Randy Torres

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Randy Torres

| image = Randy Torres (cropped).jpg

| caption = Torres in 2006

| image_size =

| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist

| birth_name = Randy Torres

| origin =

| genre = Christian metal, Christian rock

| occupation = Musician, songwriter, sound designer

| instrument = Guitar, vocals, keyboards, percussion

| years_active = 1996–present

| label =

| website = {{URL|randytorres.com}}

| associated_acts = Project 86, Crash Rickshaw, Anberlin, Demon Hunter, Electric Legs, Monstruos del mar, The Celebrated Heroes, Falling Up, FM Static, Thousand Foot Krutch, NYVES

}}

Randy Torres is an American guitarist, percussionist, keyboardist and background vocalist{{cite web|title=Anberlin|url=http://www.spirit-of-rock.com/groupe-groupe-Anberlin-l-en.html|website=Spirit of Rock|accessdate=January 3, 2015}} from Seattle.{{cite web|last1=Hurst|first1=Samantha|title=Seattle Musicians Launch Kickstarter Campaign For New Electronic Music Collaboration; Raises $25,000 in Two Days|url=http://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2014/11/55250-seattle-musicians-launch-kickstarter-new-electronic-music-collaboration-raises-25000-two-days/|website=Crowdfund Insider|accessdate=January 3, 2015|date=November 7, 2014}} He has previously played for the bands Project 86, a Christian rock group,{{cite book|last1=Whitburn|first1=Joel|title=2002 Billboard Music Yearbook Billboard's Music Yearbook, 2002 Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Music Reference Series|date=2003|publisher=Record Research, Incorporated|isbn=0898201543|page=192}} and Crash Rickshaw. He has filled in as rhythm guitarist for the band Demon Hunter{{cite web|last1=Downey|first1=Ryan, J.|title=The 15 Best Solo, Side Project And Supergroup Songs of 2014: NYVES - "Fall Behind"|url=http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/the_15_best_solo_side_project_and_supergroup_songs_of_2014|website=Alternative Press|accessdate=January 3, 2015|date=December 17, 2014}} and as keyboardist, guitarist, percussionist and background vocalist for Anberlin on a recent tour. He has worked as a producer/engineer for Aaron Sprinkle, and for the A&R division of Tooth & Nail Records.{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Ryan|title=The new electronic project from Ryan Clark (Demon Hunter) and Randy Torres (Project 86)|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1722713765/nyves|website=Kickstarter|accessdate=January 3, 2015}} He is now a composer for film & TV. He currently is working on a project with Ryan Clark called NYVES (pronounced "knives"), funded through Kickstarter.{{cite web|last1=Sarachik|first1=Justin|title=Demon Hunter Vocalist and Former Project 86 Guitarist Form Electric Rock Inspired Duo NYVES|url=http://www.breathecast.com/articles/demon-hunter-vocalist-former-project-86-guitarist-form-electric-rock-21529/|website=Breathe Cast|accessdate=January 3, 2015|date=November 6, 2014}}

History

Randy Torres began his musical career in 1996, when he formed Project 86, alongside vocalist Andrew Schwab, drummer Ethan Luck, and bassist Matt "Bean" Hernandez. However, Torres and Schwab quickly became the only original members, as Hernandez departed to play for Unashamed, while Luck went to play for The Dingees.{{cite web|url=https://neverwaspodcast.simplecast.fm/31|title=#31 ...a Composer|website=Never Was Podcast|first=Randy|last=Torres|interviewer=Mark Salomon|date=February 6, 2016|accessdate=October 28, 2020}} The band would begin to take off after hiring Torres' longtime best friend Steven Dail and drummer Alex Albert, who had previously both been a part of Innermeans. The four recorded their debut album, which was self-titled, and released it through BEC Recordings. After that album, the band signed to Atlantic Records and re-released their sophomore album, Drawing Black Lines, which saw high commercial success. Around this time, Torres, Dail, Schwab, and Albert would be joined by a fifth member for a brief time, with Corey Edelmann of No Innocent Victim joining the band. The band would go on a tour titled Kings of the Game tour, alongside P.O.D., hed PE, and Linkin Park.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1429998/20001004/hed_pe.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010710103153/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1429998/20001004/hed_pe.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 10, 2001|title=P.O.D. Taps hed (pe) For "Kings" Tour|website=MTV|first=Robert|last=Mancini|date=October 4, 2000|accessdate=October 29, 2020}}

Torres was one of the band's key songwriters, during his tenure, alongside Dail. Between the two, a majority of the song structures were created for the next several records, including Truthless Heroes, Songs to Burn Your Bridges By, ...And the Rest Will Follow, and Rival Factions. During this time, he would also work with Aaron Sprinkle, as an additional producer and engineer.{{cite web|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/labeled-the-stories-rumors-legends-of-tooth-nail-records/id1224741037?i=1000506131521|title=Tooth & Nail All Purpose All Star: Randy Torres|website=Labeled: The Stories, Rumors, and Legends of Tooth & Nail Records|first=Randy|last=Torres|interviewer=Matt Carter|date=January 21, 2021|accessdate=January 28, 2021}} However, in 2009, Torres would depart from the band, as it was no longer enjoyable. Despite this, he was credited on the band's next record, Picket Fence Cartel, even though he did not record on it. Dail, however, did use material from Torres' demos, hence why he was credited.{{cite web|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/discography-discussion/id1205778260?i=1000506003570|title=268. Discuss Metal Episode 035: Steven Dail of Starflyer 59|website=Discography Discussion|first=Steven|last=Dail|interviewer=Daniel Terry|date=January 20, 2021|accessdate=January 28, 2021}} Following his tenure with the band, he continued to work with Sprinkle for a few years, as well as tour with Demon Hunter, until he became A&R at Tooth & Nail Records. During his time at the label, he signed bands such as I Am Empire and The Letter Black. He would then leave his position to tour with Anberlin in 2010. Once the tours finished, he reached out to a contact he had during his time with Sprinkle, who worked at Microsoft. Torres would then be hired by Microsoft and began working with them on video games as a composer.

After he worked with Microsoft, he would eventually leave to get into the film industry, working on sound, with the contact who helped him at Microsoft helping him once more. While involved in the industry, he worked on films such Suicide Squad, Dunkirk, and a plethora of others.{{cite web|url=https://www.urbanachievershow.com/episodes/randy-torres|title=Randy Torres|website=Urban Achiever Podcast|first=Randy|last=Torres|interviewer=Billy Power|date=April 10, 2018|accessdate=January 28, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4005207/|title=Randy Torres|website=IMDb|accessdate=January 28, 2021}} As a side project to his main career, Torres formed the project known as NYVES, which featured him and Ryan Clark, a longtime friend of Torres' and the lead vocalist of Demon Hunter and Training for Utopia. The project, an extreme departure from anything the two had done previously, aside from Clark's project Low & Behold. NYVES released the album, Anxiety, came out in June 2015. The project also released an EP, Pressure EP.{{cite web|url=https://nyvesmusic.bandcamp.com/|title=NYVES|website=Bandcamp|accessdate=January 28, 2021}}