Scroll down to see the BloG #17 Indie Artist Pick
Here I sit, once again writing w/out any idea where this narrative is going to go. It just so happens that it is late, I should be in bed, yet I feel a need to create. The piano is too loud for this hour when 5 other souls are asleep in the household (each daughter has a friend over tonite) so the next option is to write. Unfortunately, I have no topic in mind. That can pose a problem, I suppose. So far though, I have already managed to eek out a few lines of generally nothing here. Let's see if the stream will eventually pick up any conscience along the way. Stream of Conscience or Stream of Conscious?
I keep hoping that one day I can begin to exist w/out having to punch in to a workplace. Financial independence - the holy grail of existence. I haven't figured out the route yet, but that is not to say I haven't taken baby steps to try to some day make it happen. My hope is that somehow a foundation is being laid which might eventually lead to something bigger, causing an avalanche of wealth. Will that come about from working for someone else? Not likely. Will it come about from conforming to standards of everyone else who is doing the same job as I? Doubtful. I don't have the answers. However, I feel it is imperative to continue a search for that avenue which may someday produce results beyond my wildest dreams, whether it be through a creation I developed, an investment I made, an idea I had or maybe some other completely unknown route to this holy grail.
The one thing I've been learning is that we all can increase our chances of success with a good model. Modeling - watch someone who has already achieved success in their goals. Choose your model carefully! Learn from them. How do we do that, especially if we don't personally know anyone with the type of success we are looking for? Read. Read as much as you can & read some more. Tap in to what their secrets were. What did they do differently?
I do believe that in order to be prepared for financial wealth, one's soul must be in line with one's self. It doesn't seem possible to be able to experience independent wealth & survive without first being in tune with one's inner self. This may indeed sound like quackery to some, but I think from the reading I have done so far, I am not too far off on this one.
Let's explore this a bit. If a person hasn't taken care of their own inner needs along the way, what is going to happen to them once they achieve their financial goal? It has often been said that money cannot buy happiness. Others argue that while that statement may be true, money can sure substitute for a lot of inequities &/or misgivings. That may be so... But, how long does it last?
To truly experience financial wealth, one must be able to sustain a level of inner wealth as well. Otherwise, a void will always eat at the inner self, causing a dangerous imbalance which will fester and eventually cause destructive behavior in that person. This may be through relationships with those closest to that person or maybe even business relationships. Or maybe they will have self-destructive tendencies that they will not be able to work their way out of. Indeed, these issues need to be taken care of before the distractions that come with financial wealth settle in.
So, as I look at my own situation, I find that my past has been a training ground for what is yet to become. Mistakes are being made to lay the groundwork for a better tomorrow. The key to all my mistakes is to be sure to try to learn a life's lesson from it. Try not to repeat the same mistake and use the said mistake as an opportunity to evaluate the current course of travel.
I once read that our subconscious minds are nearly incapable of distinguishing between what is reality and what is fantasy or a goal. This may explain the importance of focusing on the positive and not dwelling on the negative. Dream the dreams and try to be specific. Imagine you have achieved your goal already and keep focusing on that as if it is reality. Supposedly, the sub-conscious mind will figure out how to get you there. Prayers & God, anyone?
I'm prepared to test this principle & see if it works. Stay tuned!
JavaMusiK - Piano-Based Instrumentals from Western Slope, CO
A feature recently added to The JavaMusiK BloG has been to highlight an independent artist who we feel deserves our recommended attention.
This BloG issue's Indie Artist Pick is Lisa - Ambient World Fusion from UK
Lisa is best known for her sultry, expressive vocal style and versatility with regard to genre, powerful lyrics and haunting melodies.
Lisa is a singer and songwriter from the UK who leans towards the traditional songwriting approach of strong lyrical content and memorable melodies. She is becoming best known for her sultry vocal style and versatility with regard to genre, having written, recorded and collaborated in new age, pop, alternative, hard trance and classical improvisations among others. Lisa has achieved considerable chart success on Soundclick and Artist Launch with main genre #1's in Electronica, Acoustic and Alternative.
To limit your knowlege about Lisa to just her body of musical work would be a sad shortchanging of what is truly available. With Lisa, there is definitely so much more. Beauty notwithstanding, Lisa exemplifies the vision of a woman of intense physical and inner beauty, wit, talent and charm.
Musicians lucky enough to extract a collaboration featuring the steamy vocals of Lisa atop their instrumentation, suddenly gain attention like they have never experienced before. Lisa chooses her background music very carefully with an ear for ambience surrounding the framework of her canvas enveloping the portrait she chooses to reveal. There are times when her image may seem like a lost angel trying to rediscover her wings and halo in her body of illusion. To listen to Lisa is an experience and journey into a sensual, yet ethereal encounter like never before witnessed musically.
We recommend giving a listen to Love Like Wine, featuring the background musical wizardry of KMP (Harout Kalandjian) and The Story Of You And Me (click at SoundClick if previous link doesn't work), featuring the musical background created by Zimphf.
Congratulations Lisa!
Lisa at SoundClick - Ambient World Fusion from UK
Lisa at ArtistLaunch - Ambient World Fusion from UK
If you are an artist or band who would like to be listed and featured in The JavaMusiK BloG, e-mail us and we will get you listed. All Featured Artist Picks are chosen from FriendZ of JavaMusiK.
Scroll down to see the BloG #16 Indie Artist Pick
This post is being made on the 10th anniversary of a terrible tragedy which I was a witness to.
On July 6, 1994, 14 firefighters were killed in a firestorm on the side of Storm King Mountain in the South Canyon Fire just west of Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Storm King Sacrifice was written at the base of that mountain 4 years later.
Please visit the following links about Storm King Sacrifice:
JavaMusiK - Storm King Sacrifice
The JavaMusiK Perspective of The South Canyon Fire
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel
Feature story including JavaMusiK: Fallen Firefighters Strike Chord With Musicians
Ottumwa Courier
Editorial story featuring JavaMusiK: Former Ottumwan (Oskaloosan) commemorates Colorado tragedy
Oskaloosa Herald
Cover story featuring JavaMusiK: Van Devender remembers fallen firefighters
PRWeb Press Release
"Storm King Firefighters Piano Tribute Soars Back for 10 Year Remembrance"
eMediaWire Press Release
"Tribute To Fallen Storm King Firefighters in Colorado Released"
eMediaWire Press Release
"Firefighter Tribute Tops Charts"
Stream audio track of Storm King Sacrifice here
Available through SoundClick
Stream (and FREE download through July) audio track of Storm King Sacrifice here
Available through FunEnDeR
Available for purchase
At CDBaby.com
Available for purchase
At FunEnDeR.com
Available for purchase
At Melodrift Productions
Available for purchase
At Tower Records
JavaMusiK - Piano-Based Instrumentals from Western Slope, CO
A feature recently added to The JavaMusiK BloG has been to highlight an independent artist who we feel deserves our recommended attention.
This BloG issue's Indie Artist Pick is Ed Drury - World Music featuring didjeridu from Portland, Oregon
Ed Drury is a multi instrumentalist, composer, teacher, instrument maker and author. Since 1989, he has pursued his first love, the study of various traditional music forms from around the world. Today he combines his experience with classical music and his love for traditional music forms by composing music inspired by his world travels.
Ed lives in Portland Oregon where he teaches, performs and records. Ed has performed with Francis Firebrace-Jones, a Yorti Yorti story teller, with Australian Folk Musician and songwriter Clancey Dunn, Jawighe, Michael Stirling, Jawihge, Randy Graves, Stephen Kent, Dave Crowder and Land of the Blind.
Ed Drury is a stirring performer who gives you the feeling you're tapping into an ancient realm as you listen to him work his way around the didjeridu, native flutes and other fascinating instruments.
While the didgiridu is usually seen (heard) as an instrument of choice from the Aboriginal cultures of Australia, Ed Drury seems to be at the forefront of bringing the instrument to the forefront of American culture! You only have to listen to his many collaborations with various musicians on his site to witness Ed smashing down the barriers of typical historical reference. Doing so will open your eyes and ears to a wonderful new, yet ancient, powerful dimension of sound that you just cannot get enough of!
We recommend giving a listen to Jewell and She Said Ahhh (featuring Lisa) a thourough listen.
Congratulations Ed Drury!
Ed Drury - World Music featuring didjeridu from Portland, Oregon
If you are an artist or band who would like to be listed and featured in The JavaMusiK BloG, e-mail us and we will get you listed. All Featured Artist Picks are chosen from FriendZ of JavaMusiK.
