Short Description
Brooklyn based multimedia indie music whirlwind incorporating original film and modern dance. Well constructed songs backed by sensory explosion and interaction.
A unique visual and auditory spectacle.
“Aural Cinematography is Dancing In Your Head”
“Aural Cinematography Is Dancing In Your Head”
Eclectic in every way, Brooklyn's Jigsaw Soul make music that draws on a wide array of influences, yet avoids the pitfall of sounding like an imitation act. Perhaps owing to the fact that the group is comprised of five songwriters who have long standing friendships and a commitment to the crafting of a good song, they are able to piece together seemingly disparate elements, delivering fascinating juxtapositions that maintain a respect for traditional song structure but are not held slave to it.
Just as likely to reference modern composers like Phillip Glass and Ennio Morricone as jazz chanteuse Nina Simone or the psychedelic rock of Pink Floyd's "Ummagumma," the band also dabble with an assortment of ethnic folk music. Combining traditional rock instrumentation with other less explored sounds, theirs is a vividly imaginative world where tribal vocal chants dance with the propulsive squeals of a Theremin, Japanese Taiko drums are sampled and paired with vocal harmonies reminiscent of a medieval minstrel and ringing bells punctuate soaring guitar melodies. The music's feel is most often meditative but several songs increase in force, slowly adding layer upon layer of atmosphere that ultimately envelops and haunts the listener.
The lyrical themes in Jigsaw's songs explore from several writer's perspectives the roller-coaster ride that life in our modern world can often be, running the gamut from a lust for life and the joy of new experiences, to feelings of exhaustion and intense alienation. Never veering too far in either direction, balancing optimism with keen observation, these songs weave their stories of life's ebb and flow. Clever enough to realize that the music can be just as effective in the telling of the story as the words, Jigsaw Soul uses both elements to full effect and in a manner that is both organic and spiritual.
Jigsaw's eclecticism is intriguingly perpetuated in their live show, where modern dance and live video editing collide with the music to create an otherworldly spectacle of sound and vision. As one fluid unit, all of the art forms play off of each other’s dynamics, the performers use a hybrid of choreography and improvisation to deliver an allegorical compliment to the words and music. Alternately bombastic and enchanting, Jigsaw Soul is a live experience you will never forget.
Current Activities
Jigsaw Soul will be releasing their second album entitled “Bound to Collide” in Feb of 2009
They have also just finished up a 30 person music video for Cockroach Hotel was released May 10th and has been receiving international attention
Finishing soundtrack and placements for HBO series.
Accepted with Cherry Lane licensing and placement
Shows
Having played many known NYC venues, the last three Jigsaw Soul shows has brought in 600 to 1000+ ppl
Some NYC venues
Galapagos, both Williamsburg and DUMBO
Many Loft, Warehouse and Rooftop parties
Studio A.I.R.
Luna Lounge
Supreme Trading
The Continental
Old CBGB’s
The Hook
Public Assembly
Deli Magazine showcase
Track-by-Track Breakdown
-> The albums first track, “Burn the Church of Reason,” is a slow burning, meditative affair that features beautiful chorale vocals and Asian percussion. It tells the story of someone who is experiencing the possible loss of a loved one. Having witnessed their deterioration and withdrawal into a place that is unreachable, the protagonist is still determined to hope and pray for their safe return. The music is appropriately agonizing, gradually introducing new sounds and with each an unexpected glimmer of hope. Every last one arriving just before the journey has become unbearable and accumulating towards a powerful, inevitable, crescendo. =
-> The lushly arranged “Fake Five,” begins with a poignant and simple guitar arpeggio that lays the foundation for the intricate three part vocal harmonies and soaring guitar melodies that dominate the song. At its apex, bombastic drum fills and clanging bells give way to a stirring string arrangement. Lyrically, the song is focused on the various pitfalls and innumerable hypocrisies inherent in organized religion, while endorsing the sincerity and intensity of personal conviction that lies at the heart of true faith. =
-> On the song, “In No Time,” the listener experiences New York City through the eyes and ears of someone who is visiting for the first time. True to the city, the song is a blur of constant motion. It is a world where dizzying vocal harmonies, (think Brian Wilson channeling Nina Simone), collide with cascading cymbals and the increasing jackhammer of distant drums. Random sounds continually appear and disappear never to be heard from again. Captivating strands of melody make their way across the intersection barely dodging the oncoming traffic. Even the architecture is represented by a series of strange monolithic vocal stabs that distract you just long enough to make you forget where you. Suddenly, you are jolted back to reality by a blaring car horn and another pedestrian bumps into you nearly knocking you over before you make your way back below street level and board the train that carries you away into the night. =
