Before joining together, each of them had made a name for themselves performing and recording as solo artists and with other groups. While Sebastian made young girls (and boys) weep with his mix of heartbreakingly beautiful and totally head-banger violin work in bands in Europe and the U.S., John was ripping up stages up and down the west coast with his totally cosmic cello playing – let's just say he was doing experimental soundings and the whole looping thing long before Zoe Keating or Loop Station. In the meantime, Peter was entertaining crowds at art festivals both state-side and around the world with his stellar bass playing and penchant for weird noise, outrageous costumes and whimsical theatrics. Susan was all over the place: getting international airplay as the singer for a gothic-electronic band and as a featured vocalist on two world music albums--and perfecting her innovative vocal stylings through collaborations with classical, electronic and experimental artists around the world.
EQlateral's first performance as a group was at an impromptu stage set up in the middle of the playa at the 2006 Burningman Festival. Our intrepid heroes and heroine improvised for six hours straight under a gorgeous blanket of stars and planets until the sun came up, enchanting festivals goers from all over the world with a mesmerizing mix of electronic rhythms and soundings both astral and classical. The energy of that night was enough to convince them all that something kinda special was happening and in the next year they played numerous shows throughout the western U.S. and in British Columbia, Canada--including performing intensely imaginative live soundtracks to silent films like Hitchcock’s The Lodger and the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.
EQlateral is a fascinating juxtaposition of world-class classical musicianship, electronica and avante garde artistry. Expects soaring soundscapes, irresistable dance grooves, eerie ambience, comedic mash-ups and much more. The ensemble regularly collaborates with other musical, performance and multimedia artists and are looking forward to sharing their unique sound with audiences in Europe in 2008.
Susan DuMett
Plays: Her voice like the boyz play their instruments, uses looping pedals and effects
Sounds like: Angels and devils and everything in between
Alias: vox vespertinus
Likes: Big black boots, things both spooky and esoteric, panda bears
Little known fact: Has a trick leg
Sebastian Lange
Plays: Violin, electronic effects, laptop
Sounds like: Romanian gypsies meet Jimi Hendrix meet Itzhak Perlman
Alias: Gold fingers
Likes: Being the music god for a certain high-tech entertainment giant, jet-setting, Nutella (the German kind – yes there is a difference)
Little known fact: Is a championship Egyptian Ratfuck player
Plays: Cello, looping pedals, electronic effects
Sounds like: 10 instruments in one, plus some weird space noise thrown in for good measure.
Alias: Cello boy
Likes: Turning regular kids into virtuosos, building ambitious sculptures in the middle of the freaking desert, setting things on fire
Little known fact: Can bust out a mean tune on the toy piano
Peter Toms
Plays: Upright bass, electric drums, various and sundry electronic and acoustic gadgets
Sounds like: Smooth jazz meets Halloween circus music
Alias: Master of Ceremonies
Likes: Using large knives to cut ice, organizing enormous freak parades, wearing make-up
Little known fact: Internationally renowned stilt-walker