Steve Roach (musician)

Steve Roach (born February 16, 1955)[2] is an American composer and performer of ambient and electronic music, whose recordings are informed by his impressions of environment, perception, flow and space. His work has been influential in the new-age genre.[1]

Not to be confused with Steve Reich.
Steve Roach
Steve Roach in Tucson, Arizona
Background information
Born (1955-02-16) February 16, 1955
La Mesa, CA
GenresAmbient, electronic[1]
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsSynthesizer
Websitesteveroach.com

Roach has received two Grammy Award nominations for New Age Album of the Year: His 2017 album Spiral Revelation for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.,[3] and 2018's Molecules Of Motion for the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.[4]

Overview
Roach during a soundcheck at SoundQuest in October 2010, Tucson, Arizona.
Steve Roach performing at SoundQuest 2010.

Originally a Motocross racer, at the age of 20 Roach taught himself to play the synthesizer[1] after being inspired by such influential synthesizer artists and groups as Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, and Vangelis. His debut album Now appeared in 1982, followed by Structures from Silence in 1984. In 1986 he released his acclaimed Quiet Music series. In 1988, he released what has been described by critics as his masterpiece, the double-album Dreamtime Return.[1]

As Roach's approach to ambient music has matured, his compositions have typically[5] been beatless. His rhythmic and trance-based groove and tribal-ambient releases, however, are nearly as numerous[5] as his more atmospheric releases. Some recordings are strictly synthesizer-based, whereas others include ambient guitar experiments.

Other pieces, however, cross over with more ethnic and folk influences. Roach learned to play the digeridoo during his extended trips to Australia in the 1980s, and he became an early proponent[6] of its use in ambient music. His work with Mexican musician Jorge Reyes introduced Roach to Prehispanic musical elements, which he has also included in his music. These fusions established Roach as one of the founders[5] of the tribal-ambient sound.

Roach is married to author and equine teacher Linda Kohanov[7] (who provided vocals on some of his albums). They live in Tucson, Arizona.[8]

Discography

Studio albums
  • Now (1982)
  • Traveler (1983 Domino)
  • Structures from Silence (1984 Fortuna) – remastered 2001
  • Quiet Music 1 (1986 Fortuna) -cassette
  • Empetus (1986 Fortuna) -cassette, CD, vinyl - 2 discs, (re-released on Projekt 2008) - CD, Digital (re-released on Projekt 2017)[9]
  • Quiet Music 2 (1986 Fortuna) -cassette
  • Quiet Music 3 (1986 Fortuna) -cassette
  • Dreamtime Return (1988 Fortuna) – 2 discs, (remastered 2005 Projekt)
  • World's Edge (1992 Fortuna) – 2 discs
  • Origins (1993 Fortuna)
  • The Dream Circle (1994 Soundquest LTD1) -CD (Limited 2000 copies)
  • Artifacts (1994 Fortuna)
  • The Dreamer Descends (1995 Amplexus)
  • The Magnificent Void (1996 Hearts of Space)
  • On This Planet (1997 Hearts of Space)
  • Slow Heat (1998 Timeroom Editions 1)
  • Light Fantastic (1999 Hearts of Space)
  • The Dream Circle (1999 Timeroom Editions) Re-release of 1994 CD
  • Atmospheric Conditions (1999 Timeroom Editions)
  • Early Man (2000 Manifold) - (1 disc Limited Slate Slab PKG)
  • Midnight Moon (2000 Projekt)
  • Early Man (2001 Projekt) - 2 discs
  • Core (2001 Timeroom Editions)
  • Streams & Currents (2001)
  • Darkest Before Dawn (2002)
  • Mystic Chords & Sacred Spaces (2003 Projekt) – 4 discs
  • Life Sequence (2003)
  • Fever Dreams (2004)
  • Holding the Space: Fever Dreams II (2004 Timeroom Editions)
  • Possible Planet (2005)
  • New Life Dreaming (2005)
  • Immersion: One (2006 Projekt)
  • Proof Positive (2006)
  • Kairos: The Meeting of Time and Destiny (2006) – CD + DVD
  • Immersion: Two (2006 Projekt)
  • Immersion: Three (2007) – 3 discs
  • Fever Dreams III (2007) – 2 discs
  • Arc of Passion (2007) - 2 discs[10]
  • A Deeper Silence (2008)
  • Dynamic Stillness (2009) – 2 discs
  • Immersion: Four (2009 Timeroom Editions)
  • Afterlight (2009)
  • Destination Beyond (2009)
  • Sigh of Ages (2010)
  • Immersion Five – Circadian Rhythms (2011)
  • Groove Immersion (2012)
  • Back to Life (2012)
  • Soul Tones (2012)
  • Future Flows (2013)
  • Spiral Meditations (2013)
  • The Delicate Forever (2014)
  • The Delicate Beyond (2014)
  • Bloodmoon Rising Night 2 (2014)
  • Invisible (2015)
  • Bloodmoon Rising Night 3 (2015)
  • Skeleton Keys (2015 Projekt)
  • Etheric Imprints (2015 Projekt)
  • Vortex Immersion Zone (2015 Timeroom Editions)
  • Skeleton – Spiral Passage (2015 Timeroom Digital)
  • Emotions Revealed (2015 Projekt)
  • This Place to Be (2016 Timeroom Editions 38)
  • Shadow of Time (2016)
  • Painting in the Dark (2016 Timeroom Editions 40)
  • Fade to Gray (2016 Timeroom Editions 41)
  • Spiral Revelation (2017)
  • The Passing (2017 Timeroom Editions 39)
  • Nostalgia for the Future (2017 Timeroom Editions 42)
  • Long Thoughts (2017)
  • Eclipse Mix (2017 Timeroom Editions 43)
  • Molecules of Motion (2018)
  • Return to the Dreamtime (2018 Timeroom Editions 44)
  • Electron Birth (2018 Timeroom Edition 45)
  • Mercurius (2018)
  • Atmosphere for Dreaming (2018 Timeroom Editions 46)
  • Bloom Ascension (2019)
  • Trance Archeology (2019)
  • Stillpoint (2020 Timeroom Editions 47)
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