Instrumental New Age Review: Marika Takeuchi-Rain Stories

Release Date: November 11, 2014

Label: Indie

Website

iTunesLink

A little over a year ago Marika Takeuchi released an impressive album titled Impressions. Now she has returned stronger than ever with Rain Stories.

Her piano playing is outstanding. On the opening track “Rain In The Park,” her music is built around one simple theme (which carries through the recording) and it is mesmerizing. The track brings forth, excuse the expression, a flood of emotions. Its beauty is so overwhelming it nearly brought me to tears. It is filled with a bittersweet sadness however I was really awestruck with the emotion it hit me with. The entire album is pure magic.

Marika’s music is influenced by classical compositions and as recognizable as that is, it still comes out sounding like a gorgeous new age instrumental. Every track one after the other produces different feelings and moods of what rain can bring. It is all transmitted through the talented fingers of this young artisan. I think what she has to offer is a gift from heaven and we are the fortunate recipients to have the opportunity to hear all of these healing sounds.

“Raindrops” actually sounds like rain with the way Marika lets her fingers dance along the ivory keys. Rain can fall hard or slow down to a drizzle and I think she really captures the delicacy and flow of Mother Nature so beautifully within the song. As they saying goes…a little rain can fall in everyone’s life but once the storm clears there are the warm rays of the sun and blue skies waiting to reappear. The entire piece, while audibly pleasing, is and can be very symbolic in anyone’s life.

“Koyo” or colorful leaves are to the Japanese autumn what cherry blossoms are to spring. Marika brings the beauty of Japan right to you with this song. With rain and dropping temperatures we get the foliage that the fall brings. I enjoy it every year and it looks as though God takes a huge paint brush in the sky and paints the landscape. It’s a wonderful thing to experience the changing seasons and even more captivating when envisioned through music.

Marika’s music is tremendously picturesque and moving. As I listen to this type of music more often I realize that it offers so much for each and every listener. It can serve as a time for relaxation, meditation, or used as soundtrack music for films or plays. It has a multitude of gifts to offer and the only requirement is to hit the play button, sit back and absorb all the color, textures and sounds.

Rain Stories tell many tales built upon one simple foundation, what comes out the other side are many musical delights. The seed planted is about what the elements can bring and once that germinates there is so much more to take in and realize inside this beautifully performed music. 

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Rain In The Park, Raindrops, Koyo

Tracks:
01.Rain In The Park
02.Misty Night
03.Tears
04.Lost In Darkness
05.Alone In Dreams
06.Raindrops
07.Koyo
08.Memories
09.Snowflake
10.After The Rain
11.Into The Sky

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder

November 11, 2014

Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

New Age Progressive Review-2002-Trail of Dreams

Release Date: October 7, 2014

Label: Galactic Playground Music

Website

2002 continues down the path of progressive new age music with their latest offering Trail of Dreams. This amazing family group is comprised of Randy Copus (guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion, vocals), Pamela Copus (flutes, harp, keyboards, vocals) and their remarkable 10 year old daughter Sarah (harp, vocals). Suffice it to say, this is a multifaceted family.

Trail of Dreams entails some story telling. So not only does this recording provide a journey for the mind, body and soul, there are characters in the stories that go on their journeys as well. The music accompanies these explorers. Yogananda travels far away to America to deliver the spirituality of India. Then the character Honera O’ Flynn is kidnapped from her homeland of Ireland and brought to America. She eventually finds her destiny and that misfortune shapes her future in a positive fashion. I find this all very interesting as I usually listen to primarily instrumental new age music. This is where the progressive nature of the music takes hold and settles in to build a foundation for each storyline.

The music is a lush landscape where every word just floats along like a fluffy white cloud. Sarah sounds light years ahead of her age for vocal maturity and talent. I can only imagine how far she is going to go as time passes. The opener is a gorgeous track that literally brings you “Into The Light.” It is a showcase for all their talents to shine as a functioning musical unit, together as one.

On the title track “Trail of Dreams” Randy reminded me fondly of Jon Anderson (Yes, Solo). “Far From Home” is an instrumental treasure painting the picture of a person’s sadness and the place of their birth. If you have a place that you call home, there are many emotional attachments and then if it all disappears it can be a traumatic experience. All of this comes through crystal clear through atmospheres created in the music.

