Doug Somers
(Doug Somers)

Bio:
I make music for pleasure, usually using a computer to create soundscapes around all kinds of music. I used to jam with a local celtic group, playing bodhran and 12 string guitar, but I find that my technical and live performance skills fall short of what's needed to express my musical ideas and aspirations. Being able to use computer samples and a sequencer lets me express what I cannot play. It would be cool to conduct one of my orchestral pieces some day though.

Early on I was introduced to all kinds of music since my parents used to play records during dinner and at other times. I heard classical, swing, soundtracks and marches. Lots of marches. My dad also played for me his record of the RCA electronic synthesizer, a giant tube-based beast from back in the 50s, that was programmed by a roll of paper tape. From grade 4 to 12 I was in the instrumental music program at school playing Trumpet and Baritone. In my 4th year of university I had a thesis project with some friends to make a synthesizer which produced chords by detecting the fundamental note of a bass guitar. I could see the possibilities for creating infinite varieties of music using electronics and so I bought my Roland synth not long after university. After that the OpCode sequencer for the original Macintosh came along, and off things went in computer music. I briefly used Cakewalk Home Studio before moving to Garage Band and Logic Pro. In 2010 I bought a Mac Pro in order to handle the heavy disk access and processing activity of some of my more complex compositions and sample packages.

Along the way, I also taught myself a bit of piano and celtic harp. I have performed in coffeehouses and at weddings playing guitar along with a vocalist, and in high school was in the stage band and concert band. My son and daughter and I have collaborated on music as well, which is a rather special way to spend time together.

I like almost any style of music, and have discovered many new styles through the variety of great artists here on MacJams. Thankfully I have an abundance of musical influences, certainly more than I can remember, and I appreciate the inspiration and teaching that each has provided.

Collaborations With Other MacJams Artists That Are Posted Elsewhere:

Shining Deep Take a Ride w/Skean - Electro-Ambient

He Moves Through the Fair with Char and Caitlin Somers - Celtic

Angels Riding the Nightwind with Mosaica and richard13 - New Age Classical

Happy Holidays(MJ Card) with davisamerica et al - Holiday