BIO: Influences

GENERAL INFLUENCES

I suppose I have many influences from many different mediums, which is to say not just music. For example, books and films are an influence on everything I do (music, lyrics, sounds, etc). Weird and dark movies/books tend to influence me most, such as the works of Philip K Dick (author: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, The Unteleported Man, The Minority Report and so on) and the works of David Fincher (director: Fight Club, Se7en, Zodiac and more) and Park Chan-Wook (director: Oldboy, (No Sympathy for) Lady Vengeance, etc). The things that influence me spread as far as people — a performing persona/character, for example — as well as people’s fascinations, foibles and human psychology.

MUSICAL INFLUENCES

My musical influences started at my childhood, when I was engaged with music by Stephane Picq and his Rave/Age soundtrack for the espionage videogame, KGB. The music is dark, atmospheric and has so many layers like an African polyrhythm and generally so much going on all at once. In a way, it is reminiscent of the later works of Steve Reich (such as Different Trains or Music for Eighteen Musicians).

Moving on, I am a little older and more interested in 1970s-80s progressive/psychedelic rock. One of the bands that still influence me now is Pink Floyd, particularly with their 1994 P-U-L-S-E show at London’s Earl’s Court. Other bands from that 1970s-80s prog-rock canopy include Supertramp (particularly the albums Crime of the Century and Breakfast in America), Toto, Queensrÿche, King Crimson, Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath.

What other music influences me? Spacious new age music, such as certain works by Vangelis (especially the 1492 Conquest of Paradise and Blade Runner soundtrack albums). Mentioning soundtrack albums leads me to include film music in general as a big influence. The reason behind this is that I think music should always have some sort of “atmosphere” defined within it. It should have a purpose of sorts, carry a “message”. Film music is generally geared for the scene it is beneath, so always has an emotion tied to it or a whole scene painted within it. Good music can invoke and sometimes even control the human imagination. One short piece can terrify you and invoke biological reactions to fear; another piece might bring you to tears.
I tend to render mood swings into my albums by careful sorting of the track order. This is only possible because I always create a wide variety of music for every album… intentionally or not.

Further influences would undoubtedly include some of the 1990s American alternative rock and the grunge scene. This would include bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains.

NOTEWORTHY INDIVIDUALS

• Steven Wilson (Porupine Tree, Blackfield, Bass Communion, etc) — I am especially a big fan of the “middle era” of Porcupine Tree when the sound of King Crimson was fused with the Blade Runner soundtrack.

• Robert Smith (of The Cure) for his unusual glam/goth vocal styling and Bowie-esque persona.
• Having mentioned unusual vocals, I should also mention Ian Curtis of Joy Division.
• Finally, Bryan “Butch” Vig, top 1990s alternative rock producer. His “layered” production approach has almost become a second-nature thing in modern rock production. His highlights include Nevermind (by Nirvana), Gish and Siamese Dream (both by The Smashing Pumpkins).