New Age Music World

Archive for April, 2009

Vicki Logan has a history of composing and producing outstanding New Age music from the very beginning of her music career. By incorporating elements of New Age, Classical, Pop, Jazz, Contemporary Instrumental, plus a divine gift of creativity, her earlier releases set a high standard for her future projects.

It seems Vicki Logan charts a new direction with every album. Vicki Logan’s music is related to the passage of time, and how she experienced progress while composing and producing her albums along the way. Her upbeat music is an excellent example of what can be achieved when a talented artist shares a part of themselves by putting their heart and spirit into the creation of their music. This inspiration gives music lovers a chance to also feel special along the way too.

Discovering the positive and inspiring music of Vicki Logan, and then writing about this friendly and outgoing New Age artist who is so passionate about their music has been personally rewarding. Her music is drawn from self conclusions about the ride everyone must travel during our day to day life experiences, and many of her songs were in the top 100 charts, and granted impressive online radio airplay attention worldwide. New Age Music World blog host John P. Olsen has interviewed Vicki Logan. We are pleased to present this interview for Vicki Logan’s fans and our website visitors.

Interview with Vicki Logan;

John P. Olsen: You said you have not had formal piano lessons, do not read sheet music, and play practically everything by ear, which will be surprising to many people. How are able to compose such beautiful and creative music Vicki?

Vicki Logan: I honestly wish I knew. I’ve been asked that question for years and I still don’t know what to say. I can sort of explain the process though. (And yes, I do everything by ear, so to speak. Anyone I work with can attest…I “push the buttons and just do my thing!”)

I’ll sit at the piano and start messing around with the keys. Something will hit me just right and all of a sudden, I know what I want to play and how the whole song should be. I’ll record the base piece (usually some type of chord progression) and start layering a melody and other sounds to “paint a picture”.

I never really know how it’s going to sound until the end. I’ll “dial-a-sound” on my synthesizer and then something new hits me. Even after a song is supposedly finished, I could do more to it. I don’t start with an idea and a song doesn’t have a title until it’s completed and I listen to it. Whatever it makes me think about, that’s where the title will come from. Yes, I know. I’m backwards.

When I record the actual album, I’ll play the parts in a demo and bring that demo into the studio. I’ll record what I can and then hire other musicians to play the parts that don’t sound right on the synthesizer. These musicians get free reign to add their ideas to the material since I don’t know what the real instruments are capable of doing, although I do have final say. For example; guitars can bend a note when a string is slid up or down on the neck. I can’t do that with my keyboard. The song, I find, is only enhanced by their performances…as it should be. This is where it’s true “life” comes from. That’s why I’ve reverted back to playing with other musicians rather than letting people record things digitally; making the song “perfect”. Computers are wonderful tools, but, in the end, there just isn’t enough that can be said about the performers. The feelings/emotions and oopses are priceless!

John: Many of your songs and albums have been on New Age music Chartss, plus you have helped many musicians just starting out as artists. What song and album awards and personal recognition have you received as artist?

Vicki Logan: This is going to seem really disrespectful, I know, but I really don’t intend for it to be that way. I have received a lot of honors and awards from various organizations. I’ve won some song contests. I’ve been truly honored to receive these awards, and, for the most part, they were given to me in good faith, but, the more involved I’ve gotten within the music industry, the more I’ve found how political they are. For example – The Grammys. First off, you have to be a NARAS member. If you are not, you can’t even submit your material for consideration of any award. Next, if you do get in, you have to compete against the larger corporations who belong and have several of their staff as members as all members vote on the Grammy Awards. You can guess where those votes are going to. And then, there is a lot of “vote for me -s” e-mails that percalate to members. In the end, the memberships to these groups are expensive and I don’t have that type of money to waste. Like all of you out there, I have to figure out what gives me the most bang for my buck. An attempt at stroking my ego or doing more of what I love to do?

Again, don’t get me wrong, honors and awards are wonderful things, but only if done for the right reasons. The best award I could ever receive? If I could make the world a better place for even just one person so that that person could do the same for the next, then creating and sharing what I do was worth it all.

John: We are currently playing Enchanted Winds, The Ride, and other songs of yours on 365 Stars Radio. You told me The Journey To The Places In My Soul is your most creative and best album yet. Why is that Vicki?

