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Divasonic the Interview
conducted by the Ventana.cjb.net website staff – Promoting Women of Music and Media
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Classically-trained, multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/programmer Lynda Arnold is Divasonic. Her sound is a blend of electronic beats ranging from trip-hop to house to drum-n-bass. Samples and synths combined with classically-infused flute and keyboard improvisations add to her unique production flavor. Original lyrics derived from her poetry often touch on spiritual themes and emotion memories past and present. Her voice teaches and teases you, winding around the layered textures and with an attractive rawness. Experimentation is key to the development of the Divasonic sound as well as collaboration with other talented musicians from every musical background.
Auralgasms is pleased to present this interview with Divasonic, as conducted by Ventana.cjb.net website staff – Promoting Women of Music and Media.
First of all, for people who have not yet heard your music before, how
would your describe your sound?
My sound is artsy electronic meets modern songwriting. My songs have a jazzy-pop-alternative-soul sound to them and when it comes to my piano and flute soloing, I love to explore world music scales, cinematic orchestrations and bluesy-jazz riffs. My sound is a combination of acoustic and electronic elements. I love to play my instruments just as much as programming synths and shaping drum samples. The drum programming ranges from ambient to downtempo to house to drum-n-bass with elements of jazz, world and pop/rock sensibilities thrown in. Digital new age electronica. A balance of soft and hard.
Tell us a little about your musical background.
I am classically trained in flute and piano since age 8. I continued my traditional studies through college and graduated with a Bachelor's of Music/Economics. When I was studying music in college, I didn't think I would wind up playing and composing, I was more into dancing, putting together experimental dance performance art and going to clubs. Moving to San Francisco and starting recording school changed everything. I found a new passion for my hard earned skills. I started to play in numerous bands (hybrid electronic), with singer/songwriters and improvise flute with DJ's over their sets in 1999, performing in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami and Mexico City. During that time, I studied and received a degree in Audio Production in San Francisco from Ex'pression Center for New Media. Having a solid background in recording has opened up a whole new world of possibilities in shaping my own sound.
What is your songwriting process, musically and lyrically?
Each song is unique. I have many writings I draw from for inspiration. Sometimes I program a beat and bass line first and try to find the verse or chorus. Or, I'll start at the piano and shape the song harmonically. Inspiration for a song can come from an obscure effected sample or an evolving synth sound. Many times, I hear a complete song in my head. I can hear the music as clear as day. I find that experience to be most extraordinary and that's where I get the passion and motivation to release it. Many times, when I finally sit down to write and record in my project studio, I'm just trying to capture some of the feeling I've received. Often a new form takes shape that I wasn't expecting. It sounds kinda spiritual, doesn't it? It is. It's like having your own private church service. I've also read many other artist testimonials that describe the same thing. To be truly in touch with the music message, I believe, is every musician's goal. During the writing of ‘Birth”, I realized how challenging it is to stay true to the voice amidst waves of criticism.
The songwriting process also depends on whom I am working with, because another artist's input and energy completely changes the vibe. I like to be a solo artist and work with different people depending on instrumentation requirements and the type of music I want to tackle. And in those collaborations, I work on different aspects of my talents. Sometimes, I produce the music only. Other times, I play only flute or write and sing lyrics for a track. I learn from every collaboration because every artist has a unique perspective and goal for their art. In the future I will have many side projects that explore new ground, other than my solo work.
What experiences have shaped your music into what it is today?
Early feedback about the sound I create has suggestion that I am a blue person. I do take life seriously, so when I go through hard times, I tend to have serious emotional reactions. These reactions come out in my music. After college, I moved to the west coast and after a series of crazy relationships and general ups and downs, my writings began to take shape. I started to believe, with my audio production tools/skills, that I could put down these thoughts to rhythm. It was extremely theraputic to find my voice. And, I will be finding it for as long as I compose – shaping/refining/cutting.
As new challenges in my life arise now, post 'Birth', I am compelled more and more to let the lighter side out – my laugh – my goof ball. I'm not sure what that sounds like yet, so in the meantime, enjoy the dramatic cinematics.
Why did you choose the name "Divasonic"?
At first, it was a reaction to all those crazy DJ names. You know, some DJs get really creative with their DJ “Superstar” tags. I felt I had to compete, I mean, as a flute player improvising over DJ sets, I needed something to stand out! Later, I think it came to represent all that I do musically from my instruments, to my production and engineering, and my songwriting. I also pitch songs from other artists to June St. Entertainment, a film/tv music licensing company in LA, so addition to promoting my own work, I am involved in supporting other artists too (especially women!) in my own independent way. Divasonic, the entity, is constantly evolving and is also my publishing name.
