FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY FEB 7 2025 (Bandcamp Friday / Wildfire Relief)
LA is the ESP Institute’s hometown. The label’s captain, Lovefingers, is a native Angeleno who has lived in 15 of its neighborhoods spanning decades. While the ESP Institute was born in 00’s New York City with an international cast of artists, the DNA of the label has always been infused with the wild sense of freedom and space that is LA. It breaks our hearts to see the city and its residents in such a difficult position today. Our home and label’s office were damaged, the grounds incinerated and fire/smoke damage right up and onto it’s walls, and although it is still uninhabitable, we consider ourselves unbelievably fortunate that the structure was spared, surviving among our many neighbors whose homes are reduced to ash. Both the Palisades and Eaton fires have left so many of our friends and family with nothing – we collectively mourn not only for their physical space, much of which is generational, but for mementos of family history, their sense of security and ability to function from a safe sense of “home.” The grief and tasks of recovery are uncharted and ongoing, the rebuilding is daunting, arduous and overwhelming, and everyday brings new challenges in the fires wake. This will take time. If there is any light that we see in this, it is the prevalent sense of community we are witnessing in real time.
This is the 15th year of ESP Institute and we had an idea for a compilation planned, but, given the circumstances and the immense needs of our city and fellow Angelenos, we have decided to expand this release to 3x its initial scope and commit all of its efforts and income to wildfire relief organizations. We have initially selected the following vetted non-profit charities: CalFund, MusiCares, GiveDirectly, Global Empowerment Mission, Canine Rescue Club and plan to manually top up funds from circulating GoFundMe spreadsheets for under-represented families, commencing with those in Altadena. We anticipate a bi-weekly dispersal of funds, given the urgent and evolving nature of community needs, but will re-assess this consistently as time passes.
ESP’s artists have generously allowed us to present their music for this compilation and our gratitude starts with them. It is our hope the following 90 tracks will bring you something you need, whether it be joy, catharsis, wonder or meditation.
Thank you for your support from the bottom our hearts,
Andrew / Lovefingers & ESP Institute
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[ESP150A]
ESP Institute XV - I - Active
Dosage: 30 tracks spanning fifteen years of the label’s work with a focus on physical movement and mental release.
Energy level: High.
Recommended: Late night / witching hours.
[ESP150B]
ESP Institute XV - II - Passive
Dosage: 30 tracks spanning fifteen years of the label’s work with a focus on ambience, mood control and meditation.
Energy level: Low.
Recommended: Daytime / sunset / sunrise.
[ESP150C]
ESP Institute XV - III - Unobtanium
Dosage: 30 tracks spanning fifteen years of the label’s work with a focus on unreleased rarities, demos and remixes.
Energy level: All over the place.
Recommended: For those who know.
released February 7, 2025
