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Cheryl Catherine Smith Is Our Sonic Bids Emerging Artist of The Week




Changing Modes Website

The music of New York City based rock band Changing Modes began quietly in the mid-90’s when the principal songwriter of the band Wendy Griffiths (keyboards, voice) started making her “bedroom tapes.”  She says she had no intention of making these songs public.  “They were like art songs with very unusual rock beats.”  Yuzuru Sadashige (bass, guitar) recalls when he heard her songs for the first time.  “She programmed very complex layers of accompaniment in her Yamaha SY77, then sang along to record onto her $30 Sears tape recorder, very LoFi, you would hear house noise and car horns in the background, but they were extremely interesting and totally unique.” 

Wendy & Yuzuru, both classically trained composers whose influences range from Bartok, Stravinsky to Nirvana, King Crimson & Sparks have been leading the band since 2000.  The band has been actively performing in NYC venues such as Knitting Factory, Pianos, Luna Lounge, CBGB, CB’s Gallery, CB's Lounge, Continental, Barnard College and ACME Underground.

Changing Modes has released three full-length albums - Down and Out in Shangri-la (2008),  A Perfect Day (2003), Aeroplane (2005) and two EPs (2000 and 2001).

Changing Modes created a unique art rock with Sparks-esque fun/pop sophistication with Zappa-esque stylistic diversity/complexity and punk rock energy.  Jen Rondeau (Theremin, keyboards, vocals) and Grace Pulliam (vocals, percussion) joined the group in 2009.

Instrumentation:
Wendy Griffiths: keyboards, vocals
Yuzuru Sadashige: bass, guitar
Jen Rondeau: Theremin, keyboards, vocals
Grace Pulliam: vocals, percussion
David Oromaner, drums, percussion, trumpet

Discography:
HERE (April 2010)
DOWN AND OUT IN SHANGRI-LA (April 2008)
AEROPLANE (May 2005)
A PERFECT DAY (August 2003)
CHANGING MODES EP2 (2001)
CHANGING MODES EP1 (2000)
 
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