OnOffOn
(of Studio City, CA)
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About the artist:
If a musical interpretation were given to the directive "Stop/Change/Start," it would express as the sonic database known as ONOFFON. This mercurial trio could be a living music library; in fact they have supplied a variety of films with their wildly experiential musings. Some call them off the wall, but even more appropriately off the planet, like some satellite randomly sequencing frequencies and intelligently sorting them into amusing creative inner landscapes. Moods run the gamut of screwball to erotic to exquisite. Play them in your car, and you feel like you're starring in your own movie. Such is the visual poetry and character stance of ONOFFON. In this case, it does take three to tango: Von Babasin - bass and vocals, Don Lake - guitars, harmonica, vocals, and Dave Goode - drums and percussion. ONOFFON is a group to watch for indie street smarts. They are all over the place, including major sites as Amazon.com, The Muze, Mp3.com, and The All Music Guide, as well as Mixposure, SoundClick, and CD Baby to name just a few. This trio is an experiment that works; with technical, musical, performance talent and vision like this, breakthroughs in multimedia are not only expected, but demanded. As Babasin says of the possibilities for indie music and the Internet, "It has opened a door that gives us hope. The sky's the limit." ONOFFON is navigating this realm as fast as the speed of sound at sea level.
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ONOFFON Biography - Written by Maruhnissa Benford-Combs, Spin Records Editor
An interesting note is that Von is the offspring of Harry Babasin, an unsung hero of jazz pizzicato on cello, whose prodigious work can be found in the sonic archives of connoisseur label Nocturne. He was a major player in the melting pot phenomenon known as "West Coast jazz," which found the first inventions of its voice in the 1930's. He is said to have played on over 1,500 recordings (see the All Music Guide). Von has CDs of his father playing with Charlie Parker, Chet Baker, Benny Goodman, just to name a few. Harry is also credited with helping to create the bossa nova style of jazz in 1952, ten years before the famous "Girl of Ipanema" in the '60's. He also appeared in a movie with Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo, A Song is Born, which showcased many of the jazz aristocracy of the day. Von holds the key to over 400 hours of these gems and is intent on making a cyber-museum and digital library of this rare music.
The elusive rhythmatist David Goode financed his way through Percussion Institute of Technology playing Top 40 gigs, and is thrilled at working his chops in the experimental, open-minded atmosphere of ONOFFON. He seems to be of the "less-is-more" school of sensitivity, which does a great service to the total effect. A percussionist for 30 years, Goode is focusing his attention through the medium of an electric "Zen drum." The eclectic influences of rhythm pioneers Trilok Gurtu, Terry Bozzio and Buddy Rich have led him to the path of promoting solo drum music as a legitimate art in and of its own. Of Goode's trio work with ONOFFON, one can "expect the unexpected at live shows from me." Apparently, he gives good back rubs (must be all that drumming), but is bad with words and can't dance. Oh, well, as if being a beat shaman, isn't enough.
The hands and mind behind the magic guitar presence belong to Don Lake, who describes himself as floating in the middle sea (middle C, get it?). Lake is an endless fount of presence, answering creative inquiry with a reflection of the question. When asked of live performance, the response is cutting and clear, "Hire actors and dancers to shake it and pander to the TV mentality. The musicians are here to go deeper into it." It is an apropos statement from a man who names his major influence as Beethoven. "Beethoven, Bach, those great composers were giants in humanity, they tapped into a divine world and were able to call forth inklings of remembrance to those who listen," he says. Music, coming from the timeless, transcends time. Great art lends a glimpse into the reality of this moment, a point from which ONOFFON's art derives its powerful beauty; the observer becomes the subject. True to his voice, Lake suggests that, - "music is the second greatest invention of the human mind."
What is the first?
"Look around."
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