This band knows how to utilize all their talent in an exceptional manner. Throughout the course of Trail of Dreams you feel elation, peacefulness and an overall spirituality that the music delivers. It is a wonderful thing and I have not heard an album by this talented family that I have not appreciated and fully enjoyed. There were times I was overwhelmed with joy and blissfulness then also a sadness that made me reflect on family members that have passed through the years. Music, good music, has a way of bringing on the entire range of emotions and that is why it can heal your soul. Another job well done by 2002.

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Into The Light, Trail of Dreams, Far From Home

Tracks:
01. Into The Light
02. Sky
03. Wait For Me
04. Trail of Dreams
05. Tá mé 'mo shuí
06. Navigatio
07. Follow Your Star
08. Far From Home
09. Deep Horizon
10. Ever Onward

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder

September 20, 2014

Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

New Age Instrumental Review: The Gathering II-Various Artists

Release Date: August 2014

Label: Imaginary Road Studios

Website

Will Ackerman has made his mark in music several times over and he continues to do so with his Imaginary Road Studios in Windham County, Vermont. The Gathering, released in 2012, received a lot of praise and won the Zone Music Reporter album of the year with the highest rating in their charts history.

The Gathering II is a similar collection of tracks featuring artists that recorded albums at Ackerman’s studios. I am proud to say that our affiliation is strong with most of these artists having covered their albums in reviews from last year to date. Also our affiliation with ZMR is a joy to have and a privilege to help promote these fantastic artists.

This collection of 21 select tracks sheds the light and illumination on each and every artist beautifully. Without a word the music delivers a sense of warmth and spirituality that every sentient being desires. A break from everyday pressures and stress may be the just the tonic your soul desires. The Gathering II is the right prescription. The instrumentals are led by the piano in many instances however many other instruments become factors as well and create the same pleasant desired effects. 

Lawrence Blatt’s “Where The Pines Once Stood” and Matteo Palmer’s “Ex Nihilo” are fine examples of where the compilation steps away from the ivory keys and lets the six-string do all the talking. Blatt’s guitar whispers sweet nothings in your ear from where the strong and tall trees once stood and Palmer’s sweet and graceful picking showcase the sheer beauty one guitar can make if played properly. Those are but two examples of the transitions all of this music can offer within one singular track. 

These tracks are artists taking a once empty canvas and painting their broad musical strokes to create their own individual masterpieces into one collective of amazing new age instrumentals. As one entity they are representative of the genre and serve as an introduction to not only their world but to the Imaginary Road Studios where it all begins. The recording process is impeccable and the studio resonates with the full bodied sound provided by each individual artist. It all seamlessly falls into sync with the awesome surroundings of rolling hills, majestic green mountains and fresh air. 

I would not be surprised to see this second edition of The Gathering to make its mark once again on an audience eager to absorb and fully enjoy each track. This is a taste of heaven my music loving friends and it comes highly recommended from this listener. 

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: ALL

Tracks:
01.Afterglow-Ann Sweeten
02.Joy Comes Again-David Kydd
03.Starlight Melody-Denise Young
04.Early Falls The Christmas Snow-Dominic Silla
05.Naked Love-Fiona Joy
06.All Souls Lullaby-Heidi Bryer
07.Uncertainty-Isadar
08.Sojourn-Jim Gabriel
09.Midwinter Lullaby-Katherine Kay
10.Calligraphy-Lauren Sullivan
11.Where The Pines Once Stood-Lawrence Blatt
12.Sailing-Louis Colaiannia
13.Yew and I-Lynn Yew Evers
14.Lullaby For The Hills-Masako
15.Ex Nihilo-Matteo Palmer
16.Photograph-Rebecca Arnold
17.Pathway To Love-Ryan Michael Richards
18.Devodance-Shambu
19.Open Spaces-Stanton Lanier
20.All The Days of My Life-Vincent Avella
21.Dark Blue Wind-Vin Downes

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder

August 13, 2014

Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

New Age Instrumental Review: Steven Vitali-Language of the Soul

Release Date: June 10, 2013

Label: Vitali Music Entertainment Corporation / Dream Music Publishing

Website

Steven Vitali began his musical journey with an upright piano and a dream. Thirty five years later he is still making music and sharing his gift of emotionally intuitive soundscapes. In his album Language of the Soul, Vitali has seventeen original instrumental pieces he composed, arranged and produced himself. Each one holds a resonance of time, space and memories reaching out to the listener, providing a tranquil moment in a hectic world.

“Everything Happens for a Reason” was a piece inspired by Vitali’s friend Larry Dunn. Elegant keyboard fans out and encapsulates the musical landscape. Electronic elements span out across the background, bleeding into the picture like a watercolor stretching across a paper canvas. Rife with color and texture, this piece is joyful and spontaneous. Vocals pop in at the last segment of the song, highlighted with glittering percussion. The composition and arrangement of this piece is very well done and it captured my attention immediately. 

“A Sign of the Dragon” begins with a foreboding Asian flare. Like the soundtrack for a beautifully costumed drama set in the Far East in the time of ninjas and warring dynasties, this piece holds wisps of the past. Electronic keyboard components pop and bring the track back to modern times. Chanting and a spiraling percussive element add layers and complexity to the song. Sounds of wind, water and elemental magic stir the imagination as the listener bear witness to the mystery and majesty of a being lost in the mists of time. If you listen closely, you can hear the brush of the dragon’s wings.

“Hope’s Theme” was written in memory of Vitali’s dog, Hope. Keyboards send the song whirling to life with a light romping arrangement. A dog lover myself, I can see the feeling he had for his furry child in every note. From the ethereal twinkle of the bells, to the voices calling out love and greetings from behind the veil, the piece also calls back the times of playful wandering. The simple things are the ones we miss when they’re gone. The velvet touches of a dog’s face as she lays her cheek against yours at night. The soulful eyes that see into your soul and love you even on your worst day. Those are the moments frozen in time…in memories. This song brings back Hope and I can see her bounding along having a carefree moment in the company of her master. Those are the times that make life worth living.

Steven Vitali has a way of grasping the emotional energy of a memory or situation and giving it life within a few notes of well-orchestrated music. Language of the Soul is exactly what the title claims it to be. This album is a window to the inner life of an artist. Instruments include keyboards, piano, guitar, drums and percussion.  From a song for a friend to memories of his mother and canine companion, this album is a relaxing soundscape of eloquently put together electronic sound and classical improvisation. I enjoyed it immensely and it is a perfect way to end a very busy day.

4/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Everything Happens for a Reason, A Sign of the Dragon, Hope’s Theme

Tracks:
01.Everything Happens for a Reason
02.Guitar of Soul
03.Stephanie
04.Be the Miracle
05.Creative Soul
06.Human Race Humanity a Runner in Motion
07.A Sign of the Dragon
08.Forever Germaine
09.Soul and the Senses
10.Maritime Shores
11.Red Piano
12.Believe
13.Soul Healing
14.Tomorrow Starts Here
15.My Father My Prayer
16.Hope's Theme
17.Piano in Paris

Dana Wright, Sr. Staff Writer

July 18, 2014

Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

Get Your Song Ideas from Symphonic and Heavy Metal Music

Russ Suereth

Last week we discussed getting music ideas from new age and ambient music. This week we’ll discuss getting ideas from symphonic music and heavy metal.

It’s hard to find two types of music that are more different from each other than heavy metal and symphonic music. But they are also similar, because both can excel at musical passages that are simple and hard to get out of your head.

Case in point is Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor. Written around 1805, this composition starts with the famous ta-ta-ta-daa, ta-ta-ta-daa. These eight notes are part of our ordinary music knowledge, and have been used by modern groups such as the Electric Light Orchestra.

The point here is that these eight simple notes can be used as a basis for your eight-note or ten-note hook. Sometimes it’s the simple things that are memorable and that catch a person’s ear.

The same goes for heavy metal music. There have been a lot of great hooks in heavy metal for years. Black Sabbath’s Paranoid album is full of powerful hooks. For instance, the beginning of the song “Ironman” has a great guitar hook that feels like a giant metallic beast stomping across the countryside. That piece still makes me smile today.

Other heavy metal examples, of course, can be found in Led Zeppelin tunes. The song “Good Times Bad Times” starts off with a great riff from Jimmy Page that is simple and memorable.

Just because Beethoven and Page were, and are, great artists does not mean you should be intimidated. Just focus on the notes, and forget the rest of the song, and everything else. Start playing some notes on the keyboard or the guitar, and find something you like and that sounds catchy. Keep it simple. And then embellish it a little with your style and tone. Or embellish it a lot. It’s your riff!

New Age Instrumental Review: Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman-Winds of Samsara

Release Date: July 2014

Label: Listen 2 Africa

Website

If you are looking for an album of peace and positivity, look no further than Winds of Samsara. Over one hundred and twenty stellar musicians went into the making of this epic album of love and light. Featuring tracks highlighting the lives of Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi amongst others, Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman have created a pattern of starry skies and moonlit wonders as vast as the heavens. 

Some of the contributing artists are: Wouter Kellerman (flute, fife), Ricky Kej (bass, keyboard), Ciro Hurtado (guitar), Prakash Sontakke (vocals, Hawaiian guitar), Vanil Veigas (keyboard, Santoor), Keerthy Narayan (keyboard, orchestral arrangements, synth), Cochin Chamber (string section), Manoj George (choral arrangements), Bangalore Women’s Choir (choir), Varsha Gowda (percussion), Lamine Sonko (vocals), Janine Maunder (vocals), Angela Librandi (vocals), Joe Creighton (vocals), Tholsi Pillay (keyboard), Gopi (Indian vocals), Mauritz Lotz (guitar, programming), Vinnie Henrico (drums), Veena Biju, Chaithra HG (vocals), Gayathri Suresh (vocals), Denny Lalouette (bass) and many others. This album is chock full of amazing performers who light up the album with their talents. If I could give a higher score than 5/5 I would in a heartbeat. 

“Heaven is Here” begins with eloquent meditative flute sounds paired with atmospheric spaces and chanting. The keyboards bring balance, as do the Santoor, bass flute, Sitar and percussive elements. The highlights for me were the soothing feminine vocals from Alexis D’Souza and scat vocals from Jyoti Venkatraman. Kej and Kellerman are simply rapturous in this piece. Heaven could not sound any more soothing or in tune. The textures layer and weave in amongst themselves to band into a cohesive sound fit for the ears of the angels themselves.

“Remembrance” also named “Greensleeves” is a classic we have heard many times before. Just not quite like this. Edgy flute blended with hollow sounds and ethereal landscapes brings this piece to life. Synth, guitar, bass, piano, cello, the magical Sitar, drums and soothing vocals twist and wind around you like a vine from a village hidden in time. This piece brings to mind the elegant ladies of medieval days and Renaissance fairs. 

“Nocturne” is the final track on the album and features classical pianist Michael Lewin. Kej, Kellerman and Lewin have quite the reenactment of Chopin’s composition. There is a fusion here of flute and piano with vocals drifting in and out like cloud formations. Emotionally infused, this piece will take you back in time to memories of things loved and lost and found again. It is simply breathtaking.

Winds of Samsara is a breathtaking effort by hundreds of artists and it stands out in a crowd. In many New Age albums, one track leads into another without much to distinguish between the pieces. This is not the case here. Each composition stands for something and is audibly different. From a tribute to Nelson Mandela to a resurgence of Chopin’s magnificence, this album captures classic sound and infuses it with Indian influences; World Music, unique instruments and vocals that will make your heart sing or weep as the emotion takes you. I have listened to it for over a week and have not gotten tired of it once. Let this album wake you up in the morning and tuck you in at night. It is a soothing cup of tea for the soul and I highly recommend it.

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Heaven is Here, Remembrance, Nocturne

Tracks:
 01. Mahatma (Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman)
02. New Earth Calling (Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman)
03. Crystal Moon (Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman)
04. Madiba (Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman)
05. Longing (Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman)
06. Heaven Is Here (Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman)
07. River of Time (Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman)
08. Eyes of Wonder (Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman)
09. Remembrance (Greensleeves) (Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman)
10. Journey to Higher Grounds (Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman)
11. Mountain Solitude (Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman)
12. Desert Wind (Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman)
13. Grace (Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman featuring Fiona Joy)
14. Nocturne (Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman featuring Michael Lewin)
 

Dana Wright, Sr. Staff Writer

July 10, 2014

Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

Get Your Song Ideas from New Age and Ambient Music

Russ Suereth

I like to listen to different types of music. They provide me with different perspectives, and they fit the different moods that I have. But I also like different music because it gives me different ideas for creating new music.  That’s the topic of this article, borrowing aspects of different music to incorporate into your own music.

When you think about creating a song there are two main areas you can consider.

     
1. The song’s foundation or chord structure

2. The melody

I’ve always felt that a great source of ideas for a song foundation can be found in new age and ambient music. Those styles often focus on the atmosphere of the song. Lush pads and eerie landscapes can last for several minutes. During that time, an occasional string pluck or keyboard tingle helps provide focus.

