My earliest encounter with this ambient and electronic sound was in the early 1980's, when I purchased a Tangerine Dream CD entitled "Stratosfear". Subsequently, I bought several more Tangerine Dream albums and it was this music that got me interested in composing my own electronic and ambient songs. Once I began studying at the Oberlin Conservatory, I was quickly introduced to the other composers listed above and began to sculpt my own compositions around the techniques I learned while studying these masters.
I also took several ethnomusicology courses and I began to incorporate acoustic instruments and world percussion into my songs. My primary goal was to create a sound that fused electronic/ambient music with acoustic/ethnic music. I became completely obsessed with those composers who had successfully accomplished this fusion such as: Dead Can Dance, Peter Gabriel, Lorenna Mckennitt, Brian Eno, Laraaji, Sheila Chandra, Woob and Miasma. Thus, the influence of ambient music prevails within all of my musical ventures: Blind Ambition, Days LIke This, and especially in my latest release "Free Mind".
Apart from composing and performing my own ambient music, I also became very involved with collecting and promoting the ambient music of others. At Oberlin, I had my own radio show on WOBC 91.5 FM broadcasting for Lorain County, Ohio. This weekly two hour long show offered a vast exploration of ambient, world and electro-acoustic music. I now have over 1000 CD's in my collection and I persistently try to stay up to date on what's out there. In order to help spread the word, I'm always looking for opportunities to disc jockey the occasional chill out party! If you are interested in learning more about ambient music and the influences I've listed above, then be sure to check out my links page.