New Age Music World

Archive for July, 2009

Aloha! The island state of Hawaii has the unique distinction as a preferred vacation and honeymoon destination in the Continental United States, likewise having visitors from all countries seeking fun in the sun, relaxation, and a memorable vacation experience. Something to consider is how much more pleasurable this extraordinary vacation stay could be with some great island music to enhance and complete the experience.

New Age artist Kika Kane, residing in Maui Hawaii is a lifelong resident of this state of islands, atolls, and islets, composing music in the land of what most would consider paradise. While Kika does enjoy an active lifestyle, much of his time is spent playing the easy to recognize, but harder to perfect style of Slack-Key guitar with the island sunsets as his perpetual source of inspiration.

Kika Kane has become pretty popular with his 2 projects that are an adaptation of Slack-Key guitar. Ocean Girl is his first project, while his second release, The Sunset Sessions was nominated for Best Slack-Key album of the year at the Hawaii Music Awards. National Public Radio’s Echoes programming has had several of his songs airing on a weekly basis. Slack-Key is a unique finer style that originated in Hawaii during the 19th century and was developed for dancing and entertainment, becoming more popular when the Hawaiian dance craze began during the 1960’s. Local television and radio have tuned into Kika’s music too, playing many of his songs as music scores in TV commercials and airing in many resorts and hotels on the islands.

The Sunset Sessions is a nicely done blend of Tropical, Ambient, and New Age, with a pleasant mix of mid tempo guitar instrumentals that reward you with pleasant thoughts of island life or in some cases, pleasant memories of your last vacation, if you have ever had an opportunity to visit the islands.

The Slack-Key guitar technique can be loosely defined as a finger style where the musician loosens or slackens the guitar strings by tuning one or more strings, most often upward on the scales until the strings form a single cord, most often in G major.

First on the song itinerary is Here Comes The Rain. This song’s welcoming melody makes one feel like an incoming rain event should always be taken in stride. The carefree feeling of island living is shown in this song by a fluid back and forth movement of strumming guitar, that will likely have you swaying to the rhythm. Even if it does rain, brief changes of tempo turn the rain event into positive thoughts considering a colorful rainbow and magnificent sunset display will follow a brief period of rain.

The song A Place In The Sun translates into every fun attraction available to you during your audible visit to the islands by an energetic opening, blending guitar rhythms in a positive upbeat mood, taking well timed breaks during each refrain to allow everyone to soak in the sun. The Sunset Sessions reflects the positive feel, relaxing mood, and welcoming atmosphere, for which this island state is highly prized.

Hawaii naturally offers every form of music, ranging from symphonies, orchestras, and every popular genre of music under the sun,  but there is just something special about the authentic home style approach to New Age music Kika has to offer, so be sure to make your next vacation or honeymoon to the islands of Hawaii a memorable one. Aloha!

Visit kikakane.com and sample the album on CDBaby.

Picture copyright Jennifer Keller- and Bigstockphoto.com – Laurzo.

Vicki Logan has a history of composing and producing outstanding New Age music from the very beginning of her music career. It seems Vicki charts a new direction with every album she produces. By incorporating elements of New Age, Classical, Pop, Jazz, Contemporary Instrumental, plus a divine gift of creativity, Finding My Way, along with her entire discography does set a high standard for her future projects.

Vicki Logan’s second album titled Finding My Way on her Carvic label achieved a top 100 album rating, airing on over 700 online radio stations worldwide. The song Enchanted Winds did arrive at a top # 1 song in AOL Radio for an astounding 21 weeks, reaching the final destination with high ratings.

Charting a course as a new musician has never been easy for any artist and by no fault of her own, Vicki has had her share of unforeseen detours and roadblocks along the way, but her professional drive and spirited ambition has led the way to increasing popularity and recognition along her adventurous journey.

Finding My Way is the title Vicki chose for this album since it describes a representation or timeline of where Vicki felt she was in relation to her music career. With that said, her timeless New Age classics have found their way to many people’s hearts and minds with the winning combination of solo performances of piano, flute, saxophone, and guitar along side synthesized representations.

The song Pegasus reveals the exhilarating flight of a mythological horse free, unbridled, and floating weightless during the ride of a lifetime of chasing dreams, gently leaving a trail of puffy white clouds in it’s wake. The bass percussion sprints ahead in tempo while piano melody vigorously runs through the scales in an inspirational message about undaunted courage. When Xylophone makes an impromptu entrance, it becomes pretty clear by the lively solo response that this winged horse desires freedom most, having made all the right moves to evade capture by any mere mortal.

My Mother’s Memories is a symbolic song tribute one can easily compare to a mother’s loving embrace. This hymn of love is shown through a classic piano movement complete with angelic choir vocals that emphasize the content of her character and humanity, clearly stated by the pronounced reverent atmosphere.

The emotional tale of a mother’s lifetime of memories is passionately recalled from one family generation to the next by a heart felt piano narration, where her praiseworthy commitment of giving becomes apparent while recalling the eventful past.

Then, almost as if waiting in respectful attention for the proper moment to arrive, something truly amazing happens.

