Biography

The Striatum, the ethically indiscriminate piece of the human neuro-puzzle that keeps us moving and striving in life, is a fitting way to describe the solo project of guitarist to the former Canadian prog-metal “mad scientist” outfit What's He Building in There?: Mason Tikl.  

 

Based out of Kitchener, ON, Canada – the film composer grew this project out of psychological necessity. A way to express, decompress, and learn from his own madness in ways intended to infect, inform, and enlighten whomever is ready to listen.  

 

Generalized as progressive metal - Striatum effectively implements and infuses disturbingly heavy riffs with orchestral arrangements typically heard only in film scores. If that wasn't enough, Striatum likes to throw an EDM-shaped wrench into the mix to shake up the mind and body before, after, or while lightly caressing the eardrum with a ballad to tell you everything might be ok.  

 

While Striatum is not currently performing live as a full band, Mason is, on a daily basis, developing and expanding this project to find new ways to comfort the listener while they uncomfortably sit, on edge, waiting for what's coming next.