Techno Squirrels
Encyclopedia
Formed in 2005, Techno Squirrels is a band made up of Ryan Harlin (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, USA) and Lisa Eriksson (born Lund
, Sweden
). Both Eriksson and Harlin are sound engineers and producers for Techno Squirrels. Their music has been used in MTV's The Real World
(Sydney), The Real World
(Hollywood), The Real World vs. Road Rules Challenge, Regenesis (Sci Fi Channel), and on LucasArts' Thrillville 2 soundtrack.
Their debut album, Plastic Makes it Possible, was released in August 2007 with two singles (Love Comes First, and Unbelievable). In September 2007, Love Comes First began getting regular rotation on Sirius Satellite Radio
and by October of that year it had reached the number one spot on Channel 35's Top 40. Shortly after Sirius, KCRW
's Nic Harcourt
picked up another cut off the album, "South of Colorado," to play on his nationally syndicated shows "Sounds Eclectic" and "Morning Becomes Eclectic."
On February 19, 2008 Om Records
released their Chill Compilation, volume 2, featuring Techno Squirrels' "Love Comes First" track as track 1 on the CD. A remix of the track "Love Comes First (StyrofoamKid Remix) was recently included on the Cream Ibiza Paul Van Dyk
Compilation of 2008.
, electronica
, trance
, house
, progressive-house, or techno
by different music reviewers and critics most people identify Techno Squirrels' sound by its cohesive similarity to itself more than its comparison to other artists.
Techno Squirrels' style walks a line between club-destined floor-thumping techno and more sensitive pop productions. Not often ones to settle for a single vocal sample to carry an electronic track, Techno Squirrels are more known for their pop structures (verses, choruses, bridges, etc.) laid over danceable foundations of "4-on-the-floor
" beats and bass lines.
They do also, however, depart more dramatically from dance music into electronica tracks closer in nature to artists like the Postal Service
, Telepopmusik
, or Frou Frou.
DJ John Peel
in the late 90s. Around the same time, Eriksson joined with Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu to sing for their recently formed electroclash group, Ladytron
. Eriksson recorded their breakthrough single with them, "He Took Her To A Movie", which ended up on their full length LP after Eriksson's departure from the group (as listed on the 2004 reissue of "604
" by Rykodisc
).
Ryan Harlin was a filmmaker and recording engineer prior to his involvement with Techno Squirrels. His film work, still actively in production, documents the musical careers of early and influential punk rock bands like the Bouncing Souls, Youth Brigade
, and NOFX
. Harlin also ran NovaSound, a recording studio in Philadelphia, USA from 1996-2000.
Techno Squirrels formed in 2005 in Los Angeles
, California
. However the two first worked together during a Schulte/Eriksson recording session at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
(LIPA) - an arts university in Liverpool, England whose graduates from that time in the late 90s include, in addition to Harlin and Eriksson, fellow electronic artist Kate Havnevik
, record producer Sean McGhee, and Sandi Thom
.
Ryan Harlin has admitted in several interviews to his early resistance to electronic music and credits record producer and friend Sean McGhee with changing his opinion of the genre. For Lisa Eriksson, it was a trip to the European music festival, Roskilde
, which would first expose her to the sounds of early influential artists like Fluke
and Underworld
.
Around the same time, but separate from each other, Harlin and Eriksson were both beginning to experiment with electronic music production. While Lisa Eriksson was beginning to add vintage analog synthesizers and samplers
into her work with Schulte/Eriksson, Ryan Harlin was beginning to incorporate electronic elements into his music production and engineering work, even producing two early tracks with Kate Havnevik
along with LIPA classmate Duncan Speakman.
In 2005, Ryan Harlin and Lisa Eriksson began collaborating musically - passing song ideas back and forth while Eriksson was attaining a master's degree in audio production from the University of Westminster
, London
, England
. Later the two both ended up in Los Angeles
, California
, Harlin producing films with Emo Riot Productions and Eriksson working in radio production. By the middle of 2005 the two began production on what would become their debut single, "Mute", released by Rave Police Records in fall 2005.
