Aural Elixir is a lyrical, multi-genre concept born from the rich musical textures of New Orleans. Aural Elixir was created in 1997 by Jesse, an eclectic songstress whose style is somewhat reminiscent of Tori Amos, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, and Thelonious Monk, yet she deftly keeps Aural Elixir evolving and boundless.
*These artistic auteurs paint musical pictures both delightfully impressionistic and happily expressionistic* Bunny Matthews, New Orleans Offbeat Magazine
try as i might, i have not been able to work crotch-grabbing into the act. Maybe i need to write a special crotch-grabbing song, hmm...
the way she makes you crawl
the amazing Tori Amos
surely she's singing Sugar to Shesha?
sometimes i'm a little bit country
but my momma raised me on rock and roll....
Actually, she was more into Lennon, Beatles, Elvis & Top 40 than Frank Zappa but what a weird video with Yoko, John & FZ. When I found it, I knew I had to share it with y'all! Munchie Cat is totally a better singer than Yoko, but I guess she's an artist...expressing her inner tortured cat perhaps? Great, now I've totally offended the Yoko fans, dammit jesse, that's 5 more people who will never buy an AE cd.
Here's something else offensive, that my momma didn't raise me on...ENJOY!
Thank you Frank Zappa & the Mothers Of Invention!
Lots of other musical influences as well as perhaps...
existence, the moon, the weather, faeries, aural stuff, silence, infinity & of course New Orleans, y'all!
Sounds Like
A truly eclectic New Orleans Style melange of jazz, funk, folk, rock, roots & comedy music. With a large variety of songs to enjoy, elixir's audiences tend to compare them to a plethora of artists such as Tori Amos, Sarah Mclaughlin, Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple, Ani DiFranco, Jewel, Alanis Morisette, Sheryl Crow, Joan Baez, The Roches, Bjork, Carole King, Natalie Merchant, Gretchen Wilson, Alison Krauss, The Sundays, Diana Krall, Bonnie Raitt, Regina Spektor, Madonna, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and many more; individual perception is an amazing phenomenon.
So what does aural elixir sound like? You can listen to more Aural Elixir recordings at
http://audio.xanga.com/aural_elixir
OR www.cdbaby.com/auralelixir
OR read some assorted info http://www.auralelixir.indiegroup.com
OR http://auralelixir3.livejournal.com/
As some of y'all might have noticed, WWW.AURALELIXIR.COM is parked here for now. Soon we will be unveiling the new & exciting aural elixir website! Feel free to send us your comments & suggestions. Thanks!
or if you're fancy... Dawn@AmbergEntertainment.com, 303-593-2354
or if you are having an elixir emergency contact Miss Elixir at 303-246-0078
"This is music from a big kitchen. Aural Elixir's low-key, jazzy folk recalls the Roches attention to vocal textures, speaking half a line then completeing it melodically, then fluttering the next thought. ..like sharing jokes and stories on a Thursday night while making dinner and getting drunk on red wine."
Alex Rawls, Offbeat Magazine-April 2002 French Quarter Festival Guide, New Orleans, Louisiana.
"I don't play accurately-any one can play accurately- but I play with wonderful expression. As far as the piano is concerned, sentiment is my forte. I keep science for Life."
Oscar Wilde, Algernon from The Importance of Being Earnest
The following is an excerpt from an article entitled "Aural Sect" by the reknown writer and artist Bunny Matthews from his column Din'N'Dat courtesy of New Orleans Offbeat Magazine! www.offbeat.com
AURAL SECT by Bunny Matthews, Offbeat Magazine***
When musicians record music, their hope is that listeners will be awed by their compositions melodies and riffs, blown away by the lead guitarists deconstruction of Django Reinhardt, left speechless by the surreptitious sampling of the Soft Machine, enraptured by the contrapuntal references to Timi Yuro. And sometimes, the best that musicians can expect is that folks will play their CDs while waxing the floors and obliterating mildew in the shower stall.
Take the case of Aural Elixir and its Love & Grappling album, recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville, the same place where Elvis Presley once cut Blue Christmas. **I havent heard anyone say anything bad about our CD, explains Ms. Holt. Everyone seems to like it. Oddly, the most common response I get is that the CD is good music for cleaning your house (more often than not the person telling me this throws in the word naked)!**
Music attracted Jesse to New Orleans although not necessarily the music of say, Professor Longhair or Tuts Washington: **The first time I came to New Orleans, in 93, to see Smashing Pumpkins at the State Palace Theatre. At the time, I was really into them but when I got here and saw the city, it totally diminished the concert for me because New Orleans is amazing! This may sound silly, but growing up in South Florida, I had never heard of Mardi Gras! All malls & beaches but no mention of Mardi Gras, what a shame. Happily, soon after I started attending FSU in Tallahassee I was drawn here. There is nowhere like New Orleans. I like walking around, just looking at all the old things and enjoying the unique energy of this city.**
*I write songs all the time. I get snippets of ideas while Im walking through the French Quarter or driving around town. I do most of my writing on a piano at my house (in the Treme) or randomly at someone elses house. I wrote the music to Refrigerator Funk on the piano at Producer Malcolm Burn's house (no stars around, Alishia & I used to house-sit for him). On the song Wastin My Wantin, I had this old car, and this guy ran a stop sign and wrecked my car. The song is a poem I wrote about the car and then I put it to music. Muse Me happened to me while I was sitting on my front porch during a rain storm, wishing i had a song to write. That was sort of magical to me, writing a song about wanting to write a song. The first line of Stupid, stupid, stupid woke me up in the middle of the night, demanding to be realized, a sort of twisted nod to an early Zappa song from Freak Out, I think.**
About the bands name, blame it on the original Mother of Invention:** Frank Zappa is one of my ultimate heroes and he made this movie called 200 Motels. Theres a running joke in it about elixir: how do you get this fabulous elixir, good for everything, put it in your car, on your toothbrush, clean your clothes with it, drink it and turn into a monster and etcetera. Frank Zappa is a huge inspiration to me and I wanted to use the word elixir as a sort of subtle tribute so I had that idea and I knew I wanted it to be some type of elixir. We actually do other configurations of the band Elixir's Sister is me and Lynn as a duo or with a band. Mystery Elixir, like it's name implies, could be anything! I liked the concept of having an elixir, which is liquid, combined with the word aural, which means for your ears.**
Thanks a bunch! fyi i will be moving into a new apartment this weekend and will not ave internet for a while. I will miss everyone like hell and will try to get internet asap! Thanks!
We hope you don't mind if we inform you that our 'PUNK OPERA: 'CHELENNON' album is finally RELEASED and AVAILABLE !!! It's based on John Lennon political and rare songs and interviews. If you are interested to learn more about this concept album just visit our myspace or the following website:www. ilemusic. com Thank you for your support!!! The OZ from St. Petersburg, Russia
CD Release show Tue Jan 29th at One-Eyed Jack's. Show at 10pm. New songs, new band, special guests.
Also tune in WWOZ that same day at 330pm for songs and an interview; and KTUL around 2pm.
Thank you for being our friend. The Save the Planet Tour needs as much support as it can get. Its going to take all of us to change the way we steward our world, and that means one at a time, so thank you. Let's make it happen together! The world is in our hands. Let us know what you think of the tour so far. We need everyone’s input to make it happen. If you want to get involved, just let us know. We’ll keep you posted on our progress.