The Dilettantes

Boston music scene veteran and former Letters To Cleo frontwoman Kay Hanleys fortuitous relocation to Los Angeles occurred at the same time acclaimed songwriter and solo artist Michelle Lewis was looking to fill out female songwriting trio known as ladyapples. When original member Tracy Bonham departed the group for a year-long tour, fellow member and former Veruca Salt siren Nina Gordon suggested her old friend Hanley as a replacement. Hanley and Lewis instantly bonded as recent transplants from Boston and New York, respectively, and thus began what would become both an enduring friendship and a musical powerhouse on every conceivable level.



It was a slow road to finding a happy medium between three contrasting musical styles, but the work was satisfying enough to keep propelling the girls forward. But when Gordons commitments to a solo project forced her to withdraw as a permanent member of the group a baton was passed, sparking a new direction for the band. The Dilettantes were born.



With laser-like focus, Hanley and Lewis quickly accumulated a staggering number of new songs. Lacking the harmonic influence of a third voice, the girls took a novel route: a rotating third slot to be filled by different artists to shake up the dynamic and raise the bar creatively, lending a fresh energy and vibe but not requiring the commitment of joining a band. Among the first to sign up for stints as the third Dilettante after Bonham and Gordon were Leah Andreone, Kara Diagordi, and Lisa Loeb. There have even been two men in the mix to date, Eric Schermehorn and Five for Fightings Kurt Schneider. All brought a unique outlook, but one that falls decidedly into the distinct Dilettante musical point of view. But if there is a common thread to the Dilettantes music, it is that they construct perfectly structured, satisfying pop songs in the vein of the latter and modern-day masters of the craft: the Beatles and the Beach Boys, Elvis Costello and Weezer.



Perhaps what makes the Dilettantes different is that the band is an on-going, multi-faceted project. It represents an artist endeavor for Hanley and Lewis to express themselves and grow; a musical experiment that allows them to have fun while getting back in touch with what made them do music in the first place. Their records are pure, but their live shows are different every time. And, perhaps most tellingly, the Dilettantes is a true creative partnership with everything from a childrens television show to a starting a record label in the offing.



That may seem like a lot of plates to spin at once, but not to Kay Hanley and Michelle Lewis. Theyve got a lot of lost time to make up for together.



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