Alicia Lemke (ALICIA)

New York – Focusrite, the pro-audio equipment manufacturer, held a launch party Thursday night to debut the iTrack Solo, which is a compact two-channel interface for the iPad and iOS platform that is fully compatible with Mac and PC computers.

Focusrite's iTrack Solo is a dual-input audio interface designed for recording instruments and vocals, bringing its pro sound “quality to the world of iPad audio recording for the first time,” the company said.

The event, held at The Hit Factory, the Gibson Guitar Showroom on West 54th Street, featured performances by Doe Paoro and Alicia Lemke. During the event, Phil Wagner, president of Focusrite, told TWICE that part of its line of professional recording devices, synthesizers, keyboards and related products have been sold through Best Buy for the past couple of years, as well as Guitar Center and other music retailers.

With the debut of the iTrack Solo, which is available this month at a suggested retail of $199, Focusrite is “actively looking” to expand its distribution through consumer electronics retailers nationwide.

As for the iTrack Solo, it is designed as “the perfect companion for any singer/songwriter wanting to take their demos to the next level” and with results that “can be used in the final mix,” Focusrite said.

The interface is compatible with GarageBand and other popular recording apps, and it can be used on a Mac or PC with up to 24-bit/96kHz digital performance. The iTrack Solo features a professional, low-distortion, low-noise Focusrite microphone preamp as used in the company’s flagship Liquid Saffire 56 interface.

Phantom power allows the use of top-quality studio microphones. Alongside the microphone input on the front panel, there is an instrument input that is designed for guitar and bass, along with the digital conversion.

Focusrite added that the iTrack Solo features a unibody aluminum chassis that is “perfect for recording guitar or keyboard and vocal on the go.”

Owners of Focusrite's Scarlett 2i2 USB interface will find the layout and features quite familiar since the iTrack Solo is based on the technology found in the supplier's existing range of computer audio interfaces.

Focusrite's signature “halo” indicators around the input knobs let you know if you are recording at the correct level (green) or at too high a level (red). There is also a large monitor knob that controls the output level.

Monitoring can be switched to listen to your recording signal against your backing track without incurring off-putting latency introduced by your music software.

A supplied cable connects iTrack Solo to the iPad, and the included USB cable delivers the power necessary to run the iTrack's high-specification components, Focusrite said. There is also a pair of phono connectors on the rear panel for connecting an audio system for playback. - TWICE

