Calla (band)

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Calla was formed in New York City in 1997 by Aurelio Valle (guitar, vocals), Sean Donovan (bass, keyboards, programming), and Wayne B. Magruder (percussion, programming). However, the band's origins can be traced to Texas in 1993, where Valle and Magruder began performing together in the Denton band The Factory Press. The band relocated to New York in 1995, recording The Smoky Ends of a Burnt out Day with producers Kid Congo Powers and Matt Verta-Ray. The group split in 1997 and the album was not released until early 1998, by which time Valle and Magruder were pursuing new musical ventures. In 1997, former Factory Press studio collaborator Sean Donovan arrived from Texas and took up residence in Brooklyn with Valle and Magruder. The trio set about writing and recording and Calla was born. Donovan and Magruder -- who had previously worked together as the Fallen Vlods -- shaped Calla's creative process around sampling and programming, marking a shift away from the dark post punk approach taken by The Factory Press. A four-track demo was completed in 1998, generating interest from the Brussels label Sub Rosa, which released the band's first album to critical acclaim in 1999. Calla's self-titled debut prized apart traditional song structures and reconfigured the components into subtly apocalyptic, cinematic pieces, at times evoking electronically processed Ennio Morricone soundscapes. Playing live had a significant impact on the band's sound and direction. Having been excited by the debut album, Michael Gira of The Swans was particularly impressed by Calla's live performance, and signed the group to his label, Young God Records. The band's first album on Young God, Scavengers (January 2001), marked a subtle change in orientation. Scavengers was less reliant on studio processing and although it displayed a familiar atmospheric minimalist sensibility, its textures coalesced into more conventional song formats. Understanding the mixture of indie rock and concept art that their music represented, Televise (January 2003) solidified their jagged indie rock sound. Collisions followed two years later. Their fifth album, Strength in Numbers, was released in 2007.

Texas[]

Valle was raised in South Texas and grew up listening to his Mexican parents' music, which included mariachi, and rancheros.^[1] During his teen years in the 80's Valle listened to college music and punk rock. Drawing from these musical styles his guitar influences are inspired by the likes of Rowland S. Howard, Duane Eddy, Kid Congo Powers, Chet Atkins, , Will Sergeant, and Johnny Marr. He met during his second year in high school. Both citing bands like The Jesus and Mary Chain and The Smiths as influences, they decided to form a band. After high school, they relocated to Denton, Texas where the two met and immediately formed a band called named after Andy Warhol's Factory and Factory Records^[2] Their influences were Joy Division, Bauhaus and Wire and they were signed to Austin's .

New York City[]

The Factory Press relocated to New York City in 1995. The band played shows alongside NYC peers and friends Jonathan Fire Eater and They recorded their only full-length album The Smoky Ends of a Burnt Out Dayin 1997. The album was produced by Matt Verta-Ray (Madder Rose, Speedball Baby) and Kid Congo Powers (The Gunclub, The Cramps and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds).^[3] After recording their final record for ND Records, Valle and Magruder along with Sean Donovan formed CALLA in 1997 named after the lilies in Robert Mapplethorpe's photographs. One of the bands concepts was to write music that sounded like Ennio Morricone meets Blade Runner.^[4] CALLA continued to draw from their early influences in addition to Tom Waits, John Cage, Angelo Badalamenti/Julie Cruise, Talk Talk and Latin Playboys. CALLA's first self-titled record was released by the European experimental label Sub Rosa.

Sub Rosa/Quartermass[]

By 1997, CALLA was playing shows at The Cooler located on West 14th Street meat packing district in New York City alongside Alan Vega, Bush Tetras, Thurston Moore,^[5] Blonde Redhead, Bowery Electric, Labradford, and were invited to play a benefit for Silver Apples' Simeon Coxe.^[6] They also played CBGB's in 1998 with Speedball Baby. By this time the band had already toured heavily in Europe and was ready to set off on its first US tour.

Young God records[]

CALLA frequently played shows at Lower East Side Club Tonic where they eventually met Michael Gira of Swans and The Angels of Light. Gira signed CALLA to his label, Young God Records, in 1999, for which they recorded their second record titled Scavengers . Gira assisted in producing and sang backing vocals on the track "".^[1] During this time the band continued to tour heavily in Europe. In 2000 they were selected by Alternative Press Magazine as "the number one band to watch" out of 50 peers and New York City bands.^[7] When playing in NYC, CALLA often billed alongside their friends Interpol, The Walkmen, The Angels of Light, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Luna and The Secret Machines.^[8]

Arena Rock Recording Company[]

With the momentum from the release of Scavengers, the band signed with Williamsburg, Brooklyn-based indie label Arena Rock Recording Company. In 2002, the band went into the studio with producer Chris Zane to record their third record Televised. The album was released in 2003 and was supported by extensive US and European tours. The band played shows in support of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Interpol, The Walkmen^[9] Their first videos were made by Moh Azima and Greg Brunkalla for the songs "Televise" and "Strangler" respectively and were played on MTV and MTV2.^[10][11]

Beggars Group[]

CALLA's fourth album Collisions was recorded after the departure of member Donovan and addition of The Factory Press member Peter Gannon.[17] The album was recorded independently with producer Chris Zane with additional production by Victor Van Vugt (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey). They were signed to Beggars Group after the record was completed. In 2006, CALLA continued playing shows throughout Europe including Greece, Spain, Italy and a final headlining spot in Moscow.[18]

During the band's US tour in support of Collisions, they were arrested at the Canada–US border for allegedly driving a stolen van. They were handcuffed and brought to the police station and then later released after it was discovered that the license plate registered as stolen due to a clerical error.[citation needed]

The band wrote and recorded tracks for its fifth record Strength in Numbers while on the road for Collisions. They put the final touches on the record with producer Alex Lyon at The Bubble in Austin, Texas.[19]

CALLA continued to tour with Interpol in 2007 until the band decided it was time to take a hiatus. The band continues to work on projects together;[20] the next CALLA record or project has been unannounced to this date.

Band members[]

• 1997–present, Aurelio Valle (guitar, vocals)
• 1997–present, Wayne B. Magruder (percussion, samples) Producer, electronic composer and a one time member of Bowery Electric. Solo recordings released under the names Tenecke, Wayne B., and Highway Robbery. Currently resides in Austin, Texas.
• 2003–present, Peter Gannon (bass, guitar)
• 1997–2004, Sean Donovan (bass, keyboards, samples)

Discography[]

Other releases[]

• Awake And Under, track for This Is Next Year: A Brooklyn-Based Compilation (2001)^[12]
• Astral, track for The Manchurian Candidate film soundtrack (2004)

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• Calla at Arena Rock Recording Co.
• Calla at 2:30 Publicity
• Calla on Last.fm
• Calla on AllMusic
• Concert photos by Laurent Orseau
• The Scenestar Interview with Calla August 2007