The Crystal Ark - LP

 

The Crystal Ark - LP

The Crystal Ark is the collaborative, body-centric, New York pop project of Gavin Russom and Viva Ruiz. The group began when Russom asked Ruiz to write and sing Spanish lyrics over a pair of instrumentals he had created blending his signature hypnotic synthesizer sound with live afro-latin percussion. Ruiz’s fevered vocalizations, which blended song, spell and rallying cry, took these pieces to new heights and the result was the group’s first two singles released on New York’s DFA label: “The City Never Sleeps” and “The Tangible Presence of the Miraculous”.

 

The second single featured percussionist Alberto Lopez’s fierce polyrhythmic drumming as a supplement to the already driving electronic pulse. A desire to carry the sound forward and expand it solidified Russom and Ruiz’s collaboration, established Lopez as a member of the group and also brought in new members; vocalists Jaiko Suzuki and Sokhna Heathyre Mabin whom Viva had worked with previously, as well as bassist Tyler Pope and electronics expert Matt Thornley, both of whom Gavin had worked with during LCD Soundsystem’s final tour. 2nd bassist Eliza Douglas joined the group shortly after.

With this group in place, Russom and Ruiz produced a full length album to be released in October of 2012 and launched a live show, featuring the full band plus dancers Irene “Discos” Deros and Alberto Cortes and a video crew comprised of Bec Stupak and Johnny Woods. This line up has appeared all over the world at venues such as the Sydney Opera House, Palais De Tokyo, The Hirshorn Museum and MOMA PS1 as well as many sweaty, dark night clubs. The group’s sound reflects the physicality, diversity, sexuality and intensity of New York City itself. The Crystal Ark is about possibility, transformation and opening your body, mind and spirit to the forces of nature.