NEW YORK CITY – Like a fair number of other students, Alicia Lemke started her college career moving in one direction, then ended up on an entirely different path midway through.
“I got a degree in something very different, but I figured out at the end of my college career what I wanted to do,” the Wisconsin native said. Her original ambition was to get a degree in biology.
“I was really interested in biological conservation,” she said – at first. But she was also taking theater courses, and performing before an audience started to change Lemke’s outlook.
“What took priority over everything was when I went to rehearsal,” she said. “While I was still an undergrad, I auditioned at the Berkeley College of Music and got in on a scholarship.”
What had really changed for her, Lemke said, was the discovery that she loved writing and performing songs – and had a talent for it. Since then, she’s been building up a reputation before audiences in her new home in New York City, and on Aug. 14, she released her new single, “Higher.”
“It’s going really well,” she said, in an interview with Freeline Media. “I’m getting a really positive response to it. It’s fresh and really intimate at the same time.”
That could be why, Lemke said, she’s been able to connect with audiences in the Big Apple.
“I would say that number one, first and foremost, I believe in the words I’m singing, so there’s a level of raw honesty in my music,” Lemke said. “That as a baseline connects with people. I’m also the last person in the world to have stage fright. I’m so at ease on stage. I’m existing in the moment.”
As Lemke continues to promote both her singles and her stage shows, she hopes to eventually put together a band and tour across the nation – including here in Central Florida.
“I performed in the Miami Music Festival last year, which was great,” she said. “I did a solo acoustic show there. My music now requires a band because it is thick and dense. I’d love to tour in Florida with a live band.”
Lemke was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. The city is well known for its colleges, including being home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Edgewood College, Madison Area Technical College, and Madison Media Institute. The city’s post-secondary student population is 50,000.
“There’s always things going on there,” Lemke said. “It’s a beautiful place to grow up.”
In this strong cultural environment, she developed an interest in music at an early age.
“I played saxophone for years, and I was always interested in Jazz music and Big Band music,” Lemke said. “But I didn’t start to get into music until college.”
What really changed her attitude was a Dave Matthews concert she went to, where Lemke said she first experienced how powerfully an artist could reach an audience.
“It was amazing,” she said. “He has this ability to absolutely connect with an audience. This is the power that music can yield to unite. People were just united in front of the stage, and that was what really influenced me.”
Since starting her career as a live performer and recording artist, Lemke said she’s discovered two perfect ways to find her audience. One is through the Internet.
“In terms of being an artist, presenting yourself to an audience on a broad base, the Internet is incredibly powerful,” she said. “I use Facebook to advertise my shows and my singles like ‘Higher.’ You need to have the kind of online presence that is strong and clear. People have a short attention span. But you have no idea how many people from all around the world contact me every day – ‘Thank you for your songs and your voice.’ I’ve decided to release my music single by single, so each song is an individual entity.‘’
She also happily lives in one of the world’s great cities for performers.
“I live in New York City now, so I am mainly playing out of New York,” she said. “You have to consider the type of music you play, and you have to go after what your demographic is. You just have to be really tenacious.”
To learn more, log on to http://www.facebook.com/alicialemkemusic. - Freeline Media

Alicia Lemke, a.k.a. ALICIA, may be more enthusiastic about her work than any other musician I’ve spoken to in my life… and that’s pretty cool. She’s quite excited and thankful to have the opportunity to be able to explore her loves as a professional musician in a time when work in “the arts” seems to be somewhat bleak, even among those who have been on the scene for years and/or decades. However, Alicia hadn’t always been poised to be a professional musician. She actually got a degree in Biology and Theater at Swarthmore but, after a string of coincidences, she kind of fell into it… not that she was exactly shocked.
“I got a degree in something else, but I always seemed to gravitate toward the stage and performing. If I was playing saxophone or playing in a jazz band, I would always prioritize that over everything else… There’s no place I’d rather be than onstage,” she tells me. “I kind of stumbled into writing and then it was like, ‘This is absolutely what I should be doing for the rest of my life.’ I’m pleasantly surprised with all of it,” she explains. However, her initial degrees haven’t been rendered useless to her these days. In fact, one of them is finding itself at the forefront of her musical work: “In general, my biggest inspiration is the Earth, having studied biology as an undergrad.” She tells me she’s interested in “creating an environment for people,” with her music, describing it as having “Thick, dense vocals, creating this ‘world.’”

“Musically, I’m attracted to an amalgamation of all kinds of music,” Alicia tells me, going on to say she is a big fan of folk, pop, and jazz. More specifically, she’s very influenced by “The forcefulness behind Florence and the Machine,” Bon Iver (“Really good example of someone who creates an environment.”), and Imogen Heap (“A person who affects her voice. I find that very exciting.”)
Alicia is yet to release a full-length, but has put out a handful of EPs and singles, which seems to be what she’s most comfortable with for the time being: “I have to create in order to evolve. I have to just put them out and get them out of my system. When it comes to the EPs, I had outgrown them by the time I put them out.” So, for the time being, she’s happiest releasing her songs, “Single-by-single… I will probably release an EP-worth of singles.” But she does assure me, however, that there will eventually be an LP
Alicia described her two most recent singles, “Luminous” and “Higher” as, “Big, drum-driven, ethereal worlds.” “Luminous” is… quite a bit luminous. It’s delicately and epically whimsical, with a playful piano gradually giving way to pounding drums and frantic strums of a guitar. It has a folksy core, but an other-worldly shell. “Higher” sonically cascades like a space age gospel… or a mass parade, unafraid at the end of the world. She feels as though these songs are her best and most confessional to-date: “I listen to these songs and I’m like, ‘That’s my soul.’”
Although we won’t, likely, see ALICIA in-person before the year’s end, she tells me that she plans on, “Extensive touring in 2013… I’m currently spending a lot of time writing.” As for 2012, Alicia considers her biggest highlight to be her musical partnership with her producer, Nick Paul (who plays piano in St. Lucia): “Taking a musical stride with him has definitely been the highlight of my year. I feel like I’ve really come into my own as a writer. When you find a collaborator and hit a stride with that person, there’s nothing more exciting than that… I’m very grateful for him.”
- Philthy Blog

