Jan Kisjes - War No War!

www.warnowar.com

Kitaro - Final Call (2013)

Kitaro is universally acknowledged as the founding architect of new age music.  His various sound collaborations and resonant, multi-textured compositions truly defy the constraints of any genre.  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.

Kitaro’s New Project for 2013 is an homage to his lifetime of reverence for Nature. Final Call is a departure from Kitaro’s Kukai series. While Kukai was originally inspired by 9/11 and an artistic statement constructed and recorded as a means to unify all people, Final Call is a project specifically concerned about how we treat the planet. It’s Kitaro’s assertion the planet itself is crying out and warning us about potential serious consequences if we don’t address these global issues in a timely fashion. The music on Final Call is a CALL TO ACTION and a journey/voyage of introspection for the listener to help everyone discover methods to treat our planet better and put those methods into practice.

In his own words, Kitaro describes his new musical work:

I have always felt we all must respect the providence of the Universe.  Unfortunately, through the course of time and the growth of civilization, many living creatures that we now know will become extinct. If we don't alter how we treat each other and our planet Earth, many habitats and portions of this earth may become devastated and eventually disappear.

After meeting Professor Shibata, at Kazan Observatory at Kyoto University, nature photographer Mr Toshio Ushiyama and the staff at Nagoya Science Museum, I had an epiphany of sorts. I began to recall the greatness of constellations, our solar system, galactic systems, the macrocosms that they create and the beauty of our planet Earth.

As in the story of Noah's Ark, this album is the story of an epic voyage… A voyage of hope that all living creatures can someday live happily in harmony with each other.

The story begins from where we board for departure.

新たなる旅に大きな夢を
ノアの箱舟のように
Bon Voyage – Kitaro

Download or Buy

New ERA album on 1st July 2013

Great news for all fans of the ERA music project and Eric Levi; The new ERA album will be released on 1st July 2013. It is called Arielle Dombasle.

Here is a presentation from Mercury/ Universal (I suspect that this text is translated from French to English via Google Translate):

Two years after issuing the album "Diva Latina", the singer and actress Arielle Dombasle announces the release of a new disc recorded with Era, "Arielle Dombasle by Era," July 1. Ten tracks recorded and arranged by Eric Levi, at the crossroads of two worlds that have never been so close.

A few months ago, Arielle Dombasle announced in the columns of Paris she was about to enter "the studio to record an album of prayers, motets (compositions for two voices, Ed), oratorios, cantatas. The mystical and symphonic music. " A project previously kept secret and whose Pure Charts shows you this morning the first elements.

Two years after releasing the album "Diva Latina", the actress and singer with many hats will be back in stores with a new album, the seventh, recorded with Era. Simply titled "Arielle Dombasle by Era", the project will be released on July 1 on Mercury / Universal and will consist of ten songs that come to life in the form of "incantations" as singer label. This project is inspired by the "true faith" Arielle Dombasle found in Mexico throughout his travels, and is nothing less than the fulfillment of a dream that occupies his thoughts for a long time. More than just a record, "Arielle Dombasle by Era" is an artistic and spiritual encounter between Eric Levi (Era) and the interpreter of "La Liberta", a "communion" mystical and modern in which the singer is discovered "a new voice."

At the crossroads of two worlds actually not that far away

At the crossroads of two worlds actually not that far away but have never been so close, "Arielle Dombasle by Era" is not an album on which Arielle Era has just worked, but rather an original disc and thought built for two, albeit with dominance on each piece as "Sins", which takes us further into the Celtic Era universe, and "Do not Take Pleasure of My Pain", that showcases the voice ofthe singer.

"Ave Maria" is a prayer dedicated to the Virgin Mary have repeatedly interpreted in different registers, as well as by Celine Dion and Beyonce Mylène Farmer. Era and Arielle Dombasle worked on a new confusing interpretation that should not go unnoticed, the essence of the singer.For Arielle Dombasle, like it or not, leaves no one indifferent. A woman of character, equally at home in the studio and facing the camera, the artist likes the big differences and prove once again the scene of Theatre Gymnasium Marseille from 14 to 18 May and 31 May Sarlat ..

"Arielle Dombasle by Era" also marks the return of Era, discreet in recent years since the release of the album "Classics" and "Classics II" (2009 and 2010). Era has sold nearly 15 million records worldwide and has touched the sensitivities with the titles "Ameno", "The Mass" and "ENAO Volara Mezzo".

Download or Buy

Diane Arkenstone Interview – New in 2013

New Age Music World interview host and publicist John P. Olsen had a recent opportunity to interview the popular, multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter, and contemporary instrumental recording artist Diane Arkenstone.

