supersonic
Artist Information
Biography
With its intoxicating acoustic potion of harp, violin, cello, hammered dulcimer, bells, mandolin, flutes, frame drums, and ethereal choral voices, Mamalama weaves a vibrant tapestry of folk, classical, world music (South American, West African, Native American, Persian), early music (sacred/elizabethan/medieval), modern minimalism, psychedelia, and mystical, image-rich poetry. Dreamy, soothing and deeply introspective, the music carries the listener to a nearly tangible atmosphere of calm and beauty, seamlessly bringing together the modern with the ancient through the art of songwriting.
“The relationships between all of the different elements in nature--both the natural world and our own inner nature-- are very inspiring to us...along with dreams, prayer, science, mythology...With the music, everything just comes together very organically."
Though Mamalama's songwriting always centers around harp and voice, the band's orchestration intentionally allows space for taking various forms, accentuating different elements of the music by welcoming new and unusual combinations of instruments.
" We performed for a while in a formation that was heavy with african balafon, clarinet, and hammered dulcimer. It was a very fast and rhythmic version of us. Then, the hurdy-gurdy, Irish flutes, and tabla were landscaping the next recording. Now we are working with a thorough string section, choral collages, melodica, wooden flutes, a music box, and bells. We've become more introspective and lush. It seems to me that no matter what we play, we all bring to the band the music of our ancestors somehow. Sometimes we draw from our European roots, sometimes we go all the way back to Africa, or maybe even Pangaea. Often, it doesn't matter where we are, and that's beautiful. Our music can feel very very old, and it can also feel completely new, " says harpist, vocalist, and songwriter Elizabeth Clark-Jerez.
And the sumptuous fruits of this organic alchemy are in verdant abundance on Willows and Waves, Mamalama’s first full-length debut. The album’s rich bounty is typified by such bewitching gems as the two radically divergent mixes of the lilting “Sparkle,” a celebratory ode to the living world around us whose addictive refrain reminds that that “even the grass is listening,” and “Same Room Twice,” a shimmering meditation on universal entropy with glints of Philip Glass.
(Mamalama's second full length album, "The World of Color and Light" comes out in April of 2012. )
It’s no surprise that the Mamalama's hypnotic flair has won the group favor with more adventurous DJs. “Before I heard Mamalama I had a preconception that a band with a harp and dulcimer might be a bit ‘precious,’ but this one certainly isn’t,” says WKZE’s Paul Higgins. “Even though the sound evokes a sense of otherworldliness, the band is very much grounded in this world...a swirling tapestry of ancient and classical textures... I love when a band truly has a singular sound, like a musical organism... A beautiful backdrop for the vocals. ”
With its ancient-rooted sound, Mamalama has been a hit at clubs, venues, music festivals, and also holistic/spiritual centers throughout the Northeast. The band often gives concerts in some rather unusual locations as well, performing in "natural" venues like caves/caverns, alongside waterfalls, mountaintops, gardens, farms, within sculptures, and at wineries. Via the Music Under New York arts outreach program (MUNY), the band also brings its soothing gifts to the chaotic milieu of New York City’s subway and rail station platforms.
“People tell us that our music is beautiful for belly dancing and other dance forms, and then there’s many who say there were moved to tears by it. Someone recently told us it was like walking into a dream. To me, all of this says there must be something beautiful and good in what we’re doing.”
A WORD FROM OUR FANS:
"Highly unusu
Instrumentation
Elizabeth Clark-Jerez - voice, harp, composition
Henry Lowengard - hammered dulcimer, magyar citera, Pianica, tenor recorder
Charlie Shikowitz - Violin, mandolin, Tenor Banjo, bell lyre
Sharon Penz - Cello
Discography
"The World of Color and Light"
Recorded at ArtFarm in Accord NY
Engineered/Produced by: Brian Macaluso at Clandestine Recordings
(Coming spring 2012)
"Willows and Waves"
Recorded in Woodstock at Digital Dave Studios
2010
Executive producer: David Fruchter
Engineer: Ted Orr
Production: Elizabeth Clark-Jerez
"Live from the Old Dutch Church"
Recorded live in Kingston NY at The Old Dutch Church
2009
Engineer: Brian Macaluso
Production: Elizabeth Clark-Jerez
Official Website
Links
Photo Gallery
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peekamoose water (cold cold cold)
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Sharon (cello)
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Henry (dulcimer)
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Charlie (violin/banjo/mandolin/bell lyre/voice)
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Elizabeth and women's faces...
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Press
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Mamalama on Vassar College Radio, Poughkeepsie NY
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"...Mamalama's ethereal sounds will enchant you and reconnect you to the beauty and mystery of the u...
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Mamalama Y Andes Manta in Woodstock NY
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Por Antonio Flores-Lobos Las Noticias KINGSTON?-- Pocas son veces en que se tiene la oportun...
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"Nightshade" on 98.1 WKZE Radio
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"...Mamalama is a swirling tapestry of ancient and classical textures. I love when a band really has...
