Sephyra, by Artemis

Sephyra

by Artemis

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Carsten Pieper Very beautiful and relaxing music. Pleasant female vocals. Music ranges from electro-pop to folktronica to trip-hoppy things. Favorite track: Down by the River.

Stan Stewart (aka @muz4now) Every track is like a journey through a whole new world. And Artemis really knows how to create worlds. Delightful music that I come back to time after time. Favorite track: Listen.

Tuukka Junnikkala Simply put, this is a wonderful album. I'm quite picky when it comes to vocals, but this lady passes with flying colors. Musically the album is a rich and very successful blend of electronic and acoustic sounds with plenty of variety from song to song while still forming a coherent whole. To top everything off, the album sounds absolutely gorgeous. A complete package. Favorite track: Love of the Game.

Alan Hall Checked this out on Steve Lawson's recommendation. The perfect foil to all the jazz I otherwise listen to. Fabulous... Favorite track: Passage.

Steve Lawson Utterly gorgeous music. Yes, I play on it, and have had a copy of it since before it came out, but I just bought it because I HAD to have it in my Bandcamp collection, largely cos YOU need to hear it. It's also the 100th album I've bought on bandcamp :) Listen/Buy/tell your friends. Favorite track: Passage.

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Digital Album
Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Download includes a bonus track: Love of the Game (Falling You Shoegaze Mix)

Purchasable with gift card

$8 USD or more

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Individually numbered and signed (upon request) Sephyra CD in 100% recycled Discfolio packaging with beautiful turquoise and copper inks on your choice of Industrial White Clay-Coated or Black Railroad Chipboard. Hand-letterpress printed by Bruce Licher at Independent Project Press. Hand-assembled with love by Artemis. Includes a full color metalicized photo, and tri-fold lyric insert printed on french blue butcher paper.

Please note whether you'd like a White or Black package when placing your order.

Includes unlimited streaming of Sephyra via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 3 days

edition of 250 22 remaining

$20 USD

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Sephyra CD in a simple, sleek black cardboard sleeve printed with elegant turquoise lettering on the front, silver and white antlers and runes on the back. Graphic design by Keith Crusher, runes by Trista Musco.

Includes unlimited streaming of Sephyra via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 2 days

$10 USD

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Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Wait. FREE? Yup. Scroll down to the link to Buy Digital Discography, place your order, and we'll contact you to mail your copy of Sephyra on vinyl. Til they're all gone!

This is the first Artemis album available as a double stereo-LP, hurrah! On colored vinyl, packaged in 100% recycled industrial Black Railroad Chipboard folder featuring hand produced, silkscreen/embossed/foilstamp artwork by Keith Crusher and Artemis. Each jacket, each record is one of a kind. Hand numbered and signed (upon request). Includes full color poster and lyric inserts. Also includes the bonus track: Love of the Game (Falling You Shoegaze Mix).

Includes unlimited streaming of Sephyra via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 5 days

edition of 150

$40 USD or more

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T-Shirt/Apparel + Digital Album
Beautiful high contrast black & white Antlers design created by Keith Crusher. Printed on 100% cotton* shirt in Men's Heavyweight or Women's Classic** style. Soft, comfy & delicious! Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL

Men's colors: White, Ash, Heather Grey, Black, Burgundy, Purple, Royal Blue, Navy, Sky Blue, Kelly Green, Forest Green, Sage, Yellow, Natural, Gold, Brown, Orange, Pink, Red

Women's colors: White, Heather Grey, Black, Purple, Royal Blue, Navy, Kelly Green, Red

*Heather Grey is 90% cotton, 10% polyester; Ash is 99% cotton, 1% polyester
**Women's sizes run small, recommend ordering a size up

Be sure to let me know the Style, Size, and Color when you place your order.

Includes unlimited streaming of Sephyra via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. ... more

ships out within 10 days

$25 USD or more

You own this
T-Shirt/Apparel + Digital Album
Beautiful hand-drawn Song Runes, designed by Trista Musco. Available in Runes Tree of Life design or Single Rune design (choose any Rune). Printed in Black Ink Only, White Ink Only, or Black & White Inks.

The photos above show Black Ink on Natural, White Ink on Brown, and Black & White Inks on Red. Nearly any color/design combination is possible, so feel free to be creative - special requests will be entertained!

Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL

Soft & cozy 100% cotton* T-Shirts in Men's Heavyweight and Women's Classic** styles.

Men's colors: White, Ash, Heather Grey, Black, Burgundy, Purple, Royal Blue, Navy, Sky Blue, Kelly Green, Forest Green, Sage, Yellow, Natural, Gold, Brown, Orange, Pink, Red

Women's colors: White, Heather Grey, Black, Purple, Royal Blue, Navy, Kelly Green, Red

*Heather Grey is 90% cotton, 10% polyester, Ash is 99% cotton, 1% polyester.
**Women's Classic style runs small, reccomend ordering a size up

Be sure to let me know the Style, Size, Color, and Ink Color (Black Only, White Only, or Black & White Ink), and which Rune design you'd like, when you place your order.