During this interview taking place near the spring of 2013 a variety of in-depth topics are covered. Included is a conversation about Diane Arkenstone’s soon to be released album titled Union Road, and the contributing artists who have helped transform her newest vocal and instrumental release into one of her most captivating albums produced to date.

Diane Arkenstone also replies to questions about her experiences as founder of the Neo Pacifica Recordings Label, and the meaning behind the formation of artist titles she has released in a variety of music styles.

Today I am pleased to present an informative and lighthearted conversation with one of today’s leading, and most beloved producers of contemporary music covering a wide variety of instrumental styles.

John P. Olsen: Thank you for accepting my interview invitation Diane! It’s a privilege to host your newest interview for fans and visitors in 2013, here at New Age Music World. I can honestly say I have been a fan and admirer of the music you create for years so our interview is especially rewarding to me!

Diane Arkenstone: Hi John! Thank you so much for your very kind words, I am smiling! And thank you for this wonderful opportunity to connect with everyone here!

John: Let’s begin our conversation with the topic of your brand new album Union Road, due for release next week on March 26, 2013. Earlier this year I wrote a pre-release review for Union Road, I believe it’s clear by what I wrote, I felt your newest release of contemporary Folk ballads is indeed special! Beautiful in every way, Union Road is a uniquely personal album with special meaning to you too, isn’t that right?

Diane Arkenstone: Yes, this is my most personal album yet because the lyrics I wrote are of stories and observations I have personally experienced. I am a story teller and have always loved to write about life which made this album a great joy to create. And a even greater catharsis.

John: Who are the instrumental artists performing with you, and what are their individual contributions which have helped make your release an exceptional album?

Diane Arkenstone: Mader, who is a wonderful film composer from France, and has scored two films for Ang Lee, among many others, produced most of the album with me, and played a wide and wonderful variety of instruments such as mandolin, bass, keyboards, accordion, various percussion instruments and guitar.

MB Gordy, who is a wonderful percussionist and studio musician, played beautiful and exotic percussion on quite a few of the songs as well. Chad Watson, who  has played with many, many well-known artists, played bass, and I watched spellbound, as his hands danced all over his fretless bass on several songs.

Eric Rigler, who played the pipes in the film score, The Titanic, added magic with his penny whistle on the first song, Little Cup of Coffee.

David Arkenstone played guitar, bass, keyboards and percussion magnificently, and helped produce a couple of the songs with me for the album. Charlee Brooks and Jane George added beautiful background vocals on two of the songs.

And then, Bruce Watson played some amazing guitar on a couple of songs and has played with many well-known artists for quite a while himself. They are all truly unique and gifted artists in their own right and I am deeply grateful for each and every one of them.

John: Union Road is an instrumental and vocal album with lovely poetic lyrics. Would you like to tell us the point of view you are expressing by lyrical verses?

Diane Arkenstone: Very simply, thru lyric and song, I am telling the stories of situations that I have personally observed in life.

John: Album reviews from other sources and press commentaries are coming in, plus you have given a number of new interviews including Blog Talk Radio and KSBR 88.5 FM Jazz. How is the reception of your new release been so far?

Diane Arkenstone: Oh my gosh, it has been a huge happy welcoming committee! I wrote 77 songs for the album and truly just grabbed a handful of songs that seemed to fit well together and am pleased and elated by the reviews and press!

John: I am not surprised but that’s great news Diane! Union Road is a brilliant album in every way, unique to your earlier releases, and I read there is an earlier first album of contemporary folk songs too. Would you please tell us all about this earlier first album?

Diane Arkenstone: Thank you John for saying that about Union Road! And yes, I released an album in digital format called, Stories. It is a cross between my earlier releases and the Folk/Americana feel of Union Road. It also is an album that sings of stories of life’s observations.

John: In addition to the studio albums you also perform live concerts. This must be an exciting time for you since you are about to begin an extensive tour this spring. Would you give us the details like the concert venue locations and artists who will be performing with you?

Diane Arkenstone: Right now, I am finishing up a number of music projects, so touring may be a bit delayed.

John: Do you have a song set list selected, and in terms of atmosphere and setting, what can a concert attendee expect to experience during a live concert with Diane Arkenstone?

Diane Arkenstone: The songs will be from Union Road of course, plus a few unreleased songs where I play some interesting and exotic instruments and sing. And the band is a group of dear friends who are wonderful studio and touring musicians. Lots of beautiful music, good energy and love, will be present for every show!

