Alphanaut is an electro-acoustic project fronted by singer/songwriter Mark Alan, which lifted off in 2008 after nearly a decade away from song writing.
Mark has been writing and recording music since high school and played in a couple bands around Seattle before heading to Los Angeles at twenty-one. While in LA he wrote and performed with various musicians around town, eventually forming the band ‘November’ in the early 90’s. He fronted the five-piece project for over six years playing a style of music mixing lush guitar melodies and ambient keyboards. This was during the era of 'Garage Rock', which November certainly didn't fit, and the band members became increasingly frustrated trying to swim up tide. Unfortunately, as happens, the band split and it's members moved on to other paths. Once that project disbanded Mark spent his time focusing on other creative interests giving him a chance to clear his head and hopefully approach music from a fresh perspective. Music slipped further than expected as he struggled for true inspiration, but he was always writing 'musical sketches' of songs, many of which would eventually become part of Alphanaut.
It was during the time between fall of 2007 and summer of 2008 that things really took fire, and over three dozen new musical works took shape. As the songs formed a few different sounds capes began to emerge. At one end of the spectrum there were songs that had a more straight ahead 'pop' structure, and at the other end were more abstract ambient pieces. Mark decided to break them out into three distinct groups and build Alphanaut's releases from there. Starting things off was the five song EP "The Lunar Age" which he self released February 2009. The works selected for "The Lunar Age" EP represent more of the commercially structured songs to introduce listeners to the project. Two singles were released in the following months "Spontaneity" and "Jennifer" both including remixes of the title cuts and a bonus song exclusive to each release.
Currently, a dozen or so of Alphanaut's other songs are being worked out with his band for a full-length album and subsequent singles. The album will combine Mark's sequenced keyboard parts along with live musicians with the hopes of achieving a more lush and atmospheric vibe. If all goes as planned, the as of yet untitled album, should be released by the end of 2009.
Bands/Artists of significant influence are:
Goldfrapp, Beck, Brian Eno, Kissing the Pink, Freur/Underworld, Bjork, David Sylvian/Japan, Kate Bush, Faithless, Sia, Gus Gus, Jenny Wilson, Lamb
Bands/Artists with influences simmering under the surface:
Radiohead, The The, Talk Talk, Knife, Thomas Dolby, Tricky, Bowie, Gnarles Barkley, Electric Light Orchestra, Babybird
Bands/Artists of distant influence:
Iggy Pop, Editors, Gang of Four, Shriekback, Doves, Hanne Hukkelberg, Louix XIV, Muse, Yello
Each tune began it's life in the program Reason by Propellerhead Software which was used to create basic drums, bass, keyboards, and most importantly, textures and sound FX. Each track was transferred to Logic Studio where the elements morphed and vocals added, which were sung in a 'hi-jacked' bathroom converted into a makeshift vocal booth (thanks to all who endured). From there the files were passed to a kick ass local engineer Ted Scarlett, then taken to the studio to flesh out four of the five songs full potential. The fifth song "The Innocence of Time" was engineered by an equally talented mixer Shaun Drew. Vocals were resung, guitars added and mixed to perfection.
Thanks to Ted, Shaun, Chavo and everyone who supported me through the process.
Mark
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