Ariel Pink Bio

Ariel Pink (b. Ariel Rosenberg, June 1978) is an L.A.-based home taper who for years "fell out of bed onto [his] eight-track analog cassette Yamaha MT8X." He eventually wore down the unit, which succumbed, and Yamaha no longer makes it. "I now use whatever I can get my hands on," he laments, meaning cheap, scrounged-up equipment. "I can't spend money on gear, because I don't have any." He was influenced by the DIY ethic of R. Stevie Moore, with whom he subsequently became long-distance pals. Ariel has a great pop sensibility, and plays the "standard rock line-up of guitars, keys, bass, and vocals." Noticeably absent from that roll call are drums. In fact, Ariel makes all recorded drum and percussion sounds with his mouth! "It's a funny neurotic tic, which I honed since childhood," he explains. The punchy rhythms are achieved by close-miking. "Making sounds with my mouth is more acoustically akin to what i hear in my head than miking up real drums, which people spend hours on to get the right sonic effect.

Ariel has been in bands, but records by himself. (Personal estimate: 200-300 master tapes since 1995, comprising of over 500 songs.) He occasionally gigs out, but he's never felt that club dates reflect what his music is about, because his vision is intensely personal. Unlike some artistic cave-dwellers, Ariel gets along with people; he just doesn't often make music with them  "It's what always ends up happening," he says. "Sometimes I get musicians offering their services but when it comes down to it, people just don't commit to joining my crusade. I have no idea why I'm alone! But writing is easier alone."

- IRWIN CHUSID