Local Instrumental Ambient Artist Readies Next CD

While his band Escape Time looks for places to play in Long Island in support of its first EP, local musician Peter Smiloff is already working on recordings for his solo ambient project, A Vacant World. Hoping to have it available by the spring, it will include the 20-minute "Lullaby," a title that accurately describes the soft atmospheric sounds created by guitar, piano, strings, bass and electronics. He began his instrumental solo work in 2006 under the name HYMS.

"When I first started HYMS, it was meant to be a private project and something that was never meant for the live setting," Smiloff said. "My first ever live performance as HYMS took place at the Smithtown Masonic Temple. It went over so well I decided to go into live performance instead of keeping it a strictly studio type project."

By the end of 2009, collaboration for another instrumental project came to light. Smiloff and longtime friends Chris Castelli and Eric Steinberg started working together as Escape Time, in the vein of popular instrumental indie rock band Explosions in the Sky. An EP was out by December 2010.

"Although there are no lyrics, the music still tells a story," Steinberg said of the band's compositions. "And with no words, the story has a different meaning for everyone. It allows for a greater appreciation of the music."

While Castelli and Steinberg now live in Brooklyn and Manhattan, respectively, they all grew up together in Smithtown. Distance for the three doesn't seem to be an issue.

"We never found it to be a hassle, because we all have the same goals and for us, it helps break things up during the work week," Smiloff said. "When you work with guys that have the same goals as you, interests at heart and especially with guys you've known all your life, distance doesn't mean all that much."

A few months ago, Smiloff moved from Greenlawn back to Smithtown. Although he’s a little further from the city, Smiloff said getting back to his hometown roots has also given him time to re-connect the town and his music.

"Where I grew up, there were many [back roads] and as a kid I was always curious as to where each one would lead," Smiloff said. "So late at night, I'd hop in my car and drive for an endless amount of time on backroads, going down each street, not knowing where each one would lead. With my music, I like for the listener to become entrapped in the sound and with that, get lost mentally and brought to a place that's soothing and calm – a place that takes you away from everything. But in the end, you can always come back home. That's what it was like journeying though Smithtown. You can get lost but know you'll always wind up back where you started no matter what road you take."