A stealthily harmonious blend of food and music
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AT the age when most kids are mastering the finer points of yo-yo technique, 6-year-old Brian Transeau was at the piano, sharpening his Stravinsky. But something happened on the way to a classical career: Transeau stumbled upon Depeche Mode.
Today, he’s known as BT, a pioneer in trance music and a composer of movie scores. “To marry melody, harmony and songwriting with the most bleeding-edge technology possible is my passion,” he says. His latest big-screen work can be heard in “Stealth,” and he’s executive producer of the NBC reality series “Tommy Lee Goes to College,” premiering Aug. 16.
BT, 33, who reportedly has an IQ in the 180 range, lives in the Hollywood Hills. His ideas for a fun weekend? Pure genius.
Spectacular sushi
On Friday night my favorite thing would be to go to the best sushi restaurant in the country -- Nozawa on Ventura Boulevard. Last weekend I played in Tokyo and went to a place where the bonito was really fresh, the sushi was really good, but it was nowhere near Nozawa. The coolest thing is that there’s no menu. There’s just a sign that says “Special of the Day: Trust Me,” and Chef Nozawa will bring out whatever’s freshest, and it will be the best day of your life. People are really intimidated because he’s an artisan, he’s very serious about the food. To me, the only restaurant in the world that can compare to it is a fabulous Italian place in Toronto, Sotto Sotto.
After dinner, dessert for me usually means coffee, so I might go to a place in my neighborhood on Vermont, Psychobabble, where I’d get a chai latte or a soy latte and maybe split one of their ridiculously good cookies with a friend. Then I’d go to the restaurant Vermont for their Friday-night thing. There’s a cool vibe, with nice people and signature drinks. The music is excellent and the party is always really good. It goes on till I don’t know what time.
Just hanging
On Saturday morning after a late night, I’ll sleep in and then go into my home studio for a while. Later, I’ll drive down to Pirate’s Cove in Zuma, where it’s fun to hang out and there’s good food and drinks. In the evening I’ll go to Avalon, where they have really great dance music, and then I’ll finish off the night at the Spider Club next door.
A crabby mood
On Sunday morning a super-fun thing to do is go to the Four Seasons for brunch. I always go around Christmastime and whenever else I get in the mood. They have this thing they make called a crab-cake Benedict -- I’m making myself so hungry right now just thinking about it -- and that’s what always brings me back.
Later in the afternoon, I’ll go to my secret massage place. I probably shouldn’t even mention it, because then everybody will be in the know. Oh well -- it’s a Thai place on Hollywood and Normandy called Pho Siam. The $40 hour massage is the best you can get this side of Thailand. When we’re working hard all week I’ll bring everybody down on the weekend and get everyone massages.
In the evening, I’ll go somewhere mellow like Electric Lotus, which is a really cool down-tempo party where they play this groovy sort of Asian/African-influenced electronic music. Then I’ll grab some Indian food and call it a night.
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