All posts by ryan

Lovespirals Interview on MacNETv2

MacNETv2, a fansite for Mac users, just posted an interview with Ryan and Anji discussing their use of Macs in music, design, and website creation. We’ll include some excerpts below:

April 2001, MacNETv2, Chris Volpe

Chris:: Do Macs enhance your creativity in any way?

Ryan: I don’t know if Macs make me more creative, but as far as computers go, they’re the least obtrusive in letting me get on with my creative work in the studio without being forced into thinking like a computer. You just point, click, drag, and don’t have to worry about anything else with regards to the computer. I see computers as a tool, a tool you use to get things done. I think Macs are by far the best platform for anyone who does music or graphics. Also for getting photos, mp3s, and video into and out of your computer, nothing can compete with Macs and all the new Apple software like iTunes, iMovie, and iPhoto. But if you’re a more nerdy C++ or ASP programmer, I’d say PCs are the way to go and a Mac wouldn’t be the right tool at all.

Chris:: Tell me some things about the new CD [Windblown Kiss] that you’d like the readers to know. How’s this recording different?

Ryan: This is the first time that I’ve had the recording quality that I’ve always wanted. The whole thing was recorded and mixed to 24 bit. In the past 4 or so years, the technology and cost have finally come together to allow truly great quality digital recordings. Still, you need to have the engineering and production skills, as well as good microphones and outboard gear, to take full advantage of it.

Continue reading Lovespirals Interview on MacNETv2

Mp3.com EXCLUSIVE track!

Digging through the DAT archive, we came across a “lost” track from the Ever recording period! “Echoes” has a somewhat similar feel to “Madras” and “Sideways Forest (Quantum Remix),” with groovy loops and atmospheric textures, including a lovely ethereal vocal sample of Suzanne. This track is ONLY available through MP3.com.

Speaking of Mp3.com on LSD, our old tracks have been climbing the charts! “Delta” has been #1 on both the Shoegazer and Brit Pop charts all week; it even hit #31 on their Alternative charts for a day. “Sideways Forest (Quantum Remix)” has been flittering between #1 and #3 on the Trip Hop and Downtempo charts all week, too. Other tracks are also charting high, which is a very good thing, indeed. I plan to take our Pay4Play earnings and invest them right back into much needed studio gear. We really appreciate all the support of our loyal fans and new listeners alike!

Lovespirals in Oui Rocks

Lovespirals were mentioned in a recent issue of Oui Magazine, for their Oui Rocks section. Devil Doll gives a brief update of the band in her “Oh My Goth” column, alongside The Empire Hideous and Virgin Black. A band portrait by Susan Jennings is included.

LOVESPIRALS (formerly Love Spirals Downwards) songwriter/producer, Ryan Lum and singer/songwriter, Anji Bee, are currently preparing for the release of their first full-length album, tentatively titled ‘Oh So Long,’ due out in May 2002. Ryan reports: “There’s lots of little surprises in our sound this time around, including a wonderful guest appearance by Sean Bowley (of Eden) on 2 tracks. As I have recently rediscovered my love of guitar, this album is really based around beautiful melodies on both acoustic and electric guitar, as well as Anji’s gorgeous, versatile vocals. We’ve had a lot of fun working on our first album together and hope that love shines through to our fans!”

— from Oui Magazine

Love Spirals Downwards Live CD

Happy Valentines Day!

At your request, we’ve released that vintage LSD live material as a DAM CD on mp3.com. The 9 songs included are from the Idylls through Ever period, all performed acoustically by Suzanne and I. Just to let you know, a DAM CD is not the same quality as a regular CD, as they use MP3s for the audio files. DAM CDs include both the source mp3 (for play on your computer or mp3 player) and an audio file version (which can be played on your CD player), as well as text and graphic files which you can view on your computer. This is basically an LSD collector’s item, with better sound than a bootleg cassette and a few more fun extras! For more info, and to hear sample audio, visit the LSD page on mp3.com at mp3.com/lovespiralsdown

I’m still going to look into having Projekt release it officially, because I’d really rather the audio not be split up in between songs, and because real CD quality is far superior to the DAM technology. So I guess this DAM could be a limited time only offer, depending on what happens. We’ll keep you posted!

Happy New Millennium!

Yes, it’s the REAL new Millennium and certainly a time for change. We’ll be updating our mp3.com page with many new songs — perhaps even the “Live Album” material. We plan to add a new audio page on this site with RealAudio and QuickTime files from every LSD album sometime in the near future. Later in the year, the whole site will be redesigned. Hopefully we’ll find a new way to host our e-store, which is closed for the time being. You might check for occasional sales of Love Spirals Downwards related merchanside on E-Bay, as Anji just auctioned off a copy of “50 Years of Sunshine,” and may be offering other such items from time to time.

Happy Holidays!


Because we love you fans so much, we’ve got a special gift for you all — free music! Once again, we are making our unreleased Excelsis song, “The Little Drummer Boy,” available to you as a free mp3 download. Just head on over to the band’s e-store to check it out. And be sure to check out our big closeout sale while you’re there, as well.

Ryan DJs at Dervish

I’ll be DJ’ing in Long Beach, California on Thursday September 16th from 9 to 10:30 pm at the mellow coffeehouse club, Dervish. Dervish runs 7 PM to midnight at Portfolio, 2300 E. 4th St., Long Beach, CA. 562-434-2486. Resident DJs Glenn Bach and Chowderhead, along with guest DJs and musicians, perform a wide variety of electronic and analog music, including ambient, dub, drone, downtempo, IDM, drum-and-bass, and free jazz. Visual artists provide a spatial environment of video, projections, and loops.

DJ set and dubplate

Saturday, August 12th: DJ Ryan Lum spins a late-night/early-morning set in the chillout room of the Family 6th Year Anniversary Party in Los Angeles. For more info, please call (213) 891-4756 or (818) 503-7535.

We just added another unreleased new track, called “Hand in Hand,” to our mp3.com page. This is the flip side of the “Ecstatic” dubplate that I’ve been including in my recent DJ sets. Once again, it features the sax of Doron and vocals of Anji, and is even more jazzy than “Ecstatic.” If you enjoyed “Misunderstood,” from Temporal, you’re bound to dig this track, too!

New song, new comp

We just launched a band page on MP3.com. Included is a new unreleased song, “Ecstatic,” which features recent collaborators Doron Orenstein (saxophone) and Anji Bee (vocals). Go to mp3.com/lovespirals to listen to our FREE streaming and downloadable MP3s.

In other news, Love Spirals Downwards have been included on another new compilation CD, the Side-Line Magazine presentation of Diva X Machina 3, on Cop International — along with Diamanda Galas, Danielle Dax, Gitane Demone and many other female fronted bands. The song included is my remix of “Alicia” from Temporal. Buy Diva X Machine 3 on Amazon.

Projekt 100: The Early Years Features LSD

Our 50 Years of Sunshine exclusive mix of “Kykeon” is featured on Projekt100, a new various artist compilation created to celebrats the early era of the label from 1985 to 1995.

Projekt100: The Early Years (1985-1995)

Reaching the milestone of its 100th release, Projekt celebrated in a special way. Harkening back to the time when catalog number “PRO-100” seemed a hundred years away, Rosenthal explains his motivation for this compilation: “In planning Projekt100, I tried to recreate an era. A time gone by. A time when Projekt was young and our artists were widely unknown. Rather than put together a predictable ‘best of’ to commemorate Projekt’s 100th release, I created The Great Lost Projekt Compilation. A reflection upon an era gone by, for those fans who have been with Projekt since the early days . . . or an introduction to bands perhaps missed, if a new-comer.”

Included are never before heard tracks from Projekt’s first two acts: Lycia and black tape for a blue girl; as well as unreleased mixes from Attrition, Eden, Lovesliescrushing, and SoulWhirlingSomewhere; early mixes from Thanatos and Terrace of Memories; an unreleased track from O Yuki Conjugate; and a rare mix from Love Spirals Downwards.

— Projekt Records

Purchase a copy of this CD directly from Projekt.com