Hello from China!

Lunatique · Joined: Jul 02, 2004 Posts: 8 Location: global village

I bet no one expected someone from China to join up, eh?

Well, it's not as exotic as you think--I'm actually an American who's currently living in China. But since the stay has lasted almost 3 years and still going, I ended up building a mini home studio here. I do miss my old setup in storage back home in California though (Roland D-10, Roland PR-100 sequencer, Clavia Ddrum 4 system, Fender Strat, Crate amp, and a crappy Chinese brand classical guitar).

Since I've been in China, I've purchased a Korg Triton LE Workstation, Takamine EAN-10C acoustic/electric guitar, and built myself a DAW running Windows XP Pro, P4 2.8 GHz, 2 GB RAM, and 3 harddrives(one dedicated to project files, sample library, vst's..etc). I'm currently using Sonar 3 as my sequencer (I used only the Triton LE for sequencing before, and that little display window just isn't enough). I've tried Cubase SX before and also Tracktion, but just didn't click with them as I did with Sonar. I have a bunch of VST's, some commercial, and tons are free. I love VST's because they open up a lot of doors for people without a lot of room or a lot of money. Tweaking knobs on a real hardware synth is one thing softsynths can't beat though.

Musically, I came from a very diverse range of interests. I don't have any formal training, and I compose by ear. I tried to teach myself to read sheet music, but by that time I've already been composing for years and just couldn't sit down to try to crawl when I could already run and jump. Whatever I know of music theory, I learned from books and trial/error.

Stylistically, my first love was the piano, then symphonic film scores. As a teenager I fell in love with electronic music (industrial, synth pop, progressive house). I also fell in love with rock and jazz at that time too. At age 18 is when I purchased my first music gear--the Roland D-10 and the Roland PR-100 sequencer. I had a classical guitar that I inherited from my sister too. So, it was keyboards and guitar.

I played in an industrial band for a bit, then wrote pop songs for record companies. After that, I stopped doing music commerically and just did it for myself. In 2001 I purchased the Clavia Ddrum 4 system and started playing drums as well.

My musical heroes are chameleon type composers like Sakamoto Ryuichi. He's like a God among musicians and composers--able to compose in any style, any time period, and mixing influences from all cultures and styles and fusing them into his own sound. He's also one of the God-fathers of electronic music, having been a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra in the 70's and 80's. Being an Oscar winning composer did not stop him from being experimental--he's constantly exploring new styles and cultures with his music. I don't know any othe composer that is as well versed in jazz, 19th century impressionism, techno, industrial, pop, rock, ethnic, classical, post modern, bossa nova..etc ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

So, I try to be a chameleon as well. I don't follow any style--music is music, just like different colors. Use them all to paint with. Don't just use a few colors.

Here's a current track I'm working on--it's not even close to being finished: http://electro-music.com/forum/post-14716.html#14716

My website has all my other music on it: www.ethereality.info

egw · Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 4:18 am Post subject:

Welcome Lunatique!
I've been to China recently and expect to be going back there some time.
Have you found any interest in electronic music there?
Any other electronic musicians, opportunities to perform, etc?

Mohoyoho · Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 5:51 am Post subject:

Welcome Lunatique.

Abaddon · Joined: Jun 19, 2004 Posts: 105

Welcome! I am very much into Asian culture... More so than any other culture.
I like the track too!

welcome

Lunatique · Joined: Jul 02, 2004 Posts: 8 Location: global village

egw - I'm sad to say that the music scene here is really pathetic. The current "communism turning capitalistic" climate here has the entire country only caring about money and commercialism. About 10 years ago, there was a healthy underground and mainstream rock scene, and that has now died entirely. Everything is radio friendly pop songs here. Most people here wouldn't know good music if it slapped them in the face. LOL!

Mohoyoho - Thank you.

Abaddon - Thanks!

egw · Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2004 3:48 am Post subject:

Unfortunately, that was my impression too when I was there.

jkn · Joined: Mar 14, 2004 Posts: 469 Location: La Porte, IN, USA

Welcome to the forum, looking forward to your posts.

mosc · Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 4:53 pm Post subject:

Welcome. Yes, I think you are the first person to join the site from China. That's great. Great to have you here.