Anyone can create music. A big part of Media Composition is everything else, delivering on time, being open to feedback, and knowing how to work under stress. The idea behind this site is to have it represent who I am, and what I’m doing, not just recordings of the music I’ve made. I'm selling myself as a person more than a composer and letting the music fall in place naturally.
Since I can create music in a variety of styles, I want to make sure you hear something that is appropriate to your project. I’d like to create something just for you, not something I created for someone else.
All the other things we do in life inspire and inform our creative passions. I don’t just make music, and this site is a place where you can see the other things in life that inspire me, not just a place to hear some sound clips and expensive musical equipment. I’d much rather share my passions with you than just show you a bunch of gear and audio demo. But if you really want to hear stuff I've made click below.
I’m a woodworker, dog lover, experimental bread maker, I studied physics in college and I work at Strymon. I play in a band called The Alpine Camp. I race a crappy old car in the 24 hours of Lemons race. The car is called Liam Nissan and it’s the most fun I’ve ever had.
When I graduated from California State University, Northridge I was featured in a video series. I thought I could share that with you here as a way to get to know me a bit more. You can watch me talk a little bit more about myself.
A SHORT BIO
of Charles Etienne
Born in Montreal, Charles Etienne was raised on the east coast after his family settled in Connecticut in the late 80’s. When he was ten, he started his piano training under Claire Beaudry Bario, and won a number of youth piano awards. A few years later, he discovered drums and studied session drumming under Rick Haddad. This was the beginning of what would become a lifelong passion.
Charles graduated from Lyme-Old Lyme High School in Connecticut where he studied both in public classes and privately with Grammy-Nominated producer Richard P. Robinson at Trod Nossel studios in Wallingford. Afterwards, Charles moved to NYC where he studied at the Drummer’s Collective (now associated with New York University). All the while traveling back to Connecticut almost every weekend for shows. In the late nineties, Charles found work as an assistant sound engineer and apprentice composer for Richard Lavsky’s Music House. It was there that he had the opportunity to work with a variety of clientele, including the Food Network, Dwayne Reed, Seventeen Magazine, and Nick Jr.
In the early 2000’s Charles moved to Los Angeles, and eventually enrolled at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) where he had the opportunity to work at The Postma Lab, a nanotechnology research center, before receiving his BS in Astrophysics. During and after his studies he starting working in the Musical Instrument industry. He’s worked for, or closely with Line 6, Propellerheads and now Strymon where he is the senior Mechanical Designer. Charles lives in a quiet neighborhood not far from Northridge with his wife Darcy, and his adopted Pitbull Liberty.
PAST PROJECTS
LAVSKY MUSIC HOUSE
Assistant Engineer, Musician
My first job after moving out of my parents house was working in NYC with the incredible Richard Lavsky. He and his studio have written music for thousands of TV and Radio commercials. I learned a lot while I was there.
HACHA
Drummer
I start playing live in the late 90’s with the band Hacha. We played up and down the east coast. We made three albums together before going our separate ways.
THE DON’T STOP
Recording Engineer, Producer
After moving to LA I invited my friend’s band THE DON’T STOP out for a long weekend of non-stop recording. I spent the next month mixing and master the album. It’s still some of the work I’m most proud of.
PERFORMANCE COACHING
Composer
My first paid composer gig was in 2008. I made a corporate theme song for some self help CD’s, Audio Files, and hold music.
BLACK SNOW ZONE
Composer, Sound Designer
One of the most exciting experiences I've had was scoring and sound designing a game for one of the largest developers, publishers, and distributors of casual games.
THE ALPINE CAMP
Piano Player, Producer
After years without playing live, I got back together with the singer from Hacha and we started recording albums and playing live again.
SCWU: AND OUR NAME SPELLS LESBIAN
Composer
Working on this documentary I really enjoyed creating soundscapes that sat harmoniously with a series of recorded interviews.
HELLO ROAD
Composer
By far the most fun project I've done to date, creating short funky tracks for a show about cars is my dream gig.
This is my dog Liberty. She's happiest when I'm making music... or throwing tennis balls.
shoot me an email: info@charlesetiennemusic.com
or just give me a call at 818-457-1051