Ian Rushton
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Music
Press
"Incredible. A Kiwi keyboardist/songwriter/producer teams up with several musician/songwriter/co-writers from around the world...and they never meet! They all send their tracks from their home countries via email. The result is an exciting, varied set of easy listening, contemporary, melodic pop rock, with and obvious international flavour. Ian Rushton is New Zealand's answer to Richard Clayderman - a UK-born, self-taught pianist and guitarist. The Cybase Project is his third album since 2002. Rushton never gets in the way of the international soloists; instead preferring to colour the tracks with celestial light. German Wolfgang Menzel is the vocalist/collaborator on most of the album, and he brings an almost Axl Rose quality to the tracks. Contributions come from countries as varied as USA, Canada, Sweden and China! Technology has come so far that you can create an international album without leaving your bedroom."
- Peter Dent, New Zealand Musician June/July 2005
- New Zealand Musician Magazine
"This is an album of great musical diversity, of extreme national pride, light and shade, highs and lows. An entirely instrumental work, with many local and overseas guests. Rushton makes his presence felt on angelic-sounding acoustic piano, but there is also some outstanding guitar work (including dobro, slide etc), as well as a tight rhythm section. Adrift sounds like a collaboration between Coldplay and Joe Satriani or Steve Vai. The musicianship is such that even extremes of musical changes sound completely natural and harmonious. But in the end, this is Rushton's baby, he composed, produced and mixed "Black Sands" himself. The CD liner notes don't list individual performances unfortunately, just names. The photography and design of the cover are stunning, although the actual disk is far from professional. That aside, Rushton has a masterpiece on his hands. "Black Sands" evokes such powerful images it is impossible not to be enchanted by it."
- Peter Dent, NZ Musician Magazine, Dec/Jan 2006 - NZ Musician Magazine
"There is no question that Rushton can play and has orchestrated and arranged some fine ambient background music here. " - Simon Sweetman, NZ Musician Magazine, Oct/Nov 2006 - NZ Musician Magazine
Discography
April 2008 "Reaching Out"
by OPT4red (Ian Rushton & Helen Lares)
April 2008 "Reveled"
Dec 2006 "The Cybase project II - second sight"
Another collaborative work from "Cybase"
A second collection of original contemporary adult pop/rock songs from "downunder" in New Zealand, helped by an international cast of "virtual" band members from around the world.
Aug 2006 "Spring Will Come Again"
Another chill-out neo-classical/ambient instrumental offering:
"There is no question that Rushton can play and has orchestrated and arranged some fine ambient background music here. " - Simon Sweetman, NZ Musician Magazine, Oct/Nov 2006
Guest artists:
Vaughn Fowler - acoustic guitar ("Melancholy")
Nick Crosby - electric lead guitar ("Inward Bound")
Ralph Zuener - drums ("Godzone")
Sept 2005 "Black Sands" - A rockier, theme-based instrumental album, this time with more of a rock edge with "Floyd-esque"/Mike Oldfield and sometimes New Age sounds with a definite Kiwi flavour featuring an international cast of musicians.
"This is an album of great musical diversity, of extreme national pride, light and shade, highs and lows. An entirely instrumental work, with many local and overseas guests. Rushton makes his presence felt on angelic-sounding acoustic piano, but there is also some outstanding guitar work (including dobro, slide etc), as well as a tight rhythm section. Adrift sounds like a collaboration between Coldplay and Joe Satriani or Steve Vai. The musicianship is such that even extremes of musical changes sound completely natural and harmonious. But in the end, this is Rushton's baby, he composed, produced and mixed "Black Sands" himself. The CD liner notes don't list individual performances unfortunately, just names. The photography and design of the cover are stunning, although the actual disk is far from professional. That aside, Rushton has a masterpiece on his hands. "Black Sands" evokes such powerful images it is impossible not to be enchanted by it."
- Peter Dent, NZ Musician Magazine, Dec/Jan 2006
Nov 2004 "The Cybase Project"
A 15-track CD of original contemporary pop and rock songs. The album features numerous artist who have collaborated over the internet:
"Incredible. A Kiwi keyboardist/songwriter/producer teams up with several musician/songwriter/co-writers from around the world...and they never meet! They all send their tracks from their home countries via email. The result is an exciting, varied set of easy listening, contemporary, melodic pop rock, with and obvious international flavour. Ian Rushton is New Zealand's answer to Richard Clayderman - a UK-born, self-taught pianist and guitarist. The Cybase Project is his third album since 2002. Rushton never gets in the way of the international soloists; instead preferring to colour the tracks with celestial light. German Wolfgang Menzel is the vocalist/collaborator on most of the album, and he brings an almost Axl Rose quality to the tracks. Contributions come from countries as varied as USA, Canada, Sweden and China! Technology has come so far that you can create an international album without leaving your bedroom."
- Peter Dent, New Zealand Musician June/July 2005
Dec 2003 "Something To Live By"
Piano-based instrumentals
Dec 2002 "All That You Need"
Piano-based instrumentals
Photos
Bio
Ian Rushton is UK born New Zealander, producer, and self-taught pianist and guitarist, offering anything from contemporary neo-classical to pop/rock instrumentals and adult contemporary pop and rock songs.
Host, co-writer and producer for Tsunami Awakening - an international, internet-based fundraising song for relief aid in SE Asia. Endorsed by World Vision, New Zealand.
Your influences?
Elton John, Beatles, Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Mike Oldfield, Genesis, Yanni, Split Enz, Crowded House, Eagles, Led Zeppelin
http://www.blacksandsmusic.co.nz
Links