This past year, I co-produced a Women Electronic Music Producer festival in San Francisco called Estrogenesis that will become an annual event. Women rule!
You have a collaboration with June St. Entertainment in which Divasonic
is accepting music from all genres for consideration for film. Is this
collaboration focused mainly on music licensing or are you also
creating music for film?
June St. is mainly a music licensing project. I send my own music and other artist's music I feel they could pitch for certain spots. I am also on their creative writing team. When a request comes in at the last minute for a instrumental or song (film, tv or commercial), I've taken a shot at composing for it. Usually, ideas are needed the next day or within a week. It's a great challenge to work this way and develop speed. I learn what my strengths and my weaknesses are in my production.
How would your describe your new album "Birth"?
'Birth' is a conceptual music journey. I organized the songs to reflect this. The album is about the soul of a spirit learning her path before she reaches earth in the abstract sense. It was produced to have a dream-like other-worldly quality, especially in the vocal production. It's also about the evolution of an individual life. I wrote this album from the deepest seeds of my heart and soul. The ideas were born out of being at the bottom of myself. And, having all the hope and faith to grow into the person I want to become.
'Birth' is cutting-edge ethereal electronica littered with rich synth and percussion textures, improvisational instrumentation and spiritual lyrical messages that tell of evolution, hope, promise, love and fear. It is a story of coming out: of retaining that special essence of who we are as we travel our chosen path.
'Birth' was written and produced entirely by myself. I wrote the lyrics, sang, played flute and keyboards as well as programmed the beats, synths and samples. My classically trained musical background and knowledge about digital music production allowed me to develop my own unique sounds and arrangements.
The album was co-produced with Safar Bake who did a majority of the mixing and mastering. He recently had his first EMI Arabia/France release under the name 'Spiritual Brothers' (July 2003). The Spiritual Brothers sound is progressive-deep-tribal-world influenced house music. It's really unique. I am a featured flute soloist on the track 'Moondance.' I also played alto and c flute on other tracks on the album along side featured world music singers Dariush, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and B.R. Shanker. This marks my first major label credit as a featured artist.
One of the coolest guest musicians on the album is my sister, Christina. She is an accomplished clarinet player. Her playing opens the album on the track 'Begin.' On the same track, I play a glass pan flute that she made for me. It's amazing.
What do you hope people will get from hearing your music?
My messages. They often touch on spiritual or universal themes. If organized religion begins to fail, I still feel spirituality and connection with a higher power or one core energy is important for everyone to find and experience. In addition to my messages, I hope people enjoy the journey of the arrangements and sounds I created.
What is it like for you to perform in front of a live audience?
It's a high. I really want to reach them when I am up there. I get really nervous still and even during performances I have to calm the voices of criticism, but when I feel it and hit it, it's the best feeling in the world. I feel high and fulfilled after a great performance.
You play multiple instruments; you've collaborated with many different
People, and studied music extensively. So what has music been for you?
Music has and is my emotional release, my savior. I really do live for my art, more than I ever thought that I would. Since I've been playing since I was little, it is deeply a part of my life. I am really lucky to have parents who supported my training all the way through college. I feel truly blessed to be able to express myself in this way.
What has been the most difficult thing you had to overcome in your
Professional music career? And what is your biggest goal musically?
There have been many difficulties and lessons learned so far.
The completion of my album 'Birth' has been difficult because so many of my fears and insecurities were wrapped up in it. In general, I've found that being a woman has its advantages and disadvantages too. Certain people you have to watch out for, especially men disguised as audio producers with hidden motives other than getting work done. I've learned through trial and error that you can't work with everyone and anyone, no matter have big they are. Sometimes it just doesn't click – I've learned not to force collaborate.
One of my big goals is to produce a full scale multi-media show with my music as the centerpiece. Complete with video, surround sound, dancers – much like the amazing concepts performers like Madonna, Sarah Brightman, or Peter Gabriel have created. I love to work with visual artists, especially VJs, photographers and digital graphic artists to put my music into visual form.
And finally, what can we expect in the future, from Divasonic?
More new music – I'm working on a flute-based album and also collecting lyrics, melodies and beat for my next song record.