Of course, you just can’t steal someone’s work. But you can take chord progression ideas and modify them to suit your style and taste.

When I’m listening to new age and ambient music, my mind usually embellishes the sound. It inserts a few notes here and there to fill in where it thinks something is missing. After a while into the song, I’ve created a basic melody. The song provided the foundation and I’ve added a little melody, sometimes without even noticing.

It’s the same with the rhythm. The song may have a distant repeating bell in the background, or a pulsing drone. Many times my mind will add a low bass drum to emphasize a rhythm.  Maybe even add some toms to fill in a transition.

You could even record all of this on your cell phone so you can retain it. Without even realizing it, you can have the start of a new song.

From Where The Artist Sits: Creating A Music Video

Russ Suereth

There are a lot of processes and a lot of steps to creating a video. 

I just finished a new music video for my song, Portraits from Living. This week’s article is about the process I went through to create that video, how I did it, and why I did it that way. So let’s start.

First, I determined what type of music video I wanted to create. There are all types of music videos out there today. My budget is on the low side. Accordingly I decided to do something minimal like the recent videos from a variety of remix channels. A great example is the Majestic Casual channel on YouTube. These videos simply have a still photograph, the words “Majestic Casual,” and their logo.

I’ve have liked that minimal style lately because those single images are usually better than the moving images I see in music videos. I also think that the minimal style helps me pay attention to the music.

So I took that idea and embellished it. I got a single image and added some minor movement effects to it. Then I added my name, the title, and my logo over the top.

What did I use to make this music video? Here’s a list of the hardware and software I used.

·         Computer:  iMac i5

·         Video Software: Final Cut Pro X

·         Video Software Plugin: PRO16MM from Pixel Film Studios

·         Graphic Software: Adobe Illustrator

And that’s it.

I use Illustrator for the title, my name, and my logo on the video, but you can use the text capabilities within Final Cut Pro to do that instead. Also you can use the effects that come with Final Cut Pro instead of the plugin. Or you could use any tool like iMovie or Adobe After Effects instead of Final Cut Pro.

Here are all the steps I took to complete my video project:

Step 1. Find a photograph, painting, or graphic design that you like. Try to find an image that can somehow connect to the music. Take a picture of a river, or a friend. Or pick something from the many stock photo sites on the internet. Make sure that you have the proper copyright capabilities with any photo you purchase. Just because you purchase an image doesn’t mean you can use that image for your video. Check the small print available on the stock photo web site.

Step 2.  Find a font to use for your name and the title.  The software you use will have many fonts to choose from.  Or you can buy a font that may be a little more unique to your video.

Step 3.  Add some effects to your image. Video software usually comes with a library of effects to enhance the colors and the image. You can go from subtle to aggressive on the effects. Regardless of your choice, I really think you should add some degree of effects to give the video your own personal touch.

Step 4.  Add your name and title to the effected image.  I like adding the text on top of the image and effects, so that the text stands out.

Step 6.  Whether you have a complete movie, a single-image that moves, or a still photo you’ll need to save that in a format that YouTube can handle.  This YouTube link discusses the proper formats and how different formats can be converted.

https://support.google.com/youtube/troubleshooter/2888402?hl=en

Step 7.  Upload the video to YouTube.  I normally use Final Cut Pro X to do many of the steps listed above.  Final Cut Pro, as well as other video software programs, enables you to share your video to YouTube by making a few clicks.  Alternatively here’s another link from YouTube about uploading your video.

https://www.youtube.com/upload

Step 8. Once your video is on YouTube, go to your Video Manager and choose the thumbnail that people will see before they click your video. Then provide an interesting description of the video. And don’t forget to promote yourself!

New Age Instrumental: Marika Takeuchi-Impressions

Release Date: September 10, 2013

Label: MRG Recordings

Website

When you begin studying classical music at the age of three there is a good chance that by the time you are an adult that you could be making your own adaptations of classical scores or creating your own. In the case of Marika Takeuchi she came via Japan to Boston to study film scoring at the esteemed Berklee College of Music in 2009. Since then she has released two albums, Impressions being her second with a third release coming this fall.

The release clocks in just over 26 minutes however it does make its mark in a prolific manner. Through 10 tracks Marika paints a canvas of beauty and elegance with the ivory keys. Truthfully all the lady needs to do is sit on the piano stool and play. The end result of what she creates is absolutely gorgeous and serene melodies that would relax the most frazzled human.

This is a soundtrack made in heaven; it makes you feel relaxed, spiritual and whole. I agree with the artist, music is healing. It has helped me my entire life, it makes laugh, cry, reminisce, and get in touch with my inner being like nothing else can. Marika has the magic touch with her fingers, almost as if she is channeling an entity that that comes from a higher plane of consciousness. I know for certain her music will allow you to reach that level of existence.

Although it’s a rather short journey the tracks blend into each other, each taking you one step closer to that spiritual plane that allows complete clarity and peace. Music such as this can have many valuable assets and for this listener there were a multitude of things to appreciate. Some albums are boring if one song follows another too closely; with this recording it was more of synchronicity and flow that made everything just perfect. I normally like to choose three key tracks but in this case I felt there was not one track that stood out amongst the rest, it was rather the entire recording as a complete body of work that impressed me. 

Marika Takeuchi is an incredibly gifted and talented musical visionary that has an amazing future ahead if she continues on her path of creativity and enlightenment.

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: ALL

Tracks:
01.Spring Awakening
02. Horizons       
03. Sparkle
04.Milky Way
05.Cliff
06.Morning Mist   
07.Reunion
08.Far Away
09.Daybreak
10. Peace
 

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck- New Age Music Reviews Founder

July 2, 2014

Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

Physical Distribution of Your Music

Last week I discussed an overview of distributing your music online. This week’s article is a discussion about the physical distribution of your music.

Today, physical music is more than just the CD.  The packaging that goes with your music conveys your style and the style of your music.  Make it eye catching, add some images from a stock library, add some effects to the images, and then layer them one on top of the other.

I use these three main software programs to do the graphics on my CD cases.

·         Adobe Illustrator

·         Adobe Photoshop

·         Perfect Photo Suite

·         A variety of effects from Photomorphis

I usually use a photo that I take of myself, and then add a bunch of effects to it, add some text like my name and the album title, and then convert that to a PDF or JPEG for printing.  You can do that for the cover jacket, the back jacket,  and the inside cover. Don’t forget the image for the CD itself. Try something that matches the album cover so that they all tie in together.

Don’t forget liner notes as a possible addition.  These printed pages could engage your listener by telling your story, and you can include your lyrics.  You may even consider a nice 8 x 10 glossy of your face for someone’s wall!

You could distribute physical copies of your music by putting it on a CD and selling it at performances, or you could sell it though Amazon’s warehouse, and a host of other similar warehouse-stores willing to store and ship your CD.

I mentioned CD’s above, but you could also press your music to vinyl.  The record players that are out there today are portable and gorgeous.  Vinyl could be a good way to find a niche audience for your music.

And talking about niche audiences, you could even rip your music to cassette tape or 8-track.

Now that’s cool!

Music Distribution: A Look From The Inside Through The Eyes of An Artist

By Russ Suereth

This week’s article is a discussion about online music distribution.

There are dozens of ways to distribute your music online.  The tough part is figuring out which is the best one for you.

Your music can be sold online a number of ways including your own website, Facebook, online radio, satellite radio, terrestrial radio, and online stores like iTunes, Amazon, or CD Baby.

Two of the main companies out there for music distribution are TuneCore and CD Baby.  These two basically have the same features. The main difference seems to be that TuneCore has a yearly fee, and CD Baby takes a small percentage of your sales. Some people will argue that they are very different but I don’t see that.

I used TuneCore on my first EP, and now I’m using CD Baby on my new CD.  I changed just to try out CD Baby, and they both seem the same to me.  Although I do like the CD Baby player that I can put on my web site, I would definitely recommend either one of these two distributors.

I’ve also had my music played on college radio stations, though I never really felt that it allows me to establish a connection with my listeners.  I always felt that my music went into a black void.

I also have used Radio Airplay quite a bit, but I don’t any longer.  I started using it because it looked like I could connect to listeners who liked my music.  Radio Airplay does allow you to know who liked your songs.  But your communication back to them, even something simple like, “Thanks for listening,” goes to an area of Airplay that users never pay attention to.

So that takes me to my website, where at least I can set up a newsletter or some form of communication with listeners who want to provide their email address.  And that’s a topic for another day.  Actually it’s several topics because there’s a lot to discuss.

