Joemca

Singer/songwriter Joemca -- that's pronounced "JUM-ka," more or less -- claims classical training on both piano and violin, and is armed with a CV including a modern revision of a score for a Chinese opera, chamber music pieces based on the works of Japanese author Haruki Murakami, and -- assuming he's not confusing his own work with that of John Cusack's character in Being John Malkovich -- a puppet show based on Nicolai Gogol's short story The Nose. Oddly, his music as the leader of the dreamy art pop quartet Joemca & Poets sounds more like a more beat-oriented version of late-period Radiohead, with Rufus Wainwright and Björk battling for vocal supremacy. Born in Los Angeles in 1982 and currently ensconced in New York City, Joemca's day jobs with various local theater companies alternate with his work with Joemca & Poets, consisting of himself on vocals and guitar, Jess Luck on keyboards and harmony vocals, Tucker Yaro on bass, and Alec Menge on drums. The group's self-titled debut EP, helpfully subtitled with the pronunciation of their leader's stage name, was released in late 2006 on One Stone Records. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide