Matthew Flook was born and raised in the state capitol of Salem, Oregon, a relatively conservative town lacking much of a scene for teenagers who have an interest in the arts. Regardless, Matthew’s youth by no means lacked creativity; as a counterbalance, he immersed himself in a world of computers, web design and development (inspired by his father’s profession as a graphic designer), and a home filled with access to quality records. In the fourth grade, an impressive stringed demonstration led Matthew to the violin and participation in the school orchestra. It wasn’t until his sophomore year in high school that he took up songwriting and production on his own, influenced by the electronic masters of the time. After making his way to the University of Oregon, he enrolled himself in the Future Music program where he would learn everything from traditional analog recording and mixing to programming Max/MSP and Reaktor patches.

After college, Matthew relocated north to Portland, Oregon, where he currently resides. In March 2006, after an IDM/electro duo with a long-time friend fizzled out, a solo music project emerged. Originally called Hi-Five Funeral, Matthew later changed his moniker to Pinscape, a niche term describing landscape photos taken with pinhole cameras. The juxtaposition of expansive scenery being captured through a small space was both intriguing and symbolic to Matthew and his craft.

The incessant Oregon rain also tends to influence the tone of his sounds, particularly during the quiet and darkness of after hours. Consistently drawn to the early 90s shoegaze scene and later space rock and electronic sounds, Pinscape’s moody timbres and textures can strike quite an emotional chord with listeners. It’s no wonder that loss and solitude mixed with hope and yearning are overlying themes in his works.