Music connects.
AmpersAnd is formed by Maria and Alex Smalley who met whilst snorkelling in South East Asia. Their music is the collision of alternative pop and experimental sound design.
Maria began busking at the age of 14 in her home town of Erfurt (DE). Her first band Zweiekkenkreis was the youngest band to play on the main stage SonneMond&Sterne Festival alongside Kraftwerk and Massive Attack. She recorded as Chapeau Claque to critical acclaim in Germany before focusing on creating experimental sound features for public radio including Deutschland Funk.
Alex (UK) has produced numerous albums of orchestrated drone and processed guitar music under various aliases. His music has appeared in films, dance performances and documentaries including Martin Scorsese's ‘Surviving Progress’. On his album ‘Home’ he worked with Nils Frahm and has toured throughout Europe supporting artists such as Grouper, Oval and Peter Broderick. Before relocating from the UK to Germany he worked as a music therapist.
The sound of AmpersAnd has been described as epic, yet close. Dynamic layers of rhythm and texture are woven into a kaleidoscopic journey of intimacy and catharsis. Marias voice combines a familiar vulnerability with an optimistic female strength; whilst Alex provides a backbone of physical percussion and energetic washes of ambience. Guatemalan cellist Mabi Fratti was invited to balance and expand the songs electronics with more organic textures.
The project explores themes of love, connection, inclusion, psychonautic travels and nature. Influences are wide and their sound is something like Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Stars Of The Lid and Autechre coming together to make a record with Kate Bush or Björk.
To date AmpersAnds focus has been to record an album, which they completed in 2022. Now they seek creative partners to help reach a wider audience. Despite their quiet presence on social media they have already received air play on BBC Radio 1.
The band name is based on the logogram & (æm.pə.sænd) which is used to connect words. The music of AmpersAnd is about connection to ones-self, each other and beyond.
Maria began busking at the age of 14 in her home town of Erfurt (DE). Her first band Zweiekkenkreis was the youngest band to play on the main stage SonneMond&Sterne Festival alongside Kraftwerk and Massive Attack. She recorded as Chapeau Claque to critical acclaim in Germany before focusing on creating experimental sound features for public radio including Deutschland Funk.
Alex (UK) has produced numerous albums of orchestrated drone and processed guitar music under various aliases. His music has appeared in films, dance performances and documentaries including Martin Scorsese's ‘Surviving Progress’. On his album ‘Home’ he worked with Nils Frahm and has toured throughout Europe supporting artists such as Grouper, Oval and Peter Broderick. Before relocating from the UK to Germany he worked as a music therapist.
The sound of AmpersAnd has been described as epic, yet close. Dynamic layers of rhythm and texture are woven into a kaleidoscopic journey of intimacy and catharsis. Marias voice combines a familiar vulnerability with an optimistic female strength; whilst Alex provides a backbone of physical percussion and energetic washes of ambience. Guatemalan cellist Mabi Fratti was invited to balance and expand the songs electronics with more organic textures.
The project explores themes of love, connection, inclusion, psychonautic travels and nature. Influences are wide and their sound is something like Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Stars Of The Lid and Autechre coming together to make a record with Kate Bush or Björk.
To date AmpersAnds focus has been to record an album, which they completed in 2022. Now they seek creative partners to help reach a wider audience. Despite their quiet presence on social media they have already received air play on BBC Radio 1.
The band name is based on the logogram & (æm.pə.sænd) which is used to connect words. The music of AmpersAnd is about connection to ones-self, each other and beyond.