New Age Music Review: Denise Young-Passionata

Release Date: February 17, 2014

Label: Dancing Horses Music

Website

In 2012 Denise Young began the journey that would lead her back to Imaginary Road Studios and the Steinway piano awaiting her gifted fingers. Passionata is a tapestry of artful melodies and drifting majesty that will seduce the listener in the first piece. It is a discovery and rediscovery of love that dwells in the hearts of us all. It may fade and die, but will rise again like the budding of new leaves.

Written and composed by Denise Young, she also performed piano on all tracks. Guest musicians include Eugene Friesen, cello on “Above the Clouds,” “Starlight Melody,” “There,” and “Awakened,” Noah Wilding, vocals on “There,” Tom Eaton, bass on “There,” “Starlight Melody,” and “Desire” and Jeff Haynes, percussion on “Awakened,” “Desire,” “Starlight Melody” and “There.” The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Tom Eaton at Imaginary Road Studios and was produced by Will Ackerman Grammy Award winner, and Tom Eaton.

“Passionata” is the opening track on the album. Tentative piano strokes awaken. The rustling of sheets as the morning sun creeps over the horizon and the first kiss of a lover’s lips as the day breaks. Love blossoms in the heart, a spiraling drift of skirts as they spin out on a dance floor. Notes of music wrap around you like silken gauze. Loving and warm. The purity of passion. The truth of love’s everlasting bounty.

“Above the Clouds” crafts a rhythm within the keystrokes that snares the listener without even trying. Floating piano movements entwine with the elegance of the cello. Steady and filled with flight, this piece takes you away as the cello ramps up amidst the gentle rhythm of the piano strokes. The two marry well, bringing the listener to a place of peace and hope.

“Awakened” is another piece that bears the mark of the cello. Percussive elements, piano and the graceful string movement of the cello blend in artful form and function. Eyes open to the dawn of possibilities. The music speaks and the song spins out, a dancer on point, reaching for the sky, twirling amidst the sparkle of sound.

Passionata is an album filled with artful song and elegant movements. Will Ackerman has produced another staggering work of genius. Denise Young is an artist with vision and her devotion to the Steinway piano shows with every stroke of a finger. Tom Eaton’s mix mastery is well renowned and he didn’t miss a beat with Passionata. This album is a keeper in my music library.

4.5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Passionata, Above the Clouds, Awakened

Tracks: 
01 . Passionata
02. Above the Clouds
03. Moon Song
04. The Way
05. Starlight Melody
06.There
07. Cobblestones in the Rain
08. Awakened
09. Desire
10. Figure 8
11. Secrets

DanaWright, Sr. Staff Writer

June 16, 2014

Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

Adult Contemporary Rock/New Age Review: Russell Suereth-Going Down the Highway

Release Date: April 7, 2014

Label: Independent

Website

Russell Suereth’s Going Down the Highway is a conglomeration of adult contemporary rock and new age. The songs range from mid tempo to a faster paced soft rock that immediately sets you at ease and forces you to listen to the introspective lyrics. Suereth has an inviting vocal style that keeps it all real throughout this enjoyable release.

The fact is, if you happen to be Going Down the Highway this album may be your best friend particularly if you are stuck in after work traffic on the freeway. The opening track bears the album title and it is a great way to kick off the album. It gives you a sense of freedom and joy and instantly gets you in the right frame of mind to take in what is to come in the following tracks.

Suereth is rock solid on this release providing all the vocals, instrumentation and production. Certainly this must be a difficult task to go it alone without another set of ears to provide feedback and insight during the recording process. Regardless of those against all odds factors this man has produced a fine recording. The balance of his vocals and the instrumentation are perfectly placed through the entire run of this 10 track journey. What I heard was crystal clear vocals and suitable musical accompaniment consistently. I think that about covers it for the ears and when you start getting into the overall lyrical concepts I think the titles are clever and the words follow suit.

“So Different” was the most enjoyable track. Musically it stands tall as the artist pulls out all the stops musically and adds layers of instrumentation without sacrificing the level of his vocals. That can be a tricky thing but Suereth pulls it all off and ultimately has success. In fact this is done on most of the tracks however this was the one that really rose above the rest. 

