burntsystems

Founded in Philadelphia in 1993. Burntsystems is the moniker created by musician, Producer and Engineer Christian V. Born Heidelberg West Germany to a Norwegian Mother and his father an Army Chopper pilot and Vietnam Veteran from Bronx NYC brought the turn of the century European Goth, techno & industrial, his sister’s disco, fathers funk rock back in the late 70’s, Mothers and Grandfathers classical opera and his own sounds coming of age during the 80's pop, Post-Punk, new romantic and Rap revolution.
Like a Casio sampler from Radio shack got on layaway when just 11 years old. (His Dad who rocked out every night on an acoustic guitar-singing Nitty Gritty, classic 50’s bands and his own Rockabilly originals) His Norwegian uncle would play piano and singing his head off every summer from ages 1-10. Reel to reel listening of his quite famous Grandfathers Norwegian Opera prior to World War 2. Burntsystems influences are diverse and it comes out in Sound and Vision.
Destined to become a singer/songwriter. Taught classical violin, piano in school and on chorus team. Influenced by his mother’s love of classical music and opera, his father’s classic rock, older sisters Disco, Euro-techno, Philly electro, D.C.s hip hop/go-go (was known to make mixtapes to attend break dance battles in the 80s ) Boston rave, Chicago House, L.A.s happy hardcore & West coast rap, goa, Goldie jungle, Cosmic Baby trance, Moby punk, gothic metal (Sisters of Mercy-Die Krupps, Die Form, Deine Lakaien) Metallica, Iron Maiden metal, ambient, Enya (ORB), acid jazz (Calypso from NOrleans) electro clash, Johnny Cash, LedZep hair bands, Pink Floyd, Ziggy & Lady Stardust and Big Bands.
Midi programming & sampling began in 1990 in Bavaria Germany under the careful tutelage of Bob Bozak (A music Theory professor ) under band name Burnt Republic in 1991 and then taught to sequence the difficult lead synthesizer lines and drums, so he concentrated on the singing, lyrical placement and grooving with a lead guitarist and live bass. Multi track recording and mastering via cassette, ZIP DRIVES and eventually ADAT. By the Year 2000 was utilizing many of the past and current DAW both MAC & PC. Currently a fan of Maschine, Adobe and Logic Pro.
The drums came under the trusty name; Megabyte! when a session drummer would not show in the early 90s and the 1.256 MB Roland R-70 would take on the percussion roll. Bass, programmed when the bass player exited the service and then on his own upon completion of his Army term. Whereupon, Christian V. began the development of his own Megabite/Burntrobot producer/composer era from 1993-1996 where he then met a classically trained soprano singer named Space girl Z (aka Zoe Levan) BURNT! Spacepop (1997-2001) was a pioneer of the many electronica/techno duos to come in the 21st century and BURNT! created their own brand of music known today as Technopera©. They covered many well-known artists via Roland midi groove machines, such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, the Beetles while mixing in their own special blend of original songs called Spacepop 2000 (20th included 20 remastered songs in 2019) Gaining recognition via Jazz radio station plays in the DC area and was a leader in DJ & electronic music sponsored events in the Southwestern US.
Collaborations began again in the Washington DC area after the BURNT! tour ended in early 2001. Christian V. returned to the roots of midi production and composing and utilizing the newest DAW’s on PC (2002-2010) & eventually Apple from 2010-Present. Posting regular new original music on the YouTube (40 music videos now available) Myspace and now defunct MP3.com and LAST.FM via dial up modem and is now played in Eastern Europe apparently under the old iron curtain.
2010-Present connected under the name Angelpirate to Sonic Circuits compilation from Pyramid Atlantic Records. In Washington DC, local Pop Poet star, Beatnik Betty who collaborated for the Witchrock album debut on iTunes in 2013-after Christian’s regular musings and remixes of her a Capella vocals of her former band, Dead Violets eventually performing live shows at the Hard Rock Cafe DC via PinkJams!
2014 brought the compilation side out in force with vocalists Rhiannon Groom, Liz S., Su, the live drummer Nate O. from the Witchrock shows of 2012-2013 & The Tombstones, the styling of Trapdoor exit for creative remixes, new song and sound creations using the latest most creative musical and techniques and tools. Christian V. had gone very minimal in hardware since coming from the days of trunks full of gear taking an hour or more to set up to a more hands on interface via Native Instruments Maschine with 20 years of samples in his library, hundreds of VSTS, homemade & store bought effects CD.
After the success of the compilation album, White light Red Light a new idea of BEING20, a new sub label of Burntsystems came into being.
The 2016 album Coal Garden is another one that has people taking notice that Burntsystems is paying homage to the roots for developing electronic music to the next level using what we knows, from where he's been and working with many old friends, including JPJ05, Lil B. Rob0T, MM & Tony G. along with fan favorites, Megabyte. The single Never Seen SW (radio edit) and accompanying music video brought much praise and notoriety under the Jeremiah Saint charity album DEATHMASS.
Coal Garden was followed up by a SOM goth influences called: Telepathy War and now; Besides will be Burntsystems Trilogy finale.
Worldwide digital release with influences from the 1960’s to Present arrived February of this year to clear the personal heartbreak of 2020. Culminating in the new album 💿 for 2022 and many side projects such as AWOL and studio support for local DC Artists in the 2020’s.
‘iso Rosegarden’ because #divorceisahelluvadrug
~Christian V- says:
Art explains everything