Archive for the ‘press’ Category

[P]LOSIVE debuts “In Three Acts”

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

Chris Jones and I embarked on an exciting artist project called [P]LOSIVE (plosivemusic.com). Sound design and percussion meet processed orchestra/choir in some tracks, big guitars and drums in others, and collaged/abstracted sonic material in yet others.

We went all out to create an arresting sonic palette by recording found sounds and manipulating them using MetaSynth, AudioMulch, and other interesting software tools. We composed each piece in three segments loosely following a three-act structure of exposition, rising action, and climax. The music explores cinematic moods from mysterious/suspenseful to dark/aggressive. “In Three Acts” is distributed by Immediate Music as part of their Artist Series.

Listen to “Unholy in Thee” Acts 1, 2, and 3:

Check out the video Chris Jones created for the track “Churning”:

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Carlos Montoya flavored Flamenco track sets scene for “sex-spionage” in J.J. Abrams’ new NBC series Undercovers.

Friday, October 15th, 2010

Undercovers is J.J. Abrams’ latest spy drama about a husband and wife who come out of retirement to rejoin the CIA.  The first episode premiered on NBC and features a Spanish/Mediteranean Flamenco track I wrote that sets the mood at the wedding reception that the couple crash. The female herione utilizes some risque techniques to grab the cell phone of an alleged gun trafficker.  Nylon string acoustic, percussion, claps push the scene forward while maintaining the festive and exotic atmosphere.  Thanks to Ashton and Devon of Rock Salt Songwriters for working this placement.

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Beyond Ipanema announced as Official Selection at the SXSW Film Festival 2010

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Beyond Ipanema: Brazilian Waves in Global Music is a feature documentary that delves into the fascinating topic of the impact of Brazilian music and culture around the globe.  From Carmen Miranda in the 1930’s to present day Baile Funk, the world has always embraced and been influenced by Brazil’s music.  The documentary stars David Byrne, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Devendra Banhart, M.I.A., Thievery Corporation, CSS, Seu Jorge, Tom Ze, and Bebel Gilberto.

The film premiered at MoMa in New York City in 2009 and was an official selection of the Rio International Film Festival, the Chicago International Film Festival, and the AFI Latin American Film Fest in Washington D.C. It has travelled the world to many other festivals screenings including New Zealand, Spain, Germany, and Argentina.  Now it has been announced that the movie will also be an Official Selection of the SXSW Film Festival 2010.

I had the pleasure of working with producers/directors Guto Barra and Béco Dranoff on this project and wrote six tracks especially for the film and licensed two pre-existing tracks.

“Sol No Mar” was written for the scene where Milton Nascimento is commenting on how the film Black Orpheus first introduced Bossa Nova music to the world in 1959:

“Tamborim” was written for the scene where David Byrne is talking about Brazilian music and its influence on his work:

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“Para Tara (Radio Mix)” featured on Hunnypot Radio

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

“Para Tara (Radio Mix)” was picked for the latest Hunnypot internet radio show (#178). Hunnypot Unlimited is a high profile tastemaking and music branding/supervision outfit whose principals work on major network shows such as FOX’s Glee etc.

“Para Tara” is based on a music/dance style called Forró. Forró originated in the Northeast of Brazil in the early 1900’s and is played on triangle, accordion, flute, and a type of bass drum called a Zabumba. There are three styles of Forró: xote (a slower-paced rhythm), baião (the original forró) and arrasta-pé (the fastest of the three). Dancing is done in pairs, very close together, with the man’s left hand holding the woman’s right hand as in the Waltz (although it’s much rowdier than a Waltz!).

The most famous traditional Forró artists are Luiz Gonzaga and Jackson do Pandeiro which both influenced this track, as well as my friend Mauro Refosco and his band Forró in the Dark (David Byrne has been a guest vocalist on some of their releases). So “Para Tara” is all that plus electro synths, processed flutes, filtered accordions, funky guitar, Jamaican Dancehall vibes and House stylings.

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