In 2006, their remix of "Om Mani" showed up in repeated rotation on BBC1's Asian Network program. In April 2007 "Om Mani" was also featured in an episode of Regenesis, a Canadian Sci-Fi television drama (season 3 episode 6).
Arthur Loves Plastic
, Carmen Rizzo
, Sean McGhee, DJ Denise, Nebulae
, James Bernard, Johan Afterglow, The Puff, Glycerin, DJ Etain, RED-eye, Rene Patrique, Emotiquon, Robert Jax
Lisa Eriksson: (programming, songwriting, production, vocals) 2005–present
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA) and Lisa Eriksson (born Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
). Both Eriksson and Harlin are sound engineers and producers for Techno Squirrels. Their music has been used in MTV's The Real World
The Real World
The Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. First broadcast in 1992, the show, which was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family, is the longest-running program in MTV history and one of the...
(Sydney), The Real World
The Real World
The Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. First broadcast in 1992, the show, which was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family, is the longest-running program in MTV history and one of the...
(Hollywood), The Real World vs. Road Rules Challenge, Regenesis (Sci Fi Channel), and on LucasArts' Thrillville 2 soundtrack.
Their debut album, Plastic Makes it Possible, was released in August 2007 with two singles (Love Comes First, and Unbelievable). In September 2007, Love Comes First began getting regular rotation on Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
and by October of that year it had reached the number one spot on Channel 35's Top 40. Shortly after Sirius, KCRW
KCRW
KCRW is a public radio station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, carrying a mix of National Public Radio news, talk radio and freeform music format. The general manager of KCRW is Jennifer Ferro...
's Nic Harcourt
Nic Harcourt
Nic Harcourt was, most recently, the Music Director for Santa Monica, California-based radio station KCRW. Before joining KCRW, Harcourt worked for eight years as a news director and music director at radio station WDST in Woodstock, New York...
picked up another cut off the album, "South of Colorado," to play on his nationally syndicated shows "Sounds Eclectic" and "Morning Becomes Eclectic."
On February 19, 2008 Om Records
Om Records
Om Records is a US-based record label, established in 1995, which releases electronic music, dance music, and hip hop. The label was founded in San Francisco in 1995 by Chris Smith. Om Records releases both artist albums and various compilations. Some of the most notable compilations include Om...
released their Chill Compilation, volume 2, featuring Techno Squirrels' "Love Comes First" track as track 1 on the CD. A remix of the track "Love Comes First (StyrofoamKid Remix) was recently included on the Cream Ibiza Paul Van Dyk
Paul van Dyk
Matthias Paul, better known by his stage name Paul van Dyk is a German Grammy Award-winning Electronic Dance Music DJ, musician and record producer...
Compilation of 2008.
Style
Techno Squirrels' music forms a blending of styles spanning various types of pop and electronic music. Classified as popPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
, trance
Trance music
Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s.:251 It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 bpm,:252 repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout a track...
, house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
, progressive-house, or techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
by different music reviewers and critics most people identify Techno Squirrels' sound by its cohesive similarity to itself more than its comparison to other artists.
Techno Squirrels' style walks a line between club-destined floor-thumping techno and more sensitive pop productions. Not often ones to settle for a single vocal sample to carry an electronic track, Techno Squirrels are more known for their pop structures (verses, choruses, bridges, etc.) laid over danceable foundations of "4-on-the-floor
Four to the floor
Four-on-the-floor is a rhythm pattern used in disco and electronic dance music. It is a steady, uniformly accented beat in 4/4 time in which the bass drum is hit on every beat in common time...
" beats and bass lines.
They do also, however, depart more dramatically from dance music into electronica tracks closer in nature to artists like the Postal Service
The Postal Service
The Postal Service is an American electronic indie pop band composed of vocalist Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and producer Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel and Headset.-Background:...
