Mint Trip

LOS ANGELES, CA- Mint Trip is an Los Angeles based band consisting of guitarist Max Molander, bassist Brian Gross and vocalist Amy Gionfriddo and they’ve released an infectious little ditty titled “Labor Day”.

The recording is very polished and Amy’s soprano vocals floats freely over the complex instrumentals. When her vocals harmonize over the chorus, you can’t help but bob your head to the staccato rhythms. It’s truly “atmospheric pop-rock”, and is pretty damn infectious.

I found their musical arrangement particularly intriguing. While I’m not an expert in music theory, I literally spent half an hour trying to figure out number of times they switched up time signatures. I still can’t tell… lol. I don’t know too much about the band, but I could have guessed without reading their bio that this trio must have studied jazz in high school or college, because their sonics are about as complex as it comes.

The accompanying visuals are a fun DIY video that tells a humorous story about the dangers of wearing white after labor day.

“Labor Day” is the second single off Mint Trip’s upcoming debut album which will be available through Blue Élan Records. - Blurred Culture

There are few sonic elements as beautiful as vocalist Amy’s set of pipes. The beguiling Mint Trip singer’s voice can’t help but bend listener’s ears. Combine that voice and Mint Trip’s unique, spacey, atmospheric sound and no wonder the Los Angeles based band, which formed in January of 2015 signed a label deal only 18 months into its existence.

The pop-rock trio is comprised of Amy (vocals), Brian (bass), and Max (guitar). Their approach is as refreshing as a York peppermint patty. “We’re just making music that we want to listen to,” bassist Brian says. Mint Trip understands the difference between writing sonic greeting cards and songs that will potentially endure the test of time.

Mint Trip is taking a chance by not chasing trends. The group is more than willing to go out on a limb crafting cerebral, atmospheric pop-rock. “Being a full-time musician is the riskiest thing you can do. We moved across the country to pursue music together. We’re all in. We’re all up for the risk of making our own style of music. We don’t want to make music that sounds like anybody else. We took a chance and it’s paid off so far.”

~Stay Minty~

"Tip Of My Tongue"

Words are funny… They slide in one ear and out the other and dance across your tongue – but never in the right order or at the right time! “Tip of My Tongue” playfully captures the frustration of mumbling, stumbling, and fumbling through the difficult task of freeing your thoughts from your own head. - Wave Fest Music

The Upshot: Sultry, sexy, danceable trip hop, pop and soul.

BY FRED MILLS

L.A. 2 guy/1 gal trio Mint Trip swirls and skitters in a mélange of pop, soul, and electronica that suggests a summit between classicists Saint Etienne and trip hoppers Portishead. For this vinyl 7” debut—comprising three songs from the five-track Books digital EP—the focus is squarely on sultry singer Amy Gionfriddo, originally from St. Leonard, MD, as graceful as a lioness, and blessed with the kind of supple pipes that could find a niche no matter the genre; indeed, the band’s “soul” component is decidedly jazz-infused. Amy is joined by L.A. native Brian Gross and Cary, NC, guitarist Max Molander. The three met at the University of Miami prior to landing in Los Angeles.

“Ghosts” is elegance personified, powered by a purposeful bass bumps and synth pulses, and of course that ethereal voice. Flip the platter over for “By The Sea” and “Virga,” the former a hypnotic, ethereal pop ballad; the latter, a luminous, gospellish slice of chilled-out soul. Point of fact, you can hear these tracks and additional two at the band’s Soundcloud page (“Canvas” is particularly compelling), so you have no excuse for not immersing yourself in Mint Trip’s sweet, hummable, danceable music.

Bonus points for the gorgeous turquoise vinyl, too. A download card is included that will net you all five songs. - BLURT Magazine

Mint Trip is a foursome from Miami’s Frost School of Music, who are all about the musical feels.

Comprising of Amy (vocals), Anthony (guitar, synth, drum pads, backup vocals), Brian (bass, mixing), and Max (guitar, synth, drum pads, production), they formed in January 2015 over a love of electronic and non-electronic music, and a mutual interest in pushing the boundaries of pop music.

Their second single, ‘Virga’, is about Amy’s brother, a meteorology major who had to leave Miami after two years and go back to Maryland. He was interested in clouds, and Virga is the type of cloud that forms in vertical streaks under a larger cloud in a rainstorm.
‘Virga’ has been taken from their first EP, which is due out this year.

Sounds like: Purity Ring, Keep Shelly In Athens, Kill J, Chrvches, Wildhart - Indietronica

Tucked away in the folds of Miami hide Mint Trip, a three-piece band who’s members Amy, Brian and Max are bent on pushing musical boundaries. Influenced by indie, electro and a wide variation of musicians (Grimes, Frank Ocean or Purity Ring anyone?), their plan for global domination – dubbed Mint Trip Global Takeover 2016 Edition – doesn’t seem far off the mark.

Their latest, Virga, was penned after front-woman Amy took a moment to pause and observe a virga, which is a beautiful type of cloud that only forms under a larger cloud during a rainstorm. As well as a dedication to her younger brother, a friend who had to move away and the weather, it’s a song very much for all those who happen to listen, which you can do right now:


As 2016 emerged from the grasp of 2015, I caught a moment with the trio and learnt the importance of time alone, constantly bettering yourself and surviving early adulthood. Read on:

Why are you called Mint Trip?

We chose “Mint” because it evokes numerous senses: Mint is a colour, a flavour, and a smell – we want to make it a sound. The “Trip” comes in from our overarching goal of traveling the world with our music. The “Mint Trip” is the international tour that the three of us are all working towards.

How did the three of you meet?

We were all students the Frost School of Music from the University of Miami.

What inspired you to start making music as a band?

We came together over a mutual love of both electronic and acoustic music. We each come from different artistic influences, and we want our music to push the boundaries of popular music.


In Virga’s acoustic video, you are all strumming gently on guitars and singing on a grass hill, like lovely Bohemians or something. When did you discover you could sing/play instruments?

We’ve been playing instruments and singing since childhood, long before we discovered electrons. The purpose of that video was to show the world that we’re not only electron benders, but also songwriters with strong musical backgrounds.

You’ve reinforced that image by doing accoustic and electro gigs – what is your favourite thing about performing live?

Brian: Shakin’ my ass.

Max/Amy: We learn more about how to be better artists every time we step on stage. Performing live helps us understand how to manifest our music in the studio.

Who doesn’t like a good booty shake? Moving on, which other bands and musicians inspire you guys?

Amy: Grimes, Chairlift, & GEMS

Max: Lemuria, Hundred Waters, & Purity Ring

Brian: Flume, Banks, & Frank Ocean

What good music taste! Who do you target your music towards, and why do you want to relate to this audience?

We write music about ourselves, for ourselves, and hope that others can relate to our story. Our largest audience is people like us – finding their way through early adulthood.

What is Virga about?

Amy: The song is about finding peace in loneliness. I started writing [the song] when I noticed a little cloud floating around by itself in the sky one day. My first thought was, “aw it’s all by itself, that’s so sad” – then I thought that that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes solitude can be exactly what you need.

Eventually, I realized that I was also writing the song about my little brother who is currently going through a difficult transition in life. He’s interested in meteorology, and virga – his favourite type of cloud – can only form underneath a rain cloud.

It is ok to feel alone, and when you accept that you may start to realize that you never really were alone in the first place.

How did Virga come around?

Amy: The vocal part came to me while I was travelling in Arizona, amazed at the natural scenery. The actual song came together when Max was jamming on guitar, and I thought that the lyrics and melody I had created earlier would fit well. We moved forward from there and are proud to share “Virga” with the world.

Another one of yours, Take, is also very electro-calm. What music do you see yourself making next?

For this upcoming EP, we went in a dream pop, electro vibes direction. For our next release, we will have a full length concept album with similar aesthetic influences, but darker undertones.

Now that the New Year has come around, what are your aims for 2016?

