SpectraFloor
Complex trance with massive drum arrangements, huge layers of synths, and an original liquid feel rather than Dutch-saw type sounds.
If you like the energy of psychedelic trance, but miss the complex beats of break-beat, trip-hop, or big-beat music and liquid feel of ambient drum and bass...you've come to the right place!
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Spectra started as a shred guitarist in a group called PresidentX. This group was often on mp3.com charts.
After living in Europe in Holland for 5 years and hearing classic melodies such as ATB's "9 PM Till I Come" and Way Out West's "Domination", Spectra was convinced dance music could combine the melodic power and speed of shred rock with more impressive arrangements and more beautiful instruments.
At the meantime, DJ Richardfloor was a full-time DJ in Houston. He was resident at clubs such as Club Europe and Club Lotus. As time went on the dance/house scene in Houston got scarce and most non-hip-hop DJs were fired.
At that time Rich still managed to make a living as a freelance DJ and met Spectra at one of Houston's few house groups left standing: House Yo Body ran by DJ C-Los and Spectra was working as a full-time audio software programmer.
From then on it was all about combining Spectra's studio techniques with DJ Richardfloor's uncanny skill for finding underground styles that hit the public better than top 40 hit. Both became obsessed with tribal house and anything with advanced ethics rhythms and DJ Richardfloor forced Spectra to stylistic standards that were up with the best tracks on his sets.
Everything we produce gets our two thumbs up...and we hope you will agree. :-)
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
DJ Richardfloor spins our music live. We have made 30+ songs, but only the ones that have rocked the floors in live performance are the ones which show up here.
After recent inquiries about performing live, we are working on doing live shows with shred-savvy jazz guitarist Joshua Scott, Spectra as a keyboardist, and Richardfloor doing sampling and beat matching.
We have actually attracted attention from rock lovers as we move away from annoyingly pounding beats and toward something that sounds more like rock breaks with psychedelic trance backgrounds.
Your musical influences
Astral Projection and Joe Satriani must be the top 2. Chemical Brothers, Gene Krupa, and Dead PA (drum and bass) have had a profound influence on how we handle rhythms and try to go beyond the usual 4-on-the-floor beats quite often.
What equipment do you use?
Yamaha Cs6X synth, Pyramid 1000watt PA amp, 2 15" PA speakers, 2 12" PA speakers, 2 Stanton turntables with a mixer, Cakewalk Sonar, too many sample CDs, VST/Direct-X plug-ins, and VSTi instruments to count. :-)
