agua trip bio
Introduction
Agua Trip began in the Autumn of 2000, when Bill and Lindsey met at a Party for French majors from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. After a few months of jamming together, Bill and Lindsey recorded 17 songs, thus creating their first collection of recorded demos entitled Baseado. This tongue-in-cheek, impromptu production -- recorded in 5 weekends -- was the eye-opening experience that led to the formation of the band Agua Trip.
By the end of 2001, the band was up and running. Bill and Lindsey chose the name "Agua Trip" because it captured the spirit of their genre-defying music: a voyage of constant change, music that changes and moves like water -- with hints of multiculturalism (thus the bilingual title).
They began playing parties and cafes in the greater Nashville area. By the summer of 2002, they decided to move to New York, where they joined forces with New York musicians (from STOMP) and played an extensive list of venues. It wasn’t long before they acquired a diverse following.
In addition to traditional music venues, Agua Trip’s appearances include annual benefits such as "STOMP - Equity against AIDS" in 2003 and 2004, and modern dance fundraisers for Joyce SOHO and Isabel Gotskowsky and Friends in 2005 and 2006. They have also played Barnard College / Columbia University and a variety of social events. They are a mainstay at PANGEA Restaurant where they performed every other Friday for over a year in 2005-06 and are in the middle of their present 2006-7 season there.
From the very beginning, Agua Trip has welcomed a wide array of genres into their repertoire, from Beatle-ish pop and Marley-esque reggae to Mexican corridos and Quebecois folksongs. They have created their own genre: an alternative, world-influenced pop-rock that cannot be compared to one single artist, but rather to a combination of artists.
Breakfast Translations and its Reception
Agua Trip’s New York experience culminated in the creation of their first album Breakfast Translations in 2005. Together, Bill and Lindsey wrote, recorded, and produced the entire album by themselves with some contributions from other artists sprinkled in, and with post-production by Mike Boise at Union Street Sound.
Since the release of Breakfast Translations, Agua Trip has been compared to John Lennon, Manu Chao, The Police, Elliot Smith, The Beatles, Bill Withers, Peter Gabriel, The Jayhawks, Bare Naked Ladies, Burt Bacharach, Jack L, Simon and Garfunkel, Michael Franks, CSNY, Antonio Jobim, Belle and Sebastian, The Pixies, Frank Zappa, Eno, Beta Band, and Starland Vocal Band.
Happily, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The feedback has been remarkable in that it spans generations and tastes; children, teens, young adults and their parents appreciate it together. Customers spread the album to friends as if they are spreading a treasured secret. Much of the feedback refers to Breakfast Translations’ value and its long-lasting growth on the listener. Some responses:
(It) gives me inspiration to write my own stuff more! Love the originality, every great band that's ever been has had a certain originality, and you guys got it! bravo! great work! – Garageband review by Vinylyon
Breakfast Translations is a winner! The songs linger in my head and help me de-stress. And coming from a restaurant owner, that's quite an achievement. – Stephen Shanaghan, Restauranteur
There's nothing like the smooth stream-of-conciousness that is Agua Trip. Is it reggae? Is it rock? Who cares!?! It's just good. I can't wait to do a remix. – Prof. Rockwell, DJ
I first played the album with full intention of cleaning my loft while it played. Instead I found myself in a chair next to the stereo staring at a speaker. Once the last song played I moved to the sofa for round 2. – Michele Garza, Au Pair
I LOVE BREAKFAST TRANSLATIONS. This music is delicious – smart lyrics and smooth beats – I can't get enough. Each listen is better than the one before. – Sydney Brooks, Grad Student of Education
I just stumbled across your page and wanted to say that you are really great, very inspiring. I don’t think I have ever heard something exactly like what you guys play. Keep up the good work. I’ll be telling everyone I know about you – Kirina, Jazz Student, Myspace
I bought your CD from iTunes and it is wonderful! – Ryan, Photographer
Owing to its availability on numerous Internet distribution channels, Breakfast Translations has received feedback from audiences worldwide. Some of the media outlets that have embraced it are the Global Fink Sessions (Internet radio, UK), Voice of Culture (CD review and Internet radio rotation, Germany) and NYCONTAP (CD review, USA). The album was also acknowledged on the musician-based site Garageband.com, where When the Furious Leaves and Slave won several awards:
When the Furious Leaves: Twice “Track of the Day”, and #2 for “Best Lyrics”
Slave: “Best Drums”, “Best Programming”, “Best Beat”, and “Grooviest Rhythm”
Current Projects
Agua Trip is, however, more than a band - it is a creative project. Bill and Lindsey, as the stable core of the group, are always inviting other artists to perform with them live or on record. Perhaps owing to its rhythmic-yet-fluid quality, their music has been well received in the modern dance community and has been used for dance instruction and choreography. As musical artists, they are always in search of new collaborations with other artists and media (film, dance, theater, comedy, visual arts, and whatever new media arise).
Bill and Lindsey are also co-creators of The Moveable Feast, "a pARTy on the move" which showcases a select potpourri of artists on a regular basis. The Moveable Feast has met with very enthusiastic praise from both the participating artists and the guests, who comment on its warm, inclusive and inviting vibe as well as its wide range of artistic genre and talent.
Agua Trip is currently working on several recording projects. One project is a second album that combines their previously recorded demos from 2001 and 2003 - showcasing their live repertoire - with some brand new songs. Bill and Lindsey are also preparing several collections of original music for children as part of their new independent music production company Laughing Together Productions.
Bill Carrasco is a songwriter and a self-taught musician (guitar, piano, saxophone). While living in Toulouse, France in 1998, he formed his first band called Comfort Zone, a French-Brazilian-Mexican-American band. He plays the guitar left-handed and upside down, which never cease to confuse observers. Incidentally, he has a Ph.D. in Semiotics and Folklore and an M.A. in Latin American Literature. He has a day job at Barnard College where he coordinates an internship program for women in the sciences. Read more about Bill...
Born and raised in a family of musicians, Lindsey Boise learned to play the trombone, the guitar, the bass, the mandolin, and just about everything else from Tennessee to Quebec. He was part of the Ska-punk scene in Nashville, playing with The Digits and Supersloth. He spent many hours watching his father work in the family recording studio, hoping he would learn something, and has helped produce and engineer several side projects. He has a B.A. in French and German, and an affinity to ancient tongues. Lindsey currently works as a web designer, a tutor and a musician. Read more about Lindsey...