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Arcana Kings Ignites Resilience And Strength With Powerful Anthem ‘Soldier On’

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 17, 2023

Arcana Kings Ignites Resilience And Strength With Powerful Anthem ‘Soldier On’

To keep fighting despite difficult odds can be hard for the everyday person, but even harder for those involved in the military. Enter the Regina, Saskatchewan- based rock band Arcana Kings as they sing for the troops in their new single, “Soldier On.”

The song’s opening is heralded with an impressive use of bagpipes by lead vocalist John McCuaig before the electric guitar kicks in. By the song’s first verse, the electric guitar takes over and adds a toughness that matches the gruffness of McCuaig’s vocals. Before the chorus kicks in, this verse and the next two discuss the hardships that the soldiers endure as they fight for freedom.

“We say goodbye to our brothers and our sisters
As we march in a far away land
The only way is to head into the fire
We fight for freedom when we make our stand”

Of course, the song’s impact is stronger once you learn that the song was based on the actual lived experiences of soldiers. The song was written in partnership with Canadian force members involved with the Soldier On program, a non-profit organization.

The band explains, “We reached out and got connected with Joe Kiraly at Soldier On. He really took to the idea and organized a creative writing program to help create lyrics for the project. Four forces members put pen to paper and spilled their stories of triumphs and challenges of everyday service life and intense combat duty. What emerged was a glimpse into the mind of the modern soldier, the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly.”

After the chorus, the song’s production kicks up a notch through vocalist Allan Morrison as his booming vocals give the next two verses a heavy metal edge to enhance the emotional impact. Morrison’s vocals then shadow McCuaig’s as he takes over a verse before the chorus comes in one last time.

Arcana Kings formed in 2015 and have been influenced by bands like The Foo Fighters and AC/DC. Their most recent single, “Here We Go”, became an anthem for Canadian and American sports teams including the CFL, NHL, NFL, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Their first album, Lions As Ravens, was released in 2019 to critical acclaim, with The MetaMag calling it “a masterclass in progressive arena rock.” In March 2023, the band celebrated a huge milestone – their 100th Las Vegas show. The Arcana Kings have been a favorite attraction in Las Vegas since their first run in 2016. “Soldier On” is their first single of 2023.

Shiny Glide Keeps the Momentum Going With “The Best Has Yet To Come”

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 17, 2023

0

Shiny Glide Keeps the Momentum Going With “The Best Has Yet To Come”

Italian-born, Dominican Republic-based emerging artist Shiny Glide continues to mesmerize audiences with his latest synth-rock single about having hope on the horizon for a better day, with the title track on his new album, “The Best Has Yet To Come.”

Dripping with ‘80’s synths and anthemic guitar solos, “The Best Is Yet To Come” is Shiny Glide’s latest release, maintaining his artistic momentum as THE internationally-minded musician to watch out for.

The inspiration for the song “The Best Is Yet To Come” came from Shiny Glide’s unwavering faith and optimism in the face of adversity. “What I learned is that once you fall in love with your dream and your art, faith and hope become a bigger and bigger inspiration in expanding your soul and evolving spiritually.”

The album, “The Best Is Yet To Come,” began to come together during the global pandemic when lockdowns were in full effect. “I started recording the album in the place where I grew up, Southern Italy, an ugly and boring town called San Giorgio Ionico, near Taranto, the town in which I was born.” As the lockdowns persisted and the world became still, Shiny Glide made the best of his situation and got to work. “I spent most of my time inside the house working on my music in my home studio. Also went out for some walks in some beautiful parks by the sea to enjoy nature, meditate and exercise,” says Shiny Glide

All tracks on “The Best Is Yet To Come” were recorded in southern Italy, except for “Untamed” and “Invisible Child,” which were recorded in the Dominican Republic, where Shiny Glide currently resides.

Shiny Glide is very clear on the philosophy behind “The Best Is Yet To Come” and what it means to his listeners. “No matter how hard and dark life may be, I always have faith and hope because I love to create music and share it. My faith goes far and high and is bigger than all enemies and obstacles and goes beyond our experience on this planet,” says Shiny Glide

This mindset behind “The Best Is Yet To Come” can be felt most in Shiny Glide’s melancholic lyrics that acknowledge how we must break ourselves down in order to be reborn and hopeful for the future.”

“I’ve seen it all, I’ve done it all,
I’ve been in jail, I’ve been at war,
I’ve got no ego, I’ve got no pride,
don’t need to die to be reborn in my own sky.”

Shiny Glide is the stage name of Italian American musician Antony Venneri. Venneri is a recording artist, poet, and songwriter with international playing experience and a restless, free spirit he’s had since an early age. He has been living, recording, and performing his music in places like Champaign Urbana in Illinois and New Orleans, where he formed a duo called Why Not. After which, he lived and performed in Los Angeles, Dublin, Rome and Philadelphia as a bohemian, stateless charismatic figure, and wandering minstrel.

Venneri always used to carry his guitar, his music CDs and poetry books anywhere he had a chance to share his art, especially in the streets of Rome and Dublin, where he performed with the stage name of “Seagull” in the best music clubs such as The Da Club and The Olympia Theater.

Shiny Glide is a self-taught guitar player and keyboard player with an ear, a natural talent, and a profound love for music composing and poetry. His genre influences include rock, classical music, Oriental music, jazz, and blues. Venneri continues to be a relentless artist while championing human rights with his work, “I dedicate this album to all the oppressed people like me in this world where it matters too much how rich you are and where you come from or if you have supportive families.”

Country Rock Singer Bree Taylor Hits 150K Streams With “Dauntless”

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 17, 2023

2

Country Rock Singer Bree Taylor Hits 150K Streams With “Dauntless”

Almost every person has a point in their lives when someone makes them feel like they can’t do something because of their gender, race, or another trait that is part of who they are. When this happens, sometimes the right song can rally the spirit and give you the courage to prove people wrong. This is the case with Mississauga, ON country-rock singer Bree Taylor and her bold new single “Dauntless”, co-written with multiple #1 Billboard Country Chart songwriter Styles Haury.

The song opens with some strong country-rock riffs from Taylor’s backing band that establish the song’s power. Then, Taylor’s steadfast vocals come in as she sings and tells people not to underestimate her. The empowering message hits particularly hard once the chorus comes in.

“Cause I’m courageous
A little dangerous
I’m the do what it takes to make it
Yeah I’m the fighter
Flame to the fire
The take it to the top and higher
Yeah I’m headstrong and bold
Won’t do what I’m told
I live on the edge of fearless
Yeah I’m dauntless”

The song continues to strike a courageous nerve for the rest of the song as Taylor sings about not fitting into other people’s perceptions of who she is. The song’s outro at the end really takes it home as she sings, “I am who I am, I don’t give a damn.”

In fact, Taylor has a particular and personal reason for standing up for herself in her newest single. For the first time, she is letting people know her experiences as a hearing impaired country singer. She states, “Dauntless is a song that reflects my journey as a woman who has faced societal pressures to conform to expectations and norms that don’t align with who I am.”

Accompanying the new single is a music video showing Taylor performing the song amid pyrotechnic fire, which suits the newfound inner fire that she displays and wants other people to have. She explains, “With this song, I want to inspire people, especially women, everywhere to be unapologetically and authentically themselves, to not accept anything less.”

Bree Taylor started out singing in choirs from ages 6 to 12 before recording a cover of the Dixie Chicks’ “Not Ready To Make Nice” when she was 16, which she now includes in her live sets and is a fan-favorite.

In 2016, she wrote and recorded her first single, “Broken Dreams”, which would be released on her 2018 debut pop EP Unbreakable. It would earn her a nomination for Best New Artist at the Mississauga Music Awards and win her the Mississauga Music’s Fan Choice Award in 2022.

Indigenous Roots Rockin’ Father and Daughter Lead THE SPIRITUAL WARRIORS Unite with Inspiring Anthem ‘Brothers and Sisters’

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 17, 2023

0

Indigenous Roots Rockin’ Father and Daughter Lead THE SPIRITUAL WARRIORS Unite with Inspiring Anthem ‘Brothers and Sisters’

The Spiritual Warriors drop “Brothers and Sisters”, the second single from their upcoming album Indigenize, both out now.

Fronted by father and daughter duo Leroy and Daisy Joe, The Spiritual Warriors weave together Indigenous chants with contemporary roots, rock and reggae to create a sound that reflects life in the coastal mountains of the Lil’wat Nation.

With lyrics that swing smoothly from English to U’cwalmicwts, the Lil’wat language, all set to a reggae beat, Spiritual Warriors create a unique and intriguing fusion of two culturally important musical styles. It’s uncanny how seamlessly well The Spiritual Warriors combine Indigenous drumming and chanting with the cadences familiar to fans of reggae. It’s a marriage that makes perfect sense.

On the brand new single “Brothers and Sisters”, the band takes on social issues endemic to Canada’s many Indigenous nations. Singers Leroy and Daisy lament the countless Indigenous brothers and sisters who end up homeless, addicted to drugs or alcohol, or working on the streets.

“This song is to let them know that they are still welcome home,” Leroy says, “that there is a fire waiting for them to keep them warm and that their grandmothers, grandfathers, and ancestors have not abandoned them.”

During live performances, the singer and guitarist says he often gets a lump in his throat while thinking of friends and family members who ended up on the streets, some never making it back home to Lil’wat Nation, near Pemberton, British Columbia.

“I pray and sing for those trying to make it back home,” he says. “The song was so hard to write. I kept weeping while writing it.”

Drummer Rich Doucet, bassist Mike Rowe, guitarist Cuyler Biller and keyboardist Quentin De Lorenzis set a perfect rock-steady reggae beat for Leroy and Daisy, who chant and deliver their pleas in both English and U’cwalmicwts. The second verse, sung in U’cwalmicwts, is especially poignant.

“Brothers and Sisters” follows the recent Spiritual Warriors single, “Oh Ama Sq’it”, written in Leroy’s St’at’imcets language, also native to the Lil’wat Nation. A joyful, upbeat track, almost calypso in feel, it encourages people to get up, have fun and dance. It’s a big hit during their live performances.

Both tracks appear on the full-length Indigenize, recorded at Abbotsford’s Studio Downe Under and produced and engineered by Leroy’s long-time collaborator, Andreas Schuld. Leroy says the record is Inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation initiative and the Murdered and Missing Ondigenous Women and Girls campaign.

Indigenize features eight tracks written by Leroy with the mission to give hope to his people and help non-Indigenous folks to better understand the issues that are still faced today by First Nations people. Composer Russell Wallace, longtime friend and original member of the band, co-wrote 2 tracks and arranged vocal harmonies on the album. Musicians on Indigenize include Norm Fisher, Rich Brown and Geeta Das as well as special guests rappers Geo the Voice (George Ignace, Secwepemculucw) and Ostweleve (Ronnie Dean Harris, Stō:lo/St’át’imc/Nlaka’pamux).

Internationally acclaimed, Spiritual Warriors’ 2019 album Ancestors received four Native American Music Awards (NAMA) nominations in 2019, winning for Best World Music Album. In the group’s previous incarnation as Kalan Wi, they won a 2013 NAMA for Best Historical/Linguistic Recording for their album Celebrate.

This truly unique band continues to produce important, meaningful, and culturally significant music, following Leroy Joe’s passion to preserve and promote his language and culture. Walk alongside The Spiritual Warriors as they take you on a cultural journey to the natural heartbeat of the Indigenous drum and the Lil’wat/St’at’imc people.

InsideOut Concerts Announces Issuance of a New U.S. Patent for Audience Immersion

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 17, 2023

1

InsideOut Concerts Announces Issuance of a New U.S. Patent for Audience Immersion

InsideOut Concerts, Inc., a pioneer and innovator in the design, development and production of immersive classical music events, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued its patent No. 11,673,070 entitled “Methods and Systems for Arranging Seats for Audience Members and Musicians.” Invented by acclaimed conductor and Director of InsideOut Concerts, Inc., David Bernard, this patent covers algorithms and processes that enable classical music event producers and venue designers to actively manage audience experience and immersion in the design and execution of events. As a result, audience experience and immersion can take their place alongside acoustics and environmental conditions as determining factors in audience satisfaction and the success of venue design.

“Today’s audiences require compelling experiences in the live events they commit to. Classical Concert producers must pivot beyond ‘audio delivery’ to effectively compete with streamed digital music and experience-driven live activities. Incorporating active management of audience experience and immersion into event design is essential, and is Classical Music’s best opportunity for growth,” says inventor David Bernard. “In developing and leveraging the algorithms and tools in this Patent, I hope bring to Classical Music the tools to fully realize its potential for engaging audiences,” says Bernard.

