Michael Ciravolo’s dream convergence Beauty In Chaos have announced that they will be releasing a new album entitled ‘Beauty Re-envisioned’, which is a diverse collection of remixes, treatments and alternative versions of many of the songs from their debut album ‘Finding Beauty In Chaos’. Each track has been re-envisoned by a diverse group of producers, djs and artists including; Tim Palmer (The Mission, Tin Machine, U2, Robert Plant), John Fryer (This Mortal Coil, NIN, Love And Rockets), Kitty Lectro (The March Violets, Kommunity FK), Mark Gemini Thwaite (Peter Murphy, The Mission), Sine Division, Paul Wiley (Marilyn Manson), Kevin Kipnis (Purr Machine) and Statik (Collide).
Beauty In Chaos is a masterfully curated musical endeavor by Michael Ciravolo that brings together some of the most iconic names in the music world, including Wayne Hussey (The Mission), Simon Gallup (The Cure), Michael Aston (Gene Love Jezebel), Robin Zander, Michael Rozon and Al Jourgensen, to name a few. Think ethereal old school goth/ alternative meets rock but with a modern edge. This is truly, in my opinion, one of the most unique and well received ‘super groups’ of all time.
Torched Magazine is honored to have this opportunity today to ask Michael Ciravolo a few questions about the highly anticipated ‘Beauty Re-envisioned’. It’s scheduled to be released on June 21st and will be available in CD, Digital and Colored Vinyl formats and can be pre-ordered HERE. Pre-orders come with an immediate download of ‘Bloodless and Fragile’ (The Ghost Mix) that features Ashton Nyte (The Awakening) and the first 200 orders will include a free key chain necklace. And if that wasn’t enticing enough, anyone who purchases the album directly from the BIC website will also get 10 bonus tracks making it a total of 24!
‘Beauty Re-envisioned’ is a diverse collection of remixes, treatments and alternative versions of many of the songs from your acclaimed debut ‘Finding Beauty In Chaos’. What was the inspiration behind your approach in creating ‘Beauty Re-envisioned’?
Honestly, the idea started completely by accident! Wayne Hussey invited me to Tim Palmer’s studio in Austin, TX to hear the mixes of ‘Another Fall From Grace’ that they were working on. I got to meet Tim, and boldly asked him if he would consider mixing the two BEAUTY IN CHAOS songs that Wayne was working on, I waited to ask him after we were more than a couple of beverages in at a Mexican restaurant! Timing is everything. Actually, we got on great and had a lot of the same musical influences. He has always been one of my favorite producers. A few months later, we sent him ‘Man Of Faith’ and ‘The Long Goodbye’. The problem was in my excitement of having one of my favorite producers mixing songs co-written and sung by one of my favorite singers, I totally forgot to tell Tim the two main ‘restrictions’ I had placed on the album … no synths and no other guitarists. Well, he did both! His mixes and added parts where fantastic, so in no way did I want to tell him to redo the mixes. That started the idea of a ‘remix’ record. I was certainly fortunate to have so many other producers and artists jump on to do their re-envisions also. In hindsight, this also gave me a bit of time to ‘un-plug’ somewhat creatively after putting in 1500 hours (conservatively) on ‘FBIC’.
Beauty In Chaos along with the help of Vicente Cordero (Industrial Films) have created some really great visual interpretations of your songs, which includes your new preview of ‘Natural Disaster’ (Collide Mix) ft. dUg Pinnick, Zakk Wylde and Ice-T off your forthcoming release ‘Beauty Re-envisioned’. What was your inspiration behind the music and visuals here?
Working with Vicente has been fantastic, and I have to thank Ashton for that introduction. I think we have managed to approach and create each of the other videos differently (‘Storm’, ‘Look Up’, ‘20th Century Boy). I think ‘Un-Natural Disaster’ pushes the envelope even further. Tish and I certainly included some personal elements in the video ‘Look Up’. And being from New Orleans, Un-Natural Disaster hits real close to home.
The script of that video really sort of wrote itself. I think the concept started with Dug and I talking over a few shots of Jägermeister at the NAMM Show. He lived for a while in Katy, Texas .. which was devastated by Hurricane Harvey, and I of course with Hurricane Katrina. He certainly took what he learned about me and combined with his experiences …and crafted the brilliant lyrics to the song. It was certainly hard going through the Katrina footage that we used. It’s really heartbreaking. Ice-T put an exclamation point on the human toll as only he can. Statik took the track and juiced it even more with an industrial edge, which I love. Zakk Wylde, wow what can I say. A true guitar hero and a dear friend. This guy made the time the day after returning from Europe to track his absolutely blazing guitar solo. I thought my original solo was pretty ‘rockin’’ ..but to have a chance to have Zakk on this I was more than happy to mute mine! He does play more notes than I did on the entire record, but does it with style and taste. He’s a wild man but a hardworking, family man and my friend. Fuck life is good!!
