Biography

Introduction

Growing is a drone music/ambient music band formed in Olympia, Washington, and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The group was founded in 2001 by Kevin Doria (electric bass guitar), Joe Denardo (electric guitar), and Zack Carlson (drums). Carlson left following their first album, and the band continued as a duo until 2009, when they recruited Sadie Laska to form a new trio. The group has gradually progressed their musical from play slow, instrumental drone pieces through works in noise and ambient music toward more propulsive, rhythm driven music.

Their live shows are consistently known for being very loud, playing straight through their set without break or pause. They have released albums on labels such as Kranky, Animal Disguise, Archive, Megablade/Troubleman, and they are currently on The Social Registry.

At the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008 Growing released their first two releases for The Social Registry; a 7-inch single for the label Social Club series and a mini-lp entitled Lateral.

Growing began work on a follow up full length for The Social Registry in early 2008 with Brooklyn producer Barry London which is tentatively scheduled for a fall 2008 release.

In April 2008 Growing embarked on a tour of Europe and The UK with the Japanese band Boris.

Equipment, Technique, and Composition

Joe is left-handed and Kevin is right-handed. In recent concerts, both Doria and Denardo have used pairs of amplifiers for true-stereo guitar setups. In early shows, the bassist generally plays with his back to the audience, and the guitarist generally plays seated on a chair, much like members of kindred spirits Spacemen 3 did. In recent (2008) concerts, Joe has played standing, using effects units on the floor and on tables (which they control with their hands).

Growing's music has been consistently based repetitive, droning guitar sounds, which may be heavily processed (beyond sounding identifiable as guitar). They regularly employ looping pedals as well as the Ebow to create and extend these sounds seamlessly and indefinitely.

In addition to processing and looping pedals, both Doria and Denardo process their guitars through instruments and effects not traditionally designed or marketed for guitar. These include effect touch pads (designed for DJs) and rhythm boxes, which allow extensive hands-on control.

In several interviews, members of Growing have described their preference for using these stomp-boxes, DJ effects, drum machines, and other music hardware for their simplicity and hands-on, immediate result, rather than laptop computers (which have become a predominant platform among electronic musicians) for sampling and/or sound manipulation.

While most loop-driven guitar performances involve building many layers into a harmonically complex musical motive with unified rhythm (and the option to solo over the loop), Growing's approach is quite different. Their sound involves capturing simple, contrasting drones or motifs moving in separate looping streams (sometimes played out of sync for textural effect), which can then be introduced and removed independently for greater subtlety. This approach often involves using effect chains and looper-pedals in parallel, so that either player may capture multiple drones or motifs that can then be manipulated and expressed independently. Joe describes this process as "... basically, our whole band is volume pedals." With such technique, they can then compose and execute seamless or dramatic transitions not usually achieved by only two guitars.

When pressed about their sense of composition and improvisation, Joe has stated that many of the transitions during performances are planned, which Kevin (in a different interview) has explained that Growing's writing process is passive and that "...it's all jams," while

Discography

ANNODOMINI (cassette) - Demo under the name 1000 AD
Modern Practical Incantations (video) - self-released
Fear of Life/Death (cassette) - self-released
Five Patterns (cassette) - self-released
Dry Drunk On Woman (7"/CDr) - Megablade/ Nail In The Coffin. Later repressed on CDr by Nail in the Coffin.
Five Patterns & Fear Of Life/Death (Cassette) - Animal Disguise reissue of both self-released tapes in one package.
Above/ Below Sea Level (double cassette) - Animal Disguise (2 cassettes meant to be played simultaneously on separate stereos; limited edition.)
Secrets And Sounds compilation (CD) - Animal Disguise
The Sky's Run Into The Sea (2003) (CD/LP) - Kranky
The Soul Of The Rainbow And The Harmony Of Light (2004) (CD/LP) Kranky/ Animal Disguise
Early Stages (CD-R) "Bootleg" release/ demo of early Soul Of The Rainbow material.^{[citation needed]}
Growing/ Mark Evan Burden split (CD) - Zum
Growing/ Mark Evan Burden split (LP) - This Generation Tapes (300 white / 200 Black)
Live (2005) (CD/2XLP) - Archive. Later pressed on 2xLP by Conspiracy Records
His Return (CD/LP) - Megablade
BBC Session (cassette) - Self Released. Later re released in the Live Series tapes.
Live Series I (cassette) - Tapeblade
Live Series II (cassette) - Tapeblade
Live Series III (cassette) - Tapeblade
Live Series IV (cassette) - Tapeblade
Live Series V (cassette) - Tapeblade
Color Wheel (2006) (CD/LP) - Megablade
Vision Swim (2007) - Megablade/ Troubleman
The Social Club Nº 8 (7") (2007) - The Social Registry
Lateral (LP/CD) (2008) - The Social Registry
All the Way (LP/CD) (2008) - The Social Registry

Total Life

Total Life is Doria's side-project. In 2005, he released his first album on Animal Disguise, which was limited to 150 copies and is now sold out. The cassette was reissued on vinyl in early 2007 in a series of 500. In March 2008, Total Life released a second album "Ken Bradshaw" on BrownSounds records. This release featured more propulsive, energetic rhythms with the usual "wall of sound" guitar sounds.