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Having grown up with music always on as a child, albeit of the country variety, music has always been an integral part of my definition of self.   I was always an avid purveyor of new music and old favorites but it only ever inspired me to be a consumer and critic, nothing more. Motivation to move beyond that role and finally make some noise of my own occurred in three distinct phases.

     After high school as I was finally a “working adult” I remember buying a CMJ magazine that had features on new music and bands and I was reading in the magazine about a singer/songwriter who did things on her own terms and her way.  After hearing the song that appeared on the disc something clicked inside of me that said that if I could write a song so personal and be able to sing it then I would feel complete.  I subsequently bought ever disc that Ani Difranco had on the market and set a mental goal that I was to be a singer/songwriter if for nothing else than for me.  I proceeded to buy my first crappy acoustic guitar and through trial and error somewhat learned to beat on a guitar.

     Years later I heard a band that, in my head, sounded like how I would sing if I ever tried and surprise, surprise the songs were incredibly crafted and put together.  Obviously this band came to be and remains still one of my favorite bands, if for nothing else than giving me some boost in ego that someone else might like how I would sing if I dared to.  After further practice, I decided to take that step and see what would happen if I wrote my songs and find out if there might be an audience for my music.  So Seven Mary Three, thank you for the inspiration.

     Finally, what guitarist of our generation isn’t a fan of the Smashing Pumpkins?  You would probably have to look pretty far to find a guitarist who isn’t much of a fan.  The guitar sound and style just seemed to fit my definition of personal expression on a guitar.  As my knowledge of guitar playing grew I experimented with all sorts of sounds and pedals and my taste kept going back to that overdriven, distorted rock of the Pumpkins.  Heavy without being metal, loud with a purpose.  That has led me to this and we will see what the future holds for all of us.  

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     A dream of mine has been to play original music in front of an audience.  Over the years, I've seen many bands perform live (Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Pantera, Hum, Creed, Matchbox 20, Big Wreck, and the list goes on and on).  I've watched many shows in awe, just wanting to be a part of it.  My day has finally came with the creation of Here Among The Others.  I've started playing bass in eleveth grade, a Harmony.  After a short stint in college, I learned how to play the guitar and had a short lived all acoustic band called "Caesarsplit".  Playing guitar is fun, but there's something about the deep sound of a bass that makes me coming back to it. 

     After years of having Peavy Equipment, I have upgraded to a Shecter Bass and a Crate Amp.  With these two pieces of equipment, I will help my fellow others take over the world.  With music that has not boundaries, we will man our battlestations.

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     I’ve always been into music. Even before I started to play music I had developed a Led Zeppelin fanaticism. That was around age 12 or 13. I liked J. Giles Band, Loved Pink Floyd- Animals, Wish You Were Here and The Wall, Dark Side of the Moon.  I was a complete and unabashed band geek in junior high and high school. I played trumpet in the concert band, marching band and orchestra.   I picked up guitar at 16 and have been playing it since then. I found my beautiful Gibson that I play to this day in a pawn shop in Laramie Wyoming when I was in ninth grade. I played in the jazz band. I also had many bands and jam sessions throughout junior high and high school. Lab Rats, FD&C Blue#3, Myth, Huachinango, others that no-one will ever remember or hear about. By 17 had learned to at least fake my way through LZI, II, III, IV, Houses Of The Holy, Physical Graffiti, etc… I found a new love in Metalica about the time And Justice For All came out. I delved into their back catalog and soon had a Kill ‘em All problem. I couldn’t stop listening to it. Fell asleep at night with my hands raw and sore from learning to play those fast metal riffs as perfectly as possible. I have numerous heroes from that time including but not limited to Jimi Page, Hendrix, Eddy Van Halen, Carlos Santana, John McLaughlin, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Wynton Marsalis, Cannonball Aderly, Dave Brubeck, John Coletrane, Mark Knopfler, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland from The Police, BB King, Freddy King, U2, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Duke Ellington, John Lee Hooker, I enjoyed Satriani and Vai from a technical point of view, JS Bach, Mozart, Gustov Holst, Berlioz, Percy Grainger, Verdi, I just can’t quit…
    

     I went to college and found a bunch of music that I found compelling like John Zorn, Helmet, Smashing Pumpkins, Jane’s Addiction, Sepultura, Ween, Fugazi,, Panterra, Nuclear Assault, ATDI, Sparta. My latest trip is that I’ve come to love The Mars Volta. There are too many good things our there worthy of mention for me to continue.

     Anyway, the whole point is that I am inspired by a wide range of musical influences. Jazz, Blues, Metal, Classical, Experimental, Fusion… I love music and I’m thrilled to be able to write, play, and record music with my friends. HATO is lots of fun for me because all of the music is original. That means there aren’t any rules and we can change things up a lot. I’m having a blast and hope that others will come to hear us and enjoy the music as I do.

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Well there isn't much to say, I love making beats and playing the drums. If it makes noise, I'm going to try and use it to come up with some sort of beat. It might annoy everyone around me, (and it does) but it is music to my  ears. It all started in California with one of my friends who owned a drum  set. I would go over to his house and he would let me play. It probably was a frightening sight to watch me, or at least scary to listen to. Around the same time I became interested in the drums, he took up guitar and this lead  to my first band. We played "Skunk" music, a mold between Ska and Puck. I loved the fast Punk with the mix of the funky Ska. But this is not the existent of my love for music. I also listen to rap and hip hop and enjoy
making rap/ hip hop beats. Dr. Dre and The Neptunes are just a couple of bad asses that can lay down a phat beat. I listen to different bands and rap artist and take note of there different styles and techniques of there music
so I can apply it to my own.

I moved across the country from Cali to the Midwest and met up with Here Among The Others here in Des Moines Iowa. I am now beating the drums for these great group of guys.

Rock on!!