User:The Obscurust/sandbox

The Obscurust: is a multi-instrumentalist musician, song-writer, producer and artist from USA. Has been writing and recording his own music since the 1990's. Background: grew up with both parents being musicians. Father is a multi-instrumentalist playing in folk groups since the early 1960's. Also had a career as an audio/lighting engineer and studio supervisor for public television. Mother is a pianist and was piano teacher for 30 plus years. As a child he was around folk, bluegrass and rock music. Also record collecting was a hobby he took up with his father who had an extensive record collection. Parents gave him and his older siblings a microphone and a tape recorder at a young age. They made lots of recordings of musical and non-musical material. Him and siblings eventually became involved with playing instruments. He was given a Beatle's record at 5 years old and became obsessed with The Beatles. Having heard the song "Rain" by The Beatles he wanted to become a drummer. He took up drums as his first instrument. Father had a full size drum kit in the basement studio where he'd mess around with it. In 1986 he receive a black magic toy drum set for Christmas. Played along to The Beatles records non stop. Started taking drum lessons from 5th grade until senior year of high school. Was a drummer in several bands from 8th grade to senior year. Around 1994 picked up guitar playing. Self taught with some help from father and older sibling. Figured out songs by ear, pausing vhs tapes trying to figure out where their fingers were on the fretboard and tablature books.

Influences:

The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Nirvana, Beck, Dinosaur Jr, Portishead, Gangstarr, Wu-Tang Clan, The Monkees, Santana, Khraughbin, People Under the Stairs, J5, The Rolling Stones, Arlo Guthrie, The Smile, Guns 'N' Roses, Slash, Metallica, Megadeth, Pantera, 5 Style, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, Iron & Wine, Sunny Day Real Estate, Sonic Youth, Red House Painters, Bonobo, Can, Ramsey Lewis, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Joe Morello, Helmet, Cypress Hill & DJ Muggs.

The Bands:

Kahuna Brothers (1987 - 1990): This consisted of cousins The Obscurust (drums, keyboard, percussion, vocals, ukulele) and RJ (drums, keyboard, percussion, vocals, ukulele. They recorded during Christmas break when families would visit and stay for Christmas break. Recorded on a boombox and made songs up on the spot. Usually nonsense and swearing and making the best musical noise as they could. Several 90 minute cassettes worth of stuff over the course of several years. Eventually it just fizzled out.

Pinhead: (1994) The Obscurust's first band was in middle school named 'Pinhead'. Tom (guitar/vocal) Chris (guitar) Obscurust (drums) Jestin (bass). They did covers songs of Nirvana & Metallica. Their first gig was the middle school talent show in March of 1994. After that they played parties but was short-lived and disbanded by the end of that summer.

Sungas/Coral Loft (1994 - Present): In the fall of 1994 he met a classmate, Brian, who was a vocalist. They got to talking about music and classmate knew of two guitarists. He knew a bass player who was in marching band with him. They got a slot in the high school battle of the bands. Calling themselves 'Sungas'. Anthony (guitar) Bill (guitar) Brian (vocal) Dan J (bass).They got together and rehearsed cover songs and original songs. After battle of the bands show they continued to play live at various all ages clubs. They wrote and recorded demoes using cassette 4-track recorders. Made their own flyers and did several photo sessions. They went into a proper studio and recorded a full length album titled "Moose Ears Could Be Deadly". It was financed by themselves working regular jobs. Dan J left the band and Jeff P took over on bass. They changed their name to 'The Coral Loft'. Coral Loft played live shows regularly and went into a studio and recorded a four song demo. Made a couple live recordings as well. They disbanded by 1997. Got together again to do random recordings in 2019 and continue to write and record on occasion

Yellowman Loft (1997 - Present): As a side project from The Coral Loft, The Obscurust (vocal, guitar, keyboard, drums, drum machine) and two other members of Coral Loft Bill K(guitar, vocals, recording engineer, bass, keyboards & drum machine). Brian O (vocals, guitar, drums, drum machine and keyboard). They started making one-take spontaneous on the spot recordings. Recorded on 4-track recorders. They were mostly humorous and filled with inside jokes. They made many songs but never released any albums. More for their own sake and maybe close friends to hear. They still continue to get together and record in the same fashion but with better recording techniques and gear. Started making new songs in 2022 and continue to record presently.

