Envelope is: Andrew Nelson, 27 Genre: Pop Style: Edgy synthesizer-based 80s EuroPop Influences: Depeche Mode, New Order, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, Camoflage, Moby, Information Society, Nine Inch Nails, Cause & Effect Andrew started experimenting with electronic music in 1987, when he purchased a Yamaha DX7 keyboard. Influenced by British synth-pop groups of the day, Andrew began emulating their style through original compositions. In high school, he joined with a drummer, an electric guitarist, and bassist Jason Swanson (now of Minneapolis-based jazz group Chill 7), to form a cover band. The group's interpretations of U2, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and the Ramones later influenced the structure of Andrew's compositions, lending guitar rock innuendos to a decidedly electronic ambiance. In 1993, Andrew arrived at Stanford University to pursue a degree in music. He quickly became an active member at Stanford's Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA), the premier research facility of its kind in the United States and birthplace of synthesis technologies including FM synthesis and physical modeling. While at CCRMA, Andrew had access to a plethora of the latest music technologies. He studied sound synthesis under computer music gurus Chris Chafe and John Chowning, while spending countless nights in the studio. Andrew's emphasis was on using computer sequencers not only to control energetically interwoven bass and percussion lines, but also to program sounds that would slowly change over time, adding an air of freshness to potentially mechanical compositions. Simultaneously, Andrew continued his studies in classical music. An award-winning classical pianist in high school, Andrew later turned his attention to the pipe organ with its wealth of sonic possibilities. He studied a wide repertoire with Elizabeth Harrison and Robert Huw Morgan, and appeared in several performances in California, Washington and Montana. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists and still serves widely as a church organist. envelope was formed in 2000, a name inspired by the technical description for synthesis parameters that vary over time. The debut album, faded letters, is characterized by luscious and bubbly synth textures accompanied by edgy and sometimes distorting ambient effects. Many of the tunes feature a captivating and highly sequenced interplay between driving bass line rhythms and creative drum programming, while still retaining a sense of freshness and surprise. The slower pieces carve an intimate and insistent relationship with the listener, supported by lingering industrial timbres. Soaring lead lines and accessible melodies complement the makeup of each piece. faded letters was recorded in Fall 2002 and released in 2003.