Indicia

If you haven't caught this rising duo yet at one of the United Divas events or their other Los Angeles shows, you are definitely missing out on some of the top new musical talent on the west coast. Until then, check out their interview with Jan Tompkins and United Divas.

September 2004

Jan: How and where did Indicia start?

Dave: In corporate hell. We worked together as graphic designers in
2001 for a large corporation in Los Angeles. We struck up a
conversation one day about our musical interests and decided to
collaborate. Our backgrounds were very different but also had similar
tastes so we thought it would be an interesting blend of styles.

Jan: Indicia fuses several styles of music into a seamless mesh in your
first album. As you work on your 2nd album together, how do you see
your goals and experiences since the 1st album affecting your style on
this album? What new sounds and influences can we expect to hear?

Dave: The sound that we came up with on the first record definitely
took some pages from our favorite genres. Trip Hop, Breaks, Ambient and
Folk. Overall it was down-tempo though. This time around we're aiming
on making more of a party record. Faster tempos, groovier, basically
just more fun. It's still going to sound like Indicia, but we're going
to write the soundtrack to your Saturday night out as opposed to the
record you put on with your honey after you get home.

Jan: Besides your album, what are some other goals for Indicia to close
out 2004, and begin 2005?

Betsy: Tour. We have been dying to be on tour for so long now and have
only gotten little tastes of it here and there. We travel well together
and our setup is quite small so it’s such an adventure. Getting on the
road, meeting new people and exposing our music to different audiences
is really what we're focusing on. Getting some airplay in the meantime
wouldn’t be bad either!

Jan: Indicia has been playing shows all over Los Angeles. Do you guys
have plans to tour or perform in other cities in the future?

Betsy: Definitely. We have some opportunities to perform outside LA.
but for the next few months we really want to concentrate on the
creation more than the show. We want to have some fresh material when
we venture. It’s important for us to keep up the constant writing flow
so we don’t feel stagnant when we perform. We have been promoting our
first album and playing so many shows that it’s time to get back to
writing and feel that certain energy that you only get when you are
playing new material for the first time.

Jan: Both of you have other creative projects you work on. What are some
other projects that Dave & Betsy are up to?

Betsy: My days are graphic design and my nights are music, just like
Dave. Right now I am singing back-ups in a band called IMERIAL Z and
starting a drum and bass trio with two of my best friends. We are
basically doing it to have fun and hone our rusty computer skills.
I am also a co-founder in a non-profit organization called “Dancing
Souls”. DS was started after 9/11 to promote a creative outlet for
people during that crazy time and to raise money for the firefighters
fund. It’s a gathering of musicians and artists from the LA area. Right
now, we are in the premature stages of organizing our 4th event to
benefit Breast Cancer. Other than that, I am always writing poetry and
painting when I have time. My website “innermuse” will be up soon where
I will be posting all of my music/lyrics/poetry/painting and graphics.

Dave: My breaks project, Digital Rust, is always ongoing. I've been
working on remixes for KWS records in Seattle, my live show and a slow
progressing first album. I'm also planning to open a bar in Los Angeles
in the spring. It will feature an eclectic mix of djs and bands from
around the area. Providing a regular outlet for Indicia and like minded
musicians is something I've always wanted to do.

Jan: If Indicia could say anything, say it now.

Betsy: To us innovation is ideal. If we can make music that combines
the evolution of organic melody and influx of modern technology to
create a feeling of collective conciousness this would be our goal.
It’s a crazy time in history to be living, but music is always an
outlet where people can communicate, escape, reveal, and most
importantly relate. The most rewarding feeling we have is when people
feel our music. It’s great to be able to provide a safe environment
where people are free to emote. We kind of run the gamut of emotions
throughout our set and CD and it’s good to see the audience relating to
the anger, joy, pain, triumph’s and whatever else our music stems from.
So if you want some scream and dance therapy, you know where to find
us.

Dave: Thanks to Jan and United Divas for the interview.

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For more information on Indicia:
http://www.indiciamusic.com
http://www.digitalrust.com