Pyramids on Mars is music that really sounds like it’s from Mars!!
Every once in a while there comes along a band that is so different or unique, that you would think they were from another planet and dropped here on Earth. Pyramids on Mars, is one of those bands.
What first catches you is that they are an instrumental band. You can hear a combination of elements such as hard rock, industrial, metal and psychedelic rock. And then... the lead guitar comes soaring in with beautiful, melodic phrases. Melodies so catchy and memorable, that the guitar becomes the "vocals" of the music.
Pyramids on Mars is the solo project of guitarist Kevin Estrella. He wanted to do something musically different that would stand out from the crowd.
"Pyramids on Mars is the embodiment of who I am really. My musical influences, my philosophies on life, the universe and our place in it." Kevin went on to say, “I have always been attracted to space, and a lot of my sound is influenced from my childhood growing up in the '70's. Some of my favorite TV shows back then were Star Trek and Space: 1999. Plus I am a huge Rush and Pink Floyd fan! Thus I use a lot of analog synthesizers like the Minimoog and Oberheim Polyphonic that were predominant in the '70's era and used exclusively by those bands. They are just so warm and mysterious sounding, they resonate with me."
Stylistically, the music is very similar to world renowned rock guitarist Joe Satriani. So much Kevin has nicknamed himself the "Satriani of the North."
"Satriani, is a huge influence on me, of course", he says. "But he (Satriani) does more of a blues thing. I am more classically influenced. I absolutely love classical composers J.S Bach and Antonio Vivaldi. They are my biggest musical influences. I spent 3 years in fact, studying classical guitar. Mix my classical influences with all the bands I grew up listening to like Rush, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Ministry, Pink Floyd for example, and new bands like Meshuggah, I am a blend of it all, and more...."
Kevin recorded, produced, engineered and mastered his first debut CD, self titled "Pyramids on Mars" released in 2013. He performed all the instruments on the album and did all the drum programming. He has been capturing music industry attention, and gaining a tremendous amount of fans worldwide on Jango Radio, Soundcloud and Twitter. His goals are to continue to build a loyal fan base and bring his powerful, ambient music to the masses.
Follow them on Facebook, www.pyramidsonmars.com , and twitter @PyramidsOnMars_
Who is Pyramids on Mars?
September 5, 1987
It was the first day of grade 10 at Notre Dame Secondary School, Brampton.
Kevin was sitting in his home room class next to his friend Mike Rose. Mike had on his portable CD player with a pile of cassette tapes next to him. He turned to Kevin and said, "Hey Kev, you have to check out this guitar player Joe Satriani. Here is his latest album Surfing With the Alien. He is amazing!"
Kevin listened to the entire album that day. He then had an epiphany. He wanted to play like Joe Satriani.
Thus began years of guitar practice and dedication. In high school, Kevin and his brother Craig (bass guitar) had a band called Deprived Youth and played after school events called 'Coffee House'. At these events Kevin turned heads playing songs like Ice 9, Hordes of Locusts, One Big Crush, and Midnight, by Joe Satriani. They played band wars in Orangeville. He surprised the audience with the beautifully heartfelt song by Steve Vai, For the Love of God.
Wowing people with their energy, execution and technical prowess, they became music legends at their high school that would be talked about for years even after they graduated.
Playing in bands Firestorm and Shatter Instinct they cut their stage performance teeth in the 90's playing the local Toronto scene. A musical journey lasting almost 25 years. Then on January 4th 2011 (birth of the new age of Aquarius), Kevin's melodic instrumental solo project Pyramids on Mars was born.
Pyramids on Mars is the expression of mystery, musical architecture, discovery of self, and reaching for enlightenment.
Toronto and Hamilton. Great clubs. Special moments, were a sold out show at Rancho Relaxo, and we filmed a live DVD at two shows in Hamilton (for release this summer 2014)
J.S Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Joe Satriani, David Gilmour, Jimi Hendrix, Rush, Iron Maiden, Ministry, NIN, Pink Floyd, Meshuggah, the list is endless.
JS1 Ibanez, Marshall JCM900, Vox Wah, Yngwie Malmsteen Preamp overdrive pedal, Wampler tape echoes.