We’ve been featuring quite a few singles from ALICIA Lemke lately. The lady seems to be focused on introducing us to new recordings each week. Her latest, “Coming Down”, could be her best yet. Featuring epic pop production, the song showcases the power behind Lemke’s voice, and just shows that there are some pop stars still making great music, not hampered by generic songwriting. Lemke’s belting of “Feel it / Feel it / Pouring down” has enough emotional intensity behind it to make you want to sing along. Check out “Coming Down” after the jump. - Earbuddy

Now, before we get too excited and pass out from heat exhaustion, we must ease our way into awesomeness with Alicia Lemke’s “Luminous.” Alicia is a calm-Lykke Li-meets-Dido-blended with-A Fine Frenzy-birds fluttery blast of sound and emotion. Lemke’s angelic voice is the strongest instrument in her “Luminous” track. The demanding cascade of dramatic melodies is like “Shimmer down from my fingertips/Subtle warmth/To the brim with brilliance/Reborn.” Damn, she’s good. This Wisconsin native can captivate with her words just as well as her voice. I want to race to the top of a mountain and get all Sound of Music when this track is on. Unfortunately, the closest thing to a hill in Philly are the Art Museum steps and I’m no Rocky. - Music Under Fire

This pretty lady goes by the name of Alicia Lemke, an artist out of capital of the world, NYC. The fact tracks like this and Fifty Grand have been making it into my inbox tells me I must be doing something right. This song is kind of like an epic, it’s really long and goes up and down and all around. Unlike that last sentence, this is a wonderfully structured song. The file is about the size of some people’s mixtapes, I think she mixed down the .wav file which is obviously cool because it’s super-high quality. I’ve been holding onto this track perhaps a little too long, we’re still riding out the first single though. Lemke’s manager says there will be more music in the upcoming weeks, we’re definitely looking forward to it. - Gold Sweatshirt

Singer/songwriter Alicia Lemke didn’t pick up a guitar until the age of 20- she has since received a scholarship from Berklee College of Music and a sponsorship from Gibson Guitars. Her original songs, ranging from heartbreak to personal triumphs, are defined by her poetic lyrics, finger-picking guitar style, and strong, graceful voice. Alicia has performed in major cities across the nation including Los Angeles and Miami, and has crossed the pond to perform in London. She shares the story behind her cover of a classic R&B hit.

Name: Alicia Lemke

Hometown: Madison, WI

Influences: I am so influenced by the world around me. Not only by musicians and artists such as Al Green, but also by my friends, my environment, my passion, and my trials. I listen to everything from jazz, to pop, to traditional folk music. I try and stay open to life as an art form, and to my experiences as a conduit for inspiration. Mostly, I try to write/sing about what I feel. Effectively channeling my personal experiences allows me to feel connected to others. And it’s artists like that who influence me the most — those who succeed in making me feel what they feel. Al Green does an unbelievable job at that in his song “Love and Happiness.”

