Rio en Medio
Encyclopedia
Rio en Medio is the pseudonym
of singer and baritone ukulelist Danielle Stech-Homsy.
, Danielle later made Brooklyn
her home and there began to record and perform her own compositions. Working independently and in secret, she first created "The Bride of Dynamite", a collection of collage-like songs incorporating found sounds and electronic
programming, lifting texts from disparate sources, and evoking traditional
/folk
song structure, themes and melodies. As chance would have it, a friend passed on the unique, hand-made record to Devendra Banhart
who soon requested to release it on his label (Gnomonsong
). Since her debut release in early 2007, Danielle has performed on stages across the US and abroad in Europe and the UK. She has worked with many well-regarded artists; to name a few – Grizzly Bear
, CocoRosie
, Brightblack Morning Light
, Vetiver
, Patrick Wolf
, Vashti Bunyan
, Tim Fite
and Devendra Banhart. In 2007 she did a Take-Away Show acoustic video session shot by Vincent Moon
.
Danielle cites traditional musical styles including tropicalia, Russian, Spanish, American
and English folk music, and musicians as diverse as Bob Dylan
and Beth Gibbons
as influences.
On stage, Rio en Medio has been represented by a range of musical and visual guests and collaborators, between them are Justin Riddle (drums
), Christian Lee (guitar
), Nicholas Toll (keyboards
and percussion
), Justin Hartery (video), Cohdi Harrell (aerialist) and most recently the sound and visual artist Vlad Kromatika.
, and she is confirmed to be appearing on the label's tribute record to The Cure
. A deluxe enhanced CD of "Frontier" will be released on Manimal Vinyl in early 2009.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of singer and baritone ukulelist Danielle Stech-Homsy.
Background
Born in the high desert of New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, Danielle later made Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
her home and there began to record and perform her own compositions. Working independently and in secret, she first created "The Bride of Dynamite", a collection of collage-like songs incorporating found sounds and electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
programming, lifting texts from disparate sources, and evoking traditional
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
/folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
song structure, themes and melodies. As chance would have it, a friend passed on the unique, hand-made record to Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Obi Banhart is a singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Houston, Texas and was raised by his mother in Venezuela, until he moved to California as a teenager. He began to study at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1998, but dropped out to perform music in Europe, San...
who soon requested to release it on his label (Gnomonsong
Gnomonsong
Gnomonsong is a record label formed by Devendra Banhart and Andy Cabic in partnership with Revolver USA. Banhart and Cabic do not deal with the business aspect of the label as much as work with the artists....
). Since her debut release in early 2007, Danielle has performed on stages across the US and abroad in Europe and the UK. She has worked with many well-regarded artists; to name a few – Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear , also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America...
, CocoRosie
CocoRosie
CocoRosie is a musical group formed in 2003 by sisters Bianca "Coco" and Sierra "Rosie" Casady. The sisters were born and raised in the United States, but formed the band in Paris after meeting for the first time in years...
, Brightblack Morning Light
Brightblack Morning Light
Brightblack Morning Light was a band which formed in Northern California by Nathan Shineywater and Rachael Hughes, both of whom originally hail from Alabama, Shineywater from Birmingham and Hughes from just outside of Montgomery. Shineywater plays electric slide guitar, and Hughes favors vintage...
, Vetiver
Vetiver (band)
Vetiver are an American folk band headed by songwriter Andy Cabic.- History :Cabic was a member of the Greensboro, North Carolina indie rock band The Raymond Brake who released some records on the now defunct Simple Machines label. He formed Vetiver after moving to San Francisco. The band...
, Patrick Wolf
Patrick Wolf
Patrick Wolf is an English-Irish singer-songwriter from South London. Patrick utilises a wide variety of instruments in his music, most commonly the ukulele, piano and viola...
, Vashti Bunyan
Vashti Bunyan
Vashti Bunyan is an English singer-songwriter. In 1970, Bunyan released her first album, Just Another Diamond Day. The album sold very few copies, and Bunyan, discouraged, abandoned her musical career...
, Tim Fite
Tim Fite
Tim Fite is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, living and working in Brooklyn. His past releases have run the gamut from indie to alternative to country to hip hop.-History:...
and Devendra Banhart. In 2007 she did a Take-Away Show acoustic video session shot by Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon is an independent filmmaker from Paris mainly known for his field work music videos of indie rock related musicians as well as some notable mainstream artists like Tom Jones, R.E.M. or Arcade Fire. Besides making music videos he also makes experimental films and documentaries...
.
Musical style
Rio en Medio's music is described as delicate and fragmented songs featuring a sparse and haunting trio of baritone ukulele, subtly harmonized vocals and electronic or sampled soundscapes, evoking the spun poetry of ancient folk lullabies, but not without a hint at the darker side of today's cultural climate.Danielle cites traditional musical styles including tropicalia, Russian, Spanish, American
American folk music
American folk music is a musical term that encompasses numerous genres, many of which are known as traditional music or roots music. Roots music is a broad category of music including bluegrass, country music, gospel, old time music, jug bands, Appalachian folk, blues, Cajun and Native American...
and English folk music, and musicians as diverse as Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and Beth Gibbons
Beth Gibbons
Beth Gibbons is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist for the iconic British band Portishead.-Early life:...
as influences.
On stage, Rio en Medio has been represented by a range of musical and visual guests and collaborators, between them are Justin Riddle (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
), Christian Lee (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Nicholas Toll (keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
), Justin Hartery (video), Cohdi Harrell (aerialist) and most recently the sound and visual artist Vlad Kromatika.
Future plans
Danielle's new album, Frontier, (Manimal Vinyl) was written and recorded at home in the wintery isolation of Northern New Mexico, where Danielle now resides. Written first as a series of interrelated poems, then later set to music, the album unfolds as a sort of constellation of tales, inviting a narrative reading but perhaps without all the lines drawn in. What results is a wildly imaginative journey into the cosmos, where concepts are reduced to light and matter and mystery. Lifting the mythology of space exploration and the conquering of the wild, western forests, and aided by Danielle's intricate collage style and a remarkable host of synthesizers, the featured instrument is still Danielle's crystalline voice and the careful way she uses it to serve the magic of the song. "Frontier" was released on vinyl LP and iTunes on October 14, 2008 on Manimal VinylManimal Vinyl
Manimal Vinyl is a Los Angeles based record label founded in 2006 by fashion stylist, Paul Beahan. They are known for releasing underground and experimental pop music. They were originally known as a folk label that makes annual tribute records for worldwide charities, having eventually switched to...
, and she is confirmed to be appearing on the label's tribute record to The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
. A deluxe enhanced CD of "Frontier" will be released on Manimal Vinyl in early 2009.
Albums
- April 2007: "The Bride of Dynamite" (Gnomonsong)
- October 2008: "Frontier" LP (Manimal Vinyl)
- February 2009: "Frontier" Deluxe Edition CD (Manimal Vinyl)
External links
- Rio en Medio at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Rio en Medio at Last.fmLast.fmLast.fm is a music website, founded in the United Kingdom in 2002. It has claimed 30 million active users in March 2009. On 30 May 2007, CBS Interactive acquired Last.fm for UK£140m ....
- Gnomonsong Artists: Rio en Medio
- Manimal Vinyl Site