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TestPressSF.02

Genre: Electronic
Release Date: June 30, 2009

TestPressSF.02 is a compilation of the finalists of all 2008 Test Press events, showcasing the talents of emerging electronic & dance artists in the San Francisco music community.

Track List

Track Artist Title Sample
1 Frost Raven & MDFX "Ready Go!"
2 Astronout "Structure"
3 Elz & Elise "Useless"
4 Divasonic "Can of Wormz"
5 Esoteknic "Creative Force"
6 Bartleby "Clubs & Knives"
7 CyberSutra "Rock It"
8 Lukeino & Ax!oM MC "The Closure"
9 Professor Bang "Need to Get Up"
10 Swan & Ed Mazur "Tracy's Toy"
11 Gypsy "Choose Love"
12 Frost Raven & MDFX "Input Potential"
13 u9lift "Lost at Sea"
14 (Karmacoda) "Make Like Mine"
15 C.Moore "Slowly Speaking"

Artist Info

Divasonic

Lynda Arnold is a jack of all trades in the music business, simultaneously operating as a multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer, performer and educator. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lynda performs and produces as 'Divasonic' molding her own sound of downtempo, house and d-n-b mixed with ethereal vocals and jazz flute improvisations.

Her label credits include EMI, Clubstar ( Germany ), Cyberset (SF), Epiphyte (SF) and her own label, Digital Bliss. Lynda's extensive performance schedule has included a variety of projects, from performing with electronic and live bands to putting on shows with renowned DJs. When she's not on stage, she is recording with an assortment of Bay Area artists and producers or composing music for herself or other projects, such as the acclaimed multimedia dance troupe Capacitor.

Her company, Digital Bliss Productions (digitalblissproductions.com), brings more attention to women producers in the male-dominated field of electronic music. through women-centric events and compilations like Digital Bliss Vol. 1. Digital Bliss Vol. 2 will be released this year in collaboration with Boutique Electronique Records and NextAid.org. Digital Bliss Productions serves as a vehicle to connect different communities together to bring awareness to what's next.

Astronout

Mark Camp (Astronout) has been producing an array of eclectic electronic music since 1984.

It started in his early days of High School. Performing at various venues in the south bay, Mark and a group of friends started a pop synth band that covered songs by OMD, Human League, and Depeche Mode.

Mark attended College where he studied music technology and discovered the endless possibilities of MIDI and Digital Audio. Gaining a reputable following in San Jose, Mark was producing industrial music (late 80’s) with a band called Factor One.

In 1991, looking for something new, Mark and a friend attended several legendary parties in San Francisco and discovered house music, techno, and ambient music. Suddenly with synths, a laptop, and piles of FX, Mark was getting booked in Ambient rooms making a name for himself and gaining respect for his obscure ambient soundscapes: Astronout was born!

Mark released his first Astronout 12” with then band mate Keith Krate. A two track ambient white label that is still in demand. Astronout music continued to grow as Mark collaborated with friends including legendary San Jose DJ, Dj Spun and Coutney Nielsen of Central Fire. The trio started EAC Records for the purpose of releasing their own music. Other releases include a 12” on Om recording artists Soulstice’s BCE Records, and tracks on various compilation cd’s including “Cali Drum and Bass” out on Max Music with friend Todd Mellors (saifir), and a track on the “Off The Streets” compilation on Ultraviolet Records. Mark has also worked with another popular San Jose DJ, Rick Preston, together producing some house tracks for various labels including Viva! And After Hours Records. Mark also has a guest spot on Smash Mouth’s Astro Lounge on Interscope Records.

Today you can find Astronout playing everywhere from posh art gallery openings, to glamorous lounges in and about San Francisco. To find out were he’s playing next and check out some fresh new tracks, please visit his site here - http://www.myspace.com/astronout

Professor Bang

Professor Bang is a DJ and producer from San Francisco. Rather than try to describe his style, his process or his sound, we invite you to simply imagine the music this outspoken multi-instrumentalist (who also plays in a country band) would produce late at night while fighting off the demons of enlightenment. His accomplishments and collaborations are innumerable; his modesty is inspiring. Most recently, Professor Bang and his Prankster Dice cohort Reverend Moquel (aka SF drum guru Mike Reed) produced music for a spooky concept album entitled "The Bombastic Macabre," from which pBang's track 'Need To Get Up' is taken. The eerie vocal sample is their mentor, Lord Lateef, speaking through an answering machine on 9/11. The duo reunites in 2009 to take on dance music as Body Mechanics. Professor Bang can be found throughout the Internet, particularly on PranksterDice.com, MySpace and Twitter, as well as on various political and foreign-policy websites where he is characteristically anti-imperialist and pro-funk.

Swan and Ed Mazur

San Franciso based duo Swan and Ed Mazur team up to bring their diverse talents together to create fresh sounds and hot grooves. Combining live instrumentation and vocals with pure electronic sounds they create evolving soundscapes of driving beats, funky basslines, and memorable melodies wrapped together with modern production techniques.

