Review Fix chats with composer Steven Wheeler to find out what inspired his debut EP, “Terminal Velocity.â€
About Steven Wheeler:
As a prolific music for media composer/producer on staff with renowned music production house Unified Sounds, Steve Wheeler’s eclectic vibes have been a major part of the soundtrack for CBS Sports – including The PGA Tour, NCAA March Madness, NFL and SEC College Football. His projects for Sony include the hit virtual reality game Farpoint.
Always wanting to explore new musical horizons and working with an expansive sonic palette, the Cape Cod bred, Orlando based studio powerhouse takes his passions for rock, jazz, hip-hop, concert band, metal, techno, musical theatre and other genres to the next level with the release of his first solo project. Carving out his own niche in the realm of 21st Century classical/symphonic epic music, Wheeler is releasing the three-track EP Terminal Velocity as a clever introduction to his sweeping, melodic, densely percussive sound in advance of his upcoming full length (approx. 15 tracks) debut The Endless March of Time.
Review Fix: How did you first get involved in music?
Steven Wheeler: I first got involved with music taking drum lessons as an 8-year-old. My parents took me to see Rush live when I was a young kid, and I knew that I wanted to play drums from there on out. Sometime later, I decided to become a composer as well.
Review Fix: Who influenced this EP the most?
Wheeler: This EP is a culmination of my rock and orchestral chops fused together on a 15 track album. My influences range from tonal Schoenberg to Stravinsky, from Napalm Death to Rush. I like music that’s powerful. Stuff that really forces you to have an opinion one way or the other.
Review Fix: Which of your commercial projects are you most proud of?
Wheeler: For commercial projects, I’m most proud of my current work that I’m doing on the game “Maneater” which is being published by Trip Wire. It’s an open world RPG about being a shark that goes around eating things. The genres for that have been a lot of fun.
Review Fix: How did all of this work help the EP?
Wheeler: Working on Maneater allowed me to experiment with more horror-style writing from both a John Carpenter point of view as well as a more classic orchestral horror standpoint. So, on the one hand, you have these pulsing synths and on the other hand, you’ve got dense string clusters that really amp up the tension.
Review Fix: Make makes this EP special to you?
Wheeler: This EP is special to me in the sense that I really feel that I have free reign to write what I want. Big, epic music that combines multiple genres in interesting ways. It’s fun for me, and I hope that fun is translated to the listener as well.
Review Fix: What’s the standout track?
Wheeler: I think The Endless March of Time is a real standout track on this one. Takes you through a bit of a musical journey. Starting out a bit more sparse and unassuming, slowly building into something greater. It’s a fun one!
Review Fix: What’s next?
Wheeler: After this, I’m not sure exactly where I’ll go. It really all depends on how well the album is received. Could see myself doing more of this type of music or jumping to another genre and trying to make my own mark there.
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
Wheeler: ‘This has been a lot of fun for me and I hope that these tracks will resonate with some of the listeners out there. Looking forward to doing new stuff soon.
Leave a Reply