Artist Profiles: Daron Murphy

“Over the years I've always been a pretty major vintage snob. But every once in a while something comes along that captures the soul and personality of classic instruments in a far more usable and practical package. The Nord Electro 3 is one of those products. I used to bring my Wurlitzer on tour and put it into the back of cabs on the way to
club gigs in New York City. Not only did I throw my back out, but, the Wurli spent a lot of time in the repair shop. The Electro 3 is portable, dependable, and sounds so close to the vintage pianos and organs it emulates, I can hardly believe my ears.

When The Little Death recorded our album recently, Moby laid down parts on an old Hammond B-3 and Fender Rhodes. The Electro 3 was the only modern keyboard we could find that brought the sound and the spirit of those instruments to the stage in one package. There are so many sample-based keyboards on the market that offer a little bit of everything but end up sounding slick and lifeless. The Electro 3 does what it does better than any keyboard out there and you can actually take it out on the road without worrying that it's going to break down a couple of weeks into your tour. And because it's got great MIDI implementation, I can use the Electro 3 in the studio when I'm composing for film and TV and make easy changes if my client needs them. I love the Electro 3!”- Daron Murphy, composer, multi-instrumentalist

Gear: Nord Electro 3

Bio:
Daron Murphy is a multi-faceted composer and performer, who has contributed to all aspects of the Gowanus Sound Initiative’s services, from the creation of original music and sound design, to production, music supervision, and licensing.

In 2005 Daron toured the world as guitar and bass player for multi-platinum recording artist Moby (with whom he continues to perform). Their collaboration is documented on the Moby Live: Hotel Tour 2005 concert DVD and Go: The Very Best of Moby, a CD featuring performances from the tour as well as bonus material culled from recording sessions in New York and Santiago de Chile.

Over the past five years Daron has produced music and performed in live events for MoveOn.org, Planned Parenthood, the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, and the Democratic National Committee, sharing the stage with the likes of Lou Reed, Public Enemy’s Chuck D., Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell, Kris Kristofferson, the B-52’s, Rufus Wainwright, G.E. Smith, Vernon Reid, Senator John Kerry, and many others.

Before founding the Gowanus Sound Initiative in late 2005, Daron freelanced as a commercial composer for New York-based music houses Q Department and Human.

Artist Website:
http://moby.com/
http://thelittledeathnyc.com
http://gowanussoundinitiative.com