Perhaps I am the sum of my experience as a book store clerk, a French speaking World Bank secretary, a television producer, a law library assistant, a computer programmer, a software executive, a real estate agent, a waiter, a photo researcher and a theatre intern? But through all those career paths I have remained at heart a musician, songwriter, poet, author and painter.

I was born and raised in the conservative heartland of Cincinnati, Ohio. If you are at all different I don't recommend this. Being a gay kid in a place that values sameness and conformity isn't easy. I internalized a feeling of not belonging, of being defective, of having to be someone I was not in order to be accepted. Despite celibacy, this schism between my true self and my social masks laid the foundation for depression, alcoholism and suicidal feelings. Of course when I didn't feel like dying I managed to have some amazing nights clubbing at The Metro, The Dock and The Jockey Club.

By college age I hightailed it out of there and went to the bright lights, big city of Washington, DC. I attended the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University but like to say I "majored in Tracks", a now defunct historic dance club in Southeast DC. Music was like food and air for me and this period introduced me to new sounds via a group of adventurous friends. Pet Shop Boys, Everything but the Girl, The Blue Nile and Hayze Fantazee joined my staples New Order and Depeche Mode on my turn table. Yep t.u.r.n. t.a.b.l.e. - this was about 1985 baby.

The double life of a college over achiever and a gay club kid finally started to wear thin and the booze went out of control. I spent a night passed out in front of some socliate's Georgetown rowhouse, I ran away from my friends at dance clubs and walked the 5 or so miles home, I blacked out regularly and began to wake up with fear and trepidation about what I may have done the night before.

Thankfully, a summer run in with the law led me to a different way of life in my junoir year of school. After an embarrassing pool party escapade I managed to crash into a corn field while in an alcoholic stupor in Brown County, Ohio. Did I mention I was in my boxer shorts and driving my parents lovely Ford station wagon? No one was hurt and I spent some quality time with the police officer in a nice cold jail cell at 3AM. Because of my own dark experiences and some incredible people who cared for me at a time when I needed it I am passionate about reaching out to addicts as well as young gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.

Off the booze and a college degree later and I found myself hawking books at the DC landmark Kramerbooks in Dupont Circle and working for next to nothing at the local "Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company". It was during this time that I met the friend who would change everything. Joe Winston Rowe confided his similar lifelong musical aspirations to me one day and we began to dream. A horrible first collaboration was later dubbed 'The Coconut Song'. The recording ends in gales of laughter. But a dream had awoken and we began a long period of collaboration which turned into the 90s synth-pop band Shivering Blondes.

I was primarily the lyricist for Shivering Blondes but began learning the basics of music theory. I often "played bass" one finger at a time on an old Korg keyboard. Alas the Shivering Blondes claim to fame was not their huge success. The group, which later included the requisite classically trained clarinetist, Michael A., imploded after our first live performance (absent Joe who took off to pitch our half finished demo in London). Sadly London was not calling the "Shivering Blondes" at that time. In a sidebar to history however a few months later Joe, aka Winston, was a celebrity attraction as a "Bang" Go-Go Boy.

Whatever happened to the Shivering Blondes you must know? The last I saw Michael was on the box cover of an adult film and I hope he is happy and well. The amazingly multi-talented Joe has resurfaced in Florida and started a new music project DNR (ask about his amazing song 'Fair Warning'). He and I have discussed writing a screenplay about our vertical trajectory into musical ignominy as the 80s legends 'Shivering Blondes' (who failed to show up until the 90s).

In the meantime I overcame my insecurity about my not quite American Idol ready singing voice and realized my lifelong dream of releasing a CD in 2003 under the name deepnine. The overwhelming Billboard success of this new age flavored release Flowers on the Dirt Road Home led me to a dark period of depression, stagnation and mourning. Just kidding. No really, in response to mounting pressures from the paparazzi (please…let the man get to his Starbucks in peace!) and the strain of artistic differences with my superego, I meditated on a Himalayan peak (well at least I thought of one in my tub) and decided to break up with myself… and go solo.

I find myself at a crossroads in my life where achievement matters little and love is all I hope to give the world. I am the father of an amazing 5 year old. I have a stable loving partner and co parent. I have decided to give up the notion that I am a recording artist hoping to make it someday and in its place embrace my role as just an artist who hopes to inspire others to make some art. We need more art people! Let's all stop judging and fearing each other and just paint something funny, sad, beautiful or tragic for God's sake. John Lennon may have been a dreamer but he's not the only one. ;-)

Therefore my latest project involves collaborations with multimedia artists who will be contributing hand made limited run "packaging" for my single song CDs. The days of the album, for me at least, are gone. I want the freedom to make a song and have it available world wide in a matter of days. I also cherish the thought that when the creative spark hits I will not limit myself by wondering if the new work fits well with where "the album" is going. The first such release "Strange Parade (in Brent's House)" is due from my label Collabitat Records in fall 2005 with artwork by Tiehn.