"The production is top-notch, but the real draws are the melodies that reside within the house beats." -REMIX MAGAZINE
"...the music doesn't swerve too far out of the bounds of what might be described as "Jenny Wilson-lite" or "a less weird Bjork." But where I come from that's high praise." -IBIZA-VOICE
"a near perfect mix of texture and melody, balancing the features of solid electronica." - RAVES.COM
"...the Squirrels balance their attraction to straightforward, catchy melodies with a willingness to experiment." - WEST COAST PERFORMER
"I've been seduced from start till end!" - SIDE-LINE
LOVE COMES FIRST (STYROFOAM KID REMIX) INCLUDED ON NEW PAUL VAN DYK IBIZA ALBUM
PAUL VAN DYK SPINS US IN BERLIN
TECHNO SQUIRRELS: UNBELIEVABLE
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TechnoSquirrels is a San Francisco based electronica collaboration between music producers Lisa Eriksson and Ryan Harlin.
Lisa grew up in Sweden - a country known for its long winter nights. But where there are long nights, there are long raves and Lisa quickly found herself immersed in Sweden's techno scene. "Fluke, Underworld, Bjork and The Chemical Brothers" says lisa. "That was my awakening. I instantly traded in my collection of Black Sabbath vinyl for a Korg MS-10 and a Roland 606 drum machine." Not content to merely listen to others make this new music, Lisa quickly got her hands dirty making it herself. She was digging deeper and deeper into the new production techniques afforded by a computer-based studio. Ultimately, Lisa would go on to earn a Masters Degree in Audio Production from Westminster University, London.
"If you listen to our music, it's easy to assume Lisa sings and I make the music since her voice is out in front. But that's so far from the case," says Ryan. In fact, for a band comprised of two music producers with formal educations in the field of audio production, their roles as dual creators of the sounds, samples, and beats that populate their music is on very equal ground.
"We both have our strong-suits and thankfully they compliment each other. Lisa's very technical and adept at beat-making and sound design. If either one of us is going to hole up in the studio for 2 days cutting up sounds and creating layers of noises, it's probably gonna be Lisa," says Ryan of his producing partner. "I'm a little more macro oriented. I'm always working out structure and song development."
"In the process of production I love the payoff you get from time spent creating custom samples," says Eriksson. "Many of the samples used on our new album were created by me recording random sounds like a squeaking door or a treadmill, and then distorting, reversing, flipping, and otherwise destroying the sound on the computer to create a wholly unrecognizable texture or accent for a track."
Ryan is no stranger to production either. As a producer and studio owner in Philadelphia in the 1990s, Ryan was embracing electronic music production techniques which have become common-place today. "It’s almost difficult to remember how out-of-the-ordinary it was, but I was using Pro Tools version 2.0 to record bands and telling my colleagues how nice is was to use computer functions like ‘cut’ and ‘paste’ in music production," Harlin recalls.
It was in Liverpool, England while both studying sound technology that Lisa and Ryan met, but it wasn't where Techno Squirrels started. Lisa and Ryan continued working on their own projects. Lisa became one half of the Euro-Art-Rock band, Schulte/Eriksson - where she played the electric guitar, did live sampling and sang. Their single eventually found its way to legendary BBC DJ John Peele. She also lent her voice to Ladytron's breakthrough single, "He Took Her To A Movie." Ryan, however, took a break from music as a co-founder of Emo Riot Productions.
After moving to Los Angeles, Lisa worked on new beats she would regularly show Ryan her latest ideas. Meanwhile, a third party made regular appearances outside the window - a friendly neighborhood squirrel whose fear of humans was outweighed by his taste for organic hazelnuts.
The ideas Lisa shared with Ryan quickly became collaborative projects - Techno Squirrels was born.
happy fireworks day! in SanFrancisco !! ??? i love your new video, especially the shot of the windmills & the teletubby hills ;) hope catch you guys live someday.... since i won't see you around the whole foods in LA anymore ;(
Whats up? Just passing by to see if everythings good with you. When you got some time Stop By my page and check out my beats and drop a comment if you like.
STATION 17 - Die Goldstein Variationen TRAILER + new video online now! feat. FETTES BROT, THE ROBOCOP KRAUS, TED GAIER (Die Goldene Zitronen), MELISSA LOGAN (Chicks on Speed), BARBARA MORGENSTERN.
We live in a little black suitcase and we travel around the internet spreading the sound, helped by fans or friends like you! 2 digital releases and one vinyl out! Check www.shutdownaudio.com and see if we deserve your support, much thanks!
Hello, Ryan & Lisa. I posted Paul Van Dyk"s techno version of your song, "Love Comes First". Music is truly the universal language, is it not? Cheers, James
hii!! its me kathleen! your old time fraain! i miss talking to you guys! i hope all is well and good for the both of you!! please come to redding california when you get the chance..im sure you're extremely busy, but i love your music as well as others &&think you should definitely come up &&do your stuff:DD
also...Om mani is my FAVOURITE song:D have a fabulous week! hope to hear from you soon! kathleen