Ed Mazur is a regular on the San Francisco club scene and well known for playing large parties at Burning Man camps such as Green Gorilla Lounge, Gravity Point, and Opulent Temple and for his remixes of Radiohead and Beck. An experienced producer and instrumentalist, his music seeks to break new ground with every release. His new label House on the Hill showcases his talents with his solo work and collaborations with other artists. Visit his website www.hohstudio.com to learn more.

Swan, also known as Laron, has had successful releases on many labels, including Classic, Sunburn, Deep House Project, and Golden Gate Recordings, and is perhaps best known for his collaboration with Robbie Hardkiss on "Champagne Beat Boogie". An accomplished instrumentalist, his funky minimal leads and rhythms propel any track to new heights. As a DJ, his stage presence and driving beats is sure to add life to any dancefloor.

Lukeino & Ax!oM MC

Lukeino & Ax!oM MC are staples in the San Francisco Drum n Bass scene, performing with crews such as Reflex, Still Doin' It, Compression, Clandestine and the rest of the BADNB collective. They recently started working in the studio together and have put together a label to push their music as well as that of like-minded artists. While focusing mainly on DnB and Dubstep, Sub Life Recordings refuses to be limited by genres. The relatively new label project is quickly gaining momentum and has a number of exciting releases forthcoming this year. Keep an eye out for these artists and big things from Sub Life in 2009 and beyond!

Karmacoda

Launched as a collective effort between songwriters, Brett “B.” Crockett and Heather Pierce in 2001, Karmacoda laces their electronica/trip hop foundation with elements of rock, pop and jazz, creating truly addictive sonic recreation. Their Track “Make Like Mine” was remixed Andrew Sybilrud of Return to Mono, a like minded “rock-tronica” band from San Francisco.

Gypsy

Gypsy is Love and Positivity personified. Born of Mexican, Libyan, and Italian descent, Gypsy's artistic flavor is as eclectic as her heritage. Growing up, her musical influences spanned the spectrum from soulful funk and classic rock to world fusion, hip-hop, and disco. Gypsy would thrive on any music with a danceable beat. She recognized very early that dance brings people joy, and that joy inspires more dance...

A native San Franciscan, Gypsy instinctively gravitated to the SOMA district during the height of San Francisco's underground House music scene. Stimulated by innovative Electronica DJs, and fueled by the electricity of the dance floor, Gypsy soon began to create her own sound. She has developed a fresh disco-funk style that is uniquely “Gypsy” while embracing her diverse roots and her city's beautiful culture...

Gypsy dedicates her life to expressing Love through music and dance. Her passion and positive energy continue to lead her on a journey of joyful creative expression. Along the way, Gypsy has collaborated with some of the Bay Area's premier DJs, including: Trevor Simpson (Energy 92.7), Homero Espinosa (Yerba Buena Discos), and Ben Tom & Jashwho? (Temple Music Group). A Singer, Songwriter, Dancer, and Stargazer, Gypsy makes magic wherever she goes. Her exotic energy is enchanting, her passion for dance music is contagious, and her exhilarating performances leave us spellbound. Come and experience Gypsy Love - you will surely feel the magic too...

Frost Raven

Frost Raven is the solo project of Dustin Musser making waves in the San Francisco Bay Area's whirling pool of talented electronic producers. In 2002 while in High School Dustin began experimenting and training with some of the software tools used in media production. Soon thereafter he used those tools to produce his own music material and form an album which he circulated among the underground scene. After some time he saw how his music was well received and in 2005 took up more formal training in advanced digital audio production. In the same year Frost Raven completed a full album called "Desert Walker" which includes a cross-style combination of psychill breakz and oldschool goa influenced psytrance. The album was released on the web through the digital label INgrooves. Then in early 2007 he released an Electro House EP called " Fire City " including the original track and 2 remixes by other producers. Towards the end of 2008 marked Frost Raven's second album titled "Star Muse" which was released on the Digital Drugs Coalition label. This new album contains a very unique take on the psychedelic trance style, mixing electro and progressive elements together. Frost Raven has other music projects going as well such as a down-tempo EP called "Into The Blue" which is set for a web release in the spring on Epiphyte Records.

Ramon Wesselink

Ramon was born and raised in a small village in the east of Holland. In his teenage years he and three of his friends created the anarcho-punk band "Corruptus Politicus" in which he played guitar and wrote songs and lyrics. When the band fell apart, he decided to continue his passion for writing music in the digital realm, and started producing on a Yamaha QS300 synthesizer with built-in sequencer. Years later he produced in Cubase, and his productions got more serious, including recording singers and rappers in Holland. Another year or two went by and he traded in his computer and synth for a laptop, a portable USB-soundcard and a small USB-MIDI controller. He then spent the next couple of years traveling and working his way around the world with his American wife and was able to use his laptop to produce music wherever they went. Finally they decided it was time to 'get serious' and move to the Bay Area to find a place to call home.

After 10+ years of music production Ramon enrolled at Pyramind, a digital audio engineering school and facility in the heart of San Francisco, and graduated from the DPC program one year later. By that time he had done two internships, one at school and one with AudioSFX, an audio post-production facility in Novato, Marin, which specializes in post-production work for film, commercials, videogames, 5.1 mixing, sound design, foley recording, dialogue editing, music production, mixing, and mastering. When he graduated, AudioSFX kept him on board, and Ramon has since then worked on several motion pictures, independent films, videogames for XBOX360 and PS3, commercials, short films, and recently the Warner Bros motion comic series 'Watchmen'.

