Voice Industrie

Voice Industrie

Voice Industrie (1989 - present) http://www.voiceindustrie.com

Electronic music (industrial/techno/trance) from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Members:

VI version 1

Alan Levesque (music, lyrics, keyboards and programming, electronic drums, production) 1989-2006

Alex Brodsky (keyboards) 1989-1995

Lance White (keyboards) 1989-1994

Richard Abbass (electronic drums) 1991-1995

VI version 2

Alan Levesque (music, lyrics, keyboards and programming, electronic drums, production) 1989-2006

Francis Tetrault (keyboards) 1995-2005

Also, Shane Handford (keyboards) and Monique Albert (vocals) both stepped in for brief stints.

VI version 3

Alan Levesque (music, lyrics, keyboards and programming, electronic drums, production) 2006 to present.

A brief history

The group performed their inaugural live show in 1992 at the Bronx in Edmonton, and went on to open for 2-Unlimited and other prominent bands of the era. White left VI in 1994 and the band continued as a three member act opening for the likes of Cassandra Complex and others. Brodsky and Abbass left VI in 1995, a mere 10 days prior to VI's "The Anatomie" scheduled CD release and opened the door for keyboardist Francis Tetrault to come in and fill the vacancy until his departure in 2005.

In 1994, VI was signed to indie label 'Factoria Records', then in 1997 to 'Interdimensional Industries'. Both labels helped the band get introduced locally and abroad, culminating in an appearance in Sideline Magazine's 'Heartbreaker Top 10' section with VI's 'Transmission' in 1997, but it wasn't until VI was signed to the A Different Drum synthpop label out of Salt Lake City that the band began receiving global attention. (VI's music is currently available through the A Different Drum label website). With pounding dance beats, driving percussion and unrelenting electronic bliss, Levesque's smooth "Gahan-esq" voice had become a trademark of the band and was touted as one of the best male voices in electronic music. They were known as one of the few electronic bands that maintained a melodic and integral vocal presence regardless of how driving or intense the music was. Several of the more prominent electronic bands of the era mentioned VI as having influenced their vocal sound in one way or another.

From the DM-like offerings of the early years (Psychotica - 1992) to a more industrial period (The Anatomie - 1995), it seemed Levesque was not content to let the music remain stagnant. It continued to evolve -- touching on pseudo-trance infused soundscapes (Transmission - 1997) eventually to find a trance synthpop flavour in the final VI offering (Power - 2003). Critics cited Power as Depeche Mode meets Underworld and one review claimed "VI makes music for the mind that shakes the behind." The 2-CD "Voice Historie" was released in 2004 and featured songs from the previous albums.

Voice Industrie performed live with KMFDM, Assemblage 23 and numerous other bands and artists, released five full length albums and numerous compilation appearances and remixes.

VI's music is available at A Different Drum and Amazon, CD Baby and other online stores

Recent news

Mar 2010 - Remastering of select tracks from the VI repertoire underway.. will be available for download in the coming months. (www.voiceindustrie.com)

Oct 2009 - New electro music project "Pearls Girl".... Details TBA 2010 (www.voiceindustrie.com)

2007 - Alan played drums on and produced "The Basement Tapes" EP for local Edmonton post-punk trio "Cockatoo"