Artist News
Balligomingo Play the Olympics
Stop by our Flickr page and check out more of these great shots of Balligomingo performing at this year’s Winter Olympics
GOLD MEDAL DATE
Balligomingo, the exotic musical vehicle of producer/programmer Garrett Schwarz and producer/guitarist Vic Levak, will headline downtown Vancouver’s best-known outdoor stage at the Edgewater Casino on Feb. 15, smack-dab in the middle of the Winter Olympics. The group, which will play as a five-piece for the event, also includes lead vocalist and co-songwriter Jody Quine, with [...]
Songs For Haiti
Like most of the world we’ve been horrified watching the images pour in from the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. We’re encouraging everyone to donate to a relief charity they feel comfortable with. Paste Magazine has launched a campaign called “Songs For Haiti” and we’re happy to announce that several Chrysalis artists and writers [...]
Balligomingo
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If sound had a travel & tourism department, producers Garrett Schwarz & Vic Levak would be at the helm. In their follow up album to ‘Beneath the Surface’ (BMG/Windham Hill) they’ve recruited Jody Quine, guest vocalist for ‘Purify’, as a full time member, and have created yet another destination for music. This dynamic trio draws upon the unique skills of each member to deliver a mesmerizing sonic experience that is as vastly different from their first album, as it is any other group in their ‘lifestyle’ genre.
The second album from Balligomingo, ‘Under an Endless Sky’ (UAES), delivers a fresh sound for this genre, breaking away from the pack with sultry acoustic guitar and gripping vocals. UAES deviates from the typical world production and delivers a fresh & compelling journey. The CD is a roller coaster of emotion, taking you slowly in one direction only to catapult you into another. Check out the hit ‘I Just Tell Myself’ and the diversity of ‘Letting Go’. UAES delivers a unique sonic experience and warrants its own space on the music map.
Balligomingo’s intention on UAES was to create a new musical experience by layering their ambient vibe with organic instrumentation & seductive female vocals. The sound is still Balligomingo, but more so. “We avoided using synths and drum loops where possible while working mainly with live instrumentation and dramatic effects to create a tranquil ambience” says Schwarz. “Though I enjoyed our first album, we weren’t as unique as we could have been and we’ve always had a serious urge to head off into our own direction” he adds. “To us – it’s about creating a journey that hasn’t been traveled before. On our debut, we all just met and were more formal in writing together. On this album, we worked individually on pieces from our own home towns in Canada and the US and sent them to each other via the web. We took our time, and the process was much more laid back. When writing together, (long distance with the use of a phone and the internet) we allowed each writer to express themselves without pressure or opinions, developing a more fluid creative environment resulting in a distinct vibe that truly relies on each member’s skill.”
To achieve their musical vision, the trio recruited Rebecca Ramone as a guest vocalist. “We found that a few of the vocal melodies on UAES have a folk element to them which Rebecca’s voice caters well to” says Levak. Rebecca’s vocals mix the blues with soul, which has garnered her the label ‘Canada’s Female Ray Lamontagne’, along with comparisons to blues queens Susan Tedeschi and Bonnie Rait.
Whether you’re into pop, new age, ambient, or even folk music – ‘Under an Endless Sky’ brings it all, taking ambient music in a new direction. It’s a novel musical masterpiece and one of the only ambient albums that I’ve ever had the urge to crank!