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Imagine a sound that incorporates a diversity of musical styles: atmospheric Pop, classic Soul, edgy Rock, modern Hip Hop, and more = Perpendicular. In the summer of 2006, gifted vocalist, lyricist, and composer Craig Warner sacrificed his ocean view in San Francisco, California for Buffalo, New York for the opportunity to finally collaborate full-time with his musical partner in crime - composer, producer, and multi-talent, Nelson Starr.
Warner and Starr’s friendship goes back to their days as roommates in college. After graduating, Nelson remained in Buffalo, while Warner set off across the USA to chase his muse. He relocated first to Atlanta, Georgia, where he soaked up much of the classic Soul that influences his sound, and then on to Oakland, California - where he sharpened his singing chops with top-notch vocal coaches & singers like Ledisi and Raz Kennedy.
Starr, a fixture on the Buffalo music scene for the past fifteen years, has seen his share of musical adventures. He was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 2006, recently scored two national television series, has won eleven Artvoice and Buffalo Music awards, has performed to sold-out crowds at Lincoln Center, and has a major publishing deal as an author.
Warner & Starr collaborated coast to coast to produce Perpendicular’s first release, "Form Follows Funk" (2001). Met with an immediate embrace, the tune, “Today ‘til You Die”, was snatched up by Columbia/Tri-Star for the hit TV series, “Party of Five”. Warner also appeared on the show. The album went on to sell remarkably well for an indie release and is still a favorite among fans, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area.
So what’s in a name? What's “Perpendicular” all about? Warner explains, "My vision is to channel all the different styles of music I love into a unified form of expression. In Geometry, perpendicular means the intersection of two lines to form a right angle. In this case, Perpendicular refers to the way lines of musical styles converge and intersect - so the result feels 'right' to me, and hopefully to the listener as well. Styles Converging To Form Right Angles!" (Nelson chimes in, “…but never sounds square!”) With each song blending organic and electronic sounds with catchy melodies, clever lyrics, skillful musicianship, and soulful, expressive vocals, the results are "right on" indeed.
So what’s up for the future? Warner and Starr, are currently in the studio, crafting a follow up to "Form Follows Funk" that fulfills the promise that their debut only gave fans a taste of. “The next record is as cutting-edge and modern as the last album was retro. We are raising the bar across the board on this one!” enthuses Warner. Starr adds, “We’re bringing some real songwriting chops and studio wizardry together in an ear-opening way that only Perpendicular can.”
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