Marcie interviews Music Network- a place for Artists

There are so many established artists in the scene that I respect and admire, but I know that for every artist who makes it 'big', there are countless aspiring artists trying to share their work. We all deserve to be heard! I've been fortunate over the years to be able to benefit from the internet in ways that have allowed me to connect with many talented people I might not have come across any other way. Nowadays, there are so many social networks, that it can really be confusing to figure out how to use the web effectively for networking, promotion, and discovery. I feel like myspace is not as strong as it used to be as it's saturated with more artists than fans, and every post to me reads like an advertisement instead of a dialogue. Fortunately, there are great minds out there working to keep the internet a place for talents to connect and share productively.

I had a chance to sit down with Chris Zammit Dimech, a founder of Music Network, and he gave me the run down about this rapidly growing site.

Marcie: How does new talent benefit from Music Network?

Chris: The work being done by Music is not to just promote already known artists and tracks but to give a chance to new talents to have their space too.

Marcie: How is Music Network different from other sites like Myspace?

Chris: Many upcoming talents use myspace, but the problem is that you just upload your tracks and that's it. Then it's solely up to you to promote your music and yourself... well with Music it’s different. It's not just a myspace like web portal; it’s a whole network which promotes already known and upcoming talent for free, worldwide. You're not just creating a showcase, you're creating a whole chain of events for yourself.

This is possible because Music gives all hosted artists a dedicated url such as www.music.com.mt/marcie to upload any type of content, being pictures, videos or songs with the ability to create albums and sell them via music, and it doesn't stop here. The online store can be customized by the artist to select which songs to sell or by giving a discount to listeners if they purchase a whole album instead of single tracks. The fun part of our online store is that it can be carried virtually anywhere on the internet, with a simple embed code you can have your online store on 1, 5, 10, 100, 10000s of websites at the same time, with real time update on all websites when you add or change songs, prices or albums on your Music Store.

Marcie: The music business is an ever changing landscape. How are you working to keep Music Network in touch with the needs of its many artists?

Chris: A new add-on feature "Share My Upload" will help artists hosting their tracks on Music to broaden their exposure. It's simple and easy, in fact artists will not even notice the change in the way they currently upload their tracks. As soon as an artist uploads his new track, our system will inform major social networks such as twitter, facebook, myspace and search engines such as google the exact second the song is uploaded, giving real-time exposure, worldwide, for free and increasing song plays and sales.

Marcie: Well, that's a timesaver! It sounds like it will consolidate marketing, so artists don't have to spend so much time posting all over the web. They can devote more time to music itself.

Chris: Other useful features on Music are: a unique Blog for any artist to use, and a Fan Club in which fans will receive latest updates on events, new song uploads, new photo uploads and more.

The video section works hand in hand with youtube. You can easily insert your "youtube" username and all the videos in your youtube channel will be transferred automatically to our Videos Section.

Marcie: You told me that you're tapping into a specific niche in the market for dj's. Can you explain that here?

Chris: Thanks to the Music Network being created, Music gives the chance to dj's who don't aspire to be producers to showcase their talent too. This can be done through our Music Radio. Music radio hosts Radio Shows by professional and well known artists and Guest Mixes by well known and upcoming djs.
Music Magazine is one of our last editions to the Music Network. All of the benefits mentioned above are collected and shared through the net via our Music magazine, featuring artists who have their profile on music, tracks found on the Music website, radio shows and guest mixes, events being sponsored by Music, competitions, Music News and much more. Listeners also have the ability to leave their comments and feedback on any article published on our magazine.

The magazine is also accessible via any mobile device, thus having all your music news and music radio updates on the go, anywhere.

Music also offers free promotion to event organizers who would like to feature Music as a sponsor for their events. For more details regarding advertising packages you can contact Music advertising team on advertising@music.com.mt

Marcie: Wow, it seems like you're covering all angles! What's the response been like so far?

Chris: With over 1.8Million hits to date in less than a year on our Music Network and free registration for both artists and listeners, we are more than confident that any artists hosting tracks on Music and event organizers working hand in hand with Music will enjoy the ride to the top.

Thanks so much Chris! Check out Music Network here:http://www.music.com.mt/

Marcie's Lyric Picks Vol. 2: Being Real

We all feel like outsiders at times. Even amongst friends and families, we all have times when we are not comfortable in our own skin. We worry about how we are viewed by others, and how to fit in. We think about what we have in common with each other, & what our differences are. We struggle with feelings of inadequacy when we compare ourselves with others. We look down on people whom we make the mistake of viewing only superficially. We are afraid be our real selves and we take on personas that might not reflect who we really are or want to be.

Here are some of my favorite tracks that deal with the struggle to be comfortable and happy with who we are.

