Music and Media Focus

Album: Songs From The Aqua Lounge
Artist: David Arkenstone
Website: www.davidarkenstone.com

Ever the sonic adventurer, veteran recording artist David Arkenstone embarks on a journey into the world of Chill music on his latest release Songs From The Aqua Lounge. Drawing on elements of ambient, electronica, and smooth jazz, the album serves up a groove-based blend of ultra contemporary sounds that range from dreamy to driving. A perfect example is a track called “Take My Soul,” that features atmospheric synthesizers, pulsing sequencers, electronic beats, and the misty sensuous female vocals of Nahara that evokes a vision of Tangerine Dream and Enya performing together. If this album illustrates anything, it is that with David Arkenstone one thing to expect is the unexpected.

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Album: Rowing In Eden
Artist: Rebekah Eden
Website: www.rebekaheden.com

If there was ever a soundtrack in search of a film, this magical mystery tour of an album by vocalist Rebekah Eden is certainly one. Although, in fact, it almost did become part of an iconic film soundtrack. As Rebekah shared in our interview: “Several years ago I had the opportunity to submit some of my songs to the Hobbit filmmakers for consideration (while Warner Bros. gave it two thumbs up, none of the songs in fact made it into the film). Within the year I also created (and submitted to the Hobbit filmmakers) a fourth song inspired by The Hobbit.” Although these songs were unfortunately not in the film, they are indeed part of this evocative album. Listening with eyes closed, it is not hard to create your own movie within the theater of your imagination.

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Album: At Peace Beneath the Shade of My Father’s Tree
Artist: Terry Lee Nichols
Website: www.terryleenichols.com

For some recording artists, their songs or the theme of their album can be abstract conceptually, while for others like Florida-based composer, pianist, and multi-instrumentalist Terry Lee Nichols, it can be extremely personal. Terry’s debut release on the up and coming Heart Dance Records label, run by award-winning flutist Sherry Finzer, is described as: “an album of 17 moving and contemplative suites, all designed to tell the artist’s story in a non-linear recollection of experiences had, vignettes of moments captured, and a lifetime of challenges bested.” Terry’s love of music for film adds a cinematic dimension to his sound Continue reading →

Artist: Kimberly Haynes
Album: Awaken Me
Website: www.musicmedicinewoman.com

On her new album, Awaken Me, vocalist Kimberly Haynes paints musical portraits from a diverse palate of influences that include new age, folk, soft pop, world music, and more. Her expressive voice ranges from soft to soaring with thoughtful and inspiring lyrics that touch the heart and illuminate the spiritual quest. Subtitled: “Songs from the Heart of a Seeker,” the spectrum of her eclectic and enlightening vocal performances evokes both the tenderness of a mother’s touch and the ancient feminine power of a tribal priestess singing her truth for the betterment of the community.

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Album: White Sun II
Artists: White Sun
Website: www.whitesun.com

Its been a year since I wrote about the self-titled debut album of White Sun, a Los Angeles-based band known for its pioneering musical interpretations of yogic mantras. Now they are following up with the release of their next album appropriately called White Sun II. For those who may not be familiar, the dictionary defines a mantra as: “a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation, a Vedic hymn, a statement or slogan repeated frequently.” While this type of spiritual chanting dates back to ancient times, it has been enjoying a modern resurgence as people search for deeper attunement and inner connection in life. Continue reading →

Album: Secret Garden
Artist: Monica Logani
Website: https://monicalogani.com/

I often find it interesting to see the path an artist’s life has taken to get to the point where they are at now in their career. For pianist/composer Monica Logani, who has just released her debut album, the way has been winding. Continue reading →

Album: A Stagey Bank Affair
Artist: Arun Shenoy & The Groove Project
Website: https://arunshenoy.com

It’s been about three and a half years since I wrote about guitarist, composer, producer, and Grammy nominee Arun Shenoy’s groundbreaking recording, Rumbadoodle. At the time I found it fascinating that someone born, raised, and educated in India, and now living in Singapore, would produce an album of rumba flamenco music, featuring musicians from very diverse corners of the world. However, as I’ve come to learn with Arun, the one thing to expect is the unexpected. On his new, interestingly titled album (more on that later) Arun Shenoy & The Groove Project, as the name implies, venture deep into the world of funk, with elements of jazz-fusion, rock, and a bit of world music.

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Album: Recollections: Volume 1
Artist: Robert Slap
Website: www.robertslap.com

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of writing about Robert Slap’s mystical journey of an album entitled, Atlantis Trilogy: Brave New World. Now, with the release of his new recording Recollections: Volume 1, I’m equally enthused. While the Atlantis Trilogy album was a trip into the mists of the ancient past, Recollections: Volume 1 also does a bit of time traveling, although not quite so far back. Robert has been a prolific recording artist and performer, and last year marked his 50^th anniversary in the music industry. This new album is a 12-song collection of instrumental tunes recorded over the last several years, along with a couple of gems from earlier recordings.

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Album: Crossroads
Artist: Marc Enfroy
Website: http://www.marcenfroy.com/

While many albums that I write about contain a song or songs that have been inspired by an event in an artist’s life, rarely have I seen an album that is so intensely autobiographical from start to finish as Crossroads, the latest release from pianist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Marc Enfroy. As the title implies, the album charts a difficult time and point of decision in Marc’s life. Continue reading →

Album: The Wisdom of My Shadow
Artist: Lisa Downing
Website: http://www.lisadowning.com/

Ever since the golden age of rock music in the 60’s and 70’s I’ve had a particular fondness for “concept albums.” Wikipedia defines them as: “studio albums with thematic unity or artistic cohesiveness.” Examples such as The Beatles Sgt. Pepper, Tommy by The Who, and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon come to mind. Albums of this type often tell a story or take the listener on journey. The latest instrumental release by pianist/composer Lisa Downing, entitled The Wisdom of My Shadow, is one of these albums. Continue reading →