# artists

artist: Sebastian Forster
description: exquisitely performed Beethoven piano sonatas
homepage: sebastian_forster
state: NJ
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/sebastian_forster.jpg
bio:
Born in Buenos Aires in 1975, Sebastian Forster has touched audiences and reached the souls of those lucky to hear him play live, lifting the musical experience to new levels of emotional engagement.

"I have had several most welcome opportunities to hear Mr. Foster play, and these experiences have been almost rhapsodic - I have seldom been as deeply moved and impressed by a young musical artist's passion and skill - He is a true genius whose musical talent is matched by an energizing charisma that I'm convinced will make him increasingly popular and influential among audiences".
- Harold Holzer (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC)

Sebastian made his international professional debut with the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra performing Mozart's piano Concerto #23, which was recorded live on BMG's prestige Victor Red Seal label.

Since then, his international career includes tours as a soloist and recordings performing with the:
Delaware Symphony Orchestra;
Stuttgart Philharmonic;
Netherlands Symphony Orchestra;
Berlin Symphonic Orchestra;
Budapest Concert Orchestra (MAV);
Linz Brucker Orchestra;
Philharmonic Orchestra of Buenos Aires;
Radio State Ukrainian Orchestra;
National Symphony Orchestra of Buenos Aires; and
Flemish Radio Orchestra.

Between others, touring the U.S.A., Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and the Czezh Republic, among other countries.

"His mastery of technique is first rate. His knowledge of the major works of the classics, and his professional repertoire is of the highest caliber. What puts him head and shoulders above many other pianists, however, is his expressiveness and originality of emotion with which he performs piano pieces of the classical vein. His performances of certain concertos by Mozart and Beethoven are some of the finest of these works that have ever been recorded. His ability to convey the most subtle of nuances in these pieces is what separates him from the merely good pianist performing today. The originality of his interpretation put him in an internationally select class"
- Mr. Tamal Gal, Music Director and Conductor of MAV Symphony Orchestra, and Professor at Liszt Music Academy.

Performing publicly since the age of ten, Sebastian studied with Maestro Aldo Antognazzi, a former pupil of Arturo Benedetti Michelangelli, who was a descendant of Franz Liszt. He participated in master classes in Hungary at the Liszt Academy of Budapest, and lived for long periods of time in The Netherlands, where he regularly performed at the world-famous Concertgebouw Hall.

At "Sala Verdi" in Milan (Italy), he gave a solo recital which included the works of Liszt, Mozart and Prokofiev. Antonio Mormone, President and Artistic Director of the "Fondazione La Societa Di Concerti" and organizer of the event, said: "he is one of a handful of truly great pianists today. His touch is commanding but subtle at the same time. He can express the most adventuresome and bold statements, but he is also capable of performing the most intricate and delicate passages in classical music. For example, in a concert he gave here at our hall, his work ranged from the jagged and wild rhythms of Liszt's Mephisto Waltz, to the staid, stately and majestic tones of Prokofiev Sonata n.7. He played flawlessly.".

His extraordinary emotional intelligence and "highest level of musicianship" ... not only make him "flawless in technique, sense of rhythm and tempo, but most significantly, his originality in interpretation is absolutely wonderful"
- (S.Spreng, Miami Herald) but has allowed him as well to shine high with many different genres, and specially when performing and breathing the music of his beloved Godfather, with whom he spent summer holidays in Punta del Este, the extraordinary and revolutionary Astor Piazzolla.

Sebastian is the founding member of the "Astor Piazzolla Foundation Trio", with which he toured Belgium, The Netherlands, U.S.A. and Argentina, and recorded the "Nacar Concerto" with the Argentinian Mayo Chamber Orchestra. Astor was of great influence in his career and beginnings, from helping him choosing his first piano at a very early age, to empowering his talents with guidance and nurturing.

Beethoven and Piazzolla live inside Sebastian with grand mastery and passion, as well as his extraordinary educational activity with the goal of bringing the musical universe of children out, teaching them, at an early age, the unlimited possibilities of self-expression through music. He is Faculty at the Piano School of New York City since 2005, and lives with his wife and seven-year old son.

In 2009 Sebastian Forster ventured into accomplishing a lifetime-legacy major project of immense proportions: the recording of The 32 Complete Piano Sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven, in an ongoing creative effort conceptually started three years ago. He will be recording the ongoing work of Beethoven through ten albums, during 2009, 2010 and possibly 2011.

Sebastian is a true Beethovenian, he breathes and experiences Beethoven's every single emotion, of true love, drama, passion, desperation, beauty and darkness. Living Beethoven with every key stroke is an experience of monumental inner impact, only at reach for the daring soul and the truly talented soloist. This is a great opportunity to hear Beethoven as it was never heard before, getting lost in the world of invigorating ideas and emotional virtuosity that has made Sebastian Forster one of the outstanding interpreters of the classical repertoire currently working on the world stage today.


artist: Seconds Before
description: high octane and precise modern rock
homepage: seconds_before
state: MN
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/seconds_before.jpg
bio:
Not content to ease into a comfortable niche, Minneapolis modern rock band Seconds Before fuses high octane rock, memorable pop sensibilities, and progressive arrangements into a sound that's as hard to pigeonhole as it is to resist. These five music junkies have a wealth of experience as songwriters and performers, and their enthusiasm and professionalism come across both in their recordings as well as their explosive live shows.

The New Record
Change Is The Only Constant is Seconds Before's most accomplished and complete work to date. The album rocks with a confidence that comes with years of experience and features songs that you just might not be able to get out of your head (in the good way, not the annoying way).

Change Is The Only Constant might as well be the motto of the current decade, and there's no question the sound of this band has evolved over their nine-year existence. Sure, the trademark twin guitar interplay is still there, along with soaring vocal harmonies and one of the hardest hitting rhythm sections around, but on this record there's a definite sense of the unexpected.

Inspired by the highs and lows of life in their hometown (including a sincere reflection on the heroes and victims of the 35W bridge collapse in "Calling Home"), the album represents the band's most mature and honest songwriting to date.

There's no pretense to any artificial rock star fantasy here. This is rock about real life performed by five working guys who haven't forgotten the simple joy of turning amps up loud and singing at the top of their lungs. So give the newest Seconds Before album a spin or nine, but don't get too comfortable, because change is... well, you know.

A Brief History
Seconds Before was incorporated in the amazing year 1999, and have successfully weathered turnover in the ever-critical vocalist slot not once but twice. Vocalist Brian Larson has been with the band since 2002 and made his debut on the band's 2003 full-length Further Destinations (on iTunes), which has received national college and satellite radio airplay and strong reviews. The band's history reaches back even further into the early 90's as many of the band members played in seminal Minneapolis hardcore and rock acts, including Threadbare, Downside, Bloodline, 108, Picturesque. With years of collective touring, writing, and performing experience under their belt, Seconds Before has become a precision rock machine.

Quotes
"Complex power-pop with excellent guitar work and melodies and a tight as hell rhythm section. Foo Fighters meet Weezer. This should be modern rock."
Blake Rainey - (VP, AnR, Shut Eye Records)


artist: Seismic Anamoly
description: instrumental hard rock
homepage: seismic_anamoly
state: MS
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/seismic_anamoly.jpg
bio:
The project Seismic Anamoly was started in 2002 by Michael S., who lives in Meridian, MS, USA. Seismic Anamoly has been composing and playing music only since 2000, and his work is done primarily utilizing his Peavey EVH Wolfgang, Millennium J Series Bass, and Indianola ER Acoustic. Seismic's arsenal includes tunes that could be classified as Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Guitar and Instrumental Rock and Acoustic, but it is all home-grown Rock n Roll. Relatively new to the scene, Seismic Anamoly has seen his music grow slowly but steadily in popularity.....


artist: Self Delusion
description: darkly addictive electro-pop songs
homepage: self_delusion
city: Castellar Del Valles
country: Spain
bandphoto: /artists/img/selfdelusion1.jpg
bio:
Born in 1996, Self-Delusion is a group of electronic pop from Barcelona. Formed by Carles Penalver (voices and programming), J+ (composition and programming) and Toni Aran (backing vocals, composition and programming).

After their appearance in diverse compilations published in the North American market and the auto-edition of "Pride", E.P. of 1998, Self-Delusion has been taken in hand by the producer Frans Beltran (aka-Iberian Spleen and involved also in the production of Spanish bands as diverse as Magnatiz, Freak XXI, Klockwork i Shuga Whuga) to give form to their first album ("Happiness hurts me").

This recording shows the eclecticism of Self-Delusion creating songs on varied electronic structures, which take them from the classic tecnopop to trip-hop, techno-rock or electro. Their sound betrays them as big followers of the music of 80s; their members are indeed fans of very varied bands that go from Depeche Mode to The Smiths, from The Cure to Portishead, from Aviador Dro to Lamb or from Fangoria to Covenant.

Self-Delusion has been a supporting act for bands such as Wolfsheim and De/Vision, VNV Nation and Apoptygma Berzerk.

With "Happiness hurts", Self-Delusion makes a move to find a place in the electronic national scene as they have obtained it, occasionally, in the international one, where they have managed to edit and to receive prizes as the fourth position in the Clavia MP3 Competition (contest organized by the well known synths manufacturer Clavia -nordlead-) thanks their song "Christine", included in "Happiness hurts me".


artist: Sensor II
homepage: sensor_ii
city: Offenbach
country: Germany
bandphoto: /artists/img/Mijo_new.jpg
description:
catchy crossover between big beat, chillout and electronica dosed with industrial and oriental influences

bio:
Sensor II was founded by Michael Fey (Micha) and Michael Dean Jordan (Mijo) in 1999 in Offenbach, Germany. Offenbach is a city of many nationalities and lifestyles, which surely influenced the band's musical journey. This resulted in a splendid mix between Big Beat, Chillout and Electronic with an Industrial, at times oriental or even jazzy touch, cuts of which rose to the top of the charts on Garageband.com and were included on the Garageband 'Best of Electronica' compilation CD. It was through Garageband that Artemis connected with Jordan to eventually produce the track 'Hypno' on Artemis' release 'Gravity'.

Micha (Michael Fey) discovered his interest in music at an early age by receiving lessons on the carillon, the recorder and the piano. Soon unsatisfied with the limited sounds of traditional instruments, he started experimenting with overdubbing on two cassette decks. Despite its limitations, he had an epiphany when he discovered the possibilities of his first sequencer on a Commodore 64, and eventually moving to a virtual studio on PC finally made his sonic visions come true. Micha has given many liveperformances playing Keyboards/Synths with his band 'Tinnitus Mask' consisting of vocals, guitar, keys and drums, exploring harder types of music. Also, he composed, designed sounds, and played live for theater.

Mijo (Michel Jordan) began his musical adventures on flute and piano at the tender age of 8. By age 11 he had branched out into woodwinds, playing alto sax in the school orchestra until the fateful day in 1977 when his family moved to Germany and he was forced to leave the saxophone behind.

Luckily, this did not spell the end of his career - upon arriving in Germany, he promptly put his talents to good use on a Gibson western guitar, expanding his repertoire with lessons and collaborations with Thomas Reuther, who went on to become a noted classical guitarist in his own right.

The two went on to eventually form the Turkish/Oriental fusion band 'Grup Fakir', with several other musicians, and received critical acclaim and an offer to tour Turkey in the mid-1990's. Unfortunately the band dissolved shortly after recording their first demo cd, but Thomas and Michel continued their forays, delving into musical motifs that firmly straddled Greek and Turkish origins.

In 1995 Michel met new cohorts, Christian Wolff and Michael Fey, who he went on to produce and perform live soundscapes and themes to Fachhochschule - Frankfurt theatres production of Shakespeares' 'Midsummer Nights Dream' and 'Macbeth'. Again, his efforts met with resounding success, both personally and publicly.

Michel and Christian went on to form the experimental acoustic/electro-fusion/jazz/techno/blues-rock band 'Ultraschall', playing on a weekly basis with guest artists from around the world, including Christian Schmidhofer of Embryo.

In 1999, Jordan and Fey teamed up, under the Sensor II moniker, to produce some new tracks with a more electronic edge. The rest is history.


artist: Seth Carlin
description: fortepiano music from the early 1800s
homepage: carlin
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/carlin.jpg
bio:
Seth Carlin began his career at the age of nine with a broadcast over radio station WNYC in New York, performing a work written especially for him. Although he continued to perform extensively, it was only after a period of study in Paris that Carlin decided on a career in music.

Seth Carlin was prizewinner in the International Busoni Competition, and received a recitalist grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1989. He has appeared as soloist with orchestras such as the Saint Louis Symphony, San Francisco Philharmonia Baroque, Toronto Tafelmusik, and Boston Pops, with conductors such as Leonard Slatkin, Nicholas McGegan and Roger Norrington. He has played at Lincoln Center, the Festival of Two Worlds, the Marlboro Music Festival, the Newport Music Festival, the Sante Fe Chamber Music Festival, and the Cambridge Society for Early Music. Carlin has also appeared on television and radio in France, Sweden, Germany and China. He has recorded for both Titanic and Naiad records.

Among Seth Carlin's accomplishments is the cycle of complete Schubert fortepiano sonatas, including the "Wanderer" Fantasy that he performed in New York City during the 1991-92 season, and which were broadcast nationally on National Public Radio's program "Performance Today." Recently Carlin's CD of Sonatas and Bagatelles by Beethoven was named Recording of the Month by Alte Musik Actuelle magazine. Currently, Carlin is Professor of Music at Washington University in St. Louis.


artist: SGX
description: let loose the beast in your mind
homepage: sgx
state: MD
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/sgx.jpg
bio:
What is an SGX?

It's a male homo-sapien between the ages of twenty and thirty annuals located near Baltimore, MD with an affinity for and skill in writing/producing some of the most mind-catching auditory patterns ("music") you'll ever come across.

SGX employs the synthetic, the acoustic, the modern, the retro, the ambient, the upbeat, the heavy, the light, and the imagination aesthetic to tell listeners a story and illustrate worlds.

Killer beats and biting synth riffs might rock your face as well if you are game.


artist: Shadows from the Underground
description: edgy, gritty rock for music tastemakers
homepage: shadows_from_the_underground
state: CO
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/shadows_from_the_underground.jpg
bio:
Street verse chronicles.
Hyper-real paradoxes.
An ever-changing tour through the labyrinth of pop.

Put Beck, Tom Waits, Pink Floyd, and The Pixies on an operating table, inject a bolt of lightning, stitch up the scars, and the creature you get is Shadows From The Underground.

Shadows from the Underground is JM Moore. J was born in New Orleans with an umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and music in his blood. You will find him there every few years, wandering the 4 am streets in search of something no tavern or brothel can offer.

It is said that he first made a guitar scream under the orange haze glow of the Los Angeles wilderness, amidst a vast sea of withered smiles and shattered dreams. Some say he is possessed by the mojo voodoo. Still others describe him as an obsessive madman, unwilling to think twice about locking himself in a basement dungeon for months, until the next collection of songs emerges, lest his head explodes.

Now he awaits the next Colorado blizzard, with a drawl and a tan, and a tremolo twang, hoping the frozen blanket of silence will calm the fire that is hard-boiling his heart. He is out there, somewhere in the humdrum, disguised as one of us.


artist: Shane Jackman
description: folk/country rock songs.
homepage: jackman
state: VT
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/jackman.jpg
bio:
With half a million miles and over a thousand concerts in the rearview mirror, recording Artist Shane Jackman is a consummate performer who has shared the stage with Howard Jones, Peter, Paul and Mary, Shawn Colvin, Marty Stewart, the Mavericks, Michael Martin Murphy, and Pete Segar.

Surpassing 150 concerts a year in the college theaters, festivals and grass roots halls, Shane has amassed a substantial national following and garnered substantial critical acclaim-including some well-earned time on the Americana Top 40 charts. Jackman's are songs to be envisioned and tasted and felt, and it's been said that only way to improve on the experience of listening to Jackman's albums would be to have Jackman and his friends around your campfire.


artist: Shawn Harris
description: introspective, melodic rock
homepage: harris
state: FL
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/shawnharris.jpg
bio:
My name is Shawn Harris and I have been playing guitar for about 20 years - I started when I was 1 ;) Not really - yes I feel old saying that.

I was in many heavy bands in the 80's; nothing I am too proud of but out of that came a great love of music and especially of songwriting. I found that although I loved the intensity of the 80's heavy music I really loved the songwriting of the 70's. So I played in bands for a few more years writing all original material and playing out wherever I could. As bands almost always do we all got "Real Jobs" and families and kind of let music go away. The guitar went under the guest bedroom bed and I gave up my dream for a few years.

About a year and a half ago I found an old recording of my drummer Mike Payne and I playing some acoustic stuff and I remembered how much I loved doing acoustic songs and thought hey I should try to write an album of mostly acoustic stuff. So I called up Jay Stanley the old guitar player from Matchbox 20 and hired him as my engineer and went in to his studio and cut 9 songs from 2 old songs that I had and the rest new material that I wrote for the cd or from pieces of music I had been working with. Out of this came the cd titled "Temptation."

I did all the guitar without a drummer and just used a click track - man was that hard:) So then I hired Chris Smith a session drummer to come in and play over what I had recorded - not an easy task. He was great and I think he really shined. I sang all the parts and then Jay played bass on Memories and Fortune Lies Freedom. I did not have anyone to play bass on the other songs so I played bass and then decided to give keyboards a try. So I played keyboards on every song except Sundown. Bryan Clark played on that song and MAN he rocked it.

A few of the songs have done really well. Keeping Hope Alive was named the top 16th song of 2007 by kick radio and Promised Land was all the way up to 11 on the American Idol Underground website and number 11 on Artist Underground.

Please enjoy the music and I really appreciate any feedback you have :)

The cd was Titled "Temptation" so I decided to kind of go with the semi religious tone but I am not really a Christian artist - just a guy who wants his songs to have some meaning and thought behind the lyrics.

Take Care and enjoy life - no one gets out alive - but the memories of us live on if we do it right ....


artist: SHE SAID SAVE ME
description: gimmick free, pure acousto-folk
homepage: sssm
city: Toronto
country: Canada
bandphoto: /artists/img/sssm.jpg
bio:
SHE SAID SAVE ME is an acoustic/folk/punk/pop music project formed in 2009 by Canadian singer-songwriter Joe Vercillo. Originally from Port Elgin, Ontario and now based out of Toronto, this relatively obscure little project (which records in an attic) focuses strictly on making pure, sincere and inspiring music while keeping production, promotion and image to the bare minimum (no gimmicks).

The music is heart-warming, uplifting, and soothing, and while most lyrics deal with the difficulties of life and relationships, there is always an underlying optimism and revelation of hope in each and every song.

Vercillo's musical background is mainly punk rock which is evident in the simplicity, catchiness, and sincerity of all of his songs (bar chords and verse/chorus/verse song structure). SHE SAID SAVE ME is currently part of the underground folk scene in southern Ontario which also includes Liam Sanagan (LUM), First Rate People, Zach Cassidy (littleMEN), Mary Cassidy, Anne-lise Dugas, Kildear, and Kid Sincere.


artist: Sherefe
description: Balkan and Middle Eastern Music
homepage: sherefe
state: CO
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/sherefe.jpg
bio:
Boulder Colorado based Sherefe (pronounced "Sheriff A") takes its name from a Turkish drinking toast that translates as "to your honor." This passionate group of American musicians plays primarily Turkish, Greek and Arabic music but also Bulgarian, Macedonian, Bosnian, Persian and Albanian.

Their repertoire is amazingly diverse and their renditions are authentic but not academic, with lots of room for their own individual expression to shine through. All the singing is done in its original language and vocal style, and is surrounded by Bouzouki, Gadulka, Oud, Cello, Bass, saz, Zurna, Santoor, and various percussion.

Sherefe has over 15 years of experience playing festivals, weddings, concert halls, private parties, clubs, coffee houses, religious events and academic conferences throughout the Rocky Mountain region, as well as in California and New York. They frequently delight "single culture" gatherings of Greeks, Turks or Arabs, but they also excel at mixing the music to create a performance with a wider palette. Moods and sub genres range from gentle to very rowdy, depending on who's dancing and listening.

Sherefe at its smallest is a trio featuring James Hoskins, Jesse Manno and Zahara. It often expands to include Beth Quist, Paul Brown and Julie Lancaster among others, especially when recording. The band has three albums out: Sherefe (1998), Opium (2001) and Sala Sala (2010).


artist: Shino
description: pure soulful and raw acoustic songwriter
homepage: shino
city: Buchenberg
country: Germany
bandphoto: /artists/img/shino.jpg
bio:
As the path of aggression and loud music came to a standstill for the front man of the band, "Blindeyes", he turned back to his beginnings. After several concerts with bands such as, amongst others, Diorama, Vision Bleak, Despairation, Crystal Crow and Remember Twilight, Aliaksandr Kavaliou no longer could or wanted to play that type of aggressive and loud music as it no longer reflected who he was.

Dark, melancholic metal by "Blindeyes" (Germany/Reutlingen) continued to exist until December, 2007. A sad disintegration and yet a beginning for something new. Or rather a return to roots?

Thus the solo project, Shino, came into being, in which the pure feeling and the newly discovered spiritual side of life find the perfect expression in order to send the listener on a voyage of discovery within the depths of his own soul.

Acoustic guitar and clear voice from which originated "Shino" - melancholic darkness which finds, through the light of conscious, moving emotions, it's release.

A hand, which draws the listener through his own depths and brings him again to the surface, through an awakened consciousness, frees him from his own hell.

The voyage through the deeps of your soul is waiting for you. Not the self-awareness rack oneself, but the will to stay undetected.


artist: Shira Kammen
description: early folk and celtic music.
homepage: shira_kammen
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/shira_kammen_1.jpg
bio:
Shira Kammen received her degree in music from UC Berkeley and studied vielle with Margriet Tindemans.

A member for many years of Ensembles Alcatraz and Project Ars Nova, and Medieval Strings, she has also worked with Sequentia, Hesperion XX, the Boston Camerata, and the King's Noyse, and is the founder of Class V Music, an ensemble dedicated to performance on river rafting trips.

She has performed and taught in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Israel, Morocco and Japan, and on the Colorado and Rogue rivers. Shira happily collaborated with singer/storyteller John Fleagle for fifteen years, and performs now with several new groups: a medieval ensemble, Fortune's Wheel; a new music group, Ephemeros; an eclectic ethnic band, Panacea; and Trouz Bras, a band devoted to the dance music of Celtic Brittany.


artist: sHIT for bRAINS
description: head melting thrash metal
homepage: shit_for_brains
city: Alsbach
country: Germany
bandphoto: /artists/img/shit_for_brains.jpg
bio:
sHIT for bRAINS was forged together in January 1993 by Matthias Hechler (guitars, vocals), Sanjai Shah (drums), Michael Rohr (vocals) and Gernot Leinert (bass).

Within only a few months they wrote and produced their first CD lukewarm, containing unique compositions of brutal, down to earth thrash-metal with a good portion of progressive influences. In 1997 they followed up with their second 12-track album Vortex cordis, which was recorded and produced in Andy Classen's (ex-Holy Moses) well-established metal and hardcore Stage One-Studio (Germany). Vortex cordis was highly acclaimed throughout the German metal press and provided the band a record deal with Rawk-Records.

In numerous club-events, concerts and large festivals sHIT for bRAINS raised attention and played along other famous german metal bands like Disbelief, Crematory, Hate Squad und Tankard.

In 1998 came a temporary disbanding as the members were individually engaged and involved in other musically successful, international projects and bands (Richthofen, Century und Crematory). Eventually, sHIT for bRAINS members coined new mutual metal projects (BrotherCain 1999 - 2000, Crack a Smile 2001 - 2006) and an additional guitarist Jan Fendler teamed up, so the band was ready to announce their official reunion in 2006.

With their latest album release Broken Vow sHIT for bRAINS offers a completely independent and entirely self produced and designed piece of intense metal music and (art)work.

Michael Rohr - vocals
Matthias Hechler - guitars, vocals
Jan Fendler - guitars
Gernot Leinert - bass
Sanjai Shah - drums


artist: Shiva in Exile
description: Gothic Arab/Indian World Music
homepage: shiva_in_exile
state: Munich
country: Germany
bandphoto: /artists/img/shiva_in_exile.jpg
bio:
SHIVA IN EXILE is a new age/oriental/gothic project started in 2003 by former PC game soundtrack composer and DARKSEED vocalist/songwriter Stefan Hertrich (Munich/Germany).

"Ethnic", his first album, was released in 2004.

It is an enveloping sound rich with atmosphere and the pulsating life of percussion, an almost gothic expanse warmed with the vocals and instruments of distant lands. The album won the Just Plain Folks Music Award 2004 in the category "Best New Age/World Album 2004".

"Nour" is an innovative mix of modern Gothic/Electro/Soundtrack and ethnic/oriental elements (dozens of stringed, woodwind and percussion instruments from the Near East, Africa and native America). In combination with the unique, original vocal performance of Yana Veva (St. Petersburg/Russia) this album became extremely energetic and mystic but yet warm and sensitive, inviting the listener to a spiritually uplifting experience.

A journey from Middle East to Far East echoed by simple world rhythms and resounding through an ambient backdrop.

Shiva In Exile enriches the appeal of world music with the presence of ambient. We prefer the term "World Ambient" as it is most descriptive of the music.

Stefan Hertrich (vocalist and songwriter of "Darkseed" and "Betray My Secrets") is the composer and responsible for all arrangements on the album.


artist: Sieber, Kammen and Fulton
description: dreamy music from the acclaimed video game Braid
homepage: braid
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/braid.jpg
bio:
This album presents all the music in the game "Braid."

In addition, the musician Jon Schatz has contributed two remixes of songs by Jami Sieber, with the style of the remixes being inspired by the timeshifting that is a fundamental element of the game itself.

The video game Braid launched for the Xbox Live Arcade to rapturous reviews, such as this one from PC Gamer Magazine (UK):

"Braid is an ingenious and startlingly creative puzzle game, built with an understanding of good game design that even some of the industry's most revered figures could learn from.".

Braid is now also available for Windows.

The music in the game is licensed from Magnatune and the Braid Blog lists all the sources.

The music used in the game is:

* "Maenam", by Jami Sieber, from the album Hidden Sky.

* "Undercurrent" and "The Darkening Ground", by Jami Sieber, from the album Lush Mechanique.

* "Tell It By Heart" and "Long Past Gone", by Jami Sieber, from the album Second Sight.

* "Downstream", by Shira Kammen, from the album Music of Waters.

* "Lullaby Set", by Shira Kammen and Swan, from the album Wild Wood.

* "Romanesca", by Cheryl Ann Fulton, from the album The Once and Future Harp.

Here is a youtube video showing the game play, as well as the use of the music.

A big hearty thanks to Braid for blogging and promoting their use of our music, and for helping this soundtrack album become possible!


artist: Simone Angele and Amir Kalhor
description: Classical styles of India and Persia and Oriental Fusion
homepage: angele_kalhor
city: Berlin
country: Germany
bandphoto: /artists/img/angele_kalhor_angele.jpg
bio:
Simone Angele (Sitar) grew up in a musical family and became interested in different musical styles at an early age. After completing college she spent nearly a decade in Varanasi, India's capital of classical music. There she studied classical Indian Sitar and vocal styles under the guidance of Narendra Mishra, disciple of Indian Sitar virtuoso Vilayat Khan. She now lives in Berlin and enjoys working with musicians from around the world.

Amir Kalhor (Taar) was born in Teheran, Iran. At the age of seven, he began playing recorder at a Teheran music school that used the Orff Approach. After a year he chose Taar as his main instrument. He studied Persian Classical repertoire, and vocal and instrumental Radifs under the supervision of maestros Mohammad Reza Lotfi, Arshad Tahmasebi and Mohammad Reza Ebrahimi. At the moment he divides his time between Dresden and Leipzig, working with various artists on classical (Persian) and world-music projects.

Babua Pahari (Tabla) comes from a musical family in Calcutta. He plays Bansuri (Indian Classical flute) and Tabla and has lived in Berlin since 2004, playing in "Back to India" and other Indian fusion bands.


artist: Simplicissimus Ensemble
description: 17th and 18th century classical music on period instruments
homepage: simplicissimus_ensemble
city: Törökbálint
country: Hungary
bandphoto: /artists/img/simplicissimus_ensemble.jpg
bio:
The Simplicissimus Ensemble was founded in 2012. It has been a regular guest in Budapest's main concert halls (Müpa Budapest, Liszt Academy, Óbudai Társaskör, Nádor Hall), cultural community spaces and churches (FUGA, Lumen, Szimpla Kert), has given a series of concerts at the House of Arts and Literature in Pécs and has performed at numerous music festivals in Hungary (Valley of Arts, Müpa Early Music Festival, Öt Templom Fesztivál). The ensemble was a prize-winner at the Antré Festival 1.0 of Budapest in 2013 and at the "IV. La Stravaganza Baroque Music Contest" of Cluj-Napoca in 2015.

The ensemble consists of a group of freelance musicians, generally of 6-7 players of bowed and plucked strings and keyboards. But it is flexible in size, with the number of musicians and instrumentation always changing according to the repertoire. Thus, the ensemble has so far performed with only three musicians but also with up to twenty performers.

The repertoire of Simplicissimus mainly includes compositions from the second half of the 17th century and the first half of the 18th century. They play on period instruments, utilizing instrumental techniques that were not alien to the past centuries. The ensemble's aim is not only to restore the sound and performance style of the period, but also to make the music sound as revelatory in their performances as it did in its own time.

The name of the ensemble is a tribute to the German writer and composer Daniel Speer (1636-1707), who traveled in Upper Hungary and wrote a book about the practice of music in the Kingdom of Hungary, published under the pseudonym Ungarischer oder Dacianischer Simplicissimus. However, Speer also borrowed the name Simplicissimus from Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen's picaresque novel Der abenteuerliche Simplicissimus Teutsch. This work is set during the Thirty Years' War, with the protagonist traveling halfway across Europe and getting involved in a thousand adventures. The adventuring is also characteristic of this late successor of the baroque Simplicissimus: each performance of the ensemble is a great journey between eras, styles, and music of different nations.

The artistic director of this ensemble is violinist-musicologist Zsombor Németh.


artist: SJ Pettersson
description: Contemporary anachronistic composer/musician
homepage: sj_pettersson
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/sj_pettersson.jpg
bio:
Originally from Sweden, SJ Pettersson resides in Los Angeles where he teaches and composes music.

An autodidact of sorts, he privately studied counterpoint, orchestration and orchestral scores by composers as diverse as Bach, Prokofiev, Weil and Michael Nyman eventually forging his own unique style - an anachronistic blend of 20th century minimalism with romanticism, classicism and jazz.

In 2007 he completed a ballet based on the architecture of Antonio Gaudi entitled: "Gaudi - Dancing About Architecture." SJ Pettersson's latest release is "A Dream Play - A Chamber Opera for Soloists and Small Orchestra" based on the 1901 play by the Swedish playwright August Strindberg.

Selected parts of the opera were performed in New York September 2009 as part of Vox Novus Composer's Voice concert series, in May 2010 as part of Metropolis Opera Project's "M.O.P Bucket " concert and had its West Coast premiere / CD release event in June 2010 at Classical Music LA's concert series at The Lounge in Hermosa Beach and subsequently at the famous Classical Underground venue in October 2010.

His current project is a chamber opera based on a revisionist view of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet projected to be finished in fall of 2011, and a song cycle / ballet titled "The Dracula Letters" based on letters and diary entries from Bram Stoker's Dracula.


artist: Skarazula
description: medieval European, Turkish and Arabic music
homepage: skarazula
city: Montreal
country: Canada
bandphoto: /artists/img/skarazula.jpg
bio:
Skarazula's repertoire will bring you on a journey back in time with influences from medieval European, Turkish and Arabic music. For many years the musicians of Skarazula have developed a growing interest for ancient music and have furthered their research to enhance their love about this fascinating and rich universe. The many shapes that the medieval era has left us to discover inspire the choice of instruments on which the group plays. Furthermore, the luthier of the group crafted nearly all the stringed instruments that he plays and the percussionist also built some of his own. From traditional to original music, the three minstrels of Skarazula put in their music the same passion and the same talent.

Skarazula was created in Montreal in 1999 by composer, string player, singer and luthier Francois Rainville with percussionist and backup singer Steve Grenier. Flutist Francois Perron joined the group in 2001 after a change of personnel, he also sings back vocals.

The group's approach is inspired by the many ways musicians of today have of playing medieval music. The musicians of Skarazula do not try to achieve a historical reconstruction; they rather let themselves be inspired by what has been discovered about the history of music. Combining this with an obvious freedom concerning arrangements, what the listener gets is a style somewhat modern but yet remaining true to its medieval essence.

In addition to the original pieces, Skarazula's repertoire comes from Europe and the Near East between the IXth and the XVIth century. The composer of the group, having furthered his knowledge of oriental music, brings an authentic colour to Skarazula's music. The three musician's approach brings a very rich blend of mixed skills. It shows in the arrangements and the playing techniques used. The medieval modes and harmony are respected, but the Europeans probably did not know some of the instruments used like the djembe. In that sense, Skarazula's approach is not for the purist as the group allows itself a great freedom.


artist: SkinMechanix
description: richly textured space synth
homepage: skin_mechanix
country: England
bandphoto: /artists/img/skinmechanix.jpg
bio:
SkinMechanix was a prolific collaboration between the UK's Dave Hughes and avant-garde sound experimentalist, Skin. The objective was to get back to basics, to reclaim some of the joy of creating original music, and to work with some new and previously untried techniques. The end product was something very special indeed-strong melodies and challenging arrangements, dance rhythms fused with throbbing retro sequences and fiery electronic soundscapes, all welded together to occupy a unique territory in the UK synth music scene.

Technical issues meant that the early SkinMechanix demo tapes were not viable, however, so Hughes began re-recording and rearranging the source material to form the basis of a more commercial release. These efforts proved highly successful and the debut album The Secret Life of Angels was released in September 2002. The album made its debut at Jodrell Bank Planetarium that month and the audience reaction was very positive and enthusiastic. After quickly gaining a number of excellent reviews and a great deal of airplay around the world, SkinMechanix continues.

Live concerts are now a regular feature. So far, SkinMechanix have performed at three concerts in the Awakenings series, two as the headline act. The disc Fallen Angel was recorded at the Awakenings concert in February 2005 and features both live and studio pieces. Fallen Angel was released as a limited edition disc in December 2005 and was sold out completely within two days.

The band remains highly active with new material emerging throughout 2006 and 2007.


artist: Slimdog Productions
description: Beats and instrumentals that moves, grooves and soothes
homepage: slimdog_productions
state: CO
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/slimdog.jpg
bio:
Slimdog Productions is the music of David "Slimdog" Bell Jr., a member of the Indie Hip Hop group Block Scholars who appear here on Magnatune as well.

David began making music/composing beats in 2004 where some of his music garnered interest from indie artists to use his music in their works. His music was used in the independent film, "Mixtape Inc." by Cando Entertainment in 2007.

"Slimstrumentals Vol. I" is the first instrumental compilation by Slimdog Productions and features some of the instrumentals that have been used on some Block Scholars tracks and just instrumentals to portray certain emotions felt at the time.

David hopes to have a volume 2 soon for a future release on Magnatune as well.


artist: Slouching Stars
description: Charming indie rock from the pioneers of San Francisco&#39;s Noise Pop scene
homepage: slouching_stars
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/slouching_stars.jpg
bio:
Slouching Stars was born in 2009 when former members of the rock band Carlos! decided it was time to reconvene and expand on the sound that made them pioneers of San Francisco's Noise Pop scene.

Rich Scramaglia (vocals, guitar) and Allan Moon (bass, keys, vocals), childhood buddies formed Carlos! with drummer Doug Lippi whom they met in biology class. They rocked their way through the 90s becoming a Bay Area institution in the process. Some time after releasing their final album on the Amazing Grease label (run by Spiral Stairs of Pavement), they decided to venture out independently and test the waters. After playing with a whole new circle of kindred rockers, Rich and Allan looped back and were ready to pick up, but not exactly where they left off. Now they had new perspectives, new ideas and new musical territory to discover.

In 2009, Slouching Stars began writing and rocking new tunes. Rich, Allan, Doug and Richard Mather Marshall (Alice Donut) recorded their debut, Baby Bombardier, in 2010 at SF's Tiny Telephone Studios with Ian Pellicci (Deerhoof, John Vanderslice) at the controls. The album was mixed by Paul Kolderie (Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., Buffalo Tom) at Camp Street Studios in Boston.

Next came Elephant Boot Stomp, a special EP to coincide with their 2012 return to the festival they helped launch, Noise Pop. The EP was recorded in 2011 with Mitch Easter (R.E.M.) at his Fidelitorium in North Carolina.

Now with Nick Dumitriu (Turn Me On Dead Man, Local Stars) on guitar, they are currently finishing their latest full length, "Sad Moon Eyes." It was recorded at Nick's Light Rail Studios in SF with Tom Galbraith (Blank Stares, Men's Club) on drums and with production assistance from Mike Drake (Oranger) and Matt Harris (Posies, Ian Moore). Look out for "Sad Moon Eyes" later this year. Rock!!

You can learn more about Slouching Stars through the following links: www.slouchingstars.com
slouchingstars@gmail.com
www.twitter.com/slouchingstars


artist: Snowsleep
description: mediative ambient, electronic and post-rock
homepage: snowsleep
city: Hamburg
country: Germany
bandphoto: /artists/img/snowsleep.jpg
bio:
Snowsleep is a one-man-project made by ukrainian musician Kirill Salinski. He was born at 1980 in Charkow (East Ukraine). Since 1996 he has been playing in a couple of rock and metal bands. In 2000 he came to Germany and started making electronic music, whilst he was also playing in the electronic punk-band Skrinshot from Hamburg, and working at 20359records.

Kirill has experimented a lot with different music styles, untill he finally found his own authentic sound. The music is a gentle mix of ambient, electronic music and post-rock with long meditative compositions with smooth guitar sounds and electronic beats. Kirill creates and produces his music by using only virtual synths and clean electric guitar sounds, combining these to get a relaxing, multi-layered, sometimes drone and slow flowing sound.


artist: Solar Cycle
description: a summer cocktail of Chill out, Electronica and Ambient
homepage: solar_cycle
city: London
country: England
bandphoto: /artists/img/solar_cycle.jpg
bio:
SOLAR CYCLE has been making music for over five years now in various styles and under several aliases. He began sometimes at the end of 90's when he experienced a first taste of early music production and DJ-ing mainly on simple hardware and PC. After moving to London a few years ago I met some very interesting people, who helped me to understood the natural beauty of composing on PC and new wide world of electronic music.

