Hello everyone out there who enjoys music! My name is Todd and I am The Ideal Setback. I've been playing music in some way ever since I was four years old (from piano to trumpet to bass and guitar), and in early 2006 I decided I wanted to start recording and making music. To be honest, I originally wanted The Ideal Setback to be a pop-punk band, because most if not all of my influences up to that point had been made up of pop-punk bands (Blink-182, Green Day, The Offspring, etc.). I tried for several months to get a band together to make this happen, but in the end, no one who was available was interested. I really had no clue what I wanted to do at that point. In mid 2007, a good friend of mine introduced me to Ambient music. The very first of this I heard was Sigur Ros, which would then be followed by bands and artists such as The Album Leaf, Eluvium, Hammock, and so on. I had finally found music that I really liked and that I could make by myself. The thoughts of using electronic elements had never really entered my mind. I was focused on guitars, bass, and drums. I decided to work with what instruments and technology I had, and in late September of 2007, I finished my first "demo". It was 6 songs, 15 minutes, and it was only composed of guitar and keyboard synth. (The demo is available for free download on my myspace page.) I was pleased with what it came out to be, given the short amount of time it took to record and mix, and also because I was still very new to listening and making ambient music. Eventually, I got better recording equipment, and a better understanding of ambient music (finding that Minimalism could play a very big part) and in October I started recording again, recording and mixing the songs which now are to be released on the album "Dream Dialogue". It's a very dark album, but with some sense of beauty in it (at least to me). The cd is currently out now via Cdbaby, Itunes, etc. (see link(s) below).

Looking back on Dream Dialogue, I realize what kind of cd it was. I went in with little ambient experience under my belt, and wrote a record that I didn't have a direction for. I didn't have an audience in mind, and I wrote what I felt like writing. All of the songs came naturally, and most of them ended up being dissonant. Not to say I'm not proud of it, though. I just know what I needed to change. When I started to record Window Seat, I had an audience in mind. I had an idea of what kind of ambient record I wanted to make. I went in with the intention of making a more uplifting (or "happier") type of ambient record, with still incorporating some minimal aspects. Overall, I feel Window Seat is a much more solid record. It will be out in June via Cdbaby (links will be posted below).
I am currently looking to put together shows as well. If you are interested please contact me. It would be appreciated.
So enjoy! And Comment! Please and Thank You!


Also, if you are interested in using my music for TV or Films, or would like me to write music specifically for TV or Films, I am DEFINITELY interested. Please contact me about it and we will work out something.

LINK TO BUY MY ALBUMS :  http://cdbaby.com/all/theidealsetback