In a heart felt solo performance, an all encompassing trumpet respectfully announces mother’s grand entrance onto the world stage in a proud anthem, as if honoring all deserving Mothers with a standing ovation of praise.

As if rising to the occasion during this profound moment of tribute and recognition, the choir validates through their own voice the unconditional love and support all caring Mothers around the world have given during their lifetime.

Discovering the positive and inspiring music of Vicki Logan and then writing about this New Age artist who is so passionate about their music has been personally rewarding. Having the opportunity to meet this friendly and outgoing musician by our recent interview together has been an honor.

Read my reviews of her 4 albums and our interview on my pages for Vicki Logan. Visit VickiLogan.com website and sample Vicki Logan’s CD albums at CDBaby. Picture copyright Big Stock Photo – Xmasbaby.

New Age Music World host John P. Olsen has conducted an Interview with composing musician Cadence Spalding. The topics involve her music career, Save The World album, and news about a project currently in progress.

Cadence Spalding is a multi talented singer, songwriter and performer. Many know about her Save The World release and solo performances with another artist on his albums, but there are so many more aspects to Cadence Spalding we wanted to find out more. Cadence  is a television network host for a Children’s program in California having already performed in a teaching role for years by her Miss Jenny television personality designed to educate and entertain children in the California community.

Cadence Spalding has recorded and performed original music for children’s musicals that benefit renowned charities, including donations of original scores for documentaries, independent films and commercial CD/DVD’s. In 2008 Cadence composed the scores for both the original and the remake of For The Children, a documentary originally narrated by James Coburn for Share Incorporated based in Beverly Hills, California.

The Save The World release is Classic New Age, where her radiant vocals host a lovely mix of ballads finely tuned to perfection in the purest sense. It is on this release where Cadence instills her personal message of peace, harmony, and dedication to the family unit. It is a message in harmony with all people who share the same logic, devotion and perspective. Today I am pleased to present this interview with a popular new age artist.

Interview with Cadence Spalding:

John : I truly enjoyed meeting you for the first time awhile back. It’s very apparent to me that you are a friendly and sincere person. I am asking this half jokingly, but how did you arrive a such a wonderful disposition Cadence?

Cadence Spalding: Thank you John for complimenting my disposition – there are so many jokes for right here! – regarding female disposition in general – meaning my family will tell you just how “human” I can really be – but I’ll refrain and say “thank you – that’s such a nice compliment” – and maybe you are just picking up on how blessed and happy in general I’m feeling these days to even be talking about my music – inseparable from myself – and feeling satisfied that those sounds I’ve heard inside my mind for as long as I can remember are finding their way into my voice and through my playing hands and imprinting onto digital recordings and floating through the airwaves and touching hearts – and if even one, that means the world to me – to be able to express my deepest joy and gratitude – and to share that dialogue with others here on earth.

And maybe too you are picking up on the fact that I use music as a tool to soothe myself and to pray and to meditate, so it helps me to relax and to be inspired and to connect with God (although I’m non-denominational), and I can only wish that it can help do the same for the listeners – to help them to pray or to connect spiritually to a God of their choice.

Okay, I’m also just beyond excited about a project I’ve been working on since my early 20’s as a music teacher in public schools called “Miss Jenny”. I perform music in costumes and as a “one-girl-show” on guitar, vocals and piano – singing rock/blues/country versions of kiddy classics. I’m now doing weekly Miss Jenny shows at festivals near my hometown in the Napa Valley, and just got asked to co-host a local, live! TV show here as Miss Jenny called “The N.A.P.A. Show” with host Arty Party. A new adventure, great people, musical, creative, community oriented and lots of fun!!

John : You have performed as a vocalist on another artists albums prior to your solo release. Has it been rewarding like expected, composing and performing on your own album, or is it more work than you had expected?

Cadence Spalding: I’ve so enjoyed singing on his albums – they are so diverse. He is a wonderful man, a beautiful father, and gifted artist and a true genius in the studio. Can I say that about my own husband? Well, I just did – lol!! I was a fan of his music long before I met him, and obviously we hit it off on many levels, as now we have a beautiful son and we are married. The crazy thing is that we work together professionally as well, and it all seems to work so well. We are blessed and I think we both know it. Truth is that even though this CD has my name on it, my husband and I really recorded this album together, side by side. It has a lot of co-writes, and he is the sound engineer, and plays a lot of the instruments. And YES, great question John, it was a lot more work than expected – but most worthy things seem to be. Our Christmas album was our first official project together called Star Is Born, so we definitely had a taste of the size of this project ahead of time – but we were held up anyways with a new baby and lots of library music work – so working together on this was perfect timing – as we already were in building and recording mode. The layered vocals take a lot of patience and perseverance to accomplish – but again, revealing this fresh sound that we discovered together is so exciting, and sky is the limit. We have a lot more of these projects to do, and that’s a blessing too.

John: Your first project is Save The World, and is a great album I might add. What was the turning point that made you decide to produce your first solo album?

Cadence Spalding: I’ve been playing, writing, performing and teaching music most of my life – so it was a natural progression to record a solo album. My very first album singer/songwriter album was recorded ages ago actually, and just sold in small outlets – “demo” though, as the quality was slightly below broadcast, but a few of the songs did well publishing wise and I toured with my band in the LA area.