It started in the end of 1999 and early 2000 when I officially get my first PC sequencer (Fruity Loops) and started to produce my first sounds in Trance style under the DJ Markitos name. After a few years of experiencing and studying music software, sound engineering I decided to try different genre music than what I had been thus-far doing (which was mostly Trance and Techno). By experimenting in my home studio with my sample library I made my first new album under SOLAR CYCLE name, a style that I call a "summer cocktail of Chill out House, Electronica and Ambient styles".


artist: Solar Theory
description: sound meditations unifying deeply mesmerizing vocals with electronic soundscapes
homepage: solar_theory
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/solar_theory.jpg
bio:
The two universes of Torkom Ji and Divasonic collide to form Solar Theory, their collaborative electronic performance and production project. Torkom and Lynda weave deeply mystical and spiritual compositions. Lynda's vocal and instrumental musings about the universe and evolving consciousness, stories of our journey through time, space and love through connection to the source, float over Torkom's signature 432Hz electronic grooves and soundscapes.

Solar Theory is unifying the space between sound meditation and live performance through a diversity of form and expression. Their live experience is a download, designed purely to assist one to transcend the limitations of the ego and physical self for something greater that has always been inside. It's an evolution of sound born out of their sound healing and past production work, and serves as an giant leap in the future of forward thinking music based on universal principles. Their live experience is further enhanced by the visual wizardry of Michael Strauss, creating a mind melding audio-visual experience designed to blow minds and expand hearts.

www.solartheorymusic.com www.divasonic.com www.torkomji.com


artist: Soleil Vert
description: composed electronic music contrasted with ambient nature
homepage: soleil_vert
city: Montreal
country: Canada
bandphoto: /artists/img/soleil_vert.jpg
bio:
Inspired by his love of nature and by the destruction of it by technology and mankind, Soleil Vert composes music where layers of electronic textures are often in contrast with ambient nature sounds. The name comes from the French translation for "Soylent Green", one of the first widely distributed commercial movies anticipating a dark future.

Soleil Vert is the result of getting in contact with nature. This experience made me realize how we human beings relate to nature. We are made in our bodies to be inhabitants of planet Earth, we are biological beings, dependent on Earth's ecology. Nothing can replace our natural environment as our life support system. Nature is also a source of deep emotions and a feeling of connectiveness to the elements that are often overlooked today.

The destruction of nature for profitability. Our collective alienation before the powers of money and politics. I am playing the soundtrack against that desolation. There's always that little hope, that flower in the middle of the asphalt. Watch the forces of nature still growing in places, still going strong within ourselves. My music is all about that contrast. I imagine the landscapes of the past and the future in a surreal voyage. Then I make the sounds...

This solo project started in fall 2004 and Soleil Vert produced his first album in 2005. It is currently based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

For more on Soleil Vert please go to his MySpace page.


artist: Somadrone
description: modern hard rock
homepage: somadrone
state: MA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/somadrone.jpg
bio:
The members of somadrone have known each other since they were teenagers and have shared many experiences in different bands such as Mary's Attic, Stain Glass Buzz, Ulterior Vision, Undermind, and Lucid.

These bands were all from the same tight knit small town local scene in central Massachusetts. Nathan Richard and John Hodges, on drums and bass respectively, have been jamming together for over a decade at this point having been the rhythm section in both Mary's Attic and Stain Glass Buzz.

They continue to create a rock solid bottom end. Cree being the former drummer for Ulterior Vision and Undermind has now switched things around and shares the responsibilities of adding ingredients to the smoldering guitar stew with former Lucid guitar player Nathan Erickson. Scott has put in his vocal tones with Stain Glass Buzz and Lucid in the past and continues to be up front now doing his thing.

During a down time after Mary's Attic and SGB had long been disbanded, John was bumming and looking for a project to be in.

During the same time Cree had come back from California after a short stint as drummer in the band hint and was looking for something as well.

Through a common friend, the two found out about the other's situation and got together to jam. From there, John thought it would be cool to bring down former Lucid guitarist Nathan Erickson and former SGB drummer Nathan Richard to join in on the jam sessions.

After jamming for awhile in a 12' x 12' room in Cree's basement and coming up with the structure for some songs, Nathan Erickson brought down Scott Brown to round out the band that is now called somadrone.


artist: Sophia Marie
description: bad ass bass with soaring femme fatale vocals
homepage: sophia_marie
city: Sydney
country: Australia
bandphoto: /artists/img/sophia_marie1.jpg
bio:
A few years ago Sophia Marie aka Wicked Wench was an obese single mother living on welfare in California. With a history of drugs and promiscuity, her future did not look bright.

The early death of her mother in 2004 from obesity complications could have added to Sophia's problems, but instead she used the event as a wake up call and decided to change her life.

Today, Sophia Marie is 50kg (110lbs) lighter and setting her new home of Sydney Australia on fire with her ballsy hard rock music.

Sophia Marie grew up in a musical family, playing flute and piccolo in school bands. She switched to playing bass guitar when her dentist made her wear braces but soon gave that up too when a jealous boyfriend objected. It was over a decade later before she picked up the bass again.

Completely self taught on the bass, once Sophia picked up the instrument again she found herself making up her own riffs and soon after, adding melodies and lyrics to her compositions. She then recruited a band, started performing gigs and a new rock star was born. Her new partner was so impressed by the quality of Sophia's music that he decided to sell his house and invest the money into making Sophia's debut album!

Sophia Marie's debut album "Twisted" pulls no punches. Describing herself as a cross between Madonna and Metallica, Sophia seamlessly blends soft and hard into an exotic mix of musical emotion. Unashamedly sexual in nature Sophia says she sees the hard rock music as a male stimulant to her powerful, soaring vocals, which she says, are a natural female reaction to good loving done right!

Sophia's music video for Voodoo from her album "Twisted"

The Twisted album is structured around the theme of love and loss, the songs carefully arranged to create a loose story or old style concept album. The power and intensity of the songs in the centre of the album suggest Sophia Marie has drawn on some personal experiences to create songs that should drive deep into the all but the coldest of harts. The cheeky and sometimes downright sinful content of the rest of the songs suggest her previous out of control lifestyle has not been entirely forgotten!


artist: Sora
description: Lushly evocative songstress singing music for a new world
homepage: sora
city: Alberta
country: Canada
bandphoto: /artists/img/sora.jpg
bio:
With a uniquely ancient-to-modern sound, Canadian singer-songwriter, Sora weaves together contemporary styling with the mystical moods of Celtic folk, New age, medieval madrigals and other modes of early music. The result is a heady, colourfully evocative tapestry that conjures the imagery of long ago but feels just as current as anything from the present musical landscape - all while sounding like little else on today's airwaves. With a penchant for threading stories and narratives through her live performance of swirling harp, earthy percussion, ethereal backups and soaring vocals, this much is clear; you have never heard anything quite like Sora.

Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Sora was classically trained on violin and piano as a child and toured with a youth orchestra and fiddling group when she was a teenager. Surprisingly, however, it's only recently that she became a singer, shortly after the birth of her first daughter in 2000 (she and her husband have four children). "I'd been away from music for years, and I was starting to feel like something was missing in my life," recalls the vocalist, who majored in psychology at the University of Calgary and graduated with honours. "I started taking voice lessons as something just for me, and things just blossomed from there."

The initial fruits of Sora's newfound voice were 2003's Winds of Change, a collection of traditional folk songs from the British Isles, and 2007's Light, a four-track EP. In 2009, Sora released a full length album of original compositions, Heartwood, in which Sora delves deeply into examinations of human archetypes, all held within a contemporary framework. With this release, Sora received airplay on many college and community radio stations, charting on several while the reviews poured in, unanimously applauding her crystalline voice and unusual lyrical vision within the songs. While her love of mythology plays a central role in her songs, Sora maintains that for her it's not simply about setting tales to music. "It's always my goal to understand the heart of the myth, rather than to simply retell a story," she says. "I'm far more interested in discovering why that myth is still meaningful today." And like those ancient myths themselves, the songs Sora sings have a hauntingly elusive resonance that will surely see them echoing throughout the ages to come.

Sora's uncanny sensitivity to meaning within stories and her ability maintain urban relevancy within the organic settings of her music is starting to garner recognition. In 2010, Sora was commissioned to give voice to Calgary Family Service's 100 year anniversary, which became the song, Legacy, recorded with Juno-nominated producer, Douglas Romanow and performed at the gala event. "My ultimate goal is to create something that people would want to listen to and get lost in,"

Praise for Sora

"Sora's sweet voice, potency of lyric and attention to musical detail captivated me. It made me want to hear more after the very first song. I was never disappointed."
R J Lannan: Zone Music Reporter

"Few albums can be described as perfect, but this one definitely deserves that distinction. Sora takes her listeners to a magical place when she sings, one that few if any will want to leave."
Mossip

"Some musicians are performers and some are true artists. It seems clear from every detail of "Heartwood" that Sora belongs in the latter cateogory."
Catherine L.Tully: Celtic mp3 Music Magazine


artist: SoulPrint
description: soulful hard rock
homepage: soulprint
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/soulprint.jpg
bio:
How heavy can rock get? Heavier than you think. SoulPrint is redefining rock. No catchy pop here, just the best soulful hard rock that will make you rethink your existence. The apocalypse is now. SoulPrint has been shattering eardrums along the central coast for nearly five years, and once LaBarre graduates @ Cal Poly, they plan to tour the United States.

Jason Estes: Jason shows his dedication by driving back and forth from his hometown of Santa Barbara to SLO at least three times a week, just for the band. His passions for singing and expressing himself distinguish him greatly from other vocalists. There's not much else to say about him... and he never really has much to say.

Ryan Estes: AKA Rage. If you know him, you know why this is such a fitting nickname. Attempts with every new song to play more chords, and faster. Has a thing for breaking strings and falling over on stage

John Reisz: John started playing drums just so the band could form. Seven years later... he adds his own unique flow to the edginess of the thrashing guitars. That is, if he isn't pounding away at the double kick.

Ryan LaBarre: The newest member of the band and the only one not born and raised in SLO, Ryan hails from way in up Portland, Oregon. He started out playing guitar, but was drawn to the powerful sounds of the bass two years ago. Less than a week after meeting Rage and Flow at Cal Poly, he found himself playing a show with them at a party in Isla Vista. Luckily, the fans were as drunk as he was, so it didn't matter that he was totally winging it. Now, thank god, he actually knows what he's doing on stage.


artist: Sound of Seventy Three
description: expansive guitar-driven post-rock with trip-hop tinged remixes
homepage: sound_of_seventythree
state: GA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/sound_of_seventythree.jpg
bio:
Sound of Seventy Three is the bedroom recording project of New York born multi-instrumentalist and producer Douglas Johnson.

Blending the euphoric noise of shoegaze, with the gritty-moody atmosphere of trip-hop, and the expansive experimentalism of post-rock, Sound of Seventy Three crafts unique modern instrumental music. Drawing inspiration from sources as varied as 60's soundtracks, 70s kraut-rock, 80s post-punk, and 90's electronica, Sound of Seventy Three brings all this together with a pop-like sense of melody and a lush, almost classical, sense of orchestration.

Starting out in Doug's bedroom in 2005, Sound of Seventy Three became a live band for several years playing loud instrumental guitar-based post-rock in Atlanta area before eventually returning to the bedrooom in 2010 to focus on writing and recording. While playing live Doug perfected writing for his rock ensemble of two guitars, bass and drums and this is still the starting point for much of Sound of Seventy Three's music and arrangements. However, after returning to the bedroom Doug decided to explore other sounds and textures that inspired him primarily by remixing his own compositions.

You can catch more of Sound of Seventy Three on his own YouTube channel of which Tremolos below is an example or on his blogspot.


artist: Soundami
description: a tsunami of high energy electronic sound
homepage: soundami
state: TX
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/soundami.jpg
bio:
Jordan "Sifu" Kolar of Soundami has deep roots electronic dance music. He has been producing, composing, writing and arranging since 1999 as a member of the Trance duo "303 Infinity". As a solo artist Sifu is now producing the music you know as Soundami.

Aptly called Sifu, because he holds the prestigious title in Kung Fu, he's no stranger to dynamic and creative movement. A martial artist, dancer, and aerialist Jordan has an innate need to express the strange and mystifying tunes that populate his head and watch as they become energetic and tangible movement on the dance floor.

Eddie began playing guitar at a young age. At the age of 14, he began to take it more seriously and tried his hand at writing songs. Throughout his time in school he had played in bands with a wide array of genres ranging from blues and classic rock to progressive heavy metal and everything in between.

As his playing style matured, he realized that blues guitar has always been his prime influence, but he was never satisfied sticking to just one style. Though the guitar is Eddie's instrument of choice, he also uses it as a medium to emulate other instruments, especially voice.

He draws inspiration from anything and everything and believes that music is the most eloquent way to paint pictures and evoke cathartic feeling. Eddie has gained experience playing in a variety of genres over the years (such as blues, pop, rock, funk, reggae, electronica, country, jazz, R'n'B, classical, and metal, to name a few) and is always open to exploring new musical boundaries.


artist: Spinecar
description: heavy modern rock.
homepage: spinecar
state: NY
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/spinecar.jpg
bio:
spineCar, from Albany, New York, provide a cutting edge hard rock experience. Their music combines a brutal sound with a timeless, unique vision of pure musical depth fueled by raw energy.

spineCar's self-titled debut was released independently in 1997 and commanded instant attention from everyone who heard their aggressive new sound.

1999 brought the much-awaited follow-up recording - Up From the Mud. The single "Waste Away" was chosen by WQBK FM of Albany, N.Y in The Next Big Thing local event and the classic "Freeze" was recently featured as the opening theme song in the 2003 DMG Films release "The Situationist".

As word of this powerful new band with a heart-stopping live show spread throughout the northeast U.S., spineCar was busy crafting songs for the 2002 Spaceboy release - Autophile, a blasting reminder of what it feels like to be truly rocked.


artist: Spoons
description: retro 80's upbeat danceable music
homepage: spoons
city: Guelph
country: Canada
bandphoto: /artists/img/spoons.jpg
bio:
The Spoons song "Nova Heart" placed at number 46 in The Chart Magazine's cover story on the 50 Best Canadian Songs Of All Time (chosen by 1,600 major music industry players across the country). Nova Heart places at number 169 on CFNY-FM's 1002 Best Songs Of All Time chart. Nova Heart places at number 459 on The Mix 99.9 FM's Best 500 Songs Of The Century countdown. The Spoons album Arias & Symphonies is named as one of the 20 Most Influential Albums Of The 80s by The Chart magazine. Not bad for a bunch of kids from Burlington, Ontario.

Formed in 1980, from the heart of suburbia in Burlington, Ontario, Gordon Deppe and Sandy Horne would soon make Spoons a different kind of household word. Their unique brand of upbeat, danceable music quickly became anthems to legions of fans. Gold albums, various EPs and a movie soundtrack produced such hit songs as Nova Heart, Arias & Symphonies, Old Emotions, Tell No Lies and Romantic Traffic. Now, more than two decades later, who could have predicted the magnitude of a phenomenon known as "retro 80s", when old and new fans alike would rediscover these Canadian classics?

From the dance club to the symphony stage, a double vinyl set of four remixes of Nova Heart became available to clubs and deejays internationally and the Spoons found themselves performing their hits with a full symphony orchestra. Most recently, a Live In Concert DVD was released by Much More Music/Linus Entertainment, their songs appeared on a 20th Century Masters double CD (Universal Music) and a new, long awaited album has finally hit the streets. Aptly entitled "Unexpected Guest At A Cancelled Party", the album is packed with previously unreleased recordings and concert favourites from the vintage 1982 - 1985 years.

"Searching for and finding these songs was like uncovering lost memories in some ancient, overgrown garden. Some had to be carefully restored from their neglected, corrupted state, not unlike faded photographs or cracked, moss covered statues. For some, it seemed, it was merely a matter of time before any hope of a second life would slip away altogether. But with a bit of care, they were brought back to life and, as they did, the memories that surrounded the songs also came back into focus. Of innocent days in the early 1980s when we were at our creative best and songs came without effort, when they just happened out of the sheer pleasure of making music.

If you push back the vines a little, you might see bits and pieces of songs that would make their way into other recordings. Unpremeditated Love and In The Hands Of Money show you their origins and, I think, are still more pure and musical. See if you can pick out the references to the Arias & Symphonies album, scattered all through 2000 Years. The earliest compositions on this collection are Bending and the instrumental Young English Gentleman, the latter a tribute to our good friend and producer John Punter. Given the chance, I think newer songs like Love Drum and Love Can Be A Stranger could have had their day in the sun. But more than any, Spaces was probably buried the deepest, so much so that I didn't recognize it as our own when I first found it. So long had it been sleeping under the dead leaves. The instrumental section near the end is my favourite moment on the whole album.

Most of these songs were recorded after Romantic Traffic and Tell No Lies, in a tiny, hidden away studio in Oakville, Ontario. We were about to embark on a whole new chapter in our musical lives that would leave these old ideas forgotten, to slowly weather over time and eventually fade into the earth.

So, in a way, this album truly was almost never made. Fortunately, never is just a word."

Listen to Spoons ... again, or for the first time ... and join in the retro 80s fun.

For more information about the Spoons please visit their website.


artist: Stanislav
description: Laid-back, cool, electroakoustic, classical music, ethno, jazzy soundtracks
homepage: stanislav
city: Velenje
country: Slovenia
bandphoto: /artists/img/stanislav_low.jpg
bio:
Stane Spegel aka Stanislav aka Monom (The Artist Formerly Known as HouseMouse) is a composer, instrumentalist, producer and author of the multimedia content.

He has released fourteen independent music albums and eight as a member of various music groups. As a member of the collective Microtrip he appeared at all the major and most of the important festivals of electronic and experimental music in Slovenia, Croatia and Austria over the past twenty years.

His works have been published in several national and international compilations and are available in most of the World's online music services. He also produces radio jingles and music for theatrical and dance performances and celebrations.

In addition to his own works Stane Spegel also deals with remixing for other composers. He has authored more than twenty separate music-visual performances / exhibitions in which his sculptures, photo-manipulation prints, relief landscapes and video films are accompanied by his music. With its video works he participated in several national and international video festivals. He has authored, co-written and directed several celebrations and cultural, fashion and sporting events.

You can find out more about him on his website.


artist: Stargarden
description: huge ambient compositions.
homepage: stargarden
state: FL
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/stargarden2.jpg
bio:
It all started with a shoebox and rubber bands....

Born the son of an electronics industry father, Bobby DeVito was exposed to the wonders of computers and electronics at an early age. His parents noticed a certain musical bent when they discovered the young child placing rubber bands on a shoebox in tonal order. Soon the budding musician received a guitar for his birthday.

During the early days of his youth, Bobby often accompanied his father to work, marveling at the rooms full of mainframe computers at Control Data. He and his father were electronics hobbyists as well, building a digitally controlled television with remote control in 1976. At this time, Bobby got his hands on his first synthesizer - an Arp Axxe. Running this basic monosynth through an MXR delay and flanger opened new worlds of sonic discovery. Nevertheless, the guitar proved the be his main instrument for many years, with Bobby touring the USA with new wave pioneers The X-Statics. DeVito was able to fulfill his synthesizer jones during these years by toying with lead vocalist/keyboardist Jon Allmightey's analog synths during rehearsals and soundchecks. After seven years of constant touring and performance, the band split up and Bobby headed to South Florida for an unknown musical future.

Gathering together a drum machine, 4 track recorded, and some signal processing gear, Bobby recorded his first album "Guitar Salad" during this era. This album was more successful than anything he had done previously, being featured on mainstream radio stations all over Florida and garnering a fair amount of press attention. This project set Bobby upon the solo artist path that he has pursued ever since. It was also during this time that academia beckoned, and DeVito managed to get into the prestigious IDS program at St. Petersburg Junior College. After graduating from SPJC, he set his sights on the progressive honors university New College in Sarasota Florida. After making it through the gauntlet of admissions tests and interviews, DeVito was accepted and began to work intensely with Professor Steven Miles, the director of the music program for the college. Miles was a huge influence on the budding electronic music composer, exposing Bobby to a world of sounds, textures, sociological theory, and music history. It was also beneficial that New College had just built an electronic music studio the year DeVito started his studies, as well as hiring an electronic music professor from the Eastman School of Music, Robert Constable. The electronic odyssey had begun. At New College Bobby was exposed to the music and compositional thoughts of composers such as John Cage, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Milton Babbitt, and Iannis Xenakis, as well as philosophers of music such as Walter Benjamin, Simon Frith, and Theodor Adorno. This learning experience helped DeVito to develop his compositional skills and theories, as well as gather an appreciation of electronic music history and conceptual framework.

During these halcyon college days, DeVito managed to secure a job working for BMG Distribution as their College Marketing Rep, a position he held for three years that allowed him to get "real-world" experience in the music industry. At New College, each student must write a Master's Thesis in order to graduate, and Bobby decided on an ambitious project -- to combine his written thesis with a full length album of ambient music. Starting with Erik Satie, and ending up with modern day composers such as Aphex Twin, DeVito's thesis covers the dawn and progression of ambient music, the ways ambient music is distinguished from Muzak, and the sociological implications of ambient music listener reception by touching on the theories of philosopher Theodor Adorno. DeVito's thesis lives on in Hyperreal's "Epsilon Ambient Music Archive".

The CD portion of his thesis is entitled LVX Nova. This project was a collaboration between DeVito and noted electronic composer Mike Meengs. The thesis project was a success, and DeVito graduated from New College in 1996.

After graduation, DeVito set out to get the project released commercially. After releasing the album independently and garnering over 60 pages of press worldwide, three labels presented offers to release the album: R & S Records in Belgium, Subharmonic Records in NYC, and MIRAMAR Records in Seattle. After entertaining all the offers, DeVito decided to sign with MIRAMAR, home to one of his biggest influences Tangerine Dream, and also a part of the BMG Distribution family. LVX Nova received tons of press, critical accolades, and made it to several "top ten releases" lists. In addition, the CD won several awards, including the 1999 "JAMMY" award in Florida for best electronic act.

However, with the instability of MIRAMAR after motion picture company UNAPIX bought out the label in 1999, DeVito was again without a label. After doing some international touring with Atlantic/Code Blue recording artist Sherman Robertson (as bandleader and second guitarist) DeVito once again plunged into the electronic abyss. Stargarden was born at this time. The name stargarden is directly influenced by the underwater life of starfish, who can form huge colonies on the sea floors in a communal form -- sadly, unlike their human counterparts.

Holed up in a loft in Hyde Park Tampa, and later Miami Florida, DeVito creates music entirely for the sake of the process and the enjoyment of his fans. Relying on timbre, repetition, and space, the music of stargarden ranges from drifting ambient space music to beat driven electronica. Bobby cites other artists such as Tangerine Dream, Aphex Twin, Brian Eno, Global Communication, Peter Namlook and FAX artists, John Cage as influences on his particular brand of ambient music. After discovering the then-fledgling MP3.com from his friend. sometime musical partner, and influence Mike Meengs, DeVito placed the first stargarden album on MP3.com, and received thousands and thousand of downloads, as well as quite a few CD sales.

Now, in order to bring electronic music distribution to a new level, DeVito has signed stargarden with Magnatune, believing in their new model of music distribution and intellectual property management. And with new music being released only here on Magnatune, the future of stargarden ambient music is secure.

If you like this music, please consider buying a CD or two to help the process continue. The quest for ambient beauty continues.....


artist: Stellamara
description: original Balkan-Near Eastern-Medieval-Ambient-World.
homepage: stellamara
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/stellamara.jpg
bio:
Stellamara originated in 1994 creating evocative soundscapes that are now considered a new model in contemporary world music. At its core is vocalist/producer Sonja Drakulich and multi- instrumentalist Gari Hegedus. Their music incorporates medieval European, Persian, Arabic, Indian, Turkish and Balkan with subtle electronic textures. The result is a sublime new level of mystery, beauty and depth.

Sonja Drakulich was introduced to Eastern European singing as a teenager and began performing Balkan, Medieval Music and her own compositions at the age of 18. Being of Serbian and Hungarian decent, discovering the songs of Eastern Europe was for her a homecoming. Her continuous interest and study ranges from Medieval European and Persian voice to Turkish, Arabic and Greek and Balkan singing.

She has toured extensively with both Bulgarian and Turkish Ensembles and has produced and engineered several recordings. She is the producer of Stellamara and performs with the ensemble as the lead vocalist, percussionist and hammered dulcimer player. Sonja spends much of her time focusing on the devotional aspect of song and carries with her a passionate and rhythmic style graced with the delicate ornamentations of Eastern melody.

Gari Hegedus began devoting his life to music 25 years ago with the study of Early European, Celtic and Bretagne music. From there he was led east into the intense practice and performance of Turkish classical and Mevlevi ceremonial music.

Gari's repertoire and playing styles span outward from Turkey into Greece and the Arab lands as well as to Iran and India. His main instruments are the oud, violin and saz yet his talent is expressed on many other instruments including the mandocello, sarod and setar.

As a composer and musician, Gari utilizes the various Eastern modal systems called Maqam and has developed the art of improvisation (Taqsim) to a soulful level for which he has become highly recognized.

On stage and in the studio, Stellamara incorporates the talents of percussionists Tobias Roberson and Susu Pampanin, along with upright Bassist Miles Jay.

Their tapestry of sound is complemented with the custom sound design of Christofer K. Original, atmospheric sounds and sonic backdrops are created from mostly their own acoustic sources, such as the yayli tanbur, viola and wind instruments such as the Ney and Zurna. The result of this creation is a sublime new level of mystery, Beauty and depth.


artist: Stephane Potvin and the Con Brio Choir
description: choral conductor extraordinaire
homepage: potvin
state: Ontario
country: Canada
bandphoto: /artists/img/potvin.jpg
bio:
Stephane Potvin is an accomplished, creative conductor with over twenty years of experience, and is known for his ability to coax lyrical performances from orchestras, choirs and chamber ensembles. He loves to share his passion for music with colleagues and audiences and has a wealth of experience in conducting, education, and administration.

In recent years, Maestro Potvin has held the positions of a Conductor in Residence at Orchestra London, Music Director of the Oakville Chamber Orchestra and Assistant to Boris Brott at the National Academy Orchestra. His energies are now focused on his newly formed Oakville Chamber Ensemble.

His career has taken him across Canada, the United States and Europe conducting the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, the McGill Chamber Singers, the Orpheus Male choir, the Niagara Children's Choir and the Canadian Armed Forces Band.

Maestro Potvin is an excellent communicator with a sense of humour that helps create a friendly rapport. He is as much at ease on the podium as he is doing motivational speeches. Fully bilingual, he connects equally with audiences in both French and in English. He knows how to engage audiences young and young at heart.

Born in Quebec, Maestro Potvin studied orchestral and choral conducting with Frieder Bernius, Gustav Meier, Otto-Werner Mueller, Jorma Panula, Fred Stoltzfus and Timothy Vernon.


artist: Stephen Schweyen
description: original electronic ambient techno
homepage: schweyen
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/schweyen.jpg
bio:
Stephen began music training at age 13 in Seattle Washington. He now resides and works from his studio in Las Vegas Nevada. He was trained by the legendary Billy Stull at the School Of Mastering on South Padre Island and is certified on the "Masterpiece" (Billy Stull/Rupert Neve) analog mastering system. Stephen works as a composer, audio mastering engineer and production software instructor.

Stephen is the mastering engineer on; "Curl Up and Die" and "Hallowed Ground" the 2 latest albums released by the artist In Dark Solitude. He also works on web site audio design and radio spot productions.

His favorite tools are Reason, Digital Performer, Sonar and Logic Studio. Also, Stephen offers musicians online instruction in the use of music production software.


artist: Sterling
description: sublime and ethereal electronic music
homepage: sterling
state: NY
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/sterling.jpg
bio:
Since 1995, Sterling has been producing some of the most innovative music within the electronic genre. Through a seamless integration of trance, ambience, and breakbeats; he has created a progressive style that is uniquely his own.

A style that is represented by intensely emotive work dealing with themes such as loneliness, faith, and transcendence. In Sterling's mind, it goes beyond music. He is struggling to create the soundtrack to a new reality, teeming with so much hope and possibility.

With the debut release of the self-titled album "Sterling", he was finally able to begin sharing his vision with others. Though only 18 when much of it was completed, it became evident that he contained a great deal of maturity within his music. Songs such as Transcendental and Alone exhibit such depth and perception, it is hard to imagine them being the product of a teenage mind. But they were and Sterling had arrived.

Four years later, Sterling's second album "Brave New World" came upon us. It was born out of Sterling's deep concern for the current state of the world. In essence, it is a concept album envisioning the destruction and rebirth of Earth. Obviously, there is more at play here than simply dance music.


artist: Steve Eulberg
description: smile-inducing, toe-tapping folkgrass
homepage: steve_eulberg
state: CO
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/steve_eulberg.jpg
bio:
Five-time national mountain dulcimer winner, 3-time national hammered dulcimer finalist, Steve Eulberg weaves old-timey with blues and contemporary tunes adding original songs into a tapestry of "smile-inducing, toe-tapping folkgrass" that captivates and energizes audiences of all ages.

Steve's music has been featured on United Airlines' Inflight Audio, PBS's Roadtrip Nation and National Public Radio. An active touring musician, film and theater composer, he has had two recordings on initial Grammy ballot and several songs in the Top 10 Independent Country Chart reported by The Music Review.

Host of the Colorado Dulcimer Festival he is active as Secretary-Treasurer of Local 1000, the non-geographical local of the AFM, specifically created for traveling musicians.

Steve earned a Master of Music Education degree from Boston University and his elementary school programs are engaging, informative, uplifting and fun! He teaches guitar at www.jamplay.com and is co-owner of www.dulcimercrossing.com where he teaches people to both mountain and hammered dulcimers.


artist: Steve Tyler
description: Hurdy gurdy based multitrack music for the end of time
homepage: steve_tyler
city: Okehampton
country: England
bandphoto: /artists/img/steve_tyler.jpg
bio:
Steve Tyler is best known as a hurdy gurdy player, renowned for his rhythmic and inventive playing, and is equally at home with early music, traditional melodies or modern compositions. He has performed with such diverse artists as English folk singer Jackie Oates, German industrial/electronic musician F.M.Einheit and South African puppeteer John Roberts, and has played for theatrical productions (including Comus and Secret Theatre at The Globe's Sam Wanamaker Playhouse), historical and traditional dances, mixed media performances and worked with storytellers Clive Fairweather and Dave Oliver.

For many years a performer of medieval music, his main interest is in patterns, rhythms, the interweaving of different parts and sonic structures, and to this end works on dark multitrack music mixing hurdy gurdies with dulcimer, reed organ, cittern and diverse instruments, inspired by patterns in nature, mathematics and the imagination.

He performs as a duo with Katy Marchant (bagpipes, recorder, shawm, voice) or with their band Woodwose, and is a member of trans-cultural collaboration Meridianum Ensemble.


artist: Steven Devine
description: exquisite and exuberant harpsichord.
homepage: sdevine
city: Kent
country: England
bandphoto: /artists/img/devine.jpg
bio:
Steven Devine enjoys a busy career as a music director and keyboard player working with some of the finest musicians.

He made his London conducting debut in 2002 at the Royal Albert Hall and is now a regular performer there - including making his Proms directing debut in August 2007 with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He has conducted the Mozart Festival Orchestra in every major concert hall in the UK and also across Switzerland. Steven is Music Director for New Chamber Opera in Oxford and with them has conducted performances of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, Mozart's La Finta Semplice and Il Re Pastore, Stradella's Il Trespolo Tutore, Rossini's Le Comte Ory, Handel's Xerxes and Tamerlano, Arne's Artaxerxes, Galuppi's Il Mondo alla Roversa. He has directed the first performance of the newly-acquired score of Cavalli's Erismena and Sallieri's Falstaff with the same forces. For the Dartington Festival Opera he has conducted Handel's Orlando and Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.

Since 2007 Steven has been the harpsichordist with London Baroque in addition to his position as Co-Principal keyboard player with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He is also the principal keyboard player for The Gonzaga Band, Apollo and Pan, The Classical Opera Company and performs regularly with many other groups around Europe. He has recorded over thirty discs with other artists and ensembles and made three solo recordings. His latest recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations (Chandos Records) has been receiving critical acclaim - including Gramophone magazine describing it as "among the best". Another volume of Bach's harpsichord works is in preparation.

Steven is a regular member of the OAE education team, Professor of Harpsichord and Fortepiano at TrinityLaban Conservatoire of Music and a visiting teacher, adjudicator and examiner for many other institutions. He is also Director of Development for the Finchcocks Collection of historical keyboard instruments, Kent.

You can find out about Steven's other work with Kate Semmens on their duo page.


artist: Streicher Trio
description: classical chamber music on period instruments
homepage: streicher
city: Berkeley
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/streicher.jpg
bio:
The Streicher Trio is a favorite Bay Area chamber ensemble. Its "playing is of a consistently high standard," reports the STRAD. Their core repertoire is of the Classical Era, with occasional performances and recordings of Baroque and Early Romantic Music.

Their interpretations on original and replica instruments enrich the standard Classical piano trio repertory, bringing the listener to the spirit of the original sonorities. "They deliver resonant, buoyant readings, with the sound of the elusive fortepiano captured as well as I've ever heard it." --The SF Examiner.

Since 1985, the ensemble has toured many years on the California Arts Council Rooster and in the USA, as well as winning grants to festivals in Germany, and France. Numerous concerts have included guest artists, ranging from vocalists and instrumentalists, to a Spanish dancer.

The prominent musicians heard on the Streicher Trio recordings include Katherine Kyme and Carla Moore, violin; Sarah Freiberg, cello; Charlene Brendler, fortepiano; and Judith Nelson, Soprano. "The Trio's interpretation is dynamic, with a lot of lyrical movement, and persuasively profound."--The Diapason, France.

Bios:

Katherine Kyme is a principal violinist and soloist with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and with the American Bach Soloists. She performs Classical era chamber music with the New Esterhazy Quartet as well as the Streicher Trio. In addition to advocating contemporary music, she conducts two youth orchestras connected with the California Youth Symphony. She studied violin at UC Berkeley, Yale University, and in Vienna.

Charlene Brendler, founder of the Streicher Trio, performs on and teaches both fortepiano and harpsichord. She has made numerous appearances on both instruments as a recitalist, an ensemble member, as soloist with orchestra, and as a collaborator in lieder recitals. She serves on the faculty of UC Berkeley and the Crowden School. She studied early keyboard instruments in Amsterdam, London, New York, and Boston.

Sarah Freiberg, cellist on the recordings, teaches at Boston University and performs in a variety of ensembles in the Boston Area. She received her Doctorate from the University of New York at Stony Brook, is a graduate of Brown University, and studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. She is also a contributing editor for Strings Magazine.

Joanna Blendulf, pictured cellist, is a native of Sweden, and performs with ensembles and orchestras across the nation. Currently in Portland, she is active with the Portland Baroque Orchestra, the American Bach Soloists, and Mirabile, to name a few. She was a competition runner-up in 2002 for the EMA/Dorian Competition playing the Triemer cello sonatas. She studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Indiana University.

Judith Nelson, Soprano, (on the Musica da Camera 17th & 18th century selections from the Frank V. de Bellis Collection in San Francisco), is an internationally known specialist in early music singing. She has performed in over a hundred recordings with the most notable names in the field both in Europe and the USA.


artist: Strojovna 07
description: techno.
homepage: strojovna_07
city: Vrbove
country: Slovakia
bandphoto: /artists/img/strojovna_07.jpg
bio:
Strojovna 07 is a project of two people who go by the name RA100 and ISH. Rastislav Stolarik (ISH) focusses on House, Tech-house and Techno, while occasionally exploring other genres as well.


artist: Stuart Sweeney
description: a one man analogue ambient orchestra
homepage: stuart_sweeney
city: Corby
country: England
bandphoto: /artists/img/stuart_sweeney.jpg
bio:
It's easy to understand why this forty-something Northamptonshire based Glaswegian has such maturity in his compositions. That is, if you already know of his decade-spanning career in music, and its reach into so many aspects of said business.

But for those who don't, let's provide a simple summary...

Stuart Sweeney the performer surfaced in the late 1980s. A technically talented player, he was lucky enough to work alongside the likes of Eddy 'Knock On Wood' Floyd. Later, work in specialist music retail involved inviting Red Hot Chili Pepper Chad Smith, and Steve White (Paul Weller's drummer) to jam in-store. And then there are also numerous songwriting credits, film, television and advert work, not to mention performances with the South Bank Centre's London Philarmonia.

So by now you appreciate there's depth, diversity and experience. Which means it makes sense there's such depth and experience evident in the results of his solo project. The fact that, prior to this, Sweeney has scarcely ventured past the point of fandom when it comes to symphony hall soundtracks, makes it all the more impressive. As does the time he spends, MiniDisc Recorder in hand, scouring the surrounding landscape for appealing, interesting, and often abstract noises, thus widening the scope of this aural vision.

When Oomff Records was set up, this passion and dedication to a life surrounded by notation paper was finally cemented, as was an outlet for Sweeney's own work, realised by a brave move to self release.

The decision to engineer his first long-player is mirrored in the welding course he took, with the aim of being able to produce his own percussion instruments. In short, it's a DIY ethic rare in a many professionals, though evident in the greatest musicians of our time.

Made his own way, in his own time, the debut, 16:9, is a spellbinding collection, and the product of some 16 months in the studio. Mastered by Denis Blackham, the Master of Masterers whose career name-checks The Who, Jimi Hendrix and Kraftwerk to name but a few, those first 12 tracks from contemporary-classical's newest beacon of light reflected this analogy. The opening strings ushered in some glorious sunrise, and from there on in, we were given a soundscape littered with fascinating details, like the days that account for Sweeney's last three decades. A film soundtrack, played by an orchestra of one, it's only when people can see from both sides that they achieve something so complete.


artist: Suchita Parte
description: ancient Indian songs in a modern blend
homepage: parte
city: Mumbai
country: India
bandphoto: /artists/img/parte2.jpg
bio:
Suchita Parte says she crafted the album Designer Bliss to help tune the physical body with the astral one, and solicited the help of many accomplished musicians to create this blend of exotic Sanskrit shlokas, ancient Indian raagas and subtle modern influences. You can hear and feel the colorful Rajasthani Folk, ethnic Carnatic music, Himalayan melodies and much more. Two tracks, "Narayanan" and "Pandurangashtakam," were selected by Tandem Music Canada for their upcoming compilation Global Mystique album of female vocal artists from around the world.

