Lettercamp

Lettercamp was originally conceptualized in a basement in Cleveland, Ohio. Frustrated with the inability to persuasively convey to her peers that she thought melodies and song structures could be written differently, Liz Wittman decided to start writing those songs herself. Beginning by composing demos in her parents’ home, honing her skills in indie pop-rock bands Friendly Foes and Kiddo, and finally stepping out on her own, Wittman realized it was time for Lettercamp to take physical form. Musical influences widely ranging (she makes mention of June Christy, Refused and Bjork), Wittman describes herself as "a manic music listener," and having been a member of bands from different genres has also shaped what Lettercamp has become. Moving to Detroit allowed Wittman to connect with a new community of musicians. She slowly patched together a band of talented individuals, each from successful former Detroit bands: Matt Lannoo (Nice Device, Von Bondies), Derek Dorey (Millions of Brazilians), and Pan!c (Pas/Cal, Johnny Headband) all have extensive musical experience, each bringing something different to the group. Over time, they began to improvise on what Wittman had laid the foundation for. Now they write as a full unit, putting tracks together as a band. The live show is a different beast altogether, and one that has already garnered the fledgling band attention. An intricate production with lights and screens, projections and silhouettes, Lettercamp is visually captivating and sonically engaging. The music itself is a combination of a lot of different styles and genres, but is generally what Wittman would refer to as "electro pop filled with layers of masterfully architected sounds". It's entirely danceable, undeniably sexy, and has just the right amount of hooks. Wittman's transformation from timid girl-next-door to a flirty entertainer is a sight to behold. While the tracks are downright catchy in recorded form, they come to life in a very sensual way when witnessed live. Lettercamp's debut LP, Raccoon Panda, was released digitally on iTunes, eMusic and Amazon in June of 2010 and by the time the vinyl had been pressed for a September release, Lettercamp's music had caught the attention of a number of well-respected musicians who donated their talents toward a remix EP called Raccoon Panda Redux. This digital EP features Lettercamp songs remixed by members of Sloan, LCD Soundsystem, Electric Six, Royal Bangs, K-OS and more. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.