New Age Music World

Archive for the ‘New Age Music’ Category

Recently I announced an interview with Mars Lasar. Today let’s explore Mars Lasar’s best New Age album with a beautiful Jazz influence. Its a great album whose tonal qualities set the stage for a memorable Jazz experience.

Mars Lasar has a diverse discography ranging from New Age, Electronic, Contemporary Instrumental, World, Jazz, Ambient, Chill Out, Classical, and a host of sub genres that are so unique they have yet to be classified. This revered man of many talents has touched the lives of millions of people with his diverse music while showcasing his innovative abilities during his lengthy career as a professional musician, along with his many related artistic endeavors.

At The End Of The Day creates a wonderful example since Classic Jazz music is introduced to New Age music in a manner that I felt lends itself to a high society level of sophistication, yet it is delivered in an easy going approachable manner that gives one a relaxing right at home feel of comfort.

This should give you some insight about what is in store for you, and how effective Mars Lasar is with creating beauty from contrasting images, yet there is so much more to discover from this album, plus the full scope of his vast discography.

Mars Lasar layers his mixing production talents to full advantage on every song in this Contemporary Jazzy 10 track album that highlights his artistic abilities in a just right, toast of the town in house feel. His fans will adore this release, being such a strong example of what they love, recognize, and have come to expect from Mars. Here we find soulful saxophone driven melodies, considerately subdued from completely stealing the show while keyboard, flute, and guitar melodies prove themselves just as capable while taking a turn in the solo instrumental spotlight. The song Uptown is a favorite among his fans who already own the album. Perhaps they recognize this fine song as one of his best since fusion between old school Jazz and Contemporary Jazz are intertwined to reach a playful commingling of the two styles.

Mars Lasar has an enduring ability to captivate an audience with his music by personal adaptability, mindful at using technical leverage, while also generating a creative spark of imagination. I believe these skills, plus his strive for perfection is how Mars can offer a higher level of versatility simply not present with many artists within many genres.

The song Warm Nights is a mid tempo, Jazz festival of fun, where guitar and percussion first set an atmosphere like a playful night in a downtown club. Just like we are there on location, I can imagine an illustrated solo saxophone player sharp and colorfully dressed, playing a warmly lit tune that contrasts well with the darker shades in note phrasing heard in the beginning measures of tonal imagery.

The colorful music is noted by the upward raised saxophone and soulful eyes closed expression made during the opening woodwind solo.

If you try you can imagine the seated piano player is all smiles while making their keyboard runs in distinct counter beat with saxophone while upper octave piano notes twinkle in unison, exactly as our solo performers glance at one another to give a quick nod and wink of approval.

Come And Join Us is a nicely done new age jazz mix with an inviting tone that keeps the momentum going in a positive upbeat direction.

When the bass cello player starts this in house session with a resonating pluck of the strings and then several spins of the cello, the rhythm is set by the warmer tones and expertly delivered bass runs that capture the crowd’s approval right from the beginning.

Joining in the session, piano and flute quickly step forward to contribute their fragrant ambiance by taking turns during moments of improvisation while the crowd waves their raised hands back and forth to the beat.

I can even picture everyone moving closer to the stage as our saxophone player once again steps into the spotlight with a dramatic solo while flute makes note filled runs, then several trills during each refrain as percussion places their cymbal taps and well timed snare beats with exacting precision.

While listening to this album it’s easy to visualize every instrument sparkling brightly under the lighting while all players make their runs through the scales in this album having an uptown beat, capturing the moment and memories for the entire evening in the final closing notes. Then, as everyone slowly starts to leave and the band begins to pack, it is pretty clear the audience was captivated by the sights, sounds, and sensations, after just having heard this Jazz influenced album produced by Mars Lasar that mirrors the very ultimate in the downtown Jazz experience.

