Benjamin Anderson (musician)
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Anderson is an American
musician
and songwriter
. His musical styles range from hard rock
and industrial
to electronic
and ambient music
.
, The Mission, and U2
. This led him to pick up the guitar and later leave college wandering to Denver, Colorado
where he recorded his first collaboration with James Baker and formed the band Rorschach Test
.
Rorschach Test
later relocated to Seattle where they were signed to the now defunct Chicago
label Slipdisc Records (Mercury). They sustained a successful career during Seattle's lively music scene in the 90's. They toured North America
playing shows with the likes of Korn
, Type O Negative
, Genitorturers
, Queensrÿche
.
In 1999 Anderson left the band Rorschach Test
to pursue a musical journey in ambient and electronic music. Many of his ambient records were written as part of his art installations which also contained themed paintings and video.
In 2006 he united with Pamela Moore
, a Seattle singer/songwriter, and co-wrote her most recent release Stories from a Blue Room
.
In 2008, Anderson toured with the Geoff Tate Band performing live keyboards and programming.
Anderson currently resides in Seattle, Washington, and has just released a new record with musician, Jefferson Angell who is also a member of the Seattle band Post Stardom Depression. The project is titled The Missionary Position, the album is Diamonds in a Dead Sky.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. His musical styles range from hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
to electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
and ambient music
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
.
History
Anderson was first introduced to music at an early age, singing and traveling in an all boys choir. Eventually his voice changed and he moved on from the boys choir. In high school he became inspired by artists such as The CureThe Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, The Mission, and U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
. This led him to pick up the guitar and later leave college wandering to Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
where he recorded his first collaboration with James Baker and formed the band Rorschach Test
Rorschach Test (band)
Rorschach Test was an American industrial band from Denver, Colorado, formed by James Baker after he was expelled from the church. Baker was a young priest based in Denver until being defrocked in the early 1990s for his allegedly heretical questioning of church doctrine. Unsure of his next move,...
.
Rorschach Test
Rorschach Test (band)
Rorschach Test was an American industrial band from Denver, Colorado, formed by James Baker after he was expelled from the church. Baker was a young priest based in Denver until being defrocked in the early 1990s for his allegedly heretical questioning of church doctrine. Unsure of his next move,...
later relocated to Seattle where they were signed to the now defunct Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
label Slipdisc Records (Mercury). They sustained a successful career during Seattle's lively music scene in the 90's. They toured North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
playing shows with the likes of Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
, Type O Negative
Type O Negative
Type O Negative was a gothic metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. The band also incorporated elements of doom metal and thrash metal. Their dramatic lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four"...
, Genitorturers
Genitorturers
The Genitorturers are an industrial metal/industrial rock band from the United States, with influences extending into the 1990s hardcore punk and electronic music. They proclaim themselves to be "The World's Sexiest Rock Band".-History:...
, Queensrÿche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
.
In 1999 Anderson left the band Rorschach Test
Rorschach Test (band)
Rorschach Test was an American industrial band from Denver, Colorado, formed by James Baker after he was expelled from the church. Baker was a young priest based in Denver until being defrocked in the early 1990s for his allegedly heretical questioning of church doctrine. Unsure of his next move,...
to pursue a musical journey in ambient and electronic music. Many of his ambient records were written as part of his art installations which also contained themed paintings and video.
In 2006 he united with Pamela Moore
Pamela Moore
Pamela Moore is an American singer and songwriter, mixing hard rock, pop and electronica. She currently resides in Seattle, Washington in the United States.-History:...
, a Seattle singer/songwriter, and co-wrote her most recent release Stories from a Blue Room
Stories from a Blue Room
Stories from a Blue Room is Pamela Moore's third full length solo album, released under Planet Sweet Records in 2006. It features songs written by Moore and Benjamin Anderson....
.
In 2008, Anderson toured with the Geoff Tate Band performing live keyboards and programming.
Anderson currently resides in Seattle, Washington, and has just released a new record with musician, Jefferson Angell who is also a member of the Seattle band Post Stardom Depression. The project is titled The Missionary Position, the album is Diamonds in a Dead Sky.
Discography
- Rorschach TestRorschach Test (band)Rorschach Test was an American industrial band from Denver, Colorado, formed by James Baker after he was expelled from the church. Baker was a young priest based in Denver until being defrocked in the early 1990s for his allegedly heretical questioning of church doctrine. Unsure of his next move,...
The Eleventh (1996) - Rorschach TestRorschach Test (band)Rorschach Test was an American industrial band from Denver, Colorado, formed by James Baker after he was expelled from the church. Baker was a young priest based in Denver until being defrocked in the early 1990s for his allegedly heretical questioning of church doctrine. Unsure of his next move,...
Unclean (Slipdisc 1998) - Benjamin Anderson "1" (1999) Ambient recording
- Benjamin Anderson "2" (1999) Ambient recording
- Benjamin Anderson "Double Joy Happiness" (1999) Ambient recording
- Benjamin Anderson "4" the nature of things (1999) Ambient recording
- Benjamin Anderson "Blue" (2000) Ambient recording-multimediaMultimediaMultimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
art show - Benjamin Anderson "Out of Focus (in stereo)" (2001) Ambient/Electronic recording-multimediaMultimediaMultimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
art show - Pamela MoorePamela MoorePamela Moore is an American singer and songwriter, mixing hard rock, pop and electronica. She currently resides in Seattle, Washington in the United States.-History:...
"Stories from a Blue RoomStories from a Blue RoomStories from a Blue Room is Pamela Moore's third full length solo album, released under Planet Sweet Records in 2006. It features songs written by Moore and Benjamin Anderson....
" (2006) - The Missionary Position Diamonds In A Dead Sky (2009)