PASSION FLOWER BIOGRAPHY

Ute Apfelstedt (Amsterdam / Germany) Ð vocals/lyrics/violin/keyboards

Stef Osadzinski (Amsterdam / England) Ð keyboards/synths/programming

Ute and Stef first made music together whilst recording and touring with S.T.M.E., an instrumental underground ambient dance formation (Nova Zembla / KK records; New Frontiers and Roskilde festival). Ute, however, having a background as a classical violinist/flautist, actress and songwriter, inspired Stef to combine forces and found a new project in 1998. The result is PASSION FLOWER, a special mixture of songs with classical and underground dance influences. The music and melodies are energetic, warm and haunting. Spotted by Sonic Rendezvous on the Vitaminic mp3 website where, remarkably for an unknown band, they held a place in the top download chart for several weeks (including one week at number one), "SHINE IN YOUR OWN LIGHT" is their debut album, which was frequently praised in various reviews (see appendix). Passion Flower were recently featured on local (AT5) and national TV (NPS) in the Netherlands as well as on the national TV Music Channel TMF, where they did a live show, the video clip of which has been broadcasted regularly. The Passion Flower song "IN YOUR EYES" appeared on the compilation "Music for the Man I Love" (BMG France, 2001) and soon on the "Del Piero" compilation (Italy, 2002).

Passion Flower has been seen on many festivals in the Netherlands, a.o. on the Liberation Festival (May 5th, Amsterdam Museumplein) and on Eurosonic (January 11th, 2002, Groningen), more recently at the Amsterdam Dance Event and Skipper Festival

On stage, the show is reinforced by Alex and Tom Parkinson (drums and bass), Federico Olivares(guitar) and by filmic video-collages (VJ Flavor).

Currently, Passion Flower is producing and recording a new album in Amsterdam.

Music for full moon fantasies·

PRESS REVIEWS

OOR Magazine (Hollandâs biggest Music Mag)You will be surprised by the astonishing beauty of the best tracks, Apfelstedtâs multi-faceted Vocals (who besides singing also plays violin, keyboards, programs and arranges) and the Inventive instrumentation. Isnât that beautiful? The CD certainly is.

Volkskrant (National newspaper). Passion Flower is Ute Apfelstedtâs beautiful new way of expressing her unique style. Producer Osadzinski provides her dreamy melancholic lyrics with transparent instrumentations, leaving space for her sensual voice. Triphop and drum În bass are the cornerstones of Passion Flowerâs sound. Because of Apfelstedtâs slight german accent and the romantic desire in her lyrics, "Shine in your Own Light" conjures up an atmosphere reminiscent of Marlene Dietrich and Berlin in the twenties and thirties.

Listen.com (online MP3 mag) Passion Flower delivers alluring and provocative dance music with a beautiful-voiced singer whose range begins in a low register, all sultry and detached like a latter-day Nico, then departs for the soprano skies like her voice never left them. The songs delve into triphopâs downtempo realm, then pounce on you with fast breakbeats.

Basic Groove (music mag) The debut album of Passion Flower contains 13 songs, varying from downtempo and positively spooky (reminiscent of Massive Attackâs Mezzanine album) to sparkling drum În bass like we know from Locust. Apfelstedtâs voice has the range of an opera singer, but can also sound boyish, like in the moving closing track, "Transylvanian Lullaby". The violins in "Freefall" and "No Ordinary Life" Are enchanting. Each track has the potential to become a personal favourite-itâs a question of timing and mood. "Shine in your Own Light" is a fascinating tribute to life and love.