I’ve worked hard on improving my vocals the last 5 or so years – singing in professional choirs and studying voice specifically, and finally technology was accessible for my passion for songwriting and especially harmony. I was also ready to record this album at the same time I was ready to perform a sound like this live. The sound when performed live involves back up prerecorded vocals that I sing on top of in full voice, and I think it sounds even better than the album because I also play rhythm guitar on top of it, and it has a stronger acoustic/rock vibe – live that is. It is a TRIP to do this music LIVE! I LOVE it!! I think of songwriting as something so much more than basic composition – it has really kind of therapy for me over the years. When times were tough, I’d stay up late and write shoe boxes full of songs – often scribbled into journals and on pieces of paper in the middle of the night. Teenage and early adult angst – 1A – and I thank God for the writing getting me through lots of hard times in my young adulthood. And again, I have to thank my family for this, as I come from 4 generations of musicians and music teachers – so piano lessons at age 3 wasn’t uncommon.

I was fortunate as a young girl to have mentors to inspire me to be open creatively and to work hard, and they made it fun and interesting for me by praising me for practicing and encouraging the writing throughout my childhood and teenage years. I only wish more parents would encourage their kids to be creative musically. It is a healthy and calming outlet. Just reading notes on a page is so difficult for most children! I wish parents would be more open in general to alternative modes of music education – like for example….uh oh…rock n roll! Aren’t we there yet people? Is this still seen as something “less” than classical music?? How sad. I wish the gift of music for all children in the world. I wish parents would be more open to kids learning rock!!!

John: Your singing abilities are extraordinary. Could you tell us your music background and the instruments you play?

Cadence Spalding: OH my goodness, what a sweet question this is to me, as really most of my life had music as a big part of it, but not as a vocalist. Personally I started piano at age 3 as a result of 4 generations of music teachers behind me – but the ideal age for kids physically, is about 7. Guitar lessons started in high school, and later on that was the perfect instrument for me to teach my students with because of it’s mobility and the fact that kids naturally LOVE rock n roll! In elementary school I was playing in school bands on violin and flute. It was not only just a great hobby – but something that gave me self confidence and joy – and the schools I attended all had terrific programs. Today, it’s unfortunately not available to all children, music education that is, and that truly breaks my heart.

I have always loved to sing, but didn’t study voice formally until well into my adulthood. I had to work very hard to open up my upper register. Once it opened, I never shut up!! I began singing in church choirs as a second soprano well into my adulthood. It was a blast! The feeling of singing music that I love, old and new styles, is euphoric. I can’t get enough. It’s almost like an addiction to be honest…and thank God a healthy one !

John: What were your thoughts behind some of the song lyrics. What is the meaning behind the lyrics in Trust In Love?

Cadence Spalding: Trust In Love is a prayer. It’s meaning to me is as simple as it sounds – and a universal sentiment that is unique to every individual. We all have parts of our lives where trusting in love is the answer. It’s in integral force in nature in a way – love.

Love makes everything grow, pulls us, inspires us – but is often the difficult choice to make in reality. I was thinking about world peace when I wrote this song, hoping that just in general, mankind would trust in love more. The lyrics are straight forward and it is written in classic Celtic prayer form with traditional early American church hymns and chorales as the inspiration.

I was struck by the melody which is almost circular – each verse like a complete thought or sentence – and to you musicians out there – returning to the one cord before you would expect – giving it that “old” feel naturally. Grandma’s Song is more of a traditional Pop! ballad written in 3/4 time or a “waltz” time signature, and was written for my Grandma when she passed away.

I wrote that entire song, music and lyrics, on the night that she actually died. It was a supernatural experience. I am positive that she helped me write it from the “other side”– it was a beautiful journey. I still get choked up by that song, and I perform it at lots of family type of events like birthdays and unfortunately, funerals. It is a song with deep sentimental value to me.

John: What were the song lyrics in Share Your Life about?

Cadence Spalding: Share Your Life was a song off my very first album – ages ago and a different name even…for a documentary for handicapped children for a beautiful organization called Share Inc. in Los Angeles. I was so honored to be a part of that prestigious charity group, a “Share Lady”. We raised nearly a million dollars a year for handicapped children in the Los Angeles area – doing an annual event/live show where we sang and danced on some of the greatest stages with some of the greatest talents in Hollywood. I was asked to write a theme song for their promotional video that was originally hosted by the late, great James Coburn.

The song came to me quickly, after being deeply moved by volunteering at a hospital for severely handicapped children. I was overwhelmed, beyond tears – at the strength and courage of the staff at these hospitals and by the families involved. The words came naturally and straight from the heart – and my cherished “sisters”, the lovely ladies of “Share Inc.” were so inspiring and supportive of my songwriting. Children, along with animals, are part of that family of “voiceless creatures” of the earth that we as healthy adults, are responsible for.

We share this burden as humans – it is given to us at birth – to care for these voiceless creatures. The littlest amount of volunteering can do a mountain of good, and it makes us feel alive and content in return. “Time to make it right…share your life…” Seems so simple –but I think many of us want to help more but don’t know where to begin. Thanks John for asking me about that song. I get moved every time I think about all the inspiring philanthropy I have been privileged to witness. I’m talking about such hard work and dedication from ordinary people that is beyond belief.

John: I read you are working on a new project. What can we expect Cadence?

Cadence Spalding: My new album is nearly finished and listeners can expect a release late this year or early 2010 – and I’m thinking of calling it “sessions” as it features an eclectic mix of pop, rock, new age, classical and even a dash of country. A feast of flavors – and a few surprises as well, with even an occasional acoustic version of the Cadence Spalding songs from Save The World that I’ve been getting requests to sing “naked.” Not me LOL, but the songs!! And so I did, happily, after producing them with often hundreds of layers of vocals per song and extensive instrumentation and sound design, it was a true pleasure to record them in their original form – acoustically.

My test for my music, in the beginning, has always been just that. I try to go by the philosophy that if a song is good raw, acapella even, it can then be built into anything and virtually in any musical style. So this new album I’m now creating will be a whole new adventure – evolving and building on the past and continuing to explore the sound we discovered, while revealing a more “raw” side, kind of a glimpse of my “underbelly” as an singer/songwriter – and as a woman too.

John: You had told me that you volunteer your time with children. Could you tell us about your volunteer work?

Cadence Spalding: In the past I have done many years of charity work involving music – often by volunteering my services as a music teacher, choir director, dancer, director – you name it. A music teacher by trade, and as jobs for Art Education in public schools becoming more and more sparse and low paying, I would get involved in all kinds of productions for charity in the beginning, just because I wanted to work and to learn. This lead to more work than I bargained for, but I don’t regret a single day of it.

I have composed songs for a group called songsoflove.org, an organization in NYC that writes and records songs for terminally ill children. I also wrote original musicals for kids for various churches, and even owned a performing arts school for kids at one point in San Francisco that did a lot of volunteering for the community. It’s just so much fun – all of it. What could possibly be more of a gift than sharing music with kids? Amazing. I think I get more out of it that anyone, and when I perform or write music for a charitable cause – the added pleasure of being thanked for my time makes it a treasured part of my life that brings me pure joy. It’s the ultimate high!! Please check the inside of my CD cover for Save The World for a list of charity organizations I’m involved with and how to donate time or money.

John: It has been great to visit with you again Cadence. I look forward to our next visit and doing a review of your next project. Thanks again for taking the time to do an interview with me.

Visit CadenceSongs.com or sample and purchase this album at Amazon.com. Read my Save The World album review. Photos are courtesy Cadence Spalding.

Many artist from all music genres can sometimes resemble a particular tone or feel that sounds like another artist, which can be evident from the very beginning while listening to their music.

With composing artist David Wahler this is not the case. The New Age Antiquus album, officially released June 1 2009, has some personal trademark qualities not heard in projects from musicians established before him. David points out that this album explores our common heritage through classical compositions, and that each of the 10 songs makes reference to an ancient myth, sacred love, or eternal truth that everyone shares.

Beginning music as a young adult, David Wahler moved to formal music studies in college, and then to the theater, directing several productions while performing with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, and New American Theater.

The Antiquus album has attracted attention in the Netherlands in particular and is featured on New Age Soundscapes with Music Choice premium services. David also has a sense of giving, devoting himself and his time teaching music to handicap and disadvantaged children, in a worthwhile cause he found personally rewarding, and this is something I would like to recognize about him publicly.

The Antiquus album debut has been described as New Age Ambient, Neo Classical, and Electronic, but let’s also add Orchestra and Chill Out, since they can also be used as reference adjectives to describe his material. Provoking many emotions, the mood is thoughtful and ever changing by the insertion of a light and airy feel at times, that then shift towards deep and mysterious surroundings as the measure bar in the sheet music moves into the next measure of the page.

With this goal in mind, David Wahler has managed to produce a debut album that appears to stand alone in personal style and form, creating a model as an artisan would create a grand sculpture adorned with touches of gold, and crafted entirely out of sound.

The Antiquus album does explore our ancient past to unveil our present in an unfamiliar way by incorporating a layering and mixing of piano, strings, flute, violin, and percussion in a mysterious, yet classical way.

Choral vocals reinforce his approach in style, echoing a graceful and poetic feel, while also shining bright by a deep, thought provoking mannerism that seems to stand out from the very beginning.

With this goal in mind, David Wahler has managed to produce a debut album that appears to stand alone in personal style and form, creating a model as an artisan would create a grand sculpture adorned with touches of gold, and crafted entirely out of sound.

The mood is indeed very dreamlike and relaxing by a modern tempo rhythm that uniquely offers a positive connection by retaining interest and imagination throughout the entire album.

Shifting tempo and key changes are what I believe give this album an effective transition in thought and feeling, linking the valuable bond between our very distant past and our ever changing future.

Visit davidwahler.com to sample this music collectable.

Picture Copyright Bigstockphoto.com.

Arturo Mayorga is recognized as a dancing pianist but don’t get me wrong, Arturo does not literally dance while playing piano. However if he were to attempt this feat, I am certain it would be as graceful and dignified as what I have heard in his first classic New Age piano CD.

Equal to his talents as a composing musician, Arturo Mayorga is nationally ranked in the competitive sport of Ballroom dancing, where Waltz, Tango, and Swing are scrutinized before watchful judges who watch for the accepted criteria of a dancing couple locked hand in hand. Now with a concert piano as his partner, Cascades embraces the identical movements found in classical dance by having a choreography timed with proper speed, motion, and balance.

Like so many musicians, a parent’s considerate gift of a musical instrument at an early age is what began his interest in music. Arturo states that it was at this early age that he realized the impact of what one person playing an instrument could have on another. Arturo continued music through high school then college. His scholastic studies were in math and science, but composing music was also on his mind so he started the framework songs for the Cascades album during this time period. While judging this CD for myself, I found the 10 classic piano songs of varying moods left me feeling they were a personal revelation of his emotional thoughts put to music.

Cascades begins with first song Sunrise. This mid tempo piano and violin duet sets the standard for a graceful heartfelt ballet, where each timed movement is balanced by the piano melody considering violin takes a second seat by following the lead. There is much emotional content since a melancholy feel is present, lending to a touch of sadness, yet adding character and definition, leaving a beautiful image of what you have just heard in your mind.

While judging this debut album for myself, I found the 10 classic piano songs of varying moods left me feeling they were a personal revelation of his emotional thoughts put to music.

The Last Night of Winter aligns well with the piano’s duo partner in allowing violin to take the lead in portion of the melody during this faster paced song, where full 360 degree rotational dance pivots, and those brief stationary pauses always see during pivot turns, can be pictured in your mind if you try.

The title song Cascades is a true champion in freestyle, where a faster tempo piano promenades with every rise and fall in piano key note steps, reaching the full height in posture, rhythm, and speed.

Violin notes then connects with the melody posturing in a more formal manner while piano strokes sweep along the keyboard at a dizzying pace. The positive upbeat piano movements seem to sweep you off your feet at critical moments, leaving you breathless at the finish.

Arturo is successful at engraving a full range of emotional content and movement into his classic orchestra style music. Cascades is a wonderful piano and instrumental album with beautiful rhythm.

Knowing Arturo Mayorga’s background in dance, one can easily imagine themselves sitting in the audience watching him in motion while listening to his music. From where I happen to be sitting, Arturo appears to be a winner.

Visit the dancing pianist dressed in black at ArturoMayorga.com and his music store digstation.com.

Cover art courtesy of arturomayorga.com – Photo copyright Big Stock Photo – aysarts.

John P. Olsen, New Age Music World host and contributing author for newagemusic.nu has conducted an interview with Australis, composer and producer Oscar Aguayo. Drawing imagination from experience in his homeland and earliest life changing events, Australis is a mixture of New Age, Electronic, Ambient, Neo-Classic and Ethnic, in contrasting genres. Together there is a fine emotional depth in all of his releases that portray a wonderful contrast in individual expression.

Oscar Aguayo’s first album entitled Lifegiving was compiled from his earlier recollections as a young adult and portrays ethnic pathways leading towards a deep emotional expression, where each of the 10 songs blend into an intricate canopy filled with rich colorful instrumentation.

The second Australis release entitled The Gates of Reality is a beautiful mixture of contrasting genres in a fine balance of emotional depth in all 14 compositions.  This release is based on individual concepts, and how perceptions affect our personal understanding of the world around us. The gates of Reality took 3 years to complete. We are pleased to present this interview to fan of Australis, and our site visitors.

Interview with Australis;

John Olsen : Would you tell us about yourself and your musical background?

Oscar Aguayo : I was born in Peru a few decades ago, the oldest son in a family where music-playing was part of everyday life. My earliest memories are crowded with images of my mother at home playing the guitar while singing, and the alien mixture of emotions I experienced from those songs. You see, my mother’s songs weren’t children songs designed to expose children to a reduced, predigested set of emotions. Instead, she used to sing “adult” songs that dealt with all feelings, most of them completely unknown to me at three years of age.

I think about this frequently. Judging by how deep those memories are anchored in my mind and by the unique taste they still have to me to this day, I have to assume that although my conscious mind was confused by the unknown feelings conveyed by my mother’s singing, my subconscious must have been breathlessly making associations, creating patterns; interpreting the meaning of those melodies from what I perceived in my mother’s voice and facial expressions, experiencing brand new emotions not from life but from her music. Whatever the explanation may be, since as far as I can remember I experience music as a language born from emotions with the purpose of transmitting those emotions to others.

John : You currently have 2 New Age/Neo-Classical albums available for purchase. Lifegiving from 2005 and your most recent, The Gates of Reality from 2008. What awards and recognition have you received from these 2 projects at present?

Oscar Aguayo : Lifegiving earned me the “Morpheus Music 2004 Best Independent Artist” early in 2005. Several tracks from it have been selected to be included in several compilations from the US and Europe; and additionally, the entire disc was licensed for re-release and distribution in Asia by an international label. The Gates of Reality is still too new to have earned any awards to this date, although it is already reaching the same level of popularity of its predecessor. I have to admit, however, that no award or recognition can compare to the fulfillment experienced when you learn that your music has touched somebody. No public award can match that kind of personal satisfaction.

John : How would you describe your music to someone not familiar with your very unique style of music?

Oscar Aguayo : That’s a very good question because every person understands music in their own terms. Everybody tries to come up with names and words to define music, everybody tries to define its genres and to delimit styles within those genres despite the fact that music is unique to each person. So, how to describe my music when my description represents only my personal perceptions ?

Even when in the most broad level my music falls within what we currently know as New Age/Ambient, I still want to avoid sub-categorizing it. Instead, I would try describing it by its intentions: to challenge the mind and captivate the heart, to seduce the listener to explore their own emotional universe, to provoke their imagination and awaken their memory. With that as a foundation, I would add a brief description of its acoustic elements: an amalgam of spacious evolving pads, seductive exotic rhythms, evocative atmospheres and aromatic melodies. Then I would finish adding that my music is composed as a reaction to whatever emotional stimuli I am experiencing at that moment. In other words, each track originates as a response to a real feeling or set of feelings I am going through.

John : Could you explain the circumstances or reasons for becoming a musician, and why you choose New Age music over all other genres?

Oscar Aguayo : In all truth, I am a latecomer. You see, although I was exposed to music since birth and developed an intimate relationship with it since very early in my life; mine was a conservative family. The world of professional music was perceived – and with good reason – as a morally risky environment and therefore my parents never encouraged me on that direction. It wasn’t a stern prohibition, of course, and I was still able to compose music and create a few bands during my teenage years, gaining stage experience and musical proficiency along the way. However, the idea of pursuing a professional career as a musician was never serious at home, and even years after I moved out to live by myself, I never saw myself as one. That was until my father passed away eleven years ago.

Without going into details, all my perspectives changed after that event. The meanings of every aspect of life shifted under my feet and I started to discover that many of the things I thought were important, actually weren’t; and that many areas I took from granted and regarded as trivial were actually the ones that give substance to life. In the middle of this process, as things were falling into their new places it became clear to me that music was much more than just a fun hobby. I found there was so much to say through it, but so far I had never taken it seriously enough. That’s when I started considering composing and producing music professionally.

To answer the second part of the question, I don’t think music genre is as important as the messages and the emotions you as a composer want to convey. And since the range of human emotions is so wide, choosing New Age was more of an evolutionary process than an intentional one for me. I’ve composed in many different genres since age 12. It’s my personal opinion that New Age is the only musical genre that doesn’t impose creative parameters on the composer. In that sense, I think New Age is the less defined genre of all, providing the composer with an unmatched freedom of musical expression.

John : Since genre is not as important to you, than the emotions you want to inspire for your listeners, What emotions can one expect to feel from your music?

Oscar Aguayo : This is an interesting question. At the beginning I assumed my listeners would experience the same emotions I experienced when composing a particular piece. If I felt specially moved by something, I would translate those feelings into a musical piece and was sure that whoever listened to it would be moved in similar ways. I’ve learned soon that is not the case, though. The truth is that every person has their own unique emotional structure, and although we all coincide on the generic emotional levels, our interpretation of more specific emotional stimulus is very personal. So, even when I can speak about the emotions I convey through my music, I am simply unable to speak about the emotions listeners will experience from it. Of course, there’s nothing extraordinary in my emotions.

They are the same we all experience: the many contrasts of love; our enduring hopes; the deep fears of our times; the numberless little joys of everyday life. The passion in our hearts; our endless curiosity; our desire to explore and to find things bigger than ourselves. The darker angles of our souls can’t be excluded: our shortcomings and selfishness; the secrets we keep only to ourselves. My music originates from all of these emotions. On the listeners’ side, I will always defend their freedom to experience my – and all – music in their own unique ways, to extract from it the emotions their hearts need and enjoy.

John : Can you describe what your albums are about, or can you share what thoughts and experiences from your homeland come to mind for each of your 2 albums: Lifegiving & The Gates of Reality?

Oscar Aguayo : Lifegiving is a free compilation of the varied tracks I composed when I redefined my own musical intentions. It felt so incredibly good to musically express myself in complete honesty that I let myself go. In fact, the album’s title came from the concept of a birth, an act of giving and receiving life. The result is an album where each track is its own little world.

In contrast, The Gates of Reality is a more intentional work. In 2005 I finished Lifegiving very aware of the role imagination plays in our daily lives, very interested in how our unique perceptions affect our personal understanding of the world around us. Love, hate, hope, desolation, peace, war, faith, disbelief; all of our emotions are the result of our perceptions, and our perceptions are the result of the interaction between intellect and imagination. It quickly became a set of concepts worth of exploration. It took me three years to finish.

John : Oscar, you have said in the past that music has the ability to break political and social barriers. I understand your comment somewhat, but what exactly did you mean by that?

Oscar Aguayo : I mean that beneath our external labels we all need the same things. We may not speak the same language, we may live within countries in conflict with each other, we may have inherited the external characteristics of a particular race, we may belong to particular social groups and sympathize with particular political points of view. But no matter how different or incompatible we could seem to be towards each other, we all have a heart that feels and loves, that fears and hopes.

That’s where music plays a unique role. We may be unable to speak to each other, we may find ourselves unable to overcome our external labels – of race, of patriotism, of ideology – in order to communicate with each other in good faith; but we are all susceptible to music. We may come from centuries of injustice, or from ephemeral conditions of privilege; but we are all vulnerable to music because music ignores the superficial areas of the human condition and goes straight to the deep ones, the ones that are common to everybody. In this sense I’ve had the honor of having personal communication with listeners from both sides of armed conflicts and with listeners from religious groups incompatible with each other; and share their thoughts and dreams and hopes, all as a consequence of music.

I think as a sentient species, we are still very primitive. Our technology may be very advanced and our knowledge very vast; but we still have to learn the basics. We are able to take a humans beings to the moon, but we are unable to feed the poor in our own cities. We have harnessed the power to destroy our own home planet, but we are still ignorant on how to live in peace among ourselves. Yes, we are very primitive. And it will be a very long time until we learn the basics. Fortunately, we have music to help us blur the many imaginary lines that separate us from us.

John : Recently a fan of yours posted a comment on my review of The Gates of Reality, and said; “Let me comment that this (Australis) is one of the best musicians I’ve ever heard.” Since this person will likely be reading this interview too, how would you respond to the person who posted this comment?

Oscar Aguayo : I would start expressing how deeply honored those warm words make me feel. I would want that person to know how grateful I am that my music appeals to their soul and that they took the time to express that on your review.

Nothing motivates the independent musician better and deeper than knowing his/her music has moved somebody. It is a concept hard to explain unless one understands what “independent” means in the music industry.

If you compare the world of professional music to an ocean, an independent – in other words, “unsigned” – artist is someone who sets to cross the Atlantic on board of a minute canoe. While “signed” artists make the same trip on board of a cruise with a crew of people paid to drive the boat, the independent musician is usually alone and depends absolutely on his/her own devices. Most likely, he/she won’t make it; but he/she tries nonetheless. His progress, if any, will be discouragingly slow. The independent musician must absolutely love what he/she is doing, otherwise who would voluntarily decide to embark into such an unfavorable endeavor?

That is why comments like the one you mentioned are so meaningful to the independent musician. They make you realize you are not alone in the middle of a dark ocean on a reduced piece of wood keeping you afloat, but that you in the company of countless other human being sailing their own dark oceans by themselves. Suddenly everything takes deeper meanings and you know you are in the right path; all because of comments like those.

John : Is there anything you would like to tell our readers that I have not asked or brought up during our interview?

Oscar Aguayo : Only that I appreciate very much this opportunity to share with you and all your many readers my personal impressions about so many subjects. As I tried to say earlier, the listener is what makes all the difference for the composer. Believe me, I’ve composed private music for decades. It is only when the composer interacts – musically or verbally, like through your interview today – with the listener that everything starts to make sense.

On that subject, let me invite all of your readers to visit Australis official website for the newest material and latest news, at: AustralisMusic.com. Also, I’ve finally opened accounts on Facebook and on Twitter where behind scenes details are posted several times a day. Please feel free to drop by and say hello. John, again, thank you very much for inviting me. You can also read my New Age Music World pages dedicated to Australis. Photos are courtesy australismusic.com.

Oscar Aguayo, having the artist title Australis, is a fine musician I have written about and interviewed in the past.  His 2 albums Lifegiving & The Gates of Reality are both excellent choices for New Age fans who enjoy top quality music.

Lifegiving was compiled from his earlier recollections as a young adult and portrays ethnic pathways leading towards a deep emotional expression, where each of the 10 songs blend into an intricate canopy filled with rich colorful instrumentation.

The Gates of Reality is a mixture in contrasting genres in a fine balance of emotional depth in all 14 compositions.  Based on individual concepts and how perceptions affect our personal understanding of the world around us, this album took 3 years to complete.

The in-depth interview with Oscar Aguayo and my album reviews for Lifegiving & The Gates of Reality can be read at our page dedicated to Australis.  Oscar is working on his third album and songs can be heard when subscribing to his newsletter, plus behind the scenes details about Australis projects can be found daily at his Facebook & Twitter pages.

Visit AustralisMusic.com to sample or purchase  and find at his CDBaby.com page.  Below is my Australis review quote giving you a hint of Oscar Aguayo’s fascinating orchestrations, along with the song video Essentia.

Australis is a New Age artist title that treks into the mysterious sub-genre lands of Ambient, World, Electronic, and Neo Classical, having ethnic pathways with deep emotional expression, where each song blends into an intricate canopy filled with rich colorful instrumentation.

In the very beginning, 6 million square miles of rain forests exist worldwide but because of relatively recent deforestation, only 2.6 million square miles remain. What is really alarming is that this major deforestation took place within the past 50 years. It is estimated that over  85 % of the species of animals, plants, and microorganisms now remaining in these vital ecosystems will be destroyed by the year 2020, with increasing timber losses of 56,000 square miles each year.

Oscar Aguayo is the musician with the artist title of Australis. Oscar is one among many persons who has first hand knowledge and shares this environmental concern about the rain forests, having been born and raised in a tropical rain forest region of the Amazonian Basin in Peru, South America. While Oscar presently resides in America, his 2005 electronic album Lifegiving makes reference to this complex political and social question involving our rain forests around the world.

Australis first album Lifegiving is a New Age music endeavor that steps into a lush undergrowth in the mysterious sub-genre land of Ambient, World, Electronica, and Classical, with Ethnic music pathways.

The electronic music of Australis finds deep emotional expression, where each discovery blends into an intricate canopy filled with rich colorful instrumentation. The 10 songs on Lifegiving which represent his personal insight, are portrayed on this album using careful craftsmanship that in turn introduces a strong emotive content that exists beyond any cultural, political, or geographical limitations.

This unique excursion begins with the title song Lifegiving, where faint chirping of jungle soundscapes ascend slowly into the lush surroundings. The single key piano notes then sketch an image of dew drops from the jungle canopy, falling onto dense tropical vegetation below. The deep recesses of secluded terrain are soon lit by violin and string interlude that together emerge to install thoughts of dusk like visibility. While glancing upward, small fragments of sun beams penetrate the full tree tops above, changing your perspective on the time of day. Slowly as the song starts to fade, total darkness begins to descend around you, bringing with it soft audible animal chants while they return to their nightly song ritual.

The Enchantment is a song rich in orchestral diversity with lively strings and woodwinds engaging in a native dance full of tempo and key changes that both excite and captivate those who have entered this mysterious land of musical enchantment.

Sacred Earth is an upbeat Ethnic song that explores the inner boundaries of this earthly sanctuary largely responsible for our life giving resources of medicine, water and air that we breath. While woodwind, flute, and piano play a colorful fragrant harmony, exotic instruments lend their perspective sovereignty, giving this song a unique essence. The bongo drums, woodblock, and abundant percussion claves enhance this song by an indirect border, giving it a deep tribal influence without overriding the primary melody.

Oscar Aguayo’s brother Alvaro lends his talent by playing an exotic 10 string Charango in this song, adding refinement and warmth to the experience. The song ends by fading into a soft forest rainfall, leaving you with a collective memory of your musical excursion filled with creativity and interest on this album, and our life giving rain forests worth saving.

In a conservative estimate, over 6000 life giving trees in our rain forests around the world were lost during the short amount of time it took you to read my Lifegiving album review.

An interview with Oscar Aguayo of Australis will be published soon, so that you may get the facts behind this amazing artist. You may read about the latest Australis album – The Gates of Reality review and visit AustralisMusic.com. Sample the album at  CDBaby. Picture copyright Bigstockphoto.com – gtrmtt84.

The acclaimed Jazz producer, composer, and performer Royce Campbell has released a New Age music project on the Moon Cycle Records label titled, Ear of the Beholder. While over 30 Jazz albums can be found titled under his name as lead or co-lead, the artist title Eucalyptus Dream is what you should look for when shopping in the New Age music section.

This is a first for Royce Campbell who honored a request from his friends in the medical and healing profession to provide some music for people to relax with during their patient therapy sessions.

This is quite a change of pace for Royce considering that during his 35 year career as a musician he has toured with the likes of Marvin Gaye, while also touring 19 years with award winning film composer and musician Henry Mancini.

The large number of legendary Jazz musicians he has performed with is just too numerous to list. Knowing his professional profile and having performed with this vast amount of talent from another genres, we gladly welcome Royce with open arms and can now proudly claim him as an honorary New Age artist.

Royce Campbell’s credits as a Jazz musician list 11 albums on U.S. Nationwide charts, with 4 in the top 10. With so much experience and success in Jazz, this leap into New Age music might be difficult for some people.

For Royce Campbell this apparently is not the case here since those 35 years of experience and a broad music career have obviously eased that transition.  Royce explains a focus on the composing aspects, rather than just performing as a guitar soloist was the right approach with this change in genre album.

The Ear of the Beholder by Eucalyptus Dream is a debut where it is pretty clear Royce Campbell takes New Age music just as seriously as when performing in his familiar Jazz style.

Multiple influences abound while a landscape of picturesque thoughts rise to the surface, allowing the listener to relax and take in Royce Campbell’s style at their own pace sometimes with, but mostly without his usual guitar. The result of this daring transition is a successful leap into New Age.

This first album by Eucalyptus Dream is great in the fact that the music is truly New Age, having synthesized ambient rhythms, guitar, flute, choral vocals and some great percussion effects that are composed without the repetitiveness found in some music of all genres. Much of the album blends Western, Eastern and modern influences in a nicely composed ambient blend, easily surpassing the request of relaxing music his friends in the medical profession were looking for, and so much more.

It is unknown to me whether the artist title Eucalyptus Dream was chosen because of the abundant medical uses scientist’s have discovered in the more than 700 Eucalyptus tree and plant species. Perhaps that is the reason since the therapeutic dose of relaxation qualities found on this album are safe, reliable and effective, which does support that possibility.

His music website is roycecampbell.com – Sample the album on CDBaby

Picture copyright Bigstockphoto.com – ozflash.