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Category: Music
BIOGRAPHY -- In 2003 brothers Justin and John Peloian formed the band APEYGA. They began to create songs based on musical ideas Justin had originated a couple years earlier, during his Graduate work in Visual Arts. As the compositions began to develop, it was clear that the band's direction would be an Instrumental Fusion. While John was completing his M.A. in Psychology, they began to perform as a Duo at open mics. In between singer songwriter, and stand up comedians, they would plug the electric guitar and bass into the house P.A., and play their songs. The response was great, and they were asked to have their first show at the Rainbow Bar and Grill on Sunset Blvd. At that show, the sound-man, Jeff Justice asked if he could record them. So, APEYGA's first music was recorded as a guitar, bass Duo at Great Spirit Studios in West Los Angeles, California. This demo CD, entitled "Instrumentals for Guitar and Bass", was then used to audition drummers.
In 2004 drummer Colin Popadiuk joined the band. With his back round in Punk and Math Rock, he added flare and soul-full drum parts to the Duo's songs. With their new Trio, APEYGA began to perform in Los Angeles and the South Bay. Within 6 months, and positive reviews of their shows, an L.A. booking agent asked to represent them, and they soon headlined small clubs in West L.A., as the only Instrumental band on the bill. With growing support, they recorded this set of music at Alan Gaffere's Hi Pro Studios in Torrance,Ca. APEYGA released their first full length studio album in October of 2005. The self produced, self-titled album gained good reviews and established them as a defining element for the musical genre, "Jazz-Metal". Other terms used to describe APEYGA's music at the time were, "Punk-Fusion", "Aggro-Jazz", and "Nu-instrumental Rock". Justin and John soon began to write new music and audition drummers.
In August of 2005 they were fortunate to bring Drumeline expert and coach, Kyrt Hensch into the group. Within 2 months they were playing shows again extending their territory to San Diego, and were sounding better than ever. In February of 2006, a 4 song "Live Demo" was recorded in the well known Studio C at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, with engineer Geoff Gibbs.This Demo was used for promotion only, earning them online recognition and new concert opportunities. Playing to standing ovations and gaining a larger fan base, venues wanted the band to return to their stage. Then, in December of 2006, APEYGA
was voted the "BEST MELODIC AND INSTRUMENTAL BAND'" by L.A. based Rock City News Magazine. They soon began to put together the next album of songs that earned them this award. This time the music was self recorded and produced at their own studio in Culver City,California.
2007 marked the release of the album, "Forward". The Dutch Progressive Rock Review wrote:"The self produced disc shines with excellent sound quality and deft musicianship." Apeyga continued to perform this album in Southern California, with the addition of drummer Pete Pace. In December of '07, the trio held their CD Release Party with a packed house, at the well known Derby in Hollywood. "Apeyga mesmerized the crowd at the Derby with their melodic yet pummeling riffs. Much to their credit, these guys are completely uncategorizable", declared Campus Circle Magazine's review of the show. "The dynamic sounds that come out of Justin Peloian (guitar), John Peloian (bass) and Pete Pace (drums) are nothing short of extraordinary."
In early 2008, a new 4 Song Demo was recorded containing the tracks 'Lava', 'Lamb', 'Family Man', and 'Hold Your Breath'. After recording this music Justin and John began to write lyrics to their new material. This would be a turning point for the band, as they embarked on a search for their first Lead Vocalist to join the group. The process of auditioning singers was a complicated one, due to the fact that the lyrics had been written to the songs, however they had not ever been sung before. The vocalists would have to learn the lyrics and apply them to the songs using their own creativity as well as, verbal and recorded directions from Justin and John. The band required the new member to posses an original presents with unique talent. After months of auditions, Santa Monica native, Vivian Nickerson, was asked to join as the Lead Singer.
Apeyga has recently posted these new tracks on their profile and continues to create and perform original music.
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FAN QUOTES & ALBUM REVIEWS:
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"It's been a while since I geeked this shamelessly over a band."
- getunderground.com
"That was great! I love having you guys play here."
- silverlake
"You have a good thing going."
