Artist description "His music is often dark, yet shot through with almost painful brilliance. Haunting and occasionally harrowing, his music speaks to the yearning soul. He is a relentless explorer who exploits. imaginatively - and often fiercely - a wide variety of influences and sources. Beneath the cleverness flows a very real and unabashed spiritual nature. Much of his work possesses an enigmatic quality that defies easy categorization." - Thalassa of Bay Area Tarot Symposium.r

Music Style Avant Guarde, operetic, world, jazz, R&B, Goth, Industrial, Electronic, New Age

Musical Influences Prince, Peter Gabriel, Idiotflesh, Bjork, Dead Can Dance, and Bobby McFerrin

Similar Artists Prince, Dead Can Dance, Peter Gabriel, Bobby McFerrin, Oingo Boingo, and Legendary Pink Dots

Artist History Alex has always been into singing and hitting things.. but was repressed by the parental units. He seriously got into music after Kurt Cobain died. Starting first as a grunge singer and keyboard player, then a guitarist, and then a bassist. He quickly grew out of grunge and has gone into Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, Prince, Bjork, and Steve Vai... and then into all kinds of wierdness. His favorite instruments are voice, percussion, and bass. Alex played in (guitarist vocalist) Cardio-Christi in Spo kane, Washington in 1994; Recorded first solo "Album" called "Soleil Fou" in spring of 1995 with the aid of Dayn Wilberding (also in Spokane); then Alex joined Sandoval (a.k.a. Van Wey/Huntley/Sandoval) as guitarist and lyricist - recorded "Live at Jimmy Z's" (recorded in Everett, Washington); Alex went on to play bass for Segwa (Renton, Washington); Recorded "Soleil Fou II" in his apartment in Lynwood, Washington; Played Bass for Valume; Collaborated with Henry Cheng - recorded "Snakecharmer"; Alex moved to Oakland, California; Played Bass for Sci.Fi and Takewet; Participated in Raven's Electric Theatre as Dancer, Guitarist, Drummer, and composer. Currently recording solo ideas, and working in a couple projects.e

Group Members Alexander Azi Vajravai - played everything except where indicated. Additional help from Henry Cheng, William Sethares, and Brian West..

Instruments Voice, Bass, Synths, keys, percussion, and Guitar.

Albums Shhh...; Azi-Capella; A Waterfall In An Iron Forest; and Primus Digitalis

Press Reviews "...it is clearly top quality stuff. i enjoy the mix of sounds and emotions contained in the music. some tracks place the listener is a peacfeul glade in a tropical forest. others are glaring and industrial and the contrasts are an obvious strength of what is here. the vocal work is striking and often unsettling and this music is going to mix well with the staple trance that forms the backbone of the show. there is a lot here to challenge the intelligent listeners that crmk attracts... ...a quick play through birth of the chaos monkey [original name for the CD "A Waterfall In an Iron Forest"] indicates airplay for every track!..." - John Martin for Cable Radio Martin Keynes in England."Incident At The Mattress Factory is f***ing brilliant! i love it." - Courtnee of Not Applicable - another Mp3.com artist/band

Additional Info Alex is featured in Van Wey/Sandoval's "Live at Jimmy Z's", and Henry Cheng's "Guitarscape". Alex has also been part of the TakeWest performing ensemble.

Location Oakland, CA - USA

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