the kidameln lo-fi
photos and music courtesy of kidameln
by Steve Ackerman
posted 2005-04-24
Photo courtesy of kidameln
DG - I think it was a pressured but real spontaneous way of creating it. We just lived in Michael's 'living' room & went at creating something. We'd talked about making an album of songs for the year since I got back from Europe, but the timing was never right. Finally, with us all going in different directions we just had to do it. I think we all felt like otherwise these ideas & songs we'd been each creating, with this album idea in mind, would be wasted. The cool thing is we've probably got another albums worth of sketches through making the kidameln lo-fi.
MB - I think the living room was perfect. We should make it a rule for kidameln projects. Choose a different location next time, like Waiwera. Maybe actually upgrade and use some modern music software like Pro Tools.
WL - I think we used the first version of Acid... It's ancient.
DG - Stan got the most digital on us, trying to put little hidden sounds & stuff. We placed tough limits on him though.
WL - "Dont get all sonic on us, just keep it real, real simple..."
DG - It sort of became the inspiration for the title, everything was so lo-fi, and the digital was ancient digital. It was try-hard digital ha! ha! So the album became the kidameln lo-fi.
Photo courtesy of kidameln
ProMusicNews - Are there any other projects that you guys are working on?
DG - Actually, yeah, we'd really like to draw attention to 'Reconstruction', an album to raise money for the Red Cross South Asia Tsunami Appeal. This is really relevant considering how great the tragedy was and how much ongoing suffering there is. We really hope people will support the album and in turn the Red Cross and the people of South Asia.
The Reconstruction album is 75 minutes long, featuring 21 unsigned New Zealand independent bands/artists. All the profits are donated to charity and anyone supporting the album would be sampling an awesome cross section of kiwi indie music. We feel it's a way for us to put our music to good use. We donated the super mellow song 'Hey ho [and away we go]' as the songs lyrics were inspired in part by that island hopping sailboat idea.
The driving force behind Reconstruction was kiwi songwriter and artist Jooles Clements. He put his idea out, and a truck load of bands responded. He then selected those now on the album. All the bands involved donated a song for the album and then also shared the cd production costs. Sponsors have also helped along with lawyers doing pro bono work to register reconstruction as a charitable trust.
A lot of people have come together to make it happen and ultimately there is the hope that Reconstruction will become an annual event. I guess I'm saying 'Support it!' by visiting http://www.ceedeez.co.nz.
The Reconstruction Track Listing
- Papapounamu - Karen Clarke
- Ex-change - Abstract Thought
- By My Side - Redmore
- The Enemy Within - Ishtar
- Powertrip - Agent
- Chubb - Quarter2
- And I - Ruptus Jack
- Leaving - Gods of Nothing
- Talk - Alex Smart
- Independent Woman - Fuser
- Ridin' Lo - The Feds
- Carousel - Miscreant
- Used to Heaven - Out of Order
- Sleepless - Lunaspark
- The Weekend Song - The Tom Bosley Experience
- Tapestry - Simple Simon
- Flawless - Carolyn O'Neill
- Hey Ho [and away we go] - Kidameln
- Only for Thee - Cajz
- So Fine - Blair Giles Band
- Pitchblack - Jooles
ProMusicNews - That sounds like a wonderful project you have going, and for such an important cause. That is an amazing collection of artists kidamaln has collaberated with on this project. The album was released to raise money especially for the Red Cross South Asia Tsunami Appeal (http://www.redcross.org.nz).
While some of the artists I am familiar with, there are a few that I am not. I really can't wait to get my copy of the album so I can support a great cause too... Remember, all the profits from the sale of the album will be donated to charity and you will have done your part by supporting some great kiwi music.
And now we'd like to send out a huge thanks to all of the members of kidameln for sharing their thoughts and talents with us and for helping us out with this article. Be sure to check out their album for yourself at CD Baby or at their website, http://www.kidameln.com. And be sure to visit Daniel Gannaway at his website, Michael Brennan at http://www.phonoss.com and Warren Lawson at http://www.fedsmusic.com.