, Telepopmusik
Télépopmusik
Télépopmusik is a French electronic music trio, composed of Fabrice Dumont , Stephan Haeri , and Christophe Hetier....
, or Frou Frou.
Background
Eriksson, no stranger to electronic and experimental music founded the underground band Schulte/Eriksson (Org Records), who's discordant and poly-rhythmic pop songs caught the ears of legendary BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
DJ John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
in the late 90s. Around the same time, Eriksson joined with Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu to sing for their recently formed electroclash group, Ladytron
Ladytron
Ladytron are an English electronic band formed in 1999 in Liverpool, Merseyside. The group consists of Helen Marnie , Mira Aroyo , Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu .Their sound blends electropop with New Wave and shoegazing elements. Ladytron described their sound as "electronic pop"...
. Eriksson recorded their breakthrough single with them, "He Took Her To A Movie", which ended up on their full length LP after Eriksson's departure from the group (as listed on the 2004 reissue of "604
604 (album)
604 is the debut studio album by English electronic band Ladytron, released in the United Kingdom on 2 April 2001 by Invicta Hi-Fi Records. It was co-produced, engineered and mixed by Lance Thomas...
" by Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
).
Ryan Harlin was a filmmaker and recording engineer prior to his involvement with Techno Squirrels. His film work, still actively in production, documents the musical careers of early and influential punk rock bands like the Bouncing Souls, Youth Brigade
Youth Brigade (band)
Youth Brigade is a Southern California punk music trio formed in 1980 by brothers Mark Stern, Adam Stern, and Shawn Stern. The band subsequently founded BYO , which served both as their record label and as a statement of their attitude toward the young people involved in the punk subculture, which...
, and NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
. Harlin also ran NovaSound, a recording studio in Philadelphia, USA from 1996-2000.
Techno Squirrels formed in 2005 in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. However the two first worked together during a Schulte/Eriksson recording session at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts is, despite its young age, one of the United Kingdom's leading institutions for the performing arts. The university is situated in the English city of Liverpool...
(LIPA) - an arts university in Liverpool, England whose graduates from that time in the late 90s include, in addition to Harlin and Eriksson, fellow electronic artist Kate Havnevik
Kate Havnevik
Kate Havnevik is a singer and songwriter from Oslo, Norway. Her debut album, the critically acclaimed electronica infused Melankton, was released in March 2006 on iTunes and April 2006 in Norway only, before being licensed internationally later...
, record producer Sean McGhee, and Sandi Thom
Sandi Thom
Alexandria "Sandi" Thom is a Scottish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She became widely known in 2006 after a series of webcasts and the success of the single "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker ".-1984–2004: Early life:Thom was born in Banff, Aberdeenshire...
.
Ryan Harlin has admitted in several interviews to his early resistance to electronic music and credits record producer and friend Sean McGhee with changing his opinion of the genre. For Lisa Eriksson, it was a trip to the European music festival, Roskilde
Roskilde Festival
Roskilde Festival is a festival held south of Roskilde in Denmark and is one of the six biggest annual music festivals in Europe . It was created in 1971 by two high school students, Mogens Sandfær and Jesper Switzer Møller, and promoter Carl Fischer...
, which would first expose her to the sounds of early influential artists like Fluke
Fluke (band)
Fluke are an English electronic music group formed in the late 1980s by Mike Bryant, Jon Fugler and Mike Tournier with Julian Nugent as the band's manager...
and Underworld
Underworld (band)
Underworld are a British electronic group, and principal name under which duo Karl Hyde and Rick Smith have recorded together since 1980.- Early years: 1979–1986 :...
.
