Dem imonde

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Function: noun
Etymology: French demi-monde, from demi- + monde world, from Latin mundus
"a distinct circle or world that is often an isolated part of a larger world"
Dem imonde is a three-piece, straightedge, “IntelaRock” [intelligent alternative and experimental rock] band that formed in Louisville, Georgia (USA) during the fall of 2007. Its founding members are Aiden Blair, Ximena Valdís, and Elliott X. Grey XVI. The band is known for their raw, “garage-esque” sound and trading off instruments during a performance.
The Beginning
During 2006, Ximena and Elliott formed a band (then known as Veiled in Darkness). In the fall of 2007, Aiden moved to a nearby town and registered at the school that Ximena and Elliott attended. By coincidence, Ximena and Aiden had the same class together. Through this class, they realized that they shared a passion for the same bands and genres of music. Ximena asked Aiden to join the band [as the bassist] and the invitation was immediately accepted. At the time, Elliott was the guitarist and Ximena was the drummer, but that arrangement would quickly change.
At their second band practice, Aiden brought up an idea that she believed was naïve at the time, but would soon become the primary foundation of Dem imonde. Aiden suggested that they could, “Switch instruments during a performance in order to alter [our] sound and style.” The other members agreed and the line-up was set. All members would play guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and sing various vocal parts throughout a performance.
The Name
Dem imonde’s first show was at Cheeks Studios in Evans, Georgia on October 13, 2007. The band had only been around for about two months and they still lacked a name. They went onstage as “The no-name band with a no-name song” and performed what would become “Disengage”, which was their first track written as a band and their first instrumental piece.
After their first performance, the band felt an urgent need to name themselves (seeing as “the no-name band” simply would not work). After about a week of searching, they unanimously decided on Dem imonde. Demimonde is French for “half-world” and the band believed that it would fit their darker style and sense of detachment. They put an emphasis on “half” and split the word in two as such: Dem imonde. [The “i” is left lowercase in order to further demonstrate the disconnection of the world.]
Democratic Style
Dem imonde is both applauded and criticized for their democratic approach to writing and composing. All of the members (on an album) are given the same amount of tracks that feature their vocals on lead. If a member is to sing the lead on a track, then they write both the lyrics and compose the part for the instrument that they wish to play while singing.
Dem imonde believes that by writing this way, “It avoids unnecessary tension that often is built up in bands by letting one person have the final say [all of the time]. This is also why we do not have a front-man. We all have various ideas and beliefs that could not be expressed by one person.”
IntelaRock
“IntelaRock” [intelligent alternative and experimental rock] is a style of music that was created by Dem imonde. They formed the name after hearing Steve Cheeks say, “This is music for intelligent men,” while he was listening to Nyctalopia. The label has followed them since.
Albums:
CLICK ON ICONS TO PURCHASE:
Nyctalopia (2008)
The Era of Wonderful Nonsense (January 2009)
The News and Farmer:
"Shades of Grey"
May 29, 2008
by Jessica Newberry
Last August, two girls met in a Jefferson County High School classroom. They connected instantly over a common interest in The Cure, an English rock band that would serve as one of their own band’s main influences.
Sisters Ximena and Elliott X. Grey XVI had started a rock band themselves, but when Ximena met the new kid in town, the trio was complete.
Aiden Blair moved to Wrens from Americus last summer and Dem Imonde was born.
“Our name literally means ‘half-world’ in French,” said 16-year-old Elliott. “It fits because we’re in a gray area; neither here nor anywhere else.”
Dem Imonde’s music is so unique that the band’s producer, Steve Cheeks, has named their genre “IntelaRock” since it is a combination of electronica, experimental rock and other types of music.
They play a little bit of everything, except contemporary country, but that isn’t surprising after hearing what inspires them.
“The Cure, Mahatma Ghandi, David Bowie, Virginia Woolfe, JFK, the feminist movement and, of course, John Lennon,” the three girls list unanimously.
