Laura Ivancie

Improv 101 and Tony Smiley

Laura — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:30:51 +0000

Improv Jam @ Barrel Room (downtown PDX Jan 2012) w/ Tim Snider (fiddle/ guitar), Wil Koehnke (lead guitar/ vocals), Josh Lava (drums, keys), Tony Smiley (bass/ drums/ keys/ guitar/ vocals), Josh Malm (guitar/ vocals)

One of the biggest challenges for me as a performer is singing improvisational lyrics.

I am most effective when I am totally open and present in myself and the mood of the song.

I feel fortunate to practice this skill with Tony Smiley “aka” The Loop Ninja EVERY Sunday at Rock Bottom Brewery…

Come dance with us, the vibe is really fun!

And the Rock Bottom staff is pretty sexy!

THIS Sunday, Feb. 12th, we will be recording audio and video!

Show starts 9pm-12am

Rock Bottom Brewery is located at 206 SW Morrison St., (Pdx).

We will be broadcasting this performance later (online on youtube, google music, and Ustream).

We want to eventually stream these performance LIVE, which will be … risky… AND convenient for YOU because you can watch us from the comfort of your own home (if you can’t make it out to see us in person).

Please Please SHARE these clips with your friends, as they become available, we appreciate it <3

Just to give you an idea about what you are walking into, Tony Smiley is known locally for creating magically effected drums, bass, acoustic guitar, keys, and beat box (vocal drums)–all from the ground up. It is not uncommon for the length of each song to reach the double teens, and it doesn’t feel like it at all!

… thanks Tony, such an honor to know and work with you, buddy!

I approach improvisation like this:

I listen as the song builds and come up with mini hooks in my head. I sing these hooks in “oooh ahh” form at first, then replace the sounds with lyrics, singing whatever comes to mind (whether it be my own songs I’ve previously written and recorded over his different melodies… AND MOSTLY I try to take risks and sing lyrics that are entirely made up in the moment.

Think Thievery Corporation/Portishead meets MIA/ Zero 7 (…with a more soulful, spiritual flavor of female vocals).

Think down-tempo electronic music with deep lyrical content. Wil Koehnke has been sitting in with us, too, on lead electric guitar. Tony, Wil, and I sometimes sing together, too, which is pretty fun!

Tony Smiley works mostly alone, has been performing live and looping hmself for over 20 years, which is pretty impressive altogether.

He works with a variety of local singers, songwriters and musicians, such as Tim Snider, Josh Lava, Jordan Harris, Wil Koehnke, Mo Wo, Christie Bradley, and Josh Malm (sorry if I forgot anyone becauase I’m sure I have).

The best part about working with Tony, though, is that he is actually one of the coolest guys I’ve ever met. He’s got a super big heart and is utterly obsessed with his craft… which is amazing to witness and share.

Our friend Josh Malm (Redwood Son) even wrote a song about how cool Tony is… “He’s so cool… like the other Fucking side of the pillow,” to be exact. If that’s not the most beautiful example of some good ol’ hetero true love, I don’t know what is. Super bear hugs and thanks to Josh Malm for suggesting that I sing with Tony on this groovy side project. I feel like I can really shine vocally in a totally different way = yay!

Check out these local musicians that Tony works with (who I also really love!)

Tony Smiley: http://www.theloopninja.com/

Tim Snider: http://timsnidermusic.com/

Josh Lava: http://www.myspace.com/joshlava

Josh Malm: http://www.myspace.com/redwoodson

Wil Koehnke: http://www.myspace.com/wilkoehnkeisfree

Mo Wo: http://www.facebook.com/IAMWASAY

Jordan Harris: http://www.reverbnation.com/jordanharris

Christie Bradley: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=605799881

EVERY Sunday at Rock Bottom Brewery, Watch and listen for “Dojo Toolkit” feat. Tony Smiley, Laura Ivancie, and Wil Koehnke (on the Android market –TBA soon)!

Josh Malm set up a show at the Star Theater for all of us this Feb 19th, so make sure you come there instead of Rock Bottom!

Here’s the Facebook invite for this special “Urban Sub All Star Theater Event”: http://www.facebook.com/events/178168238954381/

To my favorite Acupuncturist, Michael Leake:

Laura — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:10:32 +0000

You are a life saver… A natural healer… Good human, father and friend.

Thank you for working with me this past year.

My liver, kidneys, lungs, and gallbladder are very grateful.

I wish you and your beautiful family continued health and happiness.

If anyone reading this post is looking for an excellent person and specialist in Acupuncture, contact Michael Leake.

Portland-Acupuncture.org (website coming soon!)

3615 NE Grand Ave.

Portland, OR 97212

971-404-7985

Thanks Lew Mash, Lonnie Wages, Kristin Tennant

Laura — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:34:29 +0000

Thanks Max Ribner, Ashleigh + Chris Keyser

Laura — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:37:55 +0000

They hired us recently for a private party held on the patio outside at Bottles in NE Portland and they took very good care of us, thank you so much! We all had such a blast and the food was teh bomb!! Hope to see you all again soon.

Designs by Lacey Cassidy

Laura — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:18:13 +0000

I recently enlisted the help of my talented friend, Lacey Cassidy “aka” The Seamstress Designer Extraordinaire, to help me battle my closet full of old t-shirts… scissor style!

Several months ago, I saw a few of her “cut designs” she had made to her own t-shirts. I instantly fell in love with the idea of doing it to my favorite old t-shirts that– let’s face it– just aren’t sexy enough to wear anywhere except 24 hour fitness (and even that’s pushing it).

Here’s Lacey [left] cutting up my favorite Ed Hardy T-shirt last week.

I’ve added some fun pics of a custom “one-sy” Tiger suit that Lacey also designed for me for Burning Man 2011. She also made a fuzzy bunny suit for our adorable friend, Galen. We both loved our outfits so much, we insisted on having a photo shoot in her back yard, courtesy of Dennis Goetz: http://photos.dennisgoetz.com/

Thanks again everyone, fabulous work!

If you like what you see and want to work with someone really fun, super cool, and reasonably priced, contact Lacey Cassidy on facebook or email her at: fancylady82@gmail.com.

She also teaches sewing lessons to all levels!

Solutions Now! Radio Interview

Laura — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:52:27 +0000

Last November 9, 2011 on election day…

I was delighted to be invited by Lewis Marklin Mash, Skyler Jett and Denise S Newton to call in and discuss some of my current and future music projects live on the air on Solutions Now! (internet) radio. Thanks again for having me Skyler, Denise, and Lewis, ya’ll were so much fun to talk to!

Solutions Radio is a weekly talk show hosted by grammy-recognized Singer/Songwriter Skyler Jett and radio host/public speaker S. Denice Newton. The show features compelling guests from around the country, offering solutions to some of today’s most pressing issues and inspires, educates, informs, and empowers listeners around the globe.

Lewis Marklin Mash is Producer/Host of Icon News, a national celebrity television show airing on Dish Network.

In addition to the interview, Skyler and Denise were very kind to play one of my original songs, “Spend the Night” during the broadcast, which airs locally, nationally, and internationally every Tuesday evening– 7pm Eastern, 4pm Pacific Time.

I felt very grateful for the opportunity to speak with these amazing individuals. I also feel very blessed that they are all interested in following my music career… and having me back on the show someday!

Listen to internet radio with Solutions on Blog Talk Radio

Check out more episodes of Solutions Now! radio here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/solutionsnowradio

Hip Hop Video

Laura — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:08:08 +0000

Three weeks ago, I was asked to co-star in the making of a full music video production, chartered by my friend and one of the most talented local performers/ lyricists/ hip hop producers, I’ve met: My-G.

Thanks to Scott McElroy for introducing us, and suggesting that we get in the studio together.

My-G is good at what he does.

My-G works REALLY fast, too, really great to work with him.

Late one evening after my show, I met My-G at his downtown warehouse and studio. I was excited to potentially collaborate with him on a track that he had produced. From what I had heard of his stuff already, I was pretty sure we could find something to work on that we both liked.

He played a few of his songs for me that he wanted vocals for and I began to notice that he favored a particular track that had this amazing beginning. It samples an old record player slowing down to a stop, which sounds pretty creepy, and is also cool intro to the melody of the song. I remember him referring to the track in the studio, “Girl, if we do this, you gotta go big on this one.” I laughed, and agreed, hoping whatever came to heart and mind would suffice his expectations. Anyway, we wrote with the track on repeat for about an hour, both going different directions with our “floetry”.

Unfortunately, My-G’s vocal booth wasn’t set up that evening. We decided to finish the song at a later date. When we finally got together again, we couldn’t find the notebooks we were writing in previously

Luckily, I still remembered the vocal hook so I sang it in the mic over the creepy big beat… about 6 times.

