Portal

Portal began in 1999 on the boardwalk of Mission Beach, California. It was there in San Diego that brothers Torrey and Corbett Richards began to create their new sound with a little inspiration from friend and musician, Kevin Anderson.

Born in Australia and rooted in rhythmic world music, keyboarder Kevin Anderson brings his collection of musical ideas and samples from his world travels to create the sound that is Portal. His sound draws heavily from a rhythmic base, because he began his musical career as a drummer in junior high school in Pennsylvania. He grew up in a musical family with each of his four older siblings acting as guides in his development. Anderson continued studying music and playing in many different bands in San Diego as a drummer. That multi-cultural city allowed him to play in such diverse projects as Polynesian Reggae, Hip-Hop, Acoustic Rock, and Fusion-Jam Band. His influences range from 60’s and 70’s Psychedelic and Funk, Jazz, underground Hip-Hop, and most recently the Down-Tempo electronic scene.

With a live electronic drum-set and acoustic percussion, Corbett Richards provides a unique array of sounds that underline the world beat and ambient grooves that define Portal’s music. He has developed strong roots in Afro-Cuban, Latin, and many other styles of drumming.

Corbett’s childhood influences, John Bonham and Vinnie Colaiuta, inspired him to move to Hollywood after high school for an intense study of drumming at Musicians Institute. While studying music and living in LA, Corbett played in many musical projects, ranging from Latin and Jazz to Funk and Rock. He played in LA’s club and bar scene before moving to San Diego to pursue a Biochemistry and Cell Biology degree at the University of California, San Diego, where he first jammed with Kevin and Torrey.

Corbett is also a world traveler, speaks Spanish, and has spent a lot of time backpacking throughout Europe and studying South American percussion in Florianopolis, Brazil.

Soul traveler, Torrey Richards, has decided to stay grounded long enough to make some music. His bass provides the seamless grooves that lay the foundation for Kevin’s electronic effects & Corbett’s powerful drum work. Torrey grew up influenced by the era of politically conscious Punk, including Fifteen, The Descendants and Dead Kennedy’s. He eventually found a home in the Jam-Band world and today admires Digable Planets and Spearhead.

Torrey is now a Music Technology student at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. He pursues environmental awareness, promoting the automotive fuel, Biodiesel, and the development of sustainable building materials. Torrey believes that music is a means to take negative vibes, clean them up, and give them back to the world in the form of pure energy. He is now on a path toward the spiritual and meditative side of music.

In 2004, Kevin brought in his older brother, Jeff, to play. His smooth guitar styles and amazing skills add a new dimension to the already intricate sound of Portal. This former computer tech has lovingly been dubbed “The Wizard”.