Some interesting, haunting progressive music for you. The guitar work sounds like it came from Maynard of Tool. Ascent is a great combination of intricate instrumentation and beautiful vocals.

Members/Instruments:

Bruce Baldwin – Acoustic Guitar (6-string and 12-string)/Electric Guitar/Bass/HandSonic Electronic Drum/Acoustic Drums/Lyricist/Composer

Bruce is the primary writer of both music and lyrics in this duo. Bruce’s musical style bridges progressive, jazz, and rock music genres. His guitar playing is characterized by unique, propulsive rhythms, the result of years of experience as a drummer. Bruce composes without restraints, giving way to insightful lyrics and melodic, unique arrangements.

Christina Baldwin – Lead Vocalist/Backing Vocals/Lyricist

Christina’s potent, melodic vocal style is heavily influenced by progressive, blues, and rock music genres. Christina’s poignant vocals are passionate, haunting, and inspirational. Christina’s dark, turbulent lyrics emphasize Bruce’s enigmatic and unique composition.

Year Formed: 1998

1.What is your musical background? What has led you to this point?
Bruce Baldwin’s foray into music began with parent-mandated piano lessons at a very early age. At 14, Bruce was introduced to a toy drum kit. Within days, he managed to destroy the toy drum kit and was drumming with wooden dowels on anything not tied down, including a broken cymbal hanging from a wire hanger. Bruce’s parents indulged this budding musician with a Rogers drum kit when he was 15. At 16, Bruce picked up his first Fender Stratocaster and his obsession with music grew exponentially. His early interest in multitrack recording began with a series of boom boxes strung together. Bruce played aggressive drums in bands throughout high school and college, and destroyed another drum kit. While attending college, Bruce began strumming his dorm roommate’s acoustic guitar and writing songs. When he started recording those songs on four-track, he discovered that he also needed learn to play some bass.

As Bruce dreamt up more and more complex arrangements for his music, he developed an everything-including-the-kitchen-sink approach to recording, and learned to play any instrument that he could get his hands on. Bruce’s obsessive approach to writing and recording meant that he scared off an endless succession of band-mates over the years. Its funny how erasing the guitar player’s part and replacing it with your own will do that! His need to play everything at once eventually led to the live-looping approach that he uses live with Ascent.
Christina Baldwin’s interest in music began at the tender age of three when she managed to obtain (without permission) the following 45’s: Elvira by the Oak Ridge Boys, Call Me by Blondie, and Hit Me With Your Best Shot by Pat Benatar. Using her portable turntable encased by a baby blue suitcase. Christina would grab the nearest wooden brush, turn on any one of her three 45’s and perform in front of her Mother’s elaborate dresser mirror. With her ear to her older brother’s door, she was exposed to a number of different musical genres, styles, and artists. On occasion, she would sneak into his room while he was out and play record after record until caught and ousted. During this time, she heard The Bee Gees, Tim Curry, The Sugar Hill Gang, the Grease soundtrack, the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack, and numerous others. The result is that Christina has an absolute affection for numerous genres and musical styles that is evident in her vocal style and delivery.

As her exposure to music grew, she began performing for family and friends, often charging 10 cents for carport shows filled with choreography, lyrics, melodies, props, and staging that she wrote. Her love for singing and performing grew as she participated in choir from elementary school to middle school. After school ended, she was introduced to a you-can-be-a-star-too fad called Karaoke. For years, Christina honed her skills, stage presence, and love for performing in numerous venues throughout Arizona. Christina even hosted Karaoke shows for years earning $50.00 for four hours of Karaoke Jockey (KJ) work every Saturday. Christina finally surrendered her Karaoke microphone in early 1997 and decided to begin auditioning for bands.

One evening, Christina’s Mother dropped the current issue of The New Times on her bedroom floor. Turning to the section that read ‘Musicians Wanted’ she began to skim each ad. The word ‘melodic’ caught her eye. She continued to review the ad. With each line, her respirations increased. Upon completion of the ad she reached for the phone and dialed the number. ‘He’ answered. His name was ‘Bruce.’ They spoke for an hour. She was mesmerized. He was perfect. Another fateful day would bring two strangers together through song. A chilly evening would find Christina in front of a strange home. She had driven 55 miles to arrive at this door. There she stood, Karaoke CD in hand unable to gather the courage to knock on the door. Swallowing her pride she knocked and fate answered. He was kind, quiet, unassuming, and humble. An audition, a dreadful rendition, and a jam session later she would be asked to return. It was on this day that the story began. Bruce and Christina were married on March 16, 2006.

2.Where are you at now in your career? What are you currently working on?
Ascent is as at a point of rebirth. Ascent is avidly securing performances at venues throughout Southern California and is performing in front of a wider and increasingly diverse audience. They continue to stretch themselves as artists and musicians and vow to never rest on their laurels. Their affection for progressive-rock, experimental sounds, unusual texture, and global influence, contribute to their already unique and diverse sound.

Each time Ascent performs is an emotional and intellectual challenge, as they work to transfer the depth and breadth of their ideas and experience. Audiences recognize that the demands of the music and technology are high and they readily show their appreciation with generous applause and hollering. Ascent believes that audiences are ready to embrace increasingly complex music and expect musically and technologically advanced live performances and they are up for the challenge.

Bruce and Christina have released two CDs and are hard at work on their third. Their latest single, “What the Crows Know,” is available for purchase at itunes.com, amie.com, lala.com, rhapsody.com, emusic.com, amazon.com, and directly from Ascent at http://www.myspace.com/ascmentmusiconline. Ascent plans to release their third studio album in December 2009.

3. What’s coming up for you? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Ascent will continue to write, record, and perform their music as that is their passion. They will continue to challenge themselves to become better musicians. They will continue to challenge the listener with complex and progressive arrangements paired with introspective and haunting lyrics and passionate and emotional vocals.

Ascent aspires to have their music appear in independent and feature films, television, and their live shows into larger venues.

4. Where can people find more of your music?

There are a number of places to find other music by Ascent and Bruce Baldwin as a composer.

ascentmusiconline.com
myspace.com/ascentmusiconline
brucebaldwin.net

Additionally, Ascent has a fan page on Facebook to which all are welcome and no friend requests are denied. Simply enter “Ascent” into the search box on Facebook and simply join the group.