“We are liberating music and revolutionizing it,” said Elliott. “We’re not a typical band and we’re not a girl band.”
Dem Imonde plays some cover music from other bands, but each member works on original songs that make up most of what they play. Much of their inspiration for lyrics comes from books they have read.
“Our music contains lots of literary allusion,” said 16-year-old Aiden. “We’re not Josie and the Pussycats; there are no pink high heels and leopard print.”
Their songs are a combination of efforts; each member brings different ideas or sometimes an entire song. This democratic approach to writing runs throughout the band’s operation including deciding who plays which instrument.
“We have a variety of styles, so each person brings something different every time,” said Elliott. “Every song is a new story to develop.”
The three members each play a variety of instruments including the drums, bass, guitar and the keyboard. They also alternate with vocals.
Elliott and Ximena have each been playing these instruments for three years. Aiden has played piano for six years and drums for three.
Each week, the group practices for six to eight hours at Elliott and Ximena’s house.
“We have long practices, but they’re always fun,” said Aiden. “We also work on our own during the week.”
In April, the band released its seven-track demo album, Nyctalopia. The album’s cover is composed of three drawings, one by each band member. Elliott’s represents a masking of the inner person, Ximena’s signifies the flow of life and Aiden’s eye reflects the album’s name, Nyctalopia, which means “night blindness.”
“We’re hoping to record another album soon, and we’re excited every time we get to play live,” said 14-year-old Ximena.
The band has performed live four times including most recently at The Bistro in Louisville on Friday, May 23. This summer, they will tour Georgia including performances in Savannah in early June with an appearance at the Tybee Pier and Pavilion.
“Anything that gives us an outlet is great,” said Aiden. “We have had pretty good reception; our music is different but you have to give it a chance.”
The News and Farmer:
“Enter IntelaRock”
February 19, 2009
By Leila Borders
Out of the desolate crossroads of Grange, something brave this way comes. “Intelarock,” intelligent, experimental and alternative rock, is the phrase coined to describe the sound of Dem imonde, an all-female group that is establishing itself as anything but a garage band. With shows from Augusta to Tybee Island and an upcoming CD release party for their second album, The Era of Wonderful Nonsense, the band is certainly making it mark.
Dem imonde, which means “half world” in French, began as a simple idea in the school cafeteria. When members Ximena Valdis and Aiden Blair discovered striking similarities in their musical tastes, it did not take long before a band was formed. Joined by member Elliott X. Grey XVI, the threesome set about making a name for themselves.
“Our message is that music is more than beats and lyrics,” said Grey.
At 14, 16, and 17, the members of Dem imonde are young, but they have a voracious appetite for new experiences and ideas.
Influenced by music from Miles Davis and The Beatles to The Cure and AFI to The Killers and Shiny Toy Guns, the girls say there is no genre they will not attempt. The ten tracks of The Era of Wonderful Nonsense, their second album, prove their ambition to create a sound for everyone. Current events, Virginia Wolfe, Edgar Allen Poe, life experiences, Gandhi, and philosophy all make their way into Dem imonde’s music.
“The overall feel [of the album] is that these are things beyond our control. The worst things are inevitable,” says Valdis.
Already on sale at CDBaby.com and select stores in Augusta, the album’s release party is Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at The Bistro in downtown Louisville.
Each song on the album is decidedly different from the next, probably because each song has a different writer, singer, bassist, guitarist, or drummer. All three girls write music and lyrics and all three play every instrument in the band. In fact, every aspect of the band is shared by the three. From song writing to performing to producing the album, the girls do it all and do it equally.
“It would be nice to be revered for not having a front man,” said Blair.
Being revered is certainly on the band’s to-do-list, as is being themselves. They want to pioneer IntelaRock and play in Tokyo, New York, and California. They also want to be known for being straight-edge, meaning not using drugs or alcohol. Their ambitions are lofty, but they are committed to going as far as they can go.
