Interview with the Enigma Social Song Winner
On the Enigma Social Song project homepage an interview with the vocal winner, Alise Ketnere, has been posted.
Enigma: What prompt you to take part in Enigma’s “Social Song”?
Alise Ketnere: I suppose that it was written in the stars, that I accidentaly noticed your competition. Actually I was praying for something interesting in my life. And it happened. But I didn’t expect that I could win.
Read the complete interview here.
Enigma Social Song Winner Announced
Michael Cretu and Enigma fans have selected the vocal track Fei mea of the Latvian singer Fox Lima to be the winner of the Enigma Social Song Contest. Here the creative genius of Enigma has invited the singers of the world to contribute with a vocal – and he will later do some magic with the winner in his studio – named Merlin. This has truly been a one-of-a-kind thing for us Enigma fans – and a statement of Michael’s 20+ year long dedication to the project and his millions of fans. And WOW, what a winner!
Below is Michael announcing the final result:
And, without further ado, here is the MAGNIFICENT winner!!!
Amongst hundreds of submissions Fox Lima got most of the user’s votes closely followed by Set U Free from Mark Joshua (Brazil), Time Machine from J. Spring (Spain) and Oi giria giria from Rasa Serra (Lithuania).
Go to EnigmaSocialSong.com for more information – and we here at .nu feel confident that the result will be MAGICAL. Thank you, Michael, for starting this.
Window on the Soul
When you are a radio host there are but a few albums you can really trust, albums you could play back-to-back and the audience would be totally happy with it. One such album is Patrick Kelly’s Window on the Soul. It has such a warm sound and delicate melodies that it simply blows all your stress and worries away.
If you are a listener to New Age Stars radio, you will already know some of the songs on the album. Track no. 9, Crest of a Wave, has received several thousand “thumbs up” votes over the last half year. The song has a very satisfying build-up, and the strings part in the end has that nice larger-than-life feel. But I very much enjoy the opening track, Breath of Life, as well. The heart like pluck synth instantly creates a relaxing atmosphere.
There is an ambient masterpiece hiding here as well; track 8, A Distant Land. The melody, the arrangement and the light drums are examples of new age music perfection.
New World Records call the Window in the Soul-album for “pure escapism”, and I couldn’t agree more. Its magnificently calming sound takes the listener to a warm, far-away place. Just take one glance at the nice cover and you’ll know that the soul’s window can be opened by pressing play.
Sample the album at Amazon. Also see the presentation on NewWorldMusic.com.
The Enigma Social Song project
In celebration of Enigma’s 20 year anniversary, the man behind it all – Michael Cretu – is inviting his loyal fans to participate in the creation of a song. A webpage has been set up for this purpose called EnigmaSocialSong.com.
On the page you can hear how Michael goes from having a bit of vocal to creating a enigmatic song segment. The result is truly beautiful. This is a very rare insight into the creative mind behind Enigma – and a statement that Michael is very dedicated to his fans.
Introduction:
The EnigmaSocialSong.com project has been online for quite some time – and about 60 vocal submissions are so far available on Youtube. It will be exciting to hear what Mikael can make of them.
Song update:
Steve Orchard shines on Sundancer
One of the more uplifting aspects of being a review publicist is getting to know many of the great artists producing music today on a personal level. In a recent interview with a musician from the U.K. everyone had a chance to learn he had a recording audition during his interview at the record label music icons The Beatles had founded in 1968 called Apple Records.
Steve Orchard is the musician traveling that long and winding road to 54 St. James Street, London to Apple Records and this story is just one of many he shared during our interview together. Everything has come together for Steve Orchard since today he is an MG Music Label artist and representative member of the Medwyn Goodall circle of friends highly revered for their outstanding music and integral voice each artist on the label is known for producing.
Steve Orchard is a multi instrumentalist composing and performing original music for many years on guitar, mandolin, harmonica, keyboards, piano and various skin drums. His prior albums Voyages Beyond Midnight, Salt Water Café & The Consequences of Kisses are great albums too and some earlier songs reveal the fact that Steve is also a fine vocalist.
Sundancer is an emblematic second album in his Trilogy Series and just like first in series Raindancer, nicely reflects the rare qualities of relaxing yet energetic melodies that I felt achieve universal appeal. Moondancer is the third album in the Trilogy Series, which makes this trio a well timed release during the 25 year anniversary events now taking place with Medwyn Goodall and the artists comprising the United Kingdom based MG Music Label.
Sundancer is a glowing accent to the Trilogy Series and where first in series Raindancer, with deeper tones and synthesized rhythms set the mood, Sundancer has a fun energetic symmetry and feel of Island music by a well placed illuminating atmosphere. One element greatly uniting the two is their relaxing yet energetic qualities and multiphase array of percussion rhythms.
The first bold impression of beaming radiance appears in energy driven song Soar. Percussion inscribes an upper tempo outline while keyboards and acoustic guitar imprint pleasing colors by their light but nicely melodic tempering while becoming your first indication the lively sun dancing theme is going to be fun and exciting.
While Sundancer is centered by a primarily upper tempo and is full of energy set in motion by an array of percussion and instrumentals, there are plenty of laid back relaxing moments too and none more apparent in than what you will hear in Lagoon & Tethered. This coequal ambiance with deeper rhythms during refrains are likewise found in the sultry oasis song Heat !
Many songs are layered midst more moderately timed tempos like Rainman, Unrepentant & Deadly Arrow, where an ensemble of percussion and steel drum accents prepare the harmonic profile for acoustic guitar, flute and keyboard contrasting melodies, with brighter phrasing infiltrating the deeper passages with full solid clarity.
Playing in the Sun & Borboletas are upper tempo songs with wood flute becoming the essential melody producer, and where single or long drawn out notes are often heard from others playing either the woodwind instrument or by effect, here a free flowing multiple note melody backed by accordion, keyboards and percussion nicely balance the full of energy attribute.
Pacifica is the positive upbeat song rounding out the 11 total on Sundancer. Knowing Steve Orchard is a bright and serious composer today as he was yesteryear, I’ve got a feeling he had composed Sundancer with a fun and energetic theme in mind all along which is like some of our other all time fun favorites, so for me this is what makes Steve Orchard’s releases memorable eight days a week.
Visit steveorchardmusic.co.uk to sample / purchase the album. The Trilogy Series is also available in the brand new MG Music USB Format. You can learn more about the USB Format at MG Music and then sample / purchase the entire Trilogy Series at mgmusic.ltd.uk. Read our recent interview together on our pages dedicated to Steve Orchard.
Sundancer cover design copyright David Orchard. Picture copyright BigStockPhoto – Albo
Ann Licater’s Musical Vision
World Flutist Ann Licater’s Doorway to a Dream hits #3 on Zone Music Reporter’s Top 100 Radio Airplay Charts. The album is a richly dimensional follow-up to Licater’s award-nominated solo debut Following the Call; she launched the album with a performance at INATS (Int’l. New Age Trade Show) 2010.
Ann Licater has been living the dream. That is to say, in the three years since her celebrated first album, Following the Call, she has absorbed every musical moment in her life to nurture her latest release, the refreshingly unique Doorway to a Dream, now charting at #3 following its first full month on Zone Music Reporter’s Top 100 Radio chart.
“Doorway to a Dream is best listened to in its entirety for the ultimate sonic and multi-dimensional aural experience,” Licater says. “The last track ‘Floating’ connects perfectly to the opening title track ‘Doorway to a Dream’ so that listeners who want to press ‘repeat’ and extend the album can remain in the dream story while meditating, journaling or creating.”
Read the press release here. It is such a wonderful album; check it out!
Also read John P. Olsens review of the album here.
New Album from Deuter
Now available for download only on the New Earth Records website: Deuter‘s brand new release, Mystery of Light !
Here Deuter applies his trademark attention to detail and impecable execution to capture the feeling of a sun-drenched glade during the Renaissance. Check it out here
This download will only be online for a limited time. The album will be available in CD format and on iTunes, etc. beginning in November…
Also enjoy the below video interview.
Call of Love – the press release
Peter Kater has sold close to 3 million albums over his 3 decades of music making and is respected as one of the most prolific and defining pioneers of our genre. Now his most recent album Call of Love is out. NewAgeMusic.nu will in a short while publish a complete review. In the meantime check out this press release:
Call of Love is a hybrid of instrumental music and combines and transcends many genres such as New Age, Contemporary Jazz, Classical Crossover and Pop Instrumental. The compositions are melodic, multi-layered, inspired, rich and spacious . The album also features an instrumental cover of the Sting classic, Fields Of Gold. This is the only time the original guitarist, Dominic Miller, has recorded the song, other than with Sting himself.
Read the rest of the press release here – and check out our in-dept Peter Kater feature too.
The Benefits of Meditation
We are massive fans of David & Steve Gordon here on NewAgeMusic.nu. They are among the most dedicated New Age Music producers out there, and have been delivering top notch albums and compilations for years and years.
The Gordon Brothers have a very nice blog too. They have recently published an article called The Benefits of Meditation. It starts with:
We have both been meditating in various ways for over 30 years. Whether it is traditional sitting meditation or mindfulness practices such as walking meditation, we‘re grateful for the many benefits we’ve found in these ways. There are far more benefits to meditating than can be covered here, so we’re offering this personal note as a short introduction to a large idea.
Read the complete post here.
