Ainara LeGardon
“In the mirror”, considered one of 2003´s best albums by the Spanish media, was Ainara LeGardon´s solo debut, featuring Chris Eckman (The Walkabouts) on production duties and, among other guest musicians, Joe Skyward (Posies, Sunny Day Real Estate, The Walkabouts) on bass. It was released in Spain by Winslow Lab and distributed by Dock. Summer of 2004 saw the re-release of this record focused on the international market.
After extensive touring all over Spain (where she opened for Thalia Zedek, Tara Jane O´Neil, Dayna Kurtz, Chris Eckman and Karate), and also in France, Germany (supporting The Walkabouts), Belgium and Holland, her second album, “Each Day a Lie”, was released past April.
Also produced by Chris Eckman, it was recorded at Estudio Brazil in Madrid (Feb-March 2005). Guest musicians include several artists from the Spanish independent scene, and Al DeLoner from the acclaimed Norwegian band Midnight Choir.
The record has been received with excellent reviews by musical magazines all over Europe (Rock de Lux, Mondo Sonoro, Muzikalia, Bad Magazine, Undertoner, Fomp, Bokson, etc…), as well as the most known Spanish diaries (El País, El Mundo, La Vanguardia, etc…).
The first part of the tour consisted in 30 shows all over Spain, including opening acts for Bonnie `Prince´ Billy and Giant Sand.
More on Ainara LeGardon:
Born in Bilbao (Basque Country) in 1976, Ainara LeGardon was vocalist and guitarist of the Spanish rock band Onion from 1994 to 2003. With Onion, she released three records and saw her songs being included in several acclaimed films such as the worldwide known “Abre Los Ojos” (“Open Your Eyes”) by Alejandro Amenábar.
In 2003, Ainara started her own label, Winslow Lab, and co-founded Famelia: a Madrid-based association of self-released bands, indie labels and a recording studio. Famelia supports the independent scene by putting on shows and tours, distributing numerous artists, helping bands put out their own records and contributing to seminars on the music industry and the “DIY” philosophy.
Ainara´s songs have been included in more than a dozen compilations, including “Borderdreams, La Ruta del Americana” (Dock, 2004), a double CD in which she is the only non-American musician among artists such as Townes van Zandt, Jay Farrar, Mark Eitzel, Friends of Dean Martinez, Centro-Matic, 16 Horsepower, etc…
For more info, pics and tour dates: www.winslowlab.com.
"Ainara LeGardon has offered up her soul in the form of an exceptionally haunting, ambient sound on "Each Day A Lie". You can hear the distorted blues bleeding through and feel the sting of lyrics like, "You're as dead as the one who can't be further away" as the disc plays on. Carrying out the deepest pain in every song and note, it's refreshing to hear the spirit being relieved of its demons and a heart running free. Ainara has already made a name for herself as an accomplished musician, and now has released one of the most amazingly introspective discs I have ever heard."
(Monk. Independentsonly.com)
“Subtle, poetic, in love, bare, romantic, raw, honest, Ainara LeGardon brings us an autumn rain of beautiful songs. Songs that touch your soul and stay with you to keep you company.”
(Juan Mari Montes. La Gaceta de Salamanca)
“Insanely addictive.”
(Enrique Martínez. Feedback-zine.com)
“Produced by Chris Eckman (The Walkabouts), the debut of Basque singer Ainara LeGardon is a musical journey from Spain to Ljubljana with the clothes of Thalia Zedek or Carla Torgerson. Sad but intense music.”
(www.rateyourmusic.com)
“LeGardon chooses intimacy, if not desolation, to tell stories tarnished by a cursed disenchantment, on some occasions only hinted at, on others more concrete.”
(Marco Delsoldato. Losingtoday.com)
“'In The Mirror' is the reflection of the deepest feelings expressed with feminine gentleness.”
(Iosu López. Terra.es)
“From the excellent opener, Hope Defeated, the musical path is laid forth, and it is followed to perfection. (…) In general LeGardon´s compositions are characterized by seeming extremely rich in sound and almost every song reeks of a necessity, which cannot be denied. LeGardon needs to sing them, and we need to listen.”
Kasper Wurtz (Undertoner)
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