Randy Torres

{{Distinguish|Randy Torres (politician)}}{{Short description|American rock musician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}

{{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<ref name=Anberlin>{{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}}</ref> from Seattle.<ref name=Inside>{{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}}</ref> He has previously played for the bands Project 86, a Christian rock group,<ref>{{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}}</ref> and Crash Rickshaw. He has filled in as rhythm guitarist for the band Demon Hunter<ref name=Alt>{{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}}</ref> and as keyboardist, guitarist, percussionist and background vocalist for Anberlin on a recent tour.<ref name=Anberlin/> He has worked as a producer/engineer for Aaron Sprinkle, and for the A&R division of Tooth & Nail Records.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He is now a composer for film & TV. He currently is working on a project with Ryan Clark called NYVES (pronounced "knives"),<ref name=Alt/> funded through Kickstarter.<ref name=Inside/><ref name=Justin>{{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}}</ref>

==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.<ref name="Never Was">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Never Was"/> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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''.<ref name="Never Was"/> During this time, he would also work with Aaron Sprinkle, as an additional producer and engineer.<ref name="Labeled">{{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}}</ref> However, in 2009, Torres would depart from the band, as it was no longer enjoyable.<ref name="Never Was"/><ref name="Labeled"/> Despite this, he was credited on the band's next record, ''Picket Fence Cartel'', even though he did not record on it.<ref name="Never Was"/> Dail, however, did use material from Torres' demos, hence why he was credited.<ref name="Discuss">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Never Was"/><ref name="Labeled"/> During his time at the label, he signed bands such as I Am Empire and The Letter Black.<ref name="Labeled"/> He would then leave his position to tour with Anberlin in 2010.<ref name="Never Was"/><ref name="Labeled"/> 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.<ref name="Labeled"/>

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.<ref name="Labeled"/> While involved in the industry, he worked on films such ''Suicide Squad'', ''Dunkirk'', and a plethora of others.<ref name="Urban Achiever">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4005207/|title=Randy Torres|website=IMDb|accessdate=January 28, 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Never Was"/><ref name="Labeled"/><ref name="Urban Achiever"/> The project, an extreme departure from anything the two had done previously, aside from Clark's project Low & Behold.<ref name="Never Was"/> NYVES released the album, ''Anxiety'', came out in June 2015. The project also released an EP, ''Pressure EP''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nyvesmusic.bandcamp.com/|title=NYVES|website=Bandcamp|accessdate=January 28, 2021}}</ref>

== Bands ==

'''Current'''

* NYVES (2014–present) * The Celebrated Heroes (solo)

'''Former'''

* Project 86 (1996-2009) * Monstruos del mar * Electric Legs * Crash Rickshaw (2001–2008)

'''Touring'''

* Demon Hunter - guitar (2009) * Anberlin - rhythm guitar, percussion, keyboards, backing vocals (2010)

'''Session''' * FM Static - guitars on ''Critically Ashamed'' (2006) * Falling Up - engineering, guitars and bass on ''Captiva'' (2007) * Capital Lights - engineering on ''This is an Outrage!'' (2008) * Thousand Foot Krutch - guitars on ''Welcome to the Masquerade'' (2009)

== Selected discography == ;Project 86 * ''Project 86'' (1998) * ''Drawing Black Lines'' (2000) * ''Truthless Heroes'' (2002) * ''Songs to Burn Your Bridges By'' (2004) * ''...And the Rest Will Follow'' (2006) * ''Rival Factions'' (2007) * ''The Kane Mutiny EP'' (2007) * ''This Time of Year EP'' (2008) * ''Picket Fence Cartel'' (2009; only writing)

;Crash Rickshaw * ''Crash Rickshaw'' (2001) * ''The Unknown Clarity'' (2008)

;NYVES * ''Anxiety'' (2015) * ''Pressure EP'' (2016)

'''Additional musician''' *Stavesacre - ''How to Live With a Curse'' (2006; Keyboards) *Falling Up - ''Captiva'' (2007; Bass and Guitars) *Ruth - ''Secondhand Dreaming'' (2007; Guitars) *Ruth - ''Anorak'' (2008; Guitars) *Showbread - ''Nervosa'' (2008; Guitars and Keyboards) *KJ-52 - ''Five-Two Television'' (2009; Drum Programming) *Demon Hunter - ''The World Is a Thorn'' (2010; Backing Vocals) *Fair - Disappearing World (2010; Guitars)

;Production * ''Critically Ashamed'' by FM Static (2006) * ''Captiva'' by Falling Up (2007) * ''Anorexia'' by Showbread (2008) * ''Welcome to the Masquerade'' by Thousand Foot Krutch (2009) * ''Dark Dungeons'' (2014, soundtrack) * ''Exile'' by Demon Hunter (2022, soundtrack design for deluxe version)

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{Official website|http://www.randytorres.com}}

{{Project 86}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Torres, Randy}} Category:Living people Category:American punk rock guitarists Category:American heavy metal guitarists Category:American performers of Christian music Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Christian metal musicians Category:Crash Rickshaw members Category:Project 86 members