Mint Trip Global Takeover 2016 Edition:

Move to LA

Release first EP

Make music videos

Finish first LP

Tour

Wish you all the best on that! ℘ - wisdomtooth

Mint Trip’s debut EP, ‘Books’, was released on August 26th with Blue Elan Records. 'Books’ is comprised of five catchy, moving songs with vivid tales and captivating soundscapes. The final song “Ghosts” reflects on reality, change, and the meaning of home. The Los Angeles based group’s EP was mixed by Vic Wainstein, who won a Grammy for Frank Ocean’s 'Channel Orange’, and mastered by Danny Kalb, who engineered Beck’s 'Guero’.
Hey, tell our readers a bit about Mint Trip.
We met in music school at the University of Miami and recently moved to LA to play more shows and be near our label, Blue Élan Records. We use our backgrounds in music technology, classical music and jazz to create a unique sound and we try to push the boundaries of pop music.
How did Ghosts come about?
We released our debut EP, Books, on August 26, and 'Ghosts’ is the final track. The song touches on the feeling of leaving what you know, and the complex, changing meaning of home. Our recent move across the country and struggle to establish a new reality have brought this song that much closer to us.
Where can people catch you playing a show?
We have been playing at different venues around the city and in November we will have a residency at the Hotel Cafe. - Purple Melon Music

Mint Trip is an American indie pop duo formed by Amy, Brian and Max and currently based in Los Angeles. They just released their new single « Ghosts » and it’s quite brilliant.

With a perfect fusion between electronica and indie pop, their sounds perfectly emulates the essence of other bands like Broods, CHVRCHES and Glass Animals. This is confirmed as Mint Trip’s first taste of its debut EP “Books“, released on August 26. - TEEZ FM

Mint Trip's debut EP, 'Books', was released on August 26th with Blue Elan Records. 'Books' is comprised of five catchy, moving songs with vivid tales and captivating soundscapes. The final song "Ghosts" reflects on reality, change, and the meaning of home.

The Los Angeles based group's EP was mixed by Vic Wainstein, who won a Grammy for Frank Ocean's 'Channel Orange', and mastered by Danny Kalb, who engineered Beck's 'Guero'. - LA On Lock

We had a chat with one of our favourite upcoming Indie pop groups ‘Mint Trip’. The Los Angeles based trio have recently released their EP ‘Books’ and are playing shows around town. Be sure to catch them if you can.

Could you give us some background on Mint Trip?

We met in music school at the University of Miami and recently moved to LA to play more shows and be near our label, Blue Élan Records. We use our backgrounds in music technology, classical music and jazz to create a unique sound and we try to push the boundaries of pop music.

What, if anything, defines your sound?

Mint is a color, a flavor, and a smell – we want to make it a sound.

What does ‘Ghosts’ draw from?

We released our debut EP, Books, on August 26, and 'Ghosts’ is the final track. The song touches on the feeling of leaving what you know, and the complex, changing meaning of home. Our recent move across the country and struggle to establish a new reality have brought this song that much closer to us.

Is there anything you’re planning to release in the coming months?

We’re taking some time to start writing our first LP, but there will be a few singles leading up to it. We also have a couple music videos coming out by the end of the year.

If people wanted to catch you playing, where would they go?

We have a residency at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood for the month of November!

Where can people find you online?

You can find links to all of our social media through our Facebook page at www.facebook/minttrip - Rhythm Twins

Mint Trip is a four piece indie electronic band hailing from Miami, Florida. ‘Virga’ is the second single from their upcoming EP. - MrPaansMusic

Miami-based band Mint Trip have unveiled their brand new single Virga. This is a smooth pop tune with a cool electronic influence that makes this an even better experience. I am loving those guitar chords!! Amy's vocals fit perfectly with the song giving it a more etheral-like edge. Check it out below! - Caesar Live N Loud

For artists making their way into the music industry, ‘Cane Records, a student-run label at the University of Miami since 1993, serves as a platform to share and promote their music. Senior Brian Gross, a music engineering major, signed his band Mint Trip with ‘Cane Records as a starting point for the band’s musical aspirations.

This summer, he and band members Max Molander and Amy Gionfriddo will take road trips across the country to their new home of Los Angeles, where they will be signing to another label and releasing their first EP over the summer. After that, they will continue toward their aspiration of releasing a second EP and going on another tour.

“It’s all been pretty surreal,” Molander said. “We’re not at the point where we’re supporting ourselves 100 percent yet on the band, although that is the goal …We’re really excited about this first EP that’s coming out. It’s been a year and a half in the making and it’s really shaping up.”

The band’s name, Mint Trip, encompasses just that, using “mint” to represent the idea of a sensory overload and the band’s goals for the future.

“It evokes color, a flavor, a scent, and we’re trying to make a sound,” Gross said. “Mint Trip is the overall goal … We’re trying to tour internationally and do nothing but this. So the Mint Trip is the tour where we’ve made it. That’s what it is to us. A constant reminder of what we’re going for, and why we’re doing this is because we love music … It is not a hobby, it is life.”