Around the same time, but separate from each other, Harlin and Eriksson were both beginning to experiment with electronic music production. While Lisa Eriksson was beginning to add vintage analog synthesizers and samplers
Sampler (musical instrument)
A sampler is an electronic musical instrument similar in some respects to a synthesizer but, instead of generating sounds, it uses recordings of sounds that are loaded or recorded into it by the user and then played back by means of a keyboard, sequencer or other triggering device to perform or...
into her work with Schulte/Eriksson, Ryan Harlin was beginning to incorporate electronic elements into his music production and engineering work, even producing two early tracks with Kate Havnevik
Kate Havnevik
Kate Havnevik is a singer and songwriter from Oslo, Norway. Her debut album, the critically acclaimed electronica infused Melankton, was released in March 2006 on iTunes and April 2006 in Norway only, before being licensed internationally later...
along with LIPA classmate Duncan Speakman.
In 2005, Ryan Harlin and Lisa Eriksson began collaborating musically - passing song ideas back and forth while Eriksson was attaining a master's degree in audio production from the University of Westminster
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Later the two both ended up in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Harlin producing films with Emo Riot Productions and Eriksson working in radio production. By the middle of 2005 the two began production on what would become their debut single, "Mute", released by Rave Police Records in fall 2005.
In 2006, their remix of "Om Mani" showed up in repeated rotation on BBC1's Asian Network program. In April 2007 "Om Mani" was also featured in an episode of Regenesis, a Canadian Sci-Fi television drama (season 3 episode 6).
Remixers
Techno Squirrels has been remixed by the following DJs and Producers:Arthur Loves Plastic
Arthur Loves Plastic
Arthur Loves Plastic or ALP is the performing name of Washington, D.C. based electronic music recording artist Bev Stanton.- Biography :...
, Carmen Rizzo
Carmen Rizzo
Carmen Rizzo is a producer and music engineer who has worked with Alanis Morissette, Oakenfold, Kate Havnevik, Huun-Huur-Tu, Temposhark, Jem, Niyaz and Esthero. In addition, he has recorded his own albums entitled The Lost Art of the Idle Moment , Ornament of an Imposter , and Looking Through...
, Sean McGhee, DJ Denise, Nebulae
Nebulae (band)
Nebulae is an electronic and alternative rock music artist. Nebulae also remixes music and provides production and mastering services for a wide variety of bands, collaborating over the Internet. Nebulae started as a band in the early 90s. Previous members included Abid Hussain and Takeshi Kurt Eto...
, James Bernard, Johan Afterglow, The Puff, Glycerin, DJ Etain, RED-eye, Rene Patrique, Emotiquon, Robert Jax
Members
Ryan Harlin: (programming, songwriting, production, vocals) 2005–presentLisa Eriksson: (programming, songwriting, production, vocals) 2005–present
Releases
- Mute (2005; Rave Police Records)
- Om Mani (2006; Rave Police Records)
- Love Comes First (2007; Rave Police Records)
- Unbelievable (2007; Rave Police Records)
- Plastic Makes it Possible (2007; Rave Police Records)
- Om Chill Compilation (Volume 2) (2008 Om Records, USA)
- Cream Ibiza Paul Van Dyk Compilation (2008 Vandit Records, Germany)
- Tech Dance Euphoria (2008, Ministry Of Sound, USA)
- Ludicity (LucasArts 2009, USA)
Reviews and Interviews
- Remix Magazine – September 2007
- Ibiza Voice Magazine – August 2007
- ReGen Magazine – August 2007
- West Coast Performer Magazine – August 2007
- Collected Sounds – August 2007
- CD Times – August 2007
- Sonic Curiosity – August 2007
- KPFK Radio Interview – August 2005
- Chain D.L.K. – September 6
- ReGen Magazine – February 2006
- Grave Concerns – January 2006
- Music Industry News Network – January 2006
- Sonic Curiosity – December 2005
- Raves.com – November 2005
- Tasty Magazine – October 2005
- Collected Sounds – October 2005
- Chain D.L.K. – September 2005
- San Jose Mercury News – September 2005