Jan. 19, 2021

How long have you been making music?

I've been making music for over twenty years in a variety of ways. I've done solo instrumental performances on a variety of instruments including piano, brass, and Scottish bagpipes. I've played electric bass with rock and indie bands and created soundtracks for others' projects in film and software. Electronic music has been something I've done since high school. I remember using pretty rudimentary samples to create my tracks, piping them out of my PC sound card to cassette tapes to share with friends. Only recently did I get serious about music production, though, which led me to set up my home studio and produce and release my first album as Turing Tape.

In what genre would you categorize your music? 

I would say Turing Tape is in the genre of instrumental electronic music. It's a combination of electronic synths with acoustic and electric instruments. Beyond that, the music spans genres depending on the track. Some are more downtempo and chill. Others are more electronic and have more of a beat. Still, others are a little more experimental. One is 100% acoustic percussion! What drives me is less fitting into a genre, and more making music that is inspired by a central theme or concept. From there, I feel free to move around among genres to get the sound that I want.

Why did you write your latest album, "Phenomena"?

"Phenomena" is my debut album and each track is inspired by a natural phenomenon, like a sunrise, a gathering storm, or a lunar eclipse. This past year was difficult for many. Political turmoil, a global pandemic, unemployment, and illness, both physical and mental, have touched literally billions of people. And yet, the sun still rises and sets. The storms gather and dissipate. The moon still is eclipsed. The world goes on. And these phenomena just happen. And they’ll continue to, regardless of what happens to us. That sense of something larger and seemingly perpetual is what inspired me. These phenomena are amazing, and they also remind me that the world and the universe continue onward.

Who are some other artists you would compare yourself to?

I'd say Turing Tape sounds most like Tycho, Bonobo, Jon Hopkins, Christian Löffler, Tor, Ochre, and The Flashbulb. Basically, other artists who are either heavy on instrumental synths or combine electronic sounds with other, more traditional instruments.

Is there a hidden meaning in any of your songs?

"Moonbow," the last track out of Phenomena, has a repeating set of ascending and descending notes on a piano near the beginning of the track. To decide those notes, I looked up the wavelengths of refracted light that make up a rainbow or moonbow, and then used those numbers as hertz to pitch the piano notes. Maybe a little esoteric, but it turned out okay!

What's next for Turing Tape?

I'm looking forward to making more music! I'm planning out some ideas for future albums, EPs, and singles. I'm also doing work to get my music out there and heard by those who like what I'm creating. I'm encouraged by early streams, follows, and radio play of Phenomena and hope to build on that in my next work.

Hear Turing Tape on the Music Mix Collective Playlist