Beyond Entertainment: Music, a Source of Healing, A Power for Good

It's a strange, unearthly feeling you get when you know that your work has impacted someone's life in a positive way, even if for but a moment. It's kind've like a power that all musicians can wield. It can be wielded upon thousands or even millions of people, or even just a select few. Either way, if used for good, it can make the world a better place.

If used effectively, it can give you the feeling that you've really made a difference. And that feeling...you can really learn to crave. At which point, you find yourself constantly working on that power.

You know that annoying guy at the lunch table who's always drumming on the table? You tell him to stop, but sure enough, 5 minutes later there he is doing it again.

...Yeah, that's me. I'm a weirdo.

Hey, in my defense...I do it without thinking. It's kinda like 2nd nature. I'd say most drummers know what I mean.

Music has always been a huge part of my life, and it has helped get me through so much. Being the typical introvert, as you enter school, college, work, society as a whole, you come to find that everything is not really catered to you. In fact, it's almost as if they're actively working against you. You tend to find yourself to be the anomaly in a lot of scenarios, and can see and feel yourself being squeezed out.

..I guess that's why I'm not a good fit for most "real jobs". Perhaps you can relate?

Music has always been my release, and has always been a huge part of my life. As early as age 5, I was making drum sets out of pots and pans. Through high school, (when no one was looking) I found myself singing along to Korn, Creed, Orgy, and Rammstein to the point to where I could imitate each of them, well..kinda.

Music has a way of healing the wounds and lashes that life throws at you. In fact, all that singing along not only get me past whatever I was going through, but it eventually gave me my direction in life. While it has been far from easy, I wouldn't do it any other way.

So.. I began picking up guitar, bass, and keyboard, and developed a working knowledge with each, at least to where I could start making my own songs. Eventually the glass stopped shattering when I would begin to sing. (Yay me!) So I thought I would combine some of my favorite genres into one: hard rock/metal, classic orchestra, EDM, and a touch of 80's. (Easy enough, right?)

Early productions were.. dare I say rough, clunky, and sometimes lacking rhyme or reason. But they eventually grew to the point of being selected to perform on both live TV and live radio.

As the industry changed, closing some doors, while opening others, I was forced to adapt. So I started developing music to be used for TV, film, and video games. Enjoying a light handful of success, landing music in TV shows, documentaries, couple of games and movies.

Despite the industry changing again...and again, (and again) I've always felt a little tug at my heart to do something meaningful with my music. Something worth more than money, which is sorta the purpose behind Dark Advocate.

My mission is to write music that not only can sonically take you to another world, but can also have a positive impact on you. So if you've heard my work, and it has impacted you in a positive manner, then I must have done something right.

Music has always healed me through life's struggles, perhaps now my music can do the same for you.

Because essentially, everything I make, pretty much comes back to you, the one who hears it. You make it matter. In the end, you pretty much determine how much success I will or will not have. (Kind've scary, huh?)

Music doesn't has much purpose if there is no one there to listen to it, let it move them, to heal them and get them through whatever they are going through.

Everything I do, the essential other half of it all, is sharing it with someone like YOU. Without you, my story, and my music goes without meaning and without purpose.

I look forward to many more good, hard, and worthwhile experiences along this musical journey. Here’s to hoping that you are part of that journey.

And hey, if any of this resonated with you, or if you have any questions, or simply just want to say.. "hello there!" please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you. Stay tuned my friend.