Artist description Dark, but upbeat, Goth-inflected, electric/acoustic music. Some have called it "Fun Goth," often associating it with the soundtrack to "A Nightmare Before Christmas."

Music Style Gothic, Darkwave, Sound Track, Symphonic Electronica, Expermiental/Post Rock

Musical Influences Tones on Tail, Love & Rockets, Legendary Pink Dots, Current 93, Coil, Dead Can Dance

Similar Artists Legendary Pink Dots, Bauhaus, Lycia, Skinner Box, Black Tape for a Blue Girl, Coil

Artist History Ravensong was born in the early 90's as a project in Justin's recording classes at his local college, and it grew from there. Ravensong only performed live once, on the air at KUCI 88.9 fm, for the popular Goth show, "Closed Caskets for the Living Impaired." After releasing his first full length cassette, "Excorcism," as Ravensong, he began working on a new collaboration with Anji Bee, Delphinium (previously called Datura.) A second cassette of Ravensong material was prepared, but never released.

Group Members Justin Johnsen

Instruments Guitar, bass, keyboard, sampler

Press Reviews “It’s: SPOOKY GOTH! This is great Goth music without being all annoying and pretentious: Fun Goth. ‘The Jackal’ is my favorite; it sounds like something you’d hear on "The Nightmare Before Christmas" soundtrack. Really cool, spooky xylophone/tubular bell-type sounds throughout each track. It reminds me of the old Halloween tapes I used to get when I was little, with scary stories and haunted house noises.” - Veronica Kirchoff (Levity #5, Summer 1995) • “A Californian solo band tied to spiritualism, astrology and nature. The name Ravensong was inspired by the totem animal, Raven, to which Justin Johnsen, founder of this alternative project, feels a peculiar attachment. The sound of this work is sinister, with a crude and sad voice in evidence. Keyboards and programming reign in all the songs; tracks inspired to feeling of frustration and solitude, but at the same time sustained by a sort of metaphysical faith in nature movements. More than a simple demo tape featuring gothic songs, it’s the door to new material and musical perspectives.” - Stefano Sciacca (Under the Black Rose #6) • “An interesting, unusual demo that reminded me at times of the band Current 93. Justin Johnsen has the same sort of sing-song, dark, slightly Satanic sounding delivery. Ravensong started in January 1989 as a ‘studio band’ but didn’t get their current name until 1992. Taking his greatest influence from Bauhaus’ Danny Ash, Justin has produced a tape of cerebral, poetic lyrics with a funereal air. Many of the song titles contain animals (‘The Jackal,’ ‘Butterfly Wisdom,’ ‘Capuchin’), whom Justin feels a rapport with. Other influences to be found are Dead Can Dance & Coil.” - Phoenix (Low Life # 8) • “Here’s an interesting idea: Fun Goth. Favorites include ‘The Jackal,’ a metaphor for people who use you up, and the instrumental ‘Long Road to Bellgrave.’ The music skips along, sounding like it belongs in one of those Merry Melodies skeleton dance cartoons. ‘Calling of Bacchus’ has a nice Hawkwind-like drone. ‘Butterfly Wisdom’ is like young Bowie. Ravensong is Goth that doesn’t take itself so damn seriously.” - Allen Sayler (Alarm Clock # 30)

Location Long Beach, ca - USA

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