Cover Song Licensed: Love and Happiness

Story Behind the Cover: I have always been a fan of R&B and Motown music. When I was looking for a cover to do for my EP “Imaginary,” I decided that tackling a song like Al Green’s “Love and Happiness” had the potential to be incredibly rewarding because of its challenge. Being a female ukuele/guitar player in a completely different genre of music would force me to take the classic R&B hit and rearrange it in a totally unique way. And in fact I struggled with the song for a whole week before any inspiration struck. Very suddenly one morning at 5 am, I awoke, grabbed my ukulele, and (at the expense of my roommates) shed the tune. I arranged it into a 3-minute acoustic version, recorded a scratch track, and that was it– I was sold. It allowed me to tap into a completely different side of my musicianship. So thanks, Al! - Jackie Z

Alicia Lemke's bright voice, trusty ukulele and gleefully direct delivery (check out her "I'm Here to Stay" video, and try to wipe the dopey smile off your face) all suggest a wildly ambitious talent. The Madison, WI native recently finished recording her debut EP, Imaginary, but that doesn't drop till next month. For now, head to the Living Room and let Lemke's irrepressible joie de vivre wash over you. She sums it up in a sentence that scans so well at might as well be one of her lyrics: "Bottom line, bottom line / I'm all about having a really good time."

You will...

swoon... and not be embarrassed about it.

- James Rickman for Unveiled Arts

If I were a music publisher, I would snatch up Alicia Lemke in a heartbeat. She has TV and film placement potentially virtually embedded into her earthy, wistful folk-pop debut Shades of Motion. To begin with, the five-song EP is exquisitely produced and performed by Lemke, a Berklee freshman, and her team of recent alumni: Josh Fobare, Alvaro Kapaz, Pablo Eluchans, and Ryan Gleason. Lemke’s pretty, conversational vocals are clear as a bell, occasionally accompanied by soft harmonies. A steady interplay between piano and acoustic guitar form the harmonic texture of most of the tracks. The arrangements compliment the songs without being obtrusive — from the upright bass on “Wave to Nowhere” to the organ on “The Break-Up Song” to the hand claps on “I’m Here to Stay.” Recorded and mixed by Gerry Putnam at Cedar House Sound in New Hampshire, the music is sonically ready- as crisp and well-performed as any Ingrid Michaelson or Colbie Caillat record.

The 22-year old Lemke has a knack for straightforward, unpretentious lyrical nuggets: “I miss you as much as anyone can miss what’s done- done are the days of ever after,” she sings with resignation on opener, “Wave to Nowhere.” Lemke graduated from Swarthmore with a degree in Theater and a minor in Biology, and spent a summer, conducting environmental science field research in Australia. She contemplates the physical world with impressionistic observations in the title track. “Purple light frames the highway/Spinning past yellow dotted lines/Counting signs.” Lemke remains even-keeled and earnest throughout her recounting of bad breakups. She sings, “You screwed me once and you screwed me twice” and completes the couplet with “My problem is I haven’t taken my own lame advice.”

On closing track “I’m Here To Stay,” Lemke showcases more pop than folk with “Come On Eileen”-esque melody soaring above multi-tracked handclaps and jumpy piano. You could easily hear it in a Target ad or a Grey’s Anatomy episode. In this day and age where sync licenses earn artists more money than record sales, there may be no better compliment to pay Shades of Motion’s industry potential.

Shades of Motion is available now on iTunes and physical copies will be available at Alicia Lemke shows. - Ann Driscoll

Our first Fav for the month of September is New York-based singer-songwriter Alicia Lemke. Born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, Lemke’s studies in music at Berklee College of Music aren’t the only elements comprising her talent. Her edge runs along a specialization in the relationship realm of the pop world – interjecting a wealth of emotion via lyrics that convey more often than not the things gone unsaid in the most normal of romantic couplings. From the good end of the spectrum to the bad, there is a raw lyric quality that well summarizes even the most familiar of feelings. When contrasted with an acoustic, folk-esque feel – sometimes jazz, sometimes rock – there is just the right amount of punch in her sound that allows it to stick around just a little while longer than usual. Lemke is currently set to play a few shows in New York, then Boston, what’s next we’ll hopefully be ready fo – she’s a talent well on the rise to some great heights, especially if her fans have something to do with it. - Lindsey Darden