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My Grandparents introduced me to so-called "New Age" music back in the early 1980's by mailing me a dozen dubbed cassettes. In addition to having invested the time in recording those tapes on my behalf, they had diligently photocopied and cropped each set of original cassette liner notes for my enjoyment. Of course, they didn't realize that their sixteen-year-old grandson was fixated on genres from the opposite end of the musical spectrum. Yet, the cassettes remained in my collection, and somehow avoided being taped over.
I would occasionally play a tape or two during college. Usually this would occur late at night in order to avoid scrutiny from friends and roommates. The sounds of Ray Lynch and Kitaro began to grow on me.
As the years passed, I found myself playing bass guitar in any number of now-defunct funk, blues, and hard rock bands. As enjoyable as this was for me, I gradually realized that I was getting tired of depending on band situations for musical expression. In addition, a noticable mellowing was taking place in my musical tastes, and I began seeking a more solitary, introspective means to express myself. New tools such as keyboards and ethnic percussion instruments started to inhabit my personal studio.
A new sound was emerging, based on a growing introspection and a desire to create colorful sonic textures. A new musical story called AeTopus had begun, filled with dynamic melodies, delicate ambience, and colorful soundscapes. Memories of the Elder is the first chapter in this story.
I have long since purchased the albums my Grandparents had taped for me on compact disc. I do, however, still have those tapes..
A Condensed Timeline
1966 - Born May 19 in Quantico, Virginia
1972 - Began piano lessons
1983 - Purchased first bass guitar
1984 - Began Fine Arts studies at University of Idaho, Moscow
1987 - Played bass in first band, The Evil Tiggers, Moscow, Idaho
1988 - Played bass in blues/folk band David Giese’s Upstairs Nemesis
1989 - Earned B.F.A. (Fine Arts/Painting) at University of Idaho
1990 - Moved to Portland, Oregon, and played bass in indie band Nimitz Freeway
1991 - Returned to Idaho. Played bass in blues/reggae band Mourning Becomes Elektra
1992-95 - Worked as a tattoo designer at Falling Moon Tattoo Studio, Moscow, Idaho
1992-94 - Played bass in power/funk trio Shaky Kane
1995 - Moved to Bellingham, Washington
1996-97 - Played bass in punk/funk band Wiseacre
1997 - Began to assemble personal studio and founded 12Ton Productions
1999 - Released AnthroPile: Take, a solo garage Industrial album
2000 - Began engineering internship at Binary Recording Studio, Bellingham, Washington
2002 - Released AeTopus: Memories of the Elder
2003 - Earned B.A. (Psychology) from Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, New Jersey
2006 - Released AeTopus: Tempula
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