Peter Westheimer

His music  has been described as 'cool and clear, warm and inviting, phenomenal, intertwining musical textures and rhythms, quirky and inventive, exciting and intriguing'.

"I'm always excited by trying unexpected combinations of melodies and rhythms and merging musical cultures. The  essence of music can transcend time, political and social difference to touch our souls... like being tickled with a feather sending shivers into your spine! Music seems like one of the things I do naturally like growing a forest, nature being a constant guide and inspiration.
I find myself looking for ways to grow out of whatever circumstances and to appreciate what I have. I treasure creativity in music, film, art & design, planning and ecology.
I believe the way we live our lives and treat each other and our environment are the key art forms and challenges of the 21st century".

Peter Westheimer's musical journey since 1982 includes releasing 6 music albums, video clips and  composing music for two feature films, many television documentaries and multimedia installations.

'Laminex Lovers' [1982] ,his first record release, is still receiving acclaim as one of Australia's cutting edge synth pop records.
The clip to 'Move', the title track of the 1985 album was acclaimed as a top 10 video clip  that year.
'Transition' [1992] and 'Balance'[1994] CDs were successfully released in Australia, Japan and the USA. His paintings for the 'Transition' tracks and profile appear in a publication 'Musicians As Artists' featuring 52 internationally acclaimed musicians.
'Music Sculptures', 2004 is a 50 track cinematic journey of contrasts featuring excerpts from 1982-2003 works  with moods & instrumentation notes orientated towards film producer/directors.
'Tranzworld Express' 2011 features strong new international music and is a personal renaissance  back into the world of music after a concentrated time in politics from 2002 to 2008.

Peter Westheimer grew up in Melbourne Australia and as a 4 year old was 'excited' by 'Music for the People' orchestral concerts in the Fitzroy gardens.  He went on to play violin from age 7 to 19 and in 1967 became leader of the Victorian Junior Symphony Orchestra and violinist in the Australian Youth Orchestra. Then came an 'epiphany' of moving far away from the musical and social confines of the classical music scene to lots of improvisation with other musicians as well as acting & writing with progressive theatre groups. This morphed into playing electric guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, sitar and flute, writing songs, singing and playing in bands in the late 70's and early 1980's after which began his recording career.

If Peter Westheimer is not yet a household name, it's not for lack of involvement or contribution on a broad scale.  On the contrary, perhaps it's because the Melbourne, Australia-born artist’s work is so varied in scope.  Upon establishing a foundation in classical music as a child, Westheimer went on to play violin through his teen years, eventually leading the Victorian Junior Symphony Orchestra and playing as a member of the Australian Youth Orchestra.  From there, his spectrum of musical ability expanded to include improvisation and the use of many other instruments, ranging from keyboard to sitar, with much in between.  In addition, Westheimer also cultivated an interest in singing and songwriting, eventually working and shaping his craft with a number of bands during the 70's and early 80's.  His foray into recording began in 1982 with the release of Laminex Lovers, regarded today as a seminal Australian synth pop album.  During the ensuing years, Westheimer would release five more albums while also creating a plethora of music for soundtracks, documentaries and multimedia installations.  In 2002-2008, he would devote himself to pursuing his passions and convictions through a considerably different medium: politics.  Serving in local government from 2004-2008 in the roles of Independent Councilor and Deputy Mayor, Westheimer's areas of focus included biodiversity, cultural development, rail transport and renewable energy. 

Tranzworld Express is his first album since 2004's Music Sculptures, a compilation of mainly earlier works, and his first release of new material since 1994's Balance.