Mamaleek’s Eric Alan Livingston Dies at 38

Eric Alan Livingston, a member of the experimental steel group Mamaleek, has died, the band wrote on social media yesterday. The multi-instrumentalist had played with the group considering the fact that 2015 and joined as a entire-time member in 2019. The musician’s induce of demise has not been announced. Livingston was 38 years outdated.

Mamaleek emerged as a duo in 2008 and released a pair of albums in brief succession, one particular self-titled, the other termed Fever Dream. Mamaleek acknowledged back links to Beirut and San Francisco’s Bay Location and ended up claimed to be brothers. But, in the black steel custom, they stored their identities vague—even as subsequent releases, like the Enemies List LP Kurdaitcha, drew them even further afield from the style. They gathered influences from jazz and spirituals, in some cases incorporating hip-hop electronics. For their 2014 album, He Never Spoke a Mumblin’ Word, they signed to extreme music label The Flenser, the place they have remained for four a lot more albums, most not long ago last year’s Diner Coffee.

Eric Alan Livingston’s initial work with Mamaleek arrived as a percussionist on 2015’s By using Dolorosa. He continued by contributing percussion, keyboards, saxophone, and violin to 2020’s Arrive & See Me and 2022’s Diner Espresso. He also made the address artwork for the latter LP.

As a visual artist, Livingston built Mamaleek’s 2020 music movie for “In other places.” He also produced video clips for the Mike Patton initiatives Mr. Bungle and Dead Cross. He designed the visible, as well, for “Satanic Planet,” the eponymous tune from a job by Lucien Greaves, Luke Henshaw, Dave Lombardo, and Justin Pearson.

In 2019, Livingston produced an motion figure for Pearson’s band the Locust. The up coming 12 months, he teamed up with Pearson and his band Deaf Club to style a T-shirt in solidarity with the Black Lives Make a difference movement. “Please hold your pals and family near. Our time on this earth is limited,” Pearson tweeted after finding out of Livingston’s death. “I will permanently overlook Eric.”

Jonathan Tuite, founder of The Flenser, explained in a statement shared with Pitchfork, “We are deeply saddened by the sudden departure of Eric Alan Livingston and extend our heartfelt condolences to his fellow bandmates in Mamaleek, as properly as his buddies and liked kinds.” He continued, “Eric’s amazing expertise as a visible artist and his ability to inspire and help fellow artists will be unmatched. His infectious character and optimistic perspective created him a enjoyment to be close to and his absence will be deeply felt.”