organicArma

"Local live electronic act organicArma are doubtless celebrating a wish come true. Band leader Dharma has long been an outspoken admirer of the New York art-electro-pop outfit Fischerspooner, hinting to me last winter that he wanted to book them to play at his expansive Awarehouse venue. He may not have accomplished that -- yet -- but he's still scored a major coup for organicArma, who also recently signed a major-level distribution deal with Rock Ridge Music. His trio will hit the road with Fischerspooner later this month, opening for them on a series of 15 dates across the midwest, southwest, and west coast. As such, the band will play major venues like the Metro in Chicago, Avalon in Los Angeles, and the Fillmore in San Francisco. OrganicArma is currently touring in support of its EP, Discordia, released this past February. A new one, Awarned, is slated for digital release on June 30. "
- Laptop Rockers

More than just a name that rolls off your tongue, organicArma is a humbled, South Florida-based electronica band that brings a slew of electric energy to the area. If creative culture were a religion, organicArma would be practicing it, for the three members are about more than just the music; they're about the meaning behind it all.
DhArma, phAxas, and lhArma are an eclectic bunch, donned in bold make-up choices, self-designed clothing, and theatrical accessories. DhArma, the conceptual creator of the group, elaborated on this aesthetic, saying the trio connects their characters to psychology. Between the music and beyond, dhArma said, "I like to connect things that are very disconnected," adding that "technology allows us to learn and speak to people in ways people can't communicate."
Remaining cohesive with the band's eclecticism, organicArma, who is currently on tour with Fischerspooner, doesn't record music in a typical studio. The Awarehouse, an artistic playground located in Wynwood that opened this past March, reigns as the group's personal space for creative energies. The venue includes not only a studio, but a fine arts gallery, performance hall, and a space for the public to dabble in their own artistic endeavors; the Awarehouse holds different events and workshops every second Saturday of the month.
Although organicArma has played notable locations such as the Louvre in Paris (they mixed electronica beats for Paris Fashion Week designer Oscar Carvallo), band member phAxas said her favorite show was opening night at the Awarehouse.
"It was a dream for us to open up our own venue, to play on the stage we sort of built and put so much heart into," she said, adding, "There's not many venues in Miami that can offer what we offer for music - a venue that has quality sound and quality technology. We really just want to bring the best to our hometown."
With such a strong presence, some may wonder whether the three individuals ever have conflicting points of view while collaborating. "We like to think in threes. If we're stuck on something, there's always someone to bring something new to the table. It helps us move forward," said phAxas. "Sometimes there are situations where the three of us are pulling in different directions, but that's all part of the fun." - NBC Miami

With Art Basel going down this week, Miami is once again exploding with an array of sound and vision. Amidst all that action, few performances will be more moving than Miami's own electronic duo, organicArma, whose "World Tour" has them staging everywhere from Design Within Reach to Panther Coffee. Niteside gave keyboardist/ vocalist phAxas and drummer/ vocalist dhArma1 11 the ol' quickie Q&A.
Tomorrow you launch your "World Tour" -- wanna tell us about it? phAxas: It's a world tour so-to-speak: The world travels to Miami for Art Basel. So while the world is here in our homebase, we will be making ourselves accessible to the world.
dhArma111: This band is about playing and controlling machines. During Basel we will have the opportunity to show the aesthetics of that world.
Where's your first appearance? phAxas: Our first Basel show this year is Wednesday, Dec. 1, on the rooftop of Lincoln Road's Design Within Reach showroom. We're going to be a part of an outdoor courtyard party.

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dhArma111: It depends what appearance means. One day we want to be part of a roof or a building, another inside a museum or a gallery as an art installation or on top of any stage at a park or a theater where all musicians will dream to play.
phAxas: As long as we keep it different then each appearance can be our first.
And the tour is in support of a new LP? phAxas: Yes, we've just released Under Duality. Duality is the action of oscillating between the reality we all try to share and the one that only can be brought from the unknown.
dhArma111: This tour is in support of our philosophical way of thinking inside a world without ideals where nothing is true and everything is allowed. Under Duality for us is how we live as a family of people who wants change and to be part of the action of making those transitions. That kind of position is better perceived when playing but definitely we want to be ready to be seduced and inspired too.
OrganicArma is much more than two musicians though, isn't it? dhArma111: Indeed, Abraxas 223 handles all our visuals, and we have been working with him since even before the band got started. We've always had this technological necessity of utilizing the machines with a purpose and after playing with a variety of religions, psychologists and philosophers we knew we needed to create something that could generate new ways of feelings. At this moment, the machines are still leading us to that path. Even our instruments are machines now.
phAxas: He is our third brother who plays with us live, expressing himself through visual frequencies. He employs a customized software which he uses to program different chains of third effects, creating an atmosphere where the organicArma experience lives.
And aren't you all behind the Awarehouse? dhArma111: That's our headquarters in the wild west of Wynwood. The Awarehouse has to do with a vision of the Sonar Festival in Barcelona. The whole idea behind is to connect inside a Museum digital media, visual projection, films and avant garde music from bands to DJs. The whole week is an experience that pushes you to take risks and do something different. Is a completely global show where there are no boundaries or styles. Here, we needed Aurax, a gallerist stepmother that functions as the witch psychologist of the band to get the job done. Abraxas works during the day as the CTO and Art Director plus all his extracurricular projects, phAxas the young lady of the gang was a PR student and handles the science behind our frequency machines with an acustronic methodology.
phAxas: When dhArma isn't playing drums, he predicts motion, analyzes and reads graphs, and understands by perceiving patterns. On Thursday night, as part of our album launch, we will be playing at the Awarehouse along with friends People from Venus, Rebel, Telekinetic Walrus and visual artists Cyberpixie and R of Tecne Collective, as well as a few more artists that will soon be announced. We organized this show together in order to present the eclectic faces of local art and music, which is why Awarehouse exists in the first place.
- NBC Miami