John: The artist titles you have either founded or performed in are; Ah Nee Mah, Earth Trybe, Enaid, Adventure Cargo, Marquis Ensemble, Middle Earth Orchestra, and naturally as the duo with former husband David Arkenstone. What are the distinctions of these artist titles?

Diane Arkenstone: ‘Ah Nee Mah’ is our Native American music, inspired by my Cherokee heritage and our love of playing Native flutes and percussion. David and I lived in the Southwest for a few years, next to several reservations and lived a very interesting and beautiful life there.

We wrote several ‘Ah Nee Mah’ albums during that time, which are still selling quite well. And ‘Earth Trybe’ is beautiful world music where we had fun writing and playing many unusual and interesting instruments from around the world. And ‘Enaid’ is Celtic music, and I came up with that name by reversing my first name and then surprised to find out that is means, life/soul in old Celtic/Irish.

‘Adventure Cargo’ is more world music, with more wild instruments, and beautiful songs. The last album for ‘Adventure Cargo’ is called, Following The Equator and it has songs on it that represent the countries along the Equator. It was great fun for me learning about all the countries along the Equator then writing songs for a special place or landmark in each country.

‘Marquis Ensemble’ is lovely, sweet piano music. Reflections from the Wine Country was the first album under the alias, ‘Marquise Ensemble’ and was inspired by my family’s winery. And ‘Middle Earth Orchestra’, is music inspired by the book, The Hobbit.

John: In the 1990’s you founded Neo Pacifica Recordings Label. Would you tell us some aspects of owning your own record label, including the advantages and obstacles to this business venture?

Diane Arkenstone: It has been a great advantage for me, to have my own record company; it is a lot of work but stretched me to new heights in terms of experience and knowledge.

I appreciate the work the major labels do, which is tremendous, but I navigate these waters quite successfully, and prefer knowing what the expenses are and what is going on with manufacturing, distribution, licensing, marketing, publicity, publishing and especially royalties. It is a great sense of accomplishment and freedom, to truly own your music, and do with it as you wish.

John: On the subject of record labels, I read your biography at the Eversound Music Label website where it states; “Diane Arkenstone wrote her first song at the age of three, played piano at five and picked up her first guitar at the tender age of seven.” I am curious to know if you aspired to become a musician at a young age too, or in other words, what were the circumstances surrounding your decision to pursue a career in music?

Diane Arkenstone: I loved writing music at a very young age, but also had a great desire to be an Olympic runner. I worked extremely hard at running but could not keep up with anyone. Music came much easier, and I learned that if you have to force something, it is not right to begin with.

As it turned out, after I kept passing out, we discovered I was born with a ‘special heart’ that required a lot of surgeries to fix things. And along the way since childhood, I have had six pacemakers. The seventh pacemaker and more surgeries are due in a few years. Life is precious.

John: I didn’t realize the challenges you face Diane, and we all wish you well. The music industry as a whole has greatly changed since you began producing music early on to the present. What observations have you made over the years, and what changes in the music industry have affected you most?

Diane Arkenstone: My observations come from a unique vantage point. Having my own label and releasing dozens of albums under different aliases and different genres, I created a lot of niche markets for the music in the mainstream and alternative markets, and it is all still going strong today. And for me, the digital world has been a great success for so many reasons.

John: You have enjoyed a wonderful and successful music career for many years Diane. You are a source of admiration for millions of fans and even colleagues in the music industry alike. What would you say is the best part of being a highly successful, contemporary artist?

Diane Arkenstone: You are so sweet John to say that, thank you! Truly though, I am unaware of such a thing because every day I put one foot in front of the other and focus and do my very best with whatever project is at hand.

John: Well Diane, fans truly adore you, plus you are a role model for many artists. Knowing artists at varying stages of their music careers will read our interview; do you have any words of advice to artists just beginning their music careers?

Diane Arkenstone: If you have a dream, follow it! Be prepared for long hours and depend on yourself as much as possible, and then all that energy you put into your career, will reward you greatly in countless ways. When you are passionate about something, every door you need to walk thru will open, even the ones you have no clue about.

John: Being a prolific artist Diane you have an extensive collection of excellent albums to choose from. I have my favorite albums and songs, and your fans likewise have their favorite albums.

I realize this is a never an easy question for an artist, but for persons new to your music, what 3 albums other than Union Road is a starting point to begin sampling your many outstanding releases?

Diane Arkenstone: Oh my goodness, I love them all! Let’s see,Jewel In The Sun, The Healing Spirit & Aquaria: A Liquid Blue Trancescape, which are all so very different from each other.

