KRIS HALO PIERCE (aka Haunted Echo) is a DJ Times Top 40, multi-award winning, genre-crossing producer and Author With Placements at MTV Interscope, Viacom Media Networks, Sony Creative, Tencent Music Entertainment, Silk Origin Music Alliance, Hot-Q Records, What’s In-Store Music, Cleopatra Records, Distortion Productions, and TagWizz (MusicMash: AlexaSkills); just to name a few. His sound is often referred to as Balearic Beat and Cinematic Ambient. He has appeared on America’s Got Talent (8 million viewers), and he’s even worked on Broadway (Gettin’ The Band Back Together).
Pierce owns and Operates Halo Askew Entertainment (BMI)- A multi-plat-form,boutique publishing company based in New Jersey. Artists includem Aversion Theory, Mind Static, Resident51, Haunted Echo, Crew Called Self, The Beat Circles, and Pierce’s solo project, as well as collaborations with the Tony Award-winning Jessica Paz, Grammy Award-winning, Bimbo Jones Duo, Amira (William Orbit), Claus Larsen (Leaetherstrip), art of Noise (Peter Murphy, Jonathan Davis), Jason Bazinet (SMP), Seven. Dunbar (Chris Vrenna), Melodywhore, and Craig Huxtable (OHMelectronic, Noise Unit).
Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/TikTok:@haloaskew
What made you want to become a musician?
When I was around 5 years old, my parents had gotten a piano, and to hear them tell it, I spent a lot of time making up melodies on it, so when I was 6, they got me piano lessons.
Which instruments did you play in high school?
I played the violin and piano.
What accomplishments do you see yourself achieving in the next five to 10 years?
Well, I will have graduated my oldest daughter into adulthood, and I want to continue designing/building audio systems for live, major event entertainment.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?
Sure! I play a lot of Dungeons & Dragons with my kids and I’ve been experimenting with adding augmented reality to my map handouts. My son plays hockey, so I spend about 4 days a week with that. I have a passion for movies, so I’ve been teaching my kids how to analyze things like coloring, framing, pacing, dialogue, and sound effects.
What strengths do you have that you believe make you a great musician?
Ha! I actually consider myself a mediocre musician. But that’s because, working in live theatre in NYC, I tend to be around musicians who are exponentially better than myself. I think what I do bring to the table is a curiosity at exploring what things can sound like and how to balance a dense track.
Do you have any weaknesses that you’re actively working to improve on?
I probably procrastinate a little too much.
Which instrument is your favourite to play and why?
I really enjoy keyboards and synthesizers, mostly because you can create a non-traditional sound and make it sound musical.
What is it about music that makes you feel passionate?
It’s like micro-world building, to steal a gaming term. At heart, I am a storyteller and for someone who wants to do more than just casually listen, one may be able to hear that I’m writing to a scene in my head.
Describe your favourite and least favourite part about being a musician.
My favorite part is listening to a solid track and mix and really feeling that it says what it’s supposed to. My least favorite is PR; not terribly good at that. My biggest regret with being a musician is never being able to be an audience member. I always have to experience my shows from a video after the fact, which isn’t the same.
Which instrument is your least favourite to play and how do you make sure you play it well?
I think my least favorite is my cigar box banjo because it doesn’t keep its tuning during a performance, so I’ve had to learn how to keep it tuned as part of the performance.