Resonant Reflections | About - Resonant Reflections

How did Resonant Reflections come to be?

The seeds were planted in 1999 when Chris and Brian met by chance at an audition for a music program at college. Forging what seemed like an instant friendship, and a shared affinity for music the beginnings of the group were planted. There had always been plans for them to work together as a duo, but things never were able to materialize to different life situations.

At the end of 2009 they began discussions to work on music together once again. Chris still lived in Florida and Brian in Massachusetts so most of our work was through mailing DVDs back and forth (hey, it was over 10 years ago and internet was slow). After a year collaborating they completed their first album, A Perfect World?

Over the next couple of years (well ... about 10) they each got married, had kids, Chris moved up North, and did not release anything new other than a single (being grown-ups basically). During 2020 they decided that they needed to put their efforts together once again and bring the world more Res Ref. They had begun recording some material on and off during our break, so picking up where they left off was fairly easy and the gap between the first album and what would be the second was marginal. By early 2021 they had completed their second album, New Life, which will be released on June 24th.

They are here to stay this time and plan to release a few covers in their own style and then some original EPs.

Res Ref is back baby!

Brian Kumm: Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Bass and Drum Arrangements

Brian was born in Massachusetts and always had a love for music. When he was younger, he was drawn to the idea of learning an instrument (first the violin and a few years later the drums), but it didn’t come to be until he was age 11. Around this time, Brian was introduced to a wide range of music he hadn’t really heard before. When he first heard Jeff Beck, the idea to take up guitar occurred to him. Based on his new fascination with guitar-based rock, his step-father recommended he check out Van Halen.

Listening to Eddie Van Halen play for the first time was a life-altering revelation for him. Equipped with a cheap Explorer copy, Brian knew what he wanted to do with his life. He soon began lessons he would regularly attend for a few years, and it was his love of music that drove him further.

He formed his first band when he was 12. Going by a variety of names and line-up shuffles, but finally settling on Downfall, their music was hard rock/metal in the vein of Metallica and Pantera. After a couple years, though, he felt creatively stifled, so at 15 he formed a new band, Hert (but as before just on lead guitar). This became a time of musical growth, now listening to music by bands like Pink Floyd, Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, The Tea Party and The Beatles, Brian began to find his voice and hit his stride as a songwriter. Although Hert did not last, Brian now had direction and the beginnings of songs and ideas that would eventually find a home. Later in high school, as his writing ability matured, he started to add lyrics to his compositions and he became very interested in singing, as well.

Brian met Chris in his latter part of his senior year at his college orientation. Although their friendship progressed quickly, initially Brian and Chris traded ideas and co-wrote a lot of material, but the projects they did were very much separate. Brian was very determined in what he wanted and frequently revised his songs to make them fit his idea of his first album, which was very detailed and would be considered a true ‘Concept Album.’ Having tried an ill-fated attempt to record A Perfect World? on his own, after hearing the demo, Chris agreed to help make it the right way. Although he held true to his word, Chris moved to Florida, which would make things difficult. However, Brian and Chris traded material back and forth for years between states (Massachusetts and Florida).

Despite many setbacks (which included a lot of lost recordings due to computer problems and other accidents), the years in between have seen Brian refine his concept into something much greater than it otherwise could have been. This includes the addition and integration of material written by Chris upon the decision to make Resonant Reflections a proper collective with the two as co-creators. A lot had happened in the ten years between when Chris moved and now, both in the world and in the lives of Brian and of Chris. Those intervening years gave Brian the ability to rewrite older material in his catalog to reflect the times and his changing views and it gave him a chance to write entirely new songs that fit his vision better. Included among those newer songs is My Gemini (fated to be Resonant Reflections’ first single from A Perfect World?), written over that time as a birthday present for his girlfriend (who is now his wife).

It has been a long and trying gestation period for Brian’s vision. Had it not been such an important creative statement for him to make, he probably would have given up long ago.

Similar to Chris, Brian focused on family life, but while not stopping fully. He continued to write music, much which made it onto New Life.

Chris Parkes: Vocals, Rhythm & Lead Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Drum Arrangements, Mixing, Mastering

Chris was born in Syracuse, NY and grew up (well, until 9) in Liverpool, NY. Around 1988 or ’89 Chris and his family moved to Baldwinsville, NY (about 15 minutes North of Liverpool). It was in Baldwinsville that his musical endeavors began. He wouldn’t say that he came from a musical family, though both his mom and aunt did play piano when they were young (his aunt also sang). Even though his family did not play music much, there was always music playing on the record player or tape deck. He grew up hearing all sorts of genres: Classical, Folk, Reggae or Rock of some sort. It kind of felt deep rooted in his soul to make music.

He started music by playing organ and teaching himself with some simple music books. Soon he took on trumpet and then his true instrument of choice, piano. He studied piano under a slew of different teachers in pop, classical and jazz styles.

From there he couldn’t help but to create things in sound. Even when told to learn sheet music he always had to try to figure out how to play the song just by hearing it first. When he was about 15 he formed his first band with a school friend. This was a very important step for Chris, because even though the other members were not nearly as serious as Chris was in his intentions, this is where Chris truly learned songwriting. The band was originally only made of two keyboardists, so when Ed, Chris’ friend, received a guitar for Christmas, Chris quickly jumped on the opportunity to learn and teach Ed guitar.

Well I’m sure you know where this is going- Chris found a new love … the guitar. This quickly became a very natural extension of Chris’ songwriting and singing. When Chris moved with his family from New York to Massachusetts he took the opportunity to further his song writing and musical abilities. Chris wrote and recorded nearly 300 original songs between the years 1997-2000.

Before finishing High School Chris visited his potential college for orientation. This is when Chris met Brian; both became friends almost instantly, and began sharing musical bits on the first day. During college the two spent more time skipping classes and hiding out in vacant piano rehearsal room practicing their own material than doing schoolwork. This is really where the two realized the true potential of their songwriting and performing abilities together.

Chris ended up leaving the school after one year and bounced around the Northeast U.S. for the next year. Following this he attempted college again and followed his parents to Florida. Chris knew in his heart that music was his true calling. He began work on his first solo album, ‘Nicks & Scratches,’ which took about five years to complete due to many obstacles in life. Chris and Brian would meet once or twice a year to do some music together, but many of those original recordings were lost or destroyed due to technological snafus.

Chris continued working on music alone, but then 2010 brought some life changes. It was then Chris realized that this was not by coincidence and that this was the opportunity they had both dreamed of – to make music together again. During 2011 Chris and Brian had met many times and had passed thousands of audio files back and forth through the help of the internet.

During the years after the first album Chris worked with Brian on and off, but mainly focused on his new marriage and raising a family. The two came back together mid-2020 in working on many of the tracks that were started earlier in the decade. Today outside of work with Resonant Reflection Chris mixes and masters for his private company, Labyrinth Soundworks and has a solo set of work under his own name (more information here).