Music
Press
His music is a universe away from mainstream, but that's exactly what Alan Fink wants.
Fink, 23, wants to create a unique and sometimes unheard of sound with his music.
"I want to make music no one else is making," he said.
And though his music is far from conventional, he's gathering quite a following on the Internet.
His songs can be heard at mp3.com/HopeAD. He records under the name of Hope AD.
Fink's airy mixes layered onto soothing guitar tracks are laced with hypnotic vocals and can be found only on mp3.com, an on-line music catalogue.
Fink's nine tracks listed on the site have had more than 6,500 hits in three months.
According to mp3.com, the site contains 1.5 million free songs by major and independent artists. More than 12 million users worldwide visit the site each month.
All of the music is free.
Comments from downloaders of Fink's songs include: "Another form of beauty that has to be heard to understand ... Out there in the best way possible ... So creative it could make you faint."
Fink, who moved to St. Augustine two years ago from New Port Richey, creates all his music in his downtown apartment. He said he has thousands of dollars invested in equipment and instruments in order to create his sound.
Fink experiments with mixers and layering and records the majority of his songs in one take.
"Every song is different," he said. "They're basically like paintings, like splatters of paint."
Fink's interest in music began at age 14 when he began to write lyrics. At 18, he picked up a guitar and taught himself to play. Soon he was fronting bands and performing for crowds exceeding 1,000 people. But Fink said he soon tired of the bands.
"It just got to a point where they weren't in it for the same reason as me," he said. "The guitarist in the last band I was in was the best guitarist, but he was an ego-maniac. He was just in the band to be able to say he played guitar in a band. It's just me now, I'm trying to figure out who I am on my own as an artist."
So, for Fink, music is just an escape.
"It's the place that I want to be. I do it for the art," he said. "It's where I escape to; it's my reality."
Nick Bohanan, a long-time friend, said he thinks it's a good idea that Fink's music is available on the Internet.
"He's very talented and driven," Bohanan said. "He's got a passion for it, he puts his music before everything else. When there's not a music scene, he's got to make do with what he's got."
Fink is in the process of creating packages to send to record labels and also plans to create his own record label in the future.
But fame is the last thing he wants.
"You'll never see me on TRL (Total Request Live, a show on MTV that features Top 40 music)," he said. "I refuse to listen to commercial music and I refuse to make it."
Instead, his goal is self-fulfillment and making an impact on his audience, he said.
"I want to touch people. It's so awesome to get someone from New Zealand or Japan to say they like my music," Fink said. "I want one day to have a catalogue of songs I'm proud of. I want to be really happy with myself." - http://216.116.225.75/stories/111703/new_1933154.shtml
Alan Fink is making a name for himself with music that one wouldn't call traditional. In fact, his music is a lush, atmospheric journey and is out there in the best way possible. Compared to artists like Radiohead or Sigur Ros, his "noise" speaks volumes and for itself, just the way Alan wants it. - St. Augustine Record
Discography
Working On Putting Together My Debut Album.
I Have Done Work For An Indie Film Through PHIBBLE & I Am Currently In The TOP 5 Videos On MUSICNATION.COM With The Video For "Sincerely, Mine" Along With Bright Eyes & The Cure Among Others. Insomnia Radio, Phibble & Project Indie Have All Streamed "Silence Nods," "Reality Version K." & "Eating Water" + 2 Interviews With The Artist.
Photos
Bio
He Dreams Awake = Alan Fink, A solo musician & independent artist that is making a huge impact in the underground music scene. The music that he creates and considers art is creating a buzz around him that has many fans & critics starting to take notice. With his unique style of creating music - between the use of unique arrangements, complex, atypical rhythmic structures (including irregular stopping and starting), angular melodies, and dissonant chords. Using his voice as an instrument, acoustic & electric guitars, keyboards, strange & clever use of effects pedals & boards, programming, sampling & even Recording, Editing, Mixing & Mastering everything himself, he is truly on the verge of something very important. Whether it is articles being written about him by adoring critics, the high number of indie stations, websites & publications adding Mr. Fink to their "Bands To Watch" list or the fact that he is at the top of his game - there is one thing for sure - Alan Fink = He Dreams Awake is a name & artistic vision that will create a long & beautiful legacy. With over 42 songs written in the last year or so, the Debut Album (Untitled) will be released at the End Of 2009. Art Will Remain The Most Astonishing Activity Of Mankind Born Out Of Struggle Between Wisdom And Madness, Between Dream And Reality In Our Mind. =- The Artist Behind The Veil Of Complexity Is A Single Mind Responsible For Every Second Of Sound. Numerous Instruments, Multiple Forms Of Production/Editing/ Programming & One Voice Comprise The Art/Music That Is HE DREAMS AWAKE. Influences Include Any Form Of Artistic Expression Where I Can Feel The Passion Or Intensity. At 14 Years Old, Alan Started A Band "The Sick" That Eventually Won A National Competition (FLARO) Less Than 2 Years Later, Beating Out Crossbreed Who Finished Second. The Next 2 Bands He Formed & Fronted As Main Songwriter Won 6 Out Of 7 Battle Of The Band Competitions & Besides Playing To A Sold Out State Theatre (4,200) & Having A Co-Writer & Lead Guitarist That Went On To Play With The Almost (Jay Vilardi), Alan Had To Escape The Scene Before IT Sucked Him In & Spit Him Out. In St. Augustine, Alan Taught Himself How To Play Numerous Instruments & Record, Mix, & Master His Own Music Which Really Helped Him Become More Of The "Artist" He Always Knew That He Was. With an impressive cast of musicians always ready to play behind He Dreams Awake, The Future Holds No Limits For This Solo Musician That Plays Every Instrument He Gets His Hands On & Studies All The In's & Out's Of Every Technique And/Or Theory That He Can't Create Himself.
Links