Let me introduce the players who performed on this (studio produced) album on the Sound Manipulations label. Let’s give a big round of applause for Mars Lasar, Nicholas Gunn who played flute, and the vocalist. The guitarists include Winslow Crockwell, Jeff Burak and Carlos Villalobos. Greg Vail played the saxophone and flute. This is a list of the artists homepage: Visit nicholasgunn.com, carlosvillalobos.com and gregvail.com.

Visit MarsLasar.com and sample or purchase at Amazon.com. Picture copyright Big Stock Photo – mhurwich.

John P. Olsen, New Age Music World host and contributing author for NewAgeMusic.nu has interviewed composing New Age artist Paul Sills from the United Kingdom. The Interview discussion is focused on Paul Sills early music career, and his 2 outstanding albums, Astral Doorways & Walking Across Heaven.

Astral Doorways was Paul Sills first release that explored the divine and surreal side of music.  His first and second release are symbolic of the outer confines in synthesized ambient music that simply become a natural choice for those who love a memorable journey into the outer reaches of electronic resonances and a deeper realm in relaxing music.

Walking Across Heaven is his release that is crafted like a beautiful sound sanctuary where instrumentals of piano, flute, acoustic guitar, and distant choral vocals rose to transform each song into one having an anthem like quality. Today we present this interview to find out more about Paul Sills, and his unique brand of celestial music.

Interview with Paul Sills;

John P. Olsen: I have enjoyed getting to know you after first introducing yourself to me awhile back and found your music history quite interesting. Could you tell our readers about the earliest beginnings in your music career?

Paul Sills: Thanks John! My family, on both sides, are musical so I was brought up surrounded by people who performed in bands and wrote their own music. My Dad always had a guitar lying around and later purchased a piano and a keyboard. I used to tinker around at an early age, not knowing what chords were but knowing if they sounded nice or not.

I took acoustic guitar lessons in the first year of high school but they didn’t last long. I think I preferred to find my own way rather than under instruction. If my teacher knew that I now had two albums released he would fall off his chair!

In my teens I wrote music with a friend of mine, Michael Poole, and we recorded some tracks. I was designated vocalist! In my early 20’s I moved to Singapore to live with my Dad. He had a whole set-up with a 4-track tape recorder. Over those years in Singapore I wrote and recorded, probably, close to a thousand ‘vocal’ ‘rock’ songs. Listening to them now they are very noisy and I would hate for anyone to hear them! Even though I was recording loud and furious, I always felt there was something in there that was atmospheric. Later, I bought myself a Yamaha PSR keyboard which was great for home recording. I joined an ‘expat’ band called Haze where I played guitar. We were noisy but it was fun. I still preferred the solitude of writing and recording.

It was around this time that I heard Medwyn Goodall’s Clan album. Things took a drastic turn for me as I discovered I had finally found the kind of music I wanted to write. I had previously listened to some of the New Age CDs by Nightingale Records but it was Clan that really took me into the genre. Its still a fantastic album and provides much inspiration to me.

John: Since you were performing in a Rock band, what led you to leave the group and become a New Age music artist?

Paul Sills: We weren’t a serious band, it was more something to do on a Saturday afternoon. We were all friends in a foreign land and just got lucky that we had a bassist, drummer and someone who could almost play a guitar!

Writing and recording alone is where my passion lies. I can lose hours ‘in the zone’. New Age provides a fantastic outlet to express your creativity in so many different styles. It opens all kinds of doors, you aren’t restricted by the genre and there is always something new to explore.

John: What was the specific turning point that finalized your decision to compose your first album Astral Doorways?

Paul Sills: I originally sent Medwyn Goodall (MG Music) a demo in 2004. I did get a reply that was both encouraging and helpful. It wasn’t until my second demo in 2006 (with special thanks to Catherine Young and Peter King, from the MG website forum, who encouraged me to do so) that I was offered the opportunity to record an album for the label. The idea for Astral Doorways didn’t come until I had already written an albums worth of material. This material was shelved and I started again, basing the new material on the tracks Cloud Dancing and Astral Doorways. I found I enjoyed the ethereal landscapes with simple but effective melodies. Once I had this idea in my head I went for it with a passion.