Vicki Logan: I would say that The Journey is the most creative as I’ve learned so much since my first CD and I’ve attempted more than I have to date. For example, I’ve played more flute on this one; more than on any other album. I’ve recorded more of the album at home and just brought in the hard drive to the studio. I used some new ideas (for me) and made some of my ideas more pronounced. There is an actual story interwoven into the music for the first time.

Anyway, I believe that each album has a special place for me since each album helped me get to the next. If I didn’t do the first the way I did, the second one wouldn’t have come to pass. Same for the third and fourth. Each one builds on the last…each represents that time in my life in which it was created. Even the photos chosen represent what was happening; many were from my backyard.

In album number one, I was chasing a dream – trying something I never thought I’d be able to do, thus CHASING DREAMS only to end up FINDING MY WAY in the music industry. This CD I even arranged a couple of cover tunes, only to find that most people preferred my originals. I was on THE RIDE of my life realizing that I could do this and ended up with THE JOURNEY TO THE PLACES IN MY SOUL when everyone wanted to find out more about me…about how I came to this place…about my weird life! (And yes, it’s been strange…lol) So that’s why I believe it is the best so far…but even better is yet to come… By constantly moving forward, attempting new things and keeping an open mind, a person can only progress…even when they think they aren’t. It doesn’t matter what someone else believes. In the end, if YOU believe in yourself, YOU do the work, anything is possible.

John: There were a couple of obstacles you had to overcome with your latest album, if you don’t mind, could you tell our readers what happened during the release of the album?

Vicki Logan: I believe someone once said to me sarcastically, if anything can happen, it will. About 3 years ago, we purchased a home only to find that it had major mold and moisture intrusion issues. The previous owner was found guilty of fraudulent seller misrepresentation and was given the order to repair the home. Instead of getting our home repaired, someone arsoned it and we lost everything…our pets, our businesses. We literally had the clothes on our backs.

Then I got lyme disease because I am an over zealous lawn mower. I mow everything. Due to genetics, I found that I had back issues. I had stenosis. My bone was growing onto my nerves and causing massive pain. It was a quick surgery and I’m hoping it’s not the beginning of more because the pain is starting to come back yet again. Then I had cataract surgery. (By the way, those of you who would like to know, I’m 43.) I haven’t been able to see right since 3rd grade! To wake up and see the alarm clock in the morning – to actually see who someone is and not a big fuzzy blob – to go swimming and not worry about getting splashed and losing a contact lens – wow! And the list goes on! And I didn’t even added the rest of my families challenges! Maybe someday I’ll write a book… lol!

John: You and I are perhaps like most Americans by constantly being surrounded by Rock, Pop, Jazz, and other genres, which are all great forms of music, so how did you discover, or what brought you into the New Age music scene?

Vicki Logan: STRESS! (Just kidding…kinda)

Really, it’s the creativity I find within myself listening to this specific genre, but I think that many of you will find that even the term “New Age” covers a lot more than just one style of music and the term has a different meaning for a lot of people. (A subject for a much later conversation.) I think that, using my music as an example, “New Age” music can be found labeled Celtic Pop, Smooth Jazz, and a gazillion other things.

I love all music and I think that comes out in what I create. I hope people realize that it’s not the music people are attracted to or not. It’s the message of the artist using the music that people relate with. Music is but a tool that allows people to communicate with others. Instrumental music is all encompassing. There are no words so there are no boundaries. Not even for the deaf or animals, believe it or not. That’s how I view it.

It’s another medium with which to paint something. So, I like the “New Age” music best because I feel that most of the artists here have a more positive view on life and I think we really need to be more positive. Personally, a label is just something we put on something else because we need to be able to identify it when we communicate with others and we all label differently according to what that label means to us.

John: There are other talented musicians who perform on particular songs and albums, who are the band members, and is creating the albums fun for you and the group, or do you consider producing an album work ?

Vicki Logan: In reality, I am all the parts when I create the songs. The musicians I work with take the parts I create and give them life. Technology has provided me with a lot of sounds which are similar to the real thing, but it’s not like having the real item in the studio. People are capable of manipulating their instruments in ways computers can’t. To give credit where credit is due, these musicians all have excellent ideas to help make a song much more interesting. I don’t know everything and I don’t expect I ever will, so human interaction is something that we all need. Period.

