I'm not a fan of traditional composer bios because they don't tell you what makes that person's music really sing. If you want my credentials, they're here. But if you really want to know what makes my music sound the way it does, it's because of all the things in my life that feed my soul. In school I learned to appreciate the beauty of the creation and inner machinations of music. Outside of school I learned to appreciate the beauty of sound and passion. I grew up in the 80s and early 90s, so that should tell you something about what kind of pop culture influences me. My favourite music to listen to is punk rock, Beethoven, Debussy, Ligeti, Murray Schafer and Philip Glass. I can't stand Mozart, with the exception of his two symphonies in G minor. Read into that what you will. I'm married to a wonderful woman and soul-mate, and we have two amazing young daughters. Because of that, I also listen to a lot of kid's music (not always by choice!). But through that I've also discovered a wealth of really great film music, particularly historical Disney stuff; I'd be lying to myself if I said that hadn't had at least some influence on me. I'm a lousy performer. I grew up playing violin, and picked up guitar and drums along the way. I play drums in a rock band. I'm a bit of a foodie, and have an appreciation (if not always a budget) for good wines and single-malt scotch. I'm also very passionate about cars. I own a 1972 Porsche 911, which I maintain myself in my garage. There's a direct correlation somewhere in there between the very fine inner workings of an internal combustion engine and the various notes, figurings and nuances of a composed piece of music, as well as the raw power and speed of a performance car, and the visceral emotions found in a lot of my music. What does all this mean as far as music? Nothing and everything, but what comes out of my pencil in my studio is always going to reflect bits and pieces of what makes me an artist.
Recent CD releases:
-Shawn Mativetsky's new CD Cycles was recently released, containing two of my works, Trade Winds, concerto for tabla and string orchestra, and Elementalities, for flute, vibraphone and tabla. Available from iTunes, Amazon, and from the record label Ombu.
-Never the Twain Shall Meet, for violin, tabla and electronics, was recently released on the Attar Project's new CD The Road Ahead. Available from iTunes, CD Baby and Amazon.
-Night Chill, for marimba and electronics, recently released on Catherine Meunier's new Centrediscs CD entitled, interestingly enough, "Night Chill". Available here, and also on iTunes (search title for Night Chill).