Suchita has learnt from veterans like Pandit Govind Prasad Jaipurwale and Shri Suresh Wadkar. She did her diploma and B.A. in Hindustani Classical Vocal from the University of Mumbai under the able guidance of Pandit Firoz Dastur of Kirana Gharana and is presently learning from stalwarts like Shri Narayan Bodas and Shri Babanrao Haldankar. The University of Mumbai has honoured her for Ram Marathe and Ramchandra Chitalkar scholarships. She comes from the family with a musical heritage, being the niece of well-known singer Suman Kalyanpur and Shyama Chittar, and is the daughter of singer Mukta Mavinkurve. Suchita is now often invited to hold Indian music workshops in Antwerpen,Belgium and over there is collaborating with artists Marie Joelle and Kenny Clarys for an interesting album which will be a blend of east n west.

As a social worker Suchita was responsible for the Saptapadi album, an anti-dowry project.

Tushar Parte is the son of well respected composer, the late Jaykumar Parte, and is a professional "First Call" studio guitar player for Bollywood films. He's contributed to many movie scores including several hit songs for leading music directors. Tushar has accompanied legends like R.D. Burman, Asha Bhonsle, Pankaj Udhas on their world tours and albums. Internationally he has composed for artists as varied as pop singer Ella Blame for a "A Thousand Kisses"; Italian experimental singer Katya Sanna for her single "Ignago e Meritevole". He has arranged music for Celtic singer Esther Valentine for her song "The Missing Mantra" and has sung and collaborated for "Strumming Are The Sages" with American musicians of California Bluegrass Association, blending Indian music with American bluegrass music.He is honoured by being selected by Martin Clayton (ethnomusicologist, England) for his book on global guitar called "Guitar Cultures" released by Oxford. He has composed music for the film "Bollywood" based on Shashi Tharoor's novel and now he is arranging for a pop album by Dawn May from London. From July till August 2008 Tushar will be collaborating for an album with Janeen Leah from San Fransisco.


artist: Suchitra Lata
description: Swirling Chillout, Ambient, World, Progressive Pop, Indian classical veena and much more in between
homepage: suchitra_lata
city: Bangalore
country: India
bandphoto: /artists/img/suchitra_lata.jpg
bio:
"My earliest memories are with music running in the background, it was the family around the gramophone or the spool player or the tape recorder, or my mother and father singing classical Indian music, my sister playing the veena..."

Being blessed with such a musical background it was not long before I asked for a veena of my own and classes began soon thereafter. While I continued to listen to music by Henry Mancini, Andre Kostelanetz and Percy Faith, Michael Jackson on the one hand, and our great Indian film composers, S D Burman, R D Burman, Salil Chowdhary and others on the other hand, my musical tastes grew wide ranging and deeply rewarding. In my teens I would write poems, set them to music in my head. To do so better, I took up guitar classes as well.

I had an opportunity to watch while famous film composer Vijayabhaskar was at work and he told me "Why not be my assistant, you have very good ears!"

That's when I took up composing seriously. Then came the journey with musical software and I was delighted to see how much I could put together and then to sing or play the veena on the track was really the peak of musical happiness for me!"

Suchitra Lata, classical veena player, has trained under illustrious veena teachers like, Neela Roy (Kalyanakrishna Bhagavathar school), Rajeshwari Padmanabhan (Karaikudi school) and continues to learn with Maestro Chitravina Ravikiran.

As a composer/lyricist, she writes in English, Tamil and sometimes in French. Her music is a mix of her long and ardent Indian classical music training and her fortunate exposure to every genre of music from country, Broadway, jazz, Hindustani and rock since childhood. Full of unexpected chord progressions, with an Indian lilt, many of her songs also feature the veena played in different styles.

At present Suchitra Lata has composed music for a couple of Bollywood style feature films, jingles for radio stations like Gold FM Ajman UAE, music for corporate films (Bosch, Praxair, Madura Clothing) licensed music for brands world-wide (Calin Mia, Cabi Clothing, Jacob's coffee) and composed TV titles and 4 albums in diverse genres. Her music is licensed world-wide and is played on instore radio channels in the USA as well as across Europe.

She is part of a hot new electro-acoustic band "Soular Flare" featuring her vocals and production, Trilochan Kampli on the tabla and Paulson Joseph on the electric sitar. A wicked mix of pop and lounge, unique veena, classical tabla and funky jazzy sitar - Western music with an Indian soul!

The great journey of music via an Indian musican's soul!


artist: Sulis
description: heavenly, healing, early music
homepage: sulis
city: London
country: England
bandphoto: /artists/img/sulisportrait.jpg
bio:
CELIA HARPER worked for many years as a keyboard continuo player and latterly double harpist, playing and recording with most of Britain's early music ensembles in concert and opera. She was for many years particularly associated with Kent Opera's baroque productions under Sir Roger Norrington. She has taught as a singer's style coach on early music at the Britten-Pears School in Aldeburgh and also with the European Union Baroque Orchestra. Her interest in researching 17th and 18th century music led to her devising several series of music programmes for S4C, the Welsh Television Channel. Celia has been composing since 1994 and has had works premiered by Michael Chance and Fretwork, Felicity Palmer CBE, Canterbury Chamber Choir, Chiswick Baroque and the Joyful Company of Singers among others. Her ensemble SULIS www.sulismusic.com has been involved in ground-breaking research into music and healing at Bristol Cancer Help Centre. Patients listening to her music felt less stressed and showed significantly raised levels of immunoglobulin A, an immune status indicator, and reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol. In 2007 Celia won joint 2nd prize and 3rd prize in the English Poetry and Song Society's song writing competition and an ensuing song cycle was premiered by Michael George in 2008. She is currently working on songs about British wildlife for 4-7 year olds and a Patronal Mass commission.

ELIZABETH WILCOCK won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music and later to the Mozarteum, Salzburg. It was here whilst studying with the Hungarian violinist Sandor Vegh that she met Nicholaus Harnoncourt and began her interest in authentic performance. Upon her return to Britain in 1976 she became one of the pioneers of the early music revival in this country, playing and recording with conductors such as Christopher Hogwood, Trevor Pinnock and John Eliot Gardiner. Elizabeth led the English Baroque Soloists for twelve years and the Gainsborough Quartet, whose recording of Mozart Piano Quartets for Deutsche Grammophon was voted record of the month. In 1992 Elizabeth gave up the performing and touring life and moved with her three children to Dorset where she retrained at Bristol University as a Music Therapist. She now practices Music Therapy as well as playing with Sulis.

JACQUELINE EVILL is the first winner of the Holland Park American Express Prize for the most outstanding operatic performance of the year. She won the prize, awarded by a distinguished panel of critics and opera journalists, for her performance as Amelia in Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera. The panel, who voted for her unanimously, described her as "utterly convincing and enthralling from the first moment she walked onstage". Her many Verdi roles include Leonora in Il Trovatore, Violetta in La Traviata and Desdemona in Otello and other repertoire includes Tosca and Tatiana.

She has worked with the Royal Opera, Scottish Opera, Opera Holland Park, European Chamber Opera, Kent Opera and Travelling Opera. Jacqueline sang Countess Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro at Sadlers Wells Theatre and among the many complimentary reviews she received were the following: "the palm must go to Jacqueline Evill's Countess, whose command of her role is both dramatically and vocally complete"-The Independent. "Jacqueline Evill's exquisitely sung Countess"- Opera magazine.

Jacqueline is a founder member of Sulis.

ROBIN BLAZE was born in Manchester, he studied at Magdalen College, Oxford and the RCM where he is now a Professor of Singing. He has appeared in opera at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, Teatro Sao Carlos, Lisbon and at festivals in the UK and abroad. Concert appearances include engagements with The King's Consort, The Sixteen, Gabrieli Consort, English Concert, English Baroque Soloists, Academy of Ancient Music, Bach Collegium Japan, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Tafelmsik, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Rias Kammerchor. Recital include appearances at the Wigmore Hall London, Paris, Gottingen, Innsbruck and Karlsruhe and for BBC Radio 3. He has recorded for Hyperion, Bis, DG Archiv, EMI, Chandos, Harmonia Mundi and Virgin.

MICHAEL CHANCE has established a worldwide reputation as one of the foremost exponents of the male alto voice in all areas of the classical repertoire, and is in equal demand as an opera, concert and recording artist.

His vocal training with Robert Bruce-Lockhart followed an English Degree at King's College Cambridge where he was also a choral scholar. His first operatic experience was in the Buxton Festival in Ronald Eyre's staging of Cavalli's Giasone which was followed by appearances in Lyon, Cologne, and three seasons with Kent Opera.

Subsequently, he has performed in the Sydney Opera House, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, La Scala Milan, New York, Lisbon, Paris, Amsterdam, and with Covent Garden, Glyndebourne, and English National Opera. His roles include Orfeo (Gluck), Oberon, Giasone, Giustino, Ottone, Athamas, Andronico, and Apollo (Britten's Death in Venice). He has had roles written specially for him by Sir Harrison Birtwhistle (The Second Mrs Kong) and Judith Weir (A Night at the Chinese Opera). Recent festival appearances include Edinburgh, Aix-en-Provence and Salzburg.

His appearances in oratorio and recital have taken him to concert halls all over the world and his list of recordings is extensive. He received a Grammy award for his participation in Handel's Semele for Deutsche Grammophon with John Nelson and Katharine Battle. He has recorded frequently with John Eliot Gardiner, Trevor Pinnock, Franz Bruggen, Ton Koopman and Nicholas McGeegan. On his recently released CD for Deutsche Grammophon he sings solo alto cantatas by Vivaldi with Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert.

His belief in extending the counter-tenor repertoire has prompted new works to be composed for him by Richard Rodney Bennett, Alexander Goehr, Tan Dun, Anthony Powers, John Tavener, and Elvis Costello - amongst others. He sings regularly with the viol consort Fretwork, and recently toured with them to Japan.

Michael Chance is a visiting Professor at the Royal College of Music.

Michael is a founder member of Sulis.


artist: Sun Palace
description: gossamer folk-rock
homepage: sun_palace
state: NY
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/sun_palace.jpg
bio:
Sun Palace is the musical vision of vocalist, songwriter, and musician Andriette Redmann, who was raised on a Wisconsin cherry farm that doubled as an artist colony-a place she describes as "a combination of Ringling Brothers and a Bergman film." Andriette came from a musical family going back many generations and her earliest inspiration was her aunt, Frances Martinsek, a popular accordianist of the 1930's and 40's.

"Aunt Fran had me singing in front of audiences at the age of four in her cast-off silk and satin gowns," says Reddman. "I loved her stories about playing for the Milwaukee Braves, the Green Bay Packers, and the German Chancellor."

As adulthood approached, Andriette launched herself into world travel and musical exploration, learning about jazz at Berklee College of Music, classical at Hunter College, and punk, electro-pop, and Bulgarian folk singing in New York City.

Soon after her arrival in New York, Andriette landed a recording contract with CBS Italia Records. "Performing in Itay was an absolutely 'Felliniesque' experience," she says. My band and I were appearing on Italian TV, playing in the popular 'FestivalBar,' and hanging out with the Italian rock stars. The wine, the food, the song-every moment was chaotic and surreal!"

Then tragedy struck, her parents passing away within two years of each other, and Andriette considers her time spent caring for them precious. "Nothing can prepare you for the extreme feelings of losing both your parents," she says, "especially when it happens when you're so young. I felt I was looking down over the sharp edge of the world and gazing into a black, bottomless abyss." Grief-stricken, Andriette continued to search for meaning through music and various esoteric studies in psychology and bodywork, finding inspiration through the pursuit of sacred Hawaiian Hula dancing.

The spirit genrated by Andriette's quest also led to the creation of Sun Palace, and its debut CD, Into Heaven, which featured ten songs dealing with death, life and the reflection of beauty that comes from both. With co-producer and guitarist John Rokosny (Smithereens/Carry Nation) onboard, along with lead guitarist Tony Geballe (DGM artist/Trey Gunn Band/Toyah/theatrical composer), Sun Palace began to enjoy national attention. The song "Into Heaven" was featured in the soundtrack of the film, Indian Fish, and the song "Your Hands Lie Open" appeared in national ad campaign. Songs from Into Heaven went into heavy rotation on XM Satellite Radio, and all Borders bookstores showcased the disc as well.

In 2005, Sun Palace announced the release of its critically acclaimed new album, Give Me a Perfect World: a delicately buoyant work of lush, layered folk-rock that Andriette lovingly dedicated it to her late brother and gifted musician, John Redmann, who appears on the recording, along with sister Marise Redmann. The record also features an illustrious lineup of major league recording industry veterans, including legendary drummer and percussionist Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel/Paul McCartney/Elvis Costello), Smithereens frontman Pat DiNizio, cellist Jane Scarpantoni (Springsteen/Lou Reed/REM), and drummer Mark Brotter (HEM).

Says Andrietti: "Give Me A Perfect World is ready for the world."


artist: Sundowner
description: shape-shifting space rock sound of vast drifting guitar-scapes
homepage: sundowner
city: Manchester
country: England
bandphoto: /artists/img/sundowner.jpg
bio:
Forming as a duo and growing to five members by 2007, Sundowner's sound has grown up from humble beginnings to a formidable live act. Vast drifting guitar-scapes, powerful rhythms and vocals combine to form a big, cosmic, shape-shifting sound that explores all realms of space rock and travels effortlessly between from atmospheric jams through epic songs and driving kraut sessions. Though laced with a liberal dose of psychedelia, Sundowner always keeps the overall sound intensely modern.

"We must let sounds be what they are", says founder Matt Morris. "We want to continue to push the envelope and as much as possible, make music that inspires feelings of genuine awe."

Becoming disgruntled with their home city's live venue cartel, the band decided to start their own regular live night. "Attention All Shipping" has become a vehicle for new bands from around the world to showcase their work.

In 2005 Sundowner recorded music for a number of film projects, including Splintered, a thriller being aired at Cannes.

2007 saw the release of their self-titled debut album, Sundowner. Whittled down from hours and hours of improvised "jams" and crafted into "songs", the album is tightly produced but remains loose enough to be an exciting listen.


artist: Super Hi-Fi
description: Trombone-fueled hard Afro-Dub from Brooklyn!
homepage: super_hi_fi
state: NY
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/super_hi_fi.jpg
bio:
Super Hi-Fi "The Afro-Dub EP" collects the Brooklyn dub band's first two singles, originally released on 45 rpm vinyl by Electric Cowbell Records in 2012, along with some bonus remixes from dub masters Victor Rice and Prince Polo. The double trombone-led band has been memorably described as an imaginary soundtrack from Lee 'Scratch' Perry, The Specials and Led Zeppelin. Led by bassist and composer Ezra Gale, Super Hi-Fi mixes the rhythmic landscapes of dub with afrobeat and raw rock and funk. Gale's last outfit, the San Francisco-based Aphrodesia, memorably took their take on afrobeat all the way to Femi Kuti's Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, and now Super Hi-Fi has been creating waves in the fertile Brooklyn music scene since 2010.

Partnering with the Sound Liberation Front- the production crew responsible for NYC's Dub Invasion Festival- the band hosted the popular monthly "Afro-Dub Sessions" that featured collaborations with DJ's like Subatomic Sound System and Ticklah to former Liquid Liquid vocalist Sal P. They've shared stages with John Brown's Body, Rubblebucket, Beats Antique, Debo Band, Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad and many others, bringing the noise to the Brooklyn Bowl, Maxwell's, the Mercury Lounge, the Rocks Off Concert series and many others. Super Hi-Fi's members play with other head-spinning bands like Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, People's Champs, Dub is A Weapon, Boy Without God, and Rubblebucket.

The band's first release, the 7" vinyl "Single Payer" (Electric Cowbell Records), was recorded by Brooklyn dub legend Prince Polo and received raves ("warm, enveloping, and heavy as lead" said Reggae Vibes). The B-side of the single is a radically deconstructed remix from Brazil-based dub producer Victor Rice. Their next single, also on Electric Cowbell, was a split 7" with Seattle's Polyrhythmics and features the "cinematic afro-dub" of "We Will Begin Again." The debut full-length, 'Dub To The Bone,' has already been crowned 'Best Reggae album of the year' from NY Music Daily and the #1 album of the week from the NY Daily News (Dec 2, 2012).

Super Hi-Fi features:

Ezra Gale - Bass
Alex Asher - Trombone
Ryan Snow - Trombone
Will Graefe - Guitar
Madhu Siddappa - Drums


artist: Superdirt2
description: highly danceable electro beats with virtuouso cello
homepage: superdirt2
city: Freiburg im Breisgau
country: Germany
bandphoto: /artists/img/superdirt2.jpg
bio:
Superdirt2 fascinating electro beats mixed in with virtuous performed cello sounds which give a result of a never achieved before dance ability! With Ras Tilo at the synthesizers and Kapt'n Dirt with the cello it provides a musical experience which is situated between drum'n'bass, jungle, dub, dubstep and even far beyond.

The two independent musicians knew each other through many musical projects and as flatmates, but are coming from totally different musical genres. While Ras Tilo (Vincent Rateau) got in place as a music producer and multi-instrumentalist, Kapt'n Dirt (Daniel Fritzsche) continued his classical cello studies with an open mind and ears to new musical genres.

At the end of 2011, after a request to mix cello and electronic beats at a party they founded the project Superdirt2 within two weeks, got straight away a lot of bookings and then played a lot of gigs - from small parties to big festivals.

They are mixing musical genres, looping, synthesizing, improvising and never get tired of going beyond the thinkable knowledge of music.

You can find out more about Superdirt2 on their website and check them out live below.


artist: Susan Adams
description: Marvelously played classical piano pieces
homepage: susan_adams
state: British Columbia
country: Canada
bandphoto: /artists/img/zaranka.jpg
bio:
Originally from Ottawa, Susan Adams studied in Calgary, Basel and Amsterdam where she specialized in the performance of music of the 16th to late 18th Centuries. Returning to Canada, Susan moved to Vancouver where she played numerous concerts as both soloist and continuo player. Eventually, she began to widen her collection of antique and reproduction early keyboards, and performed in Washington, Alberta, and Oregon, as well as throughout British Columbia.

In 1987 she made her first recording, and has made to date six full-length productions , a survey of Sonatas by Mozart, played on the Viennese early piano (custom-made for her by Johannes Secker); a series of Suites by Couperin on a Frank Hubbard French double-manual harpsichord; a unusual recording of music especially designated for an Italian-style harpsichord; and various recordings of music by Haydn, J. C. Bach, J. S. Bach. One of her most successful recordings is a performance of duo music of the early nineteenth century, using a restored square piano from the 1820's of rarely-heard pieces for early guitar and piano with Clive Titmuss. She is one of only a handful of BC artists with such a discography still available to students and the public.

Moving to Kelowna, she established and cultivated a web presence by beginning one of the first downloadable music websites for early music in the country. With the advent of mobiles and streaming her recordings have reached a new audience. She has proven to be prescient and persistent in monitoring the public appetite for early music in Canada.

She commissioned the restoration of early pianos by Bechstein, Erard, and Collard: and a particularly spectacular grand, made by John Broadwood in London in 1809. This is the same model that Broadwood sent as a gift to Beethoven in 1815; it quickly became his favourite, shaping the sounds heard in his landmark sonatas in unexpected ways.

As a continuo player, she has worked with the Calgary Philharmonic, the Handel Society of Vancouver and the Kamloops and Okanagan Symphonies, and has become principal continuo player for the Okanagan Festival Singers, playing for the last six years in the biennial performance of Handel's Messiah and Bach's Christmas Oratorio.


artist: Susan Rode Morris
description: early music delivered with a voluptuous voice and intensely focused delivery
homepage: susan_rode_morris
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/music_winter_susan.jpg
bio:
Susan Rode Morris is a singer of unusual versatility whose accomplishments encompass a wide range of repertoire and musical styles. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, she has received much critical acclaim for her expressiveness and naturalness in singing, as well as her communicative presence.

She is a founding member of Ensemble Alcatraz and has sung with many ensembles including Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, American Bach Soloists, Sequentia Koln, Sex Chordae Consort of Viols, Foolia!, Magnificat!, Women's Philharmonic and others in North America and Europe.

She has premiered numerous works of Bay Area composers, including opera and theatre pieces. Performances include appearances at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C, Metropolitan Art Museum in New York City, the Cloisters, Bellas Artes in Mexico City, and in such cities as Boston, Seattle, Phoenix, New Orleans, Portland, Pittsburgh, London, Regensberg, Vancouver, and at such universities and colleges as Stanford, the University of California, Berkeley, and Davis, Oberlin College, and Washington State.

Susan has enjoyed collaborations with artists including Shira Kammen, Phebe Craig, Judith Nelson, Alasdair Fraser, Paul Hillier, John Dornenburg, and others. In 1992 she founded a recording company called Donsuemor which has released four compact discs, including songs of Henry Purcell and three recordings of the songs of 18th century Scottish poet Robert Burns. For many years she has studied voice with the legendary Lilian Loran.

A special love is teaching children the joy of singing. She owns a baking company (Donsuemor) which supplies the U.S. with fresh madeleines. She divides her time between the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sierra Foothills.


artist: Suzanne Teng
description: world flute with a serene energy
homepage: teng
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/teng1.jpg
bio:
Suzanne Teng, is a flutist, percussionist, dancer, composer, teacher and recording artist from Berkeley, California. She has a master's degree in music from Boston University's School for the Arts and has studied with some of the finest flute teachers in the world. She is an award winning classical musician who, after traveling adventures across the globe, furthered her graduate studies at UCLA's Department of Ethnomusicology, where she completed the coursework for the Ph.D. focusing on music and healing. She is an active performer and recording artist in Los Angeles and is the winner of the Independent Music Awards Best New Age Artist for 2005 and 2001. Her contemporary world music band Suzanne Teng & Mystic Journey was named a HOT 100 by Music Connection Magazine for 2003 and 2004.

Suzanne's critically acclaimed recordings Miles Beyond and Mystic Journey feature her original compositions on which she plays a large assortment of flutes from around the world along with her partner Gilbert Levy on world percussion, band mates Fritz Heede on world strings and Barry Newton on string bass, and special guest master musicians from around the world. Mystic Journey was a finalist for the Just Plain Folks Awards 2004 Best Instrumental Album, a candidate for a Grammy nomination for Best New Age Album, appears on the UK Top Albums in New Age, and was a finalist for New Age Voice Magazine's Best Acoustic Instrumental Album and Best Contemporary World Music Album. Billboard Magazine wrote "Sensual and Serene...Mystic Journey is an impressive solo debut." Both albums appear on numerous publication and radio "Top albums of the Year" lists including the Public Radio International nationally syndicated show "Echoes," and are listed by Amazon.com among the Most Requested New Age albums on the Radio.

Known for creating heartfelt and healing music, Al Martinez of the Los Angeles Times claims "Suzanne Teng plays music for the soul." She has been commissioned to compose music for yoga and acupuncture videos, including works for well-known yogis Gurmukh and Ana Forrest. The Los Angeles Times wrote that Suzanne's music for the critically acclaimed play Caterpillar Soup "adds a spiritual quality to the production." She performs in concerts, festivals, and dance/movement/yoga events internationally as a soloist and with her world music band Mystic Journey. They were featured performers at His Holiness the Dala Lama's World Festival of Sacred Music and have represented the United States at International festivals in Mexico, Canada and Singapore.

Suzanne has performed her flute meditations at numerous major events with spiritual leaders and writers such as Thich Nhat Hanh, Marianne Williamson, Deepak Chopra, Mathew Whyte, and Amachi, as well as for the top corporate leaders of Mexico and the US. She has also been a featured performer at the National Flute Association Conventions three times.

Called a "brilliant flutist" by the Los Angeles Times, she has worked with a wide variety of artists and ensembles including the Boston Philharmnonic, Los Angeles Pops Orchestra, Tito Puente, Kenny Loggins, Babatundi Olatunji, Airto and Flora Purim, and The Dramatics. She has performed for numerous heads of state, including Henry Kissinger, and has appeared on the same venues as Sting, Jackson Browne, Patty Smythe, Colin Hay and Jody Watley.

Suzanne has performed on hundreds of recordings for Polygram, Warner Brothers, Windham Hill, BMG, Shanachi, Scottie Brothers, and numerous independent labels. Select film, television and commercial performance credits include Pepsi, Johnnie Walker, California Tan, Murder, She Wrote, Big Bully (Tom Arnold), Separate Lives (Jim Belushi, Linda Hamilton), Baby (Farrah Fawcett), Green Dragon (Patrick Swayze, Forest Whitaker), The Grey Zone, The Kid Stays in the Picture (Robert Evans), Ice Bound (Susan Sarandon), numerous independent and foreign films, commercials for India, Germany, Korea and Mexico, and an Environmental PSA with music by Hans Zimmer. She has appeared on national television, including a musical performance on the Survivor II final episode which was viewed by over 40 million people. Her music has been heard on countless radio programs worldwide (ranking #3 on the New Age charts) and she has been featured on Public Radio International three times.

She is an endorsed artist for Yamaha, AKG and High Spirit Flutes and is a popular teacher, having taught flute, percussion and world music to many hundreds of students at schools, colleges, camps and workshops throughout the country. She co-facilitates retreats, guiding music circles, most recently in Hawaii and Guatemala. She has practiced yoga for over 20 years, loves traveling, gardening, and hiking and has summitted 19,000' peaks in the Himalayas.


artist: Svanevit
description: Scandinavian music on the Celtic harp
homepage: svanevit
city: Eslov
country: Sweden
bandphoto: /artists/img/svanevit1.jpg
bio:
Immersed in tradition yet contemporary; energetic and tumbling yet sweet and delicate - the music of the Swedish folk group Svanevit assumes many different forms. The extraordinary instrumentation featuring harp, percussion, Swedish bagpipes, nyckelharpa (keyed fiddle), mandola, fiddle and voice gives the band their unique sound. Beautiful medieval ballads mix with merry schottisches, captivating traditional songs and of course the ubiquitous polska!

Three of the musicians - Maria Larsson, Anna Rynefors and Erik Ask-Upmark - have been awarded the Zorn medal for instrumental excellence in Swedish traditional music, and Anders Larsson completes the line-up with one of the most distinguished male voices in the Swedish tradition today. Together, the quartet makes contemporary folk music with spellbinding stories and great energy. Svanevit - spellbinding Swedish folk music!


artist: Svara
description: New music from the whole world
homepage: svara
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/svara.jpg
bio:
What is Svara?

Svara is a poly-musical ensemble. Our goal is an innovative foray into unexplored musical spaces. We are 4 musicians who have experienced deep training in a variety of very traditional music forms (including western traditions), from renowned and insightful teachers. We each bring musical ideas and experience from all over the world: India, Bali, Brazil, Europe (Eastern and Western), America and use rock, jazz, classical and contemporary creative music.

We have tried to channel that training, that exposure into what we hope is an organic expression, one that incorporates what we have learned from our wonderful teachers into a unique music. We are acoustic. There are no electric instruments on this recording, no synthesizers; nothing against them! It's just not what we bring to our musical experience. All of our music incorporates improvisation - some pieces are almost completely improvised, others have an 'open' section for spontaneous exploration. As closely as possible, this recording represents the way we really play.

David Trasoff - sarode
Has studied sarode performance under Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, India's 'Living National Treasure,' since 1973. Acclaimed for his performance in both the United States and India, David has appeared in concert in arts centers, universities, conservatories and festivals in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He served as Director of the Indian Music Ensemble at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has taught at the California Institute of the Arts and Pomona College. David has composed and performed music for film, theater and dance projects, including an award-winning Los Angeles production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the acclaimed Indian art film Leela.

Robert Jacobson - guitar
A guitarist, composer, and improviser based in Los Angeles, holds degrees in guitar performance from USC and the California Institute of the Arts. He has studied under the direction of Scott Tennant, Miroslav Tadic, Vinny Golia, Pat Kelly, Joe Diorio, and Frank Potenza. His music reflects his training in classical guitar, jazz, free improvisation, and Balinese gamelan. He was featured soloist on the soundtrack to "What Matters Most". In 2004 he released a CD of original compositions titled Coldwater on his new record label, Banana Bread Records.

John Graves - bass
Has studied composition with Boulanger pupil Joel Feigin, classical bass with Nico Abondolo. and North Indian classical music with David Trasoff and at the Ali Akbar Khan College of Music. In 1998 John moved back to his native Los Angeles where he delved more deeply into jazz improvisation with Harold Land, Billy Higgins, Roberto Miranda and Kenny Burrell. John has worked as a composer, bassist and producer in such diverse areas as pop, Arabic, gospel, hip-hop, Western swing, film music and reggae.

Randy Gloss - tabla and percussion
A founding member of the renowned percussion group Hands On'Semble, has performed throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Randy has collaborated with a wide array of highly esteemed musicians, including Swapan Chaudhuri, Adam Rudolph, Aashish Khan, Miroslav Tadic, Vladko Stefanovski, David Rosenboom, and Glen Velez. He has been involved in numerous projects fusing world music with new music and jazz, and has contributed percussion for film soundtracks by composers Danny Elfman and Gary Chang. Randy teaches at the California Institute of the Arts.


artist: Sweet Teen Killing Machine
description: don't go down into the cellar
homepage: stkm
state: OR
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/stkm.jpg
bio:
Self-described as "horror-rock," Portland, Oregon-based, hard-hitting, heavy rock act Sweet Teen Killing Machine deliver an exhilarating, self-titled full-length. Comprised of ten tracks, the album delivers melodic, yet hard rock, each song the soundtrack to a fictitious horror movie.

Made up of Scott Chapin (vocals, guitar, bass, and keyboards), Paul Becker (guitar), Kevin Ellis (keyboards), and Cheo Larcombe (drums), Sweet Teen Killing Machine make guitar-rock that is as frightening as it is heart pounding.

From the supernatural horror of album opener, "Curse of the Bloodwolf" and the album's first single, "City of the Shrieking Dead." To the more human terror of "Virgin White" and "New Meat," Sweet Teen Killing Machine can only be described as the sound of an insane rock beast that always seem to be chasing you.

A concept, more so than a band, Sweet Teen Killing Machine are redefining the concept of a band, preferring to create music rather than rehearse it, in essence a studio project more so than a live act. Matter of fact, before their debut has even been released, the band has already almost entirely written, though not recorded, the sophomore follow-up. That doesn't take anything away from the debut, though.

With redefining the concept of a band comes a different approach to writing music. Ideally, Sweet Teen Killing Machine wants to create soundtracks to movies; so, while writing soundtracks to fictitious movies, they take a scenario, a scene from a movie they've made up in their heads, and create the ideal soundtrack for it.

Originally a basement project between friends, jamming and having a good time, Sweet Teen Killing Machine's debut grew out of that. Never meant to release a record, the ten tracks that compile the album came out sounding so powerful; the members of the band couldn't help but release it.

With one live show planned for a CD release and the elusive possibility of more - if the band feels so inclined - Sweet Teen Killing Machine is as unpredictable as the horror movie patrons they write sounds for.

But, they wouldn't have it any other way. With the predictability of rock 'n' roll these days, Sweet Teen Killing Machine throws out tradition - and just makes music for themselves. All the while, those that hear their debut full-length will take notice and go, "more please." Again, like the victims and villains in the horror movies they write soundtracks for.


artist: Swivel Neck Jones
description: underwater electronic soundscapes
homepage: swivel_neck
state: NY
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/swivelneck.jpg
bio:
William Brooks' (aka Swivel Neck Jones) story reads like a pack of lies but swears it's all true. William was born and raised just north of The Red River and a tad south of The Arbuckle Mountains in southern Oklahoma. After awhile, Brooks packed up camp and moved to New York City.

William has released a number of folk-rock albums and in 2007, he made his foray into electronic music with Deep Life, an atmospheric album of underwater-ish soundscapes. Hammond and vibraphone swirl around cris yet mellow beats for a mellow, mid-tempo album of good mood inducing music.


artist: SynchDub
description: Electronica has truly found its heart and soul
homepage: synchdub
city: Antwerpen
country: Belgium
bandphoto: /artists/img/synchdub.jpg
bio:
When SynchDub's latest album, Twilight Last Glance, was released, it captured critics and the public alike with its unique mix of experimental, minimalist and ambient sound. With electronica becoming a more dominant force outside of the clubs and underground hip circles, SynchDub is building a sub genre that's been called rhythmic ambientalism, conjuring up transcendental sounds that make the body and spirit move. That innovation has earned SynchDub the envious distinction of the "Heart and Soul of Electro." For years, she was a percussionist with a variety of artists in her native Belgium.

In late 2006, SynchDub released its first album, the playfully titled Drone, which caught the progressive ears of DJs and Internet radio with its signature sound-style. Utilizing varied and rich electronic methods such as Leftfield, BreakBeats, and Computer Beeps, SynchDub's sound runs the gamut from exuberantly bright to emotionally deep and dark. While aimed more towards the dance floor, the record was what SynchDub calls "an introverted affair," allowing the external sound to immerse the inner emotions.

Noted for putting a human face on electro, SynchDub is also influenced by the Eastern culture of modern Japan, where electronic music is considered an extension of the body. That fusing of mind, soul and body is the hallmark of SynchDub's musical mission.

"Cutting and recycling again can give a totally new/other vision for me. I like to work out another perspective, using another technique (like a computer) for my ideas, for me it's like seeing reality in another point of view. It is the objectivity in me that is concerned with sounds to make my work mentally interesting to the spectator/listener, and therefore usually I would want it to become emotional.

The human qualities that are responsible for art, music and literature are not logical. Imagination is required and imagination is a unique human quality."


artist: Takashi Matsuishi Spark
description: flautists with finesse, intelligence and grooves
homepage: takashi_matsuishi_spark
city: Hokkaido
country: Japan
bandphoto: /artists/img/spark.jpg
bio:
Spark began in 1992 as a small ensemble group in the Tokyo University Flute Circle. The members, all graduates from Tokyo University, now live in various cities throughout Japan, from Kyoto to Hakodate.

As a group they arrange music from a wide variety of genres from early music to Baroque, and classical contemporary to movie and popular music. Each of the players contributes special skills to the success of the group: Kyoto-based Yutaka Okawachi brings a virtuoso technique; Tokyo-based Hiroyoshi Koyano brings his talents as an arranger; Ibaraki-based Tomohisa Hirayama brings an eye and ear for precision; Tokyo-based Kazuya Fujimori brings an interest in jazz and a suitable groove to the group's performance of popular styles; and Takashi Matsuishi of Hakodate, Hokkaido brings a wealth of experience as an orchestral player, chamber musician and solo recording artist.

In 1999, the flute ensemble Spark won (with full marks) the Grand Prix in the ensemble division of the Flute Competition, Japan.

Takashi Matsuishi was born in Tokyo in 1964 and now lives in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan. He studied flute privately with Atsushi Ichinohe, who is principal flautist of Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra and former student of Wolfgang Schulz (principal flautist, Vienna Philharmonic). Matsuishi was also taught by Koichi Nakayama, the last student of the highly regarded Swiss teacher Andre Jaunet; and later by Paul Meisen and Andrea Griminelli on masterclass.

Matsuishi graduated from the School of Art and Science, the University of Tokyo, and continues to study fisheries science at the Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo. He secured a tenure position in 1993 at the Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido University, the largest faculty of its kind in Japan, and since then has worked as a specialist of fish stock assessment and cetacean research.

Besides his academic career, Matsuishi continues to perform as a flautist at a professional level. In 1993 he was awarded a Meister degree from the Nippon Classical Music Players Association; in 1994, he was a finalist and won the special prize at one of the most famous flute competitions in Japan, the Japan Woodwinds Competition; in 1996 and 2003 he was awarded the incentive prize from Hakodate Music Society and Hakodate Cultural Society respectively; and in 1999, he won the Grand Prix in the solo division of the Flute Competition, Japan.

He has played with the Hakodate Art Hall Symphonic Orchestra, as concerto soloist with the Hokusui Orchestra, and with many outstanding players including Agnes Giebel (Soprano), and the Janac ek String Quartet. He also conducts the Hakodate Opera Orchestra and produces a concert series in Hakodate City Community Centre. He has released 5 albums with his flute ensemble 'Spark', and a CD with cembalo and viola da gamba.


artist: Tanya Tomkins and Eric Zivian
description: Beethoven Piano and Cello Works
homepage: tomkins
state: VT
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/tanya_tomkins.jpg
bio:
The Zivian-Tomkins Duo is a San Francisco chamber music ensemble specializing in music performed on period instruments.

Extremely versatile, with experience in the Baroque, classical, and modern playing styles, Zivian and Tomkins are dedicated to the text of the music they perform.

This has brought them together to explore the classical repertoire on the instruments for which the music was composed.

After winning an international competition, they were awarded the production costs for their first CD, an all-Beethoven recording on original instruments.

The duo performs well known and lesser known works, bringing an exciting combination of mastery and expression to their audiences.

They are proud to be on the cutting edge of the original instrument movement that seeks to rejuvenate the music of the past by rediscovering some of its original boldness.

Tanya Tomkins studied at the University of Southern California with Gabor Rejto and went on to receive her bachelor of fine arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts as a student of Ron Leonard. She moved to Holland to study with the cellist Anner Bijlsma and in 1987 earned a soloist's diploma at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Inspired by Mr. Bijlsma, Tomkins became interested in the performance of music on original instruments. As a member of the Trio d'Amsterdam (with clarinetist Eric Hoeprich and fortepianist Stanley Hoogland), she made a New York debut at the Frick Collection, which was recorded for National Public Radio and also appeared in Lincoln Center's "Great Performers" series in 1996. The trio recorded a CD for Koch. She has performed and recorded with orchestras such as The Classical Band (Sony), La Petite Bande (Harmonia Mundi), La Stagione Frankfurt (Harmonia Mundi), the Netherland Bach Society, Ensemble Bouzignac (Vanguard) and L'Orchestre des Champs-Elysees under the direction of Philip Hereweghe (Harmonia Mundi).

During the fourteen years Tanya Tomkins was living in Holland, she was primarily active as a chamber musician, performing throughout Europe and the United States to critical acclaim. For five years she played with the award-winning Euridice Quartet. The quartet recorded a CD of the string quartets by Ravel and Debussy (Vanguard). She has also recorded a CD of French Impressionist music with the Renoir Ensemble, a harp quintet specializing in 20th century music. She has performed with the Amsterdam-based SoLaRe String Trio throughout Europe, the U.S., and Israel.

Tomkins has been invited to play in many chamber music festivals throughout Europe and the U.S., including the Amsterdam Chamber Music Society, Rondje Romantiek and the Moab Chamber Music Festival in Utah. She has appeared as a chamber musician at the 92nd Street Y in New York and has played numerous times in the Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal as a recitalist and in chamber music concerts.

She is currently a member of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra with whom she has appeared as a soloist, and she performs regularly with the American Bach Soloists. In 2001, she was the winner of the international Bodky Competition for Early Music Soloists. Currently, she is performing in recitals across the United States as the cellist in the Tomkins-Zivian Duo, a San Francisco chamber music ensemble specializing in music performed on period instruments.

