Artist of the Month May 2009 A'tris
Boston,
Massachusetts,
USA based Alternative Rock band Debut album Lensing Biography You've most likely heard a musician say that the moment they realized music and picked up an instrument was when they heard a life-changing album, or when they went to a stellar show that blew their minds.
For Mason Taylor (piano, vocals) of a'tris, his musical awakening was triggered by none other than the great Oscar the Grouch of Sesame Street.
"Around my sixth birthday, the folks bought my
sisters and me a tiny keyboard with eight keys, each of which corresponded to
the plastic likeness of one of our favorite Sesame St. Characters," says Taylor.
"I only recall pressing Oscar's key, as he was my favorite. My parents said that
the various keys did not have different pitches, so lessons were in order. My
tiny keyboard was replaced by a larger one that was later traded for an old
upright piano."
This strange churning of fate, music, and Oscar the Grouch led Taylor's early
blooming musical interest straight through Berklee College of Music and into the
company of Ben Azar (guitar), Nate Lueck (bass), and Travis Abel (drums). These
like-minded musicians found a strong communication in their collaboration, and
what we now know as a'tris was born.
Based out of Boston, MA, this foursome keeps it real and down to earth, using
music as an uncontrived conduit for self-expression. "Every musician wants to
feel like they're unique and doing something that's never been done before," say
the members of a'tris. "But let's face it; you need to use an agreed-upon
vocabulary to describe your music to others. As a musician, you have to come to
terms with this as a necessity to discuss your music."
Heavily influenced by the jazz, classical, and progressive rock genres, a'tris
not only gives us music as a language, but also as a soundtrack to our lives.
"Music and film are inherently intertwined," says Taylor. "I frequently look to
film for inspiration and hope that my music has a bit of cinematic flair."
A'tris''s newest release, Lensing, is a snapshot of their ongoing and
ever-changing journey through the musical lexicon. From the innocent adolescent
intermingling with Sesame Street to the inception of a'tris, there is no
predictable or projected path for this group; they pave their own paths as they
go. "Music is really my life; I'm immersed in it all the time and wouldn't have
it any other way," says Abel. "We never stop writing."
www.myspace.com/atris
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