Page 1514 – That Eric Alper

London, ON-Based Blu Bones Signs Deal With S!NG INC. NFT Market Place

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 4, 2022

London, ON-Based Blu Bones Signs Deal With S!NG INC. NFT Market Place

The stage is set for more Canadian artists releasing NFTs in Web 3, and classic rockers Blu Bones remain front and centre with their recent partnerships with both S!NG Market and Lemmon Entertainment! The new single and video, “Summertime in Europe (LIVE at Canadian Music Week),” is available now as an NFT here.

The crypto-cred is longstanding for the London, Ontario-based band that just marked their 26-year anniversary; they were the first Canadian artists to release a single and video via NFT in Spring 2021.

With Our Lady Peace’s Raine Maida as CPO and EVP, S!NG Market is the music-only NFT marketplace for fans to buy, collect, and listen to exclusive music and add-ons from their favourite artists — before it’s available anywhere else.

“Artists can’t afford to not pay attention to Web 3,” Maida says of the burgeoning digital frontier — and Blu Bones agree.

“We are elated to be part of such a brand new, exciting, and cutting-edge platform,” Blu Bones lead singer Gord Prior shares. “I have no doubt that the S!NG platform is the future of music delivery, and is going to be a massive game-changer for artists across Canada and all over the world.

“Blu Bones are very grateful to Raine and the entire S!NG team for bringing us into the family,” he adds.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Blu Bones as one of our new artists,” S!NG Inc. co-founder and CEO Geoff Osler says.

Lemmon Entertainment are also on-hand to expand artist opportunities into new digital realms, thanks to their recent partnership with S!NG Inc. “Both S!NG Inc. and Lemmon Entertainment embody an artist-first approach,” says Lemmon Entertainment CEO Jessica Lemmon. “We have come together to void the gap between traditional industry practices and new avenues of providing entertainment — including Lemmon Stage, an International emerging artist discovery platform.”

The Internet has played a distinct role in Blu Bones’ resurgence on the scene as of late, Prior recently revealed. “It became time to address the endless emails and social media tags we received from fans ‘begging’ us to either get back together, or record something new… Most of us never thought of reuniting or doing anything new musically after all these years, but the Internet reconnected us with fans and friends from all over the world; the timing is perfect for everyone.”

Blu Bones’ “Summertime in Europe (LIVE at Canadian Music Week)” is available now — exclusively as an NFT via S!NG Market. Offered for only $1.00 USD, the NFT bundle includes the full video of the song, MP3, and WAV file. The song and video can only be found on S!NG Market and will not be available on any other platforms for three months.

Alt-Rocker HARKNESS Say “Ciao To The Beauty” with New Single

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 4, 2022

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Alt-Rocker HARKNESS Say “Ciao To The Beauty” with New Single

With Canadian alt-rocker Harkness saying “Ciao To The Beauty,” their new track — available now — will have you saying “hello” to your new favourites on the scene.

The solo artist from Toronto, Canada delivers a full-bodied soundscape full of rich instrumentation, yesteryear nods, and forward-motion music of the future. The title track from Harkness’ forthcoming album, “Ciao To The Beauty” dips and ducks around 60s flair while incorporating modern alternative rock and exciting musical experimentation.

“Many years ago, I went on a solo trip to Brazil on holiday,” says Harkness. “The gorgeous environment and the open, joyful character of the people had a profound effect on me — as did the fantastic local music that seemed to always be playing in the open air.

“I would stroll aimlessly for hours finding cool percussion instruments to buy while soaking up what felt like so much explosive energy all around me,” Harkness continues. “One of the peak moments was my visit to Falls de Iguazu where hundreds of waterfalls can be seen, heard, and felt to your very core.

“It was there that ‘Ciao To The Beauty’ was born.”

A musical childhood would grow and develop a young Harkness’ insatiable thirst for artistry; his father fronted The Al Harkness Orchestra a band consisting of horns and winds along with a traditional rhythm section and his mother played French horn and piano beautifully.