Eric Zivian was born in Michigan and grew up in Toronto, Canada, where he attended the Royal Conservatory of Music. After receiving a diploma there, he left home at age 15 to attend the Curtis Institute of Music, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree. He went on to receive graduate degrees from the Juilliard School and the Yale School of Music. He studied piano with Marina Geringas, Gary Graffman and Peter Serkin. He attended the Tanglewood Music Center as a performer in 1988 and 1989, studying chamber music with Gilbert Kalish, Peter Serkin, Joel Krosnick, and others. He has won numerous prizes for young pianists, including the Charles Miller/Sergei Rachmaninoff Award upon graduation from the Curtis Institute of Music and the Grace B. Jackson Award for Outstanding Achievement and Notable Contributions to the Program as a Whole at the Tanglewood Music Festival.

Eric Zivian has appeared as a soloist in Toronto, New York, Philadelphia, and the San Francisco Bay area. He has performed Mozart and Beethoven concertos with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Beethoven Triple Concerto with the Santa Rosa Symphony and the Festival Orchestra at "Music in the Mountains" in Grass Valley. Recently, he has begun performing on original instruments, and he owns two period fortepianos. He is a member of the Zivian-Tomkins Duo, a fortepiano-cello duo that has performed in San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, San Rafael, Berkeley, Davis, Boston and Washington, D.C. He is also a member of the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble and has performed with the Empyrean Ensemble, Earplay, and Alternate Currents. He is a frequent guest artist on the San Francisco Conservatory's faculty chamber music series. Eric Zivian can also be found as a solo artist on Magnatune.


artist: Tatyana Kalmykova
description: ancient Russian songs and instruments
homepage: tatyana_kalmykova
city: Moscow
country: Russia
bandphoto: /artists/img/tatyana_kalmykova_small.jpg
bio:
The Living Earth was created in 2010. This project revives Russian root music, as well as being a multicultural project. It unites musicians playing different folk instruments, Russian and those collected from different parts of the world. The project is a journey into the world of Slavic archaic art, living traditions, ancient Russian songs and instruments.

The sound of The Living Earth is filled with free improvisation, woven from natural rhythms and harmonies which lie in the basis of folk music. Overtone sounding melodic instruments, swinging grooves and polyrhythms from archaic drums emphasize the power and beauty of the songs.

Most of the musicians spend a lot of time travelling around the world, inspired for the quest for new knowledge and musical discoveries, becoming more knowledgeable and better skilled in their playing.

Initiator and inspirer of the project - Tatyana Kalmykova - vocalist, performer, composer and researcher of ancient Russian music. Tatyana was a student of Dmitry Pokrovsky in 1997 and has made expeditions across Russia to search for traditional culture in the Smolensk, Bryansk, Belgorod, Vologda, Arkhangelsk, Karelia, Khakasia and Tuva regions.

Tatyana was a member of the group "OLE lukkoye" (SPb) and the multimedia project "Group 2012". In 2003, she initiated a solo project SWA and since 2008 has been a member of the CSI project, combining the tradition of Znamenny chant Orthodox music with the tradition of the avant-garde of the 20th century. She co-operates with modern theatre, and her music has been heard in many soundtracks for plays and films.

The Living Earth Participants:

1. Tatyana Kalmykova -voice, gudok (ancient russian violin, like mongolian or tuvinian, but has 3 strings), khomus.

2. Kirill Osherov - percussion drum set.

3. Andrey Tanzu - percussion, frame drums.

4. Vadim Batura - santoor.

5. Datura Inoxios - didgeridoo.

6. Ruslan Nesterov - Hajaj (Moroccan bass).

Guests of the project:

Sergei Starostin - voice, brass (zhaleyka, kalyuka, clarinet, sopilka), gusli.

Zhiharev Alexander - bills, the oldest instrument, known in Russia until the bells (bronze plastines).


artist: Tears of Sirens
description: Ethereal tunes, hypnotic hammerings, experimentations, celestial and apocalyptic voices
homepage: tears_of_sirens
city: Sannicandro di Bari
country: Italy
bandphoto: /artists/img/tears_of_sirens.jpg
bio:
Tears Of Sirens a duo was born in 2014. The minds behind it are Fabio Properzi and Giulia Riboli, both musicians with a strong attitude to experimentation.

In January of 2015 their first instrumental EP "The Abyss" was released, catching the attention of several italian magazines and webzines (Rockerilla, Mescalina, Son of Marketing e I Think Magazine, L'Isola che non c'era, Shiver...) and has been acclaimed by critics for its refinement.

The track "Nebula" was included in the streaming compilation Son of the Marketing My AweSOMe Winter Preview Vol. 2 among the more interesting new acts of Italy. Hum is the debut full length album from Tears of Sirens.

Together Fabio Properzi plays piano, guitar, bass, cajon, programming, and is the first voice of the project; Giulia Riboli plays theremin, theremini, kaossilator and voice.

They create their own soundbanks using everything from the theremin and the theremini. Their attitude in livesets is to play all that is playable captured by looper pedal, for their grooves; acoustic music but with electronic matrix. The theremin and the voice are always the protagonist.

As is known, the theremin has an almost mysterious and magical fascination, because it's played without contact. With hand movements in the ether, farther and closer to the antennas, the theremin player controls its tuning and volume.

Fabio Properzi, active on the italian music scene since 2006, already the mind and pen behind the band Ameba4, Fabio Properzi is a singer, musician, artistic-producer, arranger and song writer for some of the new emerging italian talents.

He has worked as an author for Sugar Music from 2005 to 2012, being professionally mentored by Corrado Rustici. Inspired by the atmospheres of Nigel Godrich's music, Properzi's artistic production looks firmly at the future.

In 2013, Fabio worked with Roberto Matarrese, to give life to the elctronical music project Kinky Atoms, Kinky Atoms is very appreciated by critics and in reviews by main italian alternative music magazines and it's also to be found here on Magnatune.

Giulia Riboli, approached the theremin in 2009, also thanks to the ecleptic italian thereminist Vincenzo Vasi. In 2011 she attended the "Theremin Summer Accademy", in Colmar (France) directed by the virtuous german thereminist Carolina Eyck.

Then she joined the concerts of prominent italian artists, such as Paolo Enrico Archetti Maestri (Yo Yo Mundi), the pianist Davide Calvi, and the percussionist Davide Merlino.

Giulia has played in clubs, theaters, castles, museums, contemporary art galleries and picture galleries, but also at the private parties of international companies such as Zeiss, and in scientific divulgation ceremonies, such as the BergamoScienza Festival.

In 2013 Giulia played a concert organized by Biella Jazz Club, at 1,900 meters altitude, on Monte Mucrone (BI), floating on a platform in the middle of a mountain lake. In that same year she was presented to a conference, coordinated by Peter Theremin, about the italian culture of theremin, at the Moscow Theremin Studio.

Giulia Riboli compares favourably on the list of international theremin performers of the russian website "Theremin Times" supervised by the nephew of Leon Theremin, that is the inventor of theremin.


artist: Telemann Trio Berlin
description: Skillfully balanced chamber music
homepage: telemann_trio
city: Berlin
country: Germany
bandphoto: /img/telemann1.jpg
bio:
"The delicate correspondence of three musicians..."-Suddeutsche Zeitung

The Telemann Trio Berlin was founded in 1992 and has since become known for lilting, exquisite chamber music of the highest caliber. The group takes its name from 17th century composer Georg Philipp Telemann (believed to be the firstto write music specifically for violin, flute, and clavier), and its repertoire includes works by Handel, J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, Couperin, Vivaldi, Bruch, Cui, Ibert, and Martinu. Telemann Trio Berlin has performed to international critical acclaim, with tours in Europe, America, Japan, and South East Asia. The trio features Lauretius Dinca on violin, Cornelia Gehlmann on flute, and Craig Hanson on piano, organ, and harpsichord.

Lauretius Dinca was born in Bukarest, studied at the conservatories in Bukarest and Lubeck, and has been a prize winner in numerous international competitions: Tibor Varga, Louis Spohr, and Canales. From 1980-1984 he was concertmaster of the Frankfurt Radio Orchestra and then performed as first violinist in the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Dinca is winner of The Viottis Prize, and in 1992 received the Croce Dell'ordine al Merito Melitense. Since 1995, he's performed as first violinist in the Philharmonische Geigen Berlin and plays a violin made by Andreas Guarnerius.

Cornelia Gehlmann was born in Speyer/Rhein, studied at the Akadamie of music in Lubeck with Professor Gunther Pohl as well as in Frankfurt, where she received the academic title of Concert Soloist. She currently maintains a busy schedule of chamber music performances with the Telemann Trio Berlin as well as chamber music ensembles from the Berlin Philharmonic.

Craig Hanson was born in Bloomington, Indiana and received his education at both San Diego State University and the Conservatory of Music in Basle, Switzerland. He studied piano with Arthur Lambert, harpsichord with Hans Goverts and organ with Daniel Burton and Rudolf Scheidegger. He has given solo recitals in the U.S., Japan, Canada, and throughout Europe, as well as extensive chamber music performances, including televisiona and radio appearances with the N.H.K. String Ensemble, Yoshio Unno, Quintet Wien, Hansgeorg Schmeiser and Hans-Martin Linde.


artist: Terracotta Blue
description: Hip-hop-infused, electronic chill music... with a dash of everything else!
homepage: terracotta_blue
state: MD
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/terracotta_blue_small.jpg
bio:
Who is Terracotta Blue?
The Terracotta Blue alias is an outlet for my more melancholy, electro-inspired endeavors. And there's absolutely no back story or special meaning to the name; I just thought it sounded cool! I dabble in all sorts of electronic genres-essentially anything that has a lot of synths and hard drums!

How would you best describe your music?
I'm a fan and listener of all types of music (I have everything from doom metal to funk in my iPhone playlists), but I would say that hip-hop is the one constant that ties everything together. From the use of sampling to the grittiness you hear in many of my tracks, the hip-hop influence is undeniable. I'm also fascinated by the inherent freedom electronic music allows me, in all its forms. So I'd best describe my music as hip-hop-infused, electronic chill music. Hopefully people will just regard it as good music.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? What have your roots brought to your music?
I grew up right outside of Washington, D.C., in Silver Spring, Maryland - that's where I live now. D.C. is known for its percussion-heavy funk music called go-go, but I was honestly never really into it growing up. I was that kid sitting quietly in the corner bobbing his head with big headphones on and a backpack full of hip-hop cassettes and CDs!

How did you get into music, and where did you learn how to play?
Believe it or not, it was Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat that really got me interested in manipulating sounds. It wasn't the book itself (which is a childhood classic!), but rather the read-along cassette tape (!) that came with it. One side of the tape had someone narrating the book, and the B-side was blank and invited the reader to "make up and record your own stories." I remember the exact wording! So I would record my voice and myself banging on different objects to create sounds. I've been hooked on making sounds ever since!

I played the saxophone and trumpet in the 4th and 5th grades, respectively. But when I recorded myself playing on my first Radio Shack keyboard I became totally transfixed by electronic music. Then I caught the hip-hop bug in 1989/90, and that was it! That's when I was like, "This is the music I need to be making!" I eventually started experimenting by pause-mixing beats on dual tape decks and recording drums machines and samples on 4-track recorders. I bought my first "real" piece of equipment-the MPC2000XL-in 2000. In 2005 I was introduced to Reason and FL Studio software - I've used the same programs to make music ever since.

What next for Terracotta Blue?
More music, of course! I try to release a single/EP/album every couple of months or so. And I'm very excited to release some material through Magnatune; it's a great platform!

You can find out more about Terracotta Blue on his Soundcloud page.


artist: Teslim
homepage: teslim
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/teslim.jpg
description:
Original and traditional acoustic string music with Turkish, Middle Eastern and Sephardic influences.

bio:
Teslim (Tes-LEEM) means both 'commit' and 'surrender' in Turkish and features two well known Bay Area musicians: violinist Kaila Flexer and Gari Hegedus on oud, Turkish saz, Greek lauoto and other (mostly plucked) stringed instruments. This potent duo performs Greek, Turkish and Sephardic music. In addition, both Flexer and Hegedus are composers whose original music is based on these fertile traditions.

Both seasoned performers and recording artists, Teslim released its debut (self-titled) CD in December 2008. This unusual duo is at home in classical, early music, and folk music venues and holds workshops on a variety of topics.

Kaila Flexer is a violinist, composer and music educator. In addition to performing and recording with Teslim, Flexer also performs with Shira Kammen and three other fiddlers in the Oakland Folkharmonic. Flexer founded and produced Klezmer Mania!, a much-loved annual Bay Area event for over 10 years (1989-2002) and currently produces Pomegranates and Figs: A Feast of Jewish Music. She has been at the helm of bands such as Third Ear, Next Village and Kaila Flexer's Fieldharmonik, ensembles that featured her original material.

She has performed both nationally internationally with her own ensembles as well as with groups including The Hollis Taylor-Kaila Flexer Duo, Club Foot Orchestra and KITKA Women's Vocal Ensemble. In addition Teslim's release, Kaila has recorded two CD's of original music for Compass Records (Nashville). Flexer has a thriving studio of students of all ages. She encourages folk musicians to read music, classical musicians to improvise and to play by ear and everyone to enjoy music and to find and appreciate their own voice. www.kailaflexer.com.

Gari Hegedus in addition to playing in Teslim, is sought-after for his very personal and heartfelt approach to music. In addition to performing with world music groups Janam, The Helladelics, Eliyahu and the Qadim Ensemble, Hamed Nikpay, and numerous other Bay Area Balkan ensembles, he is a luthier and spends many hours making instruments - repairing old sazes and ouds he finds and coaxing out the true voice of these treasures. Gari has studied with oud master Naseer Shamma. He has toured with the Mevlevi Dervish (Sufi) Order of America and continues to participate in Turkish ceremonial and devotional gatherings around the country. www.garihegedus.com.

Kaila and Gari were thrilled to collaborate with their musical mentors Ross Daly and Kelly Thoma in a U.S. tour in October of 2012.


artist: The Alien Mike ET
description: instrumental heavy guitar wizardry
homepage: alien_mike_et
state: PA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/alien_mike_et.jpg
bio:
Imagine if Nine Inch Nails, Metallica, King Crimson, Ozzy, Sabbath, Nirvana, The Beatles, Zeppelin, Cheap Trick, Van Halen, Stone Temple Pilots, Steve Vai, Beethoven, My Chemical Romance and Frank Zappa were all thrown into a blender with some Tequila and strawberries... Then add a bong hit or two... That just BEGINS to tell the story...

Hold on to your hats because the roller coaster is going off the tracks... Michael Trapp, a.k.a. Mike E.T., a.k.a. The Alien, a.k.a. Captain Freak is a "serious musician." For whatever absurd reason - this label has had almost evil overtones in the 90's and even into the new millennium.

He has attended Mannes College of Music in Manhattan and graduated Berklee College of Music in Boston. For those 4 years he focused exclusively on practicing and writing music. After graduation he played in some heavy progressive chops bands in N.Y.C. and L.A. such as Danse Macabre, DreamSpeak, The Fringe and Dreamer. All broke up due to internal differences just as they were getting press and an audience. Fed up with bands in general he became a hired gun, becoming the 2nd guitarist in Eddie Ojeda's (Twisted Sister) band.

He bought his own crappy studio and recorded "The Furious Guitar" demo which was featured in a Guitar Player's magazine piece. In the 90's Mike met his dream vocalist Matt Wells. He joined Matt's band Bad Habit - a pure power pop outfit with heavy arena rock overtones; then came Nirvana and the band disintegrated after being offered a minor record deal. In retrospect Mike E.T. is thankful Bad Habit never made it. Nirvana opened up a whole new can of worms man, and that was right after hearing Nine Inch Nails for the first time. "I was never gonna be the same person." Matt and Mike then went on to record an album for there own selfish purposes and Bliss(This)' "Chasing the Mad Rabbit" was born. Unfortunately for Bliss(This), just as positive reviews and feedback were heading the bands way, Michael's ex-wife was stricken with a serious illness and the music had to be put on hold. During that time, he wrote and demoed the entire "Captain Freak" album.

With Mike's ex-wife's illness finally in check he bought a new studio and started recording. But then Matt's wife became pregnant and Mike was pushed into handling all the vocal and instrumental duties. "F*** it," said Trapp, "I'll change the name of the band to CrimsonFaced and take over the f***ing world anyway." During this dark period of his life Mike also re-wrote and re-arranged and added new songs to "The Furious Guitar" - A 13-song instrumental guitar CD that is one part genius/one part insanity. Fans of over the top guitar playing and amazing instrumental melodies will be FLOORED. It was also during this period that Mike met the beautiful and talented Cash Casia; he was hired for some NYC showcases and recorded on her demo currently being shopped to major labels.

In 2005, Mike E.T. now of CrimsonFaced released the stunning "Captain Freak" CD. 13 songs of rock and roll majesty, a tapestry of rock's powerful take no prisoners history. Bored of all the nameless faceless rock of the new decade the Alien gave music's boring landscape a serious kick in the ass. And now in 2009 OMFG can it be can it be? The long awaited follow up to "Captain Freak" is FINALLY HERE! WTF was Mike E.T. doing over these last 4 years? Geez, you would think a musician that locks himself up in his Sober Sucks Studios would come out once and a while to play - but not Mike E.T. The Alien was lovingly caressing his guitar strings in the most god awful perverted way.

His poor keyboard was banged and hammered from one end of the studio to the other. Between writing music for a futuristic CGI movie still in development and adding some cool tunes to a soon to be filmed PORNO (hehe, I said porno ;-))) Mike E.T., between psychotherapy sessions with his mixer/therapist Paul Kurzweil, wrote and recorded 18 songs, 13 of which come together on the deliciously demented and aptly titled "Lunatic Binge." Whereas "Captain Freak" was mostly in your face the entire CD, "Lunatic Binge" veers from sick rock and roll to melodic musings about life. Think Trent Reznor meets the Bee Gees; after a drug binge. Think Pink Floyd for the 21st Century. Think Ozzy and a sequencer doing battle for each others' soul.

Mike E.T. hopes you enjoy his creation. He poked his head out of his studio to give the world Lunatic Binge, and now he has once again crawled into his studio, locked the door, put a huge dresser against the door, and has imprisoned himself with 50 cases of Corona, 5 bottles of Patron, 5 guitars and 12 Virgins. See you in 2 or 3 years...

Brief Mike E.T. Interview

Do you play live ?
Not at this time. If there is a demand for it I will hire a band and get to it. I am a very spiritual and whacked out of my head performer. The stage is a whole different ballgame than the studio. I feel like an uncaged wild animal when I perform... been known to have sex with my guitar on stage!

How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3's) change the music industry?
The internet is the single greatest thing for the musician.... EVER!!!! F*** the record companies and their endless stream of sound-alike bands. F*** the no talent pretty boys and girls who saturate MTV. I care about the songs. If they are great you have my attention. Anything less and I'll pass.

Would you sign a record contract with a major label?
I highly doubt it. It would have to be on my terms... and I doubt that would be o.k. with any label.


artist: The Bach Players
description: baroque instrumental and vocal gems
homepage: bach_players
city: London
country: England
bandphoto: /artists/img/bach_players.jpg
bio:
The Bach Players is a collective of like-minded musicians who are drawn together by their passion for the music of J. S. Bach: our enduring inspiration and the apotheosis of the Baroque. We play on original instruments and all vocal music is sung in its original language. We play without a conductor, and with forces that are as small as possible (mostly single strings and single voices). A genuine spirit of enquiry and reassessment pervades all aspects of our performance.

Founded in 1996 by Nicolette Moonen, we established a series of programmes of Bach cantatas in St John's Wood Parish Church in London. There we began to introduce some of these lesser-known works to a wider audience. As a result of this we have been invited to play all over Britain and have built up a faithful following. In 2007 we launched a new series from St John's Downshire Hill, in Hampstead.

Our programmes now focus on themes that connect music from different parts of Europe in our period. Bach is there in some, but not all our concerts, and is often related to other composers of his times. We are also developing links between programmes, over several years. In 2008 we recorded and issued the first of a series of CDs based on these concerts.

"... simply the best rendering I have heard, soloists ideally matched, and constituting a full and sufficient demonstration of the rightness of one-voice-per-part. Never for a moment did one feel the need for more volume; there was never that weird disparity of scale between solo and choral numbers which can make conventional performances so subtly unsatisfying; and the most gifted conductor with the most virtuosic choir could never have elicited the variety and quick-fire interaction that these quartets of intelligent singers brought to bear."
Hugh Keyte - Early Music Review, December 2010


artist: The Bell Hours
description: eclectic, sentimental modern Rock and Roll
homepage: the_bell_hours
state: CO
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/the_bell_hours.jpg
bio:
After spending the last decade since 2004 moving and performing music amongst the Californians, native Coloradan Nicholas (Klaus) Larson returned to Colorado in 2012, bringing with him the beginnings of the music that made up The Bell Hours' debut self-titled album.

Klaus wrote, performed, and recorded the album using skills developed over several years study in audio engineering, arranging over programmed beats, but shortly before releasing, he brought in Denver based drummer and engineer Joseph Chudyk to recreate the beats into wonderful live performances. Joe then worked with Klaus and his recordings to create the final mixes, capturing a simple modern music with a vintage and nostalgic sound.

The music of The Bell Hours is an eclectic and sentimental take on modern Rock and Roll, taking lyrical themes from more modern times and ideas with our impressions of love, compassion, and mindfulness (not to mention anger and jealousy) and combined it with musical themes stretching from Folk, Rock and Roll, Indie, Hip Hop, and Jazz, culminating in a rich pop music experience with amazing replay value. The group of talented musicians inspired by the music that came together to tour the album have done an astounding job in translating the dynamics and moods live that the album captured in its recordings.

The Bell Hours debut album is only the tip of the iceberg for Songwriter Klaus Larson, and a further exploration into unique arrangements and possibilities is yet to come. A new six song EP is scheduled to be released on September of 2014.

You can find out more about the Bell Hours on their FaceBook page.


artist: The Bots
description: the world's first virtual band
homepage: thebots
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/bots1.jpg
bio:
The Bots illustrate a future where artists, actors, performers and all sorts of media figures will be not human, but sophisticated human-like simulations. That this will happen is a simple issue of economics. As artificial personality simulations become more effective, entertainment conglomerates will find human "creatives" and "stars" to be increasingly irrelevant, replaceable, and disposable.

Unrecognized, low wage human creative labor will toil behind the scenes to bring you "stars" who are nothing more than 3d models and speech synthesizers. This was predicted by science fiction author Norman Spinrad in the classic book, "Little Heroes." The Bots are Spinrad's fantasy come to life. Nowadays, most of the examples we have are in the videogame industry, where voice actors are usually synced to the animated 3d models because of the difficulties of creating acceptable results from the current crop of speech synthesizers. But that's a technical problem, one which The Bots have already solved.

This is all rather revolutionary in the context of musical entertainment, but The Bots have an unexpected agenda.

Anticipating a future where media corporations will use this technology to consolidate their exploitation of the creative classes, The Bots are staking out this territory first. We are here as entertainment, a warning of what is to come, and a vehicle for casting a suspicious eye on the powerful.

Most importantly, The Bots are here to demonstrate entertainment technology as a force for good, a force for freedom, rather than a mind-numbing tool of corporate control. Synthia v2 is the most advanced human simulation on the planet. Most observers agree that she has more personality and lyrical depth than most if not all of the human female divas on the pop charts right now. In fact, Synthia's not even playing their game. She's on a larger mission for world peace, love and harmony. Really.

The Bots don't think of themselves as rebels, though you might think of them that way, depending on your perspective. The Bots simply stand for truth, and justice, rocking out, and having a good time. When The Bots are critical of existing social structures, policies, and taboos, it is not out of an infantile spirit of unfocused "rebellion" which has been so effectively co-opted by corporate mind controllers. No, The Bots don't fit into the corporate "rebel" rock image. They are too sophisticated for that. The Bots not only criticize existing structures, but they offer clear alternatives. This makes them very dangerous to the system of control.

The Bots want you to think for yourself, and throw off the yoke of media fabrication and corporate mind control. The Bots want to encourage you to think a little more deeply about our planet, our future, and our interaction with technology.

The Bots have been around since about 1992, when the first Presidential Mix, Bushwack, was released under the name Tone Def. Bushwack utilized The Bots revolutionary Presidential Truth Filter, which extracts truthful statements from vast wastelands of presidential obfuscation and distortion.

Later, in about 1996, The Bots employed speech synthesizers to create one of the first downloadable songs on the internet. Smoky, Paul Bot and Fred Bot created the song "F*** You" in general midi and soundfont format, as mp3 files were still in the future. Through a series of recordings, The Bot Brothers, as they originally called themselves, displayed a bad attitude and an angry sarcasm that was unmistakeable. Years later, Synthia joined The Bots and the band went in a slightly different direction. Her recipe was to add a little bit of sugar to the mix. Now The Bots are as angry and critical as ever, but it is all filtered through a prism of hope, love, and humor.

If you simultaneously feel like dancing,laughing and crying, you must be listening to The Bots. We're making it "real" here in every way. In spring 2004, with the release of Fuzzy Math, Truth, and the signing to Magnatune, The Bots are on a roll.

We believe Magnatune is the perfect forum for The Bots. Because The Bots are critical of corporate control in all sectors of society, the same holds true for our view of the music industry itself. Much of this industry really is evil, as Magnatune's slogan implies. Artists and consumers have both suffered at the hands of unscrupulous media companies. Placing profit above art is only one problem. How many lives were lost as a result of Clear Channel's sponsored "pro war" rallies prior to the attack on Iraq? How many artists depend on Clear Channel for any chance at sustaining themselves? How many were muzzled from casting a dissenting voice in the runup to the war? How many artists reluctantly went along with their record labels' persecution of file traders? (well, some like Metallica, had no reluctance at all...)

We believe it is the responsibility of true artists to express a celebration of freedom, not to knuckle under to a system of corruption and corporate control. We stand for freedom and your right to party. Come on and join us. Let's crank the music and dance!


artist: The Celtic Reggae Revolution
description: Saint Patrick was Jamaican! Reggae's Irish Connections
homepage: celtic_reggae_revolution
city: Dublin
country: Ireland
bandphoto: /artists/img/celtic_reggae_revolution.jpg
bio:
There have long been connections between Ireland and Jamaica. 350 years ago, after the defeat of Irish rebels by Oliver Cromwell's army, thousands of young Irish boys and girls were forcibly transported to Jamaica to work as indentured servants. Many of the Irish ended up working alongside black African slaves, in similar conditions, on the plantations.

Sir Alexander 'Busta' Bustamante, the first Prime Minister of Jamaica, used to boast that he was 50 per cent Irish, 50 per cent Jamaican and 10 per cent Arawak (indigenous people of the West Indies). Today Irish is the second most commonly claimed ethnic origin - after African - in Jamaica. Irish surnames (such as Burke, Collins, Mackey, Murphy and Madden) are common. And famous Jamaican's who claimed Irish decent include Marcus Garvey the Pan-African human rights leader and Chris Blackwell the record producer, founder of Island records and - according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - the 'person most responsible for turning the world on to reggae music'.

The Celtic Reggae Revolution continue this blend of Irish and Jamaican with their long-awaited, and appropriately titled, album 'Everything comes to those who wait'. The album is the latest creation of Northern Irish singer, songwriter and musician Brian Gilligan. His previous album 'Listen to your heart' recorded with Paddyrasta won praise and a cult following.

The Celtic Reggae Revolution bring together traditional Irish music and Dub Reggae with great Pop hooks. The positive vibes are infectious throughout their socially conscious, beautifully produced music.

Ok, so Saint Patrick is not really Jamaican, but he wasn't born in Ireland either. But don't worry about that. Chill out. Let the music transport you to a place where Ireland meets Jamaica.

'A fusion of irresistible reggae rhythms, traditional melodies and socially conscious lyrics, this multi-cultural band combine to produce a unique sound that makes you just want to get up and dance - simply unmissable!'
Gig n' the Bann


artist: The Dimples
description: Relaxing music for the heart and soul
homepage: the_dimples
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/the_dimples_judith.jpg
bio:
Judith Lerner brings a lifetime of musical self-expression and a passion for "delighting in exquisite exchange" to making music with others.

A classically trained violinist, she transitioned to "fiddling around" in improv jam sessions with friends. In 1995, after being drawn to the expressive freedom and energy of African drumming and drum circles, she started playing Djembe.

Finding the answer to her mother's question "what's your heart's desire?" Judith's world shifted on its axis when she happened upon a handpan video on YouTube in August 2012. Instantly captivated, she's been following her "YES" on a miraculous journey with the handpan.

A seeker and facilitator of sharing that which connects us to each other, the planet, and our sources of personal power, Judith co-facilitates "Magic of Music" workshops, has accompanied the Occidental Community Choir as guest percussionist, performs solo and with friends (including opening for Dante Bucci with Colin Foulke), and looks for and takes every opportunity to improvise, collaborate, and play with other musicians.

For the last 7 years, Colin Foulke has dedicated his life to handpans. After discovering them in early 2007 he was set on a course of musical discovery.

From Germany to Russia, England to Canada, Northern California to North Carolina, Colin has traveled the world playing, performing, and sharing his love for this new and exciting musical instrument. Colin has performed at both the HangoutUK in England and Handpangea in North Carolina, the world's two biggest handpan gatherings. Most notably he has performed with Davide Swarup and Randy Granger and opened shows with Dante Bucci.

Along with performing, Colin runs workshops on Handpan techniques, teaches online handpan lessons, and has released a Handpan tutorial DVD.

You can find out more about the Dimples on their website.


artist: The Dino Haak Collective
description: Divergent, Idiosyncratic, Novel, Out-of-this-world.... alt-rock
homepage: dino_haak_collective
state: WA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/tdhc_dino.jpg
bio:
The Dino Haak Collective came together to create music that transcends the usual and predictable.

The Collective's music is heavy, intricate, melodic, and ever so focused on groove. Described as "A herd of wild elephants coming right at you," "Heavy Nintendo," and "You guys are so Star Wars!", the music transcends a variety of genres and attracts fans of artists such as System of Down, King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, The Prodigy, and George Clinton.

German artist Dino Haak is best known for his work on the Mobius Megatar, a twelve-string touch-style instrument. The sound of the Megatar adds a powerful and eerily symphonic element to the overall feel.

Dino Haak's legal move to the US from Germany was supported by American musicians such as Trey Gunn (King Crimson), Don Schiff (Pat Benatar, Tina Turner, Sheryl Crow), Greg Howard (Dave Matthews Band), Emmett Chapman (Inventor of the Chapman Stick) and others, who helped him to be awarded an Exceptional Artist Visa in 1999 and to finally choose the United States as his full-time place of residence since 2000.

Frontman and Mobius Megatar player Dino Haak shares the stage with a variety of talented individuals.


artist: The Dirty Love
description: rock and roll from the heart
homepage: the_dirty_love
city: Tasmania
country: Australia
bandphoto: /artists/img/the_dirty_love.jpg
bio:
The Dirty Love, a five piece solid rock outfit from the deep south of Australia boasting more line up changes than Spinal Tap and a live show that will have you pinned to the back wall.

Since 2003 The Dirty Love have had the honour of mainstage performances at The Falls Festival, touring nationally with The Lazys, touring as support for Australian Rock legends Grinspoon and on a seperate occasion The Casanovas, to opening the stage for King Cannons, Calling All Cars, Magic Dirt and many more.. and more recently headlining their own shows around the country.

Brothers Aaron, Mitch and Matt Damon..and brothers from another mother Aaron and Hank Richards have just completed tracking their new record 'Black and White' at Melbourne's Birdland Studios, recruiting the direction of rock producer extrodinare Lindsay Gravina (The Living End, Magic Dirt) and Enginner whiz kid Rob Long (Shihad).

"The Dirty Love definitely have Punk sensibilities and attitude, but the music is far more intricate than your average Punk. These guys have a clear sound, with some great instrumental passages."
Only Australian Music.com

"Now this is the way Rock 'n roll should be. A little bit gritty and a little bit head-banging and a lot of quality. The Debut Album from The Dirty Love 'Black and White' is presented in a package that can only be described as impressive, and is the type of album you'll want to listen to again and again. If you love this genre of music, you simply must own it!"
X-Static Newspaper


artist: The Donnis Trio
description: natural mix of rock, folk, and reggae
homepage: donnis_trio
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/donnis_trio.jpg
bio:
The Donnis Trio consists of Nate Donnis (songwriter / guitar / vocals), Phil Woodring (drums / backing vocals), and Denis Sluka (bass).

Formed in late 2005, the trio met for the first time after Nate and Denis auditioned Phil on drums at Nate's apartment in Encinitas. In 2006, the band began playing shows in various San Diego venues which prompted them to investigate options for recording. The band settled on renting a desert house for a week and bringing out Phil's (somewhat mobile) studio. They ended up rigging up the guest house as the live tracking room and the house for the mixing/monitoring. The place was very isolated and eerily quiet. It brought about some interesting moods and helped hone the feelings in Tip of the tongue and Pills and Coffee. Despite their intentions only a few tracks made it to the final album from these sessions and the rest were re-recorded in various bedrooms/closets.

In early 2007, they released "All Directions" and did some small short tours up the CA coast. The album received favorable reviews and later found its way into the popular British TV Series "Skins". The Skins episodes and a growing fanbase on Pandora (over 4 million plays a year) helped the songs "Tip of the tongue" and "Pills and Coffee" gain momentum and expose the band to new fans all over the world. The bands music later found its way to season premiere of the hit show "Breaking Amish" as well an episode of 90210.

In April 2013 the band released the Cole Pond EP. A folk driven EP, with natureesque lyrical tones throughout. A collection of Nate's childhood memories in Vermont and Upstate NY, the songs capture moments of peace and melancholy over an acoustic background. This recording again is produced by the band's drummer Phil Woodring who tastefully adds a number of instruments (most notably piano). The band is also joined by Marta Zaludova on Violin and Viola for two tracks on the album.


artist: The Easton Ellises
description: An Electronic journey on a psychedelic Rock Influential
homepage: the_easton_ellises
city: Quebec
country: Canada
bandphoto: /artists/img/easton_ellises.jpg
bio:
The Easton Ellises are Alex D and Simon Roy, best friends since their schooldays. They met back when Simon was studying music and Alex visual arts. They have since been making music together for the past fifteen years, playing with many different bands going from psychedelic music to punk-rock, experimental to progressive house.

In 1999 they formed a band called Stereomovers, which took them on a long musical journey. Between 2000 and 2005, they were part of Montreal's underground electronic scene playing clubs, afterhours, and raves.

Their music took them abroad playing in important music festivals and parties in the United States, Europe and Asia. The Stereomovers Music has been heard on European and Asian FM radio and countless internet podcasts from around the world. In 2001 the duet released its first twelve inch record with Technogold with Universal Music-Germany and then later a dozen more with respected electronic music labels from both sides of the Atlantic. Their music has also been featured on a number of internationally renowned DJ compilations (Global Underground, Renaissance, Yoshitoshi, etc.).

From 2005 to 2010, most of Alex and Simon's time was spent working in the studio, with renowned producer Pierre Bazinet, learning and perfecting the art of song writing and music production.

In September of 2010, Alex and Simon put the Stereomovers in a golden box on the top shelf of their libraries and started a new project called The Easton Ellises. The American novelist Bret Easton Ellis inspires the name. The music is a combination of rock and electronic music. They tag it E-Rock. Pumping musical energy from their underground electronic music experience, blended with the touch of rock mastered in the studio.

It's the years in the club scene blended with the years in the studio.

Voila.


artist: The Great Mooklaa Herashaa
description: breaking down the doors to heavy industrial, electronica and even pop
homepage: great_mooklaa
state: AZ
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/great_mooklaa1.jpg
bio:
The Great Mooklaa Herashaa hails from the late 90's gothic / industrial music scene in the desert South West.

He claims inspiration from bands like Skinny Puppy / Front Line Assembly and Suicide commando to modern electronic dance music like Goa psy trance, experimental noise art and he even likes pop hits for their catchy hooks.

A founding member of the popular Phoenix based heavy industrial band BlessedBeThyName with whom he was both songwriter and live keyboard player and toured extensively with in the South West including the Hollywood club scene.

The Great Mooklaa Herashaa or "MOOK" as his fans and friends call him, quickly gained a reputation for his strong stage presence, heavy keyboard sounds that at times sound more like a distorted guitar and his trademark look of heavy make up and electric lights trailing from his long dread-locked hair. He believes a live show should be something special, an experience to remember.

It was at this time when MOOK and long time friend and popular phoenix musician Trevor Askew "singer front man from N17" formed their side project Rusted Jesus with their hard hitting electronic beats, synthesized bass lines and haunting vocals quickly gaining in popularity.

Mook, Mooklaa and eventually The Great Mooklaa Herashaa started off as a silly nick name and eventually became a being of its own, A musical force to be reckoned with.

Now he offers us up this, Open Sezame his first solo album. Hitting genres from heavy industrial to goth to electronic, dance, experimental and even pop, this album will take you on a journey.....Enjoy.

You can find out more about The Great Mook at his MySpace page.


artist: The Headroom Project
description: Vivid world-electronica grooves
homepage: headroom_project
city: Bonn
country: Germany
bandphoto: /artists/img/headroom.jpg
bio:
The Headroom Project aka Andreas Ecker fuses traditional world music with modern rhythms and audio design, resulting in driving beats full of natural power, color, and heat. Using the vastly improved studio technology of recent years, Ecker creates an incredibly distinctive and updated international sound, combining influences from Africa, the Middle East and Asia in a modern electronic milieu.

As a multi-instrumentalist with an abiding appreciation for a huge range of traditional vocals and rhythms in particular, Ecker has been creating experimental music for over 20 years. His tracks feature Asian and Middle Eastern beats whirling around Ecker's highly crafted vocal amalgamations in a heavily spiced mix of jazz, funk, and traditional beats. Others feature electronic rhythms and light atmospheric sounds: everything from the roaring sea to classical voices. If there's any one defining feature of Ecker's music it's fluidity, in fact, and his ability to blend cultures and continents so seamlessly is relevant in an ever more mobile and rapidly evolving society.

Ecker has been influenced by such artists as Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Fred Frith, Aqsak Maboul, COS/Daniel Schell or Dead Can Dance. He lives in near Bonn/Germany and plays drums, bass, guitar, piano and various electronic devices. He gained musical knowledge and experiences as a member of several bands until he started his solo career in the late 1980's. In 1986 he reached his first international success with Perfume of Love as a member of the dance group Skala. During the 90's, he worked alone and developed his unique electronic world music style.

