Berklee Today: 21st-Century Prototype

Brian Transeau '89 is creating dance, film, and art music that's a revelation for the rising generation of laptop musicians.

Mark Small

March 2, 2007

Brian Transeau '89

Photo by Travis McCoy

Because Brian Transeau (a.k.a. BT) appears regularly in magazines such as DJ Times, many think of him as a DJ. But he's quick to emphasize that he doesn't consider himself one at all. "I haven't spun records very much at all, and I'm in awe of DJs who play the turntable like a sophisticated percussion instrument," he says. While trance electronica music that made BT famous has been a staple of clubs, it's just one side of BT's artistry. It's more accurate to call him a composer with a broad palette. His music runs the gamut from electronica to contemporary orchestral music and intersects with lots of styles in between.