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Liz Larin is an American musician, composer and record producer. Born in Detroit, Michigan, United States, Larin is also the founder of Bona Dea Music, an independent record label focused on electronic pop/rock, world and ambient music; and Digital Opts & Sound Design and ACM Creative Digital, digital media companies specializing in music production, film scoring, sound art installations, video production, web development and interactive publishing.
A self-taught guitarist and pianist at age ten, at 15 Larin was asked to teach guitar at a local music store. In the store she came in contact with musicians playing many styles, including R&B and jazz, and was soon playing jam sessions across the city. When she announced that she was going to join a rock band, and make a living as a musician, her parents objected. Larin left home at age 16, supporting herself by teaching guitar and playing gigs in and around Detroit.
After leaving home, Larin found her way to Los Angeles, where along with guitarist and songwriter Michael King, she formed the group, Press. The band changed its name to Rebel Heels and signed with Atlantic Records in 1987. Rebel Heels folded after only one album but Atlantic Records retained Larin as a solo artist. Her debut solo album, Test Your Faith, was released in 1993, and re-released in Europe in 2014.
Later, she returned to Detroit and went indie and formed her own record label, Bona Dea Music (cf. Bona Dea, a figure from Roman mythology). [1] Merry Wicked, her first independent album, was released in 1999. That album was followed by The Story of O-Miz in 2002 and Wake Up, Start Dreaming in 2006. The albums highlighted the musical skills of Robert Tye on guitar, James Simonson and Chuck Bartels on bass guitar, and Todd Glass and Dave Taylor on drums. Vinnie Dombroski of Sponge lent drums and vocals to the track "Pretty Is." [2] The Story of O-Miz picked up the Outstanding CD of the Year Award at the Detroit Music Awards in 2005. The self-produced Hurricane CD was released in 2014, featuring Larin's skills as a producer and multi-instrumentalist.
Taking a more electronic music approach, in 2018 Larin released two projects starting with electro-pop EP Good Human performed with samplers, keyboards, and electric guitar, creating vocal and sound loops, while remixing the music live in real time.
Also, a 2018 release of instrumental music designed for meditation, Chakra Hymns - The Arcello Series moves the listener through the chakra centers with ambient music to support yoga practice and relaxation. 2021 saw the release of Arcello Focus- Magia and Hope Bridge - Ascending featuring Darlene Drew from the Lion King on world flutes.
Currently, Larin composes music for film and television splitting her time between Detroit, Montreal and New Orleans, continuing to release music under Liz Larin, Stella 13, LusterKraft, Arcello Focus and Hope Bridge.
Detroit Music Awards [3] [4] [5] [6]
The Metro Times writes "Although sometimes compared to, Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Avril Lavigne, Liz Larin has style all her own." [7] Columnist Morley Seaver of RockWorld says of Larin, "Her music is in the realm of say, Bonnie Raitt but with an electronic edge and much, much better." [8] CBS Detroit has listed Larin as one of the top six musicians in Detroit. [9] While AOR Magazine #7 in the UK voted Larin No. 15 of the top 50 women in rock music history, writing, "When it comes to crunch, this girl's a rocker at heart." [10]
In 2003, readers of Jam Rag Magazine voted her No. 1 out of 80 Detroit acts, and Jam Rag featured her on the cover as Detroit's Goddess of Rock.
The acclaimed musician was recently presented with two awards in the Electronic/Dance category at the 2022 Detroit Music Awards, bringing her award total to 46 over the past two decades. “The Detroit Music Awards is a special way to recognize local music. There’s a lot of talent here. We’re really lucky – not every city has recognition like this.”
Released in late 2021, Larin’s “The Expedition” received the Outstanding Electronic/Dance Recording award. Larin explains, “It’s a celebration of diversity and finding strength – music you would hear at a futuristic dance party.” [11]
The music of Michigan is composed of many different genres. The city of Detroit has been one of the most musically influential and innovative cities for the past 50 years, whether in Michigan or anywhere else in the United States. Impressively, for 48 straight years (1959–2007) a greater Michigan-area artist has produced a chart-topping recording. Michigan is perhaps best known for three developments: early punk rock, Motown, and techno.
The Pat Metheny Group was an American jazz band founded in 1977 by guitarist and composer Pat Metheny, along with his core collaborating member, keyboardist and composer Lyle Mays. Other long-standing members included bassist and producer Steve Rodby, from 1981 to 2010, and drummer Paul Wertico, from 1983 to 2001, after which Antonio Sanchez became the percussionist from 2002 to 2010. Vocalist Pedro Aznar was also a long-time member, performing with the group from 1984 to 1993. In addition to a core quartet, the group was often joined by a variety of other instrumentalists expanding the size to six or eight musicians.
A rhythm section is a group of musicians within a music ensemble or band that provides the underlying rhythm, harmony and pulse of the accompaniment, providing a rhythmic and harmonic reference and "beat" for the rest of the band. The rhythm section is often contrasted with the roles of other musicians in the band, such as the lead guitarist or lead vocals whose primary job is to carry the melody.
Wendy Joan Matthews is a Canadian-born Australian singer-songwriter who has been a member of Models and Absent Friends and is a solo artist. She released Top 20 hit singles in the 1990s including "Token Angels", "Let's Kiss ", "The Day You Went Away" and "Friday's Child" with Top 20 albums, You've Always Got The Blues, Émigré, Lily, The Witness Tree and her compilation, Stepping Stones. She has won six Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards. According to rock music historian, Ian McFarlane she provides "extraordinary, crystal-clear vocals [...] a soulfulness that was the mark of a truly gifted singer".
The music of Namibia includes a number of folk styles, as well as pop, rock, reggae, jazz, house and hip hop.
Isley-Jasper-Isley was a splinter group of the Isley Brothers formed in 1984 by brother-in-law Chris Jasper (keyboards), Ernie Isley, and Marvin Isley (bass), due to creative differences that arose among the group.
Even in Blackouts, known occasionally by the acronym EiB, are an acoustic pop-punk band from Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 2002 by veteran pop-punk guitarist John 'Jughead' Pierson following the demise of the punk band Screeching Weasel, for which Pierson had performed since 1986. The core of the band is formed by lead vocalist Liz Eldredge and Pierson, although a number of additional musicians have performed with the band. Even in Blackouts have been lauded by critics and fans alike for their musicianship and sense of innovation in bringing pop-punk to a new format. The energy and intimacy of Even in Blackout's live performances have attracted particular acclaim.
Nicola Corinne Hitchcock is a British singer and songwriter. She is best known for having been one half of the trip hop duo Mandalay. Following the demise of Mandalay, she has worked with various dance music and avant-garde musicians including Chris Brann and Ryuichi Sakamoto but has more recently returned to her solo career.
Lights Poxleitner-Bokan, known mononymously as Lights, is a Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter. Her debut album, The Listening (2009), included the singles "Drive My Soul" and "Saviour". Her second album, Siberia, which featured the single "Toes", was released in 2011. Her work has earned multiple Canadian Independent Music Awards, and Juno Awards including Pop Album of the Year for her third album Little Machines, which included the single "Up We Go", and fourth album Skin & Earth, in 2015 and 2018, respectively. Lights' fifth studio album, PEP, was released in 2022.
Sarana VerLin is a violinist, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She was the vocalist/violinist of the bands Natasha and Dark Carnival and violinist for numerous bands.
Chakra (Korean: 샤크라) was a South Korean girl group that debuted in 2000 with four members: Hwangbo, Eun, Ryeowon, and Eani. Following the release of their first album, the group won Best New Artist at several major South Korean music awards.
The Muggs are an American band from Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 2000 by guitarist Danny Methric, bassist Tony DeNardo.
Thornetta Davis is an American Detroit blues and rhythm and blues singer. She has opened for Bonnie Raitt, Gladys Knight, and Etta James, and sang backing vocals on Bob Seger's 1991 album, The Fire Inside. She also worked with Kid Rock and Alberta Adams, and has released three solo albums.
Monica Ginestre, better known by her stage name Monica Lionheart, is an American electro-acoustic, singer-songwriter, producer, DJ and multi-instrumentalist. She began her music career as a member of Iluminada, is the founder of the electronic rock band Zigmat, and collaborated in Pacha Massive before forming her own solo project in 2012.
Xavier and Ophelia is an American indie rock and electropop music duo based in Nashville, Tennessee. Formed in 2009, members include DeAnna Moore (vocals) and Dave Tough. The band has released two albums including their debut Xavier & Ophelia, which had songs win industry awards. "Falling Down," a track from their 2012 sophomore album I Hate Birds, won Grand Prize at the 2013 John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Their songs have been placed in movies, television and commercials, and in 2013 their song "Heartbeat" was featured on Twisted.
Bryce William Harding is an American record producer, songwriter, beatboxer, and multi-instrumentalist. Also known by his nickname Mr. Chips, Harding started playing piano at the age of 6 and started playing drums in the fourth grade. He formed his first band by the age of 15 called “We Stand Alone”. He landed a spot as a guest performer with Shania Twain at the Palace of Auburn Hills. He attended Michigan State University and started winning local talent shows for beatboxing. He formed an original band at MSU called “Eclyptic Blue”. Eclyptic Blue created a following in East Lansing which led to a performance on the Warped Tour at the Pontiac Silverdome. Harding has performed multiple times at the Apollo Theater in New York as a beatboxer.
Shu Ying is a Chinese musician, singer-songwriter, writer and composer. She is a multi-instrumentalist and primarily plays guitar and keyboard.
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