Mike VanPortfleet

Last updated

Mike VanPortfleet
Born Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Genres Darkwave, goth rock
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsSynthesizer, keyboards, guitar
Years active1988 present
Labels Projekt
Associated acts Lycia

Mike VanPortfleet is an American singer-songwriter and keyboard player, most recognized for founding the darkwave group Lycia in 1988. During the 2000s, his focus shifted from Lycia to several other musical projects which included his debut solo work, Beyond the Horizon Line .

Contents

History

Mike VanPortfleet was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in the early 1960s. In 1978, he moved to Tempe, Arizona, where he studied and graduated with a degree in cultural geography. Soon afterward he picked up the guitar and played with several unsuccessful bands, most of whom were notorious at local venues for their drunken behavior. After nearly abandoning his musical interests and returning to school, VanPortfleet learned about 4-track recording and decided to try his hand at composing and producing music himself. In May 1988, Mike began the musical project Lycia under which he recorded mostly guitar experiments. [1] He enlisted bassist John Fair and together they produced over a hundred songs within a matter of months. [2] In March 1989, VanPortfleet released some of the music from these sessions under the name Lycia on Wake , a 6-song demo tape released through Orphanage Records. [3]

Discography

Solo
Lycia
Bleak
Estraya

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<i>Wake</i> (Lycia album) 1989 studio album by Lycia

Wake is the debut studio album of Lycia, released in March 1989 through Orphanage Records.

<i>Beyond the Horizon Line</i> 2004 studio album by Mike VanPortfleet

Beyond the Horizon Line is the debut solo album of Lycia front man Mike VanPortfleet, released on September 14, 2004 by Silber Records.

<i>Estrella</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Lycia

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<i>Quiet Moments</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Lycia

Quiet Moments is the ninth studio album by Lycia, released by Handmade Birds on August 20, 2013. It marks the first album of new studio material by the band since Empty Space, released ten years prior.

<i>Fifth Sun</i> (EP) 2010 studio album by Lycia

Fifth Sun is an EP by the electronic band Lycia. It was released on June 22, 2010 through Lycium Music. It was remastered and re-released in 2013 with two tracks that had been recorded with David Galas in 2006 in 2007.

References

  1. "Lycia interview nov 22, 1994 from QRD #1". QRD. November 22, 1994. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  2. "Lycia". projekt.com. 1983–2011. Archived from the original on July 20, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  3. Bush, John. "Lycia". Allmusic . Retrieved February 21, 2013.