BIOGRAPHY
Slow Motion Celebrity embodies its true meaning now more than ever. In the fall of 2011, fellow classmates Brian Ruppenkamp and J. Steadman began their search for a singer who could front a rock project that had been in development for more than 2 years. After weeks of auditions, Mandie Hittleman walked through the door of a small lockout space in Los Angeles and immediately blew them away. In an instant, an audition turned into the beginnings of a strong friendship and partnership as SMC had finally found its voice.
After pairing down their work to 5 songs that best embody the sound of SMC, the group headed into pre-production with producer Ryan Greene, a fan of the project from its inception. Friend of the band Beau Evans graciously lended his impeccable drum skills, and after working and reworking the tunes, SMC headed into Validus Recordings Studio in North Hollywood to start tracking their debut EP The Skeleton Tree in January of 2012.
With such an album like The Skeleton Tree under their belt, Slow Motion Celebrity needed a drummer—not just a good drummer, but a drummer with the same drive, determination and tenacity as the rest of the group. After months of auditions, Anna Crane walked into that same lockout space, going above and beyond to secure her spot on the SMC roster, demonstrating monstrous power, lethal precision, and most importantly—heart.
And so, the SMC lineup is officially complete. Hittleman is more than just a good singer. With an incredible ear for melody, harmony and the unrelenting desire to tell a story, she can easily turn a simple song into a full-blown production. Paired with Ruppenkamp’s vintage-inspired, aggressive wall of rhythm and lead guitars, Steadman’s gritty, yet melodic bass tone, and Anna Crane’s furious percussive assault, SMC is poised to change the sound of modern day rock and roll.
The journey will require dedication and time, but it will happen—perhaps in slow motion. Celebrity is instantaneous—a flash in a pan—though this group is anything but. SMC will continue to “make it ‘til they make it,” through hard work, and the truthfulness and heart displayed in their music.
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