“Mister Dumpty (Dinosaur)” is a quirky number and it sounds a bit cynical but I suppose it could hold a lot of different meanings depending on who you are and how your life has unfolded. Some lyrics come with a message that is certain and straight forward, for example this passage nails it on the head:

You sit there on your faded laurels
So highbrow
The paper and esteem it spells
Must reek by now

That is some pretty heavy stuff for this type of music and it sounds like it may fit the profile of some stuffed shirt on Capitol Hill but who knows, take it for what it’s worth and see how it fits your life. That is what music is for right?

If you happen to be interested in exploring more of Russell’s lyrics you can on his website here http://www.russellsuereth.com/original-lyrics/.

I am the type of listener that is attracted to all sorts of genres and to be perfectly honest this is not the kind of music that would be my first choice while rolling down the highway but Suereth exposed me to another thought process and listening experience that I would be eager to hear again. To take someone that is not normally interested in hearing this type of music and to make them pay attention and actually enjoy the experience is quite an accomplishment in my estimation.

Going Down the Highway is a good album worth more than just one listen. There is a lot more here besides the music that will get your interest. Have a listen for yourself with the provided media player.

4/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Going Down the Highway, So Different, Mister Dumpty (Dinosaur)

Tracks:
01. Going Down the Highway        
02. Now It's Time        
03. I Can See You        
04. So Different        
05. Bottlenose        
06. Portraits from Living        
07. Mister Dumpty (Dinosaur)        
08. Spread Your Wings        
09. I Wonder            
10. Talking to You
 

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Write A Music Review Founder

June 11, 2014

Review Provided By Write A Music

New Age Instrumental Review: Jennifer DeFrayne-By a Wire

Release Date: April 29, 2014

Label: Little Hartley Music

Website

By a Wire is Jennifer DeFrayne’s debut album, but not the first time she has embraced the call of music in her life. A self-taught pianist, she was urged on by friends and neighbors to pursue her dream. Inspired early on by the natural landscape of her home in Laurium, Michigan she began the love affair with music that has carried her through thick and thin. Produced by Fiona Joy Hawkins and Will Ackerman at his Imaginary Road Studios, this first step to living her passion finds DeFrayne more than shining through a cloud covered sky. She is the silver lining and a ray of sunshine for so many. This album is a jewel for any connoisseur of New Age instrumental music. 

 “Hope Floats” is a melodious vision of the inner light that shines within us all. It illuminates our hearts in the darkest nights of the soul. Hope helps us turn from the shadows and bear up in the face of despair. As I listened to this piece, I couldn’t help but think of what it must have been like to have the ability to play music taken away by a stroke and have to learn the basic living functions all over again. The force of will and sheer determination to embrace the world and turn her skill into helping others is a lighthouse in the storm for not just her, but anyone who has suffered a trauma as DeFrayne has. Do hard things. Make a difference. Each note is a victory. Each finger stroke a poke in the eye to giving up. 

“By a Wire” is a journey from the bottom of a dark well. Melodious and inspiring, this piece illustrates the will to prevail over some of life’s toughest situations. Indeed, sometimes we are only hanging on by a wire, swinging in the wind with nothing to catch us if we fall. DeFrayne hung on Tarzan style and came out swinging. Her music became the route she had taken most of her life-she used it to bring herself back from the brink of despair and uses it to help others do the same. This piece is artful and the composition one of beauty and substance.

“Sunrise to Sunset” is a walk on the beach. It is lifting your face to the sky, heart joyful just to be alive and here. Right now. It is letting your toes squish in the wet sand and letting the tide rush over your ankles. Golden rays of sunshine warm your cheeks as the waves of piano music drift over you like water. Elements of French horn add eloquence to the piece that makes it resonate. The dusk comes but you are no longer afraid of the night. You walk on into whatever will come, secure in your place in this world. The music tapers to a close and you smile.

DeFrayne spans the emotional range with By a Wire. Her music speaks of the deepest parts of our souls as human beings. After suffering the loss of family members and a debilitating stroke while she was a young mother, DeFrayne lost the ability to coordinate her fingers with the music in her mind. She was determined to grab onto her life’s blood and reclaim it as her own and now with By a Wire she has done just that. This debut album is one that shows just what a person can do if they believe enough. Love really can set you free.

4.5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Hope Floats, By a Wire, Sunrise to Sunset

Dana Wright, Sr. Staff Writer New Age Music Reviews

May 22, 2014

Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews