Earthphish

Earthphish[1] is a music group formed in Switzerland in 2001, consisting of Aleksandra Mirjana Crossan, Donovan John Szypura and formerly André Ledergerber. Their debut album "Soft Green Exit" (CD) was released independently in 2003.[2][3][4] Their song "Soulcandy" reached #1 on the electronic music charts on the online community GarageBand.com[1] The music of Earthphish has been compared to trip hop artists such as Tricky, Massive Attack and Portishead.[2][4][5]

Earthphish
Donovan John Szypura and Aleksandra Mirjana Crossan in Australia 2019
Background information
OriginZurich, Switzerland
GenresElectronic music, trip hop
Years active2001–2006, 2019–present
LabelsParakosm
Websitewww.earthphish.com
MembersDonovan John Szypura, Aleksandra Mirjana Crossan
Past membersAndré Ledergerber

History

Keyboarder, composer and producer Donovan John Szypura played with Matthew Ashman (Adam & The Ants, Bow Wow Wow) in a Swiss punk rock band called "Rams". They worked together on the album "Wrecked" which was released in 1993.[6][7]. In 1999 Donovan John Szypura joined the industrial metal band Apollyon Sun formed by singer/guitarist Thomas Gabriel Fischer (Celtic Frost, Hellhammer, Triptykon) and guitarist Erol Unala.[8] In early 2001 Donovan teamed up with drummer André Ledergerber and choreographer and singer Aleksandra Mirjana Crossan. The trio Earthphish released their demo CD "Metropolis" three months later.[9]

The name Earthphish evolved from an early dance piece called "Earthphish & Ishram" choreographed by Aleksandra Mirjana Crossan. Earthphish converted to a creative production duo not limited to music. Aleksandra Mirjana Crossan and Donovan John Szypura became a symbiosis of music and dance and created several dance pieces performed by their contemporary dance company, Earthphish Dance.[10][11]

Earthphish Dance received the Swiss Premio Furthering Prize for their dance piece in 2002[10][11] and won the second place for the same dance piece at the International Serge Diaghilev Competition of Choreography Art 2003 in Gdyna, Poland in 2003.[12]

The Earthphish debut album "Soft Green Exit" (CD) was released independently in 2003.[2][3][4]

Earthphish Dance premiered "Elephant Man" in Zurich, Switzerland in 2005.[13] The dance piece was inspired by the movie 'The Elephant Man' directed by David Lynch, which is about the life of Joseph Carey Merrick.

In June 2006, Earthphish released their self-titled EP "Earthphish".[14][15]

Earthphish is now based in Tasmania, Australia. In March 2019 Earthphish announced on their Facebook page that they are working on a new album with the working title "Turtles all the way down". In August 2020 they released their first single and video "Rite Of Life". Earthphish announced on their Facebook page that Lee Scratch Perry will be featured on an upcoming single called "Deadlock".

Style

Earthphish has not limited themselves to create music but also produced contemporary dance pieces. Their music is atmospheric, dark and bittersweet, surrealistic and often describing human struggles. Their music style has been described as electronic and trip hop.[2] Their dance pieces have addressed social issues through abstract visual movement supported by original music compositions.[10][11]

Earthphish acknowledge that they have been influenced by The Sandals, Tricky, Portishead, Eurythmics, and Killing Joke.[5]

Discography
  • "Metropolis" (Demo-CD) 2001
  • "Soft Green Exit" (CD) 2003
  • "Earthphish" (EP) 2006
  • "Rite Of Life" (Single) 2020

Band members

Current lineup
  • Aleksandra Mirjana Crossan – keyboards, vocals (2001–present)
  • Donovan John Szypura – keyboards, programming, vocals (2001–present)

Former members
  • André Ledergerber – drums (2001-2003)

Additional studio musicians
  • Merlin Szy – co-producing and programming on "Rite Of Life" (Single) 2020
  • Sandro Corbat – guitar on "Soft Green Exit" (CD) 2006 and "Rite Of Life" (Single) 2020
  • Dede Felix – drums on "Soft Green Exit" (CD) 2003 and "Earthphish" (EP) 2006
  • Luca Leombruni – bass guitar on "Soft Green Exit" (CD) 2003, "Earthphish" (EP) 2006, "Rite Of Life" (Single) 2020
  • Dominic Ruegg (Cuthead) – guitar on "Earthphish" (EP) 2006

Dance pieces

Earthphish Dance members
  • Aleksandra Mirjana Crossan – choreography
  • Sabine Schindler, Thomas Dietlicher, Jennifer Matheja, Audrey Borthayre, Zoltan Farago, Renata Schiess and Sybille Koch – dance
  • Donovan John Szypura, Aleksandra Mirjana Crossan, Sandro Corbat – music
  • Daniel Boller – stage design

Awards
  • Swiss Premio Furthering Prize 2002 in Zurich, Switzerland - Earthphish Dance, "If I had a child"[10][11]
  • Second place at the ‘International Serge Diaghilev Competition of Choreography Art 2003 in Gdyna, Poland - Earthphish Dance, "If I had a child"[12]

References
  1. MX3 (2004). "Earthphish biography". MX3. A music platform set up by SRF3, Virus, Couleur3, Rete3, and Radio Rumantsch. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  2. Hyde, Emil (2004). "Earthphish 'Soft Green Exit' (CD), review at Plug In Music". Pluginmusic.com. Archived from the original on 2006-11-01. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  3. Tripofagia (2003). "Earthphish 'Soft Green Exit review - Because I is someone else". Archived from the original on 2005-12-31. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  4. Thibaut (2004). "Earthphish 'Soft Green Exit' review". Trip-Hop.net. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  5. Hyde, Emil. "The Swiss Trip-Pop trio Earthphish go beyond the usual bump n' grind". Archived from the original on 28 December 2004. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  6. "Rams 'Wrecked' CD 1993". Discogs. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  7. "'Rams' discography at Definitive, a Sub- und Popkultur Revue of Zurich, Switzerland". Definitive (in German). Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  8. Rivadavia, Eduardo (2000). "Apollyon Sun biography". All Music. AllMusic. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  9. Hulla, Claire (December 2001). "Earthphish 'Metropolis' demo CD review". Die Weltwoche (in German) (50). Archived from the original on 2006-08-19. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  10. Wehren, Julia. "Interview with Aleksandra Mirjana Crossan, Tanzen zum Leben, Premio Förderpreis 2002 für 'If I had a Child'". Danse Suisse (in German). Archived from the original on May 2002. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  11. Wehren, Julia. "Interview with Aleksandra Mirjana Crossan, un prix, une pièce, des projets, Prix Premio 2002 pour 'If I had a Child'". Danse Suisse (in French). Archived from the original on May 2002. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  12. "The Second prize of the Competition, International Serge Diaghilev Competition of Choreography Art 2003". Archived from the original on 28 August 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  13. "Original Theatrical Unfolded Stage Play Poster 'Elephant Man' by Earthphish Dance, 2005". Worth Point. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  14. Gualtier, Frank (12 November 2006). "Earthphish 'Earthphish' (EP) review, 'Touring the Indies' Indie Women in Music". A Cherrypicker's Journal. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  15. TripHopHu (2006). "Earthphish 'Earthphish' EP, review at International Downtempo Magazine". TripHopHu. Archived from the original on 2007-12-11. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
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