Artist description I.E.M. is an acronym for Innovative Electronic Music. Sadly, many people automatically associate all forms of electronic music with the trendy club music they hear on top-40 radio stations and the typically bland music spun by mediocre DJ’s at raves held in clubs where there is a fashion code and perhaps a line to gain admittance. This association is understandable; they do not appreciate music as an art. They appreciate music as a form of entertainment, a simple amusement. They use music as a tool in the pursuit of sex. Music and sex have been linked well before the first time Elvis Presley gyrated his hips much to the delight of little girls everywhere. I don’t care if people want to think of pop music in this way. I do find it frustrating, however, that outside of the academic world, little of the music composed for electronic instruments is thought of as art. Perhaps this is the result of the growing popularity of mindless dance music. On the other hand, perhaps I should blame those who exploit the trends of popular culture. There are countless people with limited talent lining up in music stores everywhere to purchase 303 and 909 emulators, loop-based sequencers, and other technologies that will allow them to churn out pointless songs faster and easier than ever before. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a technophobe. Listen to one of my pieces if you don’t believe me! I am simply opposed to people who employ products designed to remove the artistic process from creating a piece of music. Then they call themselves artists or musicians. I arrived at the concept of I.E.M. in 1998. Since then, I have noticed new genres of electronic music popping up here and there, one of which struck me immediately. The genre known as Intelligent Dance Music (I.D.M.) adequately describes the music of a few talented artists. But I have heard too many I.D.M. tracks bore me with their repetition and mechanical coldness to be willing to associate my music with this sub-category. My goal is to create I.E.M. I.E.M. is not necessarily danceable although you may wish to express your reactions through dance. You might not understand an I.E.M. composition after the first exposure. It’s natural to dislike what we cannot understand but like a good book, I.E.M. requires more from its audience. I.E.M. does not use shortcuts that leave a composition soulless. I.E.M. is a product of the artist, not a product of technology. I.E.M. is skillfully composed, original music that strives to invoke an emotional reaction from its listeners. I.E.M. is art.

Music Style Innovative Electronic Music (IEM)

Musical Influences Brian Transeau, Adrian Thaws, Kurt Cobain and Richard D James

Similar Artists Aphex Twin, Tricky, Boards of Canada

Artist History Three years in the making, the full-length, debut release from Robert Shuman-Powell is in the process of being manufactured with a tentative release date of January, 2003. The album is entitled, “The Bridge.”

Group Members Robert Shuman-Powell

Instruments grand piano, synthesizers, sampler, rhodes piano

Albums The Bridge

Press Reviews On I.E.M. “I defiantly dig your concept of I.E.M. I wish more people would think of electronica as dinner table music and not just club music.” -DrewBud aka E.Motion (Boston, MA) On the music “This track blew away almost everything else I’ve heard.” -Videojamm (Auburn, ME) “If I heard stuff like this on the radio, I would regain faith in American culture. This is original, poetic and beautiful.” -ThesisMachine (Pittsburgh, PA) “Unusual music that catches you by surprise.” -Darienrocks (New York, NY) “You can’t predict what it might sound like... It sounds like someone just banged on a keyboard for 2 minutes.“ -Maier113 (Eau Claire, WI) “What am I supposed to do with this?” -Namdam (Knox, IN) “Truly intelligent. ... left the most lasting impression.” -Bonfils (Copenhagen, Denmark) “As a producer I love the drum track, how it’s all chopped up and intricate, but as a DJ and dancer I can’t catch the groove.” -DrewBud aka E.Motion (Boston, MA)

Additional Info visit Web site or e-mail rjpowell@hotmail.com

Location Asbury Park, NJ - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).