You can check out an animation video of the track Industrial Blues from the album Jetuton Andawai below:


artist: The Hurdy-Gurdy Band
description: Baroque Street Music of Paris and London
homepage: the_hurdy_gurdy_band
state: MA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/the_hurdy_gurdy_band.jpg
bio:
The Hurdy-Gurdy Band was formed in 1979 when Donald Heller (NY, USA) travelled to Budapest, Hungary and married Anicet Mikolai. Since then, they have performed throughout Europe, Canada and the United States. In 2000 they were joined by their sons, Gaspar (spinnet) and Julien (violin).

From the very beginning, The Hurdy-Gurdy Band has been as concerned with traditional performances that combine music and theater.

Using techniques inspired by the Commedia dall' Arte troupes of the Renaissance and Baroque, their performances place their music into its original context as experienced by audiences in the early part of the 18th Century in Paris and London. Donald and Anicet Heller continue the nine hundred year tradition of the Hurdy-Gurdy duo.

Julien is currently studying at the Boston Conservatory but often sneaks next door to the Berklee School of Music to listen to Jazz.

Find out more about the Hurdy-Gurdy band at their website.


artist: The Kingsbury Ensemble
description: masterpieces that graced the courts of Europe, played with style and passion
homepage: kingsbury_ensemble
state: MO
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/Kingsbury_group.jpg
bio:
The Kingsbury Ensemble is one of the Midwest's premier professional early music groups. Formed in 1999 under the artistic direction of Maryse Carlin, the Ensemble performs exclusively on period instruments, combining respect for historical style and scholarship with exciting musicianship and flair. The Kingsbury Ensemble is renowned for the scope of its offerings, having presented everything from sonata recitals to concerts employing full Baroque orchestra with dancers and singers in costume. Their concert programming embraces all the national styles of the period from Monteverdi through the Classical era, vigorously seeking out great music which is novel and unpublished.

The Ensemble artists

Maryse Carlin has performed throughout the United States and abroad, both as a pianist and harpsichordist. She made her debut recital at Carnegie Hall in New York under the auspices of Jeunesses Musicales. Since then, she has appeared at the Whitney Museum in New York, in Jordan Hall and on the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, under the auspices of the Westfield Center for Early Keyboard Studies, and as guest artist with the Boston Musica Viva, Fromm Foundation Concerts at Harvard University, and the Marlboro Music Festival.

As soloist with orchestra, she has collaborated with conductors such as Leonard Slatkin, Nicholas Mc Gegan, Roger Norrington and Jeffrey Kahane. In 1992 she performed as fortepianist on the Great Performers at Lincoln Center: Mozart Marathon at Alice Tully Hall. Her performance of the Goldberg Variations was proclaimed one of the most memorable performances of the year by the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch. Maryse Carlin has appeared on French Television and on radio stations such as WGBH and WBUR in Boston, WQXR in New York, as well as on public television in Saint Louis. Recent concert appearances have taken her to Austria, Switzerland and Germany and Italy. She has recorded music of Rameau and Forqueray on the harpsichord, as well as Schubert four hands works with Seth Carlin on the Naiad label.

American countertenor Jay Carter is quickly gaining recognition as one of the nation's finest, lauded for his luminous tone and stylish interpretations especially in the music of Bach, Bernstein, Handel, Purcell and Vivaldi. Equally at home in the modern recital repertoire, he has gained acclaim for programs of modern classics typically outside the standard countertenor repertory by composers such as Quilter, Brahms, Britten, and Hahn. Carter is a featured soloist on recordings of Bach's Magnificat in D, Mendelssohn's Magnificat, and Buxtehude's Membra Jesu Nostri, all of which will be released commercially in late 2008. His 2008-09 season included his Carnegie Hall debut in Messiah with Musica Sacra/Kent Tritle, Tavener's Lament for Jerusalem with the Choral Arts Society of Washington/Norman Scribner, Vivaldi, Handel and Bach with the Louisville Bach Society and the title role in Handel's Solomon with the Omaha Symphony.

He has worked with noted conductors including Owen Burdick, Simon Carrington, Arnold Epley, Paul Goodwin, Stephen Layton, Sir Philip Ledger CBE, Nicholas McGegan and Helmuth Rilling.

A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Kenneth Kulosa is currently in his twelfth year playing with the St. Louis Symphony. Kenneth came to St. Louis from Chicago where he played with the Chicago Symphony, the Grant Park Symphony, and the Chicago Chamber Musicians. At the same time, he held the post of principal cellist for both the South Bend and Northwest Indiana Symphonies. A graduate of the New England Conservatory and the University of Houston, Kenneth studied with Laurence Lesser and Hans Jorgen Jensen, later becoming Mr. Jensen's assistant at Northwestern University.

Passionate about period performance, Kenneth performs with the Kingsbury Ensemble here and in France during the Festival de Musique Ancienne in Saint-Savin, in the Pyrenees. He has also performed with Early Music St. Louis, Bach at the Sem, and has served on the faculty of the Baroque String Academy of the Community Music School of Webster University in Saint Louis.

Marc Thayer performs regularly with the Kingsbury Ensemble and is Artistic Producer for the Music at Whim Estate Concert Series in Frederiksted, St. Croix. Marc performed with the New World Symphony (NWS) in Miami Beach, FL, from 1995-98 and spent the 1998-99 season in France performing with the chamber/opera orchestra of the Festival International d'Aix-en-Provence. From 2001-2002 he was a founding member and concertmaster of the Ars Flores Chamber Orchestra in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Marc received a BM and MM in violin performance from the Eastman School of Music where he studied with William Preucil, Jr., and Zvi Zeitlin. An active violinist and teacher, Marc has performed with the San Diego, Syracuse, and Youngstown Symphony Orchestras, and as concertmaster of the Schlossfest Opera Orchestra in Heidelberg, Germany Marc is currently Vice President for Education and Community Partnerships with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Violinist Margaret Humphrey maintains a vibrant performance schedule in her Twin Cities residence of Minneapolis and St Paul and around the country. She has performed solo and in ensemble with the Rose Ensemble, Lyra Concert, Ex Machina Baroque Opera Company, Minneapolis Chamber Symphony and Musica da Camera, since graduating with a performance degree from the University of Michigan. As recent guest in Philadelphia's Tempesta di Mare, Pittsburgh's Bach society, and St Louis's Kingsbury Ensemble, Ms. Humphrey has performed in such distinguished venues as Seattle's Early Music Guild, The Renaissance and Baroque Society of Pittsburgh, the Shrine to Music Museum, Early Music Now series and the San Diego Early Music Series. A founding member of the baroque ensemble Belladonna, she has performed with them at the Boston Early Music Festival, and the Early Music Festival of Regensburg, Germany. Belladonna has recorded two CD's, Folias Festivas on the Dorian label, and Gathering on the Ten Thousand Lakes label.

Paul Thompson, flute, was born in Manchester, England and commenced his studies with Rainer Schuelein at the London College of Music, and with Alain Marion, professor at the Paris Conservatoire on a French Government Scholarship. Subsequently, he received his Master's in Performance with Robert Goodberg at the Institute of Chamber Music at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

During the summer of 2009, Paul was a featured soloist in the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra's tour of China, gave a masterclass at Shanghai Normal University, and subsequently performed at the Festival de Musique Ancienne in Saint Savin, France. As a Baroque flutist, Paul has studied with Christopher Krueger, Konrad Hunteler, Barthold Kuijken and Jed Wentz. He has been a participant at the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute on four occasions, and in 2008 attended the International Baroque Institute at the Longy School of Music. He appears with the period instrument groups, the Southeast Baroque, St. Louis Baroque, and the Kingsbury Ensemble.


artist: The Kokoon
description: 1980's style new wave rock
homepage: kokoon
city: London
country: England
bandphoto: /artists/img/kokoon.jpg
bio:
When the former ballet dancer Danyx Simone and musician Dirk Henry decided to start The Kokoon early 2000 in Berlin it wasn't clear for both of them how long this journey would take and where it would go.

They both shared the same interests like their strong passion for so called "art-house" films especially from the 60's (Godard, Truffaut, Antonioni, Fellini, Kubrick etc.) as well as the same musical references like 70's Roxy Music, Talking Heads, David Bowie or Siouxsie & the Banshees, just to name a few. From this background they've started to create the sound of The Kokoon.

It's a music that combines both influences into a very personal, story telling form, like little movies - always more than just a selection of songs and their lyrics. It's carried by the versatile, often androgynous but also sensitive character of Danyx's voice. The music varies from edgy to hard, smooth to sick but never soft really. The Kokoon always leaves the standard, sometimes plays with it to destroy it finally - like movies without happy end or with open end.

And they work slow. Three long-players in 10 years don't seem to be many but every new album takes as long as it needs to feel right and they select carefully from their impressions and inspirations until they start to work on recordings and all visuals they always create on their own like cover artwork, web site and videos.


artist: The Lost Mode
description: medieval music meets living modal music traditions
homepage: the_lost_mode
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/the_lost_mode_annette.jpg
bio:
The Lost Mode is a cross-over project weaving together medieval music and modal music traditions from around the world. Initiated by eclectic musician Annette Bauer (recorders and sarode), the Lost Mode's soundscape comes into existence through collaboration, and is created and defined by the wonderful talents and contributions of Shira Kammen (vielle, harp, violin d'amore), Peter Maund (percussion), and guest musician Derek Wright (oud).

Annette Bauer a native of Germany, has a dual background in early music and classical Indian music. She studied medieval and renaissance music at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, Switzerland, specializing on recorder techniques with Conrad Steinmann (2001). She holds an MA in music from UC Santa Cruz (2004), and has been a student at the Ali Akbar College of Music in California since 1998, where she studies North Indian classical music on sarode, a stringed instrument.

Together with Tim Rayborn, Annette co-directs medieval ensemble Canconier and performs with Baroque ensemble Les graces and Farallon Recorder Quartet. She has appeared at early music festivals and concert series as well as a guest musician with leading early music ensembles throughout the US.

Annette also plays Brazilian percussion with Maracatu Luta, and is the co-founder of Magic Carpet, a duo dedicated to the art of improvisation. You can find out more about Annette's projects on her website.

Shira Kammen has spent well over half her life exploring the worlds of early and traditional music.

A member for many years of Ensembles Alcatraz, Project Ars Nova, and Medieval Strings, she has also worked with Sequentia, Hesperion XX, the Boston Camerata, The Folger Consort, Piffaro, Kitka, and is the founder of Class V Music, an ensemble dedicated to performance on river rafting trips.

She has performed and taught in the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Israel, Morocco, Latvia, Russia, and Japan, and on the Colorado and Rogue Rivers. Shira happily collaborated with singer/storyteller John Fleagle for fifteen years, and performs now with several groups: the medieval ensembles, Fortune's Wheel and Canconier; a contemporary music group, Ephemeros; an eclectic ethnic band, Panacea; as well as collaborations with performers such as storyteller Patrick Ball, medieval music expert Margriet Tindemans, and with many theater productions.

Some of her original music can be heard in a documentary film about the fans of J.R.R. Tolkien. Shira also has her own website where you can find out more about her various projects.

Peter Maund has performed and recorded with early music and contemporary music ensembles including Ensemble Alcatraz, Chanticleer, Davka, Hesperion XX, Kitka, Alasdair Frasers Skyedance, The Harp Consort and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra.

He has also presented lectures, workshops, and classes throughout North America, Europe and Israel. Described by The Glasgow Herald as "the most considerate and imaginative of percussionists," he appears on over 60 albums and has served on the faculty of the University of California, Berkeley.

Derek Wright has been a musician all of his life. Growing up in New Orleans, he was a jazz bassist, saxophonist, and percussionist.

He began learning Middle Eastern music in the mid 1990s, and started playing the oud in 1997. His teachers have included Solomon Feldthouse and Ali Sinan Erdemsel. Since 2002, he has been studying North Indian classical music (both vocal and instrumental) with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, adapting the oud to be used in a style similar to the sarode.

Derek has also been a passionate student, performer, and teacher of Brazilian music (percussion and song) since 1995, focusing especially on Maracatu, Samba, and Samba Reggae.


artist: The Napoleon Blown Aparts
description: obnoxious high-energy rock
homepage: blownaparts
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/the_napoleon_blownaparts.jpg
bio:
Artist: The Napoleon Blownaparts (AKA THE BLOWNAPARTS)

Music Style: Textured guitars and big banging drums blend to create a dynamic catalog of songs ranging from loud, fast-paced, action-inspiring tracks to dark yet soothing acoustic sounds lacking anything but edge, from singer / song writer Ajax Garcia.

Buy If You Like: AC/DC, KISS, GUNS N' ROSES, MC5, BLACK SABBATH, THE RAMONES, RANCID, THE NEW YORK DOLLS, SOCIAL DISTORTION, THE ROLLING STONES, IGGY & THE STOOGES.

Music Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, Guitar Rock, Punk Rock, Alternative Rock, Heavy Metal, Acoustic Rock, Classic Rock, Rock N' Roll, Groove, Folk Rock.

Your Goals: Developing a successful multimedia marketing or advertising campaign requires both visual and inspiring audio elements that appeal to your target market to convey your desired image while driving the viewer / listener to action. Well-targeted audio choices from Ajax Garcia and The Blownaparts will contribute just the right amount of "attitude" to the image of your company, product, or campaign to assist in the phenomenon of converting customers into "fans."

Qualifications: Since 1997, song writer Ajax Garcia has been responsible for producing the soundtracks for hundreds of successful marketing campaigns through the innovative SEM-Disc Company. Listen to SEM-Disc ad samples at http://www.myspace.com/theloudamericanagroup.

Some national partnerships include:
-2002 Blownaparts team up with Extreme Beverage brand BLACK VODKA.
-2004 Skyway BMX taps rock band Napoleon Blownaparts.
-2008 America's Tire Co. draws on the commercial appeal of The Blownaparts.
-2005 Canadian-based marketing group, FIXION MEDIA, joins forces with The Napoleon Blownaparts.

Artist Statement: Being an artist and song writer, I'm driven by creative energy. At the same time, being an independent artist means understanding business - especially promotion. I know first-hand what the right look and sound can do for a marketing campaign, especially when it comes to reaching an audience that lives on the edge (or one that just enjoys the dream of living on the edge).

For more info on Ajax Garcia Jesus Mendez Jr. and The Napoleon Blownaparts please see related sites:
www.crisisalbum.com and to sign up for the mailing list go to www.ajaxgarcia.com and newstedheavymetal.com.


artist: The Old Recruits
description: a new take on old funk
homepage: the_old_recruits
city: Fleet
country: England
bandphoto: /artists/img/the_old_recruits.jpg
bio:
The Old Recruits are a disparate bunch of characters, put together by The Rapture's Stuart Lynch.

With a line up of: Kicker Joe on Drums, Chubs on Bass, Old Red on keys, Johnny Junior on rhythm guitar, and Sam the Man on Lead, plus any girls they can find willing to lay down some vocals for no more than a Babycham and a packet of crisps.

Their music is written in a booze induced haze of late nights, too many cigs and bad kebabs. They record at Mount Street Studios, England and strive to make contemporary records sound like they are already 30 years old.

Seldom seen in public, and never together outside of the studio, The Old Recruits are surrounded by mystery and rumour. Some say they hide behind misdirection and monikers, others say they are legendary musicians from long forgotten bands, and still others say....they don't exist at all.

Whatever you think, The Old Recruits hope you enjoy their music.


artist: The Proper Authorities
description: pulse-pounding, booty-shaking rock
homepage: proper_authorities
state: OH
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/proper_authorities.jpg
bio:
The Proper Authorities is the solo musical project of singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Keith Adams. Known primarily for his drum work with the bands Sound Mind, 1000 Watt Revival, Giant Wow, and the Cloven Hoof Theatre, Adams created the Proper Authorities to branch out and work on his lifelong compositional and performance skills.

As in past groups, Adams continues to experiment strongly in the modern pop rock genre with sounds and grooves that aren't usually found there. His appreciation for over-the-top arrangements is tempered nicely by his love for good hooks. His lyrics touch on a variety of subjects: matters of self; emotional snapshots in time; tragic and comic figures; and the things that we all want... or at least think that we want.

The Proper Authorities released its first full-length recording through the imprint Talon First Records in January 2006. The LP CD entitled "Public Service Announcement" features 13 tracks and over 50 minutes worth of high-impact material for listeners and lovers of heavy guitar, electro textures, lush vocal harmonies, and booty-shaking grooves.

"The theme I was most interested in was how time affects our approaches to living," explained Adams about the release. "We generally make choices based on our upbringing, our current environment, survival instinct, desires, a need for acceptance, and more. Add a time constraint into those factors, and then you raise the stakes and drop some drama into the proceedings. A song about 'You can accomplish anything you want' has more weight and realism to it when you add 'But you'd better step up to the task before it's too late.'"

Drawing on his professional skills as a multimedia developer, Adams created videos for two of the "Public Service Announcement" tracks, providing a visual element via self-produced hybrids of CGI animation and live action. "Devastate" featured five holographic versions of himself performing each instrument of the song, an Earth-threatening group of incoming asteroids, and a spaceship fitted with an enormous sound system of doom. "The Ninth Life Jitters" followed a man fleeing from shadowy pursuers, unaware of the fate awaiting him at the end of a long, nightmarish corridor. You have just been properly authorized.


artist: The Raindoggs
description: beat-heavy, darkened mix of R'n'B and Soul
homepage: the_raindoggs
state: TX
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/the_raindoggs.jpg
bio:
Picture Tom Waits and Snoop Dogg in a 68 Camaro, driving from New Orleans to LA, and it's all being filmed by David Lynch.

The sound you hear is The Raindoggs' beat-heavy, darkened mix of R'n'B/Soul with an array of influences ranging from Tom Waits, Snoop Dogg, The Heavy, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, The Lounge Lizards, Amy Winehouse and more...

Their sound travels through time, picking up lost souls along the way. "Perhaps we're all marching in a spectacular and angular Mardis Gras parade across the sun-drenched desert of humanity's collective soul?" ~ Popa's Tunes

It was there I heard the music cry "I am the Rock and Reggae. I am Baroque and the Blues. I am Funk and Folk. I am Rap and Ragtime. I'm every form of music there ever was, and now I am The Raindoggs."

Raindogg - Bass and keyboards

Eddie - Guitar

Josh - Drums


artist: The Ranchhands
description: Fiddle driven modern country music
homepage: the_ranchhands
state: NY
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/the_ranchhands.jpg
bio:
The Ranchhands are a "new country" band formed around the performing team of Chris Tedesco and Mickey Kennedy. They are backed by top musicians from across the US and tour as a full band throughout the US and Europe.

Keeping true to the roots of classic country style, combined with a modern Nashville production and refreshing original songs, The Ranchhands' sound IS new country. The Ranchhands are known throughout the US and Europe for their high-energy performances, musicianship, and professionalism both on and off stage.

The band has performed over 900 concerts since 2003, touring in 17 countries and 45 states. They were the first American country music band to perform in Albania (3 concerts), and Bosnia (1 concert) in 2008. Bandleader Chris Tedesco (fiddle/acoustic guitar/songwriter) has been nominated twice for International Musician of the Year in France.


artist: The Rapture
description: Electronica with a heart
homepage: the_rapture
city: Fleet
country: England
bandphoto: /artists/img/the_rapture.jpg
bio:
The Rapture is the brainchild of Stuart Lynch, a keyboardist, recording engineer and producer from the UK. Building on the foundations of a classical musical education, he has performed in many musical ensembles throughout the years, from choirs and orchestras - both as a performer and a conductor - to a keyboardist in soul/funk and rock bands.

Studio sessions recording demo CDs for his most recent band in 2008 re-ignited his interest in recording and writing music again after a 15 year hiatus. Over the course of the next two years he built up his studio and started to write and record music again concentrating on producing electronic music and learning the intricacies of the latest music production software.

As well as producing his own work he also collaborates with several singer songwriters and other instrumentalist around the world. Writing, recording and producing the orchestrations that accompany the songs can be an enjoyable return to "working the old fashioned way with pencils and manuscript paper", and the interaction with other artists is always welcome.

"There is a danger that studio based electronic music can become a very technological and lonely exercise if you let it; and in doing so, the danger is that the music loses its ability to emotionally connect with its audience. But by maintaining collaborations with acoustic musicians and writing electronic music using classically learnt skills and techniques and attempting to steer clear of purely 'programmed music' hopefully The Rapture will continue to produce work with a humanistic quality that can be enjoyed on many different levels."

Stuart also produces Electro Funk music under the name of "The Old Recruits"


artist: The Reminding Ideas
description: there are good ideas, there are bad ideas, and there are rules
homepage: the_reminding_ideas
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/the_reminding_ideas_1.jpg
bio:
The Reminding Ideas started as a solution to the plaguing idea of writing songs to please others, whether it be labels, bookers, critics, and whoever became a barrier of creativity to Magnum and Soule.

House of Weather is a result of these two gentlemen making music that pushed their boundaries creatively and to make music that satisfied them. However, they also intended for their debut to mean something personal and different to each listener.

Matt Soule describes, "Ultimately it's about the Universe, and emotions in the universe. What those emotions are is up to you. It's up to what you hear and how you interpret that. There are parts of the album where it may seem that we think that nothing is going to go well. Rest assured, everything is going to be all right."


artist: The Sarasa Ensemble
description: Lively, bright Baroque
homepage: sarasa
state: MA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/sarasa.jpg
bio:
The Sarasa Ensemble performs music from the early Baroque through the Romantic eras. It has received critical acclaim for its "informed and impassioned music-making" and is hailed for its "great clarity" and "irresistible energy". Drawing on a pool of more than sixty world-class musicians from the United States, Europe, and Canada, the ensemble varies in size according to the particular program of each of its concerts.

The ensemble produces the Sarasa Chamber Music Series in Cambridge and Concord, Massachusetts and summer concerts based in Putney, Vermont. It has toured throughout New England and to Cuba, Ireland, and India.

Sarasa was formed in response to a concert played by its founder, Timothy Merton, in the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in 1997, at the urging of a friend. An inmate who heard that first concert remarked, "When art is well executed, it projects a message that transcends language, culture, and even aesthetic boundaries." Sarasa took these words to heart and since then has been bringing high-quality music to those who ordinarily have little access to it. The ensemble has performed in adult and adolescent correctional facilities, homes for the elderly, mental hospitals, and institutions for the disabled.

For the last several years Sarasa has been working almost exclusively with teenagers in the greater Boston area. Every concert season the group plays more than twelve outreach concerts and facilitates several residency programs in teenage correctional centers. Through these programs Sarasa seeks to address the spiritual and emotional suffering of incarcerated youth and offer them joy, hope and opportunities for healing through self-expression.


artist: The Seldon Plan
description: sophisticated rock with emo undercurrents
homepage: seldon
state: MD
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/seldon3.jpg
bio:
Michael Nestor (guitars, vocals, keys)
Dave Hirner (bass)
Frank Corl (percussion)
Chris Ehrich (guitars, vocals)

The Baltimore-based indie pop rockers are known for their "tuneful-wistful rock" (The Washington Post) and "literate, yet still youthful sound" (Allmusic).

The Seldon Plan spent the last few years taking on a busy tour schedule including shows with Explosions in the Sky, The Stills, Now It's Overhead, The Octopus Project, Matt Pond PA and Hammer No More The Fingers. The band has also made numerous appearances on radio, television, and film over the past few years while keeping a strong DIY ethic.

After the acclaimed release of 2009's Lost and Found and Lost, praised for its "catchy simple melodies awash with lush vocals, hip full guitars, and a hint of Flaming Lips" by artist/composer Mark Degli Antoni (David Byrne/Soul Coughing) and dubbed "smart pop with no wasted space" by record producer Brian McTernan (Senses Fail/Piebald/Thrice), the band took a break from touring and recording.

In early 2010, Dave and Michael recruited Frank Corl and Chris Ehrich to play a live performance and interview with Jack Rabid (editor, The Big Takeover) at The Kennel Studios in Brooklyn, NY. Energized by the performance, characterized by Jack Rabid as more insistent hard indie rock greatness from The Seldon Plan, Nestor, Hirner, Corl, and Ehrich decided to record two video singles, "Millennials" and "China Blue" for release during Summer 2010 as a way to explore the medium of video.

Coalizione del Volere, the new album from The Seldon Plan, is a direct descendant of these video sessions, reflective of a desire of the band to step back to a more Dischord-era-like guitar-driven rock sound, akin to 2005's Making Circles but with the softer, more mature edge of 2007's The Collective Now. On Coalizione del Volere, the band seems intent on exploring a more angular guitar rock sound within the context of focused melodies and textured intricate harmonies. Listeners who have enjoyed The Seldon Plan through their first four records will delight as The Big Takeover has at the Baltimore foursome's continued maturation.

To this end, the band presents a mature Seldon Plan sound, an amalgam of influences that can be heard but do not define Coalizione del Volere. The use of strong and repeatable melodies is reminiscent of the American Analog Set, yet the technicolor layers of Coalizione del Volere bring to mind Let Go-era Nada Surf and The Californian by Sunday's Best. To drive home this past/present dichotomy The Seldon Plan has teamed up again with engineer Frank Marchand (The Thermals, Bob Mould), who worked with the band on 2005's Making Circles, and 2007's The Collective Now.


artist: The Strap Ons
description: snot-voiced thrashing punk 'n' roll
homepage: strapons
state: VA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/strap_ons.jpg
bio:
The Strap-Ons are a snot-voiced wildly thrashing pure punk rock 'n' roll band. Formed in late 1996 as The Pimps in Norfolk VA, they took the name The Strap-Ons from one of their favorite movies of all time, iStrap On Sallyi They have a well earned reputation for good lyrics, catchy riffs, and a great sound, never letting up on their brand of over the top punk.

The Band toured the US in the summer of 2003, doing many shows with original iMisfitsi member Joey Image, and released a live album of their show in San Francisco, to boot. The Strap-Ons continue to do many East Coast appearances including CBGB's, The Continental, and Manitobas in New York City

"Punk On Punk Crime" The new CD on Valiant death was released in 2004. Naked Jain Records released the second CD, "$4 Whore", in 2003 as a Follow up to the bands first Full length album, "Geeking Dream".

Coming up in 2004, "Covered ass" will be the bands 4th full length. It will be all covers from the 1940s - 70s and has a scheduled street date of September 1 2004 on Digitone Records. Also this year a "Johnny Thunders Tribute" that idle produced and the band performs on is gonna be released on RocknRoll Radio Records in Belgium. And is if that wasn't enough rock action for you, there will be three 4-way split 7" records released this year all featuring The Strap-Ons and their mentor band, the mighty Electric Frankenstein.

The Strap-Ons can also be found on over 11 vinyl records and many CD compilations, including the legendary Fistful of Rock n Roll "The International Punk Rock Box Set", as well as DRI and Joey Ramone Tribute compilations. Other 2003 releases include a 7" split on Bootleg Booze Records and 10" split on Heavy Drinking Productions Records in Sweden.


artist: The Stroj
description: retrofuturistic, DIY instruments, industrial, electronic, tribal and steampunk
homepage: the_stroj
city: Velenje
country: Slovenia
bandphoto: /artists/img/the_stroj_small.jpg
bio:
The Stroj collective gathered in 1997 when a group of percussionists, craftsmen and musicians from Slovenia realized an idea to create a huge mechanical sound machine that sounds like an articulated noise orchestra, driven by hypnotic rhythms and powered with bodily energy.

Name The Stroj comes from a Slovenian word 'stroj' (pronounced as 'stroy') which means 'machine'. Therefore THE STROJ is a pun, playing with two meanings: machine and destruction.

The roots of their musical expression can be traced to an alternative scene from ex Yugoslavia in the early 80's (Borghesia, Laibach) and their live acts reflect a daring DIY attitude of musical pioneers like EinsturzendeNeubauten or Les Tambours du Bronx.

In almost two decades The Stroj have released four albums and performed all over Europe, UK and Singapore. They are regular guests of festivals and special events held in unusual venues like abandoned factories, ships, castles, mines and railway museums.

Their music is based on expressive and complex rhythmical structures, complemented by electronically manipulated field recordings, various electronic devices and odd electromechanical equipment.

You can find out more about them on their website.


artist: The Suicide Denial
homepage: the_suicide_denial
state: MT
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/the_suicide_denial.jpg
description:
throw yourself into a melting pot of Green Day, The Killers, The offspring, My Chemical Romance and Red Hot Chili Peppers

bio:
In 2007 Chad Gerber temporarily relocated from Los Angeles California to Montana with his band Korben in order to tour hard to hit areas in the midwest. After connecting with a local music store to find a drummer for those tours, Chad was given the number of a student at the nearby college named Chad McKinsey "AKA 2012".

Shortly after a few tours, the band dissolved. Chad Gerber approached 2012 about his "Suicide Denial Project" and began collaborating with him. Having worked on projects with multiplatinum selling artists like Aloe Blacc, Tooth and Nail Recording artists, and members of Guns N Roses, the duo was fully prepared to begin working on their new musical direction they dubbed "Ghetto Sample Rock".

They began recording in the small college studio, sneaking in nightly to work on their new project. Within a few months of recording they signed with Divulge Records to produce their first full length album I'm Sorry LA. Chad Gerber returned back to Los Angeles shortly after, while 2012 finished his education in Montana, flying back and fourth between the two states during the final stages of the recording process.

The band received an overwhelming response to the album, creating buzz in college newspapers, national music publications, blogs, and radio. As the rest of the music industry struggled to grab financially strapped listeners, The Suicide Denial thrived off giving away their music in the economic downturn and quickly grew their fan base across the US, Europe, Australia, and parts of China.

In 2010 The Suicide Denial toured to promote their favorite charity Faceless International and the release of their music video for "I'm Sorry LA". Funds from select shows went towards sending a team with The Suicide Denial into Haiti to provide hydration packets to combat the cholera outbreak and to build homes for earth quake victims near the tent cities. In 2011 The Suicide Denial released their 2nd full length album We'll Go Down Fighting followed by a tour with the Vans Warped Tour. Currently The Suicide Denial is tentatively preparing for 2012 dates in the UK.


artist: The Town Monster
description: sounds like synth pop walking down a dark alley
homepage: the_town_monster
state: OH
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/the_town_monster.jpg
bio:
If synth pop wandered into a dark alley and found itself viciously beaten by a gang of guitar distortion and layered rhythms, it might sound an awful lot like The Town Monster.

The band's 8-song release "New Life" had media citing influences as diverse as "Midnite Vultures" - era Beck to "Ministry at its most crushing." The resulting melange is propulsively agressive and unrelentingly groovy. Oh, and it's a two-piece that's making all that racket.

Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Nathan Photos rains down guitar riffs and shoots up synth lines with a vocal range that runs from black metal growl to Prince falsetto. Drummer Matt Grady's piercing beats add the right level of organic to the electronic, making this musical cyborg's eyes glow red.

The band has shared stages with appropriately diverse national acts including Weezer and Crystal Castles with radio airplay ranging from regular Top 5 play on local independent juggernaut CD102.5 in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio, to spins on L.A. modern rock staple KROQ.

The music all culminates in The Town Monster's crushing live show, an electro bath of sensory overload. It finds out what happens when noise becomes symphony.


artist: The Union Trade
description: cinematic post-rock
homepage: uniontrade
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/uniontradeband.jpg
bio:
The Union Trade made their debut in 2007 with the release of their first EP, Now the Swell (Tricycle), which was quickly followed up by their first full-length album. 2008's Everyday Including (Tricycle) laid out the band's vision of a lush cinematic post rock sound built on heavily distorted guitars awash in delay, epic dynamics, and minimalist vocals. Garnering the band praise in national and international press, and fans around the world, Everyday Including also earned The Union Trade an official showcase at SXSW 2009.

With the addition of new drummer David Elrod to the founding line-up of Don Joslin (guitar), Eric Salk (guitar & keyboards) and Nate Munger (bass & lead vocals), The Union Trade add a dynamic new element to their sound. This new energy is captured on their upcoming EP, Why We Need Night, set for release on February 8th 2011 on Tricycle Records.

Over the course of their upcoming EP, Why We Need Night (Tricycle), The Union Trade follow the contours of proven terrain and map the outlines of an evolving sound. In moments throughout, the band strips away the epic layers of their first album to expose the intimacy of a beautiful guitar line, the gravity of a simple piano progression, or the emotion and lyricism of a vocal performance. Energized by dynamic rhythms, the EP progresses from the familiar into new territory marked by a broader range of analog and acoustic keyboards, electronic elements and The Union Trade's most concise song structures to date. Why We Need Night captures The Union Trade as they continue to define the space where instrumental rock influences meet a more mainstream indie rock sound.


artist: The West Exit
description: soulful electro pop
homepage: west_exit
state: WA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/west_exit.jpg
bio:
Sexy, ambient dance grooves move under layers of synthesizers, keyboards and guitars. Hauntingly catchy vocal melodies float provocatively over the music. Merging the acoustic and the electric, mixing soulful chords with funky beats; The West Exit is a sultry blend of pop, R & B, and electronic music.

The West Exit began in the spring of 2003 as the studio project of Kevin Jenkins, a vocalist, keyboardist, and guitarist residing in Seattle, Washington. His previous musical affiliations include the bands Greg, Dim at Asia, Otis P & the Jivefunk, La Push, and Emblematic.

The West Exit's first album, Nocturne, was released in February 2004. In addition to steady local and online sales, the album has received extensive podcast exposure. The West Exit's music has also appeared in independent films and on several commercial websites and promotional media.

In the spring of 2004, a group was formed to take the music to the stage. Jenkins recruited his perpetual band mate Timothy Harper along with Nocturne contributors Shane Smith and Dave Billin for the task. Harper, a drummer and percussionist, had worked with Jenkins in live bands and studio projects since 1995. Smith provided his bass guitar talents to the album as well as the live band. Billin lent his sound design and engineering skills to the studio sessions and added his keyboard and vocal abilities to the stage show.

After a year and a half of performing in Northwest clubs and bars, Jenkins put the live show on hiatus and headed back into the studio to begin work on a new album. He retained the services of bassist Shane Smith for the recording sessions and in November 2006, The West Exit's second album, Modern Interiors, was completed. It became available for download in early 2007.

Jenkins and Smith reunited in the fall of 2008 to record The West Exit's third album, Extra Century Perception. Seattle guitarist RL Heyer lent his talents to the album as well. The new record continues in their vein of smooth, soulful electro-pop. But the stylistic elements have become more magnified and mature, with bigger beats, soaring melodies, thick harmonies, and more addictive hooks that will get your body moving. Extra Century Perception was released in November 2009.


artist: The Wretch
description: painful ambient industrial noise.
homepage: wretch
state: NY
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/wretch.jpg
bio:
Sickness, discomfort, hallucinatory excursions into audio mayhem, moments of clarity, cathartic healing through analog circuitry.

Melding pure exploration with hapless accident, the wretch creates atmospheric moments through brutal walls of sound.

"Ambulatory | A new Kind of Sickness - a new hope for comfort" explores further what was started with "Cyst" - it's a hybrid of noisecore, drum'n'bass, and noiseambient, combined together into an album that travels into unrelenting rhythms, stereo mangling, incidental noises and nuances that will take months to understand but will impact immediately. Almost a tradition now - this album ends with a frantic remix of "Alerting" by Biomechanoid.


artist: The Young Werewolves
description: nippy post-punk retro rock with a bite
homepage: the_young_werewolves
state: NJ
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/the_young_werewolves.jpg
bio:
Many have tried to categorize but are often left mesmerized. With influences including rockabilly, garage, horror rock, bebop, surf, and early punk, The Young Werewolves have created their own unique concoction of rhythm and melodies. Bassist Shewolf Dana Kain, Guitarist Wolfman Nick Falcon, and Drummer Jonny Wolf have been sharing lead vocals and harmonizing together since 2002.

Based in Philadelphia, PA, The Young Werewolves have recorded three full length albums and played hundreds of shows. Their music has been licensed by television shows including The Real World (MTV), Dog The Bounty Hunter (A and E), Friday Night Lights (NBC), Burn Notice (USA), Man vs. Food (The Travel Channel), Blue Mountain State (SPIKE), Vampire Diaries (CW) and many others. Samplings of their sound have been featured in indie films as well as radio and commercial promos on Fox and AMC.

OooooWwwwwwww!

You can find out more about The Young Werewolves and where they are playing on their own website.


artist: theDGTL
description: where hip hop beats meet elements of electronica, soul, jazz, and more
homepage: thedgtl
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/thedgtl.jpg
bio:
theDGTL is a hip hop production collective based out of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest specializing in collaboration and genre breaking sounds. Formed by Vito Maserati and Jacob Hillard, who met online via soundcloud in 2011; the premise of theDGTL is collaboration, as the two worked together for three years before meeting in person. Inspired by the moment, theDGTL's collaborative-forward approach fuels projects that blend Hip Hop with elements of Electronic, Soul, Jazz and a certain aesthetic that is familiar, yet fresh. Working with artists that are at the zeitgeist of their genre, such as rising rapper Nobi (Fulminate, 2020) who embody the standard of creativity, innovation, and cause with intent into their craft.

Largely crafting their sound in house, theDGTL utilizes Vito Maserati's drum centric production and 808 influenced sounds to craft the inflection and textures that act as a foundation for a vast array of colours; but firmly rooted in hip hop technique. Sampling, dust, textural transformations warp compositions made in the moment to create an authentic sound that is heavily influenced by the roots of hip hop (J Dilla, Mike Dean, Dre) soul (D'angelo), jazz (Miles Davis, Getz, Trane) to more current sounds that have adapted aspects of the hip hop and rap genres to Electronic and Pop. A growing presence over the last several years, theDGTL began appearing as a Saxophone feature for The Soultanz, where they would meet current artist and main collaborator Nobi. After establishing a physical studio in Seattle, theDGTL has been collaborating with over a dozen local acts and west coast artists, focusing on songwriting, production, and innovative ideas and content creation at their current hq at House of Breaking Glass (Phillip Peterson) in North Seattle.

Featured in: The Seattle Times (July 2020), NPR Music Tiny Desk (May 2020), Respect My Region Top Producer 2019, Vans


artist: Thirty Day Notice
description: Somewhere Between Pleasantly Hypnotic and Slightly Disturbing
homepage: thirty_day_notice
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/thirty_day_notice.jpg
bio:
Lana, (born in Portland, OR), has been interested in the paranormal ever since she can remember. Because of her own spiritual experiences, she was drawn to study quantum physics and philosophy in college. However, in time she realized most of the information she was learning in school was wrong or outdated. Lana left school and briefly modeled which brought her to Los Angeles. She began having dreams and visions of singing in a band which was ridiculous to her because she didn't know how to sing yet even though her family was full of musicians and singers. Lana kept meeting musicians and eventually began writing songs and taking voice lessons.

