duggup

Artist: Rob Costlow
Website: www.robcostlow.com/
Track Name: Meant To Be
Playback: mp3/flash
Download?: Yes

Today’s piece is solo piano and rather beautifully done. Rob Costlow was one of the early artists that cc365 found and turned us all on to. I stumbled across “Meant To Be” on my mp3 player during the week (which was a bit of a shock as I thought I had loaded the “fast” set of tracks) and wrote myself a note to use it for the Chill section. This track is just so lyrical and melodic you find it popping up in your brain all day, it isn’t a virtuoso dazzling “paid by the note” performance that some solo piano artists can do. It’s well thought out music and a tasty little recording of a piano as well.

Here is a bunch of stuff about Rob…

By the time he was twelve Rob Costlow was annoying his piano instructor by adding unwritten endings to songs during rehearsals and recitals.

This soon brought an end to the lessons that began at age five.

“I hated, literally hated, taking lessons and especially practicing other people’s music,” admits Rob.

It was another piano player, platinum selling, new age artist George Winston, who fueled this rebellion. After one of Rob’s brothers introduced him to Winston’s music, Rob realized that his musical future was going to take a different path than the one set by his teachers.

“It was so different than typical piano music,” says Costlow. “It’s what drove me to create my own. I said to myself ‘I can do this–this is a way that I could actually enjoy piano and benefit from all of these lessons and practicing.’ It allowed me to express myself and also provide a great stress relief.”

While Rob has come a long way since those lessons and been through a variety of life experiences, his love for creating original compositions is still at the heart of his contemporary solo piano music. His compositions are inspired by love of his family, including his wife Melissa. Travels throughout the United States, Canada, Italy, Mexico, and the Caribbean also provide inspiration.

“Traveling shows me how much is out there and how there is so much diversity in the world,” says Rob.

Growing up in a large family helped Rob become focused and tenacious. As the youngest of six boys, Rob had to get used to seizing every opportunity that came his way. While working on his Masters Degree, Rob unofficially started his own record label, Tourist Records?, based on a fictitious business plan. In 2002, Rob released his first professional solo project, Sophomore Jinx (re-released 2005), containing all original music. He officially founded Tourist Records? in 2004.

I really recommend you listen to the entire “Woods Of Chaos” album available at magnatune.com/artists/albums/costlow-woods/ it’s really worthwhile stuff… just don’t try and power walk to it.

thatch is fascinated by guitars, music, guitars, production, silly noises, guitars and used to be a musician. Did I mention the thing about the guitars?
Email this author | All posts by thatch |