“The sky’s the limit,” said Grey.
Currently, the band is planning to expand to play shows in Atlanta and Athens and create music videos for the new album.
“I really admire them. All three are very intelligent,” said friend Hope Lariscy.
Lariscy is the band’s self-proclaimed prime minister, mascot, roadie, part-time bouncer, defender, promoter, and artist. Before shows, the band gathers to hear their friend’s pep-talk, and if she cannot be there in person, they gather around a cell phone.
With the support of friend like Lariscy, their families- the band’s manager is Valdis and Grey’s father- and teachers- the new album’s cover art was designed in part by Linda Merritt, the band’s art teacher- Dem imonde certainly has the backing to go far. Though their music is experimental, the band and its supporters hope it has a message for everyone.
“Don’t be afraid to open your ears to something new,” said Grey.
For more information, contact Randy Cain at [email protected].
Metro Spirit:
"Neither Here Nor There"
May 06, 2009
by Dino Lull
Part of local trio Dem Imonde’s charm is that their fans never know what to expect from the teenage girls… except that they sound nothing like Taylor Swift
AUGUSTA, GA - Sitting in a corner booth in Nacho Mama’s, Ximena Valdis, Aiden Blair and Elliot Grey seem like three regular teenage girls. They attend school at Jefferson County High and plan to enroll at ASU after graduation. All normal enough.
Most people would not believe this trio of talented multi-instrumentalists is actually local experimental cutting-edge band Dem Imonde, known for their hauntingly poetic lyrics, no-holds-barred musical barrage and DIY attitude.
Formed from the initial meeting of Blair and Valdis roughly two years ago, Dem Imonde has since released two albums, “Nyctalopia” in 2008 and the follow-up, “The Era of Wonderful Nonsense,” in January of this year. Planning a third release in late 2009, the girls want to expand their sound to encompass their personal musical changes. But as fans of Dem Imonde have come to know, the three-piece embraces change and musical diversity as a basic rule.
While all the girls play a variety of instruments, Valdis, with her percussionist background, is the primary drummer. Grey plays bass and Blair dominates the guitar.
“I began playing guitar when I was 12,” Blair reminisces, explaining her love for the instrument. “I learned on my own.”
It was Blair, upon moving to a new school and searching for people interested in forming a band, who ran across Valdis and discovered they had musical talent in common.
Fans of Dem Imonde will find the band exploring new genres in the near future, such as can be heard on their upcoming album.
“We’re working on a more full sound,” Grey admits about the future of the band. “You can’t always stay the same,” Blair adds. “We’re always changing,” Grey goes on to explain about Dem Imonde. “We’re neither here nor there.”
This motto goes well with the band name, which means “half-world” in French. It is this feeling of constant experimentation, change and growth that permeates their very sound and style.
“We let the song create itself,” Grey says. “It’s very organic.”
As for the lyrics, all three girls contribute. Grey takes a lot of influence from people watching in the mall, while Blair admits her lyrics are personal but a little blunter than those of the other two. Valdis focuses on personal experiences and converts the different subject matter into what she refers to as “Dem Imonde poetry.”
Dem Imonde has their first 21 and over show coming up at Sky City.
“We’re looking for a lot of gigs,” Valdis says, and plan for even more during the summer.
They have also finished recording “Winter Reign” for the 12 Bands of Christmas later this year.
For the future, Dem Imonde will keep working on their newest album currently in production. Blair laughs about the reception she thinks Dem Imonde will receive.
“I think they’ll be amazed that these girls can play. Also that we don’t sound like Taylor Swift.”
Dem Imonde certainly doesn’t sound like anything on the radio today. The band’s mysterious nature is a major part of what makes them so intense, interesting and innovative. As long as the girls keep being themselves, the fans will never know what to expect from the Georgia three-piece. This is Dem Imonde’s charm.