Paperback (1997 - 1998): after the disbandment of Coral Loft, The Obscurust and guitarist Anthony M (guitar & vocals) from Coral Loft formed an emo/hardcore band with two other school mates Scott M(guitar & vocal) & Dan F (bass). They rehearsed and started writing songs immediately. They got in with other bands in the area. One band called 'Wallside' who helped them get on the bill for live shows. Rented a rehearsal room above a Big Lots store and worked jobs to pay the rent and pay for Studio time at The Woodshed Recording studios. They recorded two six song demoes over the course of the year long existence. Got a chance to release a split 7" record with another band called 'Hamilton'. A music fan offered to pay for the record to get pressed. Also booked shows for them to promote the 7". Packed themselves in a work van and did those shows giving them a taste of what it could be like to tour. The band disbanded after graduation. The Obscurust left out of state for art school In Pittsburgh.

Hip Hop Beats/MC Collabs: (2003 - present): In 2002 The Obscurust started getting influenced by early 90's hip hop. Learned how to sample old records and started making beats. Eventually in 2003 collabing with long time friend and Emcee Brian G aka B-Side. Weekly they'd get together and B-Side would select beats from the weekly batch of beats The Obscurust would make. Soon making albums and EP's together. Eventually leading to collabing with other Emcees such as Pnuckle, Konphlict, Danny Def, Ro-D, Supa Emcee, Cliffnote and others. The Obscurust has released several instrumental beat tapes. Continues to making beats and release beat tapes.

The Want Ads (2005 - Present: Consists of work colleagues The Obscurust(guitar, keyboards, percussion, samples, noise & engineering/mixing/mastering) Mikey H(guitar, keyboards, bass, noise and engineering/recording) Mark H(guitar, viola, violin, keyboards, trumpet & noise). Recording sessions are spontaneous and all music made up live on the spot. Best described as soundtrack avant garde music. It's a chemistry unlike any other. It's good exercise in musical improvisation skills. Each session is an album. Songs can last as long as 45 minutes or as short as 3 minutes. Johnny Lunchbox (2010 - 2012): The Obscurust (guitar & vocal)started a band with friend Marty (drums) Adam M aka Wizard Oil (bass). They wrote original songs and did some obscure covers from a band called '5 Style'. Did a handful of gigs and managed to record home demo's of some their songs. It was a short-lived band and nothing became of the recordings.

Funki (2019 - present): Funki consists of Adam M aka Wizard Oil(bass, guitar, keys, theremin, percussion & engineering/production) The Obscurust(drums, guitar, keys, percussion, mixing/mastering and artwork). They write and record all original songs. Started during a solo recording session for The Obscurust at Wizard Oils studio "The Sherwood Studio'. They jammed on an idea which turned into a song. They continued this formula doing sessions over time. Session consist of dosing on psychedelics and making a song up on the spot. Starting with drums and bass, then overdub other instruments. By the end of each session they have a song. Session engineered and recorded by Wizard Oil and then multi-tracks are then sent with The Obscurust to mix and master at his home studio 'The Basement Studio'. They continue to make recordings and already have one album self titled "Funki".

Songwriting &Recording Background:

Interest in recording started at an early age. Starting with a Fisher Price tape player/recorder. Would record random thing we'd say or sing, tv shows & commercials. Eventually parents gave him and siblings a microphone and a tape recorder. Older Siblings made up a mock radio station and would play DJ and do mock interviews with different guests played by The Obscurust and/or siblings. He would record and make up songs with cousin using a boombox. Used boombox to capture his musical journey learning guitar with friend/neighbor Jeff P. One day in 1994 Jeff and The Obscurust went in on a 4-track recorder they found in a pawn shop for $45. From then on they'd record original songs and began learning how to make multi-track recordings. Getting lots of help from his father. Around 1997 he got a Tascam 424mkII 4-Track Cassette Recorder. It was an upgrade from the pawn shop recorder. Started writing better songs and continue ton improve recording skills. Used that Tascam through to 2002 writing and recording full length albums. Then after college he purchased a Roland rack-mounted digital recorder. Recording several songs and demos with that. He learned how to sample on it using the editing features. Soon became interested in sampling and making beats. Also doing sessions at Black Vegas Studios with brother in law Rick K aka Johnny Sonic who was producing, engineering, mixing and mastering. Johnny took him under his wing and taught him a lot about recording, engineering and mixing and making records. Then brother in law Rick K. aka Jonny Sonic hooked him up with computer programs Fruity Loops and Adobe Audition. Presently still working on Adobe Audition and Fruity Loops.