History of Brave
Created in 1997 by guitarist Scott Loose and drummer Trevor Schrotz, Arise From Thorns (AFT) began exploring and writing melodic, atmospheric and diverse music. Shortly thereafter, Scott’s sister, Michelle Loose, joined the band to provide keyboards and lead vocals. The music of AFT began to take form as the three members wrote and recorded their first self-titled CD that was released in 1998. AFT began playing in and around their hometown of Dale City, Virginia, a suburb of Washington D.C., and established a name for themselves in original, avant-garde music. In 1998, the trio was joined by bassist Chris Welborn, who previously played in the Northern Virginia-based band Division (www.division-usa.com) and guitarist Tom Phillips, founder of the band While Heaven Wept (www.whileheavenwept.net). The five of them began work for their follow up CD entitled Before An Audience of Stars and continued to play clubs and festivals on the East Coast.
In March 2000, AFT changed their name to BRAVE to make a distinction between the origins of the project and the band in its most complete form. With the name change, the music has taken a slightly more progressive direction while retaining the passionate and atmospheric melodies of the original material.
In January 2001, the American label Dark Symphonies re-released Before An Audience of Stars featuring three bonus tracks and brand new artwork. In March 2001, BRAVE self-released their first four song EP entitled Waist Deep In Dark Waters. Both the re-release and the EP have received national and international praise and sold over 7,000 copies to date.
In February 2002 BRAVE entered Assembly Line Studios in Vienna, Virginia to record their debut full-length CD. The new CD, entitled Searching for the Sun contains 11 tracks and features elements of contemporary rock, progressive rock and metal. Dark Symphonies released the record in July 2002.
Following the acclaimed release of Searching for the Sun, BRAVE added violinist Suvo Sur. Suvo, a classically trained violinist, previously played in Forty Days Longing. Later in 2002, BRAVE won 2nd place in Jaxx’s Battle of the Bands, a contest that spanned 6 months and included over 250 bands from the Washington, D.C. Metro area.
In 2003, BRAVE was joined by long-time friend and bass player Ben Kelly. Ben also previously played in Forty Days Longing and currently plays in Modulus.
In early 2004, the five band members recorded their Passages EP at Cue Studios in Falls Church, Virginia. The band continued to perform in the Washington DC area, opening for such bands as Lacuna Coil, Symphony X, Fates Warning, Therion, Opeth, Devin Townsend, Moonspell, Asia, Spock’s Beard, and Katatonia.
They have also recently added a second guitarist, Matt Kozar, whose previous bands include Forty Days Longing, Betray My Trust and Time of the Wolf. After 4 years of writing and 10 months of recording, BRAVE self-released their 6th studio album Monuments in May 2008. Monuments is their heaviest, most diverse album to date, and contains almost 60 minutes of all new music. They will resume playing shows in and around their hometown of Washington DC in late summer 2008.
Please check back for updates, a new web site and new band photos!
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Michelle Loose
Michelle began playing piano and singing at a young age. Her natural ear for pitch combined with her intense love of music has produced the powerful front of AFT/BRAVE. Michelle, although never formally trained, only began to seriously study voice and piano in May of 1997 by teaching herself. Her influences include Tori Amos, Lisa Gerrard, Bjork, Depeche Mode, Fates Warning, Sarah McLachlan, Live, Queensryche and a secret love for heavy grooves like System of a Down, Pantera and Anathema.
E-Mail: michelle@bravemusic.com
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Scott Loose
Scott began playing guitar at age 10 and has since studied classical guitar, modern guitar techniques, and music theory with a number of teachers. Scott has played and written for Fell On Within (1994-1995), As the Sea Parts (1995-current), AFT/BRAVE (1996-current), While Heaven Wept (1999-current), and Human Theory (2005-2007. Scott's influences include music by Led Zeppelin, Anathema, Kitaro, Peter Gabriel, Metallica, Fate's Warning, Queensryche, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Obituary, JS Bach, Bjork, Pink Floyd, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Dead Can Dance, Bob Marley, Hans Zimmer, Lisa Gerrard, and many others.
E-Mail: scott@bravemusic.com
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Trevor Schrotz
Trevor began playing drums in 1995. Since then he has played and recorded with some wonderful musicians in the Northern Virginia / D.C. area in styles ranging from Progressive Rock to Fusion to African Popular music. Trevor has studied classical percussion with a great instructor from the U.S. Army band, William Messerschmidt. Trevor continued his musical studies with an awesome instructor, musician, and friend, Marshall Hughey from the band VECTOR. Trevor's draws his musical influences from Allan Holdsworth, Chick Corea, Cynic, Sting, Phil Collins, Genesis, Al Dimeola, Dead Can Dance, Fates Warning, Dream Theater, King Crimson, The Police, Frank Zappa, and Earthworks. Trevor is currently a drum instructor in Virginia. Please feel free to contact Trevor at trevor@bravemusic.com
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Suvo Sur
Suvo started playing the violin at age 3. Classically trained through
the beginning of college, he began experimenting with metal, and helped
establish the atmospheric death metal band FORTY DAYS LONGING in 1997. In addition to violins, Suvo also has been playing the piano/keys from age 5. He draws his influences from Nigel Kennedy, and DEAD CAN DANCE. Suvo also enjoys listening to bands such as OPETH, KATATONIA, U2, RADIOHEAD, and ANATHEMA, as well as works from classical composers including Tschaikovsky, Dvorak, and Sibelius.
E-Mail:suvo@bravemusic.com
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Ben Kelly
Ben began playing the piano at the age of 5 and then learned to play drums and percussion throughout his middle and high school years. In 1995, Ben decided to teach himself to play the bass guitar. Ben played bass guitar in the doom metal band Forty Days Longing and is currently playing in the death metal band Modulus. Ben's influences include progressive rock bands like Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Cynic, Planet X and Genesis. He is also influenced by jazz fusion music like The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, and The Dave Weckl Band. Ben is also a huge fan of underground metal, including the bands Opeth, Anathema, My Dying Bride, King Diamond, Testament and While Heaven Wept.
E-Mail:ben@bravemusic.com
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Matt Kozar
Matt began playing guitar at age 14. He has studied blues, jazz, and modern guitar techniques, as well as music theory and composition. Matt founded (along with Suvo) the atmospheric death metal band Forty Days Longing (1997-2001). He has since played in Betray My Trust (2001-2003), Time of the Wolf (2005-2007) and Adorn (2006-2007). Matt’s influences range from metal, to 80’s new wave, to electronica, to classic rock. Some influential bands include Dead Can Dance, Pink Floyd, Tangerine Dream, Anathema, My Dying Bride, Carcass, Testament, Mastodon, Mono, Lycia, Doves, Alice in Chains, and Queens of the Stone Age. Matt appreciates all interesting and emotional music.
E-Mail:matt@bravemusic.com
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