Kris Grant

Pre-College
  • Technology & Applied Composition
Kris Grant photo

Contact

Departments

Pre-College

Education

Communication Application Technologies, US Air Force;

Technology and Applied Composition, SFCM

Ensembles

AV Club SF

Please list your top awards and distinctions.

NATO Achievement Medal

US Air Medal (6)

Aerial Achievement Award

Q&A

What is your hometown?

Kansas City, MO

What is your favorite recording? Why?

When I was young, Flying Lotus's Cosmogramma record helped inspired my own musical explorations.

What are you passionate about outside of music?

Outside of music, I enjoy creating visual art (either by hand or digitally), playing PC games, and reading (both fiction and non-fiction)

Who were your major teachers?

Taurin Barrera, Nicolas Collins, MSgt. Chris Handy

What is a favorite quote that you repeatedly tell students?

It doesn't get easier, you get better.

What question do you wish students would ask sooner rather than later?

Why does this work the way it does?

What was the defining moment when you decided to pursue music as a career?

When my contract with the Air Force came to an end, I decided to leave the military and pursue music.

What was a turning point in your career?

Becoming involved with AV Club SF introduced me to algorithmic music composition, and thus, a new way to make music! 

If you weren't a musician or teacher, what do you think you would be doing now?

I would more than likely be working in an audio related tech field

What is your daily practice routine?

I keep my music production software running in the background at all times, so whenever there's a slow moment, I can pull it up and sketch out ideas. These daily song ideas quickly evolve into fully-realized compositions over time, so I try to come up with something new every day.

If you could play only three composers for the rest of your life, who would they be?

Jacob Collier, Julius Rodriguez, and Benn Jordan

What do you think makes a concert experience unique?

I think a unique concert is comprised of boundary-pushing technological achievement and premium sound

Please list your most important collaborations.

Suzanne Ciani, WISE foundation, Meta Inc.

What recordings can we hear you on?

I am an AWAL artist and regularly release music under my moniker Idea Unsound

Biography

Kris Grant is a classically trained musician & multi-media artist with particular expertise in sound design, synthesis techniques, and electronic composition for digital media. He has been producing and mixing electronic music under the name ‘Idea Unsound’ for over a decade with various software systems, developing a strong understanding of computer-music interfacing, as well as an instrument-like level of comfort within the digital environment. 
Grant is not only an adept musician, but also creates full-on interactive, projection-mapped, audio-visual experiences, as well as provides audio-related services for some of the largest tech companies in Silicon Valley. What’s more, Grant is also a veteran of the US Air Force, having done 3 combat tours of duty over 6 years before departing to pursue life as a full-time audio professional.