Artist description Lumin, formed in 1998 by Stellamara founder and producer Jeffery Stott and producer/composer Michael Emenau, further expands and defines the elements of world electronic music. Featuring the gorgious vocal of Irena Mikhailova, Lumin, brilliantly fuses the realms of the modern and the ancient. A stunning, beautiful combination of Bugarian choirs, Sufi trance, drum and bass, down tempo grooves that will satsify the urban club set as well as the world music afficianado.ä

Music Style Mid East Drum&Bass, Ambient, Morrocan Trance

Similar Artists Massive Attack, Natasha Atlas, Muslim Guaze, Stellamara

Artist History Formed in 1998, LUMIN sought out new uncharted territory with it's combination of modern programming and loops with the resonance of the traditional Mideast musical forms. Upon the release of their debut album DATURA Lumin appeared at several underground events and above ground festivals, (Burning Man, Dragonfly etc...) working with dance companies, fire dancers and djs. After completing their follow up album. LUMIN will be seen and heard at several large scale events and festivals throughout the San Francisco and Pacific Northwest areas. t

Group Members Jeffery Stott: mid-east strings & percussion, samplesMicheal Emenau: prgramming, samples, percussionIrina Mikhailova: vocal Jeffery Stott has been deftly merging the worlds of modern ambient music production and Middle Eastern traditional musics for over a decade. He has extensively studied rural and classical forms with a vast array of master musicians from Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Iran and Turkey who reside in the vibrant Bay Area world music community. His insatiable curiosity has led him to becom e accomplished on several traditionalMiddle Eastern instruments including oud, baglama, yali tambur, and santoor, as well as the full range of percussion instruments of the Middle East. In the digital realm, he has composed for several films, large scale dance and theatrical productions. As a founder of the successful group Stellamara, he sought to create a new form of ambient devotional music employing the sacred and sublime aspects of ancient forms from the Middle East and medieval Europe and sta te of the art technology. His latest effort with Lumin seeks to continue in this rich vein of beauty and depth Michael Emenau has worked professionally as a classical and jazzmusician for more than 10 years in Canada, Japan and the U.S.He lived in Japan for 5 years where he worked as a studiomusician, playing and recording extensively in the acid-jazz field as well as other 'dance' and electronic oriented music. Michaels traveld in Asia (includingext ended time in India, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Korea) hasgreatly influenced his conceptualization of what music is; it's colors and use of ime and space. Upon arriving in the Bay Area, he became emersed in what he feels are the two strongestcharact ers the area has to offer; a diverse multi-ethnic population, and a vibrant high-tech industry. Thesediverging factors has led to a unique way of producing music, heavily reliant on technology, but subtle,colorful, and above all else beautiful. Irina Mikh ailova, born in Kazakhstan, a Central Asian republic in the former Soviet Union. was trained at the St. Petersburg Academy of Music. While growing up and studying in Central Asia she absorbed many musical traditions including Balkan, Middle Eastern, Russi an and Asian. Her beautiful vocal presence has graced an eclectic range of music including classical and traditional songs as well as electronica and crossover genres. She brought her talents to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she joined the renound Balkan women's choir Kitka. She has gone on to perform with Linda Tillery, members of Oregon, George Brooks, and Sovoso. She has toured internationally and been featured at several prestigious festivals and international events around the world. Her latest solo release 'Russian Twilight' is available on Well Tempered World records.l

Instruments Eastern European Vocal, Mideast Strings&Percussion, Loops and Textures

Albums Datura (LUMIN) Star of the Sea (STELLAMARA)

Press Reviews In todays barrage of electronic music releases, sometimes an album comes along that breaks through all the static and feedback, and shines with brilliant creativity and originality. Such is the case with Datura by Lumin, a collective featuring Michael Emenau and Jeffery Stott. Lumin concoct a heady potion of ambient and trance inducing states through Middle Eastern and Northern African percussion, drum & bass motifs and haunting electronics.On "Wild Orchid" and "Syrian Rue", Sonja Drakulich's vocals cast a mysterious spell over a collage of ethnic instrumentation. "Sacre Datura (nightshade mix)" is an even deeper journey into the musicalsub-concious, while "Ixia' 'Dyanthia" and "Allium" are just as breathtaking, and will transport the you to musical realm s of magic and wonder. Lumin is expanding the boundaries of global electronic music to extraordinary reaches.Required listening.URBThis is one of the most unique sounding albums of all time. Lumin create a new electronica that is both genre defiant and pr ofound. At times the ambient textures could be described as Eno-esque while the organic sounding world percussion is entrancing and authentic... Indescribable beauty and tension rise and fall in a passionate interplay- aural sex if you will...This album i s a rarity in the music world and very worthy of your consideration.LOTUSThe beats are vaguely jungle, but the synth tracks are ambient. The vocal solo in "Syrian Rue" use athentic microtonal inflections from the Middle East, and the non-equal tempered sc ale in "Ixia" cast an exotic spell. Live vibes playing, too. Michael Emenau and Jeffery Stott are the masterminds. Call it mood music for the new millennium.KEYBOARDMichael Emenau and Jeffery Stott create a lively organic blend of rhythm and tone with ethnic percussion, dulcimer, oud and vibraphone. From the beginning- a deep trance like percussion number that recalls Phillip Glass- the listener floats in a musical jungle rife with heady fragrances and exquisite shapes evoking the Middle East and Africa. With skillful composition, Lumin illuminates a dark space where imagination is free to fly.NAPRA ReVeiwLumin...their indigenous percussion, serene drum & bass, soft tribal trance, lulling dub, and nocturnal tranquilty paint bliss on selections like "Ixia", "Wild Orchid" and "Allium"...combining gaia and the galaxy into a realm of relaxation.METROPLEXFans and followers of the recent Aphex Twin and the Asian Underground (Talvin Singh, The Outcast Collective) will appreciate the diversity of Datura and bask in its lush melodic vibe. It's sexy, seductive and spiritual tones are sure to please. The harmonies are subdued yet steady with the influence of drum 'n' bass. Lumin landscapes our listening like a skilled sonic gardener; whether in the chill out room or a living room, you'll want to close your eyes and let the vivid hues emerge.CAMPUS

Location Oakland, CA - USA

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