Stepping Stone Approach Brings Electronic Drumming and Music Within Anyone’s Reach — No Computer or Audio Knowledge Necessary

Synesthesia Corp. (http://www.mandaladrum.com) today announced the release of a new EZ Version of its Virtual Brain software, designed to allow anyone — even those with no musical or technical knowledge — to be able to make music using the company’s wildly popular, patented high-def drum and synthesizer, the Mandala 2.0. The EZ Version will be available starting Thursday, July 3, 2008.

‘If you can listen to a QuickTime movie or iTunes on your computer, then this software will make sound for you — there’s nothing more you need to do except install it onto your computer,’ said Vince De Franco, Synesthesia founder and CEO, and inventor of the Mandala.

The software comes with 75 presets offering pre-arranged musical combos, with self-explanatory names like piano only, piano scale, piano and bass, snare only, snare + position pitch, snare + velocity pitch, etc.

The software automatically detects and configures the Mandala. With the ‘help’ function activated, the EZ software provides rollovers to explain everything that appears on the screen, helping users change the pre-configured settings if they want: they can choose instrument combinations (drawing from sounds and instruments that are built into the computer already), configure up to four different zones of sound across the drum pad, choose scales, modify sound effects and more.

The EZ Version also has:

* 175 instruments and drums (accessed from within Windows or Mac operating systems)
* One operating window for ease of use
* 21 musical scale choices, and nine scale pattern choices
* Three different adjustable sound effects: pitch, pan and modulation
* The ability to alter sound effects with strike position and velocity
* Graphic representation of zone strikes and position ring strikes, so users can see the various zones of sound across the drum pad
* Ability to save new presets
* A panic button to immediately stop all sound
* A ‘Get Started’ button takes users directly to the Mandala Virtual Brain EZ Webpage for help and updates

‘There are a lot of features in our standard Virtual Brain software that only advanced players would want to use,’ said De Franco. ‘So we’ve created a lighter version that streamlines the core function of the software, while maintaining the features that have made the Mandala so popular with beginners and pros alike.’

Both the EZ and Standard Versions of the Virtual Brain software will be included with every Mandala; both are available online for free download at http://www.mandaladrum.com. In fact, even without buying the Mandala, anyone can download the software and tinker with it — on its own, or with other PC or Mac-compatible musical devices.

Whenever they’re ready, players using the EZ Version can step up to the standard version of the Virtual Brain software. It includes 10x more sound effects, can handle up to five different drums plugged into the computer, increases the range to seven configurable zones of sound per drum pad, and comes with a custom library of professionally produced, proprietary sound samples derived from more than 100 other instruments. It’s professional audio software, allowing players to synthesize a host of new sounds and expand their drum kits and sample libraries at will.

Synesthesia also is producing a series of video tutorials for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. The company will make them available on its website and on YouTube later this year. The series of videos will walk users through the entire process of using the Mandala — from physically connecting the drum to a computer, to using the EZ software, on through to setting up advanced audio techniques using the pro version of the Virtual Brain software.

The Mandala 2.0 retails for $349, and is available online at mandaladrum.com. Each Mandala is hand-crafted and thoroughly tested before it is shipped.

About Synesthesia
Synesthesia Corporation (www.synesthesiacorp.com) is exploring new sonic terrain with the Mandala™, its patented high-def drum and synthesizer — the only electronic drum that faithfully emulates an acoustic drum, and then transcends it. A new kind of synthesizer, the Mandala offers the world’s fastest trigger, precise strike detection across the entire pad, and a musical range so wide it can be the top of the line Black Beauty® Snare Drum or virtually any other instrument imaginable. The Mandala plugs into PC or Mac via USB cable, and works seamlessly with most major mixing programs. Co-developed with professional drummer Danny Carey of Tool, Mandalas are used by professionals and hobbyists the world over. Vince De Franco — inventor, physicist and musician — founded Synesthesia to develop his state-of-the-art electronic sensor technology and to use it to create products that inspire imagination and exploration. Based in Laurel Canyon, Calif., the company currently has several other products in development.

Label: AMAdea Records

Album: U

Genre: POP/Electronic

Buy CD

ARTIST DESCRIPTION

Founded in 2001, Gravity Co. started out as a side project, working on the soundtrack to the computer game Trans, side project turned to full-time and they haven’t looked back since.