Tubular Sounds, Italian style
Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells is one of those few works in new age music that is being rerecorded and rearranged by other artists (other examples are Enya’s Caribbean Blue and Oxygene by J. M. Jarre).
I was recently made aware of the below Italian version of Tubular Bells. Or, it is actually an excellent song on its own terms inspired by the bells. Great music and video Mimmoxa!!
Campane Tubolari from mimmoxa on Vimeo.
Updates from Fanny Oldfield
And while we are talking about Mike Oldfield; On board Mikes boat Sea Dragon, moored off St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, Fanny Oldfield has been exploring her husband’s music and writing a diary about her experiences. The latest posts are about Mike’s album Voyager.
See the all posts here – and notice all the excellent photos in the posts too. Fanny Oldfield is an excellent photographer.
New Movie Music by Eric Mouquet
Eric Mouquet of Deep Forest / Deep Projects has posted the following message:
Last september I composed music for this movie called IKIMONO, it’s about biodiversity on the Earth. My children are singing in the ending song. All music will be available soon.
Below is the movie trailer with Eric’s music:
It is tempting to compare the song with a Deep Forest classic like First Twilight on World Mix (1994). The melodic element is a bit hard to grasp at the first listen, but second time around you are amazed by the wonderful complexity of it. The ending song has a bright, upbeat feel and is will for sure be a hit with your children.
Yet again Eric Mouquet is showing that he is the no. 1 when it comes to creating heartfelt new age music with a truly timeless feel. This music takes you back to the dinosaurs and into today’s world again in a snap. Bravo!
Deep Forest, Deep Projects, Eric Mouquet | 
Leave a commentCall of Love – now on iTunes
One of this year’s major new age music titles, Peter Kater’s Call of Love, is now available on iTunes.
Kater has on this album invited three very gifted musicians to create an album that sounds as natural as it colorful. These artists are Legendary reedman, Paul McCandless; celebrated cellist, Jaques Morelenbaum; and Sting guitarist, Dominic Miller.
And while we are talking about Peter Kater – read this recent interview with him on Consensuslife.com.
For more information and samples, check out PeterKater.com
Clifford White Story of Atlantis
Creative talent and New Age music are identical terms in reference to the multitudes of creative and influential musicians producing music today. This can be said of all genres of course and just like all genres, New Age had a group of select artists in the primordial years whose earlier influences formed the inception and foundation of our genre.
Clifford White is a musician living in the United Kingdom defining our New Age genre then and this is true today. His biography as a musician began during an era when there was much less of a foundation to build upon and had to rely primarily on his own creative intuition as a vital resource. Clifford White’s inception into the New Age genre first emerged in 1985 at age 17 when he released a phenomenal album entitled Ascension which quickly established Clifford as a leading composer and producer whose music greatly influenced our genre in the early years.
Atlantis is the 2010 MG Music label release Clifford White just produced in his present day Sanctuary Studio in St. Albans, Hertfordshire and it is nice to know his talent for producing outstanding music and creative intuition during modern times is just as ingenious today as in earlier years. Currently Clifford presides over his multi faceted 21st Century New Media Ltd business which specializes in media consultation of Internet, film, software, television and media related training courses. In addition to his musician website he also hosts the New Age Music News website and his presence in the New Age genre today remains on the forefront.
Clifford White has made Atlantis into an exciting Electronic composition based in theme on the lost underwater city adventures first recounted in the writings of Greek philosopher and mathematician Plato. Knowing Clifford has made explorations of his own by using a broad range of influences and innovations with every successive album, these novel synthesizer effects translate into a modern Progressive album that reaches Epic and Cinematic proportions while recounting the ancient city lost beneath the waters.
Atlantis ( Title Song ) is the first of 11 exploratory melodies on this Electronic expedition transcending folklore of the past into a modern day chronicle overflowing with depth and creative imagination. One innovation of many is the unique metrical timing by using the middle C note on piano. Balanced with precision, this synchronized rhythm gives the impression of a heart beating with excitement while the main keyboard melody and regal orchestration begin to herald in this majestic opening song. Catacombs has a more mysterious allure given the ever present key changes made throughout the keyboard melody with percussion timing and synthesizer enhancements furthering this deeper realm in atmosphere like the dreamy sequences in moderately timed song Xtasea.
The Kingdom has Contemporary guitar rhythms along with an energetic beat illustrating a brighter atmosphere to the mysterious underwater city, while the Groove qualities in Time Tunnels with percussion accents also maintain the traits given by these more modern progressive qualities. Voice of the Aegean with a gentle guitar melody resembles the lighter variation of calm like on the song Summit which too conveys a relaxing ambiance by a more moderate tempo. Ascendant & Exodus are comprised of more prominent synthesizer surroundings with percussion sequences of bells, woodblock and xylophone.
