Sensual, ambient and electronica downtempo duo fronted by Portland songwriter Jo Alexis backed by the wizardry of Los Angeles-based Richard Alexander
Heavily influenced by female singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt, Jo Alexis’s wonderfully ethereal voice and stage presence has been compared to Alison Goldfrapp and Cowboy Junkies’ Margo Timmins. The electronica duo Alexis/Alexander was born when she crossed paths with Richard Alexander, the synth and guitar playing digital wiz with an uncanny ability to create trance-inducing
underground electronic music centered around hypnotic drum and chord loops. To date, the eclectic and fluidly creative songwriting/performing duo has since created seven albums together, including their most recent EP, “Drop Down”, released in Los Angeles under the Wild Garden Label. Sensual, ambient, mesmerizing and decidedly electronica, the duo’s combined musical output could be compared to Hooverphonic, Goldfrapp, Morcheeba, Roisin Murphy and Esthero. The pair worked with mixing engineer Dean Baskerville - known for his work with Everclear and Sheryl Crow - on two previous releases, “Taste the Mystery” and “Same As Nothing”. Upon working with Alexis/Alexander Baskerville declared, “I listen to a lot of music every day. This was a standout record for me because of the great beats, captivating music, and dreamy vocals.” Release: DROP DOWN REMIXED Label: Wild Garden Recordings
DROP DOWN (Psychonaut Shake- Up Feat. David Kaufman)
DROP DOWN (Warrior Remix Feat. DJ Deep Tissue)
DROP DOWN (Angel Remix Feat. DJ Deep Tissue)
Drop Down (Original)
Sensual, ambient and decidedly electronica, Alexis/ Alexander is an electronica downtempo duo fronted by beloved Portland vocalist Jo Alexis and Los Ange- les-based Richard Alexander, who backs Alexis with a moody mix of electronic synth wizardry (hypnotic drum and chord loops) and organic acoustic guitar stylings. The pair’s latest release takes the soulful and ethereal title track from their recent “Drop Down” EP and gives it the remix treatment with three intoxicating new in- terpretations by two of Portland’s most promising DJs/remixers. The original track is a 1:41 minute song primarily comprised of Alexis’ angelic vocal and beautiful acoustic guitar finger-picking. Reminiscent of a mantra or chant, Alexis goes from velvety soft to soaring heights as she woos repeatedly, “Go drop down with me. Oh, new ground with me. Go drop with me. Close so close.”
The first track and first single from this intoxicating remix EP is David Kaufman’s “Psychonaut Shake- Up” remix. David Kaufman is a talented multi-instru- mentalist and filmmaker, who has re-imaged and re- sculpted the original track into an epic remix integrat- ing drum ’n’ bass-speed beats interspersed with breaks of angelic glory. He takes the listener on a journey, mixing the agony and the ecstasy exuded in the original vocals. In addition to remixing this exclu- sive track, Kaufman was the videographer for two videos from Jo Alexis’ Portland band, Happy For No Reason (“Don’t You Think You Want To” and “My Old Friend”). His short film, “The Old Man and “The Sea- weed” has recently received rave reviews. In addition to the original “Drop Down” single, the EP is rounded out with two exclusive remixes from Portland-based DJ Alexander Johnson, who goes by the producer/DJ name of DJ Deep Tissue. In addition to his DJ and remix production work, Johnson is an electronic music composer whose music often blends ambient and minimalistic soundscapes with classically-inspired string arrangements. DJ Deep Tissue’s “Warrior Remix” is a downtempo interpretation that incorporates filtered strings and guitar fuzz to create an atmospheric chill-out track. Similar in tempo, his other EP contribution, the gorgeous “Angel Remix”, layers various heavenly synth melodies and arpeg- gios on top of Alexis’ equally celestial voice. When Alexis purrs, “That hole so deep. You make me sing,” the listener might almost reach personal auditory nirvana. The album was self-produced and mastered by ac- claimed engineer Nick Moon of ToneProper. Utilizing an all-analog mastering studio, Moon has worked with Phuturprimitive and Emancipator. The fluidly-creative songwriting/performing duo of Alexis/Alexander has released seven previous albums together, including their most recent EP, “Drop Down”, released in Los Angeles under the label, Wild Garden Recordings. On their two previous releases, “Taste the Mystery” and “Same As Nothing”, Alexis/Alexander worked with mixing engineer Dean Baskerville, best known for his work with Everclear and Sheryl Crow.
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Alexis/Alexander Bio
Heavily influenced by female singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt, Jo Alexis’ wonderfully ethereal voice and stage presence have been compared to Alison Goldfrapp and Cowboy Junkies’ Margo Timmins. The electronica duo Alexis/Alexander was born when she crossed paths with multi-instrumentalist Richard Alexander, and his trance-inducing underground electronica centered around hypnotic drum and chord loops. To date, this eclectic and fluidly creative songwriting/performing duo has created seven albums together, including their most recent EP, “Drop Down”, released by the Los Angeles label, Wild Garden Recordings. Sensual, ambient, mesmerizing and decidedly pop electronica, the duo’s combined musical output could be compared to Hooverphonic, Goldfrapp, Morcheeba, Roisin Murphy and Esthero. Upon working with Alexis/Alexander, Baskerville declared, “I listen to a lot of music every day. This was a standout record for me because of the great beats, captivating music, and dreamy vocals.”
