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andy-toy

NEWS // Moxi – THROUGH THE DARK – Producer Notes

March 2, 2015 by jhartry

Moxi‘s second EP, “Through The Dark”, “offers an intoxicating mix of wobbling synths and danceable beats.” -Kevin Bronson at Buzzbands LA.

We asked Through The Dark’s two producers, Andy Toy and Bobby Hartry to tell us about their experience co-producing this project.

IMG_4937

These guys love dressing up to work in the studio…

Andy: To me, co-producing is all about trust, and there’s probably nobody I trust more than Bobby Hartry to make my song better than I could on my own.  This comes from years of working together but also from a personal relationship I have with Bobby that makes it OK for one of us to say, “hey, that could be better” or “that sound’s not really working for me”.  One of my favorite moments of making “Through The Dark” was at Bobby’s studio when we decided to re-amp a few of my keyboard tracks through Bobby’s pedalboard into his vintage AC30.  The floor was covered in a mess of pedals, patch cables and batteries, but the sounds we got are some of my favorites on the record.

Bobby: Echoing what Andy said, co-producing is definitely about trust.  Building that trust and personal relationship creates an environment that can really foster risk taking, stepping out and trying stuff that maybe you haven’t done before.  For me, that’s what keeps things interesting, and that’s where your best work usually happens.
Another result of that personal relationship is a camaraderie that develops.  I definitely have this with Andy.  Not only is the record making process more fun because of our friendship and mutual trust, but there’s also an intangible quality that I think people can hear or feel in the music as a result.  I think it’s a freshness, or energy that’s evident in the crafting of the tracks as a result of working together.  Andy’s story of reamping the keyboards is and example of that I think.   Another moment like that for me was on the vocal session for “Save Me.”  We had this idea of layering several of Anna’s vocals in the second verse to create some tension and energy.  Some of the the layers were sung, some yelled, she’s starts on one note and bends up to another.  We tried different mic placements to create a variety of roomy textures.  I think at one point she stood in the door way of the studio bathroom with the mic several feet away.   The end result is a brief moment in the song, but it’s exactly what we needed for the second verse.
I love tracking guitars with Andy.  He’s up for trying anything.   I may have a passing thought of a sound or part that is unorthodox, and without any hesitation Andy is on board helping me make it happen.  And because I can trust his ear I’m freed up to really get lost in the guitar in those moments.  This is a huge thing for me.

Andy: One of my favorite songs on this EP is “Save Me” because the vocals and music work so well together to create this dark, mysterious tension of raw emotion.  The song opens with Bobby’s guitar hook that we doubled with my bit crushed wurlitzer and it sets the tone for the rest of the song: dark, aggressive and unique.  It’s fun to hear this song as a recording because we wrote it right after we released our first EP, In My Dreams.  After playing it live for a couple years, we had parts written and arrangement nailed down and we got to focus on the little things and be creative with things like guitar tone and vocal yells, like Bobby mentioned.  I think my favorite sound on the EP is that opening guitar hook; we tracked that guitar using close mics and left a room mic in omni in the corner of the studio.  The weird slapback effect you hear at the end of the phrase is the room mic being turned up just on the ends of the phrase, a Bobby Hartry signature move that totally ended up making the intro memorable.
We think the results are pretty awesome!  Download Moxi’s latest EP, “Through The Dark”, here. 

PHOTOS // Ryan Webster’s Album Release Party

October 22, 2013 by jhartry

SHOWS // MOXI – Final Show Of The Year

October 16, 2013 by jhartry

For CatBeach Music, this year began with much excitement and anticipation for the release of Moxi’s first EP – In My Dreams. The details of the project had been created over dinners and wine, songwriting sessions, and experiments in the studio. And it was finally time to bring this baby out into the world. The EP was introduced at a listening party up in the hills overlooking the city, followed by a packed out show at Hotel Cafe. Moxi and their first project was met with critical acclaim:

“Artist to watch! Meet Anna Nelson AKA Moxi, a Los Angeles-based singer and performer whose floating soundscape of vintage keyboards, big backbeats, and signature Omnichord strums are quickly brewing a buzz.”
-Rob Brayl – Bigger Than Beyonce

“Moxi was mixing raw vocal talent with an ambient upbeat sound that just made sense….this lady is going places.”
-Megan Harvey – Music In Press

“While today’s pop music seems convoluted, Moxi certainly has that moxie to stand on their own.”
-Ace Ubas – The Owl Mag

“In Moxi’s case there’s no big label endorsed policy of smoke and mirrors, just a great talent and proof that pop music can be intelligent as well as commercially appealing.”
-Andy Von Pip – Von Pip Musical Express

“Well written/performed pop music with an artistic presence & ever so gentle touches of electronic mixed in for flavor”
-Bob Suehs – Rock n Roll Experience

“In My Dreams is good stuff that caught me off guard because I was thinking she was just another girl with a guitar. Instead she’s dramatic and dreamy and her songs are easy to get lost in. It’s an impressive effort all around and the fifth song, “Mystery,” is worth the price of the single alone.”
-PaulPop – The Pop Stereo

It has truly been an exceptional year for Moxi, filled with new fans, new videos, new songs, and shows across Southern California. And Moxi is closing out their year with a final show at House Of Blues – Sunset, in their Foundation Room. The show is a party celebrating the release of their label mate – Ryan Webster’s debut album: The Point Of Pointlessness. The party is open to everyone and is FREE!

