alan semerdjian - ProfilesArchive

About Me

New York-based indie singer/songwriter Alan Semerdjian has quieted down considerably since his days fronting the sonic alt-pop outfit Surreal. Although the driving grooves and swirling guitars are missing, Alan's current work still has the same attention to craft and poetic sensibility of his earlier days as well as the deep melodic longing that earned him the respect of critics, fans across east coast and beyond, CMJ attention and radio airplay, and television and film credits. His self-released solo debut "When There Was Something Wrong With You" features the production work of longtime friend and collaborateur Michael Bloom (Rilo Kiley, The Elected), Phil Jimenez (Wheatus, Gordo Gringo), and Brian Blackburn (Peggy Lee Sings Leiber and Stoller) and mastering by NYC producer/DJ/artist Fred Sargolini (FS). John Platt from WFUV in New York City calls the debut "one of the best CDs I've received in a long time." Alan's recent performances blend together indie-folk pop, alt-country, forays into the world of punk and free jazz as well as subtle hints of his Armenian heritage to create a mature document of true underground hyphenated-American songwriting.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 5/14/2005
Band Website: alansemerdjian.com
Influences: poems, mothers, relationships, paint, sculpture, installations, free jazz, teaching, the field in between love wins and love fails...and as far as actual songwriters go...well, it's a long list for sure but let's say bono, elvis costello, nick drake, leonard cohen, adam duritz, aimee mann, elliott smith, michael stipe, iron and wine, dave matthews, ani difranco, teitur, regina spektor, incredible contemporary songwriters (my peers) like mike bloom, adam mugavero, and neil cavanagh, my old band surreal...the indie songwriters on the web and in the world in the street cafes, the subway music of daniel carter, the production ear of brian blackburn, the work ethic of phil jimenez, the armenian duduk (which is the saddest instrument in the world for sure), more more more...
Sounds Like: the field in between love wins and love fails
Type of Label: None

My Blog

What is Surreal (the band)?

Once upon a midsummer night in the 90..'s, my old band Surreal would rock swirly guitars and melodic but abstract, postmodern lyrics over what was almost alternative pop music. We jammed the way indi...
Posted by alan semerdjian on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:53:00 PST

summer touring 2008?

Hey friends and fans,Aside from a few shows here and there and a NYC showcase, it looks like I won't be doing too much touring this summer though the eventful demands are starting to pile up (thanks!)...
Posted by alan semerdjian on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:43:00 PST

article on myspace

This is an article I've been thinking about for a little while now. LI Pulse is publishing a slightly shorter version of it in the October 2007 issue. This is the full article though I fig...
Posted by alan semerdjian on Tue, 18 Sep 2007 10:52:00 PST

what is new

here's what's new at AS camp:-a new record in the mix featuring the production and playing of Michael Bloom again, as well as Phil Jimenez and a bit from Brian Blackburn. The band recorded basic track...
Posted by alan semerdjian on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:31:00 PST

SUMMER 2006 TOUR NOTES

Summer 2006 Tour Notes (The following are a sampling of approximately one week's worth of scribbles in my journal while touring around the country during the month of July in the year 2006) Sun...
Posted by alan semerdjian on Sun, 17 Dec 2006 02:54:00 PST

www.radio-indie-pop.com

www.Radio-Indie-Pop.com This is a great relatively-new indie rock internet station that I stumbled upon...I'm on their playlist (I think for Monday) and so are other incredible songwriters and indie ...
Posted by alan semerdjian on Tue, 29 Aug 2006 06:03:00 PST

summer 2006 tour dates (us and canada)

Summer Tour Dates 2006 (US and Canada) Alan Semerdjian Friday 6.30.06 - the space at fountains end poetry reading and performance 3929 fountain Los Angeles, CA 323-856-6168 with poets will ale...
Posted by alan semerdjian on Fri, 07 Jul 2006 07:28:00 PST

Gifts

I have these drawings, little Miro-esque etchings they are - quick and curt and warm and cool at the same time. I made them over the course of the past year or two at work. Each time someo...
Posted by alan semerdjian on Thu, 20 Apr 2006 05:40:00 PST

grades are in and I'm in the hum

I teach in the meantime. In the mean time. Out of time. It's a long and wonderful history the history of this profession/vocation/craft/practice. I'm a coin in its fountain.&nb...
Posted by alan semerdjian on Fri, 03 Feb 2006 04:14:00 PST

NEW CD AVAILABLE NOW

"When There Was Something Wrong With You," Alan Semerdjian's new 16-track catalogue of songs written over the past few years is now available from CDBABY. Buy the record, review it, and tel...
Posted by alan semerdjian on Wed, 26 Oct 2005 06:14:00 PST