Interested in the music industry she worked as an operations manager for Miles Copeland who owned I.R.S. Records which included acts such as R.E.M., The Police, The Go-Go's, The Clash, Concrete Blonde and Oingo Boingo as well as other music executives in LA. After becoming completely disgusted with the music industry, Lana decided to start her own record label with her big brother Joe called Piggyback Records. Joe, being a professional music mixer and Lana knowing about music licensing, management and marketing made an excellent team.

They ran Piggyback Records for a few years but decided to let it go as the music industry at that time was being revolutionized because of the Internet. However, they managed to produce five excellent musical groups, including Lana's other project called Magdalene's Dream with Keith Hillebrandt from Nine Inch Nails' The Fragile and Thirty Day Notice.

Today, Joe and Lana are full speed ahead making new music for Thirty Day Notice, although from two international and interdimensional locations. Lana lives in Europe and Joe lives on a remote island in Fiji. They're able to send music files back and forth and continue producing music. They've decided to upload a single at a time to their website instead of making full length CDs. Currently, they have many songs in production.

Additionally, Lana hosts Radio 3Fourteen, focusing on alternative subject matters. She also writes health articles, newsletters, contributes to audio commentaries and is co-producer of Red Ice TV for Red Ice Creations.

Joe mixes music and maintains his self-sufficient lifestyle in Fiji. After leaving the states, he never looked back. He is interested in the unordinary and enjoys reading about strange archeology, forgotten civilizations, dystopian societies both fictional and historical, world history and cataclysms.

Both Lana and Joe are interested in ancient civilizations, secret societies, the soul, fringe science, the occult, aliens, mythology, symbolism, sacred geometry, conspiracy, consciousness and more.

Their music is somewhere between pleasantly hypnotic and slightly disturbing. Lana and Joe (sister and brother) write, perform, mix and produce TDN in their solar powered recording studio in Fiji. If you enjoy rock/electronic music with meaty lyrics, listen to Thirty Day Notice.


artist: thirty3
description: Music in a gravity-free environment
homepage: thirty_3
state: MD
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/thirty3.jpg
bio:
thirty3 is Jay Kishor, guitar, and Savana Moore, piano.

"Prior to becoming the pianist and collaborating partner for thirty3, I exemplified the quintessential definition of an "unknown".

Jay Kishor was looking for a pianist with whom to start up a new creative project. We jammed together, and within a very short time, we were rarely apart either musically or personally. I was classically trained, and I composed by transcription or by using software to digitally record my ideas. That is, until I met Jay, was exposed to his approach to music, embraced his vision, and became his protege. thirty3's aesthetic evolved from his methodology and from our unique connection, which is the core of thirty3. Playing with Jay is like sprouting wings. After you get a taste of flying, you never want to just walk again. You lose the boundaries of the physical because "organic music" eliminates the force of gravity.

As Jay has said "the paramount factor in music above all else, is honesty. The only way to assure integrity and honesty is via the path of improvised music. If music is to be a true expression of the self, it must reflect moments occurring at a particular place in time rather than being something composed by someone else in some other place, some other time." This can be experienced either as a musician or as a listener, which is what I was initially because it was all I was capable of being. I learned through Jay how to truly improvise. To do so, I had to truly LISTEN - to let go of my intellect, lose my fear of making mistakes, be disturbed by the lack of intelligence, creativity and development I heard in my own musical ideas in contrast to his and to be frustrated by my lack of ability to clearly express my soul...until I finally got to the point that I wasn't. The demands of this methodology make you a better musician, a more evolved musician. Working with Jay is a cleansing process; it's yoga for the soul.

I need to talk about story telling because that is what Jay always has done and now what we do together in thirty3. We establish a musical setting and then delve into this setting, expanding it, developing it and ultimately allowing the listener to experience the story as it unfolds. That story occurs in a specific moment in time, never to be the same again, even if the setting remains constant.

This is not meant as disrespect to the art of song craft. Composers, and in a sense people who play compositions, do so with the best of intentions of leaving a legacy in the world of art. However, much like ice sculptures or the sand mandalas in the Buddhist tradition, the raw material of music does not lend itself to permanency. Composing music is like trying to catch the wind in your hands and goes against the ephemeral nature of sound. The raw materials of painting, sculpture, photography and writing are materials of the Earth, whereas the raw materials of music, dance, and stories are of the ether. A beautiful cloud formation doesn't repeat itself. We have photography and paint to capture it. Rather than replicating the birth of a past moment over and over again, the "organic musician" explores the promise and truth belonging to the present moment.

We are excited to present our debut album "Rare, The Kafi Kanada Sessions". Kafi Kanada is a rare and ancient Indian classical raga or melody. It provides the setting for this music in a "gravity-free environment."

~ Savana Moore

   Logo graphics by Holman Garay of Garay Graphics


artist: Thomas
description: layered choral compositions
homepage: thomas
city: Erlangen
country: Germany
bandphoto: /artists/img/thomas.jpg
bio:
Thomas developed his passion for choral music at the ripe age of 15 when he joined the church choir in his home town, a little farming village in Germany.

Later he enjoyed the privilege of singing in the choirs of internationally renowned choir masters, including Karl-Friedrich Beringer, Dale Warland, and Bobby McFerrin. He sang at performances and appears on recordings of the Dale Warland Singers and the Chamber Choir of Europe.

In 2002, Thomas joined the "Dufay Ensemble" Nuremberg, a vocal group dedicated to Reinassance and contemporary choral music and sought after by young international composers for first performances.

Thomas was the musical leader of various amateur vocal ensembles. In 2004, he won a regional contest of the "Detuscher Sangerbund" (German Singers Foundation) with his group "Ensemble Mannerklang", whose performance got aired by the "Bayerischer Rundfunk" (Bavarian public radio).

At age 20, he started composing Rock songs; his first Choral arrangements followed a little later and several of them were performed by church choirs and amateur ensembles.

In the late 1990s, Thomas built his own digital sound studio and started recording his own works. In 2005, his "Below - A cappella Mix" was one of 13 winners of the Magnatune Lisa DeBenedictis Remix Contest.

Thomas is also a passionate electric guitar player.


artist: Thomas Otten
description: Captivating countertenor mixed with Shakuhachi form Japan
homepage: thomas_otten
city: Marcq-en-Baroeul
country: France
bandphoto: /artists/img/thomas_otten.jpg
bio:
For his debut album on Magnatune, Thomas Otten partners with Kyle Kamal Helou to deliver, Transcend to Void. Two eminent musical personalities unite their breaths in an amazing performance. Thomas Otten alto countertenor voice meets fluid arabesques shakuhachi of Kyle Kamal Helou in a hightly musical dialogue

Thomas Otten is a countertenor singer with a unique and extraordinary style.

Prior to finding his musical vocation Thomas worked as a biologist. He discovered his voice and musical talent quite late in life when he developed an interest in chamber music. He studied for a diploma in lyrical song, in France where he lives, followed by further studies in early music.

He joined several prestigious musical ensembles including Sagittarius, Akademia, Le Parlement de Musique, Les musiciens du Louvre, whilst continuing to develop his own musical style.

When Composer Frederic Momont met Thomas he felt that Otten's vocals would suit perfectly the type of classical crossover music he wanted to work on. Close to silence, Portraits, Open wings and The two voices had been released from this collaboration.

At the same time, Thomas discovered shakuhachi through Tilopa on Magnatune, and was immediately fascinated by the sound of this instrument, its range and possibilities of expression, so similar to those of the human voice. Bamboo flute allows to make the breath sounding with a remarkable degree and varying inflections to infinity. So, 10 years later, with great enthusiasm, he replied to Kyle, who asked him to improvise vocals while playing his instrument, giving to him the opportunity to combine music with his great interest in music therapy.

A first meeting in France in August 2010, proved very exciting. A one week stay in Beirut in October 2011, allowed them to develop and record their first musical explorations, and to continue, since then, with digital exchanges.

Photo credit: Walid El Khatib Photography

Born in Lebanon, Kyle Kamal Helou, in his search for harmony, began his Shakuhachi exploration in the mid 90's. He resided in Japan for nearly 10 years where he continued his formal studies of the instrument. In 2009 he returned to his homeland where he currently teaches both shakuhachi and Shotokan Karate-Do.

Writings on the subject of the shakuhachi can be found in Japan as early as the VI century. From the VII to XI centuries, the Shakuhachi became one of the main instruments used during performances at the Emperial Court. After that, however, it was withdrawn from the orchestra during the music reform in Japan.

In the XIII century the shakuhachi was reintroduced in Japan from China, through the Fuke branch of Zen Buddhism, by the great master Hotto. It was considered as a breathing tool to reach inner peace and enlightenment.

Following the Meiji Restoration in 1871, the Fuke sect was dismantled, and the shakuhachi neared extinction. However, through the efforts of a few individuals, the shakuhachi remained as a musical instrument and recitals in public with three instruments (Shakuhachi, Koto, Shamisen) were then privileged to those who received permits from the Emperor. The contemplative solo practice eventually made its way back gradually and it is from this time that the shakuhachi became the instrument of choice among the urban middle classes of society.

You can find out more about Thomas on his website and Kyle on his Facebook page.


artist: Thomas Walker
description: Lute music of 17th century France and Italy
homepage: thomas_walker
state: MN
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/thomas_walker_small.jpg
bio:
Thomas Walker, Jr started classical guitar lessons at age 10. Not long thereafter he became interested in the 12-string guitar stylings of Leo Kottke and spent much of the next decade playing and composing in that style. Realizing that Leo was and is sui generis, he returned to classical music in college, studying both classical guitar and music theory.

Theory classes provided his first introduction to the earlier musical vocabulary of counterpoint. After college, he studied jazz guitar independently, but was increasingly captivated by early music, particularly polyphony. He bought his first lute in 1992 and began studies with Phillip Rukavina not long thereafter. Since then Thomas has performed with Phillip, Ensemble Polaris, Consortium Carissimi, the Rose Ensemble, and the Venere Lute Quartet, as well as with lutenists Paul Berget and Edward Martin.

Thomas served a term as treasurer for the Lyra Baroque from 2003-2006, and currently serves as treasurer for the Lute Society of America. In regular hours he works as a consulting economist for small, privately-held companies.


artist: Thursday Group
description: melodic composed progressive Jazz
homepage: thursday_group
state: NY
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/thursday_group.jpg
bio:
Guitarist Douglas Lichterman writes:
I began my musical life at 8-years-old when I embarked on seven years of training as a classical violinist, studying with the concert master of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Mischa Mischakoff, after surviving a few years of lessons with his wife.

Serious as I was about that -- I thought it would be my career at the time -- it was another moment that foreshadowed my life as a musician. I was around 11 and had been taken into Wayne, Maine, a town near where I went to summer camp, to watch a parade. Leading the parade was the drum corps, and as those guys came marching toward me playing their snare drums, my entire metabolism changed forever. I begged my parents for a snare drum and acquired the rest of the set over the next couple of Christmases.

Soon after, I started playing drums in rock bands around Detroit before I discovered and subsequently took up the guitar. That led me to became a full-fledged guitar player and singer-songwriter and to drop out of the University of Michigan and head west to San Francisco to be near the Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead and start a San Francisco rock band.

Of course, by then I'd dropped violin -- and my initial career dreams of a classical musical -- altogether. My San Francisco rock band, WINDOW, lasted for six years. During that time I became very interested in Jazz and started studying Jazz guitar with the one and only Bill Connors (first electric guitarist in Chick Corea's RETURN TO FOREVER), which changed almost everything about my technique and approach to music. I became a practice-aholic, sitting in front of my music stand for several hours every day.

Around that time, I also was introduced to Middle Eastern music by a great teacher from Iran who first put a dumbek -- a type of handrum -- into my hands. Since then I have spent a lot of time playing dumbek for belly dancers as part of several troupes.

When WINDOW ended, I started a progressive Jazz project called THURSDAY GROUP which soon moved from San Francisco to New York City, where we performed, recorded two albums and toured the U.S.

To say the least, it's been a pleasure to work with this band and watch it develop as we have built a repertoire of original music and performed around the city.


artist: Thursday Next
description: interesting techno made by skinny boys
homepage: thursday_next
city: Toronto
country: Canada
bandphoto: /artists/img/thursday_next_2.jpg
bio:
Toronto composer and instrumentalist Mark Aylward hooked up with producer James Miles on the latest Thursday Next sessions.

The tracks transition easily from any dance floor to movie score, channelling early influences such as Underworld and Aphex Twin to Flying Lotus.

Thursday Next is complex and cool. Just listen.


artist: Tilopa
description: healing magic of the japanese zenflute
homepage: tilopa
city: Wittibreut
country: Germany
bandphoto: /artists/img/tilopa1.jpg
bio:
Tilopa, a one time social scientist who did research on Latin America, has studied quite a wide range of different musical instruments since early childhood (flute, violin, classical guitar, piano, tampoora, dillruba, svarmandal, santoor), but found his real love about 20 years ago when he met with the kyotaku and his flute-master Koku Nishimura in Kumamoto/Japan.

Since that time he has studied the traditional 'honkyoku' zen-music with his master and says that this is a never ending process even though he is playing the same songs over and over again.

At the same time he has been experimenting with combining the kyotaku with other western and eastern instruments.

He lives with his wife and a multitude of her paintings in an old farmhouse in the countryside of Bavaria/Germany where he is working as a kyotaku-teacher and maker and also as a t'ai chi teacher.

About the Japanese zen-flute:

Tilopa is playing the so called kyotaku, also known as Japanese zen-flute or long shakuhachi. This instrument has a pentatonic tuning and has 5 holes like the shakuhachi, but has a much deeper and more mellow sound than the shakuhachi.

It used to be played more often in the old days of Japan, but was more and more replaced by the shakuhachi during the twentieth century.

In the same process it changed from an instrument of meditation that was mainly used by a certain buddhist sect of wandering monks (komuso), who played traditional religious pieces (honkyoku) only, to an instrument of more 'worldly' use played with other instruments and in different kinds of music.

Tilopa's master, Koku Nishimura, was one of the first to revive the old tradition of kyotaku.

For a few years now, Tilopa has been giving occasional concerts with Sangeet P. Sieben. Sieben is a gifted guitarist who started out with jazz and rock music years ago, picked up other instruments on his musical life journey and now feels very much at home with ethno-, world- and meditation-music. One of the results of this extraordinary meeting is the CD 'Pictures of Silence', which is a live recording of several improvisational sessions at an art exhibition in Cologne/Germany.


artist: Tim Rayborn
description: Medieval and Middle Eastern music
homepage: tim_rayborn
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/rayborn3.jpg
bio:
An internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, Tim has been active in the fields of early and world music for 18 years. He plays dozens of musical instruments from medieval Europe, the Middle East, the Balkans, and Central Asia, including: lutes, plucked strings, flutes, and percussion, as well as being a singer.

In addition to solo work, he currently performs with recorder virtuoso Annette Bauer in their medieval group, Canconier, Celtic harpist Patrick Ball, Swedish folk musicians Dram, and collaborates regularly with Shira Kammen.

Tim lived in the UK for seven years, studying for his Ph.D. in medieval studies at the University of Leeds, and working as a musician. He has toured the U.S. and Europe extensively (from Ireland to Turkey), performing with the medieval group Tintagel and his own group, Ensemble Florata, including concerts at the York and Beverley Early Music Festivals, Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium, and the Spitalfields Festival in London. He has given a number of performances for BBC, toured in Canada and Australia, and worked with folk musicians in Marrakech and Istanbul.

He has collaborated and performed with many early music groups and performers, including Ensemble Alcatraz; Anne Azema; Susan Rode Morris; Phoebe Jevtovic; Peter Maund; Sinfonye; Kitka; Wyrewood; Gilbert Martinez; and members of the Harp Consort and Theater of Voices. He has recorded to date on nearly 30 CDs for a number of labels, including Gaudeamus, Wild Boar, and Eventide Music Productions.


artist: Timothy Vajda
description: viola da gamba in a contemporary context
homepage: timothy_vajda
state: MO
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/timothy_vajda.jpg
bio:
Timothy Vajda (pronounced VI-da) is a composer and instrumentalist whose principal instrument is the viola da gamba. He also plays the medieval fiddle, electric and acoustic guitar, and keyboard.

As a gambist, he participated in numerous early music performances in the St. Louis area with members of the St.Louis Symphony and more recently as a member of the Ganzfeld Quartet.

Tim has studied early music performance with Nicholas McGegan and Bruce Dickey and was also the guitarist for Catnip College, a band that played blues and rock and specialized in improvisations that ranged from straight-forward blues to atonal, polyrhythmic mayhem.

As a composer, Vajda enjoys exploring the textural possibilities of the instruments available to him, and combining various, sometimes disparate, compositional methods. He received his Master's Degree in Music Theory/Composition from Webster University in St. Louis, MO.

Tracks from "Bootstrap Physics" have received frequent airplay on the syndicated radio show "Echoes".

You can find out more about Tim on his website.


artist: Tiny Little Blackouts
description: dreamy, slightly mournful indie pop
homepage: tiny_little_blackouts
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/tiny_little1.jpg
bio:
We make music we like and we hope you will like it too.

Tiny Little Blackouts is both lyric based and sound based music, highly melodic and structured. Comprised of experienced San Francisco musicians, Tiny Little Blackouts makes sweet music. It's pretty, but not vacuous, slightly mournful, but not sad or dark. Elliott Smith meets the Cocteau Twins.

Cameron Ember (vox, extra gtr) spent 7 years in art school during which she fronted a number of bands. Michael Papenburg (lead guitar) has been playing guitar for almost a lifetime. Anthony Koutsos (drums) demanded that his parents buy him a drum kit when they asked him to play in the school band. He listened to a lot of Led Zepplin, among other things. Anthony has played with the Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon, DART and Wade. Michael also listened to Led Zepplin, but branched out to other genres that included artists like Magazine and the Cocteau Twins. Greg Merriman (bass),lives in Mill Valley and is a high-end audio expert. He and Michael like talking about equipment. Cameron Ember writes words and music. Everybody writes their own parts, though occasionally the specific efforts are collaborative (as they often are in general).

Tiny Little Blackouts was formed in 2009 and has released their first album in December. Damien Rasmussen engineered and produced, along with Tiny Little Blackouts. "idea of Alice" was recorded in a garage called the Catacombs located off Capp Street in San Francisco. Damien's thing is callled smokeandmirrorsaudio and he has recorded tons of people, including Tom Waits. Chris Mayrena at HyperRaje Productions was helpful to TLB's album production as well.

Some of the recent reviews:

"Tiny Little Blackouts is what indie musicians often strive for and fail at, which has turned the genre into a cliche: delightful music with just the right amount of irony."
- Abbey K. Davis of Muzikreviews.com

"This is very much a shoegazer meets Dream pop sound that Tiny Little Blackout create. The lush soft but very well sung female vocal with the droney, lazy, bluesy fuzzed out guitars a warm deep bass line and very jazz meets post rock drumming is whats going on. Think bands like Belly, Curve, The Gathering and The Cardigans is all the bands that really come to mind here. Tiny Little Blackouts have a very 60's Pop feeling to the over all sound to what there creating. I'm really impressed by what I'm hearing. The production is monstrous as well " Idea of Alice" as that Phil Spector production to it if you know where I'm going from. This is another label I'm not heard from before on any regular basis but if there material is all like this then more power and send more releases for review as Tiny Little Blackouts are making me fall in love with pop music for the 1st time in years. As I go through this review you know who this band most sounds like to me is when the band LOW has female vocals going on. I finally got to pinpoint the sound I was hearing. Fantastic work here."
- From Absolute Zero Media Magazine 1/23/2010

"this year,.... we're recommending Tiny Little Blackouts. They're from San Francisco and they're adding beautifully disquieting touches to slick indie guitar slow burn on their debut album, Idea Of Alice."
- Review from the UK's "Unpeeled"


artist: To Life!
description: Music as a journey through tribal landscapes, rhythmic dance, hypnotic trance.
homepage: to_life
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/to_life.jpg
bio:
The 3 members of OJOLO share a love for tribal, shamanic trance music, and the hypnotic dance rhythms from around the world.

OJOLO Is a multi-cultural trio; an Israeli goddess on Didjeridoo and percussion, an African/Asian man on djun djun drums, and a Greek/Canadian man on guitar and electronic loops. Together they produce a vibrant, trance/dance inducing tribal sound. The music is inspired by primal rhythms,and by the diverse traditions (North African, Middle Eastern, etc.) that band members bring to the stage and to the dance floor.

Influenced by the music of North and West Africa, the Middle East, the nomads and gypsies, as well as the rock, funk and dance music of the West, 'OJOLO' have created a fusion that is both fresh and familiar. One observer describes the music of 'OJOLO' as "...new music from our cellular memory..." Audiences become exuberant, inspired, and positively funky.

Each of the members of 'OJOLO' brings a unique charisma to the experience:
APOLLO, (Lead, Rhythm, and Bass Guitars, Vocals, Oud, Saz) has toured and recorded extensively with many artists, and is a grammy-nominated, platinum-selling producer in his own right. Apollo blends his wide exposure of musical influences into a dynamic performance in 'OJOLO'

OSHER, (Didjeridoos, Vocals, Percussion) has collaborated as a performer, recording artist, and instructor with artists including Zap Mama, Jai Uttal, Cirque de Soleil and Lost at Last. Raised in the desert of the Middle East, she brings with her a deep desert nomadic presence.

LO, (Djun Djuns, Vocals, Percussion) has travelled , studied, and collaborated with indiginous cultures of Africa, the Phillipines, Cuba, etc., and provides the driving, relentless rhythms that give 'OJOLO' its primal, shamanic backbone.

Listed as one of the "Top 15 Releases of 2009" in the 'World Music' category by Backroads Music/Lloyd Barde Productions.

Aired on various World Music Radio Playlists, including:
KPFA "Music of the World"
KMUD "Tribal Groove"


artist: Tokee
description: dark ambient with an alchemical twist
homepage: tokee
city: Ramat Gan
country: Israel
bandphoto: /artists/img/tokee.jpg
bio:
Born in a formerly known Empire of Evil and currently residing in the Holy Land, classically trained Anatoly Grinberg a.k.a. Tokee started composing music in the early 00's and released his first works in 2004 on US based experimental netlabel BedroomBrain Records under the alias ARG.

Although the first recordings can be described as dark ambient mainly, Tokee constantly explores the multiple range of electronic genres.

Fascinated with various currencies of electronic music and inspired by dinosaurs like Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Skinny Puppy, Can etc, his latest efforts combine tight mechanical-sounding IDM and industrial beats, cinematic-like ambient themes, psychotic trance shockwaves, evolving into incredible melodic soundscapes both aggressive and melancholic.


artist: Tokyo507
description: downtempo groovy electro-pop
homepage: tokyo507
city: Sydney
country: Australia
bandphoto: /artists/img/tokyo507.jpg
bio:
TOKYO507 is a new project from music producer Mark Southeron and singer/songwriter and TV Presenter Hayden Turner...

Together, they have worked on many projects over the past 15 years. Both are Sydney born.

Producer, songwriter and musician Mark brings an eclectic mix of styles to the fore. Mark worked as guitarist, songwriter and programmer and Hayden, singer/songwriter for Aussie bands, The Story and Field of Mars in the late 80's and early 90's.

Mark's love for producing music began as a teenager listening to Yello records and writing and recording tunes with his school friend Todd Emslie on a Boss D110 drum machine, Korg Poly 800 and a guitar.

Hayden started to front Sydney based synth outfit 'Carnival of Lost Souls' and crossed paths with Mark, which lead to working together for many years .

A theme that is being used more on recent productions is the use of jazzed guitar sounds and silky vocals over smooth electronic dance/lounge beats.

Mark has many label releases, as well as film tracks and a huge list of remixes for established artists and labels, including Ted Mulry, The Atlantics, Stella One Eleven, Gilli Moon, Amuka, and is a producer and remixer with Kult Records NY.

Mark is based in Sydney, Australia and Hayden in London, UK. He records vocals wherever he is travelling in the world and then, from their respective computers, they send arrangements of music and vocals to each other and what comes out is TOKYO507.

They work with many different musicians, including Hylton Mowday and Todd Emslie, to add different textures to each track. All tracks are then mixed and mastered by Paul Bryant at Main Street Studios.


artist: Tom Bolton
description: contemporary folk
homepage: tombolton
city: Kew
country: Australia
bandphoto: /artists/img/bolton1.jpg
bio:
Tom Bolton writes sparkling/moody contemporary folk-acoustic music, drawing on an eclectic brew of folk, roots and rock inspirations. Distinctive melodies and rhythms are woven through with well-crafted lyrics and a variety of influences shine out without obvious effort... hints of everything from Richie Havens, Jefferson Airplane and Nick Drake, through to David Sylvian and beyond. The result of more than thirty years of journeying into music is a solid collection of original work, first documented in the 2003 album "Acoustic Caravan."

In 2006, having played solo gigs for a number of years, he was joined onstage by Richard Grace. Tom's soaring vocals and distinctive acoustic guitar, accompanied by Richard's deep-velvet double-bass and harmonies, have earned them a reputation as engaging performers at folk and acoustic venues around Australia.

"When I Cross the River" is Tom's second album, released November 2007. It was recorded and produced by Jeremy P Martin, with a diverse collection of musicians weaving a rich canvas of sounds around the core of vocals, acoustic guitar and acoustic double-bass. It has been attracting very positive reviews and getting regular airplay on independent radio in Australia, Europe, Canada and USA.


artist: Tom Paul
description: Roots rock meets contemporary folk
homepage: tom_paul
state: PA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/tom_paul.jpg
bio:
Tom Paul has been writing and playing his own music for two decades and in the past five or so years he has been successfully presenting it on-line.

Now, with a lot of critical support and some of the finest musicians pop music has to offer, Tom has released his first CD, I Was King.

The singer-songwriter, who resides in western Pennsylvania and who built a state-of-the-art recording studio in his home, has a bevy of influences, all of which contribute to his unique style and none of which are invasive of Tom's original twist on lyrics and music.

Touched by the gravity and breadth of solid songs written by Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, David Grey, John Hiatt, The Beatles and a host of others, Tom Paul is the quintessential singer/songwriter. He is seasoned enough to allow his songs to have a voice that speaks for others while never abandoning his personal perspective.

On I Was King, Tom Paul is joined by Charlie Morgan, John Marsden and Charlie DeChant, who interpret Paul's music and lyrics with heartfelt professionalism, never straying from the artist's vision.

Tom Paul is a family man with a wife, three children, and has trodden enough dramatic paths in life to bring the gift of experience to his songs. Tom devotes an enormous amount of time and energy to transcribing his understanding of life to song.

"I write about the world as I encounter it," he says. "I have a fairly positive outlook without being blinded by optimism."

Through the years Tom has learned to support his own music in many ways. He plays guitar and bass, sings and has become proficient in the art of recording, maintaining a high standard for the presentation of his material. To that end, Tom enlisted John Marsden of Little-Big Sound to mix his new album.

Tom Paul's original and accessible poetry, along with his keen sense of melodic- oriented songwriting, make his tunes attractive to other artists' interpretations and, through his own devise, stand strongly.


artist: Tomas Lozano
description: highly melodic and structured sweet music
homepage: tomas_lozano
state: IN
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/tomas_lozano.jpg
bio:
Tomas Lozano is a singer, musician, scholar and writer, born in Barcelona, Spain, from Andalusian parents. Lozano's music incarnates his mix of cultural roots; he is the flavor itself of a bitter-sweet heritage, a history of conquest and resistance masterfully expressed through his smooth voice, the vibrant fingerwork on his guitar and the soothing droning of his hurdy-gurdy.

Lozano began as a self taught musician, performing Catalan folk music in Barcelona as a young teenager with the ensemble, Els Trobadors del Valles. Later he proceeded to tour Europe, playing folk, traditional and medieval music at festivals in Switzerland, southern France, Germany, northern Italy, etc., at which time his career as singer, musician and performer took off to new heights. Then, in 1993, through a sponsorship by the Spanish Ministry of Exterior Affairs, Lozano toured Canada and the United States with the theater troupe Bufons.

Lozano has since made the United States his home base, performing solo and with a number of other musicians across the country. He established and directed Crisol Bufons, an internationally recognized New Mexico-based non-profit organization that provided cultural and pedagogical performances across the U.S. largely to underprivileged communities. Other simmilar organizations that he directed and helped create are Hey, Mozart! New Mexico.

Together with his wife, Rima Montoya, Lozano started Crisol Luz, an ensemble of medieval, renaissance, Sephardic, and traditional Spanish music. When Crisol Luz fused with Juan Wijngaard and Sharon Berman, they became Viva la Pepa.

Presently, Lozano is a permanent member of Viva la Pepa and Trio Lococo. Besides performing, he lectures at colleges and universities across the country and makes musical instruments in his spare time. You can find out more about Tomas at his website.


artist: Tone Dogs
description: art-rock with a hard edge, surreal lyrics, odd meters and unusual instrumentation
homepage: tone_dogs
state: WA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/tone_dogs_low.jpg
bio:
Tone Dogs began in 1987 with a phone call from bassist Fred Chalenor to multi-instrumentalist Amy Denio, inviting her to collaborate and spend sometime in a recording studio with a top notch engineer (Drew Canulette) high up in the Oregon countryside. A tractor trailer truck was parked outside, housing the recording gear. Cables followed the stone pathway into the glass-walled living room, overlooking the Newberg Valley. Fresh coffee and blackberry pie greeted Fred and Amy the first time they spent a weekend there. (Thanks, Norm!) They started experimenting in the studio, and a band was born.

The first drummer was Matt Cameron - he's on their first release, Ankety Low Day recorded in the pre-natal days of the band. That album was nominated to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Recording. Rough mixes got sent out, and Tone Dogs were invited to festivals in Europe in Fall, 1988. They started as a quartet with Henry Franzoni on drums, and Courtney von Drehle on keyboards and saxes. Eventually they regrouped to make a trio, with Will Dowd on drums. They toured Europe 5 times (especially in ex-Yugoslavia, Hungary and Czech, every tour by train), and played on both North American coasts, as well as in Montreal for New Music America.

Their last European tour, Fall 1991, was very difficult, and the band fell apart. Endless succession of strange and challenging situations. For one, Early Middle Years was delayed in release, so once again they were touring with cassettes. A box of T-shirts mysteriously disappeared between the house and Seattle Airport. A friend came along, and had deep troubles. Two nights recording at our favorite club in Budapest, but this time horrific - howling feedback, starting at 2:30am on a Tuesday night, lost key and accomodation confusion (at dawn after horrible show), arriving in Linz we discovered we were a week late (while the taxi radio blared 'always look at the bright side of life') etc. etc. etc.

They thought to make a third and final album, but an earthquake triggered an electrical fire at Dogfish, and the studio burned, along with all the Tone Dogs archives. If you have any archival recordings, please contact Amy Denio at mydenio at earthlink dot net.


artist: Tonethief
description: laid back and tempting tunes
homepage: tonethief
city: Dublin
country: Ireland
bandphoto: /artists/img/tonethief.jpg
bio:
Tonethief is the working stage name for Tom O'Connor's music.

Tom started out playing drums and percussion in his teenage years and came late to guitar playing and song writing at the age of 25. Tom was by then working as a sound engineer on the north side of Dublin, Ireland.

Working out of a small commercial Recording Studio, he learned the ropes recording and producing local music and band demo's. Taking advantage of the facilities at hand, Tom started writing and recording songs in studio downtime and Fading Blue is the end result of these recordings.

Fading Blue is a self funded and self produced album. The album is focused on delivering strong lyrics on a melodic mix of acoustic and electric sounds with songs that build up from hooky verses to big strong choruses. The album Fading Blue is a mix of folk, rock and pop.


artist: Toni Iniguez
description: classical guitar and Nature
homepage: toni_iniguez
city: Valencia
country: Spain
bandphoto: /artists/img/toni_iniguez.jpg
bio:
Classical guitar and Nature.

Those are the two inspirations for the work of Toni Iniguez who has flown with classical guitar, has planned next to the violin, has dived with the cello and submerged with suggestive voices and sounds of his deep guitar.

Toni Iniguez lives and works in the city Valencia, Spain, Europe, near the sea and surrounded by mountains and pine trees. Spanish classical guitar has formed part of his life since childhood and he has given it his full dedication. Toni studied classical guitar, piano and composition in conservatories in Valencia, Madrid and Barcelona.

In 1995 he founded the chamber group Puer Natus, through the which he unveiled his first compositions, performing in different cultural spaces, such as the Palau de la Musica de Valencia among others.

Toni Iniguez has published several original works for classical guitar at the editorial Piles in Spain. From 1996, Toni developed an intense pedagogical teaching in the dissemination of classical guitar, as professor and department head of one of many conservatories in Valencia. He continues working on new compositions for guitar, inspired by Nature.

In his album Rain trip, the compositions relate to the hard journey of rain. Its a journey into the emotions of the author put into direct contact with forests, rivers, mountains and lakes. Toni Iniguez, attempts to express and show the maximum beauty that is capable from the strings of the Spanish classical guitar and its sounds, made in a modern language, with touches of folk, jazz and classical music.

Thus are born songs such as sensations produced by the smells of the wet earth after rain, sounds made with the exceptional talents of violinist Lucia Marin (with whom he has worked for many years). On the song cloud, Toni Iniguez flies over the tops of trees in a forest and he pays tribute the great master Johann Sebastian Bach, arranging his cantata and transforming the final into a primal ethereal beat. The album follows rain as you would hear, feel and smell following a dawn looking through the window to the distant mountains.

You can follow the latest on Toni's work and thoughts on his website (Spanish).


artist: Torn Down Units
description: Quality Rock n' Roll since 1996
homepage: torn_down_units
city: Ontario
country: Canada
bandphoto: /artists/img/torn_down_units.jpg
bio:
Torn Down Units (hereafter referred to as TDU) has been rocking Canada since the late 1990s. The band was formed by Orangeville-based singer/guitarist Ian "Ian Unit" Coburn who enlisted the help of old friends Chris Mullen (bass) and Dean Morrison (drums) to generate a unique rock n' roll sound he hadn't been hearing enough of.

The four turned TDU's sound into something comparable with nothing else out there. The Units have played all over southern Ontario, including stops in Toronto, Hamilton, London, Guelph, Ottawa, Brampton and Orangeville, and have ventured out of Province to rock Montreal. It was also the only musical outfit brave enough to entertain the people of Walkerton, Ontario only one day after news of the now infamous Ecoli water scandal broke.

The Units played regularly in Toronto at great musical institutions like the El Macambo, the 360, Sneaky Dee's, The Horseshoe Tavern and The Silver Dollar Room, and other up-and-coming venues like The B-Side and Rancho Relaxo.

They have played along side bands like Zen Guerilla, Tricky Woo, Cheerleader, Sticky Rice, Teenage Head, Supagroup and hundreds of others. Many happy music lovers have left TDU shows somehow reminded of The Supersuckers, The Stooges, Nashville Pussy and early Rolling Stones; all killer bands, so the comparisons don't bother the Units at all.

TDU's mandate is to keep the fires of rock n' roll burning hotter than ever in an age where the only music getting attention (be it positive or negative) is conceived in a board room, not a jam space, and is void of any wit, charm or substance. Faced with this grim reality,

TDU offers an alternative, designed for people who still believe in the power of rock n' roll.


artist: Tramo
description: Electronic music for thought
homepage: tramo
state: NY
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/tramo.jpg
bio:
Jay Tobin has been working within the spectrum of electronic music since the age of 13. He was raised in a musically diverse family, developing an affinity towards percussion at a young age. Various lessons in classic rock guitar, drums, and piano would leave him with ambition and aspirations to one day make music of professional quality.

Jay started working with GarageBand and a mouse, creating and experimenting with club music and EDM. After the purchase of a keyboard and the generous gift of professional production software, his music improved and he garnered an audience with the EDM he would produce nightly after school. In his late teens he began listening to iconic dark ambient and IDM moguls like The Orb, Orbital, and Aphex Twin, while simultaneously growing fond of the jazz of Bud Powell and Tommy Flanagan.

Several years of creating, tweaking, experimenting, and listening gave him his definitive sound that culminates the elements of his creativity with his passion for elaborate soundscape.

You can catch more Tramo tracks on SoundCloud.


artist: Trevor and the Joneses
description: punk, alternative and garage hard rock for some serious headbanging
homepage: trevor_and_the_joneses
state: NV
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/trevor_and_the_jonases.jpg
bio:
Trevor and The Joneses are an indie psychedelic folk punk alternative garage hard rock and roll headphone music band that was formed in Las Vegas, NV, USA in early 2012.

Released on 12/22/12 their critically acclaimed first album There Was Lightning is a catchy exploration through many styles of guitar rock. Starting with punk influenced opener "Dig This!" and ending with psychedelic noise mess "Superslow", all rock and roll bases are covered.

Following hundreds of shows, a vinyl release on Plane Groovy Records (a label that also features The Zombies), an indie/college radio play for 9/10 Lightning tracks, and opening slots for notable/influential artists, the 2nd album Take You to Stay was released on 10/01/17.

Featuring many different instruments that hadn't been part of its predecessor, Stay is an experimental departure for the band. The album was recorded/improvised mostly at Joe's house and featured the new band member, John Fallon (of The Steppes) on bass for the first time. It contains songs the band had previously debuted at concerts: the keyboard-pop jam "Squares", the catchy jangle-rocker "Well as Well", the dark-psyche head-nodder "Gotta Run", the eerie instrumental "Meteors", the title track "Take You to Stay" which features Barnaby Gallagher on the sitar, as well as in-studio experiments, such as teeth-grinding "Breaking Bones". A video for the garage rock track "On My Mind" was released to coincide with the album release. The band is currently recording several new albums.


artist: Trio Dafne
description: delicate 17th century chansons
homepage: trio_dafne
country: France
bandphoto: /artists/img/dafne.jpg
bio:
Linked by the desire to play the airs of court of the 17th century, Anne Delafosse-Quentin, Claire Antonini, and Maeva Bouachrine created the Trio Dafne with all-original instrumentation. Together, they strive for diversity of sound, coherence of style, and creativity in ornamentation.

The trio is part of the "Jardins de Courtoisie," an ensemble speciailizing in ancient music which seeks to revive the immense repertory of the lyric chanson compositions written in the French language from the 12th to the 17th century.


artist: Trip Wamsley
description: Atmospheric Jazz bass
homepage: wamsley
state: TX
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/wamsley.jpg
bio:
Trip credits the fateful day early in 1982 when he heard "Silly Love Songs" by Wings as the day he decided that music was for him. He would often accompany his band-director father to area music stores where he would see bass guitars. The young Trip thought basses were, "...big guitars for dumb people...". (We've learned to appreciate Trip's dry sense of humor...) Trip's school had a bass that was not being used, so he brought it home and learned to play "Summer Nights" from the movie "Grease". With his first song under his belt and some new-found confidence, Trip set out to make music.

