Ariel is #Flyah

 

Ariel is a singer/songwriter and actress based out of Los Angeles.  Her EP, Unexpected, can be found on iTunes etc. and can be heard playing on Pandora Radio.  Her music is pop and hailing from the Gulf Coast of Florida she often brings that beachy Jimmy Buffet  island vibe to her music.  Her music has a wide range appeal from adults needing that positive pick-me up for their Monday morning to her littlest fans who love rocking out to her jams singing along to every word.  While interviewing Ariel on-air, Indie100 radio complemented-  "Your songs make me feel like I'm being hugged from the inside!"

She also often collaborates with artist J Buzzi.  They recently released their song "With You" and subsequent Music Video, which was filmed at various beautiful locations around Los Angeles, including Malibu and on top of one of the tallest buildings in downtown Los Angeles.  You can also find their single 'Breakthrough' on iTunes.  

Her music video, "AMERICAN HERO", is a wonderfully patriotic ballad about the steadfast love children have for their family who serve in the military. With images of fathers returning to their sons, daughters solemnly accepting of a parent lost during service, set against the windswept backdrop of the Mojave desert, "AMERICAN HERO" is a must-see video for our men & women in uniform & their families.

Ariel has performed at various venues in Los Angeles and Florida and often does charity concerts for St. Judes Children's Hospital, Special Operations Warrior Fund, and Fisher House. 

Ariel recently had the pleasure of shooting with Project Mermaids, getting to pose as a Mermaid, as part of the Save Our Beach movement to raise awareness about beach conservation, a cause close to her heart.  

She has also kept busy in the acting and hosting world; A few of her credits include TNT's drama Perception with Eric Mccormack, Disney 365, These Things We Do-Film, and the Yamaha Waverunner and Sportboat Campaigns.  She was a host on 'The Music Project', a web and radio show that brought you backstage at teen music concerts and in-studio performances, for several years at the famous Sunset Gower Studios in Los Angeles. 

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Maja 7th is #Flyah

Maja 7th, born Michael Chamberlain, grew up in Anderson, Indiana, just north of Indianapolis, where urban musical influences were few and far between.  Although this was the case, at a young age Maja 7th was still a huge fan of hip hop. He has said on many occasions that the Wu Tang Clan’s C.R.E.A.M is the song really made him fall in love with hip hop and he instantly fell in love with the WU from that point on. Being an avid music fan and musician he enhanced his love by participating in his middle school and high school music programs. He would meet frequent collaborators Clarence Jones and Sean Stuart, of the hip hop duo Hinx Jones, in middle school and a general love for music was shared amongst the three. Maja7th also credits his soulful, jazzy yet unorthodox style to his mothers’ love for artists such as B.B. King, Al Green and James Brown, as well as his own passion for Jazz.

Maja 7th went on to attend Ball State University to earn a B.A. degree in Telecommunications where he first met Jerome Jordan (current manager) and Kenny Cook (Rapper Pete Sayke).  Through their common taste for music the three formed the hip-hop group KM2, with Maja 7th manning the production duties back in the early 2000’s. The trio decided to move to Chicago in 2006 to pursue their dreams .KM2 eventually suffered the typical trials and tribulations of aspiring musicians and eventually dissolved.  But those relationships and experiences helped mold Maja 7th into the award winning producer he is today.

Fast forward to 2014 and Maja 7th has captivated audiences, and formed new relationships to become an up and coming producer on the underground hip hop scene. With placements such as being a key producer for the The Almighty album, “Original Sin -Strength In Numbers”, consisting of Wu-tang affiliate, Killah Priest, along with Bronze Nazareth, M-Eighty, Son-one, Crayz Walz and 5 Star (2008) to his first solo project The Breakout which featured artists such as Freddie Gibbs, Mikkey Halsted Pill, L.E.P Bogus Boys, GLC, YP and other artists from Chicago. The video for Maja7th’s track On My Own featuring Freddie Gibbs and Mikkey Halsted was also featured on MTV JAMS in 2010. He has also worked with artists such as Add-2(Jamala), Real Talk, Neak ,Dominique Larue and  Mike Schpitz to name a few.

Some of Maja 7th accomplishments and accolades include the following:

• iStandard Producer’s Beat Battle Champion  Chicago, IL July 2007
• iStandard Producer’s Beast of the Beats Participant NY, NY July 2008
• Boom Boom Clap Beat Battle Champion Columbia College Chicago, IL 2008
• Scribble Jam Chicago Finalist September Chicago, IL 2008
• Skyzoo ‘Strung Out” Remix Finalist Coalmine Records February 2009
• One Stop Shop Producer Conference Beat Battle Participant Phoenix, AZ May 2009
• iStandard Producer Showcase Featured Producer Chicago, IL 2009
• Mic Club Tournament Judging Panel Milwaukee, WI March 2009
• Featured on Nike’s City Of Win Compliation for Chicago-2010
• Featured on such hiphop blogs as Nah Right, Smoking Section, 2Dopeboyz, Fakeshoredrive, DJBOOTH.NET, Bringing Down The Band, LiveMixtapes and many more.
• Produced a track called THE WAKE to help kick off the launch of EA Game’s, Battlefield 3, they have enlisted DJ Scream to host this mixtape of bangers. Featuring tracks from Cyhi The Prince, Freddie Gibbs, Trae The Truth, and more-2011.
• Prodcued on Dream Killaz Mixtape hosted by DON CANNON for Chicago MC Lungz.-2011.
• Placed his Record Calestinics on ESPN’s Canadian affiliate TSN for March Madness. 2013
• Produced a track that was featured on Women’s  French Basketball Team Naissance d’une Braquese’s  Official Season Opener Video Trailer. 2014
• Released his Joint EP with Dominique Larue entitled GRAND in March of 2014

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Debbie Hennessey is #Flyah

Debbie Hennessey was named AC40 Female Artist of the Year by New Music Weekly as well as charting a Top 20 Hit on NMW’s AC40 Charts. Her song Believe was used in an episode of The Moment, which aired on USA and UHD Networks and the music video for the song Good As Gone was featured on the broadcast TV shows Extra and The Next GAC Star. She is a multiple ASCAPlus Award recipient, was included on compilation CDs including CMT's New Music Collection, GoGirls MusicFest, Songsalive!, Beautiful-Women on the Move and more. She was named Best Vocalist of the Month by SingerUniverse, has received Honorable Mentions from the Billboard World Song Contest, Great American Song Contest and West Coast Songwriters Contest. Debbie is a writer for Studio 51 Music, Pacifica Music and others providing original songs for their film and tv music libraries. She is a voting member of the NARAS/GRAMMYS and a writer/publisher member of ASCAP. All of Debbie's cds and singles are available through several music outlets including iTunes, CDBaby, and Amazon, or by calling 1-800-BUY-MY-CD. For more info visit www.debbiehennessey.com. 

Some reviews:

"Hennessey's bold, husky delivery puts its imprint on her material, whose catchy hooks and spot-on arrangements show she knows her stuff and is surrounded by pro-calibre talent. Hennessey is a skilled artist whose polished work commands respect." - Music Connection

"Los Angeles-based country-rocker Debbie Hennessey can sing the shingles off a barn.... her voice is magnificent..." Michael Scott Cain, Rambles

(Sugar & Rain) "As soon as the first strains of this song begin, and Debbie’s utterly unique voice starts to cut through the pleasing slide guitar, I was immediately drawn in…what you get when you hear Debbie sing is a rich, vibrant tone that’s full of life. It’s husky but polished, and that’s a rare and distinctive sound. While Debbie’s voice seems to sit somewhere in the middle of country, blues and pop, the song “Sugar and Rain” definitely has a classic country feel and arrangement. By the time the chorus comes in, it already felt familiar, which is what the best country songs do. They tell a story. Here, Debbie (along with fellow songwriters Courtney Leigh Heins and Jeffery Marshall) explores the relationship dynamic that develops over time, creating a brand new version of the “I don’t know where you end and I begin” theme…If you’re looking for twang and formulaic country songs, flip on CMT. If you’re seeking out something different, then open your ears up to the soulful voice of Debbie Hennessey." Heidi Drockelman Indie-Music.com

"Good As Gone, her (Hennessey's) thirteen-song collection of Nashville-ready tunes serves as wake-up call to radio programmers everywhere. Somebody sign this girl!" Mike Parker, BuddyHollywood

"Good as Gone" is a an deep crock pot simple yet emotionally satisfying vocal arrangements set up very well amid a blend of electric slide and acoustic guitars. It's country. It's Soul. It's Rock and a smigen of pop. Debbie's music has a grace that is beautiful and greatly needed." Unsigned the Magazine

Award Winning Artist Debbie Hennessey Releases New CD No Longer Broken!

The long awaited third full-length cd No Longer Broken from Award Winning singer and songwriter Debbie Hennessey contains nine brand new songs of contemporary country, rock and blues all in Debbie’s distinctive and soulful voice and was produced and mixed by highly regarded guitarist Jeffery “Big Red” Marshall at Red Rover Productions.

It all starts with the songs and Hennessey co-wrote 8 of the nine songs with Marshall as co-writer on 6 of those, together they wrote Every Song Is You, Whiskey Charm, No Longer Broken, Sugar and Rain, You Can't Unpull A Trigger and Right For Right Now. Other co-writers include: Courtney Leigh Heins - Sugar and Rain, Every Song Is You; Lexie Hofer - No Longer Broken; Athena Marie - I'm Leaving the Fairytale Behind; and Tracee Perrin - Let Me Go; Lexie Hofer also wrote the one cover song on the cd a duet she sings with Debbie called Women. 

The cd features top-notch LA based musicians including: Jeffery Marshall – guitars & bass, Charlie Waymire - drums, Lao Tizer – piano & organ, Aubrey Richmond – violin & fiddle, Andrew Megna - drums, Kevin Chown - bass, Bryan Dobbs – dobro & banjo, Matt Gendal – drums & percussion, Clayton Severson – harmonica & backup vocals, Lexie Hofer – backup vocals, and Courtney Leigh Heins – backup vocals. Additional Mixing by Charlie Waymire at Ultimate Studios, Inc. Mastered by Paul Wickcliffe of Skyline Productions, Inc. Artwork by Orlando Rios and photos of Debbie by Joe Bonn.

No Longer Broken is available at iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, etc. Physical copies of the cd are available at CD Baby through their website or by 1-800-Buy-My-CD!

Debbie Hennessey was named AC40 Female Artist of the Year by New Music Weekly as well as charting a Top 20 Hit on NMW’s AC40 Charts. Her song Believe was used in an episode of The Moment, which aired on USA and UHD Networks and the music video for the song Good As Gone was featured on the broadcast TV shows Extra and The Next GAC Star. She is a multiple ASCAPlus Award recipient, was included on compilation CDs including CMT's New Music Collection, GoGirls MusicFest, Songsalive!, Beautiful-Women on the Move and more. She was named Best Vocalist of the Month by SingerUniverse, has received Honorable Mentions from the Billboard World Song Contest, Great American Song Contest and West Coast Songwriters Contest. Debbie is a writer for Studio 51 Music, Pacifica Music and others providing original songs for their film and tv music libraries. She is a voting member of the NARAS/GRAMMYS and a writer/publisher member of ASCAP. All of Debbie's cds and singles are available through several music outlets including iTunes, CDBaby, and Amazon, or by calling 1-800-BUY-MY-CD. For more info visit www.debbiehennessey.com.

Contact: Rustic Heart Records, debbie_hennessey@hotmail.com.

