Dan Silver is a Music Producer known as Silver Sessions. His new band Standing Shadows has become a major focus in his musical career in the past year. On March 9th, 2010, Standing Shadows released their debut album “Five Years Of Darkness” to the world. The band is also excited to announce a new video for “Get Together,” a track from their recently released “High Rise” EP and debut album. In April the band will be releasing special edition 7” vinyl, complete with three tracks from the full-length, “Circus Freak,” “Desert Rain,” and “Coming Home.”
Standing Shadows News March 2010>>>>>>>>
Standing Shadows release their anticipated debut album "Five Years of Darkness". The album was created over the course of five years by Dan Silver and David Miltenberger and in alternate states due to David living in Missouri and Dan in Los Angeles... the album incorporates an array of musical genres including alternative, indie, electronica and progressive.
Standing Shadows chose "One Way Ride" to use in collaboration with musicians from around the world. Remixers were able to download the stems of the song to create their own masterpiece. THE WINNERS ARE IN!!! The 1st prize winner was Jordan Deis, from New Orleans, who created the "One Way Ride - Graveyard Goldmine Remix" and received a free copy of DCAM: Synth Squad. The top four remixes will be considered as b-sides on Standing Shadows upcoming release, "One Way Ride" Remix EP. You can listen to all four remixes in the player below.
To find out more about Standing Shadows releases, news, tours, merchandise, and more...visit their homepage
Dan Silver is also Creative Director at RipTide Music, a creative, forward thinking Los Angeles based music licensing and publishing company representing the work of composers, bands, and artists for licensing in television, movie trailers, films, video games and advertising. As senior member of the RipTide Team, Dan oversees all facets of music pitching and production. In his spare time Dan Silver is producing records, scoring feature films, music supervising, and collaborating with several artists and musicians.
As a composer Dan's music has been heard in trailers such as “Public Enemies,” “The Day The Earth Stood Still,” “Tropic Thunder,” “Max Payne,” “Saw V,” “Gran Torino,” “Kung Fu Panda,” “Shoot Em’ Up,” "Traitor," and many more - Advertisements for K-Swiss, Ebay, and Sony Blu Ray -Television shows: “The Shield,” "Entourage", "CSI: Miami," “Gossip Girl,” and "Burn Notice", and video games "Moto GP 2007" and Sony Playstation Underground Magazine among several other places.
Most Recent Film/TV/Trailer/Game placements using BFD2:
Guitar Hero 5 (in-game trailers) - used Standing Shadows “Circus Freak” and “If I Could Change The World”
Public Enemies Trailer - “Exitus”
90210 TV Show – Standing Shadows “Get Together”
Band Hero Trailer – “Back Seat Taxi”
The Cleaner – Standing Shadows “Get Together”
Tropic Thunder Trailers - “Sleeping With The Dragon”
Gossip Girl TV Show - “Back Seat Taxi”
FXpansion artist interview with Dan Silver March 2010>>>>>>>>>
FX – How did you first get interested in making music?
DS - I started piano lessons when I was six. It’s tough to keep up your lessons and practice at that age, but by eleven I began to sight read and play some of my own ideas. Something clicked inside with music and I realized this is what I was meant to do. Then I bought my first Beatles album “Please Please Me” and then “Abbey Road.” I knew I was going to eventually learn guitar after falling in love with George Harrison’s guitar parts. By fifteen I was playing piano and tenor saxophone and then some friends decided we should all buy guitars and start a band. I borrowed a guitar and amp and haven’t stopped playing since.
FX – How did you first get into film scoring?
DS - I’ve always loved films. As a kid I wanted to get into creating special effects for films. One of my friends in college decided to make his first feature and so I took my first stab at scoring. The process of using music to create character development and support the actions happening in a scene became more and more fascinating to me. I’ve enjoyed it ever since and plan to keep scoring films throughout my career.
FX – What initial process do you go through when film scoring?
DS - At first I’ll watch the film several times. I like to study each character and how they fit into the plot and dynamic of the story. I’ll start to build themes for certain characters and parts of the plot while designing an overall tone and palette to work with throughout the score.
FX – What is your involvement and role at RipTide Music.
DS - I’ve been building RipTide with the owners since the company started nearly eight years ago. We represent the music of artists, bands, and composers for licensing into TV, Film, Trailers, Games, and Advertising. I wear many hats at the company. While running all facets of production and maintaining the catalogue, my highest responsibility is pitching music and facilitating music requests for our clients.
FX – What are your favourite plug-ins and for what reason?
DS - I have several favourite plug-ins….it depends on the use. For a live drummer sound I prefer using BFD. I love that I can play with mic positions and direct mixing of the drum kit. Also the tones BFD provides are superior in quality. For orchestration I use EWQL Symphonic Orchestra…by far some of the best virtual orchestra sounds. For electronic programming, synth tones, mellotrons, strange bleeps, e. pianos, bases, distortions, guitar amps etc, etc, I use a combo of Reason and Native Instruments plug-ins. There’s so much to choose from and all the tones are amazing if you know how to tweak them.
FX - How do you use BFD’s features to create the sounds you want to achieve in the various genres of music you work with?
DS - I generally use BFD for playing drum kit and percussion parts. I use the live kit tones in rocktronic/hybrid/orchestra pieces and in several rock, hip hop, and electronica projects. The fact that you can move microphone positions and tweak the individual drums and mics in the mix is phenomenal. I’m interested in working with some of the orchestral percussion and Japanese Taiko’s for my trailer and film composing.
FX – Do you have any tips or tricks you would like to share?
DS - Remember to program and play your drum parts like a “real” drummer. For those who don’t play drums, don’t get too side tracked with overplaying fills and drum parts. It’s good to stick to simple tasty fills and parts that are meaningful with just the right dynamics in your composition. I always imagine I’m sitting at the drum kit while programming or playing drum kits with virtual plug-ins. Dynamics are key and ultimately important for music to affect the listener.
FX – What impact have advancements in music software had upon your production technique?
DS - I keep a routine of playing live and collaborating with other musicians although technology has made it easy to work by myself. I’ve been able to take the technical process and make it creative. I create music most of the time by writing, producing, mixing, tweaking and engineering all at the same time. These used to be separate parts of the recording process. I love the endless experimentation factor with endless choices. I also find that technology has provided an amazing platform for long distance recording and collaboration. Recently I had a drummer re-perform my parts without ever getting together. We both have recording studios…I sent the session with stems to the drummer on an FTP and he returned the sessions with his recorded drums in a few days…no sweat….
FX – Who would you love to work with (filmmaker) that you haven’t already?
DS - I’ve always been a huge fan of both Stanley Kubrick and David Lynch. 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of my favourites…the use of silence and space in the film is incredible. Sometimes the most minimal sounds are just as effective as a fully orchestrated score. Unfortunately Kubrick is no longer with us. I love the twisted genius behind Blue Velvet and Wild At Heart and would be honoured to work with Lynch.
Dan Silver is a Music Producer known as Silver Sessions. His new band Standing Shadows has become a major focus in his musical career in the past year. On March 9th, 2010, Standing Shadows released their debut album “Five Years Of Darkness” to the world. The band is also excited to announce a new video for “Get Together,” a track from their recently released “High Rise” EP and debut album. In April the band will be releasing special edition 7” vinyl, complete with three tracks from the full-length, “Circus Freak,” “Desert Rain,” and “Coming Home.” 
Standing Shadows News March 2010>>>>>>>>
