What genre is my music?
I would categorize it as Ambient and New Age Electronic Music and Classical (as the case may be), but always with the style of film music.
Where can you find my music?
Other than selected pieces available here, I’ve also put pieces up at BandCamp and Society of Composers, Inc., which I’ve been a member of since May 2006.
Brian was also associated with Atlanta Composers, a group of new music composers in the Atlanta area looking to spread the word about the city’s wealth of new music through concerts and cross-promotion with new music ensembles in the area. To learn more, visit either our MySpace page above or the Atlanta Composers Blog.
Who are my influences?
Stylistically, I would have to say Hans Zimmer (“The Lion King”), Ennio Morricone (“The Good, the Bad & the Ugly”), Wendy Carlos (“A Clockwork Orange”), Gyorgy Ligeti (his music was used in “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “Eyes Wide Shut”), Brian Eno (“Discreet Music”), and Bruce Springsteen (for that personal touch in his music). Other, less obvious influences include: Graeme Revell (“The Crow”), Trevor Jones (“Dark City”), John Powell (“The Bourne Supremacy”), Cliff Martinez (“Solaris”), Angelo Badalamenti (“Mulholland Dr.”), Nine Inch Nails, Moby, John Williams (“A.I. Artificial Intelligence”), Howard Shore (“Se7en”), Danny Elfman (“Big Fish”), Carter Burwell (“Conspiracy Theory”), Bernard Herrmann (“Vertigo”), James Horner (“Braveheart”).
In their personal impact, my high school band director- Mr. Alfred Watkins from Lassiter High School– and the program he has established there, my college recording professor- Dr. Robert S. Thompson– and my college composition and orchestration professor- Dr. Nick Demos– deserve the most credit for their passion for the art of music and their guidance in my own musical journey. I wasn’t the best student, but their teachings have served me well over the years. Many thanks to all of them.
Here’s what some fellow artists have said about my music:
“Very interesting work of yours! Though it’s hard to believe that you mainly use digital synths. Some sounds sound like they would be coming from analogue gear. Amazing also how creative and expressive-dramatic your composition is. Great visuals!”– Rising Star; “Brian, you are the bomb! Many times have I sat back and let your songs take me away! You have a style all of your own and that’s hard to come by. Keep it comin’.”– Trilobyte; “A Mysterious Lunar Discovery has some very nice textures as well! Great sounds. I think you’ve hit new ground with your new equipment. These textures suit your style more than your other/previous sounds, imo.”– Darren Nelsen, founder, Atlanta Composers Blog; “…you’ve overcome the problem that MIDI almost always sounds extremely cheesy, you have a talent for melody and atmosphere”– Dennis O’Brien; “At times these compositions can get downright spooky, first lulling you and then raising the hairs on your neck with eerie, minimalist rhythms and synthesized reverberations.”– Listen.com; “Unbelievably dramatic music! Brian’s works are unique cinematic soundscapes. He draws you into imaginary movies, creating whole worlds of soothing ambience and dramatic pleasure.”– Secrets of the Soul; “Your music is ever growing & exquisite – I have been a fan for many years”– Earnest Woodall
Brian Discusses his Music
- At the 2001 Georgia State University New Music Festival (2/17/01)
- At the 2001 GSU Brass Ensemble Concert (3/22/01)
The Gear
Here’s a list of some of the equipment I’ve used over the years to create my music: Yamaha PSR540 Keyboard; Korg microKORG Synthesizer/Vocoder; Cakewalk Sonar 4; Cakewalk Home Studio 9; Bach Omega Trombone; Kenyan Finger Piano “Kalimba”; Stylophone; Nickel Doumbek; Indian Damroo; Bamboo Wooden Flute; Shure SM-58 Microphone; Alesis Multi-Mix 8USB; Finale 2006; Cakewalk Score Writer; Sound Forge; Csound; Korg T-1; Yamaha TG-55 & TX-81Z; E-Mu Ultra-Proteus Plus; Opcode Vision Sequencer.