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Nick Festari is #Flyah

Nick Festari

WRITER / ARRANGER / SINGER 

Roberto Festari (a.k.a. Nick Festari) started to study piano at 9 years old. When he was 16, he became one of the organists of his parish. It was there that he took his first steps accompanying a talented choir during the liturgical celebrations and performances. In that period, Nick met the 2 people who would have believed in him, and together they have been writing some of the best eurobeat hits for years. In 1986 he started a cover band with some friends where he has been playing keyboards for about 2 years. In 1987 the musicians and Live Music Studio owners Claudio Accatino & Federico Rimonti began to work with the well-known dance producer Mark Farina. Nick Festari started to cooperate with them playing some arrangements and rhythmics, progressively improving his studio work skills. In the meantime, he became a member of a band and gospel/Christian rock choir that performed in some churches and small local theaters. Furthermore, he participated in various song contests as writer, winning the last edition in 1992. In the same year, Accatino & Rimonti joined Time Records (a famous Italian dance label) and proposed to Nick to writing new melodies for the Japanese audience. Two years later, Claudio and Federico started their own label, "HI-NRG ATTACK", where Festari was involved in writing almost 800 songs in about 20 years, also arranging and often singing these tracks behind many aliases with his own particular style. These songs have been long appreciated by the Japanese fans and a good part of the world that love eurobeat and Italo-dance. At the end of 2012, Nick considered the chance to undertake a solo career and began to write a voice/piano pop-ballad. Once finished, he took some months to make a hard decision, and in summer 2013 he took a chance and left eurobeat, dance scenes and HI-NRG ATTACK that gave many satisfactions and professional skills to him. Now Nick Festari dives into pop-music trying to reach for a totally new audience with his own style so appreciated in his former path.

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Beverly Ritz is #Flyah

 

Beverly Ritz is known world-wide as a master of solo piano jazz.  Her music, endorsed by jazz critic Scott Yanow, pianist Jessica Williams, and  jazz d.j. & journalist Al Evans, has been played on NPR stations across the USA.  Three of her CDs have been featured on Jazz Ambience Radio.  Her recording of "Take Five" was included in a tribute to Dave Brubeck on Jazz Inside Out on KLCC in Eugene, Oregon.

Beverly was "house pianist" at Cafe Mundo in Newport, Oregon from March, 2013 to August, 2014.  She created and performed for the Sunday Jazz Brunch and the Wednesday Evening Jazz Jam.  She also gave solo piano jazz concerts at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, Kathy Parsons, and the Newport Performing Arts Center, three renowned concert venues in Oregon. 

Beverly's music has been heard on the radio all over the world since the 2007 release of By Rowdy Creek.  Her 2009 CD, Lacey Mae, set a record with all nine tracks played in nine weeks on Jazz Radio KMHD in Portland, Oregon.  Her 2013 CD, Buddy and Me, in addition to receiving significant airplay on KLCC in Eugene, Oregon, also attracted the attention of Jazz Ambience Radio.  The station put all the tracks from all three of these CDs in rotation. 

Jessica Williams says Beverly's music is wonderful and that she is just so full of talent and passion.  Scott Yanow says Beverly plays chords worthy of Bill Evans and that her sound is reminiscent of McCoy Tyner.  Al Evans says Beverly's 2015 recording of "Threnody" is beautiful.  Doug Anders, d.j. for Jazz Inside Out on KLCC, says Beverly's recording of "Phantom of the Islands" is great.  He also says that Freddie Hubbard must be smiling from above, hearing Beverly's video of "Little Sunflower" recorded with world-class guitarist Phil Mack.

Beverly says she is on a mission to write, record, and perform beautiful piano jazz selections.  She hopes to help the world by creating music that is both intellectually stimulating and soothing. 

Beverly Ritz's fifth CD is Blues for Django, honoring her Golden Retriever named after the legendary jazz guitarist.  The four songs featured here have already received tremendous attention on Facebook, YouTube, and in Beverly's concerts.  The songs have been endorsed by d.j./jazz journalist Al Evans, d.j. Doug Anders, and pianist Jessica Williams. 

The CD includes songs by Marian McPartland, George Cables, Henry Mancini, Richard Rodgers, Johnny Mandel, Jessica Williams, and Beverly Ritz.

With the release of this CD of jazz classics and captivating new jazz and blues, Beverly hopes to perform her solo piano jazz in a wide variety of venues, including jazz clubs and colleges, and in jazz festivals across the USA.

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Nu Man is #FLYAH

 

  Nu Man Bio 2015

Nu-man's music embodies versatility, tradition.

Chicago was his birthplace, and he also spent time on the West Coast, but Atlanta, Georgia was the place vibrant performer Nu-Man blossomed into a distinctive, compelling singer/songwriter. Once his family relocated to the locale known as "The ATL," where they still reside, Nu-Man's love affair with music blossomed.  He mixes rap's verbal fluidity and improvisational fervor with tones and themes gleaned from pop, R&B, and soul. The result is an edgy, dynamic sound that offers insight into everything from relationships to topical issues.  When asked what inspired him to become a performer, Nu-Man responds in decisive fashion, crediting Atlanta's fertile creative environment with being the catalyst towards a professional career. "I first gained interest in music as a sophomore in college," Nu-Man recalled. "I remember free styling for the fun of it around others and noticing how people dug the way I flowed."   Family members have proven just as important to the development of his hybrid style as some major musical names. "On a personal note, I can say that my older brother, along with other artists in my family were my first major influences," he continues. "By witnessing their musical creativity and the high level of sound I interpreted it to be, I was like "wow," that is so cool to be able to create good music. On the other hand, Michael Jackson, Elvis, and rapper E-40 were my outside influences."  As someone who mixes spoken word and song, Nu-Man's approach to songwriting reflects a careful balance between expressing ideas in oral or musical fashion. "

My compositions are created both by lyrics first along with the melodies I hear with it, and also by listening to a beat and feeling the direction the beat takes me lyrically," Nu-Man explains.  "Interspersing multiple genres into a tune comes naturally," he adds in response to an inquiry about the multiple strains that converge in his music. "I'm naturally a more literal writer as opposed to a more figurative approach. So as I write, I tend to write about real life experiences and the emotions and feelings they generate. Being a pop artist I like more up tempo songs, while being soulful, I naturally put feelings into it. That makes up my recipe for a good tune."  The sources of his songs are as varied as the genres and artists he enjoys. "My ideas for songs come in different ways," he adds. "Sometimes when I hear a track, I will be reminded of a moment. I then ponder on the cause and effects of that moment while I vibe to the rhythm of the track and write. Other times I will find myself feeling some kind of way, and I then put into a song whatever I am feeling at that time. Also, I will hear a song in my sleep, wake up and write it."  But while versatility and variety are Nu-Man attributes, thus far there's one arena he doesn't explore as a composer.  "At this point in my writing career I have yet to write any political songs." Nu-Man acknowledges. "Topical material I do write sometimes."  Nu-Man's roots are evident in both his edgy vocals and love for lyrical embellishment. "I was born in Chicago, but spent most of my youth in California," he responds when asked if he heard or was aware of much house music, a Windy City staple. I remember loving '80s R&B like the Whispers and Rick James, while also liking '80s pop music."

While now totally focused on his music and career, Nu-Man envisions a time when he can stretch his creative wings. "At some point in time, I am looking forward to writing for other artists," he said. "I have some songs that I can hear some other great voices on as well, not just my own. For me, it is always fun to collaborate with other artists and create music that is unique and different than what I am used to with my own style."  In the past, options for independent artists weren't nearly as plentiful as in the 21st century. Nu-Man's especially pleased with how the Internet has proven a boon for those performers without record label support. "I am glad that the Internet is available for independent artists," he says. "I think it really lends a helping hand when it comes to getting our music heard by the people. Record labels have to pick and choose their artists and it might not be the best way for you as an artist. The Internet really helps independent artists get their music to the people."  "My goal is to entertain for a living at a high level," he concludes. "I have a strong desire to create songs that will last a lifetime or two and stand the test of time. I am also really looking forward to my very own first Grammy Party."  With his enticing, original sensibility and approach, Nu-Man can look forward to a long career and hopefully several other Grammy events in the future.

Ron Wynn

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Synthesizer Changed How Children Experience Music #Flyah

As a part-time radio host and DJ, London-based product designer Dimitri Hadjichristou really loves music. But he often found himself wondering if there were others ways to experience it beyond the standard listening experience. In his search for a more fully immersive experience, he began speaking to people with hearing impairments in order to find out how they used touch and other senses to understand music. Now, he’s designed a device called Vi which helps hearing impaired children to experience sound in a playful way.
During his research, the designer learned about Donaldson’s School for the Deaf, where one day he sat in on a music lesson for kids and watched students use resonance boards. The kids would lie down on these boards as music played so they could “feel sound through vibrations.” By hooking the board up to a keyboard, the school let the kids control the sound coming through.

Watching this interaction inspired the design for Vi. Hadjichristou explains more about the experience:

I noticed then that there was a far more enthusiastic response solely because the child had control, they were feeling what they were playing, giving them a greater understanding for what they felt opposed to just feeling vibrations. However, the board was enormous, over-complicated, and didn’t embody a sense of playfulness that children need so my aim was to redesign it into a smaller, intuitive, childish product.

Using a speaker and a set of Korg littleBits—pieces that users can put together to create what the website describes as an “analog synthesizer”—the object allows kids to create their own sound patterns. You simply set up the cone-like object, arrange the pieces and twist the knobs. This causes ball-bearings to vibrate and move with the sound, giving users the chance to both visualize and feel the sounds.
When Hadjichristou brought Vi to Donaldson’s, “kids played with it for hours.” The device has now been exhibited at the Edinburgh College of Art Degree Show and the New Designers Part 2 exhibition in London.

Hadjichristou noticed that kids with autism also seemed to react positively to the device. This proves that the it “works effectively among a whole range of children” and could lead to other design possibilities. All it takes is a synthesizer and some creativity.
Dimitri Hadjichristou

Instead of forcing constant hot swaps of low-battery devices into the single USB port your computer carries, InfiniteUSB promises the connection of all cables, meaning all of your devices can finally be charged simultaneously! As a color-coded open chain of USB ports that’s compatible with iOS and Android (among other USB supported devices), charging your devices has never been as easy or time efficient as with the addition of the InfiniteUSB.

Tap to Expand

Instead of forcing constant hot swaps of low-battery devices into the single USB port your computer carries, InfiniteUSB promises the connection of all cables, meaning all of your devices can finally be charged simultaneously! As a color-coded open chain of USB ports that’s compatible with iOS and Android (among other USB supported devices), charging your devices has never been as easy or time efficient as with the addition of the InfiniteUSB.
Equipped with a built-in magnetic design to remove wild wires and tangled cables, InfiniteUSB is available in 20cm and 120cm lengths as blue, yellow, orange, red or grey cables.
Contrary to what the name suggests, the USB bus is limited to 127 devices per controller (including the root hub), though the team recommends no more than six plugged-in devices at a time for optimal user experience (with regard to power dispersion). That said, data transfer is supported throughout any and all linked InfiniteUSBs, be it lightning, micro or female.

Having just finished its Kickstarter phase, boasting 3,320 backers pledging a grand total of $247,214 USD, the company is now taking pre-orders.
With slim and regular models, the company’s manufacturer Vojotech Inc. has ensured that all models will be true to size as according to the pictures on Kickstarter. The team is additionally working on a working USB-C prototype, expected to debut some time in April.
InfiniteUSB

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