Then My-G wrote his lyrics from my hook. I was impressed by how fast he came up with the lyrics and his light speed cadence. I also believe those notebooks were probably lost for a reason by I felt better about our second approach versus our first approach. Because he was writing from a hook, or thesis statement, as I like to call it, it allowed for a more coherent story to be connected. In turn, the concept connected us both together more, too, which I think transcended into a wonderful first collaboration that I know we both hope can serve to inspire people to feel and think and dance and with any luck at all, act toward the good intention of the message.

A couple of weeks after My-G and DownHill Productions http://vimeo.com/downhillpro sent me the treatment (music video concept) for the song we had just finished, entitled, “Reach Out,” I was very excited to participate as the lead “crazy” girl in the video… I laughed heartily to myself, thinking, what is this, some kind of type cast?

Truthfully, I was pretty nervous about measuring up. I had never really acted before–unless you count that five second silent part in that Johnny Cash tribute band music video directed by TJ Civis last year–which is probably floating around somewhere on the web… how hard could it be, I kept asking myself (because most things are never as hard as we tend to think at first). I knew I had to go deep within myself to bring it all out of me, but hey, I’m doing this every time I sing so really, it might be an easy transition blah blah blah and it was! Please tell me what YOU think when YOU see it, though, and be honest. This year I’m working on developing a tougher skin, if that means anything to YOU, yes YOU, I’m talking to YOU. “Reach Out!” haha

The concept for the music video grew from the hook and lyrics, of course, and dances with the negative effects that humans have –and will likely continue to have– on their natural environment if we refuse to “Reach Out” and cover our carbon foot print, buy products that are made by environmentally friendly and organically invested industries, etc. etc. I appreciate the dramatic depth of the message and story, which follows a 20 something girl (played by me) that is happy and free within the comfort of her own plush perspective, her safe happy forest. She chases two children into a dilapidated stone house that she cannot escape (the prison of her own mind). She gradually goes crazy throughout the music video as she witnesses the destruction of the natural environment around her, realizing that she cannot escape the negative reality that her mind has created as her new dire reality. (The reality that we may face if we do not take better care of our planet).

I had a lot of fun with this role because I got to work with a great group of people, I got to scream and go crazy, play dress up, and destroy some furniture! It was stress relieving, to say the least, and a beautiful experience altogether. I totally get the whole “hurry up and wait” thing now, too. Great job everyone, I know it’s going to be great!

The production took nearly 3 full 8 hour days, filmed at three different Portland locations. The first day, we had to hike 15-20 minutes uphill to reach the Witch’s castle, which is in Forest Park (where the TV show, Grimm was/ is filmed).

Thankfully, it was also just above freezing so everyone was eager to get the shots as fast as possible and move on. I had to wear a skimpy white dress, just like the 10 year old girls in the video (including MyG’s 10 year old daughter and her best friend) who kept calling me “Titty-Titty Bang-Bang” all day because my nipples could have cut glass… perhaps it’s a new sign off?

The Music video should be edited, color treated, and time-lapse adjusted by the end of this month, so many talented people are working on it and we’re all pretty excited to see the finished product at the end of this month. Keep your eyes and ears open for “Reach Out” feat. Laura Ivancie, Produced and directed by Jake Lyon and Janique Robillard of Downhill Productions.

I don’t have a lot of experience singing over original hip hop/ rap music; however, it seems to fit pretty well. It’s fun to put my own spin on it, though, even if it is marketed toward a younger, pop/ dance audience, it’s all beautiful to my ears–especially if there is a message the feels like truth to me. Skyler Jett told me that a good vocalist will keep challenging themself by singing over everything they can, working with as many producers as possible. This is very exciting to me, I’m excited to keep creating beautiful music that can inspire and heal the world (I know it sounds cheesy). Conscious music is where it’s at… just have to find a way to make it main stream so we can stop pacifying each other and start making each other speak about the truth as we see it every day. This is our responsibility, I feel, to pass on the knowledge to the children. To tell the truth, to set yourself free and lead your life by example, no matter how much of a freak you feel you might be, just be it. Okay, this is getting too deep… I think I’ll save that rant for another blog post at a later date.

This is “Titty Titty Bang Bang” signing off!

