Musical Beginnings

I began my musical journey at a very early age. I first sat down to play the piano at age 4, where my grandmother (a piano teacher at SMU) taught me how to play and I was featured in concerts at a very early age. Five years later, at age 9, I began playing the drums. I enjoyed playing many drums parts, playing solos, and writing complex structures and drum patterns, as well as honing my visual skills with the instrument (sitting behind the kit makes you invisible), so I fixed that with striped sticks and strobe lights at shows. Between my junior and senior year of high school, the only guitarist at school my rock combo played with graduated, so we were about to have no rock trio.  I decided to pick up the guitar. At the time, my best friend (who also happened to be the bass player in our rock trio) begged me to stick with the drums, as he was worried about whether or not I could play. I am missing my middle finger on both hands, so he wanted me to stick to something I could play. I took that as a challenge, was provided a guitar by my grandfather, and within months was on stage playing guitar. This multi-instrumental foundation eventually shifted into a primary passion for writing and composing original instrumental tracks, rock, and metal music. Throughout all of this time, I continued to sing and fronted several bands throughout the years as a vocalist and songwriter. 

The Story Behind the Name "AliensWanted"

The choice of the name AliensWanted is tied to my birth defect and how I approach playing music, and a tryout for a band. Let me start with the tryout story first. I was called to try out as a vocalist for a local band. When I arrived, I raised my hand as I walked into the rehearsal room. One of the guitarists yelled out (and pointed) "THEY DO EXIST"! I must have looked baffled, so the other guitarist said "Close the door and look what's on the other side". When I did, there was a poster of an Alien with his hand raised just as mine was when I walked in and said hello. Because of that I said "You should have said Aliens Wanted instead of vocalist wanted". The second half of the name is more personal.....because I was born without middle fingers on each hand, my approach is different than anyone else's to be able to play. I have said to many people "You have a finger in the way". Because of this unique physical layout, standard guitars did not fit my hands properly, making the search for an instrument that worked for me the next step. 

Strandberg Guitars

The turning point for me came when I discovered Strandberg guitars (thank you to Plini). Strandberg is the only guitar brand that naturally fits my hands. From the moment my first Strandberg arrived, within 48 hours, I had fully composed and performed/recorded the song Evergreen. Strandberg is the most beautiful and natural feeling guitar I could every play. I use Neural DSP plugins and GetGood Drums software, among others that I am constantly trying out.