Trip studied with Michael Manring in 1991 and 1992, which was an experience Trip says that consisted of scathing invective and brutal honesty. Trip credits Michael with the phrase "...be deep wide awake and slow...".

Trip's playing takes on both the rhythmic bass and melodic lead roles, harmonics and overtones are flung about effortlessly. Right hand, left hand, all ten fingers, tuning keys and every ounce of potential is used to bring forth music from his finely crafted instruments. Musicains will appreciate his creative use of both fretted and fretless basses, special effects and detuners. Trip is the introduction to the bass guitar as a complete orchestra.

"It's Better This Way" is Trip's newest and most focused work. It was recorded in Nashville with producer Todd Bragg (Caedmon's Call). It is a simple, yet lush instrumental album that will remind you of ***what*** beautiful music is supposed to sound like.

Trip performs solo concerts all over the world, plays in the art rock band Atomic Opera, and hangs out with his wife Saran and son Xander at his house in Louisiana.


artist: TS Hartley
description: high energy sunshine pop
homepage: ts_hartley
state: UT
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/ts_hartley.jpg
bio:
TS Hartley grew up in Southern California and currently lives in Salt Lake City. His interest in the arts began at a young age with visual arts. At the age of 8 he began seriously studying drawing and painting and by early teens was selling his work to collectors.

After years of perfecting a visual style, he realized that music was the obvious next step. He jumped in full force, approaching music as he would a painting, layering sounds and melodies as he did with color and texture.

Taylor feels he brings the same passion, dedication, and creativity he puts into his paintings to music. Whilst always extremely passionate about music, he only first started experimenting with making his own at about the age of twelve. Soon thereafter joining his first band, playing bass guitar and keyboards, he quickly branched out to singing and playing any other instruments he could get his hands on.

He first entered the recording studio at fifteen, the same age that he had started seriously writing his own music and has been in love with the entire process ever since. After creating music on his own and honing an individual style of indie electro-pop songwriting for several years, Taylor met Nashville musician and producer Giles Reeves. They worked together on Giallo, an EP that was a mix of sunshine pop melodies, thoughtful lyrics, prominent percussion, electro synths, and acoustic instrumentation.

Taylor is currently finishing production of a full length album under the artist name Foreign Fix.


artist: Tuskle
description: contemporary jazz/classical hybrid compositions
homepage: tuskle
city: Augsburg
country: Germany
bandphoto: /artists/img/tuskle.jpg
bio:
Tuskle, is a german composer and music producer born in July 1986. He started to play the piano at the age of 5 and he took drum lessons when he was 14. Around the age of 18 he did not take any lessons anymore as he found that he is rather the self-taught artist - a fact that caused some trouble concerning his school years.

He then focused on getting acquainted with the digital means of creating music - mostly electronic music at that time. When it comes to electronic music he is mostly interested in fast paced arrangements and complex, non-repetitive drum breaks. That made Squarepusher one of his favorite artists and he claims that it was him who inspired him most back then.

He spent a lot of his time behind a laptop with only a mouse creating electronic music that emphasized complexity. Not much of his works have survived his rigorous attempts of deleting anything he wasn't satisfied with, but he also claims that this attitude brought him where he is now. A few years later, Tuskle stumbled on a track of Al di Meola's that was on some jazz sampler he found at his father's home. It didn't take long and he was overly fascinated by his style, although he was already acquainted with jazz before. He still thinks of Al di Meola's works as not only sophisticated and skillful, but also entertaining and powerful and he considers him his topmost source of inspiration for his current compositions. At the time he was used to Al di Meola's works he could not find any inspiration of comparable depth, so he started to compose his own works that have nothing to do with his previous attempts that rather belonged to the electronic music scene.

He then realized that it is possible to compose with only a PC - or a laptop in this case - and his first album that got along without almost any electronic elements was about to be created. Even though he was biased by the technological aspects of our modern world in a way that even managed to coin his style, his means of composing as well as producing music could hardly be any more puristic as he does not utilize any other hardware than his laptop, a set of speakers and his mouse - a pretty atypical studio environment that really brands him as he still does not consider buying any additional hardware. Although he has discarded most of his electronic influences and goals during that time, there was still something quite enticing about this rather modern and young music which he is still trying to track down and utilize it in order to create a fusion of both electronic influences and a compositional context with a demanding momentum.

Rumors are that currently Tuskle is working on an album entitled "Viva Synthetica" which denotes the possibility of both young and old music to exist alongside one another. The name "Tuskle" derives from a video game called "Okami". The character that is called Tuskle has a rather inconspicious role at the very end of the game, but the reason he chose him to be his eponym was his unique appearance.

Individuality attracts him - no matter where. As an artist Tuskle believes in a reality behind certain arts - the essence of an idea that has the desire to make it into our world and he thinks of artists as the people in charge of enabling an idea to unfold and settle. A lot of artists alter the state of an idea itself by combining it with individual preferences which is only natural as they shape something into what they like, but that might also cause the initial idea to become more or less impure. He considers it the 'true art' to get a feel for what is individual preference and what is not...


artist: Twilight Archive
description: Ambient downtempo with a touch of jazz
homepage: twilightarchive
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/twilightchris.jpg
bio:
Twilight Archive is an ambient-jazz/down-tempo music series initiated by Chris Mancinelli in 2003. Working in the electronic medium, the albums are created by the producer/composer team of Chris Mancinelli and Tom Vedvik.

Fermenting in the primordial desert broth of Southwestern California, Twilight Archive is a departure even for the adventurous members whose experience span years in the international music scene. Heard on innumerable soundtracks, albums, commercials, and television scores, Chris Mancinelli and Tom Vedvik join forces for a series of alluring and innovative albums.

Their individual work has included artists as diverse as Nels Cline (Wilco), Dr. John, Michael Penn, Kevin Eubanks, Garth Hudson (The Band), Osamu Kitajima and Hans Zimmer - with film work on Michael Mann's "Ali" (starring Will Smith). "Pirates of the Caribbean" (starring Johnny Depp) and "The Ring."

Mysterious, suggestive, and creating a distinct sense of place, the music blends improvisations with worldly writing and producing skills. A rhythmic fuel smolders beneath the sultry surface. Deep and hypnotic grooves propel the hip melodic motifs that guide the listener through sophisticated resonant soundscapes. The atmosphere is inviting yet still enigmatic. Timeless and thoroughly modern, the music is as fresh as it is familiar. This is tomorrow's sound establishing a new trend today.

Infused at the core with an aura of cool, the group relentlessly strives to inject cutting edge concepts into a developing genre. Always evocative and blending organic electronica with innovative musicianship, Twilight Archive delivers a new hybrid to the music world.


artist: Ty Gibson
description: The Spirit and Soul of A Woman!
homepage: ty_gibson
state: OH
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/ty_gibson_1.jpg
bio:
Since the emergence of Erica Badu, spirituality and music has been commercially accepted in the form of what is now called "Neo Classic Soul". This brand of RnB and Soul is smothered in cultural statements, poetic wordplay fused with jazz and hip-hop undertones. Yet there is another side to this culture which, Euro Dance. Thats where Ty Gibson emerges.

Growing up listen to every aspect of music from Soul, to Jazz, to Dance, to Reggae and Latin music, Ty has manage to weave together her own style of uplifting, inspirational music that is truly from her soul. Her first instrument being that of the string family, the Viola, she has always loved and dreamed of peace and harmony that she says the strings seem to resonate. She went on to learn drums and percussion that has brought her to the place where Dance music is a part of her song writing.

Singing at the tender age of 6, a young Ty Gibson, mimicked legendary singers such as Nina Simone, Denise Williams, Whitney Houston and Minnie Riperton. Performing professionally for about 10 years, Ty Gibson is no stranger to the stage. She has toured nationally from New York to the West Coast and many places in between. Internationally she's done tours in Japan, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Monte Carlo, Italy and South Korea, thus fertilizing the market with her infectious voice and dynamic stage presence.

Working along side her husband, LG, who is the producer and arranger of the music and his love for the guitar (Jimmie Hendricks, George Benson, Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana) together, they bring to the table an unique approach to the world of music.

Her many influences which comes from her having the privilege to travel to over more than 15 countries and collaberating with musicians from those regions, has open her mind to new ways of communicating her gift to the world.

She has had songs played on many radio stations around the world which has made her ripe for the picking.

Music to Ty has been a way to communicate love, peace, joy and happiness in a world of uncertainy and pain. She wishes to promote ease of life through her songs with a voice of triumph!


artist: Un-Kai
description: super sonic sound adventures
homepage: un_kai
city: Bergen op Zoom
country: Netherlands
bandphoto: /artists/img/un_kai.jpg
bio:
We're very glad to present to you this debut-album of Un-Kai. Literally meaning "sea of clouds" in Japanese, the music represents a new, fresh approach in sound design.

Un-Kai is a collaboration between Ruben van Rompaey (drums/percussion/synths) and Rutger Verberkmoes (synths/programming/sound engineer). The two started working together when they met at the Rotterdam Conservatory in the Netherlands (1996). Although coming from different musical backgrounds they shared similar interests and soon started to experiment with sound concepts. In 2004-2008 Ruben recorded his three Eastern Expressions cd's in Rutger's Accent Audio studio and his Mozaic and Djembolale albums in 2009.

The concept behind Un-Kai is to integrate percussion and electronic music as closely as possible. Not just two layers, an electronic beat with percussion played over it, for example, but the sounds had to blend together in a more organic way. We tried to do so by using all kinds of technical tricks like triggering a vocoder by a bendir (percussion instrument) or using a convolution sample of a tabla (instead of a reverb sample) over a drum computer loop. But now we're getting too technical :-) Maybe more important than the above, it had to be danceable and an adventure to listen to!

Chill out on organic percussive beats, relax on various oriental atmospheres and immerse yourself into this unique sound adventure!


artist: Uncle Pooch
description: ExperiMetal - Instrumental/metal/jazz
homepage: unclepooch
state: WA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/unclepooch.jpg
bio:
With a name taken from a morally questionable character in a David Lynch film, one might say that Uncle Pooch is a little twisted. This eccentric quartet has been described as Slayer meets Pharoah Sanders' evil twin. They turn heavy, sludgy grooves into quick-fingered riffs while disturbing melodies and noise scar your psyche. This blatant disregard for normalcy is what they've dubbed instrumental/metal/jazz or, "Experi-Metal".

The Seattle based group was founded by guitarist Tony Stevens and bassist Shane Smith in 2007. Filling out the roster is avant-garde saxophonist Greg Sinibaldi (Frieze of Life) wielding the Electronic Wind Instrument, and drummer Denali Williams (Staxx Brothers).

After signing a non-exclusive deal with internet label Magnatune, Uncle Pooch released its debut album "Conduct Unbecoming". The full-length album includes guest appearances by vocalist Kimo Muraki (17th Chapter) and guitarist RL Heyer (RL Heyer Trio, Flowmotion). It features the Naked City-esque track "Assault and Battery Acid", the epic middle-eastern slammer, "Fallujah" and the bone-crushing "Shame Spiral" which in the end is swallowed by a swamp of feedback and thousands of strange little critters.


artist: Urban Response
description: Funky Urban Tropical Electro Trip-Hop from Brazil
homepage: urban_response
city: Dublin
country: Ireland
bandphoto: /artists/img/urban_response1.jpg
bio:
Urban Response was formed by Irish producer Michael Lovatt and Brazilian lyricist MC Quilombola. Though friends for many years, the duo had never worked together, until a chance meeting at a festival in the summer of 2010 brought them together again.

From the moment they made their first song together everything just clicked. The music and lyrics just flowed effortlessly, the way it should. They spent the next 4 months from September to December recording what would become "A Origem da Natureza Urbana". A true melting pot of their diverse influences, a mix of classic hip-hop, dub, funk, electro, urban, trip-hop and ragga, along with a handful of collaborations from Ireland, Spain and Nigeria.

The result of their musical journey together is a modern union of different nationalities, colors, flavours, sounds, places and styles. Proving once again that music knows no boundaries.

MC Quilombola aka Rodrigo Teles was born and raised in Sampabilon a suburb of São Paulo. He describes himself as a versatile MC influenced by life around him, both the seen and the unseen. Ever since he was a child, MC Quilombola's main love has been hip-hop, but he likes to mix it up, with raggamuffin, dancehall, capoeira, samba or jungle vocals. Recently he's been experimenting with dubstep and grime also. In 2005 he moved to Ireland where he met Michael. He truly sees no frontiers, and his lyrics reflect this.

Michael Lovatt was born in London and spent his childhood between America and Greece. He began making music in the late 80's while living in America.

Inspired by early electro and EBM bands like Depeche Mode, OMD, Front242 and classic old school hip-hop. During the 90's he got heavily into the rave, acid jazz, trip hop and house scenes, putting on parties and djing around Greece and Ireland.

He relocated to Berlin in 2012 where he has been active in the dance scene there, releasing deep house and techno under his own name.

For more on Urban Response follow them on Facebook.

Urban Response lives in Berlin, Germany and São Paulo, Brazil.


artist: Ustoz
description: emotive electronica formed from the modern world
homepage: ustoz
city: Tashkent
country: Uzbekistan
bandphoto: /artists/img/ustoz.jpg
bio:
In the year 1986, the walls of an ordinary maternity hospital were deafened by a loud baby's cry. From birth, Akmal demanded music like food. In the words of his mother - young Akmal at the age of 6 months weeped without ending and only stopped if he was played music.

In his youth, the first thing he began to listen to were records of Dire Straits, Pink Floyd and Peter Gabriel. Constant listening made him addicted to music and he toyed with a career in a music shop surrounded by great albums all day long. Everything changed however when he was 15 and found a software program to create music, Fruity Loops 3.5 and he achieved results without using samples (loops). From there the creative side of this peculiar personality was unleashed, Ustoz was born.

Ustoz speaks an universal music language, shaping information and transforming it to the normal sounds of music and giving abstract stories the music to perform to our ears. He hears everything, the chaotish drops falling, winds howling. His musen are random notes and sounds.

From this time he started to devote all his free time to creating music, using and experimenting with different music software: Cubase SX, Cakewalk, Nuendo and Reason. In 2005, at the age of 19 Ustoz opened his first demo recording studio. A colleague asked Akmal to make the music for several games on mobile phones and at last Ustoz had a chance to share his music with the world. That event was the first brick in building his music career. Then there was the dynamic soundtrack in the Uzbek film "Cruel game" in April of 2009. In April 2010, he released his single "Roobaba" a mix of oriental tunes and western rhythmics. Nowadays, He works with several local pop artists as a sound engineer and arranger. He also works with filmmakers as a sound engineer.


artist: Utopia Banished
description: melodic death metal
homepage: utopia_banished
state: NY
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/utopia_banished.jpg
bio:
Utopia Banished was formed sometime between 1997-1998, by Dani A. and Dave R. They had met drummer Nick T. through a mutual friend, and later acquired Marvin S. (through Nick.)

For about one year the 4 "jammed" and wrote some songs, and decided to get serious. The first show played was an instrumental set at a High School Talent Show. Performing their songs Bloody Mary, and Apocalyptica. Though they aren't the most original names, the songs created a very positive response from the audience. Shortly thereafter the band auditioned Jeff Hayward.

It was with this line-up that the band began writing more songs, and began performing shows. Frequenting at clubs like Traditions (Ridgewood,Queens), and Voodoo Lounge (Bayside, Queens). In mid 1999, the band and Jeff H. decided to part ways, due to creative differences.

In addition to Jeff leaving the band, Dani (who played guitars at the time) had began going to school in Boston, Ma. With only one guitarist at hand the group had began "auditioning" guitarist, and found Ian S. With a rather quick decision, the band decided to take Ian.

When Dani came back he took the position of vocals, and keyboards. Since this time, the band has recorded a full length album. Have gotten many positive reviews (from the promos sent out), had the opportunity to take many interviews. and have promoted themselves by playing some great venues


artist: Valter Carignano and Michela Varda
description: Italian songs on poems of Gabriele D'Annunzio
homepage: valter_varda
city: Turin
country: Italy
bandphoto: /artists/img/valter_varda_low.jpg
bio:
Valter Carignano, bass baritone, has sung in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, South America and Korea. He sang live for the RAI (National Italian Television) and at the Eurovision Song Contest. He has won national and international Opera and Vocal Chamber Music competitions.

Valter's favorite operatic characters to perform are: Scarpia in Tosca, Marcello and Schaunard in La Boheme, Macbeth in Macbeth, Bartolo and Basilio in The Barber of Seville, Dulcamara in Elisir d'Amore, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni and Leporello in Don Giovanni.

He lives and works in Turin, Italy where he is a singing teacher, vocal coach and teacher in vocal masterclasses. He also works occasionally in Korea. He collaborates with Feltrinelli bookshops, conducting shows and meetings about the history of Opera.

Michela Varda, pianoforte, has won national and international competitions, and participated in television recordings for CHANNEL 5 and RAI 1.

In 2001 she took part in the performance of "Art of Fugue", a project conceived by Luciano Berio, in Spoleto, Lyon, The Hague and London. Michela is an European member of the Orchestra of the Teatro Lirico Sperimentale di Spoleto.

She's also an associate teacher for courses of important voice teachers: Franca Mattiucci, Lorenza Canepa, Valter Carignano and Claudio Desderi.


artist: Vasily Boykov
description: nature sounds and atmospheric sounds, perfect for relaxation
homepage: vasily_boykov
city: Kiev
country: Ukraine
bandphoto: /artists/img/vasily_boykov_small.jpg
bio:
Vasily Boykov - composer, musician and poet. For this name hides a huge universe of creative potential and irreconcilable principles of its implementation.

Vasily Boykov was born in the Russian city of Tver, 158 km from Moscow. His career started out pretty normal, like many young people of his age (12-13) Vasily began by learning the classical guitar. But with time he realized that the study of the works of many famous composers, stifled his creative energy.

"How can you call music replay of someone's compositions on study by notes?" he asked. In 2006 Vasily arrived at the law department of the Tver's branch Ministry of Internal Affairs, Moscow university of the Russian Federation, to a position of cadet. He enlist in the Combined orchestra of the Tverskaya garrison. Being on tuition, Vasily studies game on different musical instruments: from wind instruments and Russians national to modern synthesizers and computer modulators.

Then Vasily decides to experiment, look for the new side and finds them. He decides to connect some styles in a single whole: Ambient, New Age, Instrumental and Chill Out. In its compositions sides of all these musical directions are listened. Filling atmospheric sounding of ambient by live sounding of musical instruments and bass parties, adding various sounds of World around, Vasily found that "common ground" between spirituality and skill - immersion music. The easy enveloping sounding filled with various transitions with one stream forces to plunge into specially issued plot which author is the listener.


artist: Vate
description: urban electronic music
homepage: vate
city: Barcelona
country: Spain
bandphoto: /artists/img/vate.jpg
bio:
Vate began to make music in 1988. In 1999, after having gathered some music made for private use, he starting using the Internet as a media to show his work. Since then, he has been participating in the Mexican electronic scene, sometimes along many collectives, and sometimes as an independent.

Vate works with very different genres inside electronic music, among them are ambient, big beat, drum and bass, nortec, sound experimentations, and electro. His remixes and collaborations include artists and groups such as Discos Konfort, Sango Music (Neztic), Binaria, Filtro, Nortec Collective (Fussible), Zan Hoffman, Deus ex Machina, and Minuit Delacroix. Most part of his production (several Albums and EPs) are availale trough a Creative Commons license trough the Vate Netlabel and other labels such as Discos Konfort, Sango Music, Socsub or Breathe Compilations.

Vate has played live in many events in Mexico City, including Parador Analogo, Tecnogeist 2002 y Maximas texturas (Konfort), also in different Live acts in Mexico and Barcelona, Spain.


artist: Version
description: Electro-Reggae-Blues.
homepage: version
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/version2.jpg
bio:
Richard G. Jones began DJing parties in Florida in the early nineties. His uniquely dark Dub influenced sound led him to the new "jungle" sound slowly emerging and not yet classified as anything but BreakBeat in the U.S.

A pioneer in this genre in Florida, DJ Rasa hosted weekly nights at Simons playing alongside talent such as Grooverider, Dieselboy, DB, Dara and LTJ Bukem to name a few.

After acquiring a larger more well equipped venue at The Soulhouse called "Clean", he was able to experiment more with drum machines, singers and live elements bringing in acts such as Smith & Mighty, drawing from a more Dub / Reggae influence.

After moving to San Francisco in 1998 he crossed paths with Benny E. Sanches (a.k.a. iNTROSPEKT) at Nova Productions. The two immediately began producing together.

Benny Sanches is a decade-long producer of electronic music, with remixes for Depeche Mode and Meat Beat Manifesto among his portfolio.

As a producer and musician, iNTROSPEKT has worked with Ahou Yazmeen (vocalist, guitarist, aka ISYSS); David Pulfinger (percussionist, Cabaret Voltaire/Cocteau Twins); Jorge Bermudez (The Bermudez Triangle); Ammie Moore (Chicago-based Lounge/Trip Hop vocalist); Lisa Talev (Austin-based Poet, vocalist, guitarist); Christophe Royer (San Francisco-based House & Funk producer); Rasa N' Rice (Los Angeles-based Electro producer); Shemp (Bass guitarist for Schloss); and many others.

As a solo artist, Benny is known by the name of Magnatune artist iNTROSPEKT.

In addition to his own production efforts, Benny works for the celebrated digital-recording company Digidesign.


artist: Vito Paternoster
description: cellist extraordinaire
homepage: paternoster
city: Bari
country: Italy
bandphoto: /artists/img/vito_paternoster_new.jpg
bio:
Vito Paternoster graduated from the conservatory of S. Cecilia when he was very young, under A. Baldovino's guidance. He won a competition for 1st violoncello at the Rai in Rome, and joined the prestigious ensemble I Musici.

He continues to perform with I Musici today, as well as performing as a soloist in the most important theatres of the world. Paternoster has been widely recorded, both as a soloist and in emsembles.

His Sonatas and Partitas for violoncello by Bach, from an 18th century manuscript, is the world premiere recording of these pieces. His recording of the six Bach cello suites have been aclaimed by the international press.

He has directed the Symphony Orchestra of Bari, of Abruzzo, and the Symphony Orchestra Betica of Siviglia, the "B. Marcello" of Teramo. With the latter he directed the first modern performance of "Diana amante di Leo" in Brindisi.

Recently he directed "Il pane dal profano al sacro" (a musical route about the meaning of bread in the southern culture through the centuries), a program composed by him, with the Symphony Orchestra of Bari.

He founded the baroque orchestra "La Lyra di Anphione", which he directed in Spoleto, where he opened the Lyrical Season '99 of the Experimental Lyrical Theatre. Critics consider this production ("Dido and Aeneas" by H. Purcell) as a "delightful performance" and "the director was not on the platform but into music and singing, all the same with them" (Q. Principe).

He plays a violoncello manufactured by L. Carcassi (Florence 1792) and he is a conservatory teacher of violoncello at the conservatory of Bari.


artist: Viva La Pepa
description: Spanish, Sephardic and French traditions served on a bed of drones
homepage: viva_la_pepa
state: NM
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/viva_la_pepa_1.jpg
bio:
In September 2004, after a fortunate encounter guided by the echoing sound of a hurdy-gurdy, two couples met: Rima and Tom, Sharon and Juan. Three months later, they performed their first concert as Crisol Luz, the name that Rima and Tom used as a duet, but they needed a new name that would embody all four members and characterize their new musical path and style. So in 2006 Viva la Pepa! was born.

Viva la Pepa! delves into medieval, renaissance and traditional music from Spain and France. The main members, Tom Lozano, Rima Montoya, Sharon Berman, and Juan Wijngaard, have performed throughout Europe, Central and North America.

Viva la Pepa! uses a variety of instruments, including Spanish lute, guitar, psaltery, hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, tromba marina, accordion, woodwinds and percussion, combined with their voices. Their repertoire ranges from 13th century cantigas to contemporary village music from Spain and France, the Sephardic oral tradition as well as their own compositions.

Sharon Berman has performed with ensembles specializing in early, traditional and new music. She studied musical traditions of Quebec, medieval music performance and the American shape note tradition Sacred Harp. She holds master's degrees in ethnomusicology and visual anthropology, and plays recorder, accordion, and hurdy gurdy.

Tomas Lozano was born in Barcelona, Spain, from Andalusian parents and raised between Granada/Almeria and Barcelona. Lozano began as a self taught musician with a broken guitar from his uncle. As a young teenager, he began performing Catalan folk music. In 1993, through a sponsorship by the Spanish Ministry of Exterior Affairs, Lozano toured Canada and the United States with the theater troupe Bufons. Lozano has since made the United States his home base, performing solo and with a number of other musicians across the country. He sings and plays guitar, Spanish lute, hurdy-gurdy and the Galician tambourine. For more information about Tomas visit his website or his solo page on Magnatune.

Rima Montoya was born in Spain from a Costa Rican father and North Dakotan mother, Rima started to play flute as a child in 4th grade. She lived in Spain, Kenya, Honduras, Ecuador, Brazil, Costa Rica and the US. Together with her husband, Tom Lozano, they started Crisol Luz, an ensemble of medieval, renaissance, Sephardic, and traditional Spanish music. She has toured with Crisol Luz throughout the USA and Costa Rica. Rima sings and plays flute.

Polly Tapia Ferber is a percussionist, music educator, performer, and recording artist who specializes in hand percussion from the Middle East, the Balkans, Spanish Andalucia, and North Africa. She is on the faculty in the music department at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design researching Tunisian Sephardic music, and has recently embarked on making Albanian frame drums (daires). She played her first gig with Viva la Pepa! in 2009. For more information about Polly Tapia Ferber visit her website.

Juan Wijngaard was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has lived in the Netherlands, Switzerland and England, where he first heard and fell in love with medieval and later French folk music. He made his first hurdy gurdy in 1976 whilst living in London and taught himself to play it by ear (he still does not read music). Juan became part of the first line up of the band Blowzabella. With his wife Sharon he formed the group Stop S'il Vous Plait which also featured the late Joe Moir and Ed Leddell. Shortly after moving to New Mexico, Juan and Sharon met Tom Lozano and his wife Rima Montoya and joined their group to create Viva la Pepa!. Juan also plays border and Flemish bagpipes.


artist: Viviana Guzman
description: virtuosic flutist
homepage: viviana_guzman
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/viviana_guzman1.jpg
bio:
Described by the New York Times as "an imaginative artist," Chilean-born flutist, Viviana Guzman performs over 80 concerts a year throughout the world.

She has been featured on programs for PBS, NBC, and NPR, seen on the cover of Latina Style Magazine, and in COSMOPOLITAN en Espanol and has played in 118 countries including South Africa, Ireland, Spain, Brazil, Bali, India, Peru, Greece, featuring flutes from her collection of over 100 gathered from concert tours.

Her music video was aired on UNIVISION in 30 countries. She has performed as soloist with orchestras in Russia, Chile, Vermont, New York, Wisconsin, California, Texas, and Montana, in such halls as in Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center, and other prominent stages with such artists as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Placido Domingo, and Glenn Close.

Viviana began her musical training at the age of 5 and won her first competition at 7. By the age of 15, she played as a soloist with orchestras, studied with Jean-Pierre Rampal, and was featured on a John Denver nationally televised NBC special.

Ms. Guzman studied with James Galway, and Albert Tipton and graduated from the Juilliard School. Viviana has released seven albums entitled, "Telemann Flute Fantasies" (classical), "Planet Flute" (world), "Danza de Amor" (latin), "Mostly Tango" (tango), "Serenity" (National Geographic), "Meditations" (new age) and "Argentine Music".

"Viviana Guzman displayed an extraordinary technique and great musicality."
El Mercurio, Santiago, Chile

"Guzman's performance was a virtuoso tour de force, executed with the most extraordinary ease."
Monterey Herald

"Engaging command of any flutelike instrument."
Ft. Worth, Star Telegram

For more on Viviana please go to her website.


artist: Voices of Music
description: Lilting Renaissance & Baroque vocal interpretations
homepage: voicesofmusic
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/voicesofmusic2.jpg
bio:
Voices of Music in which each musician has a voice.

Based on the creative vision of directors David Tayler and Hanneke van Proosdij, Voices of Music features the finest musicians in Early Music today. Performances are one-on-a-part, and the interpretation, style and ornamentation of the music are all based on the original sources of the time. Our latest album, Concerto Barocco, showcases the virtuoso concertos of Bach, Corelli and Vivaldi. Our Bach and Telemann album is a collection of exciting ensemble and solo music, including works for recorder and viola da gamba. An Evening with Bach presents some of Bach's best known arias interwoven with short instrumental works.

Voices of Music's next recording will be the first volume of the Bach Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord with Carla Moore, baroque violin, and Hanneke van Proosdij, harpsichord.

At the forefront of technology, Voices of Music records using special techniques that capture every detail of the music, and, in addition, is the first Early Music Ensemble to regularly broadcast their concerts in High Definition Video over the internet.

"Splendidly colorful and imaginative."
- San Francisco Classical Voice


artist: Voltergeist
description: Psyche-Dub Electrical Pirate Wobble
homepage: voltergeist
city: Maybole
country: Scotland
bandphoto: /artists/img/voltergeist.jpg
bio:
Voltergeist is producer Shaun Dowse, who uses a MacBook Pro with an array of synthesizers and strange electronic gadgets, live bass guitar and hand percussion (and occasionally saucepans) to produce twisted dub-techno music and remixes for established artists. He previously recorded under the "Emotiquon" guise.

As Voltergeist, he's produced dub-techno versions of tracks by African folk musician Jali Bakary Konteh, and kuduro band Figura (on Akwaaba Music), UK indie band Grand National (on Rob Da Bank's label Sunday Best), and Icelandic electronic-pop champions GusGus. There are also several popular "white label" Voltergeist remixes of Audion, Booka Shade, Laurent Garnier, Major Lazer etc which can be downloaded freely. Emotiquon releases include remixes for Heaven 17, Enter Shikari, Dot Allison, Shitdisco and Vendor Defender.

Shaun has recently been working with ex-Ministry bass player Paul Barker, producing an original track to promote "FIX: The Ministry Movie"; a backstage documentary which is currently being screened at various film festivals in the US. The track "69 Psalmpled" will be included on the accompanying soundtrack album alongside new work by NIN, Korn, Skinny Puppy, Tool, and Soundgarden.

*RECENTLY ANNOUNCED as the WINNER of the DJ Krust "Warhead" remix contest, and Australian label Scattermusic winner of The Heatwave "Wardance" remix contest.

Voltergeist's twisted dubby music has been supported by highly influential DJs and tastemakers including Dubfire, X-Press 2, Harri (SubClub Glasgow), Nick Warren (Way Out West), Dom Chung (Chibuku), Carlos Agueda, Silicone Soul, Jet Project and Meat Katie!

His new album, "Burnt & Buried" was released in August 2011.


artist: Vox Nostra
description: gorgeously complex and rich vocals using manuscripts from the middle ages
homepage: vox_nostra
city: Berlin
country: Germany
bandphoto: /artists/img/vox_nostra_team2.jpg
bio:
Vox Nostra is a vocal ensemble based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 1999 by Burkard Wehner and specialized in the performance of medieval music. The main focus of the group is the interpretation of the earliest surviving compositions from the cultural centers of Europe. Sung from manuscripts originating in monasteries, cathedrals, and courts, the music of Vox Nostra is an acoustical insight into the archaic sound world of the Middle Ages.

The practice of singing from copies of the original manuscripts, which is a special feature of the Ensemble, has quite specific consequences for the interpretation of the music. The old forms of notation - such as the neumatic notation of the chorale, the modal notation of the Notre-Dame organa, and mensural notation - employ a great number of symbols indicating that melodic ornamentation is to take place. In order to give this feature the emphasis it deserves, Vox Nostra favors a slow, flowing style of performance in an appropriately restrained tempo. The vocal sound which results is rich in overtones, and fills the entire room; it allows the archaic and pure intervals of this music to be fully appreciated, and ensures that the complex weaving of the individual voices is clearly audible. In addition to the original manuscripts, treatises on music from the 13th-16th centuries also provide information regarding tempo, ornamentation and the practice of solo performance of the chants.

The members of Vox Nostra have sung with the most esteemed medieval and vocal ensembles in Europe, as well as pursued extensive scholarship in the fields of musicology, medieval paleography, and theology.

The music of Vox Nostra combines expressive musicality and academic curiosity. The repertoire ranges from Gregorian chant to Italian lauds, from early polyphonic compositions from St. Martial (Aquitaine) and Notre-Dame (Paris) to the richly polyphonic compositions of the Renaissance.

In addition to early music, Vox Nostra sings contemporary music, experimenting with vocal color and micro-intervals.

Vox Nostra are:
Amy Green
Ellen Hunigen
Susanne Wilsdorf
Werner Blau
Till Schulze
Burkard Wehner - artistic director

You can find out more about Vox Nostra on their website.

"They sang with great expression, richly ornamenting the song with micro-intervals, and maintaining a uniform vocal color, despite the individuality of the different voices... The artistic potential of the group is immense, only five singers conjured an entire panorama of the spiritual epoch of the Cathedrals".
(Artur Bielecki: Music Magazine Ruch Muzyczny Nr. 10 / 2009, Wroclaw, Poland)


artist: VSTRS
description: An arty thump of melody and bombast
homepage: vstrs
state: MI
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/vstrs_new.jpg
bio:
VSTRS began in 2013 as an outlet for improv and collaboration between like-minded Detroit area musicians. Michael O'Connor and Zach Pliska had come from the recently defunct Fur and Eric Myers from the current band Warhorses.

Over sessions in the summer/fall of that year they developed an organic, drum-centric approach and an interest in utilizing both space and aggression within songs. David Sovey and Katie Galazka joined in after a few months to expand the sound and explore a live set.

The quintet spent studio time in 2014 recording and producing their initial LP and have since been described as 'a heady outfit with an equal penchant for both melody and bombast'. Visitors don't seem to follow convention too closely and tend to defy the sometimes gloomy haze of psych rock; instead they lean towards the more cinematic nature of art-rock.

You can find out more about VSTRS on their bandcamp page.


artist: Wavebuffet
description: jazzy eclectic and elegant dancefloor friendly electronica
homepage: wavebuffet
city: Capbreton
country: France
bandphoto: /artists/img/wavebuffet.jpg
bio:
Meanwhile a majority of todays jazz pianists spent their youth in music conservatories playing Bach fugues, the musical education of Andrej Hrasko (Wavebuffet) in the late eighties was plaing guitar and singing in obscure hard core, punk and heavy metal garage bands.

With the arrival of nineties he left his native Slovakia and after a couple of years of nomadic street busking he settled down in New York City, where besides the struggle of getting the industry's attention with a few rock bands, he started to learn the craft of music production and composition in his humble home recording studio. Also at about the same time he was developing curiosity in emerging dance and electronica styles of the nineties and sneaked into the piano rehearsal rooms of NYC music schools to practice blues, jazz and boogie-woogie piano. His HipHop and Reggae influences might also be attributed to this period of life in Harlem and Brooklyn.

In 2000, he relocated to Barcelona where besides playing in a classic rock cover band, worked as a DJ and produced music for various local artists. In the past eight years Andrej's been living in the south of Spain, have been involved with various bands and music projects, his most recent project is a live dance and electronic group Ape Nation, as well as playing at jazz piano gigs and composing music for TV, film and multimedia.


artist: Weartists
description: hard energy and punky rock'n'roll
homepage: weartists
city: Brest
country: Belarus
bandphoto: /artists/img/weartists_new.jpg
bio:
WeArtists - is an extremely energetic Rock 'n' Roll trio!

Their music is based mostly on UK and European Rock'n'Roll traditions highly influenced by contemporary Rock bands. The band's tune is mainly built in the major keys and is supported by a powerful rhythm section which makes their music sound very cheerful filling the atmosphere with strong positive vibes and lots of crazy energy.

Officially the band started existence with the release of its first single "Hemingway" on the 3rd of September 2013. Ten days later on the 13th of September 2013 the first album Everything is fine, nobody is happy came out.

Right after the release of the album WeArtists started working on the new tracks reconsidering the style, genre and the sounding of the debut works. The band acquired more pronounced and lively Rock'n'Roll features which now seem to be fundamental in the band's musical cocktail of genres called Rock 'n' Roll.

Starting in January 2014 the trio toured across Eastern Europe promoting and participating in various Festivals, band competitions and talent shows.

WeArtists has already gained considerable recognition at many core rock festivals and shows across Poland.

You can find out more about them on their webpage or listen to them live below.


artist: Werner Durand
description: experimental wind buzzing instruments
homepage: durand
city: Berlin
country: Germany
bandphoto: /artists/img/durand1.jpg
bio:
WERNER DURAND performs his own music for saxophones, iranian ney, and self-made wind instruments since the late seventies. He studied with Ariel Kalma in Paris, Indian classical music in India and Berlin (with Kamalesh Maitra) and Iranian ney with Ali Reza Asgharia. He started to build wind instruments out of plexi-glass and PVC in the early 80s, which led to the foundation of THE THIRTEENTH TRIBE in 1990.

His current projects include ASHTAYAMA with Dhrupad singer Amelia Cuni; ANCIENT TRENDS & NEW TRADITIONS IN INDO-EUROPEAN MUSIC with Amelia Cuni and percussionist Marika Falk; the group ARMCHAIR TRAVELLER with Sebastian Hilken (cello and percussion), Hella v. Ploetz (glassharp) and Silvia Ocougne (ac.guitars), a duo with australian gitar(t)ist Victor Meertens , and providing drones for Amelia Cuni's Realisation of 18 MICROTONAL RAGAS (SOLO 58) FROM SONGBOOKS by John Cage and Fatima Miranda's CANTOS ROBADOS. Werner Durand has also collaborated with numerous composers/performers including David Behrman, John Driscoll, Samm Bennett, Fast Forward, David Moss, Muslimgauze, Henning Christiansen, Dominique Regef, David Maranha , David Toop & Tom Recchion as well as with visual/ sound artists Michaela Kolmel, Andreas Oldorp and Rolf Julius. He was a member of Arnold Dreyblatts Orchestra of Excited Strings from 1990- 1997. In 1989 he received a grant from the city of Berlin for the Cite des Arts, Paris. He was granted a residency at Podewil (Berlin) for 1999 together with Amelia Cuni. For 2003/4 he received a grant for the Worpswede artist colony. He has collaborated in the organization of festivals of traditional as well as avant-garde music in Berlin like "Urban und Aboriginal", "Pipeline" , "USArts" , "Minimalisms " and "Intonations".

