[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by blueerica

MotorboatCruiser:

Most of us know that you write and perform music.

So many questions! I'll do it this way...

How long have you been interested in music?

To be honest, since I first remember hearing it. My earliest recollection is two years old and my parents playing an 8-track of Jefferson Airplane's "Surrealistic Pillow". It mesmerized me. I also heard Abbey Road by the Beatles quite a bit. I always had a fascination with instruments for as long as I can remember.

What was the first instrument you learned to play?

When I was about 4, the neighbors had a little cheap organ, the kind that you held down a button and it made a chord, which you could accompany. All the kids complained that I wouldn't play with them when I was over there and wouldn't leave the organ alone. My parents decided to take a chance and buy one. When I got it, it came with all these "play by the numbers" books that showed you how to play simple songs. My mom said that she walked by my room and heard me playing "Silent Night" and "Jingle Bells". She said it sounded pretty good and she looked in, expecting me to be using the books. They were on the floor though, unopened. For some reason, I was able to look at the keyboard and see the song. I pretty much taught myself although I sort of took lessons for a few years after. My ear was a major hinderance though. I could hear something and play it so easily that I never really learned how to read music that well. I always relied on my ear. Still do, although I can read drum music pretty well.

What instruments do you play?

Drums are actually my main instrument. I graduated from the Musician's Institute in Hollwood in '84 and drums were my primary instrument. I started playing them when I was 12. I can play bass guitar and acoustic guitar functionally well enough to record and write but I have rarely performed on them. I sing but it is something that I am pretty self conscious about still. I like to and don't think I am awful but there is still a lot of apprehension there.

When (approximately) did you write your first song?

Hmm, probably around 10 or 11 years old. Nothing very impressive though.

And lastly, what serves as your inspiration; who are your muses?

Most of the music I write is instrumental although I do write some lyrics. Lyrically, I suppose my inspiration just comes from life experience. The ups and down, the struggles, the triumphs, the despair, the joy. It is hard to say exactly. Sometimes I just start writing, not even knowing what the topic is and something just forms from the ramblings.

Instrumentally, it is usually a particular emotion or visual that I'm trying to capture. I've done a lot of work writing soundtracks for things like documentaries and industrial videos. In those cases, I look at the visuals and try to imagine what emotions the visuals convey. What is the pace? What is the effect the producer is trying to bring across. I've looked at monkeys in Bali and I hear a certain sound that might have jungle instruments, maybe a lot of ethnic percussion like congas, marimba, a playful jumping, yet, mysterious sound. Or I might see a WWII plane at the bottom of the sea and hear a snare drum march, ghostly in the background as a mournful trumpet plays a solitary melody. A race car might suggest distorted guitars, a slapping bass, and a very quick pulsating drum track.

I know that is kind of long-winded but that is really how I do what I do. I visualize images and try to imagine what emotion the score should convey. I hope that answers your question.

Thanks for asking!