The folks that help me out are Randy Gildersleeve (also my main mentor) who performs miracles on guitars, mandolin, banjo and pushes me to learn more and open my mind when we are in the studio during production. Then there is Andy LaCasse who does things with bass that I would never think of. He also puts my music into sheet music form so others can play the parts with backing tracks. I can’t read a stitch of it, but I guess it’s pretty cool since there is a lot of black all over the paper! The other person who helps me get the music where I need it to be is Peter O’Gorman – percussionist extraordinaire. He will play anything to get the sounds we need. Give him a garbage can lid, a stick, whatever. He’ll make it sound awesome.

There are several other people that help out depending upon what my needs are. Matt Fink (aka – “Dr. Fink”) is an incredible keyboardist and producer and taught me a lot about midi recording, computer work and pro-tools in his home studio.

I know why I hire people to do those things!

Too much information and I just don’t have the knack for that part! Then there are loads of other instrumentalists, producers, mentors and more that I’ve worked with but would take forever if I named them all. They ARE ALL listed in my CD packages and I could never thank them all enough. That’s why I get to be where I am. With all of them. Work? Music is NEVER work. Promoting and merchandising things, figuring taxes and making sure the right things go to the right places, THAT’s work!

John: You already have 4 exceptional CD’s now available for purchase. Are you presently producing, or plan to have another album in the future besides the 4 currently on sale?

Vicki Logan: Funny you should ask that question. I literally got my new equipment today (after waiting patiently for the past 2 1/2 years!) and when I started messing around with all the buttons, I found that I have more sounds then I had previously and songs were rushing out left and right. I hope to have a new CD for release sometime in 2010. We’ll have to see what happens until then, though. Timing is everything and it has a mind of it’s own! Beisdes, remember my little quote above? If anything can happen it will? I just have to see what will happen! lol!

John: After reading your homepage biography, you seem to be philosophic about a person obtaining their goals by your own life experience. What advice can you offer persons just beginning in the music business, or suggestion to others about overcoming obstacles in general?

Vicki Logan: Everyone is different, yet everyone is the same. What I have found is that if you do what it is that you truly love, you make time for it and you are happier. If you THINK you want to do something and have a million excuses as to why you don’t get to it, I’d say that you must not be that interested in it. Think about it. If you want to go to the park, you will find a way to go to the park. If you want to take a vacation, you will find a way to take that vacation. For the most part, we will do the work necessary to get instant gratification. For some reason, we don’t do the work necessary for LONG TERM gratification.

Time goes by so fast, even our so called long term is here before we know it. My favorite quote is “Dreams are only dreams unless YOU are willing to make them a reality.” Many someones out there said that opportunities don’t just happen, we make them happen and that is more right than any one can imagine. If you want something, then do what it takes and get it! Just be realistic. Life is a precious gift. Use it. Enjoy it. Live it!

Check out the VickiLogan.com website and  read my pages dedicated to Vicki Logan. Photos are courtesy vickilogan.com.

The recent article by B.T. Fasmer about the upcoming Yanni concert scheduled for May 13 2009 in New York led to some great discussion with a good friend of mine about the past Live Yanni Tribute Concert and programing which first aired on PBS television stations in 1997.

Perhaps many of our NewAgeMusicWorld.Com & NewAgeMusic.nu visitors can recall watching this past televised concert also since it is then estimated that well over a half billion people around the world over are familiar with, or have watched the esteemed musician Yanni. Our discussion about Yanni included the extremely talented musicians who accompany by their masterful instrumentals and perform solos during his many scheduled concert tours.

Venezuelan born Pedro Eustache specializes in ethnic flutes and woodwinds section, having two albums and a multitude of appearances with other renown musicians and composers worldwide, also playing a variety of instruments in many popular movie soundtracks. Pedro also regularly toured with Yanni for 10 years. Both artists are diverse and relentless in their pursuit of perfection in their chosen field of music and well worth a visit to their individual websites to learn more about some of the past and present day extraordinary musicians who make up the major concert headliner everyone recognizes as Yanni.

The official Yanni.com website is also a great place to visit for news and the past but memorable Tribute Concert Album just mentioned, along with all discography and a vast number of live concert tour dates presently available in the United States.

                          Yanni performance live at the Taj Mahal during the Tribute Concert

It seems that few instruments can compare to a piano for personally illustrating the emotion and feeling of what an artist wants to share with another. The piano is a divine instrument to play or to simply listen while others perform. I am certain many readers like myself have also had the opportunity to play the piano as younger adults either willingly or unwillingly under the guidance of their parents, which ended with varying degrees of success.

Fiona Joy Hawkins from Australia is the noteworthy artist I would like to highlight today since she has achieved unbridled success as a touring concert pianist. Fiona has reached the number 1 spot in World New Age radio charts across 9 countries, achieving the Best Piano Album in the NAR lifestyle music awards in 2006, and winning the classical/jazz category in the Music OZ Awards for 2008. These are accomplishments even her parents never would have dreamed possible.

Fiona Joy Hawkins has also received multiple nominations as finalist in classical jazz categories in 2007 and 2009 in multiple genres, among her respectable achievements as an Australian born composer and pianist.

Fiona’s most recent 2008 Blue Dream album on the Little Hartley Music label, described as Contemporary World fusion piano music. The release places the listener into a relaxed mood by many refined variations ranging from the poignant quiet moments of thought, to reflective moments with varying rhythms and orchestration phases on the 22 song album which does blend together well from song to song.

Fiona Joy Hawkins most current album Blue Dream is a piano and instrumental collaboration with other artist that has received top music honors and again extended the worldwide admiration for her work. Fiona is recognized as an awarding winning pianist who covers New Age, Classical, Contemporary, Jazz and World Fusion genres, it’s easy to see Fiona’s Blue Dream release was worth the wait!

While already widely recognized, the Blue Dream album should help her break into international markets. One can consider the 22 songs on this album as chapters in a book, that after reading each chapter, the next phase of this story becomes more revealing when finishing all verses, and working your way towards the final chapter.

My favorite track 9 blends powerful, yet soft vocals, only to crescendo into a moving inspirational piece, blending into the next novel chapter. All song chapters and illustrations in Blue Dream will hold your interest by preventing you from putting the book down, and my favorite track 9 blends powerful, yet soft vocals, only to crescendo into a moving inspirational piece, blending into the next novel chapter. Farther in the storyline, Track 12 opens with a classic piano solo interlude as vocals add definition. The plot thickens in this musical storyline by increased keyboard momentum and fine instrumentals, which divulge even greater amounts of dialog on this narrative.

Recorded and produced by Grammy Award winner Will Ackerman, there are a host of talented musicians who solo and accompany Fiona Joy Hawkins on her Blue Dream release. To their credit, they greatly influence the beauty and refinement of the album, without ever exceeding the award winning pianist intentions, and the message she masterfully portrays on the 88 ebony and ivory keyed Steinway concert piano.

Fiona Joy Hawkins is also a painter with her own online art gallery, where paintings can be purchased, along with her 4 available CDs. The novel website to visit is fionajoyhawkins.com.au. Picture Copyright Big Stock Photo – aysarts.

The epic quest for personal style in composing is pretty evident in a new release entitled The Gates of Realities from South American born composer and producer Oscar Aguayo, who is titled as Australis.

Australis is an artist title taken from the Latin word meaning Southern or from the South, and also symbolic of the artist himself which emphasizes Oscar Aguayo’s early influences he felt during his very first experiences in musical emotion in his home country as a young adult.

The primarily mid tempo music will encompass the listener with rich, deep tones to translate for you what the artist has drawn from his personal conclusions in how New Age music should be interpreted. I can tell you it is simply wonderful electronic music!

Drawing imagination from his homeland recollections and earliest life changing events, the project is a mixture of New Age, Electronic, Ambient, Neo-Classic and Ethnic, in contrasting genres. Together there is a fine balance of emotional depth in all 14 compositions on his second album of individual expression.

Track 4 Promises of Light is a dark and mysterious example of a longing desire for the presence of light in which that wishful song is titled.

Track 5 Paqta Kutemunqa begins with an ethnic quality by the ancient chants, whisperings and woodwind flute which blends together beautifully.

If one closed their eyes they could almost imagine themselves as an archaeologist exploring the inner depths of ancient ruins, and then finding the lost treasures hidden away for centuries. This is an epic quest I found mysterious but inspirational.

If you have already experienced the bright and talented music of Vicki Logan you know what I write today is solid truth. For anyone who has yet to discover her music, prepare yourself for a truly original New Age artist whose music is so unique one can compare her inspiring musical expression as unique to each person as an individual.

When I am not diligently listening to and writing another artist’s album on review, I regularly find myself returning to the music of Vicki Logan. After first discovering her inspirational New Age music expressions, everyone I have shared her music with loves her discography as well, so it is not just mere coincidence.

Vicki Logan’s latest release titled The Journey To the Places In My Soul, under her Carvic Publishing label, is the review we shall explore together. Come with me to find the inspirational bliss someone would expect to hear from a more globally recognized artist. First released in 2006, and now reissued in 2009, this album is upbeat classical in style, shape and form. This album has a palpable feeling of the artist’s personal creative touch and source of inspiration integrated into every song. 

Track 2 The Journey is an upbeat inspirational flute and piano tune that will inspire and enlighten you today and everyday. Track 3 Dancing with the Northern Lights is a kaleidoscope of colors revealing every tone and shade of an Aurora Borealis. This is pretty colorful if you can imagine or have ever witnessed the northern lights.

The Journey To the Places In My Soul carries an abundance of depth and feeling in each of the melodies which leads me to believe much thought and a portion of the artist’s personality are on display in this latest project. This is true in prior albums also, where one can listen to over and over and still find a great album with the passage of time, being an important consideration when purchasing CD’s.

There is also a complexity to her inspirational music described as deep, up tempo and orchestral, with wonderful  instrumentals of piano, guitar, sax, oboe, and ever present flute which she plays with drive and purpose. To their credit, fellow band members add their own personal flavor by accompanying on individual songs which enhance the album’s classic theme admirably. On her releases she enlists the help of Randy Gildersleeve, Andy LaCasse, Peter O’Gorman, Matt Fink, and others to produce built with pride album every time.

Track 6 Everlasting Memories presents a flute and piano arrangement with additional guitar rhythms combining for a more mystical tone, yet still retains a hopeful theme as if recalling distant memories of years gone by.

The Journey To the Places In My Soul carries an abundance of depth and feeling in each of the melodies which leads me to believe much thought and even a portion of the artist’s personality are on display in this latest project. This is also true in prior albums, in which one can listen to over and over and still find meaningful and sounds great with the passage of time. When we first spoke, I informed Vicki Logan I am also one of her many fans. She just laughed and seemed surprised, which is just typical of Vicki, who is much too modest when discussing her talents in my opinion. I hope you will take the time to decide for yourself. 

Vicki Logan and I have an interview planned, so more information and more album reviews are available to you so that you may discover what I have found in the inspiration music of this uniquely bright star known as Vicky Logan.

Visit VickiLogan.com homepage. Sample at CDBaby and read my pages for Vicki Logan. Big Stock Photo – Wilmy.

NewAgeMusicWorld.Com & NewAgeMusic.nu have interviewed Colin O’Donohoe about his past and current music projects. Here you’ll also get exclusive information about his upcoming album Lyrical Sutras. If you are not very familiar with Colin O’Donohoe or the Pangean Orchestra, at the bottom for a short presentation of his work.

Colin O’Donohoe uses a fusion of world music influences in his music. This inspiration transpired after reading a Chinese book of poetry titled Shi Jing. Another reason for his World music influences could be his position as Artistic Director of the Pangean Orchestra, or other held positions as director of the New Moon Orchestra, and Phoenix Chinese Orchestra.

Colin O’Dononoe’s Songs of the Saints release has genres ranging from international, world, jazz, easy listening, light rock, and slight touches of rap and hip hop. There is even a lighter jazz title track version of the song Amazing Grace. This interview was conducted by John P. Olsen, who earlier this year wrote an album review of Colin O’Donohoe’s World music influenced Songs of the Saints release.

Interview with Colin O’Donohoe;

John P. Olsen:  Your current project is the Pangea Ensemble which includes international artists and their musical influences from around the world. Can you tell us a little about the musicians in the Pangea Ensemble, like where they live, and what ethnic instruments will be used?

Colin O’Donohoe:  We strive to reconnect people from around the planet with our undeniable universal language of music. Our musicians are as diverse as the planet itself and they come from most of our five continents. They all live in or near Phoenix. The best way for people to know more about the group is to visit the site, it says far more than I can.

John:  On New Age Stars radio we regularly play tracks from The Songs of the Saints album, and I have noticed most song titles describe through song lyrics, stories about historic saints, and have wondered where or how the idea for songs about saints originated?

Colin O’Donohoe:  First, Thank you very much! I’m really glad that you play my music, you obviously have incredibly great taste! The origins have been swirling in my mind for many years. In 2006 I began seriously digging into the keyboard to create some ideas for the music. I started doing some loose sketches of song and lyric ideas. I began reading much more about the saints. I wanted to do my utmost to deliver a unique look into the lives and stories of these saints.

The result obviously became a collection of songs that are united in theme of content but not in musical style. As I concentrated on each saint I began writing in several different styles. My priority was to make the music reflect the saint and not make each piece dependent on the last.

John:  Your music is diverse by many intertwined genres. How did you conceived such a broad range of musical influences, and where do you first get your inspiration for such a broad expression in your music?

Colin O’Donohoe:  I have an insatiable curiosity, and I love music! I love performing and learning as many new styles of music as possible. Over the past 18 years I’ve sought out masters in various genres to help me better understand many styles of music. In addition to this I love reading.

I guess that this combination of things lead to my imagination creating different worlds for different saints. To create the music I would read about the saints and then just jam on a keyboard for a little while. This process took several months.

After I felt comfortable with the material I decided to get serious and really do my best to construct the songs.  I also like to keep myself excited by doing several different things. So, while writing a classical piece I might shift to the turn table and see what to add to a completely different song. It kept it all fresh in my mind.

John:  Can you tell us more about the Chinese book of poetry Shi Jing and how that translates into musical inspiration?

John:  The big question everyone wants to know is the time frame of when your next album release is expected to be available for purchase and will the album be as diverse and be theme oriented material in relation to Songs of the Saints?

Colin O’Donohoe:  Why thank you for asking! You can read it here first! My next album Lyrical Sutra‘s official release date is scheduled for 6/1/2009. As for the material. It is my first time delving into the world of electronic music whole heartedly. The songs are broken into three sections:

I. Meditation- Heart Sutra, Diamond Sutra, Eight Fold Noble Path Sutra, Enlightenment Sutra.

II. Prayer – Lotus Sutra, Pure land Sutra, Taking Refuge, Amitabha Sutra.

III. Awaken – A Boddhisatva’s Vows, Triple Gem Sutra, The Sutra in 42 Sections, Golden Light Sutra.

IV. Meditation: four mid tempo pieces. Prayer: four slower new age style pieces. Awaken: four up-tempo dance style pieces.

The idea of the album is to relax you, allow you to become at peace, and then reinvigorate you and get you feeling better than when you first began to listen to it. The idea of the album comes from a few of the many Buddhist Sutra’s which are the teachings of the Buddha.

John:  I thank you for your time Colin. Is there anything you wish to tell our readers concerning your commitment to bring people of the world closer together through music ?

Colin:  I just want to thank you again for the pleasure of the interview process. I hope that your audience loves my work and will be eager to listen to Lyrical Sutras in June.

Here is a list of Colin O’Dononoe’s past and current positions related to orchestral music:

2008-present: Artistic Director for Pangean Orchestra in Phoenix AZ.
2006-present: Professional recording artist.
2008: Published Author of Odd Meters for Drum Set.
2004-2006: Executive/Artistic Director for New Moon Orchestra.
2003-2004: Percussionist with the Phoenix Chinese Orchestra.
2000-2003: Music Teacher.
1996-2004: Free lance jazz drummer in Phoenix Arizona.

Websites: Donohoemusic.com. Colin says: My personal website which features my albums and book. It will also feature my new album when it comes out this June “Lyrical Sutra’s” (you’re the first to print this, it is a New Age Music exclusive)  Pangeanorchestra.com. Colin says: My new orchestra. It is the first of its kind that I know of where it combines instruments from around the world. Photos are courtesy Colin O’Donohoe & Pangean Orchestra.