Solar Bud - aka Andy Hunt - began his musical life as a guitarist.
After spending years in the obligatory cover bands, Andy recorded some of his best material with an outfit called the Green Inspiration Band (www.greeninspirationband.com) in Swansea - heavy psychedelic rock.
Other bands Andy has played in include the (international) Electric Druids, and more recently the Dandelion Clocks.
Andy's tastes have always been eclectic, and he has consistently refused to limit himself to activity in one kind of music or another. He draws his influences from rock (psychedelic and otherwise), folk, dance (of all descriptions), blues, and the sounds of the natural world.
From an early age, Andy has immersed himself in the natural world, and living in harmony with nature is one of his guiding principles. This means that as a fan of electronic gadgetry of all descriptions, a commitment to renewable energy and sustainable living is a 'must'. Andy runs a couple of blogs, one of which is 'green cottage', a diary of sustainable living in his modest two-up, two-down end terrace in Lancashire:
http://greencottage.burysolarclub.net
Andy became involved with dance music through some friends who told him that the dance community were exactly the community he was looking for, and would help him promote Earth-friendly living and raise money for alternative energy projects.
After a bad experience promoting parties in Manchester, Andy lost heart for a while, as it seemed to him that this promise had proved false, and that the dance community really only cared about self-indulgence and hedonistic excess.
However, not one to give up, Andy decided that if he was to be able to communicate with people in the dance community, he would have to do it through his own music. To this end, he adopted the name 'Solar Bud' (after a Swansea punk rock band whose drummer sadly died), and wrote his first dance album, "Lightning Harvest". The double album refuses to be pigeonholed, and although not derivative, encompasses many different styles of music - from psychedelic trance and techno to celtic folk and hard euphoric dance.
Andy also plays in a 'New Age' Celtic folk acoustic trio. As a musician, he consistently pushes the boundaries and refuses to be confined by fashion or the 'market' sound. He believes in freedom of expression and free inspiration.
Andy can be found playing at free parties, clubs and festivals alike. Wherever you find him playing, you will know that the event organisers have agreed to tackle the carbon emissions associated with the event, as Andy will only play at forward-looking 'green' events on principle. He has a record of successfully influencing events to look at alternative energy options and reduce their carbon footprint, and is always looking for new 'green' event collaborations.
Influences
Astral Projection, Doof, Binary Finary, The Secret, Distortion Orchestra, Zen Terrorists, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, PK Allott, James Hollingsworth, Jebo, Roy Harper, Ozric Tentacles, Eat Static, Megadog parties/festival, Stay Up Forever acid tekno, Tim Blake, Hawkwind, Clannad, Pentangle, Tinrib, Green Inspiration Band, Lab4, Vibe Tribe, Loreena McKennitt, Mary McLaughlin, Maire Brennan, Stafford Beer, John Hurford, Solar Bud (Canadian solar pyrographer), Keiretsu, Barenaked Ladies, Spacemen 3, Steve Hillage, John Renbourne, Dezi, Jerry Sinewave, Goa trance, acid trance, psychedelic trance, ambient electronica, Celtic folk, J.S. Bach, Gustav Holst, Paul Brennan, AfroCelts, Joni Mitchell, Sandy Denny, Rob Hopkins, Jim Kunstler, Richard Heinberg, Colin Campbell, Jim Hanson, Jim Henson
Sounds Like
Hard melodic psychedelic techno trance with a Celtic twist
Solar Bud's - "Lightning Harvest" -
The ultimate union.
From British artist Solar Bud, "Lightning Harvest" is a CD of powerful dance music spanning a wide variety of styles.
With its basis in hard techno trance, bringing in psychedelic ambient sounds and hard dance too, this album is a fusion of a multitude of electric dance styles, a unique work of art for any dj portfolio or bedroom soundsystem.
Both esoteric and danceable, the tracks were made with solar electricity for a sound which is totally in harmony with nature. "Lightning Harvest" is the fusion of organic and digital, the union of technology and nature.
Since the dawn of earth spiritualism and pagan culture, people have spoken of the time when the iron structures of industrial society will give way to a new age of revived compassion with the planet which gave us birth, a new enlightenment and way of living in harmony with the eternally powerful force of nature.
Now the time of transition to that new age is upon us. The earth is preparing to cleanse herself. The beginning of the end of the fossil fuel age heralds industrial collapse, and a new way of sustainable living rises like a phoenix from the ashes.
The children of the sun are awaking to a fiery new dawn. Humanity begins to come of age.
Individual tracks from the
album are available from
That sounds brill! If it does happen I will ensure I don't back out last minute this time. Let me know and I'll keep you posted about anything I know of too.
Still looking at the off-grid options. Biggest problem is trying to calculate requirements e.g. how big a system I will require. I'm also trying to get into the technicalities of the whole thing, polychristalline, monocrystalline cells and all the other paraphernalia. Once I'm done with that then it will be the finding of suppliers. Stuff is very expensive here so I shall have to buy it and ship it in from another country.
Regarding the Earthship site, it has been in greatruaha's favourites for a long time. We went to see the Brighton one. It is her dream to build something like that but can you imagine going to get planning permission over here and you tell the planner that you are going to build a house out of used tyres and rubble? Apparently it took ten years of struggling "in the U.S.A." to get it accepted. We are looking at al the other ECO stuff that it uses though.
Thanks for the Powerswitch link, I've just checked it out. Will need some time to go through it. Went to an Eco exhibition here a few weeks ago, unfortunately it was directed towards the big boys, electricity producers town waste recycling etc.
The master plan is going according to some unidentified power. I wish the power would let me know what the plan is though. Hope all is going well with you!!
I knew it'd be good! Arg... next time Gadget, next time. The mastering hasn't really happened yet. My mate is a good producer and he lives in London so I think I need to spend some time in the studio with him soon. I can send you a copy of the album as is if you like... let me know. Are you doing any festi's this summer? Still hoping my uncle will do a party. Fingers crossed. I will let you know if/when he does.
I was just listening to Katharsys. Really, really good dude. Quite cathartic.. how ironic. hehe. Hope you good. I'm gutted I missed John's party... all my mates dropped out at the last minute and I couldn't make it. How was your set? I was gutted to miss it!
Alright Andy, will check ur new stuff when i'm at home, at work at the min and only got the sheddy speaker built into the machine. I've not been doing much recently, still awaiting my pennys so I can build the studio then i can kick my self up the ass and finish some stuff. sometimes this year. should have my money in a few months. Although I have been playin around with just samples and software stuff (all the hardware is in my loft for safe keepin until i've built my box:P) I do have a few purely samples tunes :D
Thanks very much. I can send you the album in the post or yousendit.com. Let us know which you'd prefer. The tracks need mastering (there are still significant differences between the volumes of each track).
Ive just been speaking John Miszt on the psy forum about him remixing one of my tunes. Exciting! The party in the summer sounds excellent. The chill rig is a great idea. I would love to be involved. Thanks for asking!
Yup, loving working for 'em. Glad i've managed to find "work" with an organisation whose ethics mesh perfectly with my own.
Yes, would be good to see you. I remember last time we met being far to spangled to hold a coherent conversation,much to my regret.
Glad things are well with you, and that you're feeling positive. Yes, sometimes a life laundry is necessary, and sometimes you do have to accept that friends are not always forever. Onwards and upwards me dear!
May be going to System 7, will let you know. Remind me a bit before though, as my memory is crap.
Hellooo there! How are things with you me dear? I'm fab, working for Greenpeace. Living back in Manchester and feeling marvelously happy, though the year away was much needed! Smiles & hugs, Sharia x
