By Zack Gill
Staff Writer
If you’re walking down Marine Avenue and you pass Marine park (the one with the rocket ship), stop and head over the the racquetball courts. Take a listen. You’ll probably hear some sweaty racquetballers in the midst of a match, but if you’re lucky, you might hear one Mira Costa student attempt to create something beautiful.
“We just go in the courts, put an external generator outside and run an extension chord through a hole in the wall. I’m got some microphones, a Crate amp, and a laptop with Pro-tools. I love the sounds of the courts. I really like the lo-fi-hazy sound. I think it compliments the music that I am trying to create,” Aartdina Boysen said.
Sophomore Aartdina Boysen is a musician. She writes her own songs, sings. and plays guitar. She has just started recording music under the name Kleintje, or “little one” in Dutch.
“The songs that I’ve been recording, they’re mostly acoustic, or with clean electric guitar. I fingerpick or there’s simple chord progressions. It’s very lyrical, really. I’m trying to focus on the lyrics,” Boysen said.
Boysen is directly influenced by many other acoustic singers and chanteuses who write music in similar styles. She admired St. Vincent, Nana Grizol, and Paul Baribuea, among many others.
“One of my favorite musicians is Ed Droste [of the band Grizzly Bear]. I love the music he made on his own, early in his career, the best,” Boysen said.
Aartdina is beginning to not only make a name for herself, but also gather followers and befriend fellow musicians. Acclaimed Long Beach-based musician Avi Zahner-Isenberg, frontman for his band Avi Buffalo, has recently been recording with her. Avi Buffalo have played shows with well-regarded and popular groups such as My Morning Jacket and have recieved acclaim from music publications like “Pitchfork.” Boysen met Zahner-Isenberg in a carpool on the way to an Odd Future concert in Pamona. Together, they have started to record what Boysen says will be her debut album.
“It’s going to be a self-titled, twelve-track album, yeah. Avi and I are basically producing it together. Obviously, he’s sort of busy with his whole career and recording and touring and stuff, but he’s helping me,” said Boysen.
Boysen and Zahner-Isenberg continue to record together, but Boysen believes that her album will not be ready for a few months, as she continues to assemble more musical elements and add horns and woodwind to her music. Still, the recording process has been enjoyable for both Boysen and Zahner-Isenberg.
“Recording with Aartdina is very real and serious. There are no limits ‘in the studio,’” Avi Zahner-Isenberg said.
Boysen is collaborating with other Mira Costa students in the creation of her album, as well.
“[Senior] Dakota Wood is taking photos for the album and [junior] Ramie Landis is drawing some inserts,” Boysen said.
As Boysen continues to play area shows, like the ones she has played at the Eco Cafe and at the Mira Costa Student Art Show, more and more Costa students are taking note of her music.
“I’ve heard a lot of her music. It’s intellectual, raw, original, and sarcastic. Everything intriguing music should posseses,” junior Jordan Johnson said.
Boysen isn’t sure what the future holds for her. She simply wants to continue creating art.
“I’m not depending on music as a career. It’s just something I love to do. I mean, I’m not even sure I’d want to get signed. It changes everything. Ultimately, I want people to hear my music and relate to it. My goal is empathy,” Boysen said.
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