Here’s a few pix from the DJ gig at the Hollywood Virgin Megastore the other night. Thanks to Anji of KUCI FM for coming out to support!
DJ Ryan at Virgin Megastore
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More DJ gigs
It’s now confirmed that I’ll be guest DJ’ing at the Virgin Megastore on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood on Friday evening, February 12 from 8 to 10 pm (8000 Sunset Blvd at Crescent Heights, 323-650-8666). They’ll be giving away some Flux stickers and CD’s, and I’ll be spinning records in a similar mood to our album, Flux. It’s not a club, so you won’t be able to get down and boogie, but this should be a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to this.
A reminder that I’ll be DJ’ing in San Francisco this Saturday, January 30. Be sure to come down if you’re in the area. See below for the club info and time.
Sterile show
Had a good time doing an opening DJ set at Sterile this weekend. Great to see Halou and Sweet Trip as well as the 9-5 Super Spy and KUCI peeps. Here’s a few pix Anji took of the event.
Interview in Outburn #8, Jan 1999
An interview with Ryan Lum of Love Spirals Downwards by Gary Thrasher
Call it post-shoegazer, call it ethereal majesty… call it post-apocalyptic drum ’n’ bass trance… just don’t cal lit goth. Love Spirals Downwards, darlings of the Projekt label, are a blissful masterpiece of hypnotic rhythms and swirling guitars, topped off with angelic vocals… all with a tinge of dark moodiness and Middle Eastern mysticism. With their fourth album, Flux, a foray into the hazed world of melodic drum ’n’ bass, Love Spirals Downwards are poised on the brink of world dominance… it was on this cliff that I spoke with the mastermind behind the music, Ryan Lum.
How did Love Spirals Downwards come together in the beginning and how did you first become involved with Projekt Records?
It’s so long ago. Suzanne and I knew each other and we just decided to try it out… see how it worked with her singing on stuff I had made. I’d been making music for ages. I’m always just recording and making my own music, as opposed to doing the band thing. I don’t mind rehearsing for shows, but I like to record… that’s where my heart is. I sent a few demo tapes out for the hell of it. I didn’t know who Projekt was. One of my friends, the guy who shot our cover for the first album, knew someone in his art school… Susan Jennings (Projekt owner Sam Rosenthal’s former girlfriend). Somehow they got talking and she said, “Why don’t you have your friend Ryan send his tape in?” We sent a few others out, I think 4AD and Creation were the other two, and Projekt was the first and only to respond. It just evolved from that.
Continue reading Interview in Outburn #8, Jan 1999Hello and Happy New Year!
My DJ gig in San Francisco for Saturday January 30 is now confirmed. I’ll be spinning at La Belle Epoque, located at the Top, 424 Haight St. (between Webster and Fillmore, club info 415-241-1545, 21 and over). I’ll be on from about 9:30 to 11:30. Along with my records, I’ll be bringing along some Flux CDs and stickers to give away as well. This should be a lot of fun and I’m excited about this since La Belle Epoque is my favorite club in San Francisco. It’s where I’m always at when I’m in town on a Saturday. Come on out and say hello.
Also, this Friday January 15, I will be the featured surprise DJ at Sterile, spinning several sets of ambient and drum n’ bass, along with Orange County DJ’s Christopher Robin (KUCI’s on air/off air & ROTPG) and Daniel Bremmer (Peach, KUCI’s Space Disco For Fish Tacos). There will also be a giveaway of cd’s and stickers of Love Spirals Downwards’ Flux. Performing live will be Kid 606 (Vinyl Communications, San Diego) and Phone. Sterile is located in Costa Mesa, CA at 2944 Randolph ave. #1. Club info is at: www.peachfuzz.net/sterile/. 9PM, $5 + 2 cans of food or $10 without, All ages.
Here’s my favorite records from 1998. By far, the most brilliant album of the year was Mezzanine by Massive Attack. I’d recommend it to anybody who was into our album Flux. Perfume Tree is another band you should check out if you’re into our sound. Moon Safari and Earth are a bit more jazzy and very nice and melodic.
- Massive Attack – Mezzanine
- Air – Moon Safari
- Perfume Tree – Feeler
- V/A – LTJ Bukem Presents Earth, Vol. 3
- V/A – Soundtrack from the movie Pi
Temporal on sale now!
We’re starting out 2000 with the release of Temporal, a collection of songs spanning the 8 year history of the band. From the acoustic beginnings to the present electronica/drum ‘n’ bass sound, this compilation covers the entirety of LSD’s career with 13 tracks selected from our master tapes for your enjoyment. The official Projekt Records release date is January 11th, 2000 — but we are offering Temporal for sale NOW at our webstore for just $13!
I had the opportunity to spin a little at a great B-Sides New Year’s Eve party, which got me excited to get back into DJing. Hopefully I’ll have some new bookings to list here for you real soon, so be sure to check back later.
HAPPY NEW MILLENIUM to everyone! Hope you had a great holiday season!
LSD Interview on Space Disco for Fish Tacos
Ryan and Suzanne performed live on the “Space Disco For Fish Tacos” show in the KUCI radio station in Irvine on December 16, 1998. The following is a transcript of the post-performance interview by show host, 9-5 Superspy.
9-5 Superspy: Alright, you’re listening to KUCI 88.9 FM, in Irvine. This is 9-5 Superspy and I’m here with Ryan and Suzanne, from Love Spirals Downwards.
Suzanne: (mimics DJ’s calm voice) We’re here with Daniel.
Ryan: How’s it going, G? I need a better stage persona. You know, people have these cool names and stuff? I was thinking of “G.” But then there’s that whole thing with Warren G. and Garth Brooks fighting over the G.
Suzanne: Oh is that what the “G’d up sound” is?
