[1] During his studies and early career he was influenced by classical composers such as Bach, Astor Piazzolla, Latvian Pēteris Vasks, George Crumb and Alfred Schnittke; and was also inspired by the works of his fellow Australian composers Matthew Hindson, Paul Stanhope, Anne Boyd, Michael Smetanin and Damien Ricketson.
[1] He then moved to New York to continue pursuing music, following the influential styles of artists like Animal Collective, Do Make Say Think, and Fausto Romitelli.
[1] On 2 October 2014, Gardiner premiered his piece Hebbian Theory at the Morse Recital Hall in New Haven, Connecticut.
[4] On 29 and 30 April 2015, he performed his orchestral arrangement of "Goldmines" by Josh Pyke at the Concert Hall in Sydney Opera House.
[4] Gardiner was sponsored by the Ian Potter Cultural Trust to attempt to raise $7,000 to enter upon earning a Masters of Music in composition and work with David Lang for a year.