Contact: apk (at) dataobscura.com
Anthony Paul Kerby (APK) is an electro-ambient musican and ex-philosopher residing in Ontario, Canada. He was born and raised in rural southern England, moving to Canada in his mid 20s. Initially trained on classical/spanish guitar, but now almost exclusively keyboards and related electronic technology, digital manipulations, and field recordings. He crafts original sonic ambient landscapes and subtle electronica under three names: The Circular Ruins, Lammergeyer, and Nunc Stans. He has released many highly-praised solo albums and a number of collaborations.
The music tends towards deep and fascinating immersive atmospheric soundscapes that range from lush to minimal. The tone is melancholic, moving and thoughtful, with drawn-out melodic lines that are sometimes interwoven with understated rhythmic elements, frayed and grainy synth experiments, occasional indecipherable voices, curious noises, and ambient field recordings. This is inventive, well-crafted music that rewards close listening and that will have you coming back for more.
The inspiration for Anthony's music comes from two main sources. One is the intimacy of remote English landscapes and the more extreme solitudes of far Northern Canada. The other is an appreciation of various poetries, literature, and philosophies that reveal the beauty, intrigue, and mystery of life. The music embodies these values and will transport you to remarkable sonic landscapes and soundworlds.
The style of the music is drawn from various sources in contemporary electro-ambient, drone and experimental music, plus the broad tradition of classical music. But of course, the very best way to understand this music is to simply listen to the many samples over at www.dataobscura.com -- words are certainly no replacement for listening to the music.
The name The Circular Ruins (TCR) is derived from a short story of that name by the now deceased Argentinian writer Jorge Louis Borges -- a weaver of labyrinthine short stories, full of curiosities, and usually with a metaphysical twist. TCR can be dynamic, sometimes rhythmic, but is always rich and moving. TCR was created back at the turn of the century (there were 3 releases on the original and pioneering mp3.com).
A Lammergeyer is a large, graceful eagle-like bird found in mountainous areas in southern Europe and all the way to China. The music of the Lammergeyer project is like soaring at high altitude over deserted mountain passes and crags. This is not quite drift or drone ambient but a more complex beast altogether. It is music envisaged for film, with developing themes and atmospheres. It will carry you along in an almost visual journey. On a technical note, the Lammergeyer projects primarily use additive synthesis for their composition.
Nunc Stans releases were anonymous releases until February 2008, at which point the style had grown closer to Anthony's other projects and it became obvious to many that he was the author. "Nunc stans" is latin and literally means the standing now, the enduring present that we exist in. The Nunc Stans project was originally conceived as a more drone-based music than either TCR or Lammergeyer, and has developed into a glacial and grainy deep ambient style deriving from visions of a more northern, isolated and inhospitable Canadian landscape.
Anthony also runs the DataObscura and Blue Oasis record labels, where he releases his own works and various other respected contemporary artists in the field of electro-ambient and experimental music. He designs much of the artwork for the releases and does the final audio mastering at his own studio.
He studied both art and philosophy at university in Canada, taught philosophy for a number of years until seeing the futility. He becomes an avid naturalist, camper, and outdoor photographer/sound recordist in the spring and summer.
"I don't adopt trends or fall into any fixed style. Of course, I am influenced by what I hear around me in contemporay music and also in nature, and will incorporate elements that serve my ultimate purpose. But I seek only to create beautiful and fascinating instrumental music in a broad electro-ambient vein ... music that has quality, depth, and a subtle sonic richness. You might call my music soundscapes, this word captures something of their visually-inspired nature." APK
- There is a 2009 interview with APK at Sonic Immersion HERE
Current Favourite Equipment (2008)
Access Virus Indigo
Korg Radias
Korg MS2000
Waldorf microQ
Dave Smith Evolver
Alesis QS6.1 (used as a midi keyboard)
EMU Audity 2000
EMU XL-7
Alesis Micron
Yamaha TX7
Korg Electribe S
Radio Shack DX-394 (radio receiver ... noise! )
Nylon and steel string acoustic guitars
Upright piano
Electrix Mo-Fx
Electrix Filter Queen (currently broken)
Korg Kaoss Pad 3 (hands-on effects)
Alesis air FX (another hands-on device)
FMR Audio RNC1773 (compressor)
Behringer BCR2000 (midi controller)
Edirol UM-880 (8x8 midi interface)
Edirol R-09 (hand-held stereo field-recorder)
Reaper (DAW sequencer on WinXP)
Alesis Multimix 12 firewire (mixer)
Focusrite AD/DA converter
RME Multiface AD/DA converter
Event studio monitors
A lot of VST soft-synths and effects. Natve Instruments are a favourite.
Soft-synths and effects are used as much as hardware - there is no
bias one way or the other. Whatever works.