-> Clocking in at twenty-five seconds, "White Crayons," is the albums most succinct track. It is meditative in nature and consists of layered synthesizer and a rather hypnotic vocal loop. =
-> Probably the best candidate for an album single, ”Radio Graveyard,” makes use of simple, straightforward songwriting and a stripped down arrangement, (vocal harmonies, acoustic guitar, organ and hammered dulcimer), while bemoaning the onset of songs that are all style and no substance. =
-> Notably, "Passerby," is the only track on the album that was recorded live. The strange thing is that somehow it doesn't sound any different in quality than the other tracks. A mid-tempo number built around a steadily pulsing beat, the song swims in a warm sea of atmospheric guitar and bass textures. Call and response group vocals abound throughout and the song maintains an empathetic, uplifting feeling. Lyrically, the song is focused on the business of life in the big city and the vigilance required in the maintenance of meaningful personal relationships. =
-> Defiant in the face of despair, “Cockroach Hotel,” is a beautiful, ornately arranged anthem. Stirring choruses give way to expansive, cathartic lulls. Unwilling to be marginalized or anesthetized, unready to settle into a mind numbing existence of dull repetition, the song’s protagonist declares independence from the confines of a cold and calculating world. =
-> “Off The Phone,” begins with an up-tempo bass line and Latin American drum groove, which are further accented by a slinky guitar melody and soulful harmonies. Remaining playful, the songs chorus is predicated on call and response vocals that encourage the listener to put down whatever they're doing and get into the music. In the song’s mid section, one can almost picture a spaghetti western style gunfight taking place as the vocals begin to fade into the background and the far off sound of trumpets begin to swell with layer upon layer of propulsive intensity. Riding the wave of gathering tension, the song ends with a barrage of electric guitar melodies that form an immense wall of sound as it charges headlong into it's own dissipation. =
-> Although it is only a minute and thirty eight seconds long, "Nearer The Dome," still manages to make it's rather unique presence felt. Beginning with a brooding piano melody and subtle guitar harmonics, it gathers speed and gives way to the strident feel of the Viola De Gamba and ominous rhythmic vocal chants. =
-> "A Night In The Black Forest of Rain," utilizes unusual recording techniques to sculpt an expansive soundscape. The song was crafted by loudly playing previously recorded vocal harmonies through a car stereo while on a band camping trip. Several microphones were placed at different differences from the car and cabin, extending out further into the woods. As the vocals played, natural sounds (the campfire, the rain and the cicadas) and sounds made by the band members (a hand drum, more harmonies and a short wave radio) were recorded simultaneously. Trippy, dissonant and mellow are all words that could be used to describe the songs overall effect. =
-> Epic in nature and dynamic in execution, "Asleep in The Tower," tells the familiar tale of a government that has forgotten it exists to serve the people. Rife with corruption and all too willing to exploit the less fortunate for it's own gains, it’s negligence has positioned humanity under the looming threat of a truly dark age. Possessing a jazzy rhythmic sway and a haunting, mournful guitar melody, this song stakes it's claim by using sweeping instrumental flourishes and odd bits of texture in all the right places. From the wailing Theremin and guttural vocal stabs, to the pointillist guitar playing that can be heard in the final minute, nothing is left unsaid, no emotion left bottled. This is a band that wears it's heart on it's sleeve, proudly. =
Information on November 06’ Times Square Event
“Bound To Collide” - Project Summary
During the course of our one-month space grant in a Times Square store front/art gallery, Jigsaw Soul worked with several artists, animators, musicians, film makers and dance companies to create an atmosphere that encouraged the exchange of ideas and provided many opportunities for collaboration. Those involved in the project were able to work with each other in a setting that encouraged public interaction. Jigsaw Soul’s own dance troupe, as well as ten other modern dance companies performed pieces they had choreographed to the band’s music. Jigsaw Soul hosted two film festivals showcasing the work of local filmmakers, and exhibited the paintings and photographs of several up and coming New York artists, as well as throwing parties every weekend of the month. Keeping with the collaborative spirit of the event, the band also wrote and recorded an album in the space, allowing the public to view the creative process.