John: After your working relationship and friendship with Medwyn Goodall first began, how did you become recognized as a member of the MG Music family?

Paul Sills: Its an honor to be in personal contact with Medwyn. To be a fan of someone’s music initially and then to have both a professional and personal relationship is amazing. He is a really nice guy who is both extremely honest about your music and encouraging. He never flatly says ‘no’ to something unless he knows it has no chance of working. He will nurture and guide you all the way.

I was initially a member of the MG Music forum and got to know like minded people, both musicians and listeners. I already felt part of that family before I even told anyone I wrote music. To then release albums with the label was a real joy. Everyone was encouraging.

John: Naturally, I have heard Clan : Celtic Journey by Medwyn Goodall, and I agree it’s a great album too. So having drawn inspiration from his albums, and also having played in a Rock band, it makes me wonder how the individual Paul Sills style of composing and performing music developed. Was it always present, or did you have to discover your own distinct brand of celestial music?

Paul Sills: Influences come from every kind of music for me. I like all kinds, not just New Age. I’m a massive U2 fan, so those earlier albums like The Unforgettable Fire, played a big part. Their partnership with Brian Eno brought them into something else and that transition was when I really latched onto them. Those Eno soundscapes were the initial influence on my music and where I wanted to go with it.

Clan : Celtic Journey showed me melody and rhythm (although I have yet to write any drum related albums) working together to produce drama and passion. The followup, The Scroll, has the most beautiful piece of music ever written – A Maiden’s Kiss. Now, that is probably the biggest influence on me, so far as emotion in music is concerned.

Being influenced by so many different kinds of music has to have some unique effect on what you write yourself. However, when I sit down to write and record, all those influences consciously go out of the window. My head is empty of anyone else’s music and its just me and a blank canvas. Many artists will probably cringe when I say this, but the writing and recording process are done at the same time. I will come up with a simple chord sequence first but after that its all done in the moment. Sometimes it takes hours of building with the final melody rearing its head very late. Sometimes I get lucky and the track will present itself very early. I wrote six albums worth of instrumental material from 2004-06 so I’ve had a good amount of demos to draw from.

John: How would you describe the music of Paul Sills to another person?

Paul Sills: That’s a tough question. It would probably be easier for someone who listens to it to answer that. I would probably say its very atmospheric, mystical and dreamy, with simple melodies that you can latch onto and actually hum. I aim to write emotional music but at the same time something that can take you away somewhere else.

John: If you don’t mind discussing the creative side to your music, when you produced the celestial music of Astral Doorways & Walking Across Heaven, do your creative abilities just occur naturally, or do you have to really work at making everything come together while composing?

Paul Sills: Well, I write spontaneously most of the time and things happen naturally. This is sometimes a blessing because you are travelling the journey as a listener, not knowing where its going until you get there! It’s also dangerous because the destination may not be the nirvana you hoped for.

Writing in this manner allows me to be more creative. If I was to follow a strict brief I would probably end up writing a ‘New Age Painting By Numbers’ album. I doubt it would sound as fluid. Some people work best this way, I know, but I work better when I almost let the music show me the way! We do tend to fight a lot but the music always wins! ha ha!

Saying that, I’m getting more structured these days and plan a little more. For the next album I have planned it like a story, each song being a chapter. I know what approach I need for each track. Each page of my ‘book of chords’ has one word written at the top in bold capitals. This one word is my brief for that track.

John: One question your fans and I want to know is will we see another Paul Sills album soon, or in the future perhaps?

Paul Sills: I’m a quarter of the way through the next one and the tracks, so far, have been well received by MG. Its not been an easy year up until now. I wrote and recorded a whole album and had to shelve it. That was where the spontaneous approach didn’t work out. Although tough, it was the right decision. I came out of it with a fighting spirit and knew what I had to do. I settled on a stronger theme and am really enjoying it again.

