Location: Santa Rosa, CA, United States Of America
Member since: September 9, 2010
Tracks in portfolio: 126 (Click here to hear all tracks)
Tracks We Like:
The Interview:
1) High profile projects or clients you have worked for?
Not sure about high profile, but probably one of the most meaningful and rewarding personally was the use of a partial track of mine for the Documentary, “Changes in Climates, Changes in Lives” produced by Greenpeace of Brazil.
As you may or may not know, my music themes are often based on
ecological issues, the Earth, Nature, Wilderness preserving etc…So
there is a special attachment I feel for a project like this.
2) Primary instrument?
There are so many, it’s hard to list the primary one. I like to rotate
through instruments & sound making/shaping tools, bringing out
whatever feels right at the time. I like to have a visit with
everything throughout a creative musical journey at some point. Being
limited, or being in a routine about it doesn’t work for me.
Outputting with various pieces of gear and experimenting keeps the
fire alive. It keeps it exciting so that I keep on wanting to be back
it the studio.
3) Favorite music-making piece of gear or software you currently use?
For my newest project, I have been using my Synth.com Analog modular synth as a starting point for most of the tracks. It’s something very interesting when you can take a set of machines, plug them in differently to each other, turn some knobs, and start making this production of sounds from the ground up. I would also like to mention my Lexicon PCm91 reverb. It helps me get that expansive atmosphere to my sound, that spaciousness. Many times I’ll use only the processed sound from that and bypass the direct sound source completely.
4) Piece of gear or software you wish you owned?
Still eyeballing a Doepfer MAQ 16/3 sequencer.
5) Film score or song you admire? Why?
I like the ethereal quality and diversity of much of Mark Isham’s music in film. Notably the “Mrs. Soffel” “Never Cry Wolf” & “Romeos Bleeding” soundtracks. I also really like the Blade Runner soundtrack by Vangelis. Maurice Jarre comes to mind as well for film music.
6) Music education background?
I was trained classically on piano, guitar & double bass learning theory. I started really young, and seemed to have a very early affinity to music. I would study composition on my own while my friends were off surfing. I Played in school honer orchestras, rock-club bands and the like. Later I got into recording and got a degrees in recording engineering & electronic music technology.
7) If you had a time machine and could record or perform once with any artist, who would it be?
I would have liked to have been in the recording sessions with George Martin and the Beatles during their very experimental phase. Also maybe the recording sessions of Pink Floyd making Dark Side Of The Moon.
8) Moment you first knew you would be a musician?
When I was about 9 years old and started my guitar lessons.
9) Advice you would give to a younger family member interested in a music career?
Always follow and believe in your passions, whatever they be. Don’t let the fires burn out. If you have a dream, only YOU can make it happen. It takes work, a lot of work, time, money, sacrifice, your sweat, self, soul and then some. Don’t let the money and fame drive you or you won’t make it. It’s gotta be about the music…..always!
10) Five songs or albums you’d take with you to a desert island?
I’ll choose albums:
1. Steve Roach- Dreamtime return
2. Beatles- Sgt Peppers lonely hearts club baaaaaaaaand
3. Pink Floyd- Dark Side Of The Moon
4. Peter Gabriel- Passion
5. Genesis- Seconds Out
11) If you could master another instrument, what would it be?
Man, I would love to play some sort of horn, like a sax or trumpet. Still have a long way to go with the didgeridoo too. Maybe I could be a good drummer in a rock band. Oh, I know, I could play a dulcimer.
12) Favorite time of day to work in your studio?
Definitely from twilight on. Nights best. Mornings too sometimes.
13) Any studio collaboration you experienced that stands out in your mind? Why?
Definitely when I worked on a three day master class with Steve Roach, one on one. The project was a re-working together of my Trance Meditation Cd. He was very gracious and down to earth. I learned a **it load! He really set up some “experiments” and “labs” on which to direct the teaching. I still carry that knowledge & experience with me to this day
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Mike Bielenberg is a professional musician and co-founder of http://www.musicrevolution.com, a production music marketplace where media producers and business owners can license high-quality, affordable music from a online community of musicians.
