Ella Riot

Ella Riot is a musical group based in Ann Arbor, Michigan^[1]. Released in January 2009, their debut full-length album, DanceThink LP, fuses electro-pop, funk, rock, and techno into a distinctive sound the band members have dubbed "DanceThink." Named one of the most promising bands in the nation by the American Eagle New Music Union, Ella Riot was invited to perform at the A.E. Music Festival hosted by Anthony Kiedis and rounded out the rest of their summer of 2008 schedule playing at BlissFest, Hoxeyville, Dunegrass, Feel Good Festival, and Jazz Aspen Snowmass^[2]. The buzz generated by their electric stage shows and newly released techno-pop tracks earned the seven-piece ensemble a spot on the roster at 2009's Wakarusa Festival and 10,000 Lakes Festival, where they performed with Dave Matthews Band, Wilco, Galactic, and Widespread Panic, among others.^[3]

Beginnings

Ella Riot, originally called My Dear Disco, evolved from founding member Tyler Duncan's instrumental endeavor, Toolbox, which developed while he was an undergraduate at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.^[4] With guitarist Theo Katzman and bassist Christian Carpenter, fellow undergraduates studying in the music department at U of M, Duncan developed experimental tracks of using Irish bagpipes as the lead instrument and a laptop to mix bass music and techno drum beats. Toolbox grew into a sextet as guitarist Robert "DJ Body-Rock" Lester, drummer Aaron Gold (later replaced by current drummer Mike Shea), and keyboardist Joey Dosik joined the group, but it was the addition of the band's seventh member, vocalist Michelle Chamuel, that shifted the musical direction of the band. Chamuel, who was a classmate of Duncan's, had recorded a track with guitarist Lester independent of the Toolbox project, but her voice left an indelible impression on the members of the band. Upon hearing Chamuel's vocals, Duncan knew the band would need to change its course.^[5] The result was a name change to Ella Riot and the solidification of the band's line-up. This line-up changed in mid 2009 when Dosik left the band for his relocation to California, and soon after again when bassist Christian Carpenter and guitarist Theo Katzman both left to pursue solo careers. ^[6] Duncan switched from bagpipes to the synthesizer, but occasionally picks them up again during live performances. The ensemble's accomplished and eclectic style is a reflection of their diverse and extensive musical training at U of M, where their areas of study ranged from classical drum to jazz to performance and technology.

In November 2009, the song "My Dear Disco" was used in a promotional commercial for Episode 9 of the latest season of Melrose Place. ^[7]

In December 2010, Ella Riot completed work on their second album, recorded in a matter of three days at Mission Sound in New York. The new album was engineered by Oliver Strauss^[8].

DanceThink

Having trouble classifying their genre-defying sound, Ella Riot invented the category "DanceThink Music," which is meant to stimulate the feet and the brain. The band enlisted Grammy-nominated engineer Mark Saunders, who has developed albums with Shiny Toy Guns and The Cure, to help hone their debut album in his REEQ Studios in New York City. There, Ella Riot developed their first full-length album, fittingly entitled DanceThink.

Name Change

The name "My Dear Disco" conflicted with the established Australian band, My Disco. The band members also posted personal reasons, along with a story behind the name on their blog: we were also pretty tired of explaining to everyone “well, it’s not actually Disco music.” Ella Fitzgerald is a big inspiration for Michelle. In Greek, Ella means “bright light” or “torch.” Then riot: a crowd, a revolution, chaos, a party, or something hilarious. Add this all up and you get an elegant, rebellious, brightly shining torch, moving with crowds of people, spinning out of control, ending in hilarious party chaos.^[9]

The Hiatus Announcement

In September of 2011 the band announced the decison to put Ella Riot on an "Indefinite Hiatus"

"Dear friends, fans, and family — we have collectively decided that after halloween, Ella Riot is going to be put on an indefinite hiatus. This decision was reached through careful conversation, and is a byproduct of our ongoing desire to respect and support one another in the group. As we had been preparing to go into another cycle, we discovered the natural creative energy of the group had changed directions. Our passion and appreciation for each other as individuals and musicians is stronger than ever, and for that reason, it’s time for the group to help support some personal and professional changes for its members.

Perhaps through these experiences the “fuel” will return to drive Ella Riot wherever it is destined to go. We say “hiatus” instead of “ending” because we want to allow for that possibility to exist. We’re all best friends and love playing music together, so it’s certainly not an impossibility!

We’re incredibly grateful and honored to have been a part of Ella Riot/My Dear Disco, have grown and learned immeasurably alongside one another, and wouldn’t change a single thing about the past. The support that we have received from our fans, promoters, festival directors, fellow bands, and collaborators over the years has made us feel so loved and appreciated that it is hard to put into words. Suffice to say, you have helped make this experience life changing and deeply gratifying and the interactions we have shared with you personally and collectively will never be forgotten by any of us."^[10]

Discography

My Dear Disco EP (2007)

DanceThink LP (2009)

Over the Noise EP (2010)

The Remixes EP (2010)^[11]

Love Child LP (2011)

References

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ [2]
3. ^ [3]
4. ^ [4]
5. ^ [5]
6. ^ [6]
7. ^ [7]
8. ^ http://www.freep.com/article/20110203/COL19/102030345/1100/Eventful-2010-raises-profile-My-Dear-Disco
9. ^ http://dancethink.com/my-dear-disco-is-ella-riot/
10. ^ http://dancethink.com/the-hiatus-announcement/
11. ^ http://dancethink.com/remix/

External links

• Ella Riot's Official Homepage
• My Dear Disco Makes Right Moves" (10/9/08) Ann Arbor News
• Interview with The Graphic Weekly
• Local Band Spotlight: My Dear Disco"(2/12/09) Detroit Free Press
• "My Dear Disco's Mad Fusion" (1/22/09) The Hub
• "Motor City Rides" (10/29/08) Detroit Metro Times
• "Dance Dance Evolution" (1/15/09) Colorado Springs Independent
• [8] (10/24/11) "The Hiatus Announcement"