-new york
"I am a guitar player and I couldn't even tell what (sounds) were coming from the guitar and what wasn't!"
- west los angeles
"Are you guys going to get a singer?"
- everybody
"You're live music made my nose bleed! It was awesome!"
- san diego
"Oh, I remember these guys...
get ready for some craziness!"
- riverside
"Apeyga presents a complex fusion of
Jazz and Rock that defies convention."
- reviewermag.com
"You guys are the tightest band that
I've seen in this place!"
- upland
"That f*@ing rocked! If you have an
album I'll buy it!"
- los angeles
"...a welcome respite for me from all of the dreck available from every channel today."
- cdreviews.com
"Apeyga's compositions have orchestral aspirations."
- univ. of new mexico
"How do you guys get all of those sounds out of your guitars?"
- los angeles
"There aren't any vocals, leaving the listener to go wherever he or she wants while taking it all in."
- cdreviews.com
"You guys have a very unique style."
- los angeles
"Think what Euclid would be doing if he had access to a guitar."
- univ. of new mexico
"Your (live) shows are so much fun!"
- orange county
"I feel like I am in good hands when
listening to your album."
- new york
ALBUM REVIEWS:
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"Speaking of Apeyga,...the track "Traveler" is awesome; a frenetic jam that made me get up & dance, "151" is a bumpin', mad jam that really kicks ass; it has a bitchin' guitar solo in it, in fact there are layers of Justin's guitar tweaking that texturize it, making it sound bigger. I've been sitting here, at my computer, as I write this, listening to the new tracks on the Apeyga website, over & over again, the undulating, fluid instrumental jams just seamlessly flow into one another and it is a blissful sensation." - REVIEWER MAGAZINE
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"Forward is a vibrant incorporation of light, lush melodic numbers like Liberatus and harder tracks like Rise And Shine. Effects pedals are kicked into fifth gear across the disc, flavouring five of the seven tracks. And these jams are tight, with each song under four minutes. Apeyga seem to be shooting here for quality, not quantity. There are a few evident comparisons to other bands here, most obviously King Crimson. Pinstripe and Liberatus evoke Discipline-era Crimson and would not be out of place during the 1983 Champaign-Urbana record sessions for that band's Three Of A Perfect Pair release. The End Of Reason, with its monstrous wall of noise, would sit well aside The Construkction Of Light. Other influences abounding here and there, whether deliberate or otherwise, include Rush, Television, Providence, R.I.
experimental noise-core duo Lightning Bolt, The Cocteau Twins, and indie instrumental band Tortoise.
The self produced disc shines with excellent sound quality and deft musicianship. And judging by the amount of fan testimonials on the band's website, they are apparently a phenomenal band to see live.
According to the date and cities listed on their site they have not toured outside of California. It would be great to see them do that someday.
This is a band with a great future ahead of them, no doubt."
-THE DUTCH PROGRESSIVE ROCK PAGE REVIEW
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LIVE SHOW REVIEW-- Jan. '08-- "In one of the most interesting sets I've heard in a while, Apeyga mesmerized the crowd at the Derby with their melodic yet pummeling riffs. Much to their credit, these guys are completely uncategorizable. They consider themselves aggro-jazz, art-rock or punk fusion, among many labels. The dynamic sounds that come out of Justin Peloian (guitar), John Peloian (bass) and Pete Pace (drums) are nothing short of extraordinary. They played their entire album Forward, which features, among its most diverse tracks, "Rise & Shine," "Galaxies" and "151." If you like progressive rock, jazz and world beats, this is a band you should check out."
-CAMPUS CIRCLE MAGAZINE
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ECLECTIC ULTRA MODERN BAND DISCOVERED IN THE JUNGLES OF LA
"I'm always afraid to share my favorites for guilt of having everyone discover them and then I never get the guilty pleasure of enjoying good music selfishly to myself. Nonetheless, I'll present to you a delight in musicality that you don't come across everyday.
