Brett Detar

Brett Detar is an American singer, songwriter,^[1] film composer,^[2] and music producer.^[3] He was formerly the lead singer of the now defunct band The Juliana Theory as well as former guitarist/bassist for metalcore band Zao. Born April 30, 1978 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania Detar currently works as a film composer and solo singer-songwriter,^[4] in Los Angeles, California.^[5]

On November 9, 2010, Detar released his debut solo album "Bird In The Tangle" and distributed it for free on his website.

Career

Solo career

On January 20, 2010 Detar announced on his official Facebook page that he is making his first solo album. In the note he mentioned that he had no plans to be a solo artist; yet, after The Juliana Theory folded in 2006 he had accumulated some 50+ songs "piled up on mini recorders, cell-phone voice memos, and hard drives".^[6]

On November 10, 2010 Detar released his first solo album Bird In The Tangle. The entire album is available for free download on his website in mp3 format, if you provide your email address. The album is also available for purchase ($10 for MP3HD digital format, $25 for limited edition vinyl LP and MP3HD) with four exclusive bonus tracks (released on November 23, 2010).

Detar toured the U.S. in 2011 on a 28 stop tour opening for Tiger Army's lead vocalist Nick 13, who also recently released his first solo album.^[7]

Detar recently announced he is working on his second solo album, the follow-up to "Bird In The Tangle".^[8]

Film composing

Detar's first feature length film score^[9][10] was Paramount Picture's The Devil Inside which debuted in America on January 6, 2012 as the US box office's number one movie of the weekend.^[11]

The Juliana Theory

Camden Underworld, January 2006

In 1997 while also playing guitar in Zao, Detar (along with Chad Alan, Joshua Fiedler, Neil Hebrank, and Jeremiah Momper) formed a part-time side project called The Juliana Theory. Lasting much longer than the proposed summer-long tenure, Detar eventually left Zao to work on Juliana Theory full-time. The Juliana Theory toured and recorded full-time for nine years from 1997-2006.^[12]

The Juliana Theory recorded four full-length albums, along with various EPs and six live recordings.^[13]

Throughout their career, they were signed to Epic Records, Tooth and Nail Records, Rykodisc, and Abacus Recordings. In 2005 The Juliana Theory, along with manager Josh Karchmer, started the Paper Fist record label on which the band released their final album Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat.^[14]

On October 5, 2009 Detar announced via his website that a Juliana Theory rarities and b-sides album would soon be available.^[15] The album was released September 7, 2010 through digital media outlets such as iTunes and Amazon.^[16]

On January 20, 2010 The Juliana Theory announced they would be playing six reunion shows in August 2010. These would be the final shows that they play together as a group.^[17]

Zao

At the age of 19, Detar co-wrote and played guitar, bass, and piano for the metalcore band Zao on their Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest album in 1998 as well as the split CD with Training for Utopia. Detar toured with Zao for two years, replacing original guitarist and founding member Roy Goudy and bringing in new lead-vocalist Dan Weyandt to the band. Detar eventually left the group to concentrate on side project The Juliana Theory.^[18]

Pensive

Detar's music career began by playing guitar and singing backing vocals in the band Pensive. The group was formed in 1995 and featured a line-up including The Juliana Theory and Zao alumni Chad Alan on vocals, Brett Detar on guitar, Martin Lunn on bass, and Josh Walters on drums.^[19] Pensive released one EP titled "The Subtlety of Silence" which was released in 1997.^[20] They also released a split EP entitled "The Psalms of Ariana," with PA hardcore band Seasons in the Field, through Akeldama Records.^[21]

Side projects

Detar appeared in tandem with Chris Evenson of Sense Field for a song under the moniker "Belasana" which was featured on the 2004 compilation Maybe This Christmas Tree.^[22] It was never a true band but really "just a couple of ex-band guys trading music files over the internet which, when re-assembled on our computers do resemble songs".^[23][24]

In 2005, Detar was featured on two tracks for the album Sixty Forty by the hip hop artist Origen aka Will Stanton, including the song "Mid Winter Cold".^[25]

Personal life

Before his music career, Detar worked on a farm while growing up. He also worked at Carmike Cinemas in Greensburg. Detar enjoys ice hockey and played the sport growing up. A fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Mario Lemieux, Detar has travelled to Canada to watch Stanley Cup and international hockey.^[26] In an interview with listenin.org Detar mentioned that he is a big fan of The Sopranos.^[27]

The Lime Spider Incident

In 2005 during a show at The Lime Spider in Akron, The Juliana Theory was finishing up a set with the Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat track "French Kiss Off" when Detar began the near minute long scream for the culmination of the song. Halfway through, Detar passed out and fell from the stage. He was lying on the ground, still screaming, when a monitor fell and landed on his head. With fans gathered around him, Detar laid on the ground bleeding while the rest of the band finished the song. After the show, he was walking around holding a towel to his head in an attempt to curtail the blood flow and later had to be taken to hospital.^[28]

Discography

Studio albums

• Bird in the Tangle (2010), Ravensong Records
• Too Free to Live (2013)

References

External links

• Official website