Performing worldwide, he participates in international festival and cultural exchange programs (also through Goethe Institut). He has composed music for theater, dance and radio features and is presently engaged in several CD productions and musical projects. Coming from the minimalist tradition, Werner Durands music has evolved into a personal style over the years. Inspired by various kinds of traditional musics and instruments, he started to create his own music and instruments reflecting this. A variety of materials and playing techniques enables him to bring out unusual sounds and with the help of digital delays he can create rich textural and rhythmic pieces, which might recall tribal music from Africa or the Pacific, but at the same time sounding experimental or even (post-)industrial.


artist: Wet City Rockers
description: rootsy, dubby, Reggae sounds from the rainy city
homepage: wet_city_rockers
state: WA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/wet_city_rockers.jpg
bio:
Wet City Rockers came in to existence when Micah Averiett set out on a mission to create a rootsy duby reggae band while living in the wonderful city of Seattle.

Micah Averiett and Bill Patton, (who both played in a Reggae fusion band in 2002 called Jamaina Heights in George Town) started with a simple ad in the Seattle Stranger mag which brought in Daniel drummer and Norman Bass. They then created the first Wet City Rockers album in 2005, which was produced, directed and mixed by Micah Averiett.

The album made a decent noise in the Reggae community worldwide. A few dozen shows, and a mini tour later the band dissolved due to the spider legs that all grew Indian chief heads and unfortunately wanted to walk different directions.

Micah Averiett and Bill Patton went on to link up with other local musicians here in Seattle. After a few failed attempts they linked up with Ryan Bowering a solid drummer coming in from the Canadian highlands. After a year of searching for a qualified bassy they happened across a Northern California bass player (Jarrett Mason) who moved up to Seattle for a change of pace and just so happened to be a perfect fit to complete Wet City's rhythm section. They went on to link up with Tim Conroy a talented keyboard and trumpet player and friend of Jarrett Mason to complete the core of the band. Shortly after Brandon Hunter the young trombone player with soul from a previous life, joined in as well to make what is now the Wet City Rockers.

Wet City Rockers has had the privilege in having many local talented musicians come through and be apart of this ever changing and growing Reggae movement in Seattle.

How would you describe the Wet City Rockers, you may ask? Think Reggae one drops with vocal harmonies, mild dreamy rhythmic guitar syncopation and intricate, secular but rootsy melodic phrasing. With influences from the dark side of roots and the positive soulful vocals of lovers rock. Bring the sensi and submerge your brain in to the sound of the Wet City Rockers.

You can find out more about Wet City Rockers on their website.


artist: Where's Moo
description: moody, atmospheric, paranoid and definitely not typical rock and roll
homepage: wheres_moo
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/wheres_moo.jpg
bio:
Where's Moo was formed in 1999 in Orlando, FL by Michael Mangum and Jocelyn Horvath-Scharoun with an early sound that struck a blend of indie pop and college rock. Mangum's voice drew comparisons to Michael Stipe, and his early stage performances were memorable, as Where's Moo's jangly pop would send Mangum into a frenzy, twitching, spinning, and emoting his way through the set backed by Horvath's pixie harmonies and aggressive guitar playing.

Around this time they released a self-released EP, Go, and a full-length release, Happiness. Where's Moo gained Matt Soule as the new drummer in 2001. Soule brought a more powerful sound with his drumming roots based in the stylings of John Bonham, Keith Moon, and Dave Grohl. In 2003, Where's Moo made the move west to Los Angeles where they quickly began playing gigs at all of the spots in and around Hollywood where new bands cut their teeth on the L.A. scene.

Where's Moo had a solid following of Orlandoans who had made their way out west to pursue their dreams as well. After changing bass players in 2005, Where's Moo released another EP, Slow Politics, to favorable reviews. Their sound was evolving. They began to move away from indie pop to a more moody, atmospheric, paranoid sound. It was said that Where's Moo sounded like REM and the Pixies having sex in a spaceship that was crashing into the sun. Ron Garmon of Los Angeles Valley Beat remarked "Moo's Slow Politics EP pegs the group as pissed practitioners of the Cranberries/R.E.M. school of earworm pop, but it doesn't do justice to the band's breakneck heedlessness live nor sufficiently contain the flapping emo dervish that is frontman Michael Mangum."

With their sound refined, Where's Moo tackled recording the full-length release, Dear Friend Dopamine in 2007. It was an ambitious project, which included the help of cellist Michael Crowley. The songs were well-recorded, melodic and well-received. Gina Morris of Evolution of Media said "Like Idlewild - a British band who also tread similar R.E.M. turf - Where's Moo take the ball, run with it, and kick it all over the damn place. Dear Friend Dopamine is no mere collection of Xerox rock and roll, but the birth of something exciting and new."

You can find out more about Where's Moo on their MySpace page.


artist: White Rhino
description: Loud, fast, and heavy psychedelic rock and roll made for those living a wild lifestyle
homepage: white_rhino
state: TX
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/white_rhino.jpg
bio:
Estranged from birth, the men of White Rhino are three cousins who never met until 2007. Theirs is a military family, marked by frustrating inner family violence and distrust.

Michael Anthony Gibson, Douglas Anderson IV and James Wesley Cargal have banded together to unify with a classic heavy psych rock sound.

* Forceful drums
* Commanding bass
* Herculean guitars
* Astrological vocals
  
Two self-produced releases.
  One national, and two west coast tours.
  
Played with a ton of great bands including; MONOTONIX, SPINDRIFT, LIVING THINGS, ASG, LIONS, ELECTRIC SIX, TRAIL OF DEAD, and more...
  
All accomplished with absolutely no label or management.
  

  
PRESS
  
"White Rhino can veer off into spacier, proggier territory a la Hawkwind, thrash it out like Master of Puppets-era Metallica or turn on the bluesy afterburners like some anabolic descendent of ZZ Top. A power trio in the truest sense of the term."
  - Chris Gray HOUSTON PRESS
  
"Get your rock on with White Rhino, one of the newest, baddest, loudest bands in town."
  - The Mohawk Austin TX
  
"They've got the knack to jam on slow-burning numbers dropped from some acid-laden, amps-cranked trip out of the late '60s or crank it into hard rock bursts."
  - Creative Loafing (Charlotte)
  
"White Rhino is an Austin band that cranks it up and doesnit give a f*** about the neighbors. With searing, face melt guitars you get lots of raw, sexual energy here."
  - City Paper (Philadelphia)
  
"Stranger, louder, hairier even, than the remotest corner of Austin. Leather-clad, long-haired, amp-damaging, rock en' roll hasnit sounded this good since ... well, the 1970s."
  - Philadelphia Weekly
  

  


artist: Wicked Allstars
description: electronica with cool house and rock elements
homepage: wicked_allstars
state: MO
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/wicked_allstars.jpg
bio:
Mike Bell and Mike Dz grew up in the Northeast city of Boston. While Bell played piano and more classical big band instruments, Mr. Dz played guitar, drums and auxiliary percussion.

It wasn't until both went away to college that they discovered their love for electronic music could be translated into producing it. Bands and DJ's like Prodigy, Aphrodite, Andy C, Seb Fontaine, and Chemical Bros. influenced them while they struggled with a deep need to change that music and manipulate it.

Their journey to make something better began in 1999. Both Mike and Mike stopped experimenting and started producing on ghetto equipment. In 2001 the Wicked Allstars were born in the basement of a duplex just outside of Boston.

With pipes actually dripping water directly onto their equipment they created their first two songs that summer. "Forgiven" is a trip hop song with electric guitar, and "Trouble-Remix" is a remix of the Coldplay song "Trouble".

Since then, with long periods of school separating them, they have gotten together and finished their first CD. The Wicked Allstars influences include Jay-Z, Tool, Wu-Tang, Basement Jaxx, Ben Folds, Hed-PE, Megadeth, Aaliyah, and TIMBALAND. (the list goes on)


artist: Wicked boy
description: a wicked mix of ambient/jungle/trash trance
homepage: wickedboy
city: Orebro
country: Sweden
bandphoto: /artists/img/wickedboy.jpg
bio:
Wicked boy is a wicked mix of ambient, jungle and trash trance.

You have to be in the right type of mind to listen to Wickedboy.

You will never know what type of music Wickedboy is going to do next.

It all depends on the feeling: it could be techno, house, ambient, classic or trash.

Wickedboy is Johan Isaksson (the other half of Magnatune artist Processor).

Johan was born in the little society called Skultuna (Sweden).

He bought his first synthesizer when he was 10 years old and he got an Atari to do the programming when he was about 14 years old. When he got the Atari he stopped playing and started to focus on programming music only.

Johan's influences comes from Yello, Massive Attack, Prodigy, Depeche Mode, Chemical Brothers and Vangelis.


artist: Wildcat Viols
description: viola da gamba girls gone wild!!
homepage: wildcat_viols
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/wildcat_viols.jpg
bio:
Wildcat Viols was formed in 2003, bringing together three of the San Francisco Bay Area's favorite early string specialists, Joanna Blendulf, Julie Jeffrey and Elisabeth Reed.

Praised for their musical rapport and the shared enjoyment that radiates from their performances, they have been hailed as "refreshing", "sensuous", "gutsy", "incredible artists" and a "breathtaking ensemble." Early Music America magazine called their debut concert at the 2004 Berkeley Early Music Festival a "wonderful offering... beautifully played."

In 2010 Wildcat Viols, at the invitation of Artistic Director George Benjamin, performed the complete 3- and 4-part Fantazias of Henry Purcell at the Ojai Music Festival, receiving lavish audience and critical praise:

"Articulated fluently... with impeccable intonation"
(The Classical Review);

"The expert period instrument group produces a focused ensemble sound...and delivered the music in all its intricately designed, soothing glory"
(Santa Barbara News Press); and

"Spellbinding...fantastic."
(WQXR, the Classical Music Station of NYC).
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In 2010 Wildcat Viols released their first recording, "Fairest Isle", of music by Purcell, Locke and Hingeston.

Joanna Blendulf, Treble Viol
Joanna Blendulf has performed as soloist and continuo player in leading period-instrument ensembles throughout the United States. Ms. Blendulf holds performance degrees with honors from the Cleveland Institute of Music and Indiana University, where she was awarded the Performer's Certificate for her accomplishments in historical performance. Joanna is currently performing with the Portland Baroque Orchestra and Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra and is also an active chamber musician, touring and recording with American Baroque, the Catacoustic Consort, Ensemble Mirable, the Streicher Trio and Wildcat Viols.

Ms. Blendulf teaches viola da gamba and baroque cello privately and in workshops and master classes across the country and has directed the Collegium Musicum as an adjunct professor at the University of Oregon. Her summer engagements have included solo and chamber performances at the Bloomington, Boston and Berkeley Early Music Festivals, the Aspen and Ojai Music Festivals and the Carmel and Oregon Bach Festivals.

Julie Jeffrey, Tenor Viol
Julie Jeffrey began her career in early music performance while pursuing graduate studies in Musicology at the University of Chicago. Now based in the San Francisco Bay Area, she freelances locally and abroad, appearing with such ensembles as Magnificat Baroque and American Bach Soloists, the Newberry Consort, the Catacoustic Consort, Scaramella, the Terra Nova Consort.

She has performed at the Carmel Bach Festival, the California Shakespeare Festival, the San Francisco Early Music Festival, the Ojai Music Festival, the Regensburg Tage Alter Musik, the Melbourne Autumn Music Festival, and the Festival Internacional Cervantino in Guanajuato, Mexico. Ms. Jeffrey is a member of Sex Chordae Consort of Viols, is the founder and creative mastermind of the acclaimed trio Wildcat Viols, is half of the viol duo Hallifax and Jeffrey, and co-director of Barefoot Chamber Concerts.

Devoted to promoting all aspects of interest in her instrument, Ms. Jeffrey is a frequent instructor at early music workshops across the country, is a co-founder and active member of the Viola da Gamba Society, Pacifica Chapter, and currently serves on the board of directors of the Viola da Gamba Society of America.

Elisabeth Reed, Bass Viol
Elisabeth Reed was born and raised in Chapel Hill, NC and now lives in Oakland, CA. She teaches viola da gamba, baroque cello, and ensembles at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the University of California at Berkeley. She performs with many local and national early music ensembles including the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, American Bach Soloists, the Novello String Quartet, Wildcat Viols, and the improvisational group, MOTOR.

A graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts, the Oberlin Conservatory, the Eastman School of Music, and Indiana University's Early Music Institute, Ms. Reed can be heard on the Virgin Classics and Focus recording labels. She is a Guild certified practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method of Awareness Through Movement and Functional Integration with a particular interest in the issues facing musicians and performers.

Performing with them on "Fairest Isle" is:

Catherine Webster, Soprano
Catherine Webster is engaged regularly with many leading early music and chamber ensembles in North America. She has appeared as a soloist with Tafelmusik, Tragicomedia, Theatre of Voices, Netherlands Bach Society, Apollo's Fire, American Baroque Orchestra, Magnificat, Musica Angelica, El Mundo, Four Nations Ensemble, Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montreal, Ensemble Masques, Les Voix Baroques, Early Music Vancouver, and in the Berkeley, Montreal and Boston Early Music Festivals.

Active also in contemporary music, Webster has appeared with The Kronos Quartet in Terry Riley's Sun Rings and with Theatre of Voices and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in John Adam's Grand Pianola Music. Webster is a frequent collaborator with baroque opera directors Stephen Stubbs and Paul O'Dette, appearing under their direction in Festival Vancouver's production of Monteverdi's L'Incoronazione di Poppea and the premiere of Mattheson's Boris Goudenov for the Boston Early Music Festival.

She has recorded for Harmonia Mundi, Naxos, Musica Omnia, Analekta and Atma. Catherine holds a Master's in Music from the Early Music Institute at Indiana University and has been a guest faculty member and artist for The San Francisco Early Music Society's summer workshops and the Madison Early Music Festival. She now resides in Montreal.


artist: William Brooks
description: Entrancing and Ruggedly Individualistic, Earthy and Ethereal Songs
homepage: william_brooks
state: NY
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/william_brooks_new.jpg
bio:
Somewhere between names like Springsteen, Harry Chapin and Tom Petty is the entrancing and ruggedly individualistic William Ben Brooks.

His clever and engaging lyrics are deeply entwined with his slightly folk flavored rock which always spin a fine cinematic narrative. His beautifully embroidered songs of love, loss and questionable redemption are earthy and etherial, strong and sensitive.

William Ben Brooks is a part of a New York resurgence of the sensitive singer-songwriter, the kind of performer who gives you a lyric you'll catch yourself singing softly on the train home.

William's guitar work moves softly along while his lyrics dance over the notes. His sultry vocals are strong enough to convey every emotion which thread through his music.

Kimberlye Gold of THE SAN FRANCISO HERALD writes "Music like this doesn't come around too often. There is a majestic quality to it, particularly his vocals, but his use of organic instruments, like Hammond B3 organ, mandolin and harmonica keep the overall feel grounded and unpretentious. Lyrically he reaches down deep, serious at times, pontificating about the world and his place in it, at times bitter and others hopeful about loss, love and the grand scheme of things, but he's still trying to have some fun. He's been around the block a time or two, and haven't most of us? Blink 182 you can get all over the place, music like this doesn't come around too often."

William Ben Brooks was born and raised in southern Oklahoma between the cool shade of the Arbuckle Mountains and the endless turns of the promiscuous Red River.

His music has been heard on "The Late Show" with David Letterman and CBS's primetime comedy "How I met your mother", the international release of Adam Carrolla's "The Hammer", Good Day New York and VH1.

His film music credits include "The Dinner Party", "Out of the Garden" and "Underground New York."

He has also appeared on several daytime dramas, including Another World, One Life to Live, Search for Tomorrow and numerous times on the Gordon Elliot Show.

William has been honored as a New Folk Finalist at America's most respected folk music festival, The Kerrville Folk Festival. He is also a recipient of the Meet the Composer Grant from New York State Council on the Arts.

Under the banner of collaborator, his works have been performed at The Songwriter's Hall of Fame, Songwriter's Guild of America Pro Shop and the prestigious New York Songwriter's Circle.


artist: Williamson
description: instrumental electronic space pop
homepage: williamson
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/williamson.jpg
bio:
With this unassuming title of his new debut CD, Wade Williamson presents his music to the world. In an age when slickly packaged pop stars are force-fed to the public with maximum bombast, Wade is an artist whose humble approach is a refreshing change.

Electronic yet emotional, digital yet honest and human, his music is an invitation to lose oneself in reverie. "I fell in love with music and became that quintessential bedroom recluse listening to tapes and LPs over and over again," Wade explains. "I wanted to make music for people like me, so I've tried to create things that are open ended and allow people to think for themselves and daydream to."

A native of Austin, Texas, Wade now resides in San Francisco where he collaborates with a community of like-minded musicians such as virtuoso guitarist and key player Erik Cline, and guitarist Paul Martin. Together the three perform under the name Echolalia.

Wade is a studio production whiz and multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, keys, bass, and a wide array of electronic instruments. His long list of influences range from Spiritualized to The Flaming Lips, and underground artists such as Fourtet, Bedhead, and Marumari.

His debut CD is being embraced by college radio, the underground press, and fans who long for music with a subtlety and depth often lacking in both mainstream and indie music.

Although the CD's title hints at a political message or philosophical statement, Wade is characteristically understated on the subject. "I'm not really sure what the world is all about, but I'm willing to accept that and just try to be good to folks and create music that they might like."

Whether it is something spiritual, political, or simply human emotion you seek, the best way to learn the truth about Wade Williamson is to put on his CD, close your eyes, and enjoy.


artist: Windcheater
description: House, and Tech-House from the UK via Japan
homepage: windcheater
city: Hiroshima
country: Japan
bandphoto: /artists/img/windcheater.jpg
bio:
Windcheater is Alex Rey a Producer/DJ from the UK, now living in Hiroshima, Japan. Alex has been producing dance music for just over ten years now, originally inspired by the rave scene in the UK of the early 90s and the night clubs of Brighton and London.

The Brighton influence is obvious in early Windcheater material which was built around breakbeats. More recently though, Windcheater's sound has developed a much more 4 to the floor house and tech-house sound.

Although Windcheater's music is intended for the dance floor it has also appeared in movies such as the Sony Picture Classic's 'Please give', the online dance game 'Audition', documentary films and short films too.

Primarily a Producer, Alex started to perform as Windcheater around 6 years ago. Never completely happy with the electronic 'live' experience, he made the switch to straight DJing not long after. As a DJ, Windcheater delivers a house, tech-house sound with a heavy UK influence and a focus on tunes that get people dancing.

He is resident at several club nights in Hiroshima city and has DJed at events including DJs such as Osaku Masashi, Ko Kimura, Rob Smith (AKA R.S.D.), ED2000, DJ Vela and Silva.


artist: Windpearl
description: Eclectic, atmospheric hard electronica with a helping of chiptune sounds and drum &#38; bass
homepage: windpearl
city: Juicq
country: France
bandphoto: /artists/img/windpearl.jpg
bio:
Windpearl is a producer of electronic music who started out in 2000. In real life, he is a French programmer called Gabriel Hautclocq, whose music is easily recognizable in the electro scene: dark, atmospheric, melancolic and cyber-punk tracks ranging from zero-beat ambient to hardtek, with chiptune, classical and drum & bass tracks adding even more flavor to the palette.

In the early days, Gabriel's music was kept to his inner circle; titled "GabMix" followed by the year of release, the fist series of albums was distributed to family and friends only. So far, three albums and one single have been released this way: GabMix 2000, GabMix 2001, GabMix 2003, and the single "Funky".

Conscious that the name "GabMix" didn't look very professional, Gabriel chose to henceforth call himself Windpearl. The first album distributed under that name, "Echoes of Nothingness", was first made available to friends and family only to then be released on Soundcloud.

The next two albums have been released to the public through various platforms on the web. The first one, "I love you a bit…", was produced in France and released in 2007, whereas the second one, "Mother Earth", was created in Asia (China and Thailand) and released in late 2008.

Windpearl moved back to France in 2012 together with his spouse. He has released an EP with a few more tracks since, but hasn't yet been able to fill a full album. His most recent EP can be found on various music streaming platforms.


artist: woodrowgerber
description: indie/electronic pop fusion - for daydreams, nights out, and everything in-between
homepage: woodrowgerber
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/woodrowgerber.jpg
bio:
Los Angeles producer, composer, performing artist Chad Gerber was given the nick-name Woodrowgerber early in his career while on a tour in the US. Due to his "big straight teeth that almost look wooden" (according to his bandmates at the time). With major label releases as singer, songwriter, and guitarist under Chad Gerber, Woodrowgerber was a perfect fit for his underground electronic alter ego.

With several hits topping the underground electronic and indie charts (Lost Girls, Gun Slinger, On The Moon, Hong Kong Heist), tours throughout the US and Europe, the Vans Warped Tour, and working with some of the biggest artists in the world (Aloe Blacc, Alok, Cheatcodes, Malifoo, Kris Kross Amsterdam, Damon Sharpe, Catdealers, Will Grands, etc), Chad Gerber has managed to balance his creative diversity and underground success in the music industry, without compromising his artistic vision.


artist: XXX Car Ride
description: smash and grab industrial rock
homepage: xxx_car_ride
state: MI
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/xxx_car_ride.jpg
bio:
It won't take long for listeners of XXX Car Ride's studio album to know how hard and uniquely London Rozen works! This reckless rockstar has devoted his life to creating a glorious variety pack of Industrial Rock, all for your enjoyment. So put down those antidepressants and forget the bull that MTV is feeding you because its time to enjoy this Industrial adrenaline rush.

London Rozen (Artist, producer, Songwriter, Programmer) formed the Detroit based band in 2007 after his separation as guitarist/ songwriter of his previous nationally toured act.

Word spread quickly and London found himself overwhelmed with requests to be seen live. Presently the band and alike fans eagerly await the release of XXX Car Ride's Full Length Album, which is set for 2010.


artist: Ya Elah
description: women's vocal music based in the Jewish tradition
homepage: ya_elah
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/yahelah5.jpg
bio:
Ya Elah is a group born out of a longing to illuminate the beauty, mystery and power of the world's many Spiritual Paths. Our music combines the sacred texts and liturgies of many traditions to reveal the deep knowing of our hearts, that all life is one. We send these songs out as prayers on the breath of our hearts. May they help to bring healing and a sense of wonder at the ways we have named and connected to the Divine.

Ya Elah's Vocalists are: Marsha Attie, Cyrise Beatty, Stephanie Bernstein, Alisa Fineman, Nina Perlman, Melita Siberstein and artistic director Bon Singer.

Gari Hegedus ('ud, percussion)

Gari Hegedus is regarded as an exceptionally accomplished string player. His talent is expressed on the violin, viola, 'ud, sarod, saz, setar, tar, sarangi, and a range of other stringed instruments, including the bowed tambur and mandecello. Gary's musical endeavors began with the study of early European, Celtic, and Breton music. This was the start of a fruitful journey, which led him to intense study and performance of Turkish classical and Mevlevi ceremonial music. He is a core member of the acclaimed group Stellamara, contributing much to its rich and varied sounds.

In addition to his instrumental proficiency, he is perhaps most recognized for his remarkable compositional skills and his signature, deeply soulful style and beautifully rich improvisations.

Shira Kammen (vielle, harp, violin d'amore)

Shira Kammen received her degree in music from UC Berkeley and studied vielle with Margaret Tindemans. A member for many years of Ensemble Alcatraz, Project Ars Nova, and Medieval Strings, she has also worked with Sequentia, Hesperion XX, the Boston Camerata, and the King's Noyse. She is also the founder of ClassV Music, an ensemble dedicated to performance on river rafting trips. She has performed and taught in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Israel, Morocco, and Japan, and on the Colorado and Rogue rivers. She had been featured on numerous early music and folk music recordings.

Shira happily collaborated with vocalist John Fleagle for fifteen years, and now performs with several new groups: a medieval ensemble, Fortune's Wheel; a new music group, Ephemeros; an eclectic ethnic band, Panacea; and Trouz Bras, a band devoted to the dance music of Celtic Brittany.

Tim Rayborn (percussion, psaltery, sehtar, santur)

Though raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Tim Rayborn lived for nearly seven years in England, where he completed a Ph.D. on the early crusades at the University of Leeds, and worked in the field of early music. He founded and directed Ensemble Florata, whose recordings for London-based ASV/Gaudeamus received international critical acclaim. In addition, he worked with the noted British medieval ensemble Tintagel, and performed with them on BBC broadcasts, Belgian live radio, and in Majorca, as well as their tour of the Pacific Northwest in the U.S.

Tim has toured the UK and continental Europe extensively, and worked with traditional musicians in Marrakech and Istanbul, as well as being invited to collaborate with Persian classical musicians in Iran. He plays more than 30 musical instruments. He has recently completed two new solo CDs.

Dylan Eliyahu Sills ( flutes)

Eliyahu Sills studied jazz performance on the upright bass at the New School ofJazz in NYC in the early 1990's, performing as sideman as well as a band leader in renowned jazz clubs such as The Village Gate and Small's. After leaving New York he fell in love with the flute, and choose to teach himself to play the ancient instrument in order to apply his theories of music education on himself. Eliyahu soon fell under the spell of sufi music of Turkey and the reed flute of the middle east, the Nay, as well as the bamboo flute of India, the Bansuri. He began to study and perform on these instruments under the guidance of the masters Omar Faruk Tekbilek and Steve Gorn, and is now a dedicated student of the world renowned master of Bansuri, G.S. Sachdev (www.bansuri.net/gssachdev). Eliyahu currently performs middle eastern music on the Nay with Za'atar (Zaatar.web.com), African folk music on the upright and electric bass with thePalm Wine Boys (www.palmwineboys.com), Indian Ragas on the Bansuri in a duo with Jason Ranjit Parmar, with the woman's vocal group Ya Elah (www.YaElah.com) on upright bass, silver flute, nay, and bansuri. He also freelances as leader and sideman in various projects. He has recently recorded "Breath" a CD of meditative flute music.


artist: Yongen
description: transnational dream pop luxury
homepage: yongen
city: London
country: England
bandphoto: /artists/img/yongen.jpg
bio:
Yongen is Chieko and Toshio Kamei, a songwriting and production team formed in the Far East, and based in the London's East End. Together, they make a uniquely sophisticated dream pop with a big, but intensely graceful sound.

In his native Japan, Toshio Kamei is known as a composer who wrote numerous best selling songs (including two chart toppers) for various artists. Starting his career in music as a violinist, he has worked extensively as a vocalist, composer, guitarist, and violinist. His first solo album was Body which was released from Sony Japan, and he followed this up with a release as part of the group known as Cancamay.

Chieko started her working life in the world of film and has produced numerous documentaries and dramas, as a screenplay for a drama series based on the life of a legendary Japanese violinist. Her works have collected prizes in Japan, such as with the Galaxy award, ACC award and Dentsu award.

Floating World was the first self-produced Yongen album which was released from their own label, Igi, in the UK. Their second album, Moonrise was initially a Japanese release, with the "Sunflower" track featured in the Shiseido Ville Franche TV campaign. In 2002, they produced the debut album Relationship for Taro, which was released from Polystar Japan in 2003.

The band's name comes from the Japenese word for the fourth string, which is the warmest, strongest string on a violin. Chieko and Toshio chose the name when they realized one day how each of their lives had been shaped the violin and those who play it.


artist: Yumi Kurosawa
description: melodic and mixed world tunes on Japanese Koto
homepage: yumi_kurosawa
state: NY
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/yumi_kurosawa.jpg
bio:
Yumi Kurosawa was born and raised in Japan and began to study Koto when she was three. She received first prize at the National Competition for students in 1989 and 1992, and a scholarship from The Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan in 1998. Yumi played in the Prague Cello Ensemble Concert at Suntory Hall, Tokyo in 1996 and the NHK Broadcast TV program, Genjimonogatari-WAKANA, in 2000.

As well as extensive performance in Japan, in 2002 she moved to New York, where she held her concert at Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie and continued to play in Japan as well where she premiered Koto Concerto Genji (composed by Daron Hagen) as a soloist, as well as with the Orchestra of the Swan in UK in 2011. Yumi has played this piece several times, collaborating with many genres of artists at the Apollo sound stage, Joe's pub, Highline ballroom, and as a member of the Bella Gaia ensemble.

Her first original CD, Beginning of a Journey, featuring her own compositions, was released in 2009. She also studied computer music at the computer music lab when she was attending Keio University, creating songs with computer sound as well. She has received great concert reviews several times in the New York Times, The Washington Post as well as many others.


artist: Zaranka
description: Elating and inspirational soundscapes for daydreaming
homepage: zaranka
city: Saint Petersburg
country: Russia
bandphoto: /artists/img/zaranka.jpg
bio:
Zaranka is Maksim Ivanets, who was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, during the Perestroika. He started making electronic music when he was 17. However, his musical interests were much more varied than that, ranging from Britpop to Ambient, from Medieval lute music and Liquid Funk to Trip-hop, Blues, Russian Orthodox spiritual music, and more. In 2012 Maksim started the Eispollaetidespota project together with a friend. In 2013, their first and only self-titled album was released via the independent Russian label USC Unlimited.

In 2020, Maksim started his personal musical project called Zaranka. This word stands for a very special musical vision and creative labor. In this project, Maksim creates soundscapes that are woven around the themes of human emotion, spirit, nature and technology, and that are intended to make people introspect things and daydream. It's an attempt to find harmony inside oneself and reconcile with the world. The melodies help achieve this through their meditative vibe. Imagine sitting in quiet contemplation in a small house, by the hearth. You feel cozy and comfortable. Outside, there's open, unexplored wilderness. These simple landscapes of the far North can only be understood if you watch them intently and with an open heart. Words are redundant, they conceal the deeper meaning of the music.

In his other life, Maksim lives in Saint Petersburg, constructs bridges and is busy bringing up three wonderful children.


artist: Zeph Allen
description: Harmonious thoughtful songs traverse popular forms
homepage: zeph_allen
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/zeph_allen.jpg
bio:
When Zeph Allen picked up a guitar in his early teens he had no idea that music would hold him in thrall with such vague but definite power. The floating dream of being a musician and of speaking to people through song swam dreamily at the top of his conscious; an ever present unrealized ideal through his late teen and early twenties. The promise of songwriting always a couple of steps away, the focus to finish musical projects never quite found. The years passed; odd jobs, wandering, travel.

Around 2005 Zeph found himself in the mountains of Floyd, Virginia having moved from his sunny, fun-filled but artistically uninspiring hometown of Key West, FL. He started a band with his cousin and a friend. They called themselves Carbon Culture. They cut a disc and a year later broke up, reformed, and added another cousin and renamed themselves Alliens. Alliens toured a few years around the region and then they too cut a disc. But times with the band were good and bad, hot and cold. The members clashed artistically and a few years in, the songwriting ground to a halt....

In the quiet days in between gigging and working construction, a grouping of songs began to take shape. They didn't follow the protocol of a single genre but nonetheless they demanded to be written and recorded. These songs are what make up Zeph's debut album Define Believe. The influences to this album range from all across the spectrum stylistically while remaining within the accepted norms of popular music. Underneath the familiar musical forms is a deeper influence. The whispering voice of a theme arisen in retrospect: A world gone mad.

Now in the Bay Area of California, Zeph is writing constantly. He puzzles over the words of communication. His fragmented process steadily evolving into one of musical prosperity and production. Many songs lie in wait, some of them already written. Others exist in the ether, waiting to be plucked and placed like the magnetic words in refrigerator poems or caught in the spider's web of a struggling thoughtful mind.


artist: Zephyrus
description: Early Music vocal ensemble
homepage: zephyrus
state: VA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/zephyrus.jpg
bio:
The music of Renaissance Europe comes to life in the voices of Zephyrus, the early music ensemble based in Charlottesville. Known throughout the region for its innovative programming and professional caliber, Zephyrus offers several major performances each year and appears locally in churches and at the University of Virginia.

Since its founding in 1991 by director Paul Walker, Zephyrus has devoted itself to bringing the treasures of of Medieval, Renaissance, and early Baroque music to a wider audience. The ensemble's repertoire spans six centuries, from the polyphonic chants of Notre Dame Cathedral to the sacred motets of Tudor England, the madrigals of Renaissance Italy, and the masterworks of the early Baroque. The eighteen-member core group regularly divides into double chorus, quintets, and other smaller ensembles, offering a range of musical textures at every concert. Zephyrus strives for historical accuracy in performance and has enlisted the efforts of early music instrumentalists. The group has collaborated with Baroque flutist Robert Turner of Charlottesville, Medieval fiddle player Nancy Bren Nuzzo of Buffalo, NY, and theorist Scott Horton of Baltimore.

In the fall of 1997 Zephyrus presented a concert of the "Coronation Music of James II and Queen Mary of England" with anthems for voices and strings by Henry Purcell and John Blow. And in the spring of 1998 Zephyrus presented a pair of concerts titled "The Dawning of Sacred Music in Germany - Exalted Music for Voices and Brass" with sackbuts and cornetti at the Duke University Chapel in Durham, NC and at St. Paul's Memorial Church in Charlottesville. Other notable concerts have included the Taverner "Missa Gloria Tibi Trinitas," presented both in Charlottesville and at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C., the Victoria Requiem and Schuetz Musikalishes Exequien, and the first American performance of the Christmas Oratorio "In Nativitatem Domini Canticum" by Marc-Antoine Charpentier.

Also in the fall of 1997, Zephyrus released its first compact disc, Nativity, a collection of Renaissance motets for Christmas, recorded in the wonderful acoustical ambience of Holy Comforter Catholic Church in Charlottesville on the first weekend of May that year. The CD was produced by Sally Sanford, noted singer-scholar of early music, whom Dr. Walker has engaged to coach the group on several occasions in the past few years and with whom many of the members study voice on a regular basis.

As part of its educational mission, Zephyrus has presented lecture-recitals at area schools, including Piedmont Virginia Community College, the Tandem School, and Hereford College at the University of Virginia.

Zephyrus is led by Dr. Paul Walker, a musician and scholar who has led early music ensembles for the last sixteen years. Dr. Walker holds a Ph.D. in musicology from SUNY Buffalo and a Master's degree in organ performance from the University of Kansas. He has taught at Yale and the University of Chicago, and he now serves as director of the University of Virginia Collegium Musicum, and is on the music faculty of the University of Virginia.

The singers of Zephyrus come from a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds, but share a love of chamber singing and a commitment to excellence in performance. Operated solely by its members, Zephyrus relies on tax-deductible contributions from area patrons to assist with its expenses.


artist: Zero Slum
description: Guitar amps in warehouse raves
homepage: zero_slum
city: London
country: England
bandphoto: /artists/img/zero_slum.jpg
bio:
Zero Slum is an instrumentalist and electronic musician born in Bulgaria, currently based in London. Having grown up as a grunge kid playing guitar in bands, his trajectory of music tastes lead him to explore and appreciate electronic music during the recent years.

His album Rewind is a result of years of experimentation with various tools and styles and his relentless - and at times, plain stubborn - ambition to combine his many influences into a single body of work.


artist: Zhaba
description: psychedelic power meets hypnotic Bulgarian rhythms
homepage: zhaba
state: CA
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/zhaba.jpg
bio:
Zhaba is one musical vision of percussionist Jhos Singer (formerly Jhos Ceapach Choinn). A fascination and love of both Balkan folk music led Singer to Bulgaria in 1991 to experience it first hand. Astonishingly, the music he heard in villages and hamlets in Bulgaria invoked for him an acoustic version of the psychedelic rock he had heard at love-ins and block parties as a child in Southern California.

Upon returning to the states, Singer got serious about creating the unlikely pairing of traditional Balkan folk melodies and modes with 60's psychedelic rock styling. Zhaba is the end result. The band lays down hypnotic Bulgarian and Greek rhythms, adds Balkan style vocals in languages both real and imagined, then turns the psychedelic power up to eleven.


artist: Zilla
description: live, improvised electronica
homepage: zilla
state: CO
country: USA
bandphoto: /artists/img/zilla1.jpg
bio:
Zilla is a Colorado based trio of musicians with the live musical experience in mind. A 100 percent improvised creation, each Zilla concert proves to be a completely unique occurrence, with even the band members having no idea where the music will take them on any given night. Relying on their ability to listen to one another to create a hyper-focused form of live electronic dance music, Zilla is dedicated to spreading their rare breed of beats, bass, and "uncontrollable musical fury," and keeps up an incredibly active live performance schedule. Their goal is that each performance reflect what live music should be all about: spontaneity, flow, groove, and a damn good dance party.

Zilla is comprised of three seasoned musicians: Michael Travis, Jamie Janover and Aaron Holstein.

Zilla's constant focus is to create a whole, complete sound devoid of fragmentation, tangential wandering solos, and other characteristics that plaque improvisational music today. The music strives to serve all those participating, including the audience. No one in the band has any idea what is going to happen a nanosecond ahead of time; they rely on their instincts and musical history together to create a sound that rarely strays from its intended direction. The collective whole is truly the dominant force in this band.

The music itself is a plethora of grooves, beats and highly percussive breaks, which cause the listener to become engulfed within the sonic vortex of sounds encompassing them. From down-tempo to jungle, from trip-hop to break-beat and trance the band plays on pure emotion, so each night is different and varied, and no song is ever the same.

Zilla is about being as aware as humanly possible in the moment. The band plays, the crowd reacts, the band reacts and so on and so on. A cyclical paradigm is created in which everyone plays a part. A whole new form of tension-release music has been created in which the music never has to resolve itself in order to sustain the mood. It merely adapts, evolves.

It's been said that Zilla is the ultimate live experience - future music. The music plays the band, and not the other way around. Zilla is currently touring in support of their latest CD release, Egg. Their infectious energy has crowds from North America to Japan dancing up a storm to a completely new brand of live musical experience.

Musician Bios

Michael Travis (drums, percussion, keyboards, sampler, mallet Kat) has spent over a decade as the driving percussive force in the nationally popular band, The String Cheese Incident. Travis continues to be an innovator of improvisational drumming, managing to play hand percussion and melodies while simultaneously keeping incredible time with the kit.

Aaron Holstein (bass, keyboards, sampler, vocals/vocoder/beatbox) has had a long and lush musical history, playing guitar with bands such as Boogie Shoes and VibeSquad. Holstein's progression has transformed him from the notion of a typical guitar/bass player, to an applauded adapter leaving behind the traditional notions of what it is to "jam" with a guitar or bass. In the process, he has focused on bass and keyboards and has decided to leave the guitar at home in order to more fully serve the Zilla concept/sound.

Jamie Janover (hammered dulcimer, Mini-kit, electric kalimba, mini-sitar, sampler, percussion, tamboura, tongue drum, water) is a world-renowned hammered dulcimer innovator whose long list of band credits is more than impressive. Winner of the 2002 national hammered dulcimer championships, Janover continues to expand the limits of all his instruments by creating a fusion between their timeless sounds and the pertinent call of today's modern dance scene.


