Perfect Beings are a symphonic prog rock band from Los Angeles, CA. Their self-titled debut album was just released on My Sonic Temple, an independent prog label based in L.A.
Bio:
I (Johannes ) met Ryan on a recording project I was producing; Dicki is a fellow German expatriates, we knew each other before the band was conceived; Jesse was a former band mate of Dicki’s and Chris was miraculously found online. Yes, it can happen.
Prior to Perfect Beings, Ryan used to play in Nashville based indie band Rene Breton, Dicki drummed for Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) and UK band Skin, Jesse hailed from Decca Tree, Chris was in Marjorie Fair and had jammed with Slash (Gun’s and Roses) and my previous band Moth Vellum made a splash in the prog world a few years back.
Genre:
I grew up listening to the “larger than life” Supergroups of the 70’s. Tired of all aspects of commercial pop music, I got back into prog rock in 2002. I wasn’t going to compromise my artistic vision for anything or anyone any longer. It was truly a musical homecoming for me. I believe most people gravitate towards the music they listened to when they were growing up, so it feels very natural to me.
Evolution of the initial musical and thematic elements:
The record is loosely based on a Sci-Fi novel called “TJ & Tosc” by Suhail Rafidi. The lyrics on the record are inspired by the book, and so is the music, which ties in emotionally with the story. Our singer Ryan composes most of the songs. I usually arrange them and add instrumental sections to them. A few of the songs were composed/arranged with other band mates involved.
Ideas about the album:
100% happy with it. I wouldn’t change a thing. That said, we will try hard to make an even better album next time around.
Reception:
Absolutely fantastic. Most of the reviews we’ve received are 5 star reviews, and there are a lot of them. We build a sizable following across social media and or record is selling exceedingly well.
Live Shows:
Currently we are only performing in and around Los Angeles. If things continue to progress in such a positive manner, we are hopeful to be touring Europe next year.
Future:
It’s looking bright. Many more albums to come, but right now we are focused on this record.
Preference; live or studio:
Tough call. I love playing live but at heart, I am a studio guy. This is largely due to my role as producer and engineer. And while I feel at home in the studio, I can’t speak for the rest of the band.
Inspirations:
Our influences are so wide spread, with everybody coming from different musical backgrounds. It’s really impossible to pinpoint. We have been compared to XTC and ELO. Some say Beatles, others Yes. In the end, I believe, we have our own unique sound and will continue to develop it with future releases.
Preference; cater to the audience or music for its own sake:
You’re putting me in a bind here. I think I made it clear earlier just how important musical integrity is to me. That said, without our fans and listeners, there would be no Perfect Beings. Luckily, people seem to really like what we are doing. We are lucky to have gotten such a warm and overwhelming reception, in spite of playing music that some in the industry would deem “not commercially viable”. These folks don’t realize how music fans across the globe have evolved with their hunger for interesting sounds and styles, far beyond mainstream pop.
Greatest Accomplishment:
Perfect Beings. No question.
Want more of Perfect Beings ? Visit their website , Facebook and Twitter. Listen to samples and purchase their album on their online store, stream their music on Soundcloud.
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