Paper Tiger is the meeting of two alter-egos who relish in the space where inhibitions die and art is made.  They are inspired by sounds, instruments, vinyl records and ideas that otherwise may never connect.  Beautiful Asheville NC, is their home.  They love the city, they love nature, they draw inspiration from both.  They recycle.  This is a short version of their story.

In the beginning, there was a jazz singer who met a DJ/producer.  They shared a mutual love of Radiohead and collaborated on their own cover version of “Fake Plastic Trees”.  Although both MINGLE (one half of a duo) and RubySlippers (one third of a trio) were working with other projects, they felt a spark in their new creation and began to write and record their own material.

Paper Tiger has hit a stride in creating original lounge/trip hop, quickly establishing themselves as both a production duo and a dynamic live band in the Asheville music scene and the Southeast. With the studio project consisting of producer Isaac Gottfried (MINGLE) and producer, singer, dj, songwriter Molly Kummerle (RubySlippers, Molly Parti), they craft moody, original downtempo music that Shuffle Magazine calls, “An eclectic blend of trip-hop, Shirley Bassey/Bond theme and lounge jazz … late-night mood music for the louche and lovelorn alike.”  Their debut album Me Have Fun was met with rave reviews and props from both regional and national media, as well as voted into the top 20 Regional releases on WNCW.  They’ve opened for the likes of King Britt, NOMO, Bonobo, Mark Farina, and Brooklyn electronic musician Eliot Lipp. They were featured in POPAsheville 2008 & 2009 as well as LAAFF (the Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival) 2008, 2010 & 2011, and Bele Chere. Their is featured on Lunch Video Magazine #16, as well as videos released by the Mountain XPress, and HATCHfest Asheville. In 2008, RubySlippers & MINGLE (Paper Tiger early moniker) won the electronic category in the Earth Day Asheville Contest. They’ve played the first Asheville MoogFest Halloween 2010, as well as a string of shows in Knoxville, Charlotte and Nashville. In the collaborative spirit of the project, Molly has also collaborated and performed with Mindelixir in Charlotte, and has an original collaboration with Emancipator, performing with them at MoogFest and Camp Bisco.  Coming out of a sold out show with Bonobo at Asheville’s Orange Peel, Paper Tiger is working on new material for the live show, and the next studio album, which they hope to release late summer.

Their debut LP hit streets January 18, 2011.

Molly Kummerle is RubySlippers and Molly Parti, and is a well-known personality in the Asheville performance arts scene.  She has performed at the Asheville Area Arts Council’s Blue, Pink, Green, Red and White balls, was casted in the stage production of the Rocky Horror Show, sang choir for Terpsicorps presents The Scarlet Letter, and played lead in the Asheville Ballet’s production of Porgy & Bess.  She has performed Cabaret with members of Stephanie’s id, JUMP Little Children, The Goodies, Bill Carson, The Rebelles and Terpsicorps Theater of Dance.  Molly has played shows at the Grey Eagle, Stella Blue, the Orange Peel, IdFest and BeleChere and toured regionally with her trio project.  On a ZOOM 8 track digital recorder and a Yamaha synthesizer, Molly began to write, record and produce her own material.  One of those songs can now be heard re-mixed by Dave Hamilton on the MOOGED OUT ASHEVILLE compilation CD released through the MOOG Foundation.  She has collaborated with Mindelixir, Scoundrel, dep, and Emancipator, all of which she has performed live at venues like The Orange Peel, MoogFest, Camp Bisco, the Neighborhood Theater and The Filmore.

Isaac Gottfried is MINGLE.  He has played the H.A.T.C.H opening party, performed with Faust and Shortee, Flowchart, King Britt, DJ Le Spam, and Drums and Tuba.  He has remixed songs by Goapele, Amarie and Beyoncé feat. Shakira.  His previous albums feature RubySlippers, Stephanie’s id, Rene Treece, Valarie Harper and Liz Morrison.

 

 

 

 

The live band features Dave Mathes (Sonmi, Madlock) on drums, ramping up the energy and intesity of the live show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael McBride (Sonmi, Peripheral) on keys, electronics and synth, and samples. Combining elements of serene melody, moving textures, and deep rhythm, Peripheral has been regarded by many as one of Asheville’s best up and coming Producers.

 

 

 

 

 

Ben Mason (neb.Cinema) performs live visuals.