While his mother gave him his first piano lessons, Harkness learned his essential life lessons from his father’s vast record collections. By age 12, he’d learned his first guitar chords, and by 17, Harkness quit school in favor of a professional musical career that took him around the world.

Harkeness’ debut LP, The Occasion, officially arrived in August of 2021 and his newest project is slated for March of 2023; two four-song strong EPs are expected in the lead-up to next year’s full-length project.

“The song celebrates beauty and hints at the question ‘Why do we feel the need for an abundance of possessions and assets in order to find happiness.’?” explains Harkness: “It suggests that all we could ever want is ours if we just stop to embrace what is already right in front of us. ‘Ciao to the Beauty’ encourages the listener to recognize the destructive tendencies of a self-centered existence. The lyrics go as far as to say, ‘Look up at the sky, kiss yourself goodbye’ to encourage a whole new perspective to live by.”

Harkness levies his love of multi-instrumentation on the track; unique melodies, and eclectic percussion. “Ciao To The Beauty” doesn’t shy away from tuba, marimba, flute, bassoon, glockenspiel, and plenty of layered harmonies. Harkness’ artistry relies on performing with real musicians, in real tones created by humans versus machines. His flair for creating detail-oriented tracks that take the listener on a sonic journey is unparalleled into today’s musical landscape.

Harkness plucks together every note, seamlessly weaving them into one fluid body of work. And when the song ends, you’ll find yourself thanking Harkness for providing a sonic think-piece: you saying “hello” to the newest love of your life, while he croons: “Ciao To The Beauty”.

Symphonic Metal Rockers OPHELIA FALLING Are “Destroyed in Delight” with New Single

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 4, 2022

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Symphonic Metal Rockers OPHELIA FALLING Are “Destroyed in Delight” with New Single

Canadian symphonic metal rockers Ophelia Falling are “Destroyed in Delight” with the release of their haunting new single and symbolic cinematic video.

The title song from the Vancouver-based festival-favourite band’s recent full-length album, the track trades in themes of addiction, broken promises, and domestic disputes and violence, vocalist Chelsea Rose reveals.

“So many have witnessed or experienced the destruction addiction causes,” she continues. “This song is about the pain experienced by those surrounding and who love the afflicted, and written from my personal experience with partners whose alcoholism, drug abuse, and gambling addictions destroyed the relationship.”

The creation of Mark Anthony Richardson (Diesel Candy, The Lumps, Drive By Poets) with collaborators Chelsea Rose (5minutewait), James Meyer (Strapping Young Lad, Devin Townsend Project), Sylvain Maltais (Omega Crom, Anarcheon), and Chris Pallot (Carousel Scene), Ophelia Falling emerged from the rainy streets of Vancouver in 2013.

Beyond their Savage Love EP and Destroyed in Delight LP releases, their single “Anybody’s Daughter” was featured in Kevin Schultz’s indie film, Guiltless, and award-winning filmmaker Karen Lam’s feature film, The Curse of Willow Song.

Lam directed the video for “Anybody’s Daughter,” and returns to co-direct alongside animator Bonni Reid for “Destroyed in Delight” as well. “The video is about the internal journey to confront the self,” Lam shares. “The fear of that unknown is paralyzing to the point where dancing with the devils — the devils you know, even though you know they’re damaging for you — is still preferable over facing yourself.

“The Minotaur is your shadow self; symbolic of strength and fertility in the old bull cults but, within the labyrinth, it’s more like a void. We’re attracted and repelled by it, the way we both want to dive inside — and yet are terrorized by it…

“We’re not using overt bull symbols in the video, but even Chelsea’s heels in the grass remind us more of hooves than feet,” she adds.

With previous festival appearances at Hyperspace Metal Festival III, Decimate 2.5 Metal Festival, Metalocalypstick Metal Fest, and more, Ophelia Falling will take center stage this Summer during a multi-date Western Canada tour.

The video and tour are supported by Music BC, Creative BC, and the Province of British Columbia.

Toronto’s LGBTQ2S+ Pop Star ANA PAC Empowers & Inspires with “Bite The Rainbow”

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 4, 2022

0

Toronto’s LGBTQ2S+ Pop Star ANA PAC Empowers & Inspires with “Bite The Rainbow”

Toronto dance-pop artist Ana Pac is breaking down the boxes of societal norms and showing the world its infinite and limitless possibilities with a new single, “Bite The Rainbow.”

It’s a song about “respecting and celebrating true diversity — whatever path you take, whatever your style, whatever interests and drives you,” the Montreal-born, Toronto-based artist shares. “All the pieces of you should be a reflection of the real you!”

A triple threat in more ways than one, Ana Pac is both a singer, dancer, and performer, and trilingual, speaking fluent English, French, and Spanish. With previous singles including “Blast Off,” “This Is…,” and more, she has also appeared in both film and television projects — including Netflix original films “Work It” (produced by Alicia Keys), and “Feel the Beat” (starring Sofia Carson). In addition to dancing, Ana’s athleticism also extends to national sports as a former speed skater.

A proudly open member of the LGBTQ2S+ community, Ana Pac writes and performs songs focused on positivity and acceptance — with “Bite The Rainbow” soaring as no exception.

As such, it’s a song close to Ana’s heart. With her “be you” messaging, she continues to exude confidence and kindness as she supports people to embrace who they are with love and joy.

“My message to others is to encourage them to celebrate their differences so that we may build better hearts and minds,” she says. “Let LOVE rule!”

Little Big Town Releases New Song “All Summer” From Upcoming New Album

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 4, 2022

0

Little Big Town Releases New Song “All Summer” From Upcoming New Album

ACM, CMA and GRAMMY-winning band Little Big Town is releasing their latest song “All Summer” from their forthcoming 10th studio album. The song is the follow-up to their most recent single “Hell Yeah” which has amassed more than 10 million streams since its April release.

Written by Karen Fairchild, Sara Buxton, Madi Diaz, Ashley Ray, Savana Santos and Alyssa Vanderheym, “All Summer” is a bonafide, summer ready anthem.

Little Big Town continues to bring their exceptional live shows to fans worldwide this summer – they recently wrapped up The Bandwagon Tour with Miranda Lambert and joined The Eagles on all dates of their European stadium tour this summer. This fall, Little Big Town will join Wynonna Judd on select dates of The Judds: The Final Tour.

GRAMMY, ACM, CMA, AMA and Emmy Award-winning group, Little Big Town – consisting of members Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook – first entered the music scene over 20 years ago with hit songs “Boondocks,” “Bring It On Home,” “Good As Gone” and the GRAMMY-nominated “Little White Church.” The band’s breakthrough albums Tornado and Pain Killer produced multiple #1 singles, including “Pontoon,” “Tornado,” and “Day Drinking,” as well as the history-making, best-selling country single of the year (2015) “Girl Crush.” 2017’s The Breaker debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Charts and Top 10 (No. 4) on the Billboard 200 to critical acclaim. The album features their GRAMMY-winning, multi-week #1 single, “Better Man,” as well as the 2019 GRAMMY-nominated, “When Someone Stops Loving You.” The band’s self-produced ninth studio album Nightfall was released January 2020 and hit the top of the Billboard Country Charts. The record included critically-acclaimed and GRAMMY-nominated “The Daughters,” “Over Drinking” and “Wine, Beer, Whiskey”- the latter of which has reached more than 160 million global streams. In April 2022, they released their new single “Hell Yeah,” which has amassed more than 10 million streams to date. Little Big Town has earned more than 45 award show nominations and has taken home nearly 20 awards, including multiple GRAMMY, AMA, People’s Choice, CMA and ACM Awards, in addition to an Emmy award.

Goo Goo Dolls Announce Thirteenth Studio Album ‘Chaos In Bloom’

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 4, 2022

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Goo Goo Dolls Announce Thirteenth Studio Album ‘Chaos In Bloom’

GRAMMY Award nominated, multi-platinum-selling band Goo Goo Dolls have announced their brand new thirteenth studio LP Chaos in Bloom, arriving August 12th, 2022 via Warner Records. Marking the first album of their career to be produced by frontman John Rzeznik, the record finds the band at the top of their game and continuing to constantly evolve just as they have for nearly four decades together. Consisting of 10 tracks, Chaos in Bloom is an album of biting sarcasm, stadium-ready choruses, and the type of spear-sharp songwriting that’s led them to becoming one of the most influential alternative rock groups of all time.

While Chaos in Bloom isn’t necessarily an album borne out by the pandemic, many of the tracks reflect on all of the things in daily life that became amplified while everyone was isolated from one another and sequestered at home. “Chaos in Bloom reminded us how special this whole thing is and to cherish the relationships that we have together,” says Rzeznik about the album. “Where we’ve been, and where we’re going.” Oscillating from personal reflections on the state of the world to societal commentaries, the songs on the album grapple with observations about our dystopian modernity while searching for optimism and pushing for a more empathetic world. “I’ve been trying to have a relationship with the bigger picture,” adds bassist and songwriter Robby Takac, “and refining happiness and what it means from that perspective.”

To record the album, Rzeznik and Takac retreated to Dreamland Studios just outside Woodstock, New York during the pandemic. An environment as remote as it is rich with historic rock music roots, the location proved to be the perfect setting for clearing the noise and creating such a record, which carries a true live quality that the band captured by blending vintage instruments and gear with new-age recording processes and techniques.

Alongside the announcement today, the band has shared the first taste of the album “Yeah, I Like You.” As the intro track featured on Chaos in Bloom, the song ignites the record with a rousing acoustic guitar line that hits like a gut punch, with lyrics that effortlessly critique our celebrity culture, and the people who work so hard to look so disaffected while masking insecurities with false self-assuredness. “In a world that is just drowning in social media and internet stars, many of whom are certainly talented, but many confirm that in 2022 you can be famous for doing nothing,” says Rzeznik. “Celebrity in this age has a very quick burn. It was hard not to be consumed by it during the pandemic.”

For the first time since 2019, the band will embark on a sprawling nationwide tour this summer. Set to kick off on July 15, 2022 at Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater in Nampa, ID, the nationwide tour will see the band performing songs from Chaos in Bloom for the first time ever along with other tracks from their complete discography at iconic outdoor venues spanning North America, including Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, and Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, NY. Blue October will provide support for the entire run, and more information & tickets can be found via the band’s website HERE. Goo Goo Dolls will be partnering with the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation for the tour, a nonprofit founded in 2002 by Ali and Joe Torre to provide healing and education services to youth who have been traumatized by exposure to violence including domestic violence, child abuse, teen dating abuse, and sexual assault to help break the cycle of violence.

Formed by Rzeznik and Takac in Buffalo, NY during 1986, Goo Goo Dolls have quietly broken records, contributed a string of staples to the American songbook, connected to millions of fans, and indelibly impacted popular music for three-plus decades. Beyond selling 15 million records worldwide, the group has garnered four GRAMMT Award nominations and nearly a dozen platinum & gold singles combined, and seized a page in the history books by achieving 16 number one and Top 10 hits. As a result, they hold the all-time radio record for “Most Top 10 Singles.”

Thus far, A Boy Named Goo [1995] has gone double-platinum, Dizzy Up The Girl five-times-platinum, and Gutterflower [2002] and Let Love In [2006] both went gold as Something for the Rest of Us [2010] and Magnetic [2013] bowed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200. Their music continues to reach new audiences around the world and rack up platinum & gold statuses – including the recently platinum-certified “Slide”, “Black Balloon” and “Better Days” – and has been covered by everyone from Taylor Swift to Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers.

Among a string of hits, “Iris” clutched #1 on the Hot 100 for 18 straight weeks and would be named “#1 Top 40 Song of the Last 20 Years.” On the heels of going viral on TikTok, the track recently achieved seven-times-platinum status and re-entered the Billboard charts, yet again proving the timelessness of Goo Goo Dolls’ illustrious catalog.

CHAOS IN BLOOM TRACK-LISTING
Yeah, I Like You
War
Save Me From Myself
Let The Sun
Loving Life
Going Crazy
Day After Day
Past Mistakes
You Are The Answer
Superstar

R.E.M. Celebrates The 40th Anniversary Of Chronic Town With CD and Cassette Release

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 4, 2022

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R.E.M. Celebrates The 40th Anniversary Of Chronic Town With CD and Cassette Release

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, R.E.M.’s debut EP CHRONIC TOWN will be released for the first time ever as a standalone CD with extensive liner notes by the original producer Mitch Easter (Let’s Active). It will be released in three different formats: CD, Picture Disc, and Cassette on August 19, 2022 and can be preordered here.

Featuring such adored classics in the band’s repertoire as “Gardening At Night”, “Wolves, Lower” and “1,000,000,” the five song EP, as Rolling Stone noted, “served notice that R.E.M. was an outfit to watch.” As a debut release, R.E.M.’s Chronic Town was an anomaly… a record that didn’t quite fit into the constraints of what was played on the radio. So instead of trying to fit into a genre, R.E.M. helped create their own: College Rock. The follow-up to their breakthrough single “Radio Free Europe” which was released in 1981, Chronic Town served as the entry point to what would become one of Alternative Rock’s biggest bands. “One might fancifully say that Chronic Town was the sound of an expedition, ready for anything, setting forth,” says Easter fondly about the EP. “If R.E.M. ‘Radio Free Europe’ single was a signpost, the Chronic Town EP was the atlas.”

Introducing their arpeggiated guitar playing, cryptic and often indecipherable lyrics, and radiant choruses that would soon emerge as signatures of the classic R.E.M. sound, Chronic Town is the sound of a restless band, chock full of ideas, operating on a post-collegiate budget. Charmingly ragged and refreshingly immediate, it established the band indelibly upon impact. “Wolves, Lower” opens the EP with Michael Stipe’s trademark impressionistic and idiosyncratic lyrics, while Mike Mills’ rubbery bass lines and Peter Buck’s jangly Rickenbacker keeps Bill Berry’s unpredictable drumming in check. It’s this combination that would not only fuel the band for subsequent decades but make them equally as dependable as songsmiths. Serving as a template for ’80s college jangle pop, “Gardening At Night” forged a style that combined heartily strummed rhythm guitars with a meandering bass line that proved to be a solid blueprint for college bands to come.

Critically hailed both upon release and in retrospect, Chronic Town heralded “a great band planting their flag in the ground, an historic landmark that portended great things that actually came” (Stereogum). The Stranger praised “everything about the EP, from its gnomic, blue-tinted cover art, to its restlessly discursive music, to the fact that the two sides both had their own titles (‘Chronic Town’ and ‘Poster Torn’), was not only good on its own merits, but an excellent influence in favor of obscurantism and understatement.” Chronic Town’s impact and influence on the future of alternative music is uncontested and described by Magnet Magazine as “essentially a template for the entire indie-rock movement.”

R.E.M. – CHRONIC TOWN

Wolves, Lower
Gardening At Night
Carnival Of Sorts (Boxcars)
1,000,000
Stumble

Launch of Def Leppard beauty collection creating Hysteria in the makeup industry

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 4, 2022

0

Launch of Def Leppard beauty collection creating Hysteria in the makeup industry

Rock and Roll Beauty™are pleased to announce the release of their Def Leppard limited-edition beauty collection. Def Leppard helped define a true era in rock and roll, selling more than 110 million records worldwide. In celebration of their legacy, this product line reflects the days of anthemic guitars, soaring vocals, and stadium rock sound.

With its shimmery pinks and metallic shades such as Rocket Blue, this 19-piece collection is highly pigmented and designed to give you a rock-star look! It’s available exclusively in Ulta Beauty stores nationwide, www.ulta.com and www.rockandrollbeauty.com.