Includes unlimited streaming of Sephyra via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. ... more

ships out within 10 days

$25 USD or more

You own this
Full Digital Discography Full Digital Discography

16

releases

Get all 16 Artemis releases available on Bandcamp and save 40%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Skin To Marrow, For A Human World, Transfigure, Of This Dirt, Friendship, Triptych III (Ten for Magpie's Secret Bliss), Triptych II (Nine for a Kiss), For Now, and 8 more. , and , .

Purchasable with gift card

$48.60 USD or more (40% OFF)

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1.	Creation 04:50	lyrics	buy track
stirs inside a will to grow roots stretch down limbs reach out for sunlight it takes all of creation and a little time little lights float on an endless ocean over waves fingers intertwine thoughts weave til two are one as if it always were it takes all of creation and a little time for the rejuvenation of humankind there is no great or small to the soul that makes us all the round world fair to see nine times bathed in mystery it takes all of creation arms to surround give you life what will you breathe life into what will you multiply it takes all of creation and a little time for the rejuvenation of humankind
2.	Love of the Game 04:45	lyrics	buy track
oh the tangled webs we weave when first we learn how to deceive but we only fool ourselves we're not as lost as we seem it's just a walk in the woods to reach the other side where mountains shine like diamonds and you can see for miles and miles who knows the treasure we will find who can see the worlds unfolding between our eyes once upon a time when life was but a dream we made a deal you and i to find each other again for the love of the game cinderella never asked one word of human advice she scrubbed the floors behind closed doors learned how to survive it was love that broke the spell shattered the disguise and a little faith in herself bought her that castle in the sky who could have known the treasure she would find who could see the world unfolding before her eyes once upon a time between fairy tales and dreams she made a deal with her soul to try her hand again for the love of the game stumbling over stones in the road wondering how we'll find our way the walls cave in the rain pours down feels like nothing left to say it's just a walk in the woods to reach the other side gotta push our way through the cocoon to grow strong enough to fly who knows the treasure we will find who can see the worlds unfolding before our eyes once upon a time when life was but a dream we made a deal you and i to find each other again everything we know everything we've seen caught up like dewdrops in the web of this earthly plane once upon a time is closer than it seems we made a deal you and i to find ourselves again for the love of the game
3.	September (Loving Eyes) 03:56	lyrics	buy track
in a lovers breath dreams entwine words unspoken softly collide sleepy heartbeats mingle with moonlight til we awaken cradled in loving eyes i drank down the sun filled me to the brim now fire pulses through these veins burns my skin at the mountaintop i scream so loud clouds gather my fury til rain pours down from loving eyes don't catch me when i fall so like a star i can explode spread this feathered heart and soar high with a long exhale i let my body fall palms like leaves outstretched fingers like a waving child with loving eyes don't catch me when i fall so like a star i can explode
4.	Passage 05:00	lyrics	buy track
behind the monastery wall slightly to one side stands a broken garden house where lovers like to hide there with arm and leg entwined youth and joy intone while monks deep chant their masses and human sin bemoan the lovers souls like candles flame up and burn so bright the glory of their passion seems to sear away the night the monks they raise their voices fingers on their beads and pray the darkness swallow their earthly needs the lovers satiated lie in each other's arms the monks file slowly cellward whispering their psalms sleep tucks its golden blanket a kiss a final oath earth's giant cradle rocks monk and lover both drifting down the stars creak in their orbits a school of clouds rolls by moon smiles like a baby creeping higher in the sky one half the world wears darkness the other chooses light we wind our way toward heaven neither wrong nor right to be free
5.	Down by the River 04:19	lyrics	buy track
i drink the water you hold in your hands the sweet cool water down by the river velvet sun on your skin glistening leaves dance on the warm breeze down by the river gathering stones down by the river
6.	Poison Arrow 04:33	lyrics	buy track
as earth can fool and quicksand can pull you down love like light can make you blind as shadows fade in morning rays and fear dies down only glad it's far behind this life moving forward into life like a poison arrow no longer lodged in my heart like a poison arrow no longer tearing me apart no splinters here to blacken my blood no one can take this oxygen will to breathe will to be a lover's blade can pierce you deep but leave no scar just echoes of another time and memories drift like leaves as they fall out of sight out of mind like a poison arrow no longer lodged in my heart like a poison arrow no longer tearing me apart no splinters here
7.	Shameless 04:21	lyrics	buy track
i could never monkeymind such a subtle terrain such a vast expanse i could never claim juxtapose this jagged edge of wantiing with the lotus heart of peaceful sublimation let me slip into this silent conversation strip me of my certainty strip me down strip me of this longing strip me down tempt me electricity lure me away from this greed for purity part these petals break me open pierce this laughing bloom taste the tender heart of me strip me down strip me of my certainty strip me down strip me of this longing strip me down out here on the precipice the trees are leaning from the weight of the wind let that passion move me let me be shaped so beautifully black my limbs upon the green in the wind and the rain and the first breath of spring all the canyons life carves into me my blood flows freely my heart is still beating still beating strip me of my certainty strip me down strip me of this longing strip me down to bare skin and cool stone and summer sun and soft lips parting round me strip me down shamelessly
8.	Begin Again 03:41	lyrics	buy track
feel it in your body something getting into you feel it in your heart just might move you to begin something begin again stop turn it around begin again feeling getting closer closer all the time love is getting stronger just might move your mind to begin something begin again stop turn it around begin again feel it in your heart feel it in your soul fire's getting hotter just might lose control begin something begin again stop turn it around begin again begin something anything
9.	Here and Now 04:37	lyrics	buy track
if i had only one hour spend it loving you no rewind we take it as it comes each day precious and new here and now spinning and spinning and never slowing down i lose track of time hold on tight we're old as life young as tomorrow here and now i hear the trees their gentle leaves cool morning flows into warm sunshine happy bluebird laughing lullabye wraps its rays around my heart and we paint our own sky there are no goodbyes only these small farewells here and now
10.	So Long 05:04	lyrics	buy track
she and she and she and me four trunks one strong tree roots burrow down sucking life through marrow growing tall she and she and she and me walk along silently up a mountainside for to set him free been so long so long feel footsteps kiss the ground floating in a trance breathe the cool forest air as you dance down breathing in breathing out in afternoon sunlight holding on letting go making room for love to grow been so long so long
11.	Listen 04:31	lyrics	buy track
listen til every sound is a symphony

about

Sephyra is a bit of rounding up the troops, clearing the cobwebs and emptying the closets. An ending and a beginning. The album was a few years in the making, but the songs span a greater distance. Some are new, others were conceived in the last millenium, when I first began my journey as a songwriter. Some I wrote on my own, some are the fruits of collaborations with various genius composers and musicians. Most were brewed on a slow simmer, gathering spices and colors from several thoughtful pairs of hands and ears on the way to their final form. It takes a village.

All the songs on Sephyra are facets of a journey. One of rising up, falling down, getting up again. Over and over. As humans do. Taking apart and putting back together. A few parts left over in the process, a few new squeaks and rattles, but hell, the thing still flies. And maybe, just maybe, through examination we begin to grok the machine.

Final production on Sephyra took place over the past year in the homey bat-cave studio of David Earl (SFLogicninja). A few songs, like Begin Again, took an utter left turn at his hand to transcend themselves and become something completely new. A couple needed just a bit of fine tuning and spit polish. Most enjoyed some sort of major overhaul, including new vocals, since many of the originals were recorded whilst standing next to a burbling aquarium. I have *no* idea who would make an engineering faux pas like that. Ahem.

I like pretty fish. And shrimp. Especially the blue ones.

All the songs got a whole lot of love rubbed into them. And there are some extraordinary players sitting in throughout the album, including Daniel Berkman, Steve Lawson, Michel Jordan, Bobby Cochran, Abram Katz and Tom Lattanand. Keith Crusher, as always, had a big hand in the development of several tracks, and provided key bits of feedback and guidance in the final production. We have Keith to thank for that lovely side stick on So Long. Brilliant choice.

We also have Keith to thank for the beautiful graphic design and photography on the cover image, and Juliana Medina for her stunning makeup artistry. Sarika Dagar, LP Ponor and Anastasia Lattanand also provided invaluable artistic feedback.

Ian Shepherd mastered the album, and did an exquisite job on that last, somewhat mysterious and alchemical step of an album's journey into the world. He stayed faithful to the music and the production, brought out the very best of what was already there, kept it warm and made it sparkle. Ian was a true pleasure to work with, as was every single person on this project.

To everyone who participated in the Kickstarter and helped bring this album and the forthcoming music video for Down By the River to life, you have my deepest and most heartfelt gratitude, love and respect. Same goes to those of you who cheered us on, and those of you who've just now turned up here. Our conversation takes this music to a whole new place. Let's keep talking.

Official liner notes and bonus-y bits coming shortly...watch this space.

credits

released October 18, 2012

All tracks produced and mixed by David Earl
All lyrics and melodies by Artemis Robison
Mastered by Ian Shepherd
Artwork, graphic design and photography by Keith Crusher
Makeup by Juliana Medina

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Artemis San Francisco

Spectral keyboard washes and sinuous dance beats set up a feeling of warm alienation while Artemis’s voice heats things further. Over the thump and shimmer, she croons with detached fervor, the music dissolving in a storm of pixie-dust disco until a rude riot of effects snaps the tether and she vanishes. ... more