Category Archives: news

New & updates on Anji’s various projects

PodfinderUK Interviews Anji Bee

The PodfinderUK blog posted a Mini-Interview with The Chillcast’s Anji Bee this week. Topics include the origin of both The Chillcast and Chillin’ with Lovespirals podcasts, my favorite podcasts and vidcasts, what I wanted to be when I was a child, the most “significant thing” to happen to me as a result of podcasting, and future plans for my shows. PodfinderUK is a great little “best of” style vidcast starring Josephine Laurence presenting an eclectic mix of vidcast and podcast clips from all over the podosphere.

Anji Bee is the soft, sultry, sexy voice of the Chillcast, and one half of the Lovespirals.

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Lovespirals ‘Long Way From Home’ Reviews

Reviews are still popping up of Lovespirals recent album, Long Way From Home, in partial thanks to the efforts of Ariel PR who helped to push the album when it was released this past October 23rd.

Jason Moore of Opus writes:

Ultimately, Lum and Bee are all about creating a mood with their music, a relaxed and blissed-out vibe that should be no stranger to fans of dreampop, chill-out electronica, and atmospheric pop. This is music for both late night sessions and noon daydreams, for both listening to at work when you need to escape the pressure of the day and at home when you simply need to unwind with a good book and a glass of wine.

Miles Klee said in Hot Indie News:

Bluesy slide guitar work sometimes shades over into Santana-like finger-meandering, and vocalist Anji Bee’s layered voice paints bright glaze over already dreamy arrangements. It’s as though the glancing disaffection of 80’s and 90’s dream-poppers has been filtered through an AM radio, a mutation that works by dint of sounding completely natural on an evolutionary view.

From the Green Arrow Radio blog:

More than melancholic music, there is a sense that they traveled with you on similar & familiar roads with the radio tuned to the same left of the dial station in the middle of wherever. After nearly a decade of artistic collaboration between singer/songwriter, Anji Bee, & multi instrumentalist & producer, Ryan Lum, it is no wonder that they have managed to put together an album of answers to questions yet asked with a subtle sultry sense of sound security.

The Celebrity Cafe‘s Ray Anderson mused:

Empty and sad, but of full of emotion, their album Long Way from Home is medicine for those that dig the alternative. How can you take a gut-wrenching classic like “Motherless Child” and make it sadder? Let the “Lovespirals” get a hold of it. It’s easy to fall into the loose, country-tinged groove of “Caught in a Groove” and let your soul be taken for a ride. By the time the “upbeat” “Lovelight” comes on, you won’t mind being “A Long Way from Home,” and I think you’ll want to stay there.

Have you read or written a great review of Lovespirals? Then post a link here, by all means!

First Review of Chandeen ft. Anji Bee

The first review of the upcoming Chandeen album, Teenage Poetry was recently posted on the band’s MySpace page:

Teenage Poetry is a long awaited jewel, a breathing, timeless work that rewards the patient listener with a moving, tear-inducing “hidden track” featuring Anji Bee of Love Spirals Downwards. It is lovely that such music is still produced today!” – Ecki Stieg

Some readers are probably scratching their heads wondering who this Love Spirals Downwards is, so I’ll fill you in; that was the original name of Lovespirals when Ryan founded the band in 1991 with former vocalist, Suzanne Perry (who would surely balk at my name being linked to the pre-2000 history of the band). In fact, only 1 song with me has been released as “Love Spirals Downwards” and that was a remix we did for Claire Voyant in 2000, so my vocals weren’t even involved — just my mad mixing skills. 😀

In any case, a very positive review, and one which makes me anxious to hear the rest of the album for myself. Teenage Poetry is due out March 28, 2008 on Chandeen’s own Kalinkaland label.

The Chillcast Lauded on Podcast Asylum

In an ongoing series of spotlights on women podcasters, the Podcast Asylum featured The Chillcast earlier this month. This feature was brought to my attention by fellow podcaster pal, Daniel Johnson Jr., who is quoted in the article as saying:

Anji could read the phone book and I’d probably listen to it. She plays great chillout and electronica music, and I love listening to it at work.

You may also want to peruse their humorous list of Podcast Syndromes; on reflection, I think I may be suffering from a mild case of “Special Editionitis” here on The Chillcast, as I find myself just now celebrating Episode 100, when in fact, I’ve uploaded 130 podcasts to PodShow as of this week!

New Lovespirals Remix Contest Begins

Lovespirals Remix Contest

Remix Lovespirals‘ podsafe single, “This Truth,” from their latest album, Long Way From Home, for the PeaceLoveProduction Remix Contest! The finalist will win an iPod Touch, a year’s subscription to the PLP Producer’s Vault, and all 3 Lovespirals’ CDs – personally autographed by Anji Bee and Ryan Lum – plus inclusion on a Lovespirals remix digital EP and CD. The runner-up will win the 3 CDs plus inclusion on the remix EP and CD. Additionally, the top 5 remixes will be offered as podsafe singles on the Podsafe Music Network. The contest began 2/8/2008 and runs until 4/1/2008. Good luck!

Listen to Anji’s audio promo: [audio:http://chillcuts.com/promos/Lovespirals_Remix_Contest_Promo.mp3]

Podcasters & Radio DJs:

The Chillcast Joins Cupid’s Hunt Project

After reading about it on the Friday Favecast blog today, I decided to join in the fun on the Cupid’s Hunt Project, since it just seems so obvious that The Chillcast should do a Valentine’s Day Special. I know I should probably be putting together a big 100th Episode for next Sunday, but since I’ve actually produced 129 episodes to date according to my PodShow stats, it doesn’t feel like the big milestone the number implies… Plus I just celebrated by 2 Year Anniversary of The Chillcast! At any rate, I’m having fun putting together a one hour playlist of songs about L-O-V-E for this Thursday, so stayed tuned to check it out on the big day, baby!

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Solipsistic NATION Features Lovespirals

In honor of Valentine’s Day, the excellent Solipsistic NATION podcast is featuring Lovespirals! Bazooka Joe interviews Ryan and Anji via Skype about the band’s evolving sound, their musical history, the effect of technology on the band, the duo’s songwriting process, and much more. Interspersed with the interview are 7 full length songs — including several special permissions (non-podsafe) tracks — and a few of my side projects. Check out the full feature — solipsisticNATION no. 76: Lovespirals.

[audio:http://media.podshow.com/media/9683/episodes/98300/nation-98300-02-07-2008_pshow_226443.mp3]

Download Solipsistic NATION Lovespirals Feature MP3

Playlist

  1. Lovespirals “Beatitude”
  2. Interview with Anji Bee and Ryan Lum of Lovespirals
  3. Lovespirals “Motherless Child (Chris Caulder Remix)”
  4. Interview with Anji Bee and Ryan Lum of Lovespirals
  5. Bitstream Dream “Love Me Leave Me”
  6. Interview with Anji Bee and Ryan Lum of Lovespirals
  7. Lovespirals “Deep in My Soul”
  8. Interview with Anji Bee and Ryan Lum of Lovespirals
  9. Plastic Chair “Requiem”
  10. Interview with Anji Bee and Ryan Lum of Lovespirals
  11. Lovespirals “Trouble”
  12. Interview with Anji Bee and Ryan Lum of Lovespirals
  13. Lovespirals “Walk Away (Bitstream Dream Remix)”
  14. Interview with Anji Bee and Ryan Lum of Lovespirals
  15. Promo: Fallen Nation

BTW – happy birthday to my brother, Brian!!!

The Chillcast Featured on PodfinderUK



This week’s PodfinderUK — Ep38, subtitled “Let’s Hear It For The Girls,” features The Chillcast with Anji Bee. A clip of Chillcast Episode #96 is shared, which includes a bit of “One Day” by Shine. Also featured this episode are my ShowGirls co-hostesses, the Rumor Girls and Cali Lewis, as well as fellow PodShow podcasters, Amy Mac, and Gill Mills of Flyposter.

Thanks to lovely show hostess, Jo Laurence, for the recommendation!