The Epic characteristics heard in New World begin to surface during the first measures when beautiful orchestrations given by horns and choir vocals infuse classic imagery of the legendary kingdom of antiquity for which this theme is based upon and like a paradox, Atlantis the album was composed with a modern ideology but where they share common traits by their amazing stories and early foundations that had first began on solid ground.
Visit cliffordwhite.co.uk to sample / purchase his new Atlantis release and then go to his albums page. You can also visit his NewAgeMusicNew.com website then our interview and review pages dedicated to Clifford White.
Cover art by Medwyn Goodall – picture copyright BigStockPhoto – Dirk Paessler
New album from Transcend with Time
Transcend with Time is soon ready with a new album. You might already have heard two of the songs – As the Angels Tread and Through A Conscious State – which currently are being played on New Age Stars. Below is the complete track listing. The album is due for release late October or November.
1) The Calling Whisper 7:19
2) Through A Conscious State 6:06
3) As the Angels Tread 7:20
4) These Grey Skies 6:20
5) Beside the Mirror 5:18
6) From A Distance 6:44
7) To Wither In… 6:59
8 ) Across the Serene 5:06
9) Tranquil Insights 4:05
10) A Moment 6:40
Beautiful titles, don’t you think so too?
New Video from Peter Kater
Peter Kater has just released the below video from his brand new Call of Love album. This is without a doubt one of this year’s finest releases.
Visit Peterkater.com for more wonderful samples.
General Petraeus Says He’s an Enya Fan
In other news, we are happy to tell you that General Petraeus is an Enya Fan!
This according to Fox News:
Despite admitting that he has not purchased a compact disc in years, General David Petraeus revealed Wednesday that he is “an Enya guy,” referring to the new-age Irish musician.
“I do like Celtic music. And Enya is among those,” the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan told Fox News Channel’s Jennifer Griffin in an exclusive interview.
Read the article here.
Well how about that?
Call of Love released
Peter Kater‘s new album Call of Love has now been released! He has invited three very gifted musicians to create an album that sounds as natural as it colorful. These artists are Legendary reedman, Paul McCandless; celebrated cellist, Jaques Morelenbaum; and Sting guitarist, Dominic Miller.
They all lend their talents to this hybrid of instrumental music originating from the core of Peter’s most prolific and inspired Muse, the Natural World. This musical enchantment was born far away from the demands of the material world and mind.
Call of Love can as of now only be ordered through Peter Kater’s homepage on CD – but digital versions are expected to be available soon. And thankfully, there are over 8 minutes of samples from the album to check out.
Kitaro’s Sacred Journey Part 4
Kitaro is now ready with Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Vol. 4. It is the fourth in a series of a collection of works and peace-themed albums inspired by the classic Buddhist pilgrimage to the 88 sacred temples on Japan’s remote Shikoku Island. A journey taken by the beloved Buddist monk Ku-Kai over a millennium ago, via the music contained in Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Volume 4, Kitaro continues to explore uncharted waters with his expansive vision and ever-questing spirit.
Through his ongoing inspirational musical message of Peace and Love Kitaro enjoys transporting his fans to the four corners of the globe, shining the spotlight of his musical message on audiences as he inspires fans from around the globe to unite as one.
The Grammy and Golden Globe-winning Kitaro has garnered global acclaim over a more than three decade long career with a signature sound and a pioneering fusion of cultures, techniques and spheres of consciousness that are truly his own. Sample it here and in the video below!
A Heartfelt Recommendation
Even though I have been a reviewer and radio host for some years now, I still find it hard to truly recommend an album. It is actually hard to say; you should check this title out, or “if you only buy one album this year, it must be this…” I prefer to highlight what I like the most about a title and let you, the reader and listener, choose for yourself if it is worth your time. I am not telling you what to do or think, simply stating what I like about this or that release.
But there are a few titles I have no problems making a heartfelt recommendation for. One such album is (of course) Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells (1973) and another one is Enigma’s Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! (1996). Another such album is without a doubt the third installment in Medwyn Goodall’s Medicine Woman series.
The album is called Medicine Woman III – The Rising (2005). It is an album you can put on and listen from beginning to end and not find one single uninspired note. It is simply musical harmony. It is perfect; the medicine woman is divine.
The opening of the album, the 10 minute long Invocation Part 3, is very effective in creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere – without wasting time on a build-up. The next songs out are all beautiful beyond words; Farewell to the Darkness, Faith, Sherpa and Divinity are all instant new age music classics.
So for once, I’m not going to use more words describing an album – simply saying that this album is highly recommended; it is not to be missed!!!
Sample it at MG Music.
Visit New Age Music World
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- What is New Age Music ?
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- Gandalf & Steve Hackett – Live Concert
- Mickey Hart Band – Concert Tour 2012
- Yanni Concert Review – Live at El Morro