InsideOut Concerts, Inc. has produced events using the algorithms and tools covered in patent No. 11,673,070 with several symphony orchestras, including the Greenwich (CT) Symphony, the Danbury (CT) Symphony, the Massapequa Philharmonic and the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, resulting in not only increased tickets sales, but also increased organic new audience acquisition. Comments from attendees of these events include:

“Absolutely and positively one of the best experiences ever! This is a smart investment in the future growth of symphony audiences.”
“We’ve become musical ‘converts’ solely due to your InsideOut concert experience and thoroughly anticipate the next one.”
“I have been to many concerts at the world’s great concert halls, but none were close to as memorable as the InsideOut concert I experienced on Sunday. I have never in my life engaged with music as holistically or dramatically–as ecstatically–as I did while sitting on stage among those musicians. Indeed, I have never been so fully enveloped like that in such magnificent sound. It was a thrill of a lifetime!”

To contact InsideOut Concert to discuss potential immersive classical music events, use this form.

InsideOut Concerts Inc. is a pioneer and innovator in audience engagement and audience immersion. InsideOut Concerts, Inc. and its Director David Bernard collaborate with orchestras in the design, development and production of immersive classical music events hailed as transformative experiences for seasoned concert-goers and newcomers alike.

Called “the Johnny Appleseed of Classical Music” by Long Island Weekly, Maestro David Bernard has helped the Arts thrive through his innovative approaches to audience and orchestra building as music director and guest conductor. Maestro Bernard serves as Music Director of the Massapequa Philharmonic, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and the Eglevsky Ballet where he leads the company’s acclaimed annual production of “The Nutcracker” at the Tilles Center. First Prize winner of The American Prize Orchestral Conducting Competition (professional division) 2019, David Bernard’s guest conducting appearances include the Brooklyn Symphony, the Dubuque (IA) Symphony, the Greenwich (CT) Symphony. His catalog of recordings acclaimed by Gramophone, BBC Music, Stereophile Magazine, Classics Today, Fanfare Magazine, and MusicWeb International, include a Complete Beethoven Symphonies Cycle, Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.

Skullcandy Packs Premium, Easy-to-use Features Into All-New Collection: Rail ANC And Rail True Wireless Earbuds

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 17, 2023

1

Skullcandy Packs Premium, Easy-to-use Features Into All-New Collection: Rail ANC And Rail True Wireless Earbuds

Skullcandy, the lifestyle audio brand alternative for those spurning today’s iTech sheeple and Beverly Hills yoga sets, announced today its newest feature-packed, value-driven franchise, Rail. Introducing two new True Wireless earbud models, Rail ANC boasting 4-mic Active Noise Cancelation technology and Rail True Wireless Earbuds, this line distills the best of Skullcandy. Offering premium features such as hands-free voice control via Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology, Multipoint Pairing and Clear Voice Smart Mic, along with a redesigned ergonomic fit and other upgrades, all at an unbeatable sub-$100 price point. Rail ANC ($99.99 MSRP) and Rail ($79.99 MSRP) are available globally, exclusively on Skullcandy.com.

Rail ANC and Rail present users with an elevated true wireless experience, enabling hands-free voice commands in five language options plus the ability to become smarter over time when upgraded features are released via the Skull-iQ App. A streamlined listening experience is further enhanced by multipoint pairing and capacitive touch controls that can be customized through the app. Personal Sound enables users to tune their audio to optimal levels based on their unique hearing profile. Rail ANC presents users with four-mic hybrid and adjustable active noise cancellation for a more reliable, easier to activate experience and also offers wireless charging.

“When we sat down to conceptualize the Rail family, our goal was to pack the best of what Skullcandy offers into a sleek, innovative form factor,” said Jason Luthman, Director of Global Product Management, Skullcandy. “The premium Rail collection is fully-loaded with mind-blowing audio and the freshest features competing with the highest-end true wireless offerings on the market, at a price point our fans will appreciate.”

Both Rail ANC and Rail were designed using cutting-edge technology, leveraging virtual reality to create a universally ergonomic fit, providing the most stable, comfortable and best-fitting experiences on the market. The accompanying charging case is equally streamlined and minimal. Rail ANC is available in a True Black colorway while Rail is offered in True Black and Bone.

Additional details surrounding Rail ANC and Rail True Wireless Earbuds include:

Rail ANC True Wireless Earbuds – $99.99 MSRP

Up to 38 Hours of Battery Life (ANC off)¹ + Rapid Charge and Wireless Charging – Listen longer with 10 hours of battery life in the earbuds and 28 hours in the charging case
IP55 Sweat, Water and Dust Resistant – Go on any adventure without missing a beat
Adjustable 4-Mic Active Noise Canceling – Actively monitors the surrounding environment to filter out external noise, maintaining a crisp audio quality
Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology – Issue simple, hands-free voice commands to turn on and adjust Stay-Aware Mode, activate device assistant, launch Spotify Tap, Take Photo and more
Over-the-Air Updates – Earbuds become smarter over time when new upgradable features are released via the Skull-iQ App
Multipoint Pairing – Seamlessly pair to two devices at once, regardless of platform or manufacturer
Personal Sound by Mimi® – Tune your audio experience to your unique hearing ability by taking a real-time audio test to create a Personal Sound Profile for optimized audio levels
Built-In Tile™ Finding Technology – If earbuds is misplaced, simply “ring” it from the Tile app
Clear Voice Smart Mic – Experience a reduction in background noise to ensure calls are crystal clear
Preset & Custom EQ Modes – Adjust your EQ or create your own custom EQ modes
Customizable Button Functions – Personalize your earbuds by customizing your controls via Skull-iQ app
True Wireless via Bluetooth® 5.2 – The latest in Bluetooth technology offering efficiency improvements and faster pairing capabilities

Rail True Wireless Earbuds – $79.99 MSRP

Up to 42 Hours of Battery Life + Rapid Charge – Listen longer with 8 hours of battery life in the earbuds and 34 hours in the charging case + With Rapid Charge, 10 minutes of charge equals 2 hours of playtime
IP55 Sweat, Water and Dust Resistant – Go on any adventure without missing a beat
Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology – Issue simple, hands-free voice commands to turn on and adjust Stay-Aware Mode, activate device assistant, launch Spotify Tap, Take Photo and more
Over-the-Air Updates – Update earbuds via the Skull-iQ App to add new features for enhanced functionality and to extend the life of the earbuds
Personal Sound – Tune your audio experience to your unique hearing ability by taking a real-time audio test to create a Personal Sound Profile for optimized audio levels
Multipoint Pairing – Seamlessly pair to two devices at once, regardless of platform or manufacturer
Built-In Tile™ Finding Technology – If earbuds is misplaced, simply “ring” it from the Tile app
Clear Voice Smart Mic – Experience a reduction in background noise to ensure calls are crystal clear
Preset & Custom EQ Modes – Adjust your EQ or create your own custom EQ modes
Customizable Button Functions – Personalize your earbuds by customizing your controls
True Wireless via Bluetooth 5.2 – The latest in Bluetooth® technology offering efficiency improvements and faster pairing capabilities

For more information visit Skullcandy.com or follow along on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

Journey’s Steve Smith Breaks Down His Drumming In The Classic “Separate Ways”

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 17, 2023

0

Journey’s Steve Smith Breaks Down His Drumming In The Classic “Separate Ways”

Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) is a song by Journey and released in 1983 as a single from their album “Frontiers.” The song is a powerful and emotional rock ballad that deals with the theme of a crumbling relationship and the pain of two people going their separate ways, and features a driving beat by Steve Smith, who breaks it all down for us in this video.

My Next Read: “Top of the Mountain: The Beatles at Shea Stadium 1965” By Laurie Jacobson

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 17, 2023

0

My Next Read: “Top of the Mountain: The Beatles at Shea Stadium 1965” By Laurie Jacobson

On a sweltering Sunday evening in August 1965, 56,000 people traveled by plane, car, bus, ferry, and subway train to pack New York’s Shea Stadium. They were there not for a ballgame, but a rock and roll concert—the audacious dream of promoter Sid Bernstein. No band had ever played a baseball stadium, and few believed it could be pulled off, but on that glorious night, The Beatles sold out Shea Stadium, shattering all existing box office and attendance records in show business history.

Against a backdrop of mounting political and cultural tumult, Top of the Mountain delivers the details and excitement of Shea and the spirited, curious new generation who would soon claim the decade for its own. Packed with hundreds of color photographs, it gives a one-of-a-kind account of this monumental event, gathering first-person interviews and quotes from dozens of those who experienced a piece of pop-culture history—celebrities, writers, agents, producers, photographers, opening act performers, security guards, radio personalities, cameramen, and fans of all kinds. Among them were young Caryn Johnson (Whoopi Goldberg), Mary Louise Streep (Meryl Streep), and Steven Lento (Steven Van Zandt); future Beatle wives Linda Eastman and Barbara Bach; established stars like Bobby Vinton and Ed Sullivan; and artists such as Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Felix Cavaliere and The Rascals, Marvin Gaye, and more. Together, they paint an unforgettable picture of a night like no other.