Jeremy Markel is the founder and leader of Curtail The Noise. To find bandmates, he initially searched for musicians on bulletin boards and college campuses, but after many disappointing encounters, he realized that he would have to hire professionals. He was too dedicated to waste time with casual players, but being from GA, he did not have the name recognition that would attract serious talent.
While offering paid positions meant more attention from the musician community, finding players whose expertise span acoustic playing, Rock ‘N’ Roll, Hard Rock and Metal, remained challenging. Many of the musicians he found were unprepared for the creative breadth of his vision, but in 2019, after many firings and mutual departures, CTN finally started writing music for its first album, x, which they released on x.
The name, branding and diverse compositions make the band hard to define, which is exactly what he wanted. He believes that music, and the entertainment industry in general, rely too heavily on tropes instead of telling genuine stories. The band name, in his words, is a directive: “Make better music by doing something different and authentic.” It’s a riskier marketing ploy but he prioritizes his artistic vision over profit and believes, that ultimately, an audience will gravitate toward the band’s creative palate and individuality.
He has been playing guitar since 2002 and took private lessons for several years. After establishing a foundation of music knowledge and playing ability, he started learning on his own. His most influential instructor was Dave Anderson from Atlanta, GA. Dave introduced Jeremy to Megadeth, which became his favorite band for the next decade. Since then, Jeremy has developed a greater appreciation for acoustic and piano playing and Rock ‘N’ Roll.
Another resource Jeremy used to develop his creative breadth is the Guitar Grimoire, Scales & Modes by Carl Fischer. Jeremy deliberately found scales he had never used or heard before and forced himself to compose with them. He found many, interesting and unique tone patterns that became the origins for some of his favorite compositions. In his current writings he alternates between using new scales and playing what comes naturally.
