Listen to my compositions and performances.
8.46
Composed in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, “8.46” expresses the outrage felt by millions around the world. This musique concrète piece utilizes recordings from Black Lives Matter protests across the United States, and highlights the words of activist Kimberly Jones.
Visual artwork by Julia Quella.
Alive… Awake
For my first musique concrète piece, I interviewed 13 of my peers and asked them the biggest philosophical questions. “Alive… Awake” is constructed entirely out of their responses, as well as any sounds they may have made during the interview. Their answers weave in and out of each other: sometimes in agreement, sometimes in contradiction.
Visual artwork by Travis Gruna.
FREE PALESTINE
The history of creative improvised music is a history of resistance to oppression. The pieces featured on this recording follow in that tradition by challenging the status quo and demanding a better world. Cultural revolutions often follow on the heels of artistic ones.
Gabriella
Written in the summer of 2021, “Gabriella” is a jazz ballad featuring a beautiful melody and complex harmonic structures.
I’ve Got a Fever
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, I wrote “I’ve Got a Fever” to try and make the best out of a bad situation. This tune features interesting harmonic choices and a non-traditional form that give it a quirky, yet sinister, tone. Here’s the world premiere performance by my jazz combo, Double A and the Batteries.
Subliminal Spaces
This tune was inspired by the music that the ECM record label was putting out in the 1970s. It was one of my first compositions diving into modal music, and it remains one of my favorite tunes to perform.
Terrae Sublimis
Written as a class final project, this electro-acoustic piece is an attempt to blur the line between human-made music and the music of the natural world. The field recording was taken outside my childhood home in early spring, and features the music of bullfrogs, geese, owls, and songbirds. The percussion accompaniment is completely improvised with the intent of accentuating the sounds of nature.
Visual artwork by Julia Quella.
You Shall Reap: an Ode to GOP Rhetoric
This solo piano piece was composed in response to the U.S. Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. The facetious title takes aim at those responsible for the events that took place that day.