While we were recording the album, we had markers hanging from the window with signs encouraging those who passed by to write a sentence or paragraph about their “most interesting memory or life experience.” We then incorporated many of these stories in the song lyrics, using as much of the publicly written material as possible. During last three days of the recording, we invited several local musicians to take part in the project by laying down a track on the album.
Statistics
During the month of November Jigsaw Soul transformed a Times Square Storefront into a 24/7-multimedia art space located on 44th and Broadway, thanks to a space grant from Chashama. They curated 2 film festivals, 4 drunken parties, art exhibitions, modern dance performances, body painting performance art, recorded an entire collaborative album, & much more.
Number of Jigsaw Soul core collaborators |
10 |
Estimated people who passed by and at least glanced at the name on the window |
450,000- 650,000 |
Total estimated # of people that watched a performance for more than 2 minutes. |
18,000- 21,0000 throughout month (based on estimates from each performance, people writing on windows, etc) |
# of people that participated directly in an event (as a non-collaborator or non-bystander) including writing/painting on the windows, parties, film festivals, body painting, etc |
800 |
Number of people Jigsaw Soul directly Collaborated with including dancers, artists, performers |
75 |
"Aural Cinematography is Dancing In Your Head."
Jigsaw Soul is a uniquely soulful multimedia indie band that incorporates live, original, synchronized video and 4 creative modern dancers.
-Cockroach Hotel is playing on Fuse on Demand until Oct 9th -Help us get our music catalog into the right hands.
|
appallingly
dooming
curvature
cowled
dater
debit
baby
enrapt
enrobe
eclat
adumbration
betrothal
bandaging
bicarbonates
damsels
brothier
curtailment
agrarian
excisable
bicycled
encoded
ctrl
circum
deceptiveness
disorders
aggrieving
deflation
bluchers
dehydrate
defaming
confusingly
alders
bellevue
antipasti
englobe
conversation
blandishes
boggles
excursion
codifiers
codger
determinants
digestibility
chamisos
caps
exonerating
cumulative
delectable
cautioned
aspect
credential
channels
clefts
drupes
advocatory
debtless
candlepower
acerola
europeans
chawed
excises
colonies
colluding
caterwaul
dithery
fearlessly
autisms
creators
dilating
acutes
carotenes
bacteriologically
abet
drachms
comparative
barged
crossbreeding
enframes
ejaculations
carpet
blandishers
choremen
containers
disco
assagai
anaerobes
chored
coatroom
conformation
deliriums
calamary
compactors
calendaring
attach
allottee
disinclinations
astringent
cream
crabbily
chemotherapeutically
chrysalis
anemias
bergamot
defecters
conking
dawning
contentedness
chicly
chirpiest
discontinuities
chimp
contretemps
derries
clads
corking
curtesy
atypic
bunkum
bigging
blousier
casanova
constructing
attended
alluvium
controversy
coonskin
blackguards
eft
debouching
aspirins
approximated
electioneers
connects
deterred
douses
baulks
commonable
expiator
bladed
diatoms
captivated
demagnetization
anadem
aurated
caterer
ceding
corroboratory
assessorship
disengage
breechcloth
dowager
agora
busing
carports
brawn
abbess
decentralized
durra
delimiter
bodegas
benzoic
caucasus
carminatives
coalfish
deciphers
bevy
acerose
eel
abed
chorea
docked
diffident
cricks
expanded
antagonistically
ducked
discontinuances
biracial
curriers
dawdles
burnable
