Saturday, January 14th, electronic music producer, Brian Wayne Transeau, aka BT, partied his way into Park City to put on an amazing show! His energy and vibe was poppin’ through Park City Live and it made the night so magical. I had an amazing opportunity to sit down with BT, himself, after his show and talk about his musical life, from his classical works and film scores to his digital scoring! Interested in how he got into pushing the ‘play’ button for a living? Keep reading!
Her Campus: When you were growing up, how did you get so involved with music?
BT: My father had a P.h.D in engineering who worked for the FBI, while my mom was a psychiatrist, so I had these academically driven parents who were terrified when they found out their child wanted to participate in music! I started studying the piano at the age of four, and then I went to the conservatory when I was seven where I studied string study, composition, counterpoint, etc. When I got older, I attended the Berklee School of Music – I was only fifteen!
HC: How did you discover your role in electronic music?
BT: I discovered that I was interested in electronics, building things, computers, breakdancing music, the English New Wave, etc.. Those were the things in my informative years that made me passionate about electronic music. With a classical background, I started asking myself the question, “What would my heroes, whom I studied with growing up be doing if they were alive now?” and I realized that I loved electronics.
Her Campus: When was your first big break in the EDM industry?
BT: I have had a couple of big performances, but my first immense gig would have to be when the first record, The Moment of Truth, I have ever put out on vinyl came out. Larry Flick, a writer for Billboard Magazine, wrote a paragraph on it. When he wrote that review, I kept thinking that people actually like my music besides my Mom and my dog! The next big thing that happened after was that I got a phone call from Sasha, a Welsh DJ, and he asked me to come to England, where I signed my record deal with Warner Bros.
HC: What has been your favorite show to perform at?
BT: I have had a lot of mind-blowing shows in my life, but one of my favorite gigs was the last time I played at Red Rocks in Colorado. I also really love playing at The Gorge in Seattle. It just feels like playing at the edge of the Grand Canyon! Playing at EDC in Las Vegas has also always been phenomenal throughout the years I have been there.
Her Campus: Besides your own projects specifically, what other works have you done with other companies, producers, etc.?
BT: Some of my favorite would have to be working with the Fast & Furious album, along with Dark Places, which is a scary, but very great film! I love the score that we produced. I have also done some other work with Anthony Hopkins, Pixar, etc. Due to my classical background, I love writing the picture. From jumping around from electronic to classical music, it is very meditative and thoughtful work.
Her Campus: Who is your biggest inspiration in the music world?
BT: Truthfully, I cannot really cite anyone as an inspiration as a “DJ”, because my background is live music. However, I can honestly say that it is nice having that direct of a connection with the crowd, and I get to have fun too because I am not thinking about “G-Minor 9” or intervals or whatever I need to play. It is more fun to connect with an audience in this sort of audience. It would be hard for me to cite someone because the people I idolized as a kid were composers, ex. Debussy, Wagner, Rachmaninoff, etc.
HC: If you were to give any advice to aspiring DJ’s, what would you say to them?
BT: I would say that if you wanted to make electronic music, it is very important to find a course of study. A lot of people that I meet now find a way to watch tutorials on “DJing”, and so they start making music, but there isn’t something stable there. You need to have that foundational information to not copy everything. Taking some piano lessons or music theory classes is a very good bet for making something that is unique and interesting. Another thing I would like to say is that overnight success takes around ten years, so if you are very serious about it, stick with it until you start connecting!
You can check out BT’s music on iTunes and Spotify! Also check out his Facebook page for any updates on shows and big announcements!