Peter Antal – Between Us – Music Review and Exclusive Interview
Peter Antal (born September 7, 1980) is a music producer, singer/songwriter, Peter made numerous recordings and covers which helped him popularize, in the US music industry.
Peter has worked with on covers of such artists like Bruno Mars, Maroon 5, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Katy Perry, just to mention a few. In his age of 12, he produced Playstation music variations over Jurassic Park themes already, and other famous projects, at a International Game Production company. Their publishers called him “the most experienced producer of all time in many genres”.
Life and career
New York years
Peter grew up in Manhattan, New York with his family. His father was a Engineer and his mother a housewife. While a student at Manhattan Primary School he found the School’s Year End concerts very interesting, and decided to play the piano.
Later at school, Peter was popular among the other students due to his musical ability. They moved to Europe because his father finished a very important project with his Uncle. Moving on, he started to take piano lessons. Peter’s passion moved towards the NYC Pop scene.
Peter began to learn about music production by himself. By 1996, his songs were released by local labels with good sales related to the countries boundaries.
Peter felt his talent was wasted in small productions, and he started to build an international musician relationships.
Berklee American years
In 2006, Peter was homesick, and wanted to go back to New York, so he filled out the first competition’s paperwork, and send a demo tape to Berklee College of Music, and he won the scholarship, which lead him to meat Shimon Yanagihara, bass guitar player from Tokyo, and they befriended in their common music language in the school, in Boston.
American Production years
Peter made a company in the US, and started to work for many music producers, and songwriters from all around the world, including US, Spain, Greek, Japan, Africa, Italy, French through internet. In the early stage of his music company he also worked as a graphic artist, in a company owned by him. Later he received his biggest offer to produce songs for many well-known artists including Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Maroon 5.
Production style
Peter learnt many different styles including Pop, Jazz, Classical, Electronic, so the combination of these can be heard in his recordings.
Music Review for ‘Between us”
This song holds a secret message which is a very innovative idea. We will talk about this more in the interview below! Let’s jump right into the Music Review for this amazing single. This is a really enjoyable and creative track. For what is primarily an a capella performance, the sound is minimal and most prominently sustained by vocal parts alone – with the exception of a simple piano part I believe – it’s a well rounded, well structured, and fresh sounding recording. The intro alone has that something cool and interesting about it, but it also has the warmth and familiarity of an accessible pop song, so you get a good balance. The influence of mainstream music and alternative creativity in equal parts is clear, there’s a skillful and professional quality to everything about it, the song’s subject matter, the lyrics, the vocal performances in every respect, and the minimal yet effective way in which the energy of the piece builds and falls away, just slightly, to re-emphasise the varying points in the story.
The audio alone is quite captivating in this one, but what makes it even better is that if you do see past that and follow the words and melody along as you would any other song, there’s a huge amount of passion and emotion to the writing and the leading vocal performance.
Many of the lines have an original sense of phrasing, adding to the freshness, and contributing to what is an all round simple yet hugely unique and refreshing track. The sound of the leading vocal also has a very distinct tone and sense of character about it, so future releases are likely to be recognisably regardless of whatever style or mood comes next. The development of the music in this case has the effect of being easy escapism, that’s the chord progression and the general vibe alone. The fact that you get some creatively free building blocks supporting this simply enhances the effect.
By Rebecca Cullen
Rebecca is a Musician and writer from Manchester, UK, with an MA in Song Writing.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Peter
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
I grew up in New York, and I was watching MTV with the actual superstars, and I decided, that I want to be none of them. Wel I know you might thought, that I will say one of them, but you heard it right. I want to be someone who is really unique. I don’t rely on the sales, not doing it for money at all. I have income from other music related stuff. My songs are very unique in any manner, but meanwhile could fit into any toplist, like Michael Jackson. 🙂
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
The way I think is I try to help anyone who contacts me. It is just the way I am, I always answer the secrets to them, since I could not get any information on how to mix, when I started, and how to write songs, even how to setup a home recording environment for start. I also ask them to check mic, then we setup together. Wish I could help everyone who loves the music like I do, so they don’t struggle that much. Maybe I will put a setting list on my website at www.djpeterantal.com
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
My concept is that I am an online music factory man, so if I ever go to a gig, it will be because I have to, because they demand, or such reason.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
No, never planned. It is part of the concept. I will be the world’s first only online crazyness. Will get to you guys, when I am needed.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
I am doing many tracks to publishers in the US, as well as European companies. But meawhile by making those songs, I finally find myself. My music is 90% mouth recorded sounds (even if you think the drums are live, haha) and 10 % are only the synths. They way, I am much closer to the audience, and they cannot copy me.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
It is all about craziness, I am sharing things that are crazy enough to get viral. Also I care about world problems, and I have hidden messages to the world, for example this song, Between Us, also I have a very serious message to father’s who were alienated from their children, like I am. Haven’t seen my kids for 300 days now. The chorus lyrics are actually “Papa, papa” but you cannot hear it, if you don’t know this secret. You would first think it is a regular love song. It is also a message to them. Are you there guys somewhere…. hah… I miss you so much.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
AJustin Timberlake, but not to perform. I want to have a great party with him or something, he seems to be a nice guy.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
I am planning to make a song about the song itself, which will also a very crazy idea. You will hear it, will be funny and crazy, that is my slogan. I wear blue and red shoes every day.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Working at fastfood restaurants. Probably i would be too hard for me, but I am really a fan of that, and well the payment is not so high.. 🙁 Maybe a few days trial would work, but it is hard to get in, they always say, no, you are talented in other things. huh… pity 🙁
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
Craziness, crazy app about me, crazy songs, which are funny and meanwhile have deep meanings.
Exposed Vocals: Any Shout-outs?
Justin Timberlake, are you there? Hello? 🙂 Peter Antal – Put Your Hands Up!!! Please keep this in the article, I really love to shout out this in the beginning of my faster songs. Also please keep this sentence… and also this one… ah ok, I gotta go…. Thanks for the interview.