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:: artist infos
» member profile:
tstrong2
» genre:
Instrumentals >
Classical
» location:
Tom Strong
» label: unsigned
» for fans of: Jean Michael Jarre, Moog Cookbook, Enya
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Austin Martini
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» go to the music page for more
Driving Me Crazy
Danger Island
Sound Check (Free Download)
Maybe Life Goes On...
Life's Journey Home
I Really Shoudn't Tempt Fate (Extended Intro)
I Really Shouldn't Tempt Fate (The Way That I Do)
A Tragic Romance
Apples And Oranges
When Love Finds You
check all 24 songs on the music page
Austin Martini is a homage reference to a certain secret agent character featured in over 20 action motion pictures, who drives a fast silver British sportscar and has been known to prefer to drink Martinis shaken, not stirred. It is not intended to be a reference in anyway to a city in Texas or Minnesota. The sound of this one man band has been discribed as the kind of music that one might here played live on a piano in a fine department store. With one major exception. It is completely improvised. Pulling flowing melodies and chord progressions from the soul. Think of it as mental watercolors painting pictures in your mind. It is a very relaxing sound. Some may be drawn into its hypnotic depths. Others may find it hard to stay awake. It is an acquired taste. It is original.
Why this name?
I created this band name originally when I was setting up my identity on GARAGEBAND.COM. I have been creating original instrumental new age flavored classical pieces for about five years now.
Do you play live?
I only play live for my friends and family. Usually , anywhere I find a piano in the house. I like it. The audience seems to enjoy it. I am very good at providing mood music and background improvisational music. I just sit at the keys and go into an almost translike state channeling the emotions out into the ivories. The biggest challenge is keeping my son from trying to help me while I play. I have had some people comment when they hear me perform live for the first time that I should be playing background live piano for a major department store's shoppers. I'll take that as a compliment.
How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?
I think that it allows most musicians to have the flexiblity and creativity to reach a world wide audience without the help of a label. In some ways it makes it easier for a label to audition new bands without all of the airfare. In other ways, the niche markets open up to acts that otherwise wouldn't play for anyone except their friends and relatives. It also allows different people in different parts of the world to work together on new projects as never before. You may make a new friend that writes a part of a song stronger than you can and you can collaborate your efforts and end up with much more than you could achieve separately. It is a wonderful tool.
Would you sign a record contract with a major label?
No. I am not interested in that. I enjoy the freedom and unrestrained creativity. Some of my tracks are too short because they were written for a particular project or purpose. I have a strong videoproduction background so I tend to think more along those lines rather than commercial viability. I have fun with it. As I get better and grow, perhaps I will release my tracks to a niche market as production music with a buy-out non exclusive license and no needle drop charges for $500 per CD. So, I will just say no to major labels, now if Signature Music came knocking that would be different.
Your influences?
Moog Cookbook, Weird Al, Dr. Demento, Lenny Bruce, Erasure, Journey, Eagles, Divo, Pet Shop Boys, Anything Country, Queen, Jean-Michael Jarre, Kurtis Blow, et cetera. I listen to just about everything.
Favorite spot?
Well, surprisingly I travelled extensively in my youth and I think my favorite city in the world is Berlin, Germany. It is beautiful, well designed, easy to get around with its infrastructure and public transportation.
Equipment used:
I use a few computers, a M-AUDIO KEYSTATION 49, a vast collection of E-MU Sound fonts, MXL V57M LARGE DIAPHRAGM CONDENSOR MICROPHONE with shockmount, PEAVEY PV6, OLYMPUS DM-20, MAGIX AUDIO STUDIO 7 DELUXE, CREATIVE SOUND BLASTER SOUND CARDS, AUDACITY, JASC PAINT SHOP PRO 7.02, AND MANY OTHER TOOLS.