Elz and Elise

Elz has been djing for 11 years and graduated E'Xpression College with a degree in Sound Arts in 2008. She is sponsored by Mixer Friendly Clothing, Green Gorilla Lounge, and Delta Funk Productions. She also has done promotions for Puma and Adidas retail stores as well as Odyssey DJ Gear.

Elise began singing at the age of six and finally made her way on stage at nine years old. Singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" at her 4th grade talent show. Elise was actively involved in Musical theatre for ten years. She performed in many productions, such as: Lynette Fromme in "Assassins," Mrs. Lovett in "Sweeney Todd," and Antonia in "Man of La Mancha."Ê She performed her original music with many musicians at talent shows and festivals.Ê She has participated in over 20 talent shows and competed in Torch Songs competitions and is now sponsored by Delta Funk Productions.

Elz and Elise began their collaboration in 2007, performing live improvised sets at various underground parties such as Delta Funk's For Those Who Know and Green Gorilla Lounge events. They decided to take their collaboration to the next level by creating their own original music together. Elz as the producer, beat creator and Elise as the vocalist and lyric writer. They continue to perform regularly around the bay area and they are always working on new music. They look forward to sharing her unique sound and words with the world.

CyberSutra

CyberSutra works with the most sublime vocalists in the world. They have recently cut tracks with Marcia Juell, the graceful vocalist featured in Matt Darey’s hit single "Beautiful Day," and Tiff Lacey, one of the UK’s most accomplished electronic singer/songwriters. The rapid development of CyberSutra has included their exclusive invitation to SF LoveFest 2007. For CyberSutra’s LoveFest set, they performed some of their hottest original tracks before tens of thousands of worldwide attendees. With Nathan Heal on the keys, Scott Binder on turntables and AFrican Percussion, CyberSutra stole the show.

In December of 2007, CyberSutra landed a weekly hour long slot on Thursday 12pm PST on the Dance channel of Pure.Fm, a leading internet station. Calling their show "Spektrum," the duo decided early on that instead of doing a simple mix, they would incorporate elements of their live performance.

CyberSutra’s debut release, "Lick it" was hand-picked by the one and only DJ Dan for release on his label, InsStereo Recordings. "Lick it" was officially released on March 14th 2008, and the track has already found its way into the hands of many of the top DJs around the globe, being played in the best clubs and radio shows wolrdwide.

Because of their love for combining the best elements from two prominent genres, Electro House and Trance, the boys are growing their own unique category of music that is fresh and appeals to a wide scope of electronic music listeners across the globe. The duo of CyberSutra creates on the cutting edge of the electronic music industry and is quickly becoming the hottest act in the States. They are setting the standards for the next generation.

Bartelby

Bartleby, the alias of producer Andy Coenen, began like many young musicians strumming away and writing songs on his trusty guitar. A diehard tech-head and sound junkie, Bartleby soon found his inspiration shifted by electronic/rock crossover groups like Radiohead, Primal Scream, and Fischerspooner and has developed a full-fledged obsession with dance and electronic music, particularly the electro scene.

After a short career as a research neuroscientist, Bartleby moved to San Francisco where he is currently a student at Pyramind, delving ever deeper into the world of digital music. Bartleby now produces as a member of San Francisco electro trio Pance Party, and between his work with the group and his endeavors designing and creating custom multittouch music performance interfaces, Bartleby is positioning himself to make a major splash in the world of electronic music.

Ben Ebyam

Ben Ebyam grew up on a mountain top outside of Willits CA, and after moving through a series of destination locations he was lured to the bright lights of San Francisco. Rave scenes and club dreams exploded off of the dot com boom transforming the city a wonderland of musical diversity. However bright lights soon turned into dark nights as the boom went bust. The ever evolving dance scene solidified as people began to fear the instability of the unknown, many of the smaller genres died off and the larger ones strived to develop radio stations and "top seller" charts. U9lift is the resurrection of musical exploration, music that defies genre yet defines emotion. U9lift the underground, a struggle to create a new sound.

Connor Moore

From Connor Moore’s experience growing up immersed in an environment of jazz and world music, he has developed a unique style of production combining ethereal melodic concepts with heavy breaks and syncopation. Later adopting the moniker C.moore, his sound has been compared to the likes of DJ Shadow, Four Tet, and Bonobo. Throughout his youth, C. Moore played guitar, bass, piano and drums which have helped to shape his organic sound. His ability of blending live instrumentation with electronic music through unique forms of production, distinguishes C.moore from many other producers working in similar genres. While in college, he began to embrace DJ culture and hosted various radio programs over a four year period which enabled him to discover many different styles and genres that made a profound impact on his song writing and production style.

Currently a sound designer and composer in San Francisco, C.moore has always associated sight and sound. His compositions tell a unique story, one that is usually dark and groove heavy, but also soulful and melodic. Through his compositions, C.moore is able to create a unique listening experience that is sure to resonate deeply.