Every now and then a band comes along whose music somehow becomes ubiquitous in everything we are doing, all of the time and everywhere, no matter what. This has happened with Live Footage, an electroacoustic band led by Mike Thies on drums and keyboard, and Topu Lyo on Cello and Effects. The Brooklyn-Based duo whose synchronistic lives led them to finally meet at a Halloween Party five years ago, have mastered the kind of music that carries an inspiration until it has been seen through to fruition.  Not only is it unique and inspired in its arrangement and movement, Mike and Topu use their basement to write and produce this music themselves, but each song also has a resolution.  Did I mention that there are no words? That’s the thing about Live Footage… it serves as a kind of background music to your life.

Photo by: Marc Lemoine
 
Mike and Topu who both have roots in the Western US, studied music at The New School and University of Arizona in Tucson, respectively.  Though Live Footage has only been together for 3 years, they have been jamming for 5, and it shows– with 3 distinctly arranged LPs under their belt.  Some of their favorite songs to play include, “So Far 2 Go”, “Freedom Happening”, “Mong Deri Da”, and “Multiple Divide”.   The band draws their musical inspiration from across the board…Miles Davis and King Tubby to The Beatles, Squarepusher, Debussy, and Fela Kuti.  What they admire about these artists, Topu says, is that “they have created their own unique sound and remain relevant for generations to come”.   
 
Not surprisingly Topu and Mike would like for Live Footage to have a similar effect, “We want people to be inspired to get the urge to create art for themselves.  We want to be the soundtrack for people to be happy on their commute to work, to hit people on an emotional level that lasts and can stir feelings of nostalgia and hope.”   When I asked them what they see themselves doing in the next 10 years Mike mentioned, “Photography and Paleontology, and to be consistently working”.  Topu’s vision includes “traveling and performing a lot, meeting great people, and making creative records…oh and moving out of my basement apartment…”.  Whatever happens and wherever it’s happening, let’s just hope that Mike and Topu continue to bring Live Footage into our lives.