Ryan: Yeah. Mmm hmm.
Suzanne: The “G’d up sound with the Pion…” is that what that is?
9–5 Superspy: I guess.
Suzanne: Oh my God.
Ryan: Yeah… But there’s Daddy G. in Massive Attack. So that’s already taken. So I dunno. I think I’m gonna scrap the G.
Continue reading LSD Interview on Space Disco for Fish TacosLove Spirals Downwards In-Studio Interview on KUCI [Transcript & Audio]
The All-Purpose Nuclear Bedtime Story 8-10 pm PST
Love Spirals Downwards are known as the darlings of Projekt Records. And with just cause; they are the best selling band, with the hottest moving new release of Projekt for 1998, “Flux.” This latest of 4 popular full-length albums marks a turning point in the band’s ever-fluxing sound. Whereas the last album, “Ever,” showcased several electronic-based songs in the mix, “Flux” concentrates almost completely on the electronica side of band mastermind, Ryan Lum’s musical influences. There has been some slight controversy over LSD’s “sound change” and band member relationships, but all of that seems ludicrous to the mellow, well-adjusted Lum. He’s always created the music for Love Spirals Downwards using whatever inspiration happened to hit him, be it a fine dining experience, an exotic vacation, a shamanic vision, or just simply a new piece of gear to fiddle around with. Although a philosopher at heart, searching for his own personal truth in life, Ryan isn’t a terribly serious artist with an attitude or an agenda. He just likes to make music for the fun of it.
Interview by DJs Anji Bee & Justin Jay. Intro written by Anji.
Anji: So this time around, we’re going to talk about the band, your new album, musical influences, and then just generally shoot the bull.
Justin: And we’re not going to mention fire tonight.
Ryan: Yeah. We won’t mention fire or stripping.
Anji: Or Goth clubs?
Ryan: Oh, anything, as long as there’s no fire or stripping. (Laughs) Last time, that’s all we talked about.
Anji: Yeah, that Coven 13 show seemed to make a really big impression on you.
Ryan: The one with the fire and the stripping? Or our show there?
Justin: Actually, that <your show> was really cool. You guys did the cover of that Fleetwood Mac song.
Ryan: Yeah, “Dreams.”
Anji: It was so good. I wish I had a recording of that.
Ryan: Cool. We were surprised it worked good. When we first started jamming it, experimenting, it was fun — funny fun. But then it was like, “Damn! This sounds good. Let’s play it tonight!“
Flux Reviewed by KUCI FM
College radio station KUCI 88.9 FM produces a professional ‘zine to promote their shows, DJs, and favorite bands. In the most recent issue, they featured a review of Flux penned by the station’s music director, Anji Bee:
With Flux, bandleader, Ryan Lum, has fully committed himself to the electronic groove based sound first hinted at on Love Spirals Downwards’ previous album, Ever. Flux gives full play to Lum’s increasing attraction to the melodic side of drum and bass music, with 7 of 9 tracks using that unique polyrhythmic technique. Over an electronic bed of break beats, samples and synth, Lum lays down his signature guitar melodies and lush washes, using both electric and acoustic guitars.
Continue reading Flux Reviewed by KUCI FM
Flux CD promotions
Thanks to everybody that came out to Nightnoise last weekend. I’ll be doing some more DJ’ing in conjunction with Flux giveaways over the next few months. The next one will be in San Francisco at La Belle Epoque (at The Top) on January 30, and possibly Mexico City in March.
And a very big thanks to everybody who has bought Flux, making it the most sucessful new album launch in the label’s history! It’s well on its way to surpasing our previous albums, which are the label’s top selling releases. Thanks!
Live shows: people keep asking us what’s up and we still have no confirmed shows to report. We are talking with several promoters, so hopefully soon there will be some set dates. In the meantime, Suzanne and I will be doing one live performance on radio, and there are several radio interviews coming up as well.
So here’s the complete rundown of confirmed things that we will be doing:
- Ryan of Love Spirals Downwards DJs
Saturday, January 30, 1999
La Belle Epoque, located at The Top, San Francisco, CA
Ryan will be DJing, spinning records that are in a similar mood as well as an inspiration to Love Spirals’ album Flux. There will also be a giveaway of Flux CDs and stickers. More info to come soon. - Ryan and Suzanne perform live
Wednesday December 16, 1998 at 8PM – 10PM PST.
On “Space Disco For Fish Tacos” KUCI 88.9 FM, Irvine, CA
Space Disco For Fish Tacos has been on the air for three years, featuring weekly live performances and interviews by electronic musicians from southern California and abroad. KUCI is now broadcasting via the internet! KUCI broadcasts 24/7 on the internet through java-based streaming technology. All you need is a net connection (the faster the better) and a modern browser (AOL may not work) — try it out at www.kuci.org - Radio interview with Ryan
Friday, December 4, 1998. 8PM EST.
On WRAS 88.5 FM, Atlanta, GA
Ryan will be talking live on the air! WRAS’ phone set up does not allow callers to ask Ryan questions directly, but you can e-mail your questions (in advance) to Jez and she’ll pose them for you. - Radio Interview with Ryan
Saturday, December 5, 1998. 10PM to midnight PST.
“Oblivion” on KLYK 105.5 CITY, Longview, WA
The show can be heard in parts of Portland, OR as well. - Radio Interview with Ryan
Sunday, December 6, 1998. 8PM to 10PM PST.
“The All-Purpose Nuclear Bedtime Story,” KUCI 88.9 FM, Irvine, CA
With DJs Anji B. and Justin J. KUCI broadcasts 24/7 on the internet through a java-based streaming technology. All you need is a net connection and a modern browser (AOL may not work). Try it out at www.kuci.org