Eric Kauschen is a musician, composer, audio producer, and blogger based in Northampton, Massachusetts. Originally from San Francisco, he spent decades immersed in the city’s vibrant music scene before relocating to Western Massachusetts. While San Francisco remains unmatched in its cultural impact, Eric has found a similar creative spirit in the Pioneer Valley, which now serves as both his home and artistic base.
Eric’s musical journey began at the age of four, when he started playing piano by ear, instinctively recreating popular songs. By age seven, he was accepted as a student of Francesca Browning, a former concert pianist with the San Francisco Symphony. Over nine years of classical training, he completed numerous piano examinations and earned top honors in the International Mozart category. During this time, he also studied multiple instruments, including trumpet, flute, clarinet, marimba, and timpani.
At sixteen, Eric transitioned to guitar, studying with Alex Guinness and later Joe Satriani. This period marked a deep dive into music theory, guitar technique, and genre fusion, blending rock, jazz, and classical influences. He performed with several local bands, most notably Black Wülf, often described as “San Francisco’s greatest unknown band.”
While rooted in the 1980s heavy metal scene, Eric expanded into electronic music, synthesizers, and sound design. He served as Assistant to the Director of the Electronic Music Studio at San Francisco State University, where he helped build a comprehensive collection of synthesizers and production equipment. His early electronic compositions were featured at the International Electronic Music Exposition in Italy in 1986, including Armageddon, a forward-thinking techno-dance piece considered ahead of its time.
Inspired by the work of Wendy Carlos, Eric developed a unique fusion of classical composition and electronic music production. This approach culminated in The Symphony of the Nine Angles, a dark, atmospheric work blending orchestral structure with synthesizer-driven soundscapes and themes influenced by H. P. Lovecraft.
Today, Eric Kauschen continues to create music, produce recordings, and write about music production, creativity, and life in Western Massachusetts. Through his blog at wickeddude.me, he shares insights on independent music creation, audio engineering, artistic identity, and the evolving role of music.