What was your experience like working with dUg Pinnick?
dUg is a total pro, and one of the nicest and hardest working guys I’ve met in music. Truthfully, King’s X was not really my type of music but more of the ‘musician’s musicians’ liked them. Once I got to know dug, I realized he liked a lot of the same stuff I like … even The Mission and The Cure! Besides really adding great vocals and bass to ‘Un-Natural Disaster’ in the studio, he jumped into the ‘rain room’ with me to really make the video come to life. I really love the guy and I am blessed to call him a friend.
Michael Ciravolo with dUg Pinnick (video still from ‘Un-Natural Disaster’)
What were some of your more challenging moments in the creative process for ‘Beauty Re-envisioned’?
Knowing when to stop! Seriously, it grew and grew. The CD will contain 14 mixes, and if the album is purchased from our On-Line Store, an additional 10 mixes will be included in the download. That’s well over 2 hours of music. With so many different styles of mixes, and multiples of several of the songs… deciding on the running order and what was on the CD was certainly a painstaking process. I did not want to push 33.3 to do a double CD nor do I want it to seem the ‘bonus’ mixes that are included on the digital version are any less than what is on the CD. Actually, a couple of my personal favorite mixes are on the digital.
What were some of the greatest moments during the making of ‘Beauty Re-envisioned’?
I would have to say doing a couple of the ‘re-recorded’ versions … one being the acoustic version of ‘Storm’ with Ashton. We filmed a beautiful video for this version that we should be releasing at the end of May or early June. The ‘Au Revoir’ version of ‘The Long Goodbye’, which is a piano version. We added a small string section, along with just a tad of electric guitar at the end. This one gives me chills every time I hear it. Wayne’s lone vocal is so pleadingly passionate, and Michael Rozon wrote a simply beautiful string arrangement. The other ‘great’ moment on this record is a surprise …
What was or were some of your favorite go to guitar/s in the making of ‘finding beauty in chaos’ and ‘beauty re-envisioned’? and why?
Mainly, Schecter guitars and basses of course! I used my Corsairs and TSH-1s on most of FBIC, with some splashes of a few other models … as Stargazer, a Solo Special and my trusty CV-4 Bass. It almost didn’t matter what guitar I picked up, I just sort of rotated through them. It was really the combination of the guitars and a ton of effect pedals that was the key. I don’t really consider myself a good guitarist but I can sculpt and create atmospheres…. and every now and then blast something decent in a fit of rage!
What are some of the differences between ‘Finding Beauty In Chaos’ and ‘Beauty Re-envisioned’ that fans can expect to find?
My BIC producer and cohort, Michael Rozon did an amazing job sonically gluing ‘finding beauty in chaos together’. He helped me create a lot of textures and atmospheres with my guitar … not one note of synth on the entire 79 minutes plus of the album. ‘Beauty Re-Envisioned’ is a different animal. I gave the keys to the car and (almost) total control to some amazing people to take many of the songs on FBIC to a different place. There are a lot of mix styles on the record … 4-on-the-floor dance club mixes, stripped down ambient mixes, techno mixes, and some cool re-recorded surprises!
Video preview from forthcoming ‘Beauty Re-envisioned
Videos from debut album ‘Finding Beauty In Chaos’
The evolution of BIC includes the following talented artists for ‘Finding Beauty In Chaos’ … Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Wayne Hussey (The Mission), Tim Palmer (The Mission, Tin Machine, U2, Robert Plant), Ashton Nyte (The Awakening), Simon Gallup (The Cure), Al Jourgensen (Ministry), Michael Anthony (Van Halen), Evi Vine (Evi Vine), Michael Aston (Gene Loves Jezebel), Johnny Indovina (Human Drama), dUg Pinnick (Kings X), Pete Parada (The Offspring), Betsy Martin (Caterwaul/ Purr Machine), Marc Danzeisen (The Riverdogs), Kevin Kipnis (Kommunity FK / Purr Machine), Dirk Doucette (Gene Loves Jezebel), Pando (A Flock of Seagulls), Rudy Matchinga (Red Scare), Tish Ciravolo (Stun Gun) and ICE-T (Body Count).
‘Beauty Re-envisioned’ is a diverse collection of remixes, treatments and alternative versions of many of the songs from ‘finding beauty in chaos’ as re-envisoned by an equally diverse group of Producers, DeeJays and Artists including Tim Palmer (The Mission, Tin Machine, U2, Robert Plant), John Fryer (This Mortal Coil, NIN, Love And Rockets), Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society), Kitty Lectro (The March Violets, Kommunity FK), Mark Gemini Thwaite (Peter Murphy, The Mission), Sine Division, Paul Wiley (Marilyn Manson), Kevin Kipnis (Purr Machine) and Statik.
Torched Magazine had the opportunity to introduce you to Michael Ciravolo and Beauty In Chaos early on with one of their first interviews, which can be read HERE.
Feature photo courtesy of Michael Ciravolo
Keep up with Michael Ciravolo and Beauty in Chaos
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Store | Blog | Soundcloud |Bandcamp | iTunes | Spotify
TORCHED MAGAZINE 