The three musicians met at UM, where Gross and Molander have focused on jazz while Gionfriddo is studying for her master’s in classical voice performance.

“UM has helped in ways you wouldn’t expect it to … Frost is a pretty cool place because everyone comes from such different musical backgrounds and plays different styles,” Gross said. “It’s cool because we were able to come together and play. That was a huge help from UM. You’re in this huge pool of all these great musicians and you can pick your friends, and from your friends you can pick the musicians you want to play with and that’s how it’s been a help.”

Mint Trip’s single “Take” is included on the latest ‘Cane Records album, “For the Record,” which features 12 songs from University of Miami artists. This album originally received about 70 song submissions, but in the end, only 12 songs were chosen, each of which was produced by an independent artist.

“They’re all originally produced works,” said ‘Cane Records President Emma Marzen, who is in the Music Business and Entertainment Industries Program. “It’s been an incredible, incredible album. The assemblage that we have is perfect and the artists are really fantastic. Each and every one of them just has a great voice and something to say.”

The musicians on this year’s album also all happened to be UM students or recent alums. This was an important deciding factor for the ‘Cane Records team, since the team wanted the artists to be available to perform on campus, whether at the farmer’s market or during a UMTV show, Marzen explained.

“In the past couple years we’ve done all-United States albums or South Florida albums, but this year we decided we really wanted to have an all-University of Miami album just to showcase the extreme talent we have right here on our campus,” she said.

The team didn’t have any predetermined ideas for what they were looking for. As a result, the album consists of a variety of music styles, ranging from electronic to Latin pop.

“We look for any and all genres, any type of musician, from all walks of life at UM,” Marzen said. “We worked to see who would fit the best together even though they’re very contrasting pieces. They just sound effortless [when]they flow together and it’s a really nice compilation.”

Another recent project started by the label is the “Thank You, Come Again” sessions, a variety of live music videos made in trendy studios in Wynwood. The videos feature 10 of the artists who were available playing live.

“Our biggest goal is always to help the artists, promoting them, making sure this label is for their benefit [and]to grow as they’re in school and to be found in the industry,” Marzen said. “We only pick independent artists because we know that they are the ones that are able to grow the most.”

In addition, the label has hosted other events, such as electronic press kit making and technical writing workshops, offered for the purpose of helping singer-songwriters share their music.

“I think we’re moving into the future and trying to attack the new ways of disseminating music and just promoting these artists and helping them develop and be seen by those in the industry and those who will become fans,” Marzen said. “They’re really talented, amazing artists, people and UM students. It’s really great to be able to support our family.”

The “For the Record” album will soon be available on SoundCloud and is also available at special events, including an upcoming showcase on March 31 at the Lakeside Patio. - The Miami Hurricane

There are few sonic elements as beautiful as vocalist Amy’s set of pipes. The beguiling Mint Trip singer’s voice can’t help but bend listener’s ears. Combine that voice and Mint Trip’s unique, spacey, atmospheric sound and no wonder the Los Angeles based band, which formed in January of 2015 signed a label deal only 18 months into its existence.

"Ghosts" is the last song on the EP but it was written first- the bare bones of the song existed a few years before the band even formed. The song touches on the feeling of leaving what you know, and the complex, changing meaning of home.

We’re just making music that we want to listen to, Mint Trip understands the difference between writing sonic greeting cards and songs that will potentially endure the test of time. -bassist Brian says. - IX Daily

'Ghosts' is the last song on the EP but it was written first- the bare bones of the song existed a few years before the band even formed. The song touches on the feeling of leaving what you know, and the complex, changing meaning of home. Our recent move across the country (Miami to LA) and struggle to establish a new reality have brought this song that much closer to us."


"Aside from the very dope & cool production, Amy really does a good job on the vocal side of this track. Her vocals have endless potential, and so does Mint Trip as a whole, and I look forward to checking out more of their material in the future. Make sure you go grab their EP titled 'Books' which can be found here." - Shadarra Lockett (@DMV_Shad On Twitter) - Underground Industry

Our first single today comes from a band we have previously reviewed who has recently signed with Blue Élan Records. Please check out “Tip of my Tongue” by Mint Trip. - Indie Voice Blog