In early 2002 Gravity Co. made their debut, releasing their first single ‘Away’ accompanied by an art-school style video directed by Gravity Co.’s Producer Georgi Stanev. The bands first try topped MM TV’s (Bulgaria’s most popular music television) International Airplay Chart, holding on to the #1 spot for three consecutive weeks. ‘Away’ would later be included in NovaXposure - the monthly compilation released by ‘Radio Ventures’ with songs by Elton John, Sarah Connor, Alcazar and others.

Gravity’s second single ‘Mr. No One’ would set the critics straight, as to the bands potential, taking a play-list space in BMG’s official weekly video compilation, alongside Carlos Santana and Christina Aguilera.

The band stretched the boundaries further when Bill Withers granted official permission to record and release a cover version of his all time classic ‘Ain’t No Sunshine.

‘Away’, ‘Mr. No One’ and ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ all made the cut for Gravity Co.’s highly anticipated debut album ‘U’ released December 13th 2002. Gravity, have since been identified by an original electro pop sound, with warm vocal melodies over pumping electro beats.

An instant success, ‘U’ brought home the first music awards - ‘Best Debut’ and ‘Best Pop/Dance Album’, from MM TV’s annual awards (the Bulgarian equivalent of the Brits).

Having released two celebrated albums, known for their engaging stage antics - performing full capacity venues and supporting the likes of the Stereo MC’s, Fun Lovin’ Criminals and more recently Ladytron - Gravity Co. teamed up with a wide range of popular Bulgarian DJ’s to remix some of the band’s hits.

AWARDS

- ‘Best Debut’ and ‘Best Pop/Dance Album’, from MM TV’s annual awards (the Bulgarian equivalent of the Brits).
- Holding on to the #1 spot for three consecutive weeks in the MM TV’s (Bulgaria’s most popular music television) International Airplay Chart.
- ‘Wings’, the first video by a Bulgarian Artist with airplay on MTV! Boasting Giorgio de Chirico inspired 3D animation - courtesy of one of Bulgaria’s finest Alexander Sokerov - ‘Wings’ would be played 13 weeks running on MTV’s World Chart Express.
- ‘Best Band’ from the annual MM TV awards of 2005. An additional ‘Band of the Year’ award was presented by Melo TV Mania’s annual awards.
- ‘Best Rock/Alternative Song’ for ‘What I Want’ (‘Instinct’ 2005) from the annual MM TV awards 2006
- On the 25 of March 2007, minutes before taking the stage to contribute a mind-blowing ‘Empty World’ against a multi-media frenzy, on the night of the BG Radio Music Awards Ceremony, the boys were called to the stage to collect the ‘Best Band Award’.
- Gravity Co. are the uncontested winners at the MMTV Music Awards, with the record 4 statuettes:
Best Pop/Dance song - Empty World
Best Pop/Dance Album - Mixedup
Best Band
Best Music Video - Empty World /Directed by Valeri Milev/

MUSIC QUOTES

The debut album “U” by the most successive Bulgarian’s band Gravity Co. is from those releases that on the first listen, you knew something amazing was happening but didn’t quite grasp it. By the second listen, you are hooked. By the third, fourth, and fifth listens, you realized you had stumbled upon a rare gem. The album range somewhere, between pop and electronic music with eminent contemporary elements, which sometimes even goes beyond the expectations. But to those with patience and an ear for the sublime, this will become one of the most rewarding and satisfying electronica albums of the decade. The sheer talent in this record is staggeringly high. Not only these guys have reached a new tier of studio production and aesthetic precision, but on top of that, the vocals are truly incredible. More importantly, it’s noticeable in the sequencing and mastering of each perfectly-layered sound. Listen on a solid, high-end system, and all the textures will open up and dance across the room in perfect balance. “U” has achieved a new level of greatness and this is easily some of the best music albums you could have in your collection.
- AMAdea Records, BULGARIA

If you like you can check the CD here.