My first time in a pro studio

Laura — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:45:56 +0000

A little over four weeks ago, we filmed a live demo at CCTV Capital Community Telesivion in Salem, Oregon I was honored to be joined by one of Portland’s most sought after Cellist’s, Skip Von Kuske. The very talented Ken Mortellaro also joined us on acoustic guitar and I feel like we all had a lot of fun together while managing to get a few good tunes out of a full day’s work.

BIG NEWS!

I recorded my first official e.p. a week ago at Wavelength studios in Salem: http://www.wavelengthmm.com/recording-studio.html

Jason Carter was the engineer, which I’m really excited about because he is a phenomenal talent.

The musicians featured on my E.p. are some of my local favorites, including:
Dave Dernovsek (keys, electric guitar)
Julio Appling (uprght, electric bass)
Jordan Appling (drums).

I’d like to begin shopping my E.P. all over the place, with hopes of landing bigger and better jobs. I am planning on holding off on any major label, publishing, or distribution deals until they make me an offer I cannot refuse. Granted, they are not exactly banging down my door… yet

There is something about Electronic

Laura — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:00:26 +0000

Down tempo/ Dance music with live vocals and instruments that often steals my heart.

I feel like the dance scene that despite being often laden with dirtier habits than a bunch of nuns in a mud football game, there are many of positive connections that I see…

For example, it feels like dance music draws MORE people of LESS judgement to its floors… you know, to PUMP those BEATS into their hearts, forget about stress AND of course meet like-minded others. The cool part is, no matter what you’re into, it’s probably in the “electronica” category somewhere.

Like X-Men gathering to wave their “freak-flag” via dancing (often done without a partner) which is surprisingly not a lonely experience when you’re surrounded by gyrating bodies getting sexy with themselves and others.

The creators and Listeners of music are symbiotic givers and receivers of the sounds and ideas. Electronic music isn’t very old, in fact I think it’s in it’s early thirties, born sometimes the 80′s. Live instruments vs electro beats = fusion of classic/ retro w/ modern, allowing a broader audience to appreciate it because it generally spans many genres.

I had the privilege of seeing one of the most revered electronic dance/ live instrumentation bands, Infected Mushroom, twice, both times at Burning Man in the Nevada Desert.

Each time they put on such an amazing live show. I really appreciate the lead singer’s voice, energy, and his lyrics. He often sings in Hebrew, which sounds so beautiful to my ears. Overall, they are really inspiring, mostly because they have been “at it” for decades… in a genre that isn’t necessarily “Pop”ular.

They are coming to Portland this Jan 14th @ the Roseland

Live in Tel Aviv 10.02.2011 (Full Concert)

2012… Finally!

Laura — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:22:11 +0000

To all my good brothers and sisters… thank you for touching me with your lives. I’ve been feeling great change in my own life and I’m sure you have been feeling the same. Change is inevitable, might I remind you, so hold on tight and enjoy the ride… mine feels like it’s just beginning, and I’m glad you’re all here.

I spent some time thinking and came up with some personal aspirations that go to 11… for 2012:

1. I’ve started negotiations with Reggie Houston and Mark Bingham to help me produce and record my debut album. You can imagine my excitment. Thanks to everyone that has helped me get this far. I already feel like I owe a lot of people, even though there is still so much work to be done! I’ve been wanting to craft my original concepts into an album for almost 3 years now… well, actually, ever since I heard “FINALLY,” by CC Peniston… yes, It’s happened to me. Right in front of my face, and I just cannot hide it…

2. I want to write for 30 minutes every day (with no intent other than to dump thoughts)

3. Write one song on guitar w/ lyrics per week

4. Learn at least one cover song per week

(… I feel like I’ve been slacking… we’re good tho, I just said 10 Hail Marys!)

5. Learn 500 cover songs by 2013

6. Learn how to say “no” to people (… except people you REALLY want to say “yes” to)

7. Give my service to the world without expectation

8. Practice patience, humility, gratitude, and smiling (… it lifts the features of the face

9. Spend more time with my family and good friends

10. Plan my first 3 month tour … collaborate… be seen … be heard …. be fearless

11. Develop my marketing plan under my LLC and Publishing Company via BMI with independent release, “Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m Yours”… in CD form (… Look ma, I’m a product!)

I’m starting the New Year off right, playing a show with my friends at Rock Bottom Brewery: 206 SW Morrison St. Portland, OR 97204

~Live Music featuring~
Acoustic Minds, Brian Krichevsky, Mitch Wilson on drums, Wil Koehnke on guitar, Jon Van Cura on bass, $20 door