Peter Buffett

Buffett produces richly textured electronic music shaped by rock dynamics, creating an approachable link between the wave of lightweight pop instrumentals and those electronic artists exploring more demanding territory. The pianist, born in Nebraska, studied at Stanford University and turned his Bay Area apartment into a compact studio that supplies scores to many advertising, television, and film clients. After learning of Kevin Costner’s intention to make Dances with Wolves, Buffett mailed the actor his album One by One, which included several pieces reflecting the hardships faced by Native Americans. Costner found the material compelling and incorporated segments of Buffett’s work into the finished film. Across his four Narada recordings, Buffett blends a sense of drama and cinematic electronic arrangements with his engagement in Native American traditions. On the albums that followed, acoustic timbres, drawn from both samples and live sources, assume a steadily larger presence.