hills cloud.

< bio.

Hills Cloud represents my studio recording project.  The name is derived from a hypothetical region in outer space that is thought to be comprised of many billions of comets.  I felt this name to be fitting, as my electronic compositions draw inspiration from many musical genres - colliding together in ways that are not commonly explored by other artists.

Having been fascinated with electronic music as a child (thanks to the likes of Wendy Carlos, Keith Emerson, Isao Tomita, Chip Davis, George Duke – and the list goes on), I felt compelled to get my hands on the instruments that produced such outlandish sounds.  Lacking adequate funds to acquire commercially manufactured synthesizers, I did the only reasonable thing a teenager could do – set out to build them myself!  Armed with books by Craig Anderton and Barry Klein, I designed and built my first synthesizers and effects processors.  Outwardly, they were abominations – constructed of scrap wood and metal, toy organ keyboards, and a hodgepodge of hand-me-down switches and potentiometers (mostly obtained through raiding my Dad’s electronics parts-bins!); however, on the inside, they were powered by the same chips that made those wonderful commercial synthesizers tick – so I was thrilled with the results!  Unfortunately, I no longer have these creations.  Over the years their parts were pilfered, and eventually the scavenged carcasses were discarded.

My first “real” synthesizers, Moog and Sequential Circuits analogs, came along shortly after the home-built systems.  I had originally intended to use the keyboards from these units (both obtained cheaply during the digital synth boom in the 80s) in my own modular synth project; however, these little monosynths were so good in their own right that I mercifully left them undisturbed.  I still own and use them to this day.

In parallel with all of this electronics tinkering, I was under the instruction of a Houston-area jazz musician, Ethan Atkinson, for the electric bass (and music theory in general).  In fact, he was responsible for steering me towards the bass, citing a scarcity of “good bass players” on the local music scene.  While initially reluctant (like most other adolescents, I was there for guitar lessons!), I chose the path he suggested, and to this day the bass remains my primary instrument – the instrument that I am the most competent and comfortable on.  I am forever indebted to Ethan for his guidance and influence as a teacher, and for nurturing that spark that I had for music as a child.

I went on to play in countless bands over the years, touching on virtually every style of music from big band to punk rock.  I was also doing a bit of multi-track recording at home.  While in college, I was rehearsing and gigging heavily, as well as working part-time and… oh yeah – trying to study!  I eventually became so burned out on my favorite hobby, that I abandoned it altogether.  I instead focused on other interests, career, life… and did not touch a musical instrument for nearly a decade.

A handful of friends reignited my musical interest around 2002.  We began casually jamming together, still do so regularly, and play the occasional gig together.  Reacquainted with my passion for music, I set out to build a studio in my Chandler, AZ home, and now use this technology to create my own music.  This has been a fantastic journey for me, and I’m thankful to have the support of my Wife and two Sons, who inspire me always.

Thank you for stopping by and listening to my music.  Make sure to visit my MySpace page as well, add me as a friend, and even contact me if you like!

Best Regards,
Joe