songs, which is something a bit rare in music today

Pat: Don’t you think a good deal of the other artists on Projekt make “pretty” music? I can tell you that there was a pretty big reaction to your songs on that compilation…

Ryan: Sure, most of the rest of the Projekt artist make music that is pretty. But I think that we are the only one’s whose main aesthetic is in making a pretty and otherworldly sort of sound. Most of the others have something else going on in their music as well, more self-expressionistic things. I’m not saying that makes us better or worse than the others, but I think it makes our music stand out a bit, we have a quality that is distinct.

Continue reading Projekt Fest 1997 Guide: LSD Interview Feature →
News

Borders, Chicago performance

On Saturday August 2 at 2 PM (the day after Love Spirals Downwards perform at the Projekt Festival in Chicago), Suzanne and I will be doing a live in-store performance at a Borders Books and Music in Chicago as well. Borders is located at 2718 N Clark (Clark, Diversey & Broadway, near the Day’s Inn).

News

News & Updates

This is Ryan from Love Spirals Downwards.

If you had trouble locating our latest releases, Ever and the CD-single Sideways Forest, our label has finally solved the distribution problem that it was facing at the time of these releases. Now, they should be pretty easy to find at Tower, Borders, and most other record stores.


We have just two shows planned for this summer. First, we will be in Chicago at the Vic Theater for the Projekt Festival. We will play on the first night on Friday August 1. Tickets are $30 — which covers admission to both Friday & Saturday evenings( or $20 for one night). Tickets are on sale at the Vic box office, through Ticketmaster (Chicago only), or from Projekt at 312-913-9162. And on Saturday August 16, we will play again in Mexico City at the Cine Bella Epoca (Tamaulipas Y Alfonso Reyes S/N, Col. Condesa). Fellow Projekt artists Lycia and Arcanta will be playing as well. More info on these shows can be found on the Projekt ‘live’ page on their web site (www.projekt.com/live).


For those who are wondering, we are working on new music, some of which we are playing live. So, we should have a new album released next year. And for those who have asked about lyrics, sorry but we don’t have them available.

News

Ever Distribution

There were a few things that happened in the past few months regarding our music distribution that I would like to mention. The German release of Ever happened a few months back, with EFA being the new distributor for Projekt in Germany. And in the United States, we now have great distribution here through ADA, a Warner subsidiary.

Many people have written to us saying how difficult it was to find Ever and our other releases. I too had a tough time finding them. Now our CDs are everywhere once again: Tower, Borders, and all sorts of other stores. So, if you haven’t got it yet, now’s the perfect time to get a copy of Ever .