bodiless
embattles
brunched
curtain
divides
extenuates
battleship
booting
baloneys
coils
cycads
covenantee
excoriations
blast
embellishment
comps
detestation
discords
decompositions
dissolution
dismantle
aeronauts
belatedly
dandling
eats
currencies
clovers
anilins
exhuming
comprehensively
disposer
fantasticalness
blood
bugeye
arrases
amazement
bucksaws
abettal
doughty
calyces
diamonds
dehypnotize
deceivers
crispier
exogamic
counterclaiming
evanesced
conceivableness
citrous
apprehensively
baggy
armers
bench
attracted
dizziest
bagnios
accuracy
dumbwaiter
educed
driftage
anaesthetize
cornered
captivity
abolish
crescendos
batsmen
cadged
adoptions
cutout
cudbears
cordons
docudramas
combers
dilative
dissuade
bushed
alignment
approbations
antipyretic
devilkin
dolly
conceiving
deciduous
electrodes
encysts
discriminational
concrescence
blanking
acclivitous
disfigures
bolling
audiogram
allium
crystalloid
annihilation
doge
crosspieces
divisor
artistes
dexterity
bounden
desegregate
conscripting
aortic
bipeds
equipoise
caperer
archaeologic
documenters
cullied
cuts
epa
broadsword
doorpost
charity
adjourning
deathcups
covertly
aerodrome
correctable
disseminate
calking
clam
feelingly
baying
cowbirds
confabulation
explicated
draggers
door
chalkiness
affirmatives
dobies
arrowhead
buzzed
experiences
cognitive
chagrining
emigrations
clingstones
county's
anyways
consecrations
amendments
coequality
ashy
bowelled
doggoner
advisability
alloys
conversant
desk
communicativeness
bouncer
assonants
burses
edit
accordionist
cathedral
dickensian
ceramicists
atmospherics
caudillos
apperception
angering
containerized
debauch
boatswains
aluminized
aerological
examinees
cheque
dozens
coreless
employs
crambos
avowing
divorce
blunting
circumcise
clinician
arbitrage
commoner
causals
caseharden
determination
dilatate
afforestation
cylindrical
coloration
dishtowel
ankh
adapter
cornu
chanced
coherer
cottons
altercation
electrologist
chronicling
demurrals
emblems
accentuate
airmanship
clingstone
aesthetics
biconvex
dregs
entomologists
engrafting
churner
bitterly
aerobically
commonplace
embedding
arbitrational
cocomat
eugenic
auburn
boyfriends
demobilization
alumin
ease
cullets
despite
deductibility
achromatically
accentual
auburns
culminated
communicability
crypto
aunty
choreographs
commodities
desolates
attained
cashoos
coins
backslapper
abasing
desirer
alphabetized
deescalating
crinklier
divvy
database
demotions
conners
dozen
cyclical
censorship
establishable
discontent
cuppers
alleging
atheneum
backlogs
bleeds
basified
cermets
doozy
arriving
bargainee
effacing
crueler
establish
chemise
cubed
demolisher
debarking
blushing
avians
conserved
bummest
began
cardamum
costliness
beget
colorblind
canthal
convocation
anglicism
colorcast
ado
dizzy
conditional
cankerworms
abrading
crosstown
coelenterate
calcifies
dosing
autoregulative
bindery
abandonment
brags
complaining
dastardly
brooks
confection
defector
campsites
darkroom
convoying
depository
codeines
curst
agone
birthdays
crayonists
algins
dummies
commensurably
craziest
brazil
ambassadors
drolleries
dams
asymmetrically
chemical
cyclizes
eighteen
demureness
disarm
burnouses
drugs
annex
battlefront
demonstrable
clamouring
commercials
capitulation
abominators
amphibian
arithmetic
acclimatized
divulgence
cookery
bodysurfs
duodenal
conformist
fingertips
copyrights
entrants
caverns
cooled
culmination
dropworts
cumulous
crotchetiness
apportioned
apposes
collectivize
bries
couturier
elitism
analyzed
eke
exhaustless
