Delicious Records: Artist Bios

Agency-X Biography

The band consists of two operatives,
San Francisco-based singer/songwriter/producerdavidmahr and Swedish keyboardist/composer
Lars Wallden. With influences spanning the history of synthesizer music-from 80s synthpop to eurodisco and back-the duo's mutual electronica obsessions merge flawlessly on their debut album, despite the fact that the band mates have never met in person.

This deliciously danceable music is the fruit of an organic synthesis that begins online, of all places. The band mates work separately in studios in San Francisco and the commercial port town of Karlshamn, Sweden, and trade music files over the Internet. Introduced electronically by a mutual friend (a DJ and promoter of the SYNTHCON music conference), the two began collaborating in 2001 after discovering, through email and IM conversations, a common worship of 80s synthpop demigod Vince Clarke (founder of Depeche Mode, Yazoo, and Erasure). Agency-X was born when, in a three-hour fit of pure inspiration,davidmahr wrote and arranged vocals for a demo piece that Wallden had ICQ'd over-which became the single "Don't Hold your Breath." The band's first release also included a remake of "Walk Away From Love, "originally recorded for the Ninthwave Records compilation of 2002 Nobody's Diary: A Tribute to Yazoo.

Agency-X's front man, davidmahr, has released solo projects on his own Delicious Records label including 1997's No Drama! and 1999's Lost & Found albums as well as the three-song EP Only You, featuring the title Yazoo cover track and the international club hit "Sugar Candi (What You Mean to Me)." 
Lars Wallden, the keyboard-programming mastermind behind Agency-X, is best known for keeping alive the machine-made, Clarke-influenced sound with his Swedish synthpop bandAvantGarde, which he started in 1990.

So how do an openly gay man in San Francisco and a straight man in Sweden write love songs together? In the case of "Catch Me," davidmahrput Wallden's tale of meeting and falling for a woman named Katrin into song. But when he sings "Oh Katrin, won't you catch me and fall in love? Let's go hand-in-hand - let's see the world together…" he imagines Katrin as a man, explaining with a smile, "Love is love." He continues: "Writing a love song really is about understanding what that particular person is going through, the emotions being felt. I certainly know how happy and goofy I felt when I first fell in love with my partner of 13 years. In fact, the songs on this album speak to so many emotions that are universal - love and happiness, of course, but also fear, insecurity, loss, and finally, hope."

The songs are full of double and hidden meanings. In "At the End of the Day" when the singer asks, "Have you ever had the kind of love that drives you insane?" The answer, "In a happy way, it's a happy day, oh yeah" somehow makes perfect sense. Other lyrics are more direct: "All is quiet on the western front, my mind tries to say - but my heart says something else - Why did you have to die?"

The album is a collection of tales based on the adventures of two "secret" agents searching for love and the meaning of life, just like the rest of us. On this mission, the specifics of any relationship are less important than the common experiences of joy, sadness, loss, regret, redemption, and finally, hope: "Looks like the mission is finally over. Floating here amongst the wreckage…Come find me, I'm worth saving."

The bouncy electro beats and lush vocal arrangements onMission Impossible deliver pop perfection with a bittersweet complexity that emerges over repeated listening. Agency-X joins forces in cyberspace-the ultimate expression of human isolation-but traverses the landscape of the heart in search of understanding. Deceptively sweet and light, Mission Impossible is a satisfying meal for body and soul.

davidmahr Biography

 

davidmahr was born in Sparks, Nevada, and spent most of his early days in Grass Valley, California.  He was first introduced to synth-based electronic music as a very small child by his father, who played Japanese electronic artistTomita’s “Ballet of the Chicks in Their Shells” from hisPictures at an Exhibition album during a road trip.

davidmahr finally realized he wanted to create synth music himself during a solo trek from Reno to Washington D.C. in the late 80s with only Erasure’s The Circus, The Thompson Twins’ Quick Steps and Side Kicks and Pet Shop Boys’ Disco for company.

When he returned to California, davidmahr hooked up with high school chum and keyboardist Mr. Smith and Sacramento singer/songwriter Spencer David and began writing and producing his own brand of bittersweet, catchy synthpop. 

In 1990, davidmahr and Spencer met singer/songwriterLori Napoleon and formed their first band, The Innosynths (formerly The Innocents). The trio wrote songs and performed together throughout the early 90s, including appearances at large events such as the Freedom Fair held at the California State Capitol and Gay Pride at San Francisco’s Civic Center. 

After a move to San Francisco and collaborative work on various one-off synthpop projects, davidmahr released his first solo effort, a seven-song EP entitled Solitude, which he co-wrote with Spencer David.  Two more collections soon followed: 1997's No Drama! and 1999's Lost & Found. Both were critically acclaimed and featured his unique brand of synthpop in such fan favorites as "I Could Be So Fortunate," "Little Boy Blue," "More Each Day" and "Days After Night."

During this time, davidmahr was also featured on several musical compilations, including Sibilance #1 and Sibilance #2 from Trip Records in New York and theHeyDay Records sampler CD Glittering Clouds - Autumn in New York.

In 2002, after an introduction by mutual friends, davidmahr embarked on a cross-Atlantic collaborative effort with Sweden’s Lars Wallden, who was best known as part of the popular synthpop band AvantGarde.  The new duo recorded their first song - a popular remake of Yazoo's "Walk Away From Love” - under the moniker The Agency, which was featured on the Yazoo tributeNobody’s Diary in 2002 along with davidmahr’s cover of “Mr. Blue.”

After a minor name change, the newly formed Agency-X released their first official single, "Don't Hold Your Breath", in November 2002.  Soon after, they emerged from their respective studios in San Francisco, California, and Karlshamn, Sweden, with the acclaimed Agency-X full-length debut album, "Mission Impossible." This was soon followed by their second single, "Right By Your Side.”

Today, davidmahr continues to write and produce new music with long-time collaborator Spencer David along with the occasional DJ gig.  His new single“Relentless” will be released in the Spring of 2009.  He also continues to record with his band The Innosynths. 

A founding member of Theatre Shark, davidmahr’s other creative endeavors include sound design and media production for San Francisco’s theatre and artist community. He most recently appeared in "Shark Bites" by Jeffrey Hartgravesas well as "The Butterfly Effect."