A few words from Tyler Menon: “It was my love for video games that eventually led to my love for drumming. I grew up playing all the Mario and Zelda games. I think what drew me to them was the escape from reality, into another world almost. There was a similar escape that listening to music gave me, that I didn’t even really discover until I was about 12. Just putting on a pair of headphones, closing my eyes and tuning into the music. Not too long after that, I found out about the video game ‘Rock Band.’ I had seen Guitar Hero, but this one had drums. I thought that was so cool. My mom got it for me, and it was my new obsession. I got pretty good at it, and the only thing I wanted that Christmas was a drum set.
Then, it was constant drum covers. Iron Maiden, Megadeth, The Offspring, Breaking Benjamin, Avenged Sevenfold, System of a Down, and many more. I’d learn the parts by ear, then put a camera next to a small stereo that I played the music out of, record myself drumming to it, and put it on YouTube. The audio quality was terrible, and the drumming wasn’t much better, but doing that brought me so much joy because it was like I was bringing a video game to life. I went from covering songs on plastic pads to covering them on a real kit – and, eventually, creating my own drum parts with my best friends from high school.
At the same time I was writing and playing Iron Maiden-y music with my high school friends, I was beginning to delve into the world of progressive music. Rush, Opeth and Between the Buried and Me turned my world upside down. Those drummers were doing things behind the kit that I’d never dreamed of. Blake Richardson, in particular, was like a god to me. He would play all these monstrous fills, then lay into a dynamic and intricate groove at the drop of a hat. He would just make his whole kit sing. Progressive drumming just always stood out to me because of the mindset of that genre – no rules, no boundaries. Just infinite possibilities.
Though Rock Band didn’t prepare me for the many intricacies of playing a real kit, it did spark my love for drumming, and eventually creating music. I’m grateful every day that I can do that with like-minded people who are as passionate about music as I am.”
This video is drummer, Tyler Menon playing Stellar Circuit’s ‘Skylights.’
Pre-order the new album, Ways We Haunt, in digital and physical/merch formats NOW! Select tracks are also available for streaming via Spotify.
Tyler’s Gear:
TAMA Starclassic B/B drums
Sabian cymbals
Vic Firth Buddy Rich signature sticks
Remo/Aquarian/Evans drum heads
Ludwig hardware
DW 9000 hi-hat stand
Tama Speed Cobra kick pedals
Roc-n-Soc drum throne
Shure in-ear monitors
Meinl drum rug
Drumdial drum tuner
Cymbals Left to Right:
14” HHX Evolution Hi-Hats
08” AAX Splash
18” HHX Evolution Crash
22” HHX Legacy Heavy Ride
18” AAX-plosion Crash
11” AAX-plosion Splash
21” AA Holy China
Drums:
06″ x 14″ Tama Starphonic Brass Snare Drum
10″ x 7″ rack tom
12″ x 8″ rack tom
16″ x 16″ floor tom
22″ x 16″ bass drum
Heads:
Remo Emperor heads on rack toms
Remo Pinstripe head on the floor tom
Evans G1 heads on all tom resos
Remo Vintage Emperor head on snare drum batter
Remo Diplomat on snare drum reso
Aquarian Super Kick II head on bass drum batter
Evans EMAD head on bass drum reso
Band Links:
www.facebook.com/stellarcircuits
www.instagram.com/stellarcircuits
Upcoming Stellar Circuits Tour Dates:
Ways We Haunt Tour
11/10 – Huntsville, AL @ Sidetracks Music Hall
11/11 – Memphis, TN @ Growlers
11/13 – Columbus, GA @ Soho
11/14 – Orlando, FL @ Uncle Lou’s
11/15 – Sarasota, FL @ 5 O’Clock Club
11/16 – New Port Richey, FL @ The Verona
11/17 – Greenville, SC @ Radio Room
Stellar Circuits have been churning out massive soundscapes of rock and metal – chock full of the elements of progressive/experimental rock and metal that fans of the genre love with none of the tired fluff in between. In addition to those elements, Ways We Haunt incorporates influences from the outer- sphere of metal and rock, past and present, reflecting out-of-the-box artists like A Perfect Circle, Karnivool, Between The Buried And Me, The Contortionist and beyond. Stellar Circuits formed in 2015 with the idea of creating progressively-minded music that resonates with the masses. The name “Stellar Circuits” is derived from the eight-circuit model of consciousness, a theory proposed in the 1970’s about expanding consciousness and understanding the process of our mind as it pertains to existentialism. Although the music revolves heavily around introspection and self-reflection, this is also coupled with the importance of aesthetics and groove. Creating music both intellectual and visceral, Stellar Circuits is nothing short of a vehicle – transporting the listener to places both chaotic and cathartic.
Photos by Brian Krahe
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