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Varien
Nikki Kaelar (born May 15, 1990), better known by their stage name Varien, is an American composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Varien has incorporated or experimented with such styles as industrial, metal, orchestral, neofolk, and ambient music. They are known for their work on film soundtracks, along with their unconventional approach to electronic music, including many live instruments not normally found on tracks within their genres.
Kaelar was born on May 15, 1990, in Tampa, Florida. They had a connection to music from a very young age, and their family supported this passion. At the age of 11, Varien began playing the guitar and attempting songwriting, and they joined a number of bands experimenting with genres of rock, grindcore, metalcore, and jazz. Kaelar developed perfect pitch when playing the keyboard at age fourteen.
Kaelar was in multiple bands in high school, playing grindcore, metalcore, screamo, post-hardcore, and power metal before joining his school's jazz band for two years. They cite these years as pivotal to their artistic development, learning sheet music, jazz theory and improvisation. They also cite this as the time they developed a profound interest in electronic, folk, and metal music.
They decided to focus on solo composition and began producing in 2009, with music in video games serving as their most longtime influence to date. They cite Shin Megami Tensei, Final Fantasy, and Metroid as their biggest influences when it comes to games, as well as the works of the Wachowskis.
In August 2010, Kaelar achieved online virality with his slowed-down remix of Justin Bieber's "U Smile", titled "Justin Bieber 800% Slowed Down". He was interviewed by Entertainment Weekly and MTV about the track.
In July 2011, Kaelar released his first Monstercat single "The Force" under the alias Halo Nova. He subsequently released two more singles under the alias before abandoning it and continuing to make music under the alias Varien. One of the first subsequent releases as Varien was a remix of Ephixa's song "Division".
On February 26, 2013, Kaelar released Pick Your Poison Vol. 1, a compilation album of trailer cues that he wrote for the purpose of film, television, and video game licensing. He released a followup, Pick Your Poison Vol. 2, a year later.
In 2014, Kaelar teamed up with Two Steps from Hell on a private trailer cue compilation entitled Open Conspiracy. 2014 saw an abundance of licenses for Varien. His music was used in trailers and promotional media for 300: Rise of an Empire, Bones, The Purge: Anarchy, Face Off, America's Next Top Model, PlanetSide 2, and Monsters: Dark Continent. Los Angeles-based singer Roniit's song "Runaway", produced by Varien, was used in multiple trailers and TV spots for the film The Loft.
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Varien
Nikki Kaelar (born May 15, 1990), better known by their stage name Varien, is an American composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Varien has incorporated or experimented with such styles as industrial, metal, orchestral, neofolk, and ambient music. They are known for their work on film soundtracks, along with their unconventional approach to electronic music, including many live instruments not normally found on tracks within their genres.
Kaelar was born on May 15, 1990, in Tampa, Florida. They had a connection to music from a very young age, and their family supported this passion. At the age of 11, Varien began playing the guitar and attempting songwriting, and they joined a number of bands experimenting with genres of rock, grindcore, metalcore, and jazz. Kaelar developed perfect pitch when playing the keyboard at age fourteen.
Kaelar was in multiple bands in high school, playing grindcore, metalcore, screamo, post-hardcore, and power metal before joining his school's jazz band for two years. They cite these years as pivotal to their artistic development, learning sheet music, jazz theory and improvisation. They also cite this as the time they developed a profound interest in electronic, folk, and metal music.
They decided to focus on solo composition and began producing in 2009, with music in video games serving as their most longtime influence to date. They cite Shin Megami Tensei, Final Fantasy, and Metroid as their biggest influences when it comes to games, as well as the works of the Wachowskis.
In August 2010, Kaelar achieved online virality with his slowed-down remix of Justin Bieber's "U Smile", titled "Justin Bieber 800% Slowed Down". He was interviewed by Entertainment Weekly and MTV about the track.
In July 2011, Kaelar released his first Monstercat single "The Force" under the alias Halo Nova. He subsequently released two more singles under the alias before abandoning it and continuing to make music under the alias Varien. One of the first subsequent releases as Varien was a remix of Ephixa's song "Division".
On February 26, 2013, Kaelar released Pick Your Poison Vol. 1, a compilation album of trailer cues that he wrote for the purpose of film, television, and video game licensing. He released a followup, Pick Your Poison Vol. 2, a year later.
In 2014, Kaelar teamed up with Two Steps from Hell on a private trailer cue compilation entitled Open Conspiracy. 2014 saw an abundance of licenses for Varien. His music was used in trailers and promotional media for 300: Rise of an Empire, Bones, The Purge: Anarchy, Face Off, America's Next Top Model, PlanetSide 2, and Monsters: Dark Continent. Los Angeles-based singer Roniit's song "Runaway", produced by Varien, was used in multiple trailers and TV spots for the film The Loft.