Life Cycle is a trio from the Pacific Northwest, currently residing in Seattle. Life Cycle formed in 2001 with Brothers Joshua J (Joshua Brooks) and Burn One (Joseph Brooks) and DJ Hanibal (Brandon Davis). The name Life Cycle came out of the groups’ identification with the ever-changing aspects in Life’s journey from birth to death. Their music focuses on family, friendship, and realities of the world we live in these days.
Life Cycle consists of Joshua J and Burn One both producing, writing, and recording all material in their home studio, The Study. The Study is mostly an analog studio. The Life Cycle sound is created with a MPC 2000XL, a Technics 1200, and a range of vintage synthesizers. Burn One says, “There is something about the tactile element of making music that I have to touch buttons and move faders. I can’t get that same feeling from making it in the box…” Not that Joshua J and Burn One are against using computers in production but the main elements in their music will always come from the machines that litter their studio. In contract, DJ Hanibal, who provides cuts to current tracks and will be producing for future Life Cycle projects, works strictly on computers. He prefers the way a computer catalogs all your production elements in one place. “…Neither way is better or worse, just different…” Joshua J says in reference to the different production techniques within the group. “Sometimes I wish I could work on a computer. It would make it easier to bounce tracks back and forth between everyone in the group. In time I will add that to the fold” (Burn One) Regardless of the way the music is made; ultimately the goal is to spread a message of love, perseverance, and unity of all men and women.
Life Cycle released their first full length album “City Of Rust” in June 2008. City… came out of the change of Joshua J and Burn One moving from their hometown of Tacoma Washington to Seattle. While the group was trying to move forward and gain notoriety in a bigger city, the regionalism and historic battle of the two Northwest Cities seemed to hold them back. But with the help of childhood friend Jake Wagoner and Artifakt, Life Cycle was involved in one of the cutting edge art movements in The Pacific NW. Life Cycle headlined many of Artifakts’ shows between Seattle and Tacoma connecting the art and music of both Cities. The fact that Life Cycle has their roots in Tacoma has only helped the group play more venues and garner more fans. A blessing in disguise.
After the release of City Of Rust the group focused on playing shows, meeting other musicians, and getting their music out to as many people as possible. Playing venues such as Neumos, Chop Suey, Jazzbones, The Nectar Lounge, Rendezvous, The Swiss, Hells Kitchen, The High Dive, among other venues with the likes of national acts such as Del The Funky Homosapian, Scarub, A-Plus, The Teaching, Blue Scholars, Eliot Lipp, and Qwel to regional acts like Common Market, B-Awake, Yirim Seck, Silent Lambs Project, Gabriel Teodras, Tulsi, Luck One, and many, many others. In mid 2009, Life Cycle realized they needed to get back in the studio. The Grounded EP released in August 2009 as a free download only. A thank you from Life Cycle to everyone who is listening to their music. The beats are a little harder edged and synth heavy compared to City of Rust but still have that recognizable Life Cycle sound. The Topics are similar to that of City… but seem to have a bit more urgency. The world is changing, especially the world of music. Moving forward, Life Cycle would like to be a tab in the history of modern music.
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