Knossos

Primarily a guitarist, Dann M. Torres has made the varied trek from ensemble musician, to session musician and now to solo artist. Studying the guitar early on, Dann was entranced by the harmonic capabilities of the guitar and its ability to capture a wide spectrum of tonalities. Always striving to create something new and unusual, he explored unconventionally with the instrument and began to write songs that were inspired by sonorous colors and drone-like harmony. With this, and a love for early music, he immersed himself into a complex study of alternate tunings and medieval music for a number of years. In 1992, Dann and Jeremiah Soto, of Solace, founded the group Eventide, a medieval / alternative ensemble that developed and performed a new music hybrid of original works that utilized a variety of instruments and early music aesthetics. The Arabic influence on early music could not be denied, and as Eventide's studies and music progressed, Dann and Jeremiah's fascination with the rhythms and melodic variants of the sound flourished. Their passions splintered; Jeremiah's into the complex rhythmic structures of eastern percussion and Dann's into the undulating intricacy of Middle Eastern strings. It was during this time that Dann discovered an overwhelming passion for the Arabic oud (a fretless, short-necked lute), the Turkish Saz (a long-necked lute) and world music in general. Unfortunately, after four years, extensive studio work, and a short tour, Eventide disbanded in 1995. The dissolution of the group left Dann with the drive to continue to cultivate his guitar explorations and further develop his growing interest in the instruments and music theory of the Near East region. In 1996, an affection for experimental electro-acoustic music led Dann back to the studio and collaborative realm with Still, an ambient acoustic trio, which would include long time musical partner Jeremiah Soto once again. The venture culminated in the album Thinnerweb, a sinuous, ethereal piece of work based solely on the relationship between acoustic guitar, bass and Middle Eastern percussion. In this environment, Dann explored the parameters between tonal and atonal harmony and most importantly the treatment of acoustic instruments with electronics. The project would be short lived, but for Dann, the passion of acoustic instrument manipulation would provide a staple and signature that would enhance all of his future musical endeavors. In the years following his work with Still, Dann balanced his time with session work and performances with various world music projects and Los Angeles ensembles; while at the same time, continued to develop his own original compositions. Today, Dann has come full circle with his knowledge of sound design, processing and instrumental arranging. He has carved a unique place for himself in his capacity to construct a variety of textures with an assortment of musical mediums. Playing almost every instrument on his current release "Dark Light in the Wake of Silence", Dann has gained visibility utilizing his gathered knowledge of instruments and their applications. Combining elements of electronica, experimental, jazz and world music in one package, he has bridged the gap between modern and traditional music in a unique way. "I am constantly fueled by my desire to disassemble the organic, to create a new voice out of the simplest, purest sound. There is symmetry in the soul of archaic instruments and the antiseptic technology of today. Be it the warmth of the oud's melancholic breadth, the resonance of snares on a bendir or a glitch in a textured wash of electronic ambiance, I seek to unravel this symmetry in my music in pursuit of a new soul that is compelling and enigmatic." Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.