Last weekend, amid the hangovers and general fatigue that inevitably lingers after another blow-out Art Basel, a cool core of a couple hundred or so with-it locals turned out at a spot West of Wynwood to hear a pop punk amalgam known as Pretty Please. In addition to the swingin' sounds, there were works from a dozen buzzy Miami visualists, among them Claudia Calle, Monica Travis, and Nicole Soden. A proverbial damn good time was had by all. But had not this spot existed, it's unlikely the racket-makers would've been staging at all that night - they certainly wouldn't have been staging amid such divine splendor. But they all were there, because there is a there there, and that there is called Awarehouse.

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Opened in March ‘09 by a collective of digital wizards, art junkies, and all-around explorers of sound and vision, Awarehouse has become the scene of many a righteous night in the wilds West of Wynwood. At any given moment, there are cybernauts inventing their own algorithms, visualists assembling their visions, and sound-slingers rehearsing, recording, or taking to the stage. Not that there are clear delineations between what one does or doesn’t do, mind you - hell, the lines are so often blurred they might as well not exist. But the beehive does boast boisterous action of every stripe, and it’s become the kinda magnet that attracts anyone intent on making more of Miami than what’s been mapped out by those touting best laid plans.
Just ask Iggy Pop. In August of last year, the punk rock legend (and Miami resident) turned up at Awarehouse to help raise A/C money for Sweat Records. The main man made an entire night out of it. In fact, when Mr. Pop wasn’t watching locals Jacuzzi Boys and Awesome New Republic make their patented racket, he was hobnobbing with his neighbors. N.E.R.D. and Kinky seemed to very much dig the space too, at least if their respective stagings are any indication. And each had a packed house of acolytes to help them prove it.
But it’s the crème de la crème of Miami sound and vision that really makes Awarehouse a place in the sun. At one time or another, everybody takes to the place, which only makes perfect sense considering the place was built explicitly for them to take to. But of all the merry music-makers that have taken to Awarehouse, the threesome known as organicArma have taken to it the most. Why? Because they happen to be the hosts, that’s why. And as such, they’ve taken to the place with a graciousness few bands in any land can fathom. In addition to their own stellar shows, it is oA who steps aside and offers up the space for their pals to show the world what they’re made of. And in an age of cutthroat competition and petty backstabbing, that kinda kind action is as rare as snow in this town.
Together organicArma is Phaxas, Dharma, and Abraxas. The former two are responsible for the racket; the latter backs ‘em up with the visually phantastic. Behind them is Sam Camera, who chronicles every nuance of their rising, and Aurax, who serves as a sorta Overseer for them and the entire Awarehouse. As an outfit, oA is riding the wave that roars over the digital divide, and they’ve shown that machines are nothing without a little humanity. As operatives, the five have proven that success can come from being both humane and human. Something to think about the next time you’re considering sticking your foot out in front of your next best friend. - Black Book Mag

Yet another Miami band that I bet you didn't know about but whose originality promised to rock your world.

Their name is organicArma, composed by three talented people who think outside the box; phAxas123 (vocals/synths/samples), dhArma111 (drums/vocals), and abrAzas223 (visual computing). They call Wynwood their hometown and precisely The Awarehouse, their headquarters.

Love is Not it All is an EP whose four tracks captivated the team at Fabrikalink. The melodies primarily dominated by organicArma are bass, electronica, and techno with a lot of visual aid in their live presentations. Their originality can be seen in the way they interpret and give dance music a new meaning.

In the track "Awarned", they fuse dark beats with heavy bass, giving this digital arrangement a Gothic flair. "Discordia" is the following track that shows us organicArma's bilingual side, with never losing their synthetic swagger. "Love is Not it All" takes it up a notch melody wise, this single is a bit more hyped then the prior tracks and is indeed the invitation to their party at any given time.

This fresh collective sure knows how to make an impact, whether it's through audio or a live presentation and as vocalist phAxas123 previously stated in an interview with NBCmiami "as long as we keep it different then each appearance can be our first". Meaning, these guys are here to stay!