1) DJ Tiesto- Just Be

"They say learning to love yourself
Is the first step
That you take when you want to be real
Flying on planes to exotic locations
won't teach you
How you really feel"

I feel this track laid some lyrical groundwork for Trance Music. Trance music is meant to take a listener to a state of euphoria where love for others and self acceptance prevail.

2) First State feat. Sarah Howells- Brave

"If I was brave
I’d never get this wrong"

I love how this lyric admits a vulnerability. We all want to be strong and perfect, but we all have times of self doubt, mistakes, and disappointment. We make demands of ourselves that are hard to live up to.

3) Sunlounger feat. Zara- Lost

"Now that you have lost yourself,
oh can anything help you now"

In "Behind The Lyric Episode 7", Zara says this song is about losing control to her desires, betraying herself, and losing her self respect. She realized that without self respect, she felt lost in the world. Writing a song was a way to find herself again.

"Lost" is another track that speaks about following a true path. It's easy to lose ourselves when we give in to temptations and instant gratification. Listening to this track makes me feel that I am not alone, that everyone makes mistakes, and that I can rely on the strength inside myself during challenging times.

4) John O'Callaghan feat. Sarah Howells - Find Yourself

"Looking at life through a loaded gun
Take your best shot, aim it at the sun
Looking at life through a loaded gun
You know you’ll find
You’ll find yourself, you’ll find yourself alone"

This track seems to say that if you focus on superficial, selfish pursuits, then when you finally reach your goals, you will find you're all alone. Are our goals worth achieving if we alienate ourselves and hurt others along our path?

5) Andain- Beautiful Things:

"Stopped pushing on for just a second
Then nothing’s changed
Who am I this time?
Where’s my name?
I guess it crept away"

For me this track is about losing ourselves in a created identity, and then reminding ourselves that natural beauty exists around us all the time.

6) Doppler Effect- Beauty Hides In The Deep:

"Beauty hides in the deep
But its so hard to find
Being wrapped up inside"


7) Kirsty Hawkshaw & Tenisha - Outsiders

"Take a look at yourself as an outsider
Do you like what you see?
You can't see what you're thinking
You can't feel what you're feeling
You could be anyone"

The way Kirsty delivers these lines always makes me stop and think. The melody is part sung, part spoken, and I think that style works very well to get the point across, and set the mood for the rest of the vocal.

8) DJ Hashish feat. Marcie- Look Around

"What is the answer to this fear?
I can't just watch and see
Should I take the easy way out, or should I
Should I just be me?"

When we're afraid, we might let our fear dictate our actions. We need to work hard to find the best solutions to our problems. We can't sit back and let other people do things for us, or try to take the easy way out.

9) OceanLab – On A Good Day

"Been talking to myself forever, yeah
And how I wish I knew me better, yeah
Still sitting on a shelf but never
Never seen the sun shine brighter"

How many of us truly feel we know ourselves? What does it take to know oneself?

10) Julian Vincent Feat. Cathy Burton – Here For Me

"You say I can love me for who I am
Don’t need to change or pretend
To see my own beauty is like breathing happiness
Just trust in my heart
Be real"

I like how this track describes someone telling her that she doesn't have to pretend to be anything other than herself. Love works best when it comes with acceptance.

Stay tuned for more of Marcie's Lyric Picks right here. For more thoughts straight from your favourite Artists on their own lyrics, check out "Marcie presents Behind The lyric" at http://www.mugasha.com/browse/Behind-The-Lyric.

Marcie's Lyric Picks Vol. 1: Timely Voices

The passage of time is something every conscious entity has no choice but to experience. The experience of time is a subjective one, and highly dependent on our personal emotional state. When we are heartbroken, time can drag on endlessly. It's the same when we are bored, or feeling purposeless. When we are in love, smiling and laughing, or completely immersed in an activity we enjoy, then time feels like it is flying by. I am sure many of us find listening to music makes time pass more pleasantly.

I have noticed that time is a topic often sung about in Vocal Trance, with artists sharing their own perspective on a moment of time in their life.
Here is a list of some of my favorite Vocal Trance tracks that mention moving forward in time, dreaming of the future, and being influenced by our memories.

1) Nic Chagall feat Jonathan Mendelsohn – This Moment

"And I can’t deny these memories got me all locked up inside,
And you hold the key"

I think Jonathan expresses a sentiment we have all felt about our memories. Memories can be bittersweet. We need our memories to give our life context, but sometimes it's hard to break free of our memories to start fresh.

2) Armin van Buuren feat. Jaren - Unforgivable

"Well it ain’t over ’till it’s over And my world shuts down
But this comes close, I’ll have you know, It’s just a matter of time"

When I hear this refrain, I hear the pain in Jaren's soul. She is at a breaking point, but instead of breaking completely, she is finding a way to draw on her inner strength and keep moving forward. I love lyrics about approaching the future with a new understanding of the past.

3) Air Hustlers feat. Colleen Riley - Downtime

"Shotgun-bang! And the race is on
I can't meet my deadlines, I can't read the headlines,
I stopped to smell the roses but their season had passed
I need a little down time"
It is sad to think about all the beauty we miss when we rush about our lives with tunnel vision. In Behind The Lyric Episode 1, Colleen Riley says "Downtime....was a chance to write about that oft needed breath that we don't have time to take, or don't make time to take".

4) Mark Pledger Feat. Melinda Gareh – Time Stands Still

"Beyond this faded realm of reason
Time stands still"

Melinda sings about an experience when time seems to stop completely for her. I think sometimes we all want the whirlwind of our life to come to a halt so we can breathe, take a step back, and figure out what is going on, and what we truly want.

5) Cosmic Gate feat. Emma Hewitt- Not Enough Time

"I stand before you in the last dance of an old life…"
This line is chilling. It reminds me that times are always changing, and it is our choice how we optimize our use of time.

6) "Andy Duguid feat. Leah- Wasted"

"Wasted all this time, searching
Brought me to my knees"

The tone and melody that Leah uses to sing these words is full of heartache and regret over time wasted searching for something that cannot be found.

7) BT Feat. Jes – Every Other Way

"Heart don’t fail me now
‘Cause there is no time to waste"

Jes beautifully sings about her desire not to waste time in matters of the heart.

8) Oceanlab- Sky Falls Down:

"You lose all sense of reason
You have no sense of danger
It's like you're living in a dream.
It lets you float through crowds and
Makes you smile at strangers
It's just the greatest state of being, Oohh... "

As I said earlier, when we're in love, time flies. Lovers fill time with daydreams, hopes, fantasies, and a sense of contentment. These lyrics strike me as incredibly romantic, but also have a sense of desperation and intensity that perhaps cannot be maintained for long. It makes me wonder how long does the euphoric state of love last?

9) Tydi & Dennis Sheperd feat.Marcie- Somehow

"If you could see into the future, would you do it different now?"
When I'm faced with very difficult decisions, I desperately wish I could see into the future for guidance. Since we can't see into crystal balls, it is important not to ignore advice from people who have life experience that we can benefit from.

10) Tritonal feat. Hannah Sky – Jump Off

"So here we go again
Sometimes I feel nothing’s gonna change
Let’s jump off, into time"
I like the idea that sometimes we have to jump start our future, and now is as good a time as any to do that!

Stay tuned for more Marcie Lyric Picks right here. For more thoughts straight from your favorite Artists on their own lyrics, check out "Marcie presents Behind The lyric": http://mugasha.com/browse/Behind-The-Lyric

Robbie Rivera Interview by Dimitri Kechagias

You heard Robbie Rivera tell his story on 'Behind The Lyric Episode 16', and you will LOVE this extensive interview with Robbie, (conducted by Dimitri Kechagias from “Flux BPM on the Move”)

Interview with Robbie Rivera about his album 'Closer to the Sun' out now via Black Hole recordings

Dimitri: It will be great to let us know if you believe that electronic dance music, and particularly House music, is the best music in the world and why? Is there any kind of EDM you just hate so much that you can even stand it for a second and why?

Robbie: I think EDM is one of the best types of music in the world because it simply makes you want to dance period. Happy vibes are the best, you know what I mean. I like all types of dance music but hardcore banging 150 BPM is just nuts!!!

Dimitri: Who are the 3 most important figures in dance music that have the most impact upon you, and have influenced the kind of music you play and produce?

Robbie: Hmm I started early in 1995, so I must say David Morales, MAW & Armand Van Helden.

Dimitri: You have been voted many times by your fans, as one of the best house DJ’s. Which elements do you think are consistent with a good and successful DJ (mixing skills, choice of best tracks, etc)?

Robbie: I think the choice of music.......(READ MORE HERE!!!)

Dimitri Kechagias is a music journalist and radio dj for many years now specializing in trance, progressive and lately house sounds. He is currently working on his Phd about the of state of Music Journalism in Greece with particular reference in the way that new technologies like internet have changed the enviroment and the way that music journalists do their profession. He is currently in charge of the radio shows, Flux Bpm on the move, and Flux presents house anthems only. The show, Flux bpm on the move, started as an fm only radio show broadcasted in his region in Greece and now is streamed on www.danceradioglobal.com/trance , www.1mix.co.uk , and www.discovertrance.com and on the greek fm station Viva 95,3 fm [www.vivafm.com]. The production of the show takes a lot of hard and passionate work. Along with his show he is conducting written, video and radio interviews with EDM artists as well as doing reviews of the latest releases for various web sites. His dream to set up his own label or to become an A&R in an established record label. Music business is really exciting...