Derived from the Armenian word, apaga, which means 'future' - APEYGA (ah-pay-gah) certainly lives up to its name. The futuristic fusions of jazz, punk, metal, funk and art rock music put this instrumental band in a class all unto its own. It's no wonder that they won the Rock City News Award for "Best Melodic & Instrumental Band 2006."
In 2003, Apeyga was started by two brothers – Justin and John Peloian; Justin plays guitar while John handles the bass. The compositions are based on ideas Justin had while attending grad school for Visual Arts and further developed when John was seeking his Master of Arts degree in Psychology. After playing various open mike nights, they developed a following and were asked to play the infamous Rainbow Bar and Grill on Sunset Boulevard. I'm no stranger to the Rainbow and I know if you get asked to play there, you're obviously worth a listen.
Justin and John describe their efforts as "Instrumental Fusion." They've consciously decided to forgo the vocalist allowing the instruments themselves to provide the verses. However, their latest creations will have lyrics added into the mix of what inspires them in their quest for amelioration. Their next album should have a vocalist joining in on the Apeyga venture to bring life to the lines they wrote for their latest songs.
The guys liken their music to "drinking a shot of whiskey for the first time." They say "It is shocking and you will remember it, however it might take a little while for it to grow on you. For most people, they will try it again, appreciating more each time, and some even become addicted."
After grooving to their sound bites available on their website and Myspace page, I certainly see what they mean! Apeyga hits you like a thunderbolt and jolts you so high you can't help but keep coming back for a more. Their music is intelligent supremacy yet digestible for the mere mortals of music appreciation.
Apeyga's unique style is "created by fusing guitar riffs together until the general structure of the song is built." The bass lines are added in next ascertaining that each piece transitions flawlessly into one another. The drum sections are added in last using their drummer's innovations. A lot of their improv collaborations have formed into bona-fide originals.
Their latest album Forward is a collective ultra mod mix of jazz and metal and was self-produced at their studio in Culver City, CA using a Mac Powerbook and Motu 828 interface and Audiodesk software. Their latest endeavor is currently being played on internet radio collective Live 365. My favorite song is "Traveler" a psychedelic groove of a journey reminiscent of a group called Television from times of yore. I just love the heavy unparallel use of bass lines. "151" is a strange brew of heavy metal and funk with sounds of swans dying in the background.
The jazzy funk-a-delic "Liberatus" and "Pinstripe" add to the diversity of the album. The eerily spacey "The End of Reason" calls out from the dark with metal lurking in the shadows. Another showstopper – "Galaxies" – is an oceanic melodrama dream.
Although they are primarily Southern Cal based, they are generating fans from all over the world and may
subsequently be able to tour outside their locale.
Any fan of progressive music should make an effort to check these guys out. They are not the future; they are the now! Please visit their websites to find out more about Apeyga and how to purchase their albums and get the latest tour information."
- SIRENS OF THE SONIC AGE WORDPRESS
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Apeyga
5.17.04 - by: juliachrista
It's been a while since I've geeked this shamelessly over a band.
In the past two weeks, I think i've listened to this one song, Goodbye to Sentimentality, about 500 times. That's a low estimate. I had to get headphones at work so that i can carry on obsessing in the mad love-throws of my new musical crush without risking intervention from concerned friends. i keep jabbering about the band to anyone who will listen. Now I'm telling you.
I'm talking about Apeyga a band like no other, or rather, like a bunch of others, all melted together into a warm pool of hot buttered soul that the listener gets to swim through on a nostalgically familiar yet utterly novel sonic journey.
If I was to get all technical about it I'd call them a jazzmetal/punkfusion powertrio. However, I'd much rather get specific.
It's all instrumental - guitar, bass, and drums - with every player going at about 300% and producing a sound effect of 3X's as many people. The drummer, Colin Popadiuk, is amazing. Able to accent delicately or drive it relentlessly like a freakin' MACHINE, he plays the skins like a multi-armed Shiva, while the bassist, John Peloian, lays down some seriously funky stuff, and the guitarist, Justin Peloian (yes, they're brothers) goes from graceful, jazz-influenced runs (Am I Hip) to crunching, marching metal distortion (Distorted Redemption), leading the listener to musical realms you'd never think could co-exist so smoothly in the same damn song.
The realm of musical influence at work in the songs is immense, and the experience of hearing the different threads and genres that are woven throughout their soundscape is akin to floating in a river of sound and hearing the ripples and waves of musical history go by.
It's been a long time since I flipped like a goony teen over a band, so I'm really relishing the feelings of crushed-out aural ear humping that Apeyga delivers on their little 3 track gem of a demo. The album experience is, of course, wildly different from the LIVE experience. The LIVE experience is like being reamed by a firehose of sonic emission... and liking it.
Apeyga is an easy band to like. There's a real unpretentious vibe about their playing, when they're playing. It's obvious that they are there to let the music take center stage, not their egos and attitudes. It's a pretty amazing thing to see -- in the midst of a Strapping Young Lad inspired marching metal segment -- Justin Peloian's quiet demeanor, a smile on his face, John Peloian doing his funky little bass dance, and Colin (always in a tie, as a gesture of respect) a blur of lanky arms in the back.
I'd strongly suggest getting out to their next show (at the Gig May 23rd) to see/hear/feel what I'm talking about. At the last show they were handing out the demo for free. So check it out. It just might be your lucky day. - GETUNDERGROUND.COM
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December 24th, 2005
Apeyga In life, just about anything worth finding or discovering is usually
found or discovered by accident or pure chance; the axioms about a
watched pot never boiling or a phone that is stared at never ringing are
true. In music as well, some of my best finds have been CDs I never
would've thought of buying, but have come across my transom and
found their way into my CD player. Apeyga is a perfect example. I didn't
think there was anything like this anymore. The brainchild of Justin and
John Peloian (with Colin Popadiuk rounding out this trio), Apeyga is an
instrumental, free-associating freak-out. Listening to it brought on
thoughts of Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, Steve Vai, Robert Fripp.
Apeyga presents with a complex fusion of jazz and rock that defies
convention, confounds expectations and finally, ends up sounding like
heaven. Listening to this CD just makes time stand still and suddenly
one is inside the music, floating. It is a great means of escape. Guitarist,
producer and songwriter Justin Peloian has been hiding out
somewhere, but now the intense, super-cool 'aggro-jazz' (to coin a
phrase) that he lays down has exposed him and I feel all the luckier for
it (www.apeyga.com) (www.kauzzmedia.com) KM.- REVIEWER MAGAZINE:
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"Lo-fi instrumental trio Apeyga display heavy chops and an interesting melodic
philosophy, likely to come across as rocking, but weird. "
[5.22.06]
"Apeyga is a lo-fi trio with some heavy chops and an interesting melodic philosophy.
The band consists of Justin Peloian on guitar, John Peloian on bass, and Colin
Popadiuk on drums, and is distributed by their own label, Kauzz.
Apeyga isn't metal. There's some in there, though. And there's some dark jazz, and
some Primus, and some Kyuss, and some old Phish and Medeski, Martin, and Wood for that matter. It's an interesting hodgepodge of audio. There's great flow, and the sound revolves around a continuous theme of interesting and dissonant melodic portraits run through a variety of effects and moods. There aren't any vocals,
leaving the listener to go wherever he or she wants while taking it all in.
The players are accomplished, though the drummer's a little rough. I picture a young group, though I don't know how old they are. I hope they're young, because that means they'll have a nice long career in front of them. I hope so, because from what I've heard so far I will be looking to see if they come up again in the future.
This release is too weird for mainstream acceptance, though it serves as a welcome respite for me from all of the dreck available from every channel today. I grew up seeking solace in old Primus, Sonic Youth, and 70s rock. Lo-fi dissonance reflected the feel of my teenage years. This is somewhat of an embodiment of all three, which I find soothing. To normal people, of course, it will likely come across more as weird. If you're fond of interesting instrumental music that explores various soundscapes, give Apeyga a shot. I suspect
they'd be fun live if you appreciate a good jam band, though I'm happier with a recording. "
www.apeyga.com Cdreviewer.com Written by Daniel Henderson
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