James Terrell- composer/producer/arranger/performer et al

  Syrin: A Brief Description by guitarist James Terrell
  
  ***If you actually listen to Syrin, please drop a short e-mail and let me know what you think of it. It doesn't have to be positive. In fact if you can just say: I listened to Syrin. That's good enough.***
  
  First and foremost, Syrin is an experimental project and will always push experimentation. If you were to ask my aim in creating Syrin, I'd say that Syrin hopes to create music that will form a cohesive musical and artistic statement, be accessible without conforming and artistic without being pretentious, and expand the range and function of the guitar in an academic sense. (In other words, I’d like the notion that you can create music using nothing but a guitar and some digital know-how to be taken seriously by the snobs of the music world, but the music isn’t directed at any particular group.)
  
  I chose the name Syrin because of its paradoxical nature and because I liked the way it sounded. Sirens, of course, were mythological creatures that lulled sailors into a false sense of security with their voices in an attempt to crash their ships. Ironically, sirens as we know them today, however, are devices used to warn people of trouble (tornado sirens, etc.). This struck me, and I realized that it was somewhat analogous to the music I was writing.
  
  Syrin was started a few years ago by me (James Terrell) with great help from Joey Briggs, as an independent musical outlet. The freedom of the Cakewalk software inspired much of how the music first came together. Here I could lay down as many overdubs as I wanted to and also I could edit and construct the music step by step. We began laying down ideas for songs, and since Joey and I originally intended to make a go at forming a band, early on the songs were band song ideas instead of what you see now: textural, sometimes minimalistic, ambient, folk, ethereal, electronic & electronica, experimental guitar music. Now things have progressed forward in life (as they always do) and I do Syrin as a solo project type thing. Joey and I work together on Prajna with Ian now, and Syrin has become another name for my “solo” work.
  
  Given the influences and style of Syrin one does not get a clear idea of how Syrin sounds. Although based off of and inspired by music that is often quite strangely constructed and weird, Syrin is not devoid of what I like to call musical infrastructure. Meaning that there is something to sort of hang onto. This “infrastructure,” as I call it, is what gives the music a back bone, a somewhat percussive and at times overtly rythmic, yet non-abrasive musical entity that drives the music and gives the texture appropriate contrast. This is part of why the acoustic guitar is so important. The usefulness of the acoustic guitar shines through because of its percussive and harmonic qualities, serving, oftentimes, as the infrastructure.
  
  The progeny of the project, so far, includes a self-titled debut record (that is quite a failure) and many a scattered, abandoned demo. The first album lacked a lot. Mostly because the aims of the project were extremely hazy during the time it was created, and partly because I lacked a lot of the knowledge and skill needed to truly make this project “work.” The record has its moments, and there are some nice tunes and some cool moments. However, overall it’s not something I’m particularly proud of. The future holds promise though. I have everything together now, and I am ready to make the aims of the project a reality.
  
  The recording process has been started for the follow up to Syrin's first album. The new album will be a massive improvement on all levels. It is titled "Splendor" and some of the early demos are already available. The composition process nears completion, steadily, and the recording process has picked up momentum as of late. The album could be ready as early as the late fall of 2004! Mark your calendars.
  
  The release of the record hinges on so many things. Not the least of which is my involvement with a new project called Prajna with bassist Ian Anderson and guitarist Joey Briggs. I worked with Ian on a rock group called A Modest Proposal before the Prajna idea was hatched (you can find our recordings in the links at the top of this page), and Joey was a major part of Syrin in the early days. He also took part in a number of brief stints with other bands and artists while living in Atlanta.
  
  So what music influenced Syrin and its creation? There was a lot. Here’s what’s really notable:
  
  Led Zeppelin was a major influence because they were the first thing that exposed me to folk music, which ended up shaping the way I constructed the infrastructure of the music in the beginning immensely, and continues still through my obsession with composers like Bartok and Stravinsky. NIN is also a huge inspiration because of the timbral and layering possibilities they exposed me to. The Smashing Pumpkins are also a great inspiration. My whole concept of the guitar overdub and the power one could harness with it was a gift from maestro Corgan. Radiohead has recently entered into my stereo and blown me away as well, and finally the genius of Michael Hedges was introduced to me just before the first album was released so this next record will definitely be affected by his genius. Also, notable is the influence of the philosophy of minimalism. Meaning: while I’m not extremely influenced by Philip Glass and company (not that I don’t enjoy the music), what I really like is the idea of making the absolute most of everything. This is really part of how Syrin got hatched. To bastardize Bruce Lee, “Using limitation as no limitation.”
  
  People like things in easy to understand packages. They like to be told how music sounds by what it sounds like. So I’ll bite. If I had to describe Syrin using other people's music, I'd probably describe Syrin as a cross between NIN, Radiohead, Led Zeppelin, & the Smashing Pumpkins.
  
  *****Check out other music by me here. Search for my old band A Modest Proposal or my new band Prajna.*****
  
  *****Check out other music by me here. Search for my old band A Modest Proposal or my new band Prajna.*****
  
  Prajna links:
  
  Cornerband:
  
  http://www.cornerband.com/html/bandPage/bandPage.asp?band_id=1035732
  
  Soundclick:
  
  http://www.soundclick.com/bands/9/prajna.htm
  
  Mp3lizard:
  
  http://music.mp3lizard.com/prajna/
  
  Audiostreet:
  
  http://www.audiostreet.net/artists/001/896/prajna.html
  
  A Modest Proposal links:
  
  Cornerband:
  
  http://www.cornerband.com/html/bandPage/bandPage.asp?band_id=1034730
  
  Soundclick:
  
  http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/amodestproposaltheotherone.htm
  
  Mp3lizard:
  
  http://music.mp3lizard.com/amodestproposal/
  
  Syrin links:
  
  Cornerband:
  
  http://www.cornerband.com/html/bandPage/bandPage.asp?band_id=1035153
  
  Soundclick:
  
  http://www.soundclick.com/bands/5/syrin.htm
  
  Mp3lizard:
  
  http://music.mp3lizard.com/syrin/

 ·A State of Prolonged Unconsciousness
 ·Myris
 ·Nowhere to Go + Time Ripples
 ·Splendor
 ·Terrae