One AM Radio to offer electronic, indie sound
By Daily Bruin Staff
Nov. 13, 2002 9:00 p.m.
Los Angeles can be a tough diamond to cut.
“The music scene has seemed kind of opaque so far,”
said Hrishikesh Hirway of Connecticut band The One AM Radio.
This sentiment is doubtless a common one made by bands that have
recently made the move to Los Angeles and tried to grasp the
city’s musical identity. Even though they’re new to the
scene, the two members of The One AM Radio hope to make an impact
on the local indie music community.
The duo, playing today at the Cooperage, cites influences as
diverse as acoustic singer/songwriter Nick Drake, modern indie
giants Yo La Tengo and The Flaming Lips, and abstruse electronic
artists Fennesz and Boards of Canada.
Their own songs, described by guitarist/singer/sampler/producer
Hirway as “quiet indie rock,” recall the sound of other
electronic-influenced artists such as Dntel and The Notwist. This
melange of noises can be found on their Web site,
www.theoneamradio.com, where their recorded output is available for
visitors to hear.
Hirway founded the group as a solo project in Connecticut in
1999. The other member, violinist Jane Yakowitz, first helped with
the recordings of a few songs for an early release and then joined
as a full member in 2001.
This summer they made the move to California so that Yakowitz
could start law school at UCLA. Hirway, a film and art student in
college, is not merely along for the ride as he hopes to get into
the film industry as a score composer.
Despite their other pursuits, the band remains a high priority
for both ““ this summer saw the release of their first
full-length album, “The Hum of the Electric Air,” on
Hirway’s own Translucence label, which also features local
bands The Wind-Up Bird and The Scientifics.
Hirway and Yakowitz are no strangers to the West Coast or Los
Angeles in particular, having toured extensively across the
country. Still, today marks their first performance here as
full-time residents. Without the recognition they enjoyed at home,
the transition has been at times slow for the band, which laudably
shuns bar gigs to instead play all-ages shows.
The group remains busy with several shows scheduled for the near
future. Further down the road, Hirway plans to tour alone in
support of the album while Yakowitz remains in school. The two are
also continually writing new music, and what can’t be found
on one of their records can often be heard live.
Hirway feels the local music crowd will come around to the sound
of The One AM Radio.
“We don’t like to talk a lot,” he said.
“We’d rather just play our music, and if it
doesn’t work, too bad.”
Hopefully once they have a few local shows under their belts,
the band will do their part to help cut through Los Angeles’
opaque music scene.
The One AM Radio performs at the Cooperage today at 7 p.m. with
the Aberdeen and Trembling Blue Stars. Admission is free.
