New Age Music World

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If you are not color blind, the colors that we see in everyday life are interpreted as wavelengths in a portion of the visible spectrum. Specific frequencies of those wavelengths determine exactly which color our eyes translate the brain to perceive.

Contemporary New Age composing artist Lawrence Blatt, who emerged number 1 in the NAR Best New Artist and Independent Music Award finalist, paints a beautiful guitarists interpretation through a color spectrum metaphor. His album is inspired from a description of color relating to physicist Isaac Newton’s color circle titled Opticks.

Isaac Newton had compared colors of the visible spectrum to musical notes centuries ago. Almost as if holding a brush and an artist’s palette of paint, Lawrence defines his own present day theory in a representation of the audible color spectrum in an adaptation of Newton’s principals through his own beautiful guitar compositions.

Lawrence Blatt has his most recent album titled The Color of Sunshine, on the Blue Pie label 2009, displaying 14 songs as artistic strokes in a colorful exhibit of his music, visualized from his home in San Francisco California. Many music influences are represented including New Age Classical, Latin, Folk, and World, blending many beautiful guitar influences in this masterful rendition.

Grammy Award winner Will Ackerman, founder of Windham Hill Records, lends his talented hand as producer of this vibrant album, also taking part during song recording sessions in guitar, vocal, and percussion roles.

Lawrence Blatt paints a beautiful artist’s interpretation through a color spectrum metaphor. Holding a brush and artist’s palette of paint, he paints a colorful present day theory of the audible color spectrum.

The Color of Sunshine can be defined as intricate acoustic guitar melodies fusing with orchestral instruments and numerous percussion roles, in a unique companionship, portraying a warm and pleasant atmosphere. Lawrence plays the guitars like a pro, having over 30 years of playing guitar.

The song Mar Azul begins with a serene moderate paced beginning and quickly advances to a faster tempo where Latin and World music influences emerge near the outer edges of the color spectrum. Inspiration for this song was drawn from the Pacific Ocean, where the shade of deep cobalt blue waters contrast beautifully with the lighter pastel blue sky. The rays of lighter tones shine brightly by guitar strumming full of runs and bounding rhythms. The warm sounds of Charango guitar and accordion are a fine mix, with violin overlapping in perfect harmony to capture the dramatic ending.

Violet Blue is a song that caught my attention from the very start, having a simple yet well defined ukulele tone melody full of emotion. The multiple classic instruments of South American Charango, acoustic, and nylon guitars, mix with piano and cello, lending to a heart felt melancholy touch to the piece. The rich sound of the exotic Charango captures the primary melody as each note lends itself to a memorable upbeat rhythm that includes light, perfectly times hand clapping that I found interesting and added the ideal touch to the overall effect of the theme. As it turned out, I did a little hand clapping of my own.

The Color of Sunshine is a beautiful album put to an audible canvas. Full of interest and creativity by the many talents put on display in this exhibit it shows, and it shows well.

You can find this musical exhibit at lawrenceblatt.com. Picture Copyright Bigstockphoto.com – HelleM.

I find it very inspiring that so many popular musicians have discovered the New Age genre as a medium to express their musical diversity. New Age music is fast becoming ever more popular every day, compelling by offering musicians a unique category to display their music wares in a sub-genre expression.

Paul Jensen an acoustic guitarist who regularly performs in the Contemporary Folk style of Easy Listening guitar music. His lyrical verses are pleasing to the ear and are perfect for times of contemplation, placing oneself in a relaxing carefree mood, or for pure enjoyment.

Paul Jensen finds his inspiration from the natural wonders of the earth, and it greatly influences his personal style of singing and songwriting, in an expression of natural beauty everyone can discover for themselves.

The Other Side album from 2008 on the Juan Carlos Production label that debuted at #4 on NAR’s music charts is a great choice indeed. It is just right for those times set aside to self indulge in relaxing time spent alone, with a loved one, or with close friends and family who also appreciate the lighter side of easy listening pleasures.

The contributing artists furnish their own professional skills, including Grammy Award winning Will Ackerman, who lends a hand playing guitar, and his accomplished touch in producing this back to nature inspired album.

The 12 songs on The Other Side do emphasize much of what there is to explore in the vast wilderness full of wildlife and natural beauty, validating a more comtemplative approach to music that I found apparent in his pioneer style.

The contributing artists on Paul’s The Other Side release furnish their own professional skills, including Grammy Award winning Will Ackerman, who lends a hand playing guitar, and his accomplished touch in producing this back to nature inspired album.

Paul Jensen discovered an inspiration from the natural wonders of the earth, and is apparent that it greatly influences his personal style of singing and songwriting. Much of the creativity behind his work is drawn from adventurous time spent in the Colorado National Monument in the U.S.

This scenic National Park in Colorado has vast acres of wilderness land set aside for everyone to discover the natural wonders through hiking, horseback, and by adventure filled wilderness trails. This opportunity to discover America’s natural wonders gives people like Paul a chance to explore and grasp the sought after inspiration required for delivering his compelling Contemporary Instrumental Folk music.

In addition to Paul’s performance on acoustic guitar, beautiful vocals provide much of the richness, plus additional distinction is added by the warm characteristics of orchestra instruments. The wonderful instrumentation on The Other Side is enhanced by the cultured sounds of horn, cello, violin, piano and mandolin.

Paul Jensen’s diversity as a guitarist turns The Other Side into a release with a classic touch strengthening the harmonious beauty of his music in relation to our earth’s natural wonders, both of which are waiting for you to discover.

Visit Paul’s easygoing website juancarlosproductions.com. Photos are courtesy Paul Jensen.

It might be surprising to some that literary poetry is thought to predate language in the context of reading, writing, and speaking as a form of communication.  Some important elements of poetry consist of the meter or rhythmic structure of the poem in a measurement involving flow and movement. Proper structure is also an important component when composing and performing as a musician.

American Contemporary New Age artist Nick Farr, apparently has the proper abilities involving rhythm and structure in both music and poetry since his many accomplishments as a composer include being a published author of literary poetry, prose, short stories, fiction and children’s books. His literary career was perhaps second nature to him considering he began classical music studies at age 5 and then pursued music while in college.

Nick Farr has 6 albums total with The Ever Present Now from 2009, on the Riverboy Records label as his latest release. This latest album held the number 1 and 2 positions in NAR’s Top 100 air wave chart in January and February 2009, with additional nation wide online airplay.

Generous mixtures of mid tempo Contemporary Instrumental and nice Jazz influences do give it an aesthetic just right feel by employing the free style he is accustomed to in piano arrangements. Flute, saxophone, horns and strings provide the back drop in some songs, enhancing the classic description and giving it a distinguished tone.

Produced by Grammy Award winning Randy Kling, this release is more classical piano than some of Nick’s earlier albums making a nice medium to show a finer sophisticated mindset without being overly classical.

The 12 songs on The Ever Present Now represent a well versed language of music and poetry by this dedicated artist who reaches into genres of Contemporary Instrumental, New Age, Classical Piano, and Jazz.

The song Solace is a poetic hopeful song, comforting by the graceful flute and piano duet that seems to incorporate well during melodic phrases, lending a hand by consoling stanzas of support.

It is during these passages that uplifting and inspiring verses with note filled piano runs and flute, reveal patterns of consciously timed pauses between instrumental passages.

The song Traveler is a deep moving piece, set to a faster paced melody that is structured by each key change, transforming each refrain into a sonnet set to musical time, never resting during each chord step along the way.

Winter Prayer is a powerful melodic psalm, paying homage by offering a distinctly elegant classical composition.

Masterfully delivered musical prayer requests are often emphasized in this piece, carefully turning each note into a hymn of reverence.

Nick Farr’s piano composition shines from the invocation of this song which is heart felt and moving. Momentary pauses then take place as the final chapter of the song slows, bowing out gracefully upon reaching the closing benediction.

The Ever Present Now by Nick Farr is praiseworthy New Age Classical, embracing all of the structural principals of written prose, leaving one with the impression that his music is thoughtfully displayed in a manner that from the very beginning, deserves the expression of poetry in motion.

Visit nickfarr.com for a classic approach to music. Picture copyright Big Stock Photo – zootog.

Depending on who you talk to, Vampires Do Exist in modern society.  It is a known fact that there is a very small segment of people living today, who either believe in vampires or practice vampirism using the typical rituals, and everyone is aware of what those rituals embody. Most people find this extremely unnerving and even more frightening by having this knowledge, than from their viewing any fictional vampire movie at the theatre.

I find it fortunate that our friend Salva Moreno from Valencia Spain, having the artist title Psicodreamics does not believe in real life vampires, but only conjures up fantasy and mythological inspired music for our entertainment purposes only.

Theatre des Vampires from 2006, on his Witches on the Radiowaves label, provides the creative blueprint to project intriguing images into the darker realms of the supernatural.

Theatre des Vampires is laid out as a psycological thriller, portraying these images in classic form by a fine mixture of New Age, Ambient, Chill Out, Neo Classic and Gothic formats. This is not a rare occurrence for this composing musician who has 9 projects specializing in fantasy and mythology tales, all of which are well done.

This album portrays a mystic cloak and dagger sound design with all of the thrill and chill musical effects to keep you in suspense, along with some of the sharp pointed edges you would expect from an album having a mysterious theme about vampires.

Theatre des Vampires is laid out as a psychological thriller. Psicodreamics portrays these images in classic form by a fine mixture of New Age, Ambient, Chill Out, Neo Classic and Gothic formats.

The album title song Theatre des Vampires goes directly to the throat by injecting a heart throbbing tempo with a hypnotic feel using a duel guitar and piano arrangement. This song is laced with theatrical drama by the eerie piano strokes that appear to compete in a battle of wills with the rival guitar melody, parlayed as if reaching out for every strained note within reach. The synthetic percussion effects of woodblock, tenor and bass drums, share character roles on the stage with the tympani drum’s surprise entrances that occur when you least expect it, but in perfect timing given the songs unsettling subject matter.

The song Daylight Belonging is Classical Goth, transporting you back to a period in antiquity when the world was believed to be flat, and physicians prescribed bloodletting as standard medical practice. This piano and guitar piece conjures images in this fictional fantasy world.

When veiled choral vocals echo through out their nightly refrains, an apparent struggle of give and take between piano runs, strings, and pipe organ instrumentals occur at the least expected moment. Bold percussion with cymbal entrances give off a dark hissing sound behind pauses in the primary piano melody, as tympani drums lightly pulsate in a cardiac like rhythm during this eventful episode. Each of the 11 songs in this project embrace musical elements full of surprise and drama as described by their individual cryptic titles.

Salva Moreno of Psicodreamics has a unique approach for producing designer mood music using a macabre blueprint, all with an abundance of theatrical effects shown in a dramatic way that will leave you breathless.

Discover the fantasy by reading our recent interview, a recent review of Fantasynth and Ambiethernum, which by the way, is a compilation of Psicodreamics best Ambient and Space music from previous albums. Visit are Psicodreamics.com and cdbaby.com/all/psicodreamics. Picture copyright Big Stock Photo – DanTe.

John P. Olsen, New Age Music World host and contributing author for newagemusic.nu, has conducted an interview with Salva Moreno of Psicodreamics about his New Age music projects. Salva Moreno is the composing musician behind the notably mysterious and out of this world music of Psicodreamics. Salva’s electronic New Age music projects are best described as Ambient, Chill Out, Neo Classic and Gothic to name a few.

Salva Moreno of Psicodreamics is the predominate musician widely recognized in Continental Europe, the U.K. and overseas markets, where his unique form of fantasy and mythology inspired discography easily creates a magical divide apart from many New Age artists.

Valencia Spain is where Salva takes the stage to portray his principal role as master of ceremonies for Psicodreamics, and into the hypnotic realm of the mysterious and unknown, crafting his select style of fantasy inspired music cloaked in an intriguing shroud of mystery every time. Salva Moreno of Psicodreamics creates this unique divide by producing designer mood music using a macabre blueprint with theatrical effects shown in a dramatic way that will leave you breathless. Today we are pleased to present this interview to Psicodreamics fans and our site visitors.

Interview with Psicodreamics;

John Olsen: I am glad to have this chance for our visitors to learn more about the man behind the music of Psicodreamics. After doing my recent reviews of your Fantasynth and Ambiethernum albums, it is great to talk with you again Salva. You are recognized as the emerging New Age artist in Spain. How and why did you begin your career in New Age music?

Salva Moreno: In the 1980’s I was excited about Fantasy tales, Legends and Mythology and I enjoyed the excitement involved with these themes. In addition I discovered musicians like Constance Demby, Enya and Vangelis, and I realized this kind of music was like a soundtrack that made myself imagine adventures in a world of fantasy. Then I decided to create my personal fantasy music world taking New Age music like a seed in my music career. New Age was an interesting starting point, but during the last years, I have been developing my own style closest to Ambient and Chill Out with a little bit of Goth flavor.

John: You have projects with artists around the globe. Who are the artists, and what are the projects you did together?

Salva Moreno: I have collaborated with many musicians all over the world. I remember my first one with the USA artist Frances Lyons, a.k.a. Godot, in the track The Gift, included in my album Eternal Angel. She composed a beautiful piano melody in her studio for me. I was mysteriously charmed by this incredible track when I listened to it for the first time. Then I requested a midi file of the song to develop with ethereal choirs and effects. We both enjoyed the final result after airing in the radioshow Blue Water Drift Dive, hosted by Darrell Burgan. I will never forget that experience.

One year after, I collaborated with Gothic songwriter Priscilla Hernandez in the track Morning Light, and electronic artist Alidan with the track The Garden of Strange Beings, both songs are included in my album Azhdark Passion. Finally, in my 2006 release Theatre des Vampires, it was an honor to include Ramon Mendigorri, playing the electric guitar on the track Theatre des Vampires and Nestor Mora, a.k.a. Rosten Jim, collaborating in Daylight Belonging.

John: The Theatre Des Vampires and Ambiethernum albums have both received considerable air time with online radio stations, even before their actual release. Are they your most successful albums to date?

Salva Moreno: Yes they are. Theatre des Vampires and Ambiethernum are what I consider the best ambient space music of Psicodreamics, and have been a great success in radio air time, magazines, and sales. For instance Ambiethernum was included in the charts of New Age Reporter during six consecutive months and the long running New Age radioshow Hearts of Space, hosted by Stephen Hill aired one track of each album last year. Recently my brand new album from 2009 Fantasynth, has debuted in many radioshows like John Diliberto’s Echoes, and many more. Now I am waiting anxiously for my first debut on your station New Age Stars, for feedback and opinions from your listeners.

John: Many other people have tried to describe your music, including myself, so what would be your own description of your music when describing to another person?

Salva Moreno: This is the million dollar question John. I have always had a problem defining my own music. I use one or two brief sentences to define my music very quickly: Discover mythology through the music, and emotional melodies for dreaming. I could make an even more accurate definition: An Ambient music soundtrack inspired by Fantasy tales and Mythology, with a light Gothic touch.

John: What imagery are you trying to get across in your music compositions?

Salva Moreno: I usually compose music inspired by fantasy themes. Each album has a title or a main theme that makes people know an initial idea or a first approach to the album. Nevertheless, music is a mysterious language that a listener can experiment in different ways. I think the music is a vehicle to set the imagination free, and I want the listener tho have all the freedom there is to imagine.

John: When you compose an album, do you have your mind set on the material first, or do you compose the album during production?

Salva Moreno: Sometimes I have a general idea before starting a music project, then I develop it during the production process. With others, I can find inspiration when I play the keyboards and then listen for some ideas to develop. There is not a systematic way to create an album. The creative process is a mysterious thing and you know how I enjoy mysteries.

John: You said that you create Fantasy and Myth inspired projects like Theatre des Vampires, that I will review soon, so what first influenced you to compose Fantasy and Myth theme oriented music?

Salva Moreno: Like you and I have discussed, I am a great fan of fantasy and mythology themes, and years ago I decided to create my own music world to feel fantasy in a personal way. For example: I have composed albums inspired by mythological beings like angels, as in Eternal Angel 2003, and vampires as in Theatre des Vampires 2006, all inspired by fantasy books like Tanith’s Lee’s Night’s Master, evident in my 2004 Azhdark Passion album.

John: You currently have 9 great albums, and have told me about using video material soon, and plans for changes on your already beautiful website. Could you give us some details about your future projects you have planned?

Salva Moreno: I have many projects in mind but not much time to start them. Recently I have released a new album titled Fantasynth and now I want to take a brief parenthesis in composing music until the end of 2009. During the rest of the year, I have scheduled development of my visual art, creating some music videos. I have also planned some projects for 2010 or 2011, of J.R.R. Tolkien, Silmarilion, and other books inspired by fairies.

John: Fantasynth is your current release. You have said it is designed for persons who are non-conformists to commercial music. What does Fantasynth have to offer, and what thoughts or emotions do you want to allow a listener to feel?

Salva Moreno: Yes, that is right. Fantasynth is an album that fuses genres and styles as different as Ambient, New Age, Down Tempo, and Chill Out, mixing not only Ethnic and Symphonic instrumentation and orchestration, but synthesized sounds and effects on a more actual and innovatory musical outlook. This album is specifically indicated for non conformists that refuse commercial tendencies and look for something more in their music.

This album is an invitation to dive into a new world of fantasy and imagination, where contemporary instrumental music blends with rhythm and percussion in a feast of sensations and emotions. I try to surprise fans on the musical adventures of Psicodreamics, and hook those people listening for the very first time. It is not just a musical adventure for dreaming while you are awake, but a festival of emotions and fantasy where sound and rhythm will seduce your inner soul in a frenetic dance with a unique purpose: Recovering the innocence lost since our childhood.

John: Thanks you Salva for finding time to give everyone insight into your music. I have enjoyed our past conversations, and look forward to writing about your music in the future.

Salva Moreno: Thank you for this interesting interview and your great website devoted to New Age music, and your visiting fans.

John: Is there anything you would like to comment on that I didn’t ask in the interview Salva?

Salva Moreno: I would like to invite your readers to visit my website psicodreamics.com and myspace.com/psicodreamics and discover more about the musical projects of Psicodreamics. They are also welcomed to listen to all of my albums on the website. Purchases can be made through CD Baby, and the best digital download sites like iTunes, Amazon mp3, Napster, eMusic, and Rhapsody, among others. Photos are courtesy psicodreamics.com.

Salva Moreno is the composing musician behind the notably mysterious and out of this world music of Psicodreamics. Salva’s electronic New Age music projects are best described as Ambient, Chill Out, Neo Classic and Gothic to name a few. I reviewed his Fantasynth album so I have given you an idea of what this artist from the beautiful city of Valencia Spain is capable of creating.

Psicodreamics has achieved a dramatic ambient theme on the 12 tracks of Ambiethernum. Intended to arouse the imagination, Salva Moreno’s synthesizer music gives the listener a chance to sit back, close their eyes, then drift along with the music to any imaginary realm they choose to fathom.

The Ambiethernum album, on his Witches on the Radiowaves label, is a thought provoking score strategically designed to place the listener in a picturesque state of mind. One could even imagine a celestial theme encounter by picturing a NASA Space Shuttle Voyage to the $ 1.5 Billion Hubble Space Telescope 360 miles / 575 kilometers away, presently undergoing enhancement.

During your imaginary journy please use caution upon your arrival to Hubble, since one complete orbit circling the globe every 97 minutes, equals a speed of 17,000 mph/28,000 kph. Those brave enough for an expedition may venture an astounding 93 Billion Light Years towards the outer edge of our universe.

The Ambiethemum album gives you this opportunity in imagination by the surreal spatial sound effects, exploring with a point of calm and composure in your virtual musical travel through the galaxy without ever losing your equilibrium.

Salva Moreno of Psicodreamics has achieved a dramatic ambient theme on the 12 tracks of Ambiethernum. Intended to arouse the imagination, Salva Moreno’s synthesizer music gives the listener a chance to sit back and drift along with the music to any imaginary realm they choose to fathom.

The ambient aspects of his earlier electronic projects are also present by abundant chill out that permit an emotion to be felt. Guided mostly by the deep, dark extended note overtones, keyboard compositions, and synthesized presence of woodwind, string, and abundance of unique percussion effects which are strongly emphasized.  The timely appearance of a Symphonic and Orchestra music only adds to the depth and dimension that is light and airy at one moment, only to reappear as a dark and heavier tones in the next phase, increasing the overall intensity.

Synthesizer animal effects make their voices known, adding to character involvement during this make believe encounter.  Another thought in utilizing this mysterious music could be as a documentary or soundtrack background score for science fiction, mystery, or even horror themed movies, since the atmospheric content would enhance nearly every movie in those genres. Ambiethernum Track 10 in particular makes a theatrical eerie presence known quite dramatically, and could easily be pictured as an excellent horror movie score, if used in that context.

Salva Moreno has agreed to an artist interview, and judging by our recent discussions together, this interview promises to give everyone a chance to better understand his point of view, and why he has chosen electronic multi-dimensional ambient music as a means to express himself. I am certain Salva is well prepared to answer your questions related to those close encounters involving relative time and space.

Visit:  Psicodreamics.com and cdbaby.com/all/psicodreamics. Photo is courtesy of Salva Moreno.

The 12 Months in a calendar year can easily be described as having twelve lunar cycles annually, but complex mathematical problems arise when translating into precise calendar months since each month is technically 29.53 days long. When calculating a yearly calendar an astronomer’s calendar legend has 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds, or 365.242199 days in twelve lunar cycles.

David Mauk from Las Vegas Nevada has provided everyone with a more desirable solution to resolving this complex calendar problem by introducing his 12 Months album on Thera Records label.

The twelve songs on the 12 Months album describe the time period and seasonal change for each month as musical recollections David experienced during his personal childhood growing up on his grandparents farm in rural Ohio, in a location where the yearly seasons are well defined and pronounced when it comes to changes in weather.

The 12 Months album is David’s first New Age, Ambient, Electronic release which translates into a relaxing and tranquil repertoire where each of the musical months and seasons are likewise distinct.

Everything balances together nicely by a well defined mood and a serene transition of atmospheric changes in his musical adaptation also featuring individual song notations for monthly related weather events.

David Mauk has composed the official music for the National Geographic King Tutankhamun, Golden Age of the Pharaohs, and Real Pirates museum exhibits. His music has been heard by over an estimated 7 million people in several international museums, art galleries, and other televised venues around the world. Currently David Mauk lives in Las Vegas Nevada composing music, writing a Broadway styled musical, and performing as a musician at the Paris Hotel and Casino.

David Mauk has made an impressive introduction into the New Age market with his classic ambient descriptions of the yearly seasons.  The 12 months album supports a fine balance of well defined movements in ambient phrasing that is composed with a beautiful recollection for each month.

April subtitled as Rain is a lively synthesized tune where an opportunity for rain seems present by the string instrument background. The rhythmic flute tone melody portrays a positive upbeat feeling from this perspective since the temperature is pleasant, a cool breeze can be felt, and the aroma of rain in the air delivers a promise of renewal and growth which naturally occurs in that month.

October subtitled as Change is a slower paced celestial song with piano strokes echoing like bell tones, with time adjustments given as major and minor key changes. This cinematic song is reminiscent of what you might hear in a Vangelis soundtrack.

This piece also gives an acceptable answer for the 23.45 degree tilt of our planets rotational axis, since that is what causes our seasonal changes, only his description is shown as ambient moments in musical time with an equally natural and steady transition.

December subtitled as Snow is a great time of year having an anthem like quality by a classic beginning of single key piano strokes, then build into a full cord melody with far reaching synthesized overtones, and light percussion presence.

The nine remaining months also support a fine balance of seasonally defined movements, mirroring a beautifully composed mixture of ambient instrumentation that is generously light, reflective, and relaxing to the listener throughout the year.

David Mauk has given his first project an impressive introduction into the New Age music market by personal ambient descriptions of the months and seasons nicely composed with a classic touch.

If you find your yearly schedule is becoming too complex, discover this more desireable solution to great yearly planning and visit davidmauk.com to sample / purchase. Big Stock Photo – mpemberton.

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.

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.

When describing a choir or large group of individuals singing in unison, one usually pictures choir members dressed in white robes singing before a congregation in a house of worship, being universal in most religious faiths and denominations.

The 25 to 30 young male performers who make up Libera are in the age range of 7 to 16, and are often a white robed choir that sing in unison, but the normal assumptions and what you have pictured in your mind of the music they produce ends there.

Libera is a unique blend of choir music with a new age pop influence and easy listening classical vocals. Simply put, they are something special to behold and the music they produce will definitely surprise you.

Most of the young adult male singers age 7 to 16 are from the parish choir of St. Philip’s Church in Norbury London, performing under the direction of Robert Prizeman, who began his association as singer but later became the choir director in 1970 at age 18.

Libera has made concert appearances in the United Kingdom, United States, Korea and Japan, and a large number of BBC television, soundtrack, and radio recordings. In addition they have performed before 60,000 people in Yankee Stadium on April 20th 2008, during papal mass when Pope Benedict XVI made his first visit to the U.S.

The artist choir Libera is a non-profit group with many accomplishments including 16 albums having topped mainstream and classical album charts in many countries. They have had concert appearances in the United Kingdom, United States, Korea and Japan, and a large number of BBC television, soundtrack, and radio recordings. In addition they have performed before 60,000 people in Yankee Stadium on April 20th 2008, during papal mass when Pope Benedict XVI made his first visit to the U.S.

With such impressive accomplishments for the boys as young adults, I wonder how many of the boys will continue their individual music careers as New Age musicians upon reaching full adulthood. That would be great news to all New Age music fans!

The Libera album Free, released under the EMI Classics in 2004 has full flowing choral vocals and solos that do remind you of being part of a congregation at moments, yet there is something particularly special about this music group that I haven’t quite put my finger on.

One song titled Stay With Me is a song which may help shed some light onto the subject so that you too can discover this talented group of young artists. To me, Libera is a classic example of the many ways New Age music can be redefined when combining separate music genres into one soulful entity.  Stay With Me is one great song on the Free album and entire choir music collection from Libera.

To learn more about Libera and Robert Prizeman visit the official libera site.