Thievery Corporation (Interview)

Thievery Corporation appears in Behind The Lyric Episode 16. I am inspired by the way they integrate their social consciousness into their music. Here are some highlights from my conversation with Thievery Corporation.



1) Background & Working Together:

"Once we started working together, it opened doors to really express ourselves musically....and try to forge our own sound".

Unlearning Your History....

"That's kind of where the real fun comes in....you can see things for what they really are".

Respecting Opinions....

"In the studio, it's good when you have two...if half the room doesn't like it, then maybe you're not really going down the right road. Especially if you respect the others opinion".



2) Connecting With The Lyrics...

"I might want to choose my words carefully and say something you yourself feel is important".

"A band like Rage Against The Machine makes more sense to me than kind of just listening to people who are just about like 'Dance your cares away and put your ostrich head in the sand....'"


3) Warning Shots & Radio Retaliation

"About the control of many by a few...and who are the few...."
"Keeping people in a prison of fear and ignorance"

4)Alternative Views:

"We found the alternative theories were often times the most plausible....the people in the mainstream are not really telling us anything worthwhile. It's kind of an upside down world"



5) Meaning of Amerimacka...Meaning of Truth & Rights:

"It is a paradox. The capital in our hometown is built by slaves. What is freedom?"

Music & Censorship:

"We did an anti-war concert in D.C., and a person who used to work at the IRS told us 'if you do that, you will be audited', and two weeks later we were audited."

"Music is potentially really powerful, and that's why MTV exists...to not have interesting Artists with any sort of impassioned message take the airwaves."

"In the hip hop world...lyrically what's happening is just so cut off from what it originated as."


6) Why have live vocals on stage?

"People kind of crave that human connection....We've seen enough DJ's...we've been part of that culture for a long time".




Find Thievery Corporation online at www.thieverycorporation.com.

Glow Stick Garden

Winter is in full force, and there's lots of snow everywhere. I love the fresh air, and crisp starry nights. Even when it's dark and cold, I try to find things to do outside! Here are pics from some of my recent winter activities:

Glow Stick Garden:

I received a gift of glowsticks from a friend. We decided to light them all up at once, and arrange them in the dark in freshly fallen snow. Thus, we made a 'Glow Stick Garden'!! Unfortunately, we forgot that cold air makes glow sticks stop glowing...so our lovely garden did not last long. This is a picture of it before it faded away.

Niagara Falls:

I took a snowy tour of Niagara Falls in late December. The Falls are on the border of the United States and Canada, and are made up three parts. On the American Side are 'American Falls'. The 'Horseshoe Falls' straddle the U.S./Canada border, and look like...well...a horseshoe. The Falls were formed by Glaciers, and in addition to being beautiful to look at, they provide hydroelectric power for the region.

Me and my new friend....

You can sort of hear the falls in the video below. They were very loud in person. 600,000 gallons of water rushing over per second!




I couldn't get to the Canadian side on this trip, but I found a picture online of Horseshoe Falls....does anyone remember the scene that took place here in Superman 1?















American Falls At Night:
















American Falls In Daylight:

Marcie Webisode 2: Your Trance Show

I'd like to present the second in my series of Webisodes. This time, I collected questions from fans and answered them onscreen. Thanks to everyone for writing in! If I didn't get to your question in the video, then please read below. I am posting some more questions and answers here in my blog.



Questions in webisode from:

Zahira Kharsany from South Africa
Katerina Tsambis from Canada
Fabian Sunset from France
Little Timmy
&
Birdman


More Questions and Answers:

Ariel-Fors Klein, Detroit, USA:
"How long does it typically take her to write lyrics - & can I stay with you the next time I'm in Boston?"

Some of my lyrics have been written in just a few moments. They appear almost like a flash in my mind. But a full song never really works that way. I usually spend awhile trying to figure out what I'm trying to say, and the truest way to say it. Then I have to spend time making sure the lyrics and melody marry each other. Some of my lyrics come from writing as stream of conscious or journalling. This is a way I can figure out my emotions. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few months to write a lyric I feel is complete.

Let me know next time you're in Boston. We can at least meet up for coffee. Maybe you can do a guest appearance on a future webisode! :)

Wally Ragaey - Egypt
Favorite producer to have worked with and why?

I've worked with a lot of different producers, and each experience has been unique. Some of the work relationships are very serious, and our only communication is solely music related, and sometimes there's a lot more casual conversation involved. Timothy Allan and Damien S are always fun to work with because they both make me laugh so much. Steve Birch is very kind and reliable, David Akermanis is creