Eric Pseja - Musician, Creative Writer, and Photographer

Liquid 56

Single: Awakening [2025.04.03]

This song began as nothing more than a single vocal motif recorded into a cell phone. Upon hearing it, Pat asked Veronica to send it over to him right away, convinced that it needed to be developed. It sat untouched for almost 5 years before Liquid 56 decided to wake it up, and to great effect.

Synaptic Ooze

Single: Temporal Drift [2024.12.07]

This piece is primarily an exercise and experiment in chordal arrangement and modulation. I was largely influenced by "Aldebaran" from Enya's debut album. I used to lay on my bedroom floor, eyes closed, with the speakers directly beside me at high volume so I could both hear and *feel* the music. The mix on Temporal Drift was created with that dynamic in mind, so don't be stingy with the volume, and especially not with the subwoofer.

This piece contains many moments of tranquil stability, interspersed with tension and release, drama and placidity. Enjoy the journey.

Liquid 56

EP: Audio Arcane ATMOS EP [2024.03.16]

A selection of tracks from the Audio Arcane LP, mixed in full Dolby ATMOS Spatial Audio, with Binaural versions for an amazing headphone experience.

CRUST

LP: Olde Skööl [2023.11.19]

CRUST's fourth album. A collection of CRUST's most iconic music, originally written in the late '80s and early '90s

Liquid 56

LP: Audio Arcane [2023.10.06]

Liquid 56's second album. An exciting, seductive touch of '80s & '90s goth-pop darkness.

TWA

LP: The Hunted [2023.09.24]

TWA's debut album. Exciting and evocative modern instrumental progressive rock.

Liquid 56

Single: On the Avenue [2023.02.03]

This track is one of many outtakes from the Audio Arcade sessions that just didn't have the same feel as the ones that made the final cut. Still, we believed this song was strong enough to stand on its own as a single.

Liquid 56

LP: Audio Arcade [2022.10.07]

Liquid 56's debut album. Captivating and catchy late '80s-style classic synth pop.

Liquid 56

Single: Ride the Disaster (featuring Kyree Vibrant) [2022.02.04]

In true '80s fashion, we pushed for a full power rock-duet delivery on this single-only version which features Kyree Vibrant of Canadian Art Rock outfit Half Past Four. What better way to play out the story of this passionate but destructive relationship than with a he-said she-said dialogue?

CRUST

LP: A Very CRUSTy Christmas: Definitive Edition [2021.11.25]

CRUST's undisputedly most beloved album with fresh new mixes that make everything sparkle anew, plus the addition of "All I Want Is Snow", a song planned for the original album but omitted on the original release due to scheduling.

3rDegree

LP: 3RTY: from A to Xanadu [2021.11.25]

The best of 3RDegree's 30 years as a band (1990-2020) with their best songs remixed & remastered including three special CD-ONLY bonus tracks!

Synaptic Ooze

EP: Time to Choose [2020.12.04]

UPDATE: 2024.12.06 - This EP now includes a fresh 2024 Remix that really pushes things into place and is a better sonic representation of what I was originally seeking, before I better honed my production chops.

Conceived in March 2020 while on a COVID-19 driven layoff from work, this piece (originally called "Toilet Paper Bloodbath") was intended to be a simple power-metal tune to blow off some creative steam. It was initially inspired by the comically despicable toilet paper hoarding and general disintegration of common courtesy that came at the outset of the pandemic, but morphed into something much deeper as circumstances changed and news continued to worsen.

Over the 9 months it took to bring this to completion, I was fortunate to have been able to have so many other talented artists lend their creative talents.

Synaptic Ooze

Single: Break #13 [2020.10.25]

I had started writing this song in late September 2020 after diving into the Witch House genre of music as part of my personal soundtrack to the coming Halloween season. It had stalled for a few weeks as I continued to work on my forthcoming piece, "Time to Choose". For that song, my friend Tom Wooley had contributed a wicked synth solo which I just couldn't get to jive with the section for which it was written. I felt badly about not using it but I just could not find a way to force it.

Shortly after, in conversation with George Dobbs (a bandmate from 3rDegree), it was suggested to write a completely different piece around that musical passage regardless of the song for which it was originally written. Similar to Frank Zappa's technique of xenochrony, I thought about the unfinished Witch House track and realized I could make it work to great effect, even if it was in the same key and time signature as the original (which is decidedly non-Zappa-esque).

The final track as released turned out to be a combination of many elements: goth music, industrial music, EDM, found footage horror, psychological horror... and whatever it is that creeps you out as you listen.

Synaptic Ooze

Single: Canyon [2020.04.10]

This song was originally recorded in 2020 and now has been brought to its final realization almost five years later. It started with a delayed guitar riff that always evoked images of watching one of those amazing night-sky time lapse videos from some remote desert location at night, and the sense of awe and wonder it inspires. Thus, the title Canyon.

After wandering the US Southwest through the web, I learned about the Diné (Navajo) concept of Hózhǫ́ -- it means, “walk in beauty, a place of harmony, blessing, a state of holy being, or a peaceful place." In short, this word seems to encompass beauty, order, harmony, and the idea of striving for a balanced life. I decided it was a great descriptor of the feeling I get when awed by nature and decided to incorporate that word sung as if reflecting off the canyon walls. Special thanks to Kaitlyn Miller at Mercy Volunteer Corps, whose site I discovered when researching online.

On the updated version, I added a new refrain, also in the Diné (Navajo) language: Ahéhee' Nihimá Nahasdzáán -- Thank You, Mother Earth. Nature brings a great sense of peace and belonging for me, and this phrase fits with the sense of gratitude I've been trying to embody as of late. Special thanks to Teach Me Navajo and Thunder Voice Co for the video tutorials!

For advice on the vocal sections, I reached out to Miriam Stockley (one of my all-time favorite vocal artists and a personal Muse) for tips on how she recorded her lush parts with Adiemus and AO Music, and I was so excited and thankful she replied! Her tips were taken to heart, and eight original tracks of vocals became twenty-four to ensure the proper width and depth of emotion. Please support Miriam and check out her full discography and be awed!

To illuminate the majestic facet of the Canyon motif I believe is also inherent in Hózhǫ́, I asked my friend and neighbor Joe Deninzon of Stratospheerius and Kansas to contribute some incredibly emotional electric violin work. The hairs on my neck still stick up every time I hear what he contributed, and yours will, too.

Finally, my good friend, TWA bandmate, and drummer for Abacab Matthew Hedrick provided me with some amazing new drums and percussion, which helped push this piece miles ahead of what I laid down in what I now consider the demo version of the song. His natural feel provided the missing movement and thunder.

Lastly, as spoken by my daughter Lindsay Pseja, I included a Navajo proverb: Be still, and the earth will speak to you. A reminder for all to slow down, look around, and marvel in nature.

At the time of the original release, the world was in a pretty grave state, and going into 2025 there are still no shortage of concerns. Working on this music has provided me with great focus and peace. I hope it can provide the same to you.

3rDegree

Blu-Ray: LIVE at Progstock [2019.12.03]

3rDegree's best live Blu-ray capturing the entire performance from the very first ProgStock in October of 2017.

CRUST

EP: Songs of the Ninja [2019.12.01]

Original Soundtrack Music from the CRUST films Curse of the Ninja and Birth of the Ninja

CRUST

Blu-Ray: Curse of the Ninja: Definitive Edition [2019.12.01]

High resolution hybrid of both the original and Fuka editions of the DVD "Curse of the Ninja", complete with trailers for "Birth of the Ninja". Currently available only by direct request.

Synaptic Ooze

Single: As Silver Bleeds to Gray [2019.10.27]

Originally a piano work in progress written by my CRUST band mate Rich Light, this evocative piece became something much more after we did some live, open mic concept exploration. Deeming it to be something outside the domain of normal CRUST music, Rich allowed me to release it as part of my Synaptic Ooze project.

While mixing it, I was overcome with melancholy and the thought of staring out a rain streaked window overlooking a barren city street came to mind. To feel utterly alone in a place teeming with others must be a crushing experience. This is my aural expression of that feeling.

