West113 enters the stage

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   Hello everyone! 

My name is Johannes West, I'm 19, and I have been listening to progressive music basically for 4-5 years.

Biography

I come from a family where we have played a lot of music since I was little. Never much rock music though; instead I grew up with classic music and folk music (I live in Sweden, so I am really good att the norse music traditions). Therefore, my instrument selection is a bit odd.

The first instrument I learned to master was the recorder (not very metal, I know). I practised hard for many years and so I have very good use for this skill in folk music, which I still play in some constellations and for fun. Soon after I began playing the accordeon, and I early found that this was my nische and what I should put hardest efforts in learning. And so, I was already a pretty experienced musician when I discovered rock and further on progressive rock.

Among my first chrushes in rock music were Metallica (especially the albums from the 90s era), as is the case of so many boys in their early teens. Soon I moved on when I got introduced for bands like A.C.T and Porcupine Tree in 2006. The latter proved to be a big eye-opener for me and I still value them as the perhaps best band I know of.

In 2007 i began listening to Dream Theater, as should any proglover do early in his/her career. I got totally hooked on their complex music and they stayed my favourites for over a year. I still haven't fallen for their early work, though. For people who are curious I actually rate the FIRST CD of SDOIT as my favorite record, mostly because of the underrated masterpiece "the great debate". I also discovered Muse, Pink Floyd and Blackfield this year. I hardly listen to any of these bands nowadays, though.

2008 I discovered Ayreon, and in 2009 I started listening to Pain of Salvation, The Dear Hunter, Transatlantic, Beardfish, Opeth and Mew. I am aware that the latter, as well as Muse, are not really defined as progressive rock. But they have done some good stuff. Peter Gabriel have been present in my collections since the early 20s, since my parents listen to them as well. Amongside progressive music I do enjoy pure metal, folk music, classic music and some dance.

My biggest merit involves writing, performing and recording a rock opera, of which you can see a preview below. It is called The Age of Nature and I started the project after an overdose of inspiration from Ayreon, although many or most of my influences (including Andrew Lloyd Weber and Japanese game music-composer Motoi Sakuraba) are noticeable in the music. I may return to this later! 

And finally, a small presentation of my favourite instrument:  

See you in the threads! // Johannes 