John: I would like to thank you again for your generosity by giving fans and myself this opportunity to find out more about you, and your newest projects Diane.

I hope we can get together by another interview someday. Before we close our conversation for now, is there anything you would like to express to the fans that have supported you over the years?

Diane Arkenstone: First of all, thank you again from my heart, John, for this wonderful opportunity to connect and share with everyone, it means the world to me. And I very much look forward to more interviews with you!

And to every beautiful soul who has supported my music, I am deeply grateful beyond words. A million thanks, and a million blessings. And please always be compassionate and loving towards yourself and towards others, it is our most valuable currency and reason for being, for truly, we are all one.

Download or Buy

New Kitaro Album in 2013

International concert and recording artist Kitaro is a prolific new age artist whose music exceeds with each passing year during his three decades long career. This was proven to be the case with his theatrical score Tamayura, available on CD and DVD exclusively at Domo Music Group, with pre-orders being taken and a release date at Amazon on March 12, 2013.

With each release a fresh perspective of the artist’s personality is revealed, as is the unlimited expertise as composer, which isn’t easy to achieve even for the most accomplished artist. It’s clear after three decades of composing electronic and instrumental music, Kitaro pursues perfection and the all-important essential characteristic of creating the highest quality music.

Tamayura is a wonderful musical score by Kitaro which brings authenticity to the characters of a theatrical production by Kochi Tamano and Harupin-Ha Butoh Dance Theater from the year 2000. Available as a DVD, CD, and now digital downloads, Tamayura is indeed a quality release that exceeds over an hours of then new material in the genres of new age and international music.

In this case as most circumstances it is a challenge to write an accurate music review by listening to song samples only, but Tamayura does lend itself to an assessment in general terms simply by the unique departure from earlier releases. The 7 songs on Kitaro’s newest album are: Introduction, Magma, Mercury, Sitara, Nageki, Beam Wave & Uranus.

 Download or  Buy

Deep Forest and Rahul Sharma - Deep India 2013

Enjoy this wonderful album collaboration with Rahul Sharma, available 13th February 2013.

Deep India – Tracks Information

Track 1- Viva Madikeri
From Karnataka, South India
Madikeri which is a beautiful, scenic area in Coorg, Karnataka comes alive with the sounds of nature and tribal chants. Add to that Eric Mouquet’s pulsating rhythms and mystical sound design and Viva Madikeri is born!

Track 2 -Bihu
From Assam, North East India
This is a traditional Bihu folk song rendered by singer, Sarmishta Chakravorty with Ambar Das on folk rhythms. The freshness of the vocals along with the melodies transports one to the beautiful, green region of Assam.

Track 3 -Rajasthan
From Rajasthan, North West India
This is a popular folk song amongst the Manganiyar community of Rajasthan. With its rustic appeal and added santoor/ electronic, the song reaches new heights.

Track 4 -Dhol Lejhim
From Maharashtra, West India
Folk song performed on the streets having catchy rhythmic grooves and Indian percussion- the Dhol. But add to this Eric’s trance- like feel and almost psycadelic santoor, gives traditional Lejhim, a complete makeover.

Track 5 -Thillelo
From Kerala, South India
Great amalgamation of different world music sounds and Indian folk melody.

Track 6 – Punjab
From Punjab, North India
Punjabi folk music is known for its Bhangra Music. But this is a very unique track based on Indian Classical Ragas. This song expresses deep emotions and Eric brings to it a dance- like rhythm and directs the song into a new direction.

Track 7 – The Village
From Sindh, North India
Keeping in mind Deep Forest’s forte of mixing rural/ tribal sounds and melodies, this track is truly unique.

Track 8 – Mountain Ballad
From Jammu, North India
The state of Jammu and Kashmir is rich not only in scenic beauty but in music too. This is a Paakhaa which is a male chorus singing in harmonies and chords. Similar to the yodelling farmers in the mountains of Switzerland, India has this form of chorus singing in Jammu.

Track 9 – Sounds of the Village
From Sindh, North India
Another take on Track 7, The Village, this version is simple and yet takes you through the common village sounds and life.

” All songs performed by Deep Forest (Eric Mouquet) & Rahul Sharma
” Keyboards and Haken Continuum by Eric Mouquet
” Santoor by Rahul Sharma
” All songs arranged, produced and mixed by Eric Mouquet at EMM Studios / France- Mastered at Deep Mastering”

Buy or Download

Best album of 2012 New Age

The final list of the most popular albums in NewAgeStyle.Net for 2012. Albums by category.

Download