Category Archives: news

New & updates on Anji’s various projects

Lovespirals “Misunderstood” Music Video Out

Check out the chill music video I created for the latest Lovespirals single on YouTube. Follow Ryan and I along the California coastline as a sunny afternoon deepens into a gorgeous sunset set to the funky and soulful drum n bass grooves of “Misunderstood” from the new Love Spirals Downwards’ release, ‘Flux Deluxe Edition.’

It’s perhaps a little known fact that Ryan and I started dating during his promotions for ‘Flux’ when it dropped in 1998. At the time I was the music director and college radio DJ and he was spending quite a bit of time at the station doing interviews, a live performance, and DJ sets on several music shows, including my own. I even wrote a review of ‘Flux’ for the radio station guide. It’s quite an honor to become a part of this nostalgic album 25 years later.

Check out ‘Flux Deluxe Edition’ on all digital platforms now!

Lovespirals “Misunderstood” Out Now

It’s the 25th anniversary of Love Spirals Downwards’ 1998 album, ‘Flux,’ and to celebrate, Ryan and I released the ‘Flux Deluxe Edition’ on all digital platforms. In addition to the 9 original songs, we’ve included 13 additional tracks (14, if you count the Bandcamp only bonus song). In addition to remixes, a live recording, and a number of previously unreleased outtakes, this epic 147 minute collection includes a brand new Lovespirals rendition of “I’ll Always Love You,” that we call “Misunderstood.” While searching the archives Ryan came across some of the original samples used in the song which tempted him to recreate his fave track from the ground up for 2023. We had a blast revisiting this classic song together!

You can find “Misunderstood” on the Love Spirals Downwards’ ‘Flux Deluxe Edition’ album on all digital music platforms, or grab just the single from our Lovespirals Bandcamp account!

Lonely Sunset Single & Music Video Out Now!

At long last, one of my favorite songs has been official released! Its been ages since my I dropped a house track, especially as “Lovespirals,” so I’m extra excited for everyone to hear this one.

Lovespirals “Lonely Sunset” Music Video

The perfect end of summer soundtrack, “Lonely Sunset” is a chill house song featuring gorgeously ethereal vocals and bittersweet melodies. It’s been a while since Anji and Ryan released a dance track but this ones worth the wait! 

Anji’s plaintive lyrics of lost love were penned and recorded a decade ago and might have made an amazing addition to the 2014 Anji Bee album the duo released as a side project. The late night laid back grooves of this new recording are reminiscent of Bee’s “Got All I Need” and “Try To Forget,” but with an added sheen of sophistication in the production. 

Lovespirals have long straddled the line between dream pop and electronica, but this new track brings both worlds together in a glorious fusion. After the throwback retro shoegaze of the band’s last single, “The Call,” this new single is likely to surprise — but hopefully delight — Lovespirals listeners.  

Lovespirals “Lonely Sunset” single is out now on BandcampSpotifyApple MusicAmazon, and YouTube. Please stream, like, share, and add to your playlists to help get the word out!

Check out the Lonely Sunset lyrics page for the full behind the song story.

“The Call” Single by Lovespirals Out Now

Anji’s duo, Lovespirals, dropped a moody new single on all digital music platforms.

After the deceptively light musical offerings of the 3-song ‘Smile – Single’ Lovespirals return with a darker hued single. “The Call” shares some of the retro-90’s shoe gazer/dream pop vibes of their 2018 album, ‘Life Goes On,’ highlighting the lush guitar work bandleader, Ryan Lum, has long been known for. His soaring solo could easily have been plucked from his 1994 Love Spirals Downwards album, ‘Ardor.’ Hypnotic bass and upbeat drums drive this melancholic song with an unexpected groove, while Anji Bee’s signature blend of earthy low voice and soaring ethereal harmonies lift your soul. Answer the call… it’s a sweet surprise.

Buy a download of “The Call” in your choice of digital format plus a copy of the music video from https://lovespirals.bandcamp.com. Stream “The Call” by Lovespirals on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Mp3, Tidal, Pandora or your fave digital music service. Share “The Call” on your Instagram Reels or TikTok videos to help spread the word!

Positive Influence Zine Playlist on Spotify & Apple

At the risk of being a total dork, I made my Positive Influence Zine playlist public on both Spotify and Apple Music to share what posicore and straight edge hardcore music I was listening to both back in the day as well when I was putting together my introduction to the anthology. I found it helpful to get into the same headspace I was in decades ago while searching those dusty corners of my mind for interesting stories or factual tidbits about creating the zine with Buster.

Stream the Positive Influence Playlist by Anji Bee on Apple Music

Continue reading Positive Influence Zine Playlist on Spotify & Apple

POSITIVE INFLUENCE Hardcore Fanzine Anthology Pre-Order Now

So amped to announce that Shining Life Press is now taking pre-orders for the long awaited Positive Influence Fanzine anthology. This project has been over 2 years in the making so I’m both excited and relieved to have reached the finish line! Not only does this soft-bound book feature all 6 issues of Positive Influence, it also includes 21 pages of bonus material such as archival photos, flyers, ads, plus an introduction written by yours truly that goes into the history of the ‘zine with many stories from those times. It was quite a process to dig up all of the ephemera that went into this project, and honestly it’s a small miracle that so much of it had survived decades of moving around Southern California!

Kevin ‘Kev Insted’ Hernandez shares the mic with an eager crowd. Photo by Jeff Ladd.
Continue reading POSITIVE INFLUENCE Hardcore Fanzine Anthology Pre-Order Now

The Chillcast Lovespirals Guest DJ Set Special on Spotify Podcasts

After a 2-year hiatus, The Chillcast with Anji Bee podcast is back! The past 6 or 7 years the show has only been available on Mixcloud so it’s exciting to check out the new Anchor by Spotify system. This talk-music format hearkens back to my early days on PodShow, and with Ryan Lum as my special guest, it’s also similar to my classic artist interview features. He and I sat down to chat about our brand new Lovespirals ‘Smile – Single’ sharing our songs plus music by other artists that helped inspire us. This was fun to do and I truly hope you enjoy it. Please let me know if you’d like Ryan and I to do more episodes like this!

Continue reading The Chillcast Lovespirals Guest DJ Set Special on Spotify Podcasts

Lovespirals ‘Smile’ Music Video On YouTube

Lovespirals new single, “Smile,” combines Ryan’s classic shimmery guitars with a laid back beat, dreamy electric piano, and Anji’s earthy yet ethereal vocals to create a warm and welcoming sound that evokes the sunny beachside lifestyle depicted in the song’s brand new music video shot and edited by the band themselves. Ryan’s scenes were shot along the Palos Verdes cliffside while Anji’s scenes were shot at the Crystal Cove State Park.

Purchase high quality audio files of Lovespirals ‘Smile – Single’ in your choice of format from lovespirals.bandcamp.com

Stream Lovespirals ‘Smile – Single’ on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, Tidal, Pandora or your favorite digital music service.

Lovespirals ‘Smile – Single’ Out Now + Video Premiere

Lovespirals 3-song single, ‘Smile,’ is out now on all digital platforms including SpotifyApple Music, Amazon Mp3, TidalYouTubeDeezer and Bandcamp. In addition to brand new title track, ‘Smile’ features our song “Why Not Today,” which was previously only available on Bandcamp. All three songs continue the band’s tradition of working new influences into their signature dream pop sound.

Continue reading Lovespirals ‘Smile – Single’ Out Now + Video Premiere

The Vegan Optimist Interviews Anji & Ryan

Anji and her Happy Healthy Vegan partner, Ryan, were recently interviewed by Ryan Tratner for his podcast, The Vegan Optimist.

“The Vegan Optimist is a podcast spreading positivity and optimism about the future of veganism. It is a place of learning focused on positive developments in all things vegan!”

It’s a pretty fun half hour conversation that goes into how we met, how/why we became vegan, and what lead to the creation of our YouTube channel, as well as our thoughts on veganism and vegan activism, how to go vegan, the lie of “humane” meat, plus a lightning round of couple questions. What stupid thing did we recently get into a fight over? Find out!

Check out the podcast at:

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-vegan-optimist-episode-7-with-special-guests-ryan/id1554762047?i=1000528552874