Biography and Band History

   

Bill Litshauer: composer, producer

Based in Toronto, Bill has always been in the interactive space, both musically, and throughout his career. Working full time as the Director of Quality Assurance at Ganz (Webkinz) for three years, and now as a Director, Interactive and Digital Media at an environmental non-profit, Bill has always found time to work on his side projects- music and the writing. Bill's projects include a photo gallery, and several blogs, including: RelativelyIntesting.com and HaveYouEverNoticed.com. To learn more, or to connect with Bill, visit his LinkedIn profile.

   

Edie Marshall: vocalist and lyricist on Midnight Eyes

Edie was the former vocalist for the band Beauty's Confusion. Working with Bill for over 7 years, the two have combined to produce Midnight Eyes, a collection of 14 tracks. Having never met Bill (located in Toronto, while she is sharing time in Florida and California), the collaboration is an iterative process, sending files across the continent, reviewing, editing, and reviewing some more. To read more, visit her website at www.thesleepersopera.com.

   

Olivia Zielinski: vocalist and lyricist on The Silk Demise (self-titled)

Olivia now works out of Montreal, though the self-titled debut was produced in Toronto. She works in the arts, constantly creating new and exciting projects.

Trip Hop, down tempo, electro-gloom rock...

... Hailing from Toronto, The Silk Demise offer up sensual, stripped-down trip-hop on their self-titled debut. Combining the talents of songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer Bill Litshauer and lyricist/vocalist Olivia Zielinski, the band's sound falls somewhere between…say…Massive Attack and the moody trip-hop found on Akira Yamaoka's soundtracks to the later Silent Hill games.

Blending sultry female vocals, occasional half-whispered male vocals a la Tricky, and music that emphasizes atmospheric sound with sometimes sparser melodic work, the album is an extremely competent and immaculately produced blend of dark, electronic-yet-organic trip-hop with a slightly experimental slant ...

[Grave Concerns webzine review]

Influences and Sound

Where to begin? Listeners will hear pieces of Massive Attack, Portishead, Sneaker Pimps, Nine Inch Nails, Mogwai, Oceansize, Hooverphonic, Moby, Deftones, IAMX, DJ Shadow, UNKLE, Stars, V.A.S.T, Puscifer, Ladytron, Goldfrapp, Akira Yamaoka... among others. Though the influence is diverse, the sound encompasses, driving beats, throbbing basslines, and ambient darkscapes to produce a sound that is both smooth and sinister...