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Launchpad [Issue
#22]
Million Billion:
By
Mandana Beigi
Ready.Fire.Aim.
(CD
)
From packed residencies
at Hotel Café and Tangier to frequent shows on the Sunset Strip, this LA trio
has made a name for itself at the local hot spots. Gavin Bellour (lead vocals),
Brian Ulrich (drums), and Yonatan Elkayam (keyboard/upright bass/harmonica) first
played on stage together in 2005, and within a year, not only were they were able
to build a strong local fan base, but they also set a release date for their debut
album, Ready, Fire. Aim. (Mercy).
A USC alumn, Yonatan
majored in Political Science and Business while also practicing his love for Jazz
at the USC School of Music. After graduation, he pursued a degree in music production
and recording, which allowed him to collaborate with various artists and different
musical styles. Yonatan later met Gavin, who had formed his own Latin acid-jazz
band while attending UCLA. Through some local gigs and a community of musicians/friends
they met Brian (a DJ turned engineering student/drummer at MI), and soon the trio
began rehearsing as a band. Having come from different musical backgrounds and
styles, they were able to fuse all the energy in the right direction and create
a signature sound in the indie-pop scene: a combination of simple pop/rock, jazz,
folk, soul, and Latin. Whether blending pop with Motown-influenced horns (“All
the Time,” “Milk & Honey”) or bringing out the semi-punk beats through jazzy rockabilly
(“Apocalypse Now”), Million/Billion has come up with a different formula for every
song on their debut album. Ready. Fire. Aim. is co-produced by the band and Karl
Derfler (No Doubt, Dave Mathews Band, Big Head Todd), who has added a progressive
approach to the overall sound of an album with strong classical backdrops. As
for the name, the trio held a fan contest and eventually settled on Million/Billion,
as it reflects an innocent sense of limitless possibilities. And so far, they
have done a great job in exploring and experimenting with the possibilities!
Ready.Fire.Aim.
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