Music:
Member Since: 2/18/2006
Band Website: soundclick.com/retrobass
Band Members:
Check out these myspace groups ...
Electronik Music Electronic Musicians Computer Musicians The Amiga Scene Beat Maker Spread The Peace
Influences:
Everything - i listen to all kinds of stuff ... everything from The Prodigy to Metallica to Mozart. Here's a small sample of the kind of music i grew up listening to: chemical brothers, asian dub foundation (adf), snap, linkin park, ratm, talvin singh, bt, prodigy, p.o.d, mj, b.i.g, public enemy, metallica, soundgarden, crystal method, aphex twin, nin, thievery corporation, the roots, cyprus hill, ice cube etc. Plus ... video game music, tv & film scores.
THE F.A.Q BOX: Why this name?
A number of reasons really. I'm still a big fan of all the 'oldskool' stuff, so thats where i got 'retro' from. Then i just put it together with 'bass' and, well .... it just stuck i guess (lol).
How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?
Wicked exposure tool & great for unsigned, music makers like me who want to get their music work out there to the masses. Its put the power of independent, DIY 'digital-distribution' into the hands of the small massive - this is what's so awesome about it. Its nice to be able to share my work so easily with so many people all over the globe through sites such as this. Its nothing short of amazing. Of course, it has its obvious drawbacks for established mainstream artists (!) ....
Are you interested in getting signed to a label?
Hmmmm ... depends on the deal & label ...... if i'm given full creative control over my music projects, then sure. Something I'd really like to do is get some of my music into movies/tv/video games, as well as produce music for other artists maybe; that would be pretty cool.
To be honest though, I don't really care whether or not i make any money out of it - thats not what its about for me. Its more deeper & personal than that: let me explain ...
Making music is a very therapeutic thing for me & it allows me to express myself in ways that nothing else can. Its what keeps me goin' in this crazy world ... its my escape from all the sh!t life throws at me, its fun & it keeps me sane. I usually try to channel my emotional energy at a given moment in time through the stuff i make - often at times of emotional highs & lows (e.g. sadness, anger/frustration, excitement etc.) i sit myself down & start writing a new tune. As a result, the music i make usually ends up being a reflection of whats going on in my mind at that time.
In essence, I guess you could say music is my anti-drug .... everyone needs an anti-drug ; music & technology is what gives me my 'highs' :)
No matter what, I intend to keep on making music 'til my very last breath on this earth. And if, while doing so, i'm also able to spread some good, long-lasting, positive vibes out there or even brighten up someone's day through my musical creations, then that in itself is more than enough motivation to keep at it - there's really nothing more i could possibly ask for .....
Band History?
Got started with playing the keyboard & guitar when i was a kid, then got into making music in the early 90's during my school days (this was when the electronic music scene was still in its infancy & the amiga scene was really big). Been at it ever since (on & off) .....
Your influences?
Way too many bands/artists to list ..... i listen to everything (except country).
What equipment did you use?
Not much (you don't need that much these days):
Some midi hardware, a few computer software studios (protools etc.), some plugins, my sample library, a few guitar fx rigs, a P4 1.6 ghz pc, a dual-core G5 apple mac (TigerOS), speakers/monitors, mirai studio headphones, shure sm57 mics, some live instruments (some guitars, piano, keyboard etc.) ..... & most importantly, my ears & brain :=)
INFO. ABOUT MY TRAX: Track Info. For "No Fear!"
This is a somewhat fast-paced (yet chilled-out), dark, experimental, ambient track that morphs into something else along the way.
Apart from the tiny vintage, vocal sample at the beginning and end, I composed everything in this track from scratch (I did all the beat programming manually too).
The main message behind the song: never allow fear & intimidation to take control of you, for many times the only thing we have to fear is fear itself!
Track Info. For "Shanti Om" ("Shanti" means "peace"/"tranquility" in Sanskrit)
"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind!"
- Mahatma Gandhi
... I made this one's for World Peace Day, the International day of Peace (21 September, 2006). Just felt like making a decent track for a worthwhile cause. http://www.worldpeace.org/peaceday.html
This track is also dedicated to all those who have stood up for peace & non-violence whilst making a huge, positive impact in our world, including the late Mahatma Gandhi & Martin Luther King, both of whom i have a great deal of respect for.
Compared to my other 2 tracks here, I spent a bit more time on this one as you can probably tell, though it still isn't perfect yet ....
All music, production, sequencing, , mastering etc. by me (Retrobass). Also contains two short vocal extracts inspired by one of the greatest movies of all time, "Gandhi" (1982) (Go watch it - rent it out or/and buy the DVD ... your local library might even have it if you're lucky).
Anyway, hope you enjoy the track & when you get the chance, feel free to send me some feedback :)
... Spread peace worldwide. One.
p.s. Here's some links you should go check out:
http://www.worldpeace.org/peaceday.html
http://www.lovemusichateracism.com/
http://www.mahatma.org.in
http://peace.fm
http://www.tolerance.org
(.... More to follow, stay tuned!)
Sounds Like: hmm, not sure .....
Type of Label: None
