Free Music to Own

While my early works have always been available to download for free on this site, you can now claim free Bandcamp codes to add them to your library, no purchase necessary.

This free offer extends to ten albums composed between 2001 and 2006. Read on for details.

Celebrating 25 Years of Music

On July 1st, 2001 (25 years ago), I released 24 Hours, the earliest album of my discography that's still publicly available today. While I had experimented with new age/ambient compositions before, 24 Hours exhibited definitive momentum in my burgeoning skillset. Listening today, it's quaint and a little cheesy, but it has heart and passion. For those familiar with my work, there's little doubt you can hear the seed of what Altus (and Loneward) would become between 2001 and 2026.

In my hand is the original photo
I took in 2001 for the cover art

The following is a blurb I wrote back in 2005, describing the inception of the album.

Writing the music in this album took place during a time of my life when I was finding myself. Answering questions of what I wanted in life, changing my views on how I saw the world around me, and ultimately, how I wanted to live my life. An intense need to be close to the natural world quickly grew within me during this time. It was something that I knew was important to me, even as a child... but it was only then that I realized what brought me true happiness: The solace and peace of being alone surrounded only by nature.

In late 2000, I was riding a train home from Toronto. While watching the sun set on the countryside, inspiration struck me harder than I had ever felt before. The idea for 24 Hours was screaming through my head, and I was furiously writing these thoughts on a scrap of paper. Sounds, images, feelings, and thoughts all as one. This was the first time such ideas filled my head with such an underlying importance (which at the time I didn't fully understand), and the thought of unleashing them through music excited me.

Eight months later, and with a lot of personal discovery, the album was complete. Once sitting down to listen to it as a whole, I was moved to tears after the first track had played. For the first time, I was truly happy with what I had created, and that the emotion came through loud and clear.

I hope that you enjoy this special album.

A younger Mike at the cusp of his musical journey
Taken spring 2001
Photo credit: Alex Pappas

Before 2001

As mentioned above, my discography does reach before 2001, however this music is not currently available to listen (with a few exceptions). There are four albums and over 50 additional singles composed between 1995 and 2000. Why are they not available? This music was part of my learning process (especially the singles), and quite frankly, not worth listening to in any serious capacity. That said, I had considered releasing them for free as curios (perhaps on YouTube), but I question if the time involved would be worth the investment.

Maybe one day I'll take the time to do it.

Get Your Free Bandcamp Download Codes

You can add the following albums to your Bandcamp library for free.
No login is required to grab these download codes.

BAND.CODES/ALTUSMUSIC

Preview the Albums