Synaptic Ooze

Single: Hallowed [2019.10.17]

Written over a span of three years, this song initially came to me in late October 2016 when I was listening to a lot of Akira Yamaoka & Type O Negative and watching slow-burn horror movies.

It is written from the point of view of a beautiful, charismatic predator as he persuades some poor shattered soul into submission under the guise of protection.

3rDegree

LP: Ones & Zeros: Vol. 0 [2018.04.30]

The follow-up to the critically acclaimed Ones & Zeros: Vol. 1, this album contains poignant songs that continue the themes presented on the previous album, along with other thought-provoking musical ideas centered around transhumanism and the looming threat (or promise) of AI.

3rDegree

LP: Ones & Zeros: Vol. 1 [2015.08.18]

This album offers a unique take on the issues and ethics associated with the rapid progress of technology. Ray Kurzweil & others have been discussing futurism and transhumanism since the 1970s but only now are we seeing it impact our daily lives.

CRUST

LP: Eclectic Shadyland [2013.11.01]

CRUST's first foray into creating a straight-up Rock n' Roll album, written and recorded whenever and wherever their Muses dictated; revisited oldies and brand new creations alike.

3rDegree

LP: The Long Division [2012.09.04]

Delivered with equal measures of tongue-in-cheek humor and backhanded critique, this album is 3rDegree's political treatise: that America's political parties (and probably those in other countries) have long keps its populous divided on the basis of color, salary, sex, age and much else. They have played on their fears, and used their accumulated power to build largesse that keeps their supporters in the fold -- and away from common ground.

The Plastik Santas

EP: Holiday Sampler [2012.12.22]

Headed up by Rich Adams from Xeromore, this project brought a great array of musicians together for the purpose of recording some great Christmas music and donating all proceeds to charity.

Xeromore

Single: Pretend [2009.08.20]

What started as an occasional jam with three friends in a tiny, cement-lined basement room has now grown into the band Xeromore. By tapping into their diverse musical backgrounds ranging from Folk Rock to Heavy Metal, the trio has emerged with their own style that combines a broad spectrum of sounds into their version of catchy, alt-rock tunes.

3rDegree

LP: Among Friends (live) [2009.06.01]

This is a recording from the April 11, 2009 "House Out In Hackensack" house concert where 3RDegree's George Dobbs (lead vocal, piano, bass) and Robert James Pashman (backing vocals, bass, piano) played a short set with long-time music collaborators Dan D'Elia (drums), Eric Pseja (guitar, percussion) and guest drummer Greg Jones (Pinnacle) on a tune. It was the first concert since the release of 2008's Narrow-Caster collection. The performance was recorded in Rob Pashman's living room, and features his Steinway K-52 upright piano.

3rDegree

LP: The Reunion Concerts (Acoustic at Home) [2008.06.10]

This is the acoustic concert performed on April 20, 2007 "at home" with acoustic guitars, drums with brushes and a Steinway K-52 acoustic piano.

3rDegree

LP: The Reunion Concerts (at NJ Proghouse) [2008.06.10]

The second live performance of the series, this download-only album features the fully plugged-in show from the NJ Proghouse in Metuchen, NJ, kicking off the band's return to the studio.

3rDegree

EP: FOIL [2004]

The first unofficial release from Liquid 56, this EP was finished just before Pat Kliesch moved to Los Angeles, and contains the first incarnation of the song "More Life" which would be covered by 3rDegree over a decade later. Very few copies remain in the wild.

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Synaptic Ooze

MY MUSIC PORTFOLIO

Liquid 56

Synaptic Ooze

Synaptic Ooze

Synaptic Ooze

Liquid 56

CRUST

Liquid 56

TWA

Lqiuid 56

Liquid 56

Liquid 56

CRUST

3rDegree

Synaptic Ooze

3rDegree

CRUST

CRUST

Synaptic Ooze

Synaptic Ooze

3rDegree

3rDegree

CRUST

3rDegree

The Plastik Santas

Xeromore

3rDegree

3rDegree

3rDegree

Liquid 56

CRUST

Pat Kliesch

CRUST

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