01. Awarned
02. Discordia
03. Love is Not it All
04. Love is Not it All (Heartthrob Remix)

- Fabrikalink.com

OrganicArma - Underduality EP
by Toto Gonzalez / toto@fabrikalink.com
With a rich mix of acoustic/electronic layers, Organicarma emerges from Miami with a typical mix of nationalities which characterizes this town.
This 4 songs EP is a great preview of an amazing future. The seductive vocal power of Amador, transports to a world with no end, to a sound scheme with a hand full of people under one voice. This can be appreciated in “Egypsin”, a track that grows in many directions. “Love was mine” is a track that catches my attention for its ability to make you dance; a well done track that even though it sounds very 80’s, it melts into a revival of sounds that is a consequence of having such a wide music library mixing acoustic, electronic, dance, trip hop, and much more.
This relatively newborn band has more control of their sound that many others I’ve seen in the scene for years.

Track Listing:
ASABOVESOBELOW
DEMENTE
EGIPSIN
LOVE WAS MINE

INFO:
WWW.ORGANICARMA.NET
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/ORGANICARMA - www.fabrikalink.com

Local live electronic act organicArma are doubtless celebrating a wish come true. Band leader Dharma has long been an outspoken admirer of the New York art-electro-pop outfit Fischerspooner, hinting to me last winter that he wanted to book them to play at his expansive Awarehouse venue.

He may not have accomplished that -- yet -- but he's still scored a major coup for organicArma, who also recently signed a major-level distribution deal with Rock Ridge Music. His trio will hit the road with Fischerspooner later this month, opening for them on a series of 15 dates across the midwest, southwest, and west coast. As such, the band will play major venues like the Metro in Chicago, Avalon in Los Angeles, and the Fillmore in San Francisco.

OrganicArma is currently touring in support of its EP, Discordia, released this past February. A new one, Awarned, is slated for digital release on June 30. - Miami New Time

"Underneath all of this heady stuff lies a real groove, a cohesive brand of dance-floor funk with wide-reaching influences. It's a shame the group has become locally elusive, because its various elements appeal to a broad cross section of folks. For the indie-ish set, there's the dark, instrument-propelled influence of electro-ish groups such as Ladytron and Fischerspooner. For the hispanophone rockeros, there's the bilingual wordplay. For aging ravers who still worship theatrical groups such as Rabbit in the Moon, there's the light-and-visual magic. For club kids, there are the dance rhythms that crawl across micro-house, minimal techno, breaks, even industrial, and back."
-Arielle Castillo - Miami New Times

"After the club world awards, the real fun started. organicArma, a local minimalist techno/psy trio, opened the night at Chakra, an Indian-style lounge. Very trippy stuff, very dark, but very concise and musically pure. And they play live instruments instead of just spinning, and that in itself was just incredible."
-Jay Rooney - Miami.com

"SOB's in downtown Manhattan is well known by many as one of the city's hottest clubs for salsa and samba, but on a xxxx night, patrons were surprised to hear an electronic band's political message that would make way for America's upcoming elections. Some sway to the explosive rhythms of "Discordia," while others watch a large screen showing Presidents George W. Bush, Alvaro Uribe, and Hugo Chavez as cartoons. While the hypnotic tune blares, the characters explain they've mastered "the art of ruling people." "We're not taking sides," says 35-year-old Juan Carlos Penaloza, also known as "dhArma111, the drummer/vocalist behind the Miami-based organicArma. "We're constructively criticizing what's wrong in our world." The production for "Discordian" was a collaboration among bandmates, as well as, graphic designer VJ Maurizio Sole Festa and filmmaker Samuel Perez. The result was a satirical collage including presidential nominees John McCain and Barack Obama, interrupted by video clips depicting financial references affecting the United States, Venezuela, and Colombia. Penaloza believes that there is no better time for organicArma to explore what's going on their homelands than now. "Music isn't just about entertainment," he declares. As being one of the few Latin alternative bands that play electronic music live, organicArma continues to impact listeners with their fusion of minimal techno and rock. Not only did they perform during Paris Fashion Week, but they also purchased a 31.5M warehouse in Miami, which will serve as their studio and exhibition space. Penaloza hopes that the band's debut album Under Duality 0.1 will inspire a new generation. "What's happening in our lives right now can change because the future is in our hands," he says."
-Stephanie Nolasco - DTM Defining Trends Magazine

"But without a doubt, the gem of the evening, in a most surprising way, was the Miami based electronic group, OrganicArma (and I don't even like electronic so imaginate). Made up of Dharma, Lharma, and Phaxas, the three have style that goes beyond music and enters into the world of pure arte. Dharma wore this cybord looking eyepiece. Lharma wore what looked like a Lasertag vest. As the three performed, a screen behind them rolled videos that included what they were saying: philosophical lyrics like Supercede God's Humanity. During a piece called Discordia, a video including cartoon renderings of Bush, Alvaro Uribe, Hugo Chavez, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama was played. Pretty damned amazing."

- vivirlatino.com

"Encoded into the group's highly audiovisual set was a ton of instruction - in what, is hard to say on first pass...There were a lot of concepts at work in the presentation: lyrics about God and duality (sung in electronically submerged voices), beats composed of tensile noises and a big-screen feast of imagery. One thing OrganicArma does not do is underestimate a spectator's capacity to absorb information." -Sean Piccoli (Sun Sentinel) - Sun Sentinel