Steve Brand has been making music in the experimental realm since the early 90’s under the name, “Augur,” with more than 20 limited edition releases on various independent labels. In 2003, Steve began creating in the “ambient” genre under his own name. He describes this change in moniker and musical expression as, “Part of the process of moving out of my head and more into my heart.” Since then, Brand has issued a number of self-released disks, as well as a number of solo and collaborative releases on the esteemed U.S. labels, Hypnos and AtmoWorks, and the Italian label, Afe.
Selected tracks of Brand’s music have been featured on Stephen Hill’s nationally syndicated radio show “Hearts of Space” on three occasions (October 2007 “Darkwater” edition, August 2008 “Reading the Bones” edition, July 2010 “Heatwaves” edition), and continues in rotation on SomaFM’s DroneZone, StillStream.com and LoungingSound.com. September of 2007, Steve was privileged to be invited, along with 4 other artists, to take part in one of the few “Into The SoundCurrent” Masters’ Classes with Steve Roach at his studio, the Timeroom, in Sonoita, Arizona. Early 2008, Philadelphia’s experimental dance troupe, SCRAP Performance Group, used selections of his music as a backdrop for a recent composition. July 31, 2009, Brand’s 2008 release on AtmoWorks.com, “Because We Were Once Covered In Gold,” was honored as the “Featured Album of the Month” on StillStream.com.
Brand’s music has been described as “ambient,” “tribal,” “ritualistic,” “a direct link to our ancient, and arcane ancestry” and “…not mere music, but an almost shamanic attempt at deconstructing our interpretation of reality, by connecting us to an anti-technological, primal psyche.” Instruments include keyboards, natural sounds, various flutes, voice, medicine drum, rattles, bells, gongs.
In addition to his sound work, Steve is a Reiki Master, trained energy healer and visual artist who is: “Committed to the idea that art/music, more than being just an object for sale, is actually a fluid and transformative process that opens us up to new possibilities that create the potential for healing spiritually and physically, and connects us via it’s roots in our common ancient past with it’s wellspring in the depths of our larger selves. The results of this process are sound maps of/to lost and uncharted realms of Being. Unfortunately, it’s very easy these days to reach for the cynical, hyper-rational, reductivist yes/no answers of the past. Instead, I choose to reach into the gray areas of feeling, intuition, the unknown—in doing so, I make music that is intended to expand, move and heal.”
Discography
2010
• “Coniunctio” (“Pale Blue Orb/The Beginning Of Days”) ON relaxedMACHINERY – NOW
• “Sunprints” ON ATMOWORKS – 4.30.10
• “Circular Scriptures” ON relaxedMACHINERY – 1.11.10
2009
• “The First Day Unnamed” (w/ Disturbed Earth) ON ATMOWORKS – October 30
• “She Covers The Sky” (w/ contributions from Holon) ON ATMOWORKS – September 25
- “Because We Were Once Covered In Gold” honored as StillStream.com’s “Featured Album of the Month” for August
- Featured artist on StillStream.com’s Rabbit Hole Radio, Thursday, June 4, 2009
• “Spiritual Science/The Voice From Home” AtmoWorks (double album w/ Ishq, July, 17, 2009)
• “Children of Alcyone” ON HYPNOS SECRET SOUNDS
• “The Rest of Time” (w/ Disturbed Earth) ON ATMOWORKS
• “Cahokia” re-released/re-mastered ON ATMOWORKS
• “Busy with Dreams” (w/ Disturbed Earth) ON ATMOWORKS
2008
• “LightTools” ON ATMOWORKS
• “Epicenter of a New Dawn” Free Download e.p.
• “Into the Current” Free Download Single
• “Because We Were Once Covered In Gold” ON ATMOWORKS
• “Broken Gold” (w/ Disturbed Earth) ON ATMOWORKS
• “SoulSpiral” ON ATMOWORKS
• “Codex” (compilation) Self-released CDr, only at Hypnos Store
- Music aired on Hearts of Space in the August, “Reading the Bones” edition
- Music in rotation on SomaFM’s DroneZone
• “Bridge To Nowhere” ON HYPNOS SECRET SOUNDS
• “Looking Into The Other” self-released on CDBaby.com, iTunes
2007
• “Twilightmind” self-released on CDBaby.com, iTunes. etc.
• “Cahokia” self-released on CDBaby.com, iTunes. etc.
• “Awakensong” self-released on CDBaby.com, iTunes, etc. (re-release of formerly ltd. edition)
• “Looking Into The Other” CDR—Originally released March 2006 on Afe Records
- 2 songs aired on Hearts of Space in late October, “Darkwater” edition
- Interview with Fabrizio Grau of AudioDrome.com
2006
• “Looking Into The Other” Track contributed to Afe Records’ on-line compilation
• “Awakensong” CDR Released March 2006 on Afe Records
- Interview with TJ Norris for Igloo On-line Magazine
