Ashcans of the Mind is a synergistically exploding musical chameleon, likely to pick up the heavy funk of James Brown, with eclectic deep house restraint, the soaring sonic beauty of Puccini, abstract minimalism, evoking lush introspective thoughts, blunt and caustic social and political commentary in harsh arid songscapes, dream-like reveries, teasing psychedelic internal alternate worlds, creating new mind-expanding soundscapes.
We all have these worlds in us… think of your dreams at night. They’re there waiting for each of us to look into ourselves to discover, explore, and enjoy them, and in so doing enrich our lives. The material here is intended to induce you to dive into yours. What are you waiting for? Click Play... (the lavender bar at the bottom of the screen)
James Fredrickson composes the songscapes and is a synthesizer wizard and multi-instrumentalist. He has played in many jazz ensembles from duos to big bands, rock bands, and experimental groups. He has composed and arranged for many of the groups. He began his musical odyssey as a classically trained pianist and guitarist. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School for the Arts in music composition. He loves art suggesting unusual views into realities.
Leandra Ramm brings life to the songscapes with her beautiful and amazingly flexible singing. She is a versatile mezzo-soprano and actress with an “extraordinary voice” (Anderson Cooper 360), whose “beautiful and quite moving” (Nordstjernan Newspaper) performances have graced prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the United Nations, Symphony Space, and Davies Symphony Hall. From her experiences of starring in many operas, musical theater productions, and classical concerts (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, UK) ranging from classic-to-contemporary/modern she captures and expresses the essences and nuances of the songscapes.
She is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, with additional training in programs at Arizona Opera, Toledo Opera, Opera Carolina, Des Moines Metro Opera, Sarasota Opera, and New Jersey Opera.
Leandra loves music regardless of the genre and brings to Ashcans of the Mind a blend of opera, pop and other styles that she has grown to love and a sound that is uniquely hers.
For her full bio:
Sayler Design Works for all the graphic design: this website (all the images, music artwork, layout, and great advise).
Photography by Mitchell Fredrickson