Biography:

I was eight when I first knew I wanted to learn to play guitar. My mother had a routine with me where before bed she would sing Castle On A Cloud from Les Miserables while playing acoustic. I remember feeling intensely emotionally connected to the message of the song, far more than in poetry, movies or simple conversation. During that time, my family moved states, parents divorced, and a thick depression sank into me. I had no hobbies, or interests that seemed uniquely mine, so finding something as simple as an acoustic guitar and shaky singing touching my heart so deeply was like a breath of fresh air. Knowing this, I began searching the internet for all the music I could find, and began studying each genres unique patterns. There would seldom be a time I didn't have headphones on. I received my first guitar (a Fender Strat and small generic tube amp) at age 11, and began locking myself in my room practicing for 6-8 hours a day. When I bought my first computer, I downloaded some cheap recording software and started composing my own works, eventually recording 200+ fully written demos. I set myself to a standard of writing and recording two songs a week, because I firmly believe that you have to practice songwriting as much as practicing guitar or any other skill. I wanted to become an artist that people could deeply and emotionally connect with, through every instrument and line of lyrics. As my life went on, I started to develop a sound that seemed uniquely mine, a blend of Alternative Punk/Southern Rock. As I hit my twenties, life began to get extremely difficult living on my own, balancing work, my first child, and a marital stresses. I remember thinking over and over "I wish I could redo my life, and not make any mistakes this time". This became the inspiration for my first album Turn Back Time. In my mid twenties, my wife and I ended up getting a divorce, and it was certainly not the easiest parting of ways. I began throwing myself into a job I hated, but climbing the ladder anyway for no reason other than feeling like I was going "somewhere". I moved away from my family, and ended up isolating myself, and drifting further away from my passion for songwriting. The isolation and hopelessness ended up being a knew driving factor for me, and a converted all those feelings into my second album, Dust.

Songwriting has gotten me through some of the toughest and most confusion periods of my life, and I wouldn't change that for a second. In fact, I'm incredibly excited. I am currently working on writing my third album, and as my life had gotten MUCH better, I've noticed my sound and lyrics have adapted to my current state of being. I can't wait to see where my compositions go from here. After all, music is therapy, and if I can touch one persons heart with my songs than I am a successful musician already.




Career Goals | Objectives:

To broaden my audience, sell more records, and eventually form a band




Music Education | Training | Qualifications:

Attended the Portland Oregon School of Rock for one year, but no other formal music education.




Musical Instruments | Studio Equipment:

Ibanez, for electric, and my Fender acoustic.




Influences | Sounds Like:

Pretty Reckless, and Rise Against. I grew up listening to Punk and Southern rock, and ended up trying to blend the two sounds together.