House of Blues – Sunset – Foundation Room
Thursday, October 17
Doors: 7pm
Pearls & Swine: 7pm
Jayson Belt & Guests: 8pm
Ryan Webster: 9pm
Moxi: 10pm
More details about the event here.

By the way…if you don’t have Moxi’s first EP…you NEED this! Download it via iTunes here!

SHOWS // Moxi – Hotel Cafe

June 5, 2013 by jhartry

hotel cafe june 28th jpegAre you missing Moxi as much as we are!??
Yah, we thought so!
Don’t fret…Moxi is playing Hotel Cafe for all you Angelenos!

BONUS: Stick around for Casey Black right after Moxi’s set!
Friday, June 28, 10pm
21+
moxilovesyou.com

 

 

MUSIC/ Moxi’s Debut EP: In My Dreams

February 12, 2013 by jhartry

Congratulations to Moxi on the release of their debut EP, ‘In My Dreams’!

Buy the digital EP here or at all major outlets:
iTunes
Amazon

Moxi has already garnered loads of attention with a number of dreamy reviews!
Blog Talk Radio
Philthy Mag
Golden Mix Tape
The Von Pip Musical Experience
The Da Da Da
Alftitude
Blah Blah Blah Science

Come celebrate at The Constellation Room tonight…Moxi will be performing at 9pm!!

NEWS/ Moxi – Already Gaining Attention!

January 21, 2013 by jhartry

We haven’t even released Moxi’s new EP – ‘In My Dreams’ yet, but it is already garnering acclaim! Check out this glowy pre-release review from Andy Von Pip: http://www.thevpme.com/2013/01/18/songs-to-learn-and-sing-dark-horses-moxi-dutch-uncles/

Thanks to the fine folks at Planetary Group for getting the word out…we love you guys!!

www.moxilovesyou.com
www.facebook.com/moxilovesyou

 

 

 

 

MUSIC/ The Anna Nelson Project

November 21, 2012 by jhartry

This week we’re listening down to final mixes for a new project with Miss Anna Nelson. This is the point at which, with every album I’ve been a part of, all of the pieces begin to connect into a bigger unified tapestry. I can hear the songs, woven together, in the perfect sequence. I can see the visuals operating as a creative delivery system, sparking people’s interest and curiosity.  And I start to count the days until we can share this new creation. Its no different this time. The anticipation is near killing me. But alas, I will have to master the art of patience as this project will run through the PR machine before being released in February.

So, as part of my exercise in patience, I sit in gratitude, thinking about the amazing people who have given their skills, talents and creativity for this project. Anna and Andy Toy truly crafted the overall sound for this new endeavor. They enlisted Bobby to co-write and help produce the intimate details of each song. The lot of musicians included Aaron Sterling, Jason McGerr, Jonathan Ahrens, Jared Rich, and Aaron Anderson. Bryan Cook is bringing his mix engineering brilliance.  And Trever Hoehne and Jessie Simonson have been integral in art direction and styling. These are all extraordinarily talented friends…and of course, this list of names is not exhaustive. There are many more to thank…all of which will come in the proper time.

But for now, to assuage my desire to share the details of this project, here is Anna performing a cover of Oh Land’s ‘Rainbow’.   More to come…!  -jen

Anna Nelson – In My Dreams

October 11, 2012 by jhartry

SoCal darling, Anna Nelson, is set to open up for Meiko this Saturday, October 13, at The Roxy Theatre. Anna, a singer/songwriter with folk vocal stylings and a dreamy pop flair has been introducing her new songs to a broadening and enthusiastic audience throughout 2012, while performing at House of Blues, Hotel Cafe, Detroit, The Copper Door and The Constellation Room.

Don’t miss this show…pick up your tickets here:
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=4888755&pl=roxy

oh…and how awesome is this video of Anna performing her song ‘In My Dreams’!!!

Daena Jay & Anna Nelson

July 28, 2012 by jhartry

Daena Jay and Anna Nelson, accompanied by Andy Toy and Bobby Hartry, all killed it last night! Really, they ruled! Thanks for having us Room 5 Lounge!

And the after party at the House Of Blues Foundation Room wasn’t bad either!

Send us some pics if you were there!

 

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