LAPPELECTRO fuses experimental elements of various influences including jazz, folk, and electronica. Their sound mixes loop based DJ culture and live improvisation with a unifying goal to bridge the gap between the two. Formed in January 2001, unique and cutting-edge, LAPPELECTRO is quickly gaining worldwide recognition as an innovative jazz-based electronica band. Still, they are much more than that...

The core of LAPPELECTRO is multi-instrumentalist Daniel Lapp (horns, strings, guitar, vocals). He is joined by three virtuosic band members, Rick May (bass), Ryan Stewart (drums) and Danuel Tate (keyboards). Together their innovative nature and improvisational capabilities push the limits of numerous diverse genres by fusing them together.

LAPPELECTRO was formed as a result of Lapp's search for musicians who were open to all-out improvisation. He found the free environment he was craving within the DJ culture. "It was really exciting to discover this world," says Lapp, "Like DJ's, I go with instinct, that's the sort of musician I am, but I also apply my knowledge of composition and arrangement."

Following their inception in January 2001, with their musical residency at Steamer's Pub in Victoria, LAPPELECTRO performed a set at the WOMAD Festival in Seattle. The electronic component they brought to their set, however, was not a DJ but sampled loops and vivid soundscapes created by the musicians. The result was a captivating performance that astounded critics and fans alike.

Using live sound layering to craft musical illusions, LAPPELECTRO must be experienced live to fully appreciate what they are capable of creating. "Live, you get to see the sculpting of our music right in front of your eyes; the sound builds from the ground up," says Lapp.

Their sound inspires, their lyrics are meaningful and their music is soulful. Although LAPPELECTRO started out by improvising, they have found a consistency within themselves, "a central unifying theme," explains Lapp, "there is a clear vision of an intense, dramatic, and diverse musical environment we want to explore. It's exciting to discover that freedom as a band."

Following the wild success of the Seattle WOMAD event, LAPPELECTRO released "Live at Seattle WOMAD, 07/01" to compliment the seven live albums released from their residency at Steamers Pub. Through February and March of 2002, they toured the Pacific Northwest with dates in Washington, Oregon and BC and subsequently, played two shows at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival in June. LAPPELECTRO was then featured live in Victoria at the FolkFest Stage on a CBC Television national broadcast that included other Canadian artists such as David Usher, Rufus Wainwright, and Jimmy Rankin. Later that same day, LAPPELECTRO opened for Big Sugar on the lawns of the British Columbia Legislature to a crowd of 30,000.

Currently releasing their debut EP entitled "Closer than they Appear", LAPPELECTRO is busy planning tours in Europe and Australia, as well as key dates in Canada and the United States. "We are definitely not part of the mainstream," says Lapp, "it may take us a while to find our audience, but Lappelectro has elements that can appeal to anyone and we know from the WOMAD experience that people are ready for change."