Good music always makes a connection. It can be an intellectual connection or an emotional connection, and sometimes it can be both. It seems these days that more and more music attempts to achieve one or the other while ignoring how important it is to find a median point. Music that I find inspirational in some way has usually found some sort of common ground in this dichotomy, and it has also found 'freedom', to a certain degree. Any successful artist will tell you that constraints are not very helpful in the artistic process. But many times our own self-imposed constraints become a nuisance. Therefore, being free and open to new expressions and techniques is critically important to remaining vital. So what is it that I am trying to achieve personally with my music? Something surprising, challenging, and soulful, yet accessible. A snapshot of who I am and what I think and feel. A blend of styles that captures the many musical encounters I have had and the experiences that have shaped me. I hope that you will find my personal blend of folk / rock / classical / jazz / whatever to be of interest and understand why I wrote this. Happy listening, everyone. - AJ

Architecture, it seems, has an intangible quality that draws many admirers. If I had a penny for every time I've heard someone tell me that they - or someone they know - considered being an architect I'd probably have enough cash to order a large mocha at the world's most popular coffee shop. However, the allure of architecture is sometimes much more illustrious than the reality of being an architect. It is a serious and demanding job that requires dedication and perseverence. As a licensed architect and LEED© accredited professional that has worked on dozens of public and private projects, it is always my goal to be both judicious and innovative. It has taken me years to come to an understanding on how to be flexible enough to be both creative and pragmatic, and how to convince people to be accepting of both. I believe in architecture that represents the time and space in which it was created while being respectful of the past. 'Humanizing' modern architecture so that someone who is discriminating will find it appealing is something I would like to believe I am good at. It involves skill, compromise and communication. And a bit of old-fashioned ingenuity. - AJ

Already an acknowledged force in the rock/folk scene, AJ's intelligent songwriting, which draws as much from pop as from jazz, classical, rock, jam, and folk, has been the basis for four well-received albums in his career. Starting out with the experimental band Daughter Product, which introduced his intricate guitar lines and intimate lyrics, he released Fatigue in 1997. After several years fronting different lineups of this band, he moved onto a solo career. In 2001, the 5-song Earth and Shoal EP revealed maturity and depth of experience in his recording and songwriting technique. Releasing an intimate acoustic album called Resistor in 2004, Rosales' songwriting gained even greater resonance. Fueled by critical praise and airplay on hundreds of radio stations, Rosales started reaching out to fans globally. In 2007 he followed up that album with Ultramarine, and increased his fanbase further. This slightly more bombastic album showcased his versatility as an artist that could cross many genres while staying true to his rock and folk roots. At this juncture, he is currently working on writing songs for a forthcoming album.

ULTRAMARINE (2007)

Ultramarine is a sharp and focused album that was the culmination of years of preparation. In his evolution as a musician and songwriter, he wanted to try to make a record that would highlight his creative skill as a guitar player but branch out and move away stylistically from his previous acoustic-based release, "Resistor". After much success with that intimate album, he decided to make this album more visceral and more of an experience.

This album rocks a lot harder - but stays true to the spirit of his previous releases, with a mix of upbeat numbers and a few intimate acoustic tracks. Meticulously produced and arranged to ensure that that his overall vision was not lost in translation, this album is dynamic and experimental. There are a number of different sonic environments on this album, but somehow it still manages to retain a consistent vibe. This is easily AJ's most well rounded and thought provoking album yet.

RESISTOR (2004)

A 'solo' acoustic CD that showcases the many diverse facets of his playing style, from pop to rock, to folk, and even to more accomplished elements of jazz and classical. After releasing the Earth and Shoal EP, and after garnering acclaim from that disk, AJ felt the need to come back to a more natural production sound to express his musical ideas.

Featuring some of his most intimate songwriting and guitar playing, the experience one gleans from listening is both contemplative and complex. It almost sounds like a live performance, capturing the essence of the music in a basic way with sparse but effective production. This disc recieved plenty of rotation on college radio stations, especially the track "Union" which is quite possibly his best known song to-date. In the end, the songs on this album inspire, challenge, and affect you, which is something you don't often encounter.

EARTH AND SHOAL (2001)

This 5 song release contains music that evokes an array of artistic integrities - an effervescent breath of modern pop, lyrical imagery with a twinge of poeticism, honest rock-n-roll angst, and a mature sense of textural depth. Recorded with a line-up that was an overlapping successor from his earlier groups, The EP tells a bit of an audio story as you listen along.

It begins with the pop-rock jawbreaker 'Sweetest Thing', the radio track on the album. The upbeat groove grabs attention and never lets go. The story progresses to 'Turn Away' brings the mood down with it's melancholic rootsy acoustic-electric vibe. 'Angry' picks it up again, taking you to a place where raw emotions get expressed with an audio assault. 'Earth and Shoal', the title track, cleanses the tension with sweet melodies and lyrics and leaves the listener refreshed and transformed. 'Step Down to You' emerges with a more positive message, reflecting on the audio journey and ending the EP on a high note.

FATIGUE (1997)

This was the first experiment for AJ with an early lineup. Hints of future musical meanderings were present, and the overall sonic experiment became a critical studio learning experience. The name "Daughter Product" refers to the physics term, which is 'the remaining nuclide left over from radioactive decay'.

The band began as a four-piece with keys / violin / guitar and a poet that AJ knew from playing around Chicago in open mics. Eventually this group disbanded but it was a highly creative unit that sparked his imagination for a long time. Not long after, the three piece rock band that appears on this disk was born. Hints of the earlier group remained - with textural sounds and the inclusion of tribal percussion. "Machine #1" with it's juxtaposed digital and musical sounds became one of the highlights of the disk. Overall, the album revealed a slightly darker, edgy side that the music could take, and sparked an eventual musical transformation.

COMING SOON

A representative series of the dozens of projects that I have been involved in can be found on the Frye Gillan Molinaro Website.

To be explicit, however - projects that I would like to accentuate would consist of the following:

- The Poplar Creek Public Library in Streamwood, IL
- Kinzie Tower in Chicago, IL
- The Stephenson Public Library in Marinette, WI
- Condo at 1300 N. Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, IL
- The Northbook Public Library in Northbrook, IL
- The St. Xavier University Student Center Design Competition
- The Gail Borden Library in Elgin, IL

I have been fortunate enough that during my tenure at Frye Gillan Molinaro I have been exposed to some amazing opportunities. I've also been lucky enough to capitalize on them in some way. I have spearheaded projects that have won AIA sponsored design awards as well as been published in regional and national magazines. My proudest achievement so far is the Poplar Creek Library, which has numerous accolades attached to it, including being named the #1 New Library in the US by Library Journal Magazine in May 2011. I look forward to having the opportunity to continue to work on challenging, exciting, and innovative projects.

Recent awards I have been responsible for include:

2011 Library Journal New Landmark Library
2010 AIA Chicago Design Excellence Award
2010 Learning by Design Citation of Excellence