John: I admire both of your albums equally and honestly would not have been able to tell which one was your first, if I hadn’t known. Do you feel the same about both albums, or do you have a clear favorite, and could you give us insight into some of your songs during their production?

Paul Sills: Thanks John! Its difficult to choose a favorite as I like each for different reasons. From a production point of view I would say Walking Across Heaven. There is more atmosphere on that album and its more structured with regard to its theme. I learned a lot recording Astral Doorways and applied those lessons to Walking Across Heaven. Astral Doorways has its own uniqueness that I love. Walking Across Heaven has a little more drama, whereas Astral Doorways is very pure and innocent. I do, however, think they go hand in hand and I see them as a pair.

The one track on Astral Doorways that really set me on my path is Angelic Radiance. Once I had recorded that I knew what my sound was and where I was going to take it. That track was originally written back in 1996 in Singapore. The chord sequence and melody just seemed to hit the spot. I used the same chord sequence and melody in the track Angelic Grace where the piano takes more of a leading role.

Another favorite track of mine is the opening to Walking Across Heaven, Towards Enlightenment. I think I wrote and recorded that in a couple of days. Its one of those tracks that just fall in your lap and when its finished you think ‘how did that happen?’ Compare that to Footsteps in the Clouds, that took two months to complete, and you are never sure how long a track is going to take and sometimes you never quite know when its truly finished!

John: Is there anything you would like to add or tell our readers that I didn’t bring up in our Interview today?

Paul Sills: I would just like to invite all New Age listeners to check out the Medwyn Goodall Music forum. If you like to chat to people who like this kind of music then make your way there and enjoy. The people are very friendly and the topics of conversation vary. You can also get the opportunity to talk to Medwyn Goodall and can ask him anything about his music. All the other artists are also very approachable.

John: Here at our sites we have been playing songs from your albums on our 365 Stars Radio, and they are doing well in ratings, which comes as no surprise to us. I became a fan of your music from the very beginning. B.T. Fasmer and I both Thank You for your time Paul and wish you and everyone at MG Music the best.

Paul Sills: Thank you for your kind words John. All the best to you both… and cheers!

Sample or purchase albums and songs by Paul Sills at Amazon.com. Photos courtesy medwyngoodall.net.

Once again we shine the spotlight on the time tested music of Vicki Logan, who has recently revealed her thought and artistic perceptions by my recent interview. You will find that The Ride is one of my all time favorite albums. I hope this will encourage you to listen what this gifted artist is offering the music world.

Vicki Logan has 4 impressive albums to date, with The Ride as the third successful release on her Carvic Publishing label from 2004, winning a place in the New Age Reporter, now called Zone Music Reporter, Top 100 albums chart.

Personally drawn from her self conclusions about the ride everyone must travel during our day to day life experiences, this album has also held positions in some additional top 100 charts and granted impressive online radio airplay attention worldwide.

The Ride is considered inspirational and emotional by recalling the exhilarating roller coaster like moments in life, to times of eminent cross road decisions where one must faithfully reach out for everything life has to offer, or risk losing an opportunity if we choose to remain in the much safer realm of not ever taking a chance at all. There is also a calming and relaxed atmosphere to her music as if acknowledging contentment in knowing that we have tried and are justly rewarded for having done our personal best. This is the easiest way to describe how her upbeat music makes me feel.

Vicki Logan’s own description is related to the passage of time and how she has experienced progress while composing and producing music, so everyone if free to draw their own self conclusions about how this album makes them feel on a personal level, but believe me, you will feel something positive from her music. Incorporating elements of New Age pop, jazz, and R & B music influences, Vicki Logan provides the listener a fresh perspective beginning with a classic piano piece.

This album is an excellent example of what can be achieved when a talented artist shares a part of themselves by putting their heart and spirit into the creation of their music, offering music lovers a chance to also feel something truly special along the way. You will soon find yourself recalling the melody over and over in your mind daily.

The Ride is primarily mid tempo instrumental throughout, enhanced by individual solo performances of saxophone, piano, guitar, and the wondrous flute, which Vicki plays so passionately.  Incorporating elements of New Age pop, jazz, and R & B influences provides the listener a fresh perspective beginning with a classic piano piece. Track 1 The Dance of the Sun has a heartfelt piano melody with background synthesizer starting a new beginning of an adventure into your earliest observations of what to anticipate further down this musical journey.

Track 5 Just to be With You offers a harmonious rhythmic ballad that intertwines electronic and saxophone solo into a singular peaceful existence upon adding the engaging percussion beat for blending everything together dramatically. Track 6 The Ride is one of many favorites being New Age pop in theme. This memorable up tempo song with heart pounding rhythms, unbounded keyboard rides, and perfectly timed percussion is truly something to behold on it’s own. Then upon adding the flowing flute melody, everything fits together so perfectly in the instrumental arrangement, you will soon find yourself recalling the melody over and over in your mind daily.

Track 8 Finding Freedom is a thought provoking song from this spirited American artist, having deep rhythms, driving percussion, and building flute repertoire which inspire and restore your faith in the very notion of individual freedoms in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as if saying, yes we can! with that said, Vicki Logan’s upbeat music is a true winner!

Visit the VickiLogan.com website. Sample the album at CDBaby and read my interview with Vicki Logan.

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

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

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

Interview with Vicki Logan;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vicki Logan: STRESS! (Just kidding…kinda)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I know why I hire people to do those things!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paul Sills latest album Walking Across Heaven, released by Medwyn Goodall Music in 2008, is a beautiful experience which is more like a transformation or angelic journey at times than one would expect from even a great New Age album. Quite a unique and wonderful surprise to this author.

The Walking Across Heaven album title perfectly describes what to expect for those listeners who prefer their New Age music with a medium tempo, yet powerful theme. Those new to Paul Sills will welcome this wonderful creation that is deep, flowing, full of emotion and very spiritual in nature. Persons who already own the previous 2007 release Astral Doorways know the intensity of Paul Sill’s music and will definitely want to include his current release, if they haven’t already made the investment.

Paul Sills album containing 8 songs is consistently powerful throughout, offering a synthesized atmosphere in which piano, flute, acoustic guitar, and distant choral vocals rise to transform each song into an anthem with hymn like quality. My noteworthy song favorites are: Track 2 Footsteps in the Clouds, which begins with a piano sequence upon combining orchestral movements, glide into a heavenly anthem. Track 6 Walking Towards Heaven, has a graceful melody which will raise your spirits throughout the entire song. Track 7 Hall of Voices, is full of distant choral harmony in which one can almost imagine being lifted upward by angels into the final heavenly destination.

Paul Sills Walking Across Heaven album containing 8 songs is consistently powerful throughout, offering a synthesized atmosphere in which piano, flute, acoustic guitar, and distant choral vocals rise to transform each song into an anthem with hymn like quality.

The Walking Across Heaven album cover is appropriate in describing what awaits the listener, having a deep blue cloud filled background and the bold Taijitu symbol or widely recognized in modern times as the Yin & Yang symbol.

The ancient symbolic character Taijitu was introduced in China during the Ming Period around (430 A. D.) by author Lai Zhide and has remained a constant in being adopted worldwide by many different cultures and philosophies throughout the centuries. When translated, Taijitu can be defined as The diagram of the supreme ultimate power. This accurately describes the latest contribution by Paul Sills and I thank him for the latest creation, having enjoyed the experience.

Walking Across Heaven is a collector’s edition for those seeking a celestial journey in electronic music while still residing here on this Earth, but don’t bother packing friends since luggage will not be a requirement.

Sample or purchase music by Paul Sills at Amazon.com.

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