Through a unique collaboration with Def Leppard, the licensing agent Epic Rights, and the designers at Rock and Roll Beauty, comes this distinctive and nostalgic collection. From the one-of-a-kind iconic triangular artistry palette, with its 14 vibrant shades, to the Union Jack debossed peachy blushes, each product in the line was designed to reflect the rock and roll era that truly was a groundbreaking musical phenomena.

With more than 110 million albums sold worldwide and two prestigious Diamond Awards in the U.S., 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame® inductees Def Leppard – Joe Elliott (vocals), Phil Collen (guitar), Rick Savage (bass), Vivian Campbell (guitar) and Rick Allen (drums) — continue to be one of the most important forces in rock music. Over the course of their career the band has produced a series of classic ground-breaking albums that set the bar for generations of music fans and artists alike. The group’s spectacular live shows and arsenal of hits have become synonymous with their name, leading Def Leppard to be heralded as the world’s greatest live rock band. Def Leppard’s influential career includes numerous hit singles and ground-breaking multi-platinum albums—including two of the best-selling albums of all time, Pyromania and Hysteria, capturing the group’s legendary tracks, bringing together classic Leppard hits such as “Rock of Ages,” “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Foolin.” For the first time, in January 2018 Def Leppard debuted their full recording catalog worldwide via streaming and download platforms. As they did with the original release of their records, Def Leppard dominated the worldwide charts again, which found their albums charting in the iTunes Top 10 in more than 30 countries, including Hysteria at #3 in the US, and #5 in the UK. Def Leppard also had the #1, #2 and #3 records on the US catalog albums chart. The band have gone on to amass a staggering 5.5 billion streams since 2018, reaching a younger 18-44 demographic that now represents 58% of their fanbase. Additionally, the band have garnered an impressive 15 million followers across their social media platforms. In May 2022, Def Leppard released their twelfth studio album Diamond Star Halos. The album debuted at #1 on the Apple and Amazon Music charts. The album also scored a Top 10 debut on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart, marking the band’s eighth Top 10 album of their career, and also making them one of just three groups with a newly charting top 10 title on the Billboard 200 albums chart in each decade since the ’80s. Diamond Star Halos additionally garnered a #1 debut on Billboard’s Hard Rock chart. Following the close of their historic 2018 co-headline stadium and arena run in North America, Def Leppard sold a staggering 1,000,000 tickets and the tour grossed over $100,000,000.00, a massive feat in today’s touring world. Def Leppard will top that number yet again with another sold out North American stadium run in 2022 with Motley Crue. As always, the group keep pushing the boundaries with their electrifying live shows.

Harper Lee’s Only Recorded Interview About ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 3, 2022

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Harper Lee’s Only Recorded Interview About ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’

In 1964, Harper Lee talked with WQXR host Roy Newquist for an interview in New York. For the first time, that interview is now available to listen to online. The interview is the only known recording of Lee discussing “To Kill a Mockingbird,” among other topics, and one of the last interviews she would ever give.

Musician Performs Dr. Dre and Eminem’s “Forgot About Dre” On The Guitar-Banjo

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 3, 2022

0

Musician Performs Dr. Dre and Eminem’s “Forgot About Dre” On The Guitar-Banjo

Musician Luca Stricagnoli gets into the hip hop groove with his cover of Dr. Dre and Eminem’s “Forgot About Dre” on a meld of an instrument – the Ganjo.

He says, “One more experiment where I convert a hip hop song into a guitar arrangement. Well, actually this time it’s an arrangement for Ganjo (Guitar-Banjo), which still has 6 strings by the way. Dr. Dre is one of the most influential artists in the hip-hop scene, and in “Forgot About Dre” he collaborated with Eminem himself. Of course, the result could only be a really cool song, which gave me quite some motivation in a particular period of my life. I know rap songs can sound quite strange when performed on a Ganjo, but what can I say…I had so much fun doing this!”