Maston

Multi-instrumentalist Frank Maston grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles, soaking in both the summery atmosphere and the musical and cultural history of his surroundings. Early on, Maston developed a love for the sunny chamber pop of Van Dyke Parks and Brian Wilson, as well as more California-inspired moments of rock magic from Harry Nilsson and Phil Spector. He eventually sculpted these influences into what would become his own music, a completely self-sufficient menagerie of dark pop sounds informed by '60s and '70s studio magicians and loner geniuses.

Shadows Beginning in 2011, Maston put out a series of cassette albums, using his own last name as the moniker for his one-man band. In 2012, he signed to Chicago label Trouble in Mind, which released his proper full-length debut, Shadows, the next year. He meanwhile played keyboards for Jacco Gardner, joining him for extended periods in the Netherlands. Maston's experiences touring and living abroad lent a European influence to his second album, which took particular inspiration from French and Italian film music. Adjusting his focus from Wilson and Spector to the likes of Morricone and Legrand, Maston released Tulips on his own Phonoscope label in 2017. -Fred Thomas, AllMusic