ASCENT NTERVIEW

Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

Ascent is a progressive hard rock duo based in Orange County, California.  Husband-and-wife team Bruce and Christina Baldwin perform complex arrangements of of their original, emotional, thought-provoking songs, using live looping to create a unique sound.   The music is dominated by Christina’s powerful voice and Bruce’s heavy guitar.

Bruce Baldwin's foray into music began with parent-mandated piano lessons at 9 and a toy drum kit which was quickly destroyed.  He was the drummer in a metal band by the time he was 15.   He picked up his first guitar at 16 and his obsession with music grew exponentially.  The need to write and record songs led him to become a multi-instrumentalist, playing anything not nailed down. His desire to have all instrument parts played just as he envisioned eventually led to the live-looping approach Ascent employs.

Christina Baldwin has been a singer for as long as she can remember.  At three years old, she performed songs into her Mother’s elaborate dresser mirror.  With her ear to her older brother’s door, she was exposed to a wide variety musical genres, styles, and artists.  As her exposure to music grew, she began performing for family and friends, often charging 10 cents for car port shows filled with choreography, lyrics, melodies, props, and staging that she wrote. For years, Christina honed her skills, stage presence, and love for performing in many venues throughout Arizona.

One evening, Christina answered a newspaper ad for a vocalist, which led her to Bruce’s door. This was the day their story began. Bruce and Christina fell in love and married March 16, 2006. 

Bruce and Christina have released three CDs and are hard at work on their fourth.  Their latest singles, Bleed Like Us,” “Last Night,” and “Beacon Eleven,” are available to purchase or stream at Reverbnation, iTunes and Spotify.  All their music can be heard at http://ascent.rocks.

 What’s the origin of the band’s name?

Our name is inspired by flight.  We are fascinated by the flight, interactions and habits of birds (particularly Crows) and captivated by the man-made machines that allow humankind to take flight.

Our logo is a Crow that is part organic (Christina) and part machine (Bruce) which we feel exemplifies our live performance dynamic.

Where the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

Orange County, California, is known for punk rock, and we are quite different.   Our energy and passion, however, resonate with punk audiences. 

Ascent is particularly fond of the music of local band Filmspeed.


How would you describe your style?

We are dark, heavy, brooding and energetic.  We combine elements of hard rock, progressive rock, metal, blues and jazz.  Christina brings a strong melodic vocal, and Bruce shreds on guitar. 

Ascent’s live sound is created though live looping, yet still sounds like a rock band.  We believe it’s something unique to experience.

What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

Ascent has recorded three CDs, with a fourth in progress.  We have released a four songs EP (Bleed Like Us) in 2018.  They best represent our current sound.  Our recordings reflect our love of dark hard rock, our passion for sophisticated arrangements and the raw emotions of each song. 

Do you have any new music in the works?

Yes! We are constantly writing and recording.  We currently have six new songs in the recording and development progress. 

How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

Yes! Upcoming shows include:

JUNE 1 2018 - 11:00 PM - Knuckleheads
1717 N El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA

JUNE 22 2008 - 10:00 PM - Centerfield's
17296 Beach Blvd, Huntington Beach, CA

JULY 5 2018 - 11:00 PM - Muldoon's Saloon
5646 Paramount Blvd, Long Beach, CA

July 29 2018 - 1:45 PM - Orange County Fair
Plaza Stage

Upcoming gig information can always be found at Http://ascent.rocks.  We are also looking to book a tour later in 2018.

What plans do you have for the future as a band?

We’d like to tour more frequently and extensively to interact with our current fan base while creating new fans. We’ve been seeking out opportunities to share the origins and stories behind our music by participating in Podcasts as musical guests. 

We’d relish the opportunity to be the support act for a major band on tour.  We are actively seeking representation from an indie or major label.

Create, perform and record new music.
Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Http://ascent.rocks
Https://facebook.com/ascentrocks
http://reverbnation.com/ascent

What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

We want our audiences to be surprised by the accessible complexity of our music, overpowered by the unique sound and moved by the raw emotion. 

We want listeners to invite our melodies, our arrangements, the darkness and light in.  Let it burrow deep inside and take up permanent residence. 

We want our music to change the listener.  Hence our tag line, “Listen and be changed forever.”