When we last left John Corda, in the guise of drum ‘n’ bass superhero Mashed Buddha, on his full-length CD subdue your mind, he was adding elements, musical elements, to a genre that doesn’t go much past mechanical repetition in rhythm and bleating electro sounds for tunes. To this, he added ideas such as composing songs - with themes that are developed, different levels of sound density, build ups and break downs - and adding elements of funk, rare groove, and heavy bass. Mashed Buddha conceives of his songs and his entire records in compositional terms. In other words, on Zen Conspiracy he keeps things moving like in any good story.

The title track has a stately intro and then the jungle groove kicks in like the opening credit sequence of the coolest noir romance. The relentless, ecstatic drum beat undergirds soulful piano, skittering synth sounds, and deep bass that rumbles with syncopation like dub reggae on ecstasy. The break down adds the earthiness of Afro-Cuban drums and percussion and Latin piano loops that evoke noir mystery. The song’s elements mix, match, swoop down and buildup to unexpected plateaus of resolution. Like his preview EP Four Keys to Zen, this record brings in the element of jazz improvisation. Corda plays a solo that jazzes out but in the soul/blues styles of Ramsey Lewis or Stevie Wonder. This organic, earthbound element offers a nice contrast to the electronica, pumping more blood into the music.

Simplicity returns with the brief interlude “Laz” . Based on a simple funky lick and clocking in at about 90 seconds, it still has a verse and chorus, played on rich sounding keyboards and a skittish percussive track over a phat drum beat, which makes this an actual song. This leads to the next cut, “Temptation” . This song has an easy groove that invites sampling for a rapper, but only one that is having an early ’90s flashback. The multiple tracks of clavinet-sounding keyboards are simply fresh. Corda’s solo has an unfettered joy in its tap dancing rhythms and dense melodic runs. The shifting harmonies keep the music from getting static, and the orchestration of the various melodies and sounds, all building off of one simple riff, are a lesson is how to write a killer track. The keyboard runs drop out, multiply, layer over, and move away from each other. Mashed Buddha always has something happening in his songs.

“Hype” shows how much nuanced feeling can be communicated through electronica. The beat, a bouncy soul rock groove that is mixed with a recurring sound of reverse echoes or a camera shutter - hype, ya heard? - and low end synth licks, is perfect for the psychedelic vogueing that is going on… in my mind. Over top of this rolling river of sound are mysterioso vocals of a self-help nature by the mind-bender Uri Geller; who mutters phrases like, “part three stay positive, relaxed and confident” and “part one clearing your mind” that also cleverly herald another instrumental layer or counter melody from the keyboard. Each element added is not only complementary, but of a different texture. After the break down, previously heard parts of the song - Fender Rhodes chords, wailing synthesizers - come back, but in a developed or altered state. The synth gets edgier, the hype shutter sound gets denser, the low end blasts forth with a nasty fuzzzzz sound.

Just when you thought he would wane a bit from the killin’ ideas and playing, he picks up the pace and not only gets more intense, but weirder. “Tryst” is perhaps the quintessential song on the CD. The beat is jungle drum ‘n’ bass at its most frenzied. The keyboard lick is a combination of chords and melody filtered through the densest white noise. The drum beat is mixed with percussive ghosts of sound that flit around like insects. A counter melody plays with a sound like the spectral organ of Mike Ratledge of the Soft Machine. The piece builds like a hiker climbing a slope to the level peak, resting, then climbing the next hill. In the middle of the song, there is the almost traditional electronica break down. But unlike the cliched break with a bleating mechanoid pulse or a wannabe Latin keyboard riff, here the song rolls into a swirling tsunami of electronic and percussive sounds. The crashing of the waves slides into a heavenly cloud of soulful jazz. Here, Corda takes a piano solo that rocks one soulful statement after the other, bringing that old time freedom jazz feeling to end of the musical journey.

“Arcane Persuasion” ends the CD with a slow, stately, Gothic finale. A pipe organ opens, then the bleating mechanoid sound I dissed earlier comes in, but morphs in and out of demented glockenspiel notes and fuzzy tubular bells.

Let’s be clear: I wouldn’t say I’m an electronica fan by any stretch. Most of it is boring and soulless and uninspired. It says a lot about an artist when he can take parts of a style of music one hates and make music one likes. It’s like turning s%$t into gold. His next record should be called The Alchemist.

http://www.mashedbuddha.com
http://www.myspace.com/mashedbuddha

Since 1995, USA Songwriting Competition has been honoring songwriters from all over the world. Winners came from Australia, Japan, Canada, UK, Germany, Brazil, South Africa, USA, etc. Past winners have gotten recording contracts, getting their songs on film, TV as well as getting cuts with major artists. The 2005 Winner of the country category had his winning song cut by Faith Hill. The 2005 winner of the pop catgeory was signed by MySpace/Interscope records.

Entries must be entered by May 30, 2008 or earlier. The entry form can be found at: http://www.songwriting.net/tagit.html

The nylon string guitar paralleled his musical interest while his was developing as an artist it coincided with the discovery of Antonio Carlos Jobim. JoJo eloquently states, “Discovering Jobim was like a warm wind blowing through his soul.”

JoJo currently has two instrumental releases, Bossa Nuevo Vol. 1-Light of Love (Cool Groove, Hot Guitar) and Bossa Nuevo Vol. 2-The Offering. The companion CDs focus on the artists’ penchant for Latin-Instrumental-Jazz. The two CDs create a nice atmosphere for leisurely listening pleasure or it has the flexibility for movie soundtracks or background music at parties or restaurants. Bossa Nuevo is the offspring of the World Beat JoJo discovered through Carlos Santana when they were making their way to the top in the early years. The universal feelings and atmospheres it brings forth while listening has no boundaries.

JoJo Styles is currently preparing the release of a new CD titled Back to Monterey (which contains Spanish and English lyrics) that he produced and co-wrote with a singer named Rosanna Rainz. He is also working on his third instrumental album, and then plans to release a few albums of his own rock songs soon that have developed over the years.

Visit the JoJo Styles for updates or if you would like to stream tracks, listen to samples of the new release, and purchase music, visit his My Bands Music Profile.

Contact: JoJo Styles
Company: Casa Grande Records
Address: 1777 Abram CT. San Leandro, CA 94577
Tel: 510-357-7773
Email
JoJo Styles Website

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It seems that everything took an uplifting turn in 2006 when Gunnar and Amethyste started to collaborate more extensively on several projects ranging from Trance - Dance to Ambient. They finally decided to meet in February of 2006 in NYC, then shortly after their first meeting, Gunnar came to spend 3 months in the USA focusing on music composition and production. Their love for each other fueled the creation of Amethyste’s debut CD titled “Ethereal”. Gunnar’s extreme composing ability really showcases Amethyste’s soothing and dreamy ample vocal range. The beautiful music that Amethyste and Gunnar Spardel create have been heard in radio stations in Europe as well as many internet radios. Ethereal warms the heart and shines light upon their acclaimed and distinctive style of music.

MUSIC QUOTES
Delicate and sublime with a stirring of ecstasy dancing over a driving powerful intoxication is what you will find if you listen to Amethyste’s masterpiece – “Ethereal“. If you listen to the album from start to finish you will first encounter silky washes of sound with ethereal vocals. Floating on air is the feeling that Amethyste creates as soulful and ethereal voices of the mysteries above and below soar across an ocean of stars into a celestial downtempo mood. “Ethereal” goes beyond inspiration to new levels of creativity where modern technology and ancient longings collide. At times it is crystalline perfection and at others the warm sounds completely surround you enveloping you in a dreamy haze. Behind the scene of “Ethereal” is also the magnificent composer Gunnar Spardel, who lays down a set of deep ambient beats that creates a tantalizing ebb and flow of exotic sexy moods as a magical calm is unveiled by a journey within the smooth grooves. Amethyste is one of the most profound influences over mainstream Chill out artists, through a new, innovative artistic panache.
- AMAdea Records, BULGARIA

Purchase CD at CDBABY HERE

Purchase MP3 Album at iTunes HERE

Listen to free music at MySpace HERE

Jimmy Bruno’s New Worldwide Reach
Although never his intent, Jimmy Bruno may now be the most influential jazz guitar teacher in history, with students from 40 countries around the world under his direct supervision. Additionally, the JBGI student-body includes a large number of guitar teachers, who with Mr. Bruno’s permission and encouragement are in turn teaching Jimmy’s method to their students. Also, guitarists from areas of the world where there is no jazz instruction at all are converging on the JBGI to learn to play jazz correctly from an American jazz master.

Capacity concerns
Rapid communication amongst the close-knit guitar community, as well as open access to Jimmy Bruno has created a very large influx of students to the JBGI. Addressing concerns that the JBGI may be nearing capacity, Mr. Butler said, “It is true that we reduced our advertising while we regrouped, but we are committed to making the JBGI experience very high quality and it will continue to be available to all motivated students until our new technology is maximized.”

Innovation To Enable Broad Expansion
Empowered by proprietary video technology from JBGI parent company Affiliated Artists, Mr. Bruno interacts continuously with the JBGI student-body. To keep pace with projected growth, a new generation video management system is in the late stages of development at Affiliated Artists, to be deployed later this month. “The new system automates much of the technical stuff, freeing me to spend more of my time with the students and focus on their progress,” said Mr. Bruno. Mr. Butler adds, “The new Student Video Management System will increase JBGI’s capacity to over 4000 students, roughly two years of projected growth.”

Groundbreaking Approach - Hundreds of “Virtual” Master Classes
A large part of the success of the JBGI is the result of jazz guitar master Jimmy Bruno’s “firsthand” interaction with JBGI students. Unlike static online sites, JBGI students receive direct and continuing guidance from Mr. Bruno through video interchanges, which keeps them on track. This interaction is in the form of “Master Classes”, an exchange of videos between students and Mr. Bruno. An added bonus is being able to watch him evaluate hundreds of fellow students via video. This combination brings a depth of knowledge unmatched in any other music instruction approach. There are currently over 450 Master Classes posted on the JBGI, with more added each week.

A Continuation of New Lesson Materials
Since the JBGI opened its door 10 months ago, the amount of lesson material has gone from around 70 formal lesson videos to well over 500 videos, including hundreds of “Master Classes”, and dozens of educational and entertainment videos. The JBGI recently added an adjunct faculty member, Philadelphia-based blues guitarist Johnny DeFrancesco, who created new JBGI course materials that focus on blues and blues-oriented rock.

The JBGI Sports A New Look
In addition to an under-the-covers technology overhaul, the Jimmy Bruno Guitar Institute has just been given a new look. Designed by Grammy-winning designer Jack Frisch, the new look enhances JBGI’s leading edge music instruction mission and signals yet another phase of continued growth for the Institute.

http://www.jimmybrunoguitarinstitute.com

Styles compiled a lot of music over the years and it reached its fruition on two volumes titled Vol. 1 & 2 -Light of Love/The Offering (Cool Groove-Hot Guitar), with the emphasis on cool and hot of course.

Styles is an accomplished guitar player and an adept technician. He has a host of equally strong players for support on every track for both releases. In the world of recorded music, you must have the ability to understand how every aspect is linked and make sure you know how to take care of your equipment and keep it all properly tuned to work with the modern day technologies and all of their complexities. After listening to these two CDs, it is certainly apparent that this artist has it all together.

JoJo offers a fusion of styles with his Bossa Nuevo; it is an amalgam of Latin, jazz and rock. This ends up being a very satisfying and tasty mixture of the genre, all wrapped up into a nice package-a made to order ambiance on disc if you will. The artist, strongly influenced by the Latin musical cultures, uses its foundation of musical styles to propel him into different areas that become strengths as each track takes shape. The drive and spirit of this music seems ingrained in his soul. He actually spends part of his year soaking up the music and culture of Honduras to support his inner belief and love for his craft.

This is great music; it serves a multitude of purposes for listeners. If you want some smooth tracks, playing in the background as if you were at an upscale bistro or ethnic restaurant for instance, this would serve the purpose. The movie industry may consider this as an option for their productions as well. For the average listener it serves as something to relax and enjoy, to just kick back and contemplate things, or better yet to just empty your mind and go with the flow of the music.

Artist: JoJo Styles
Title: Bossa Nuevo Vol. 1 & 2-Light of Love/The Offering (Cool Groove-Hot Guitar)
Genre: Instrumental-Latin-Jazz
Label: Casa Grande Records
Website
MyBandsMusic Profile

Light of Love-Bossa Nuevo-Volume 1
Cool Groove-Hot Guitar

Tracks:
01. Bittersweet Love
02. Mr. B
03. Spanish Rain
04. Lighten Up
05 Bold Enough to Choose
06. Sugartime
07. Light of Love
08. Arise, Arise (My one and only)
09. Time Will Tell
10. That’s Nice

The Offering-Bossa Nuevo-Volume 2
Cool Groove-Hot Guitar

Tracks:
01. Un Momento
02. Flambeau
03. Turn your face to the wind
04. Brazilian Dream
05. The Offering
06 My Soldier
07. Learn by doing
08. Living inside your love
09. A House is not a Home
10. When she cries

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
© MuzikReviews.com

A self-taught pianist, Megan now gets to experiment with drums and dozens of other instruments with her new Mandala. She loves any kind of music - classical, rock, country, Christian - and says the Mandala 2.0 “sounds like a lot of fun.” The only other thing she’s ever won was a 4-foot Snoopy - back when she was just three feet tall. Megan and her mom used to raise Chihuahuas, but she says the business was doomed - they kept more than they sold because the dogs were just too cute to let go. A disability keeps her from work, but she’s looking forward to experimenting with her new Mandala.

“We’re thrilled to award the Mandala 2.0 to Megan,” said Vince De Franco, Synesthesia founder and CEO, and inventor of the Mandala. “Anyone who’s got the gumption to teach themselves piano will love what the Mandala lets them do. It’s for people interested in music at any level. The Mandala lets creativity run wild, making it easy to experiment with sounds and create music. It looks like a drum and it is a drum - but it’s also just about any other instrument you can imagine.”

Synesthesia was behind the stealth online contest, presented here http://www.whatsthatsoundcontest.com/ - designed to showcase the Mandala’s ability to accurately emulate just about any instrument: a drum, a harp, a guitar, a piano, a marimba… and much more. The contest ran in Q1 of this year.

Among the responses were bongos, a sitar, glasses filled with water, a wine bottle opening, a didgeridoo — a wind instrument of the Australian aboriginees — and a bouncing ball in a long tunnel. Several people answered “synthesizer,” and all were entered into the contest drawing to win the prize. Representatives of Synesthesia randomly selected one contest winner from all correct responses.

A Rich, Satisfying Way to Experiment with Music

A new kind of synthesizer, the Mandala 2.0 packages a musical range so wide it simultaneously offers players the top of the line, most accurate model of a physical drum (via 3,000 professionally created, proprietary samples of the Black Beauty Snare Drum) - along with a library of sounds derived from more than 100 other instruments.

It plugs into a PC or Mac with just a USB cable, and its easy-to-use software comes with more than 100 presets for out-of-the-box functionality. Players also can create their own configurations as they explore and discover its astonishing audio range.

One pad can accommodate from one to seven different zones of sound - each of which can be configured as a separate instrument, with an array of specialized settings. Players can have a snare, a bass and a cymbal (or a harp, marimba or organ, or any other instrument) - all in the same drum head, all at the same time. One Mandala can act as one drum, as an entire drum kit, or as an eclectic combo.

The Mandala 2.0 retails for $349, and is available online at http://mandaladrum.com
Each Mandala is hand-crafted and thoroughly tested before it is shipped.

About Synesthesia
Synesthesia Corporation ( http://www.synesthesiacorp.com ) is exploring new sonic terrain with the Mandala™, its patented high-def drum and synthesizer - the only electronic drum that faithfully emulates an acoustic drum, and then transcends it. A new kind of synthesizer, the Mandala offers the world’s fastest trigger, precise strike detection across the entire pad, and a musical range so wide it can be the top of the line Black Beauty® Snare Drum or virtually any other instrument imaginable. The Mandala plugs into PC or Mac via USB cable, and works seamlessly with most major mixing programs. Co-developed with professional drummer Danny Carey of Tool, Mandalas are used by professionals and hobbyists the world over. Vince De Franco - inventor, physicist and musician - founded Synesthesia to develop his state-of-the-art electronic sensor technology and to use it to create products that inspire imagination and exploration. Based in Laurel Canyon, Calif., the company currently has several other products in development.