Bevan Smith is a Wellington-based solo musician, band member and Involve Records label owner.
History
Bevan Smith is from New Plymouth, but has been based in Wellington for the majority of his music-making career. He first gained some attention making electronic music in the 90s as part of the live techno outfit Oblique before starting to release solo material as Aspen. He worked with Oblique members on a small imprint called Elephant, first releasing jazz (Matthew Mitchell's Extrapolation, featuring Warren Maxwell among others) and then the first Aspen release, Album.
After Oblique ended Bevan started the record label Involve Records. This has been running since 1999 and outside Bevan's own projects has released artists as varied as Wellington rock band Marineville, Canadian ambient artist Loscil and experimental electronic producer Andrew Thomas.
Bevan has made a career making music for soundtracks and advertising, notably working on the British feature film Touching The Void.
Up to now Bevan's only song released under his own name has been The Green Green Grass of Home, on the 2003 compilation Good Shit Happens .
Bevan's projects include:
- Aspen - Described by Bevan as "influenced by electro pop from the 80's and early Warp and Rephlex records material, say early 90's".
- Marineville - Bevan played bass in this rock band.
- Oblique - 90s techno and ambient act involving Shanan Holm and Matthew Mitchell.
- Over The Atlantic - 00s indie pop act involving Nik Brinkman.
- Patio - 90s electronica duo involving Michael Upton.
- Signer - During the 90s this was Bevan's techno alias, now used for more song-based material.
- Skallander - Song-writing duo involving Matthew Mitchell, which has moved from more electronic to clearly folk material.
- Smith & Thomas - An electronic collaboration with Andrew Thomas, scored a dance work.
- Wilberforce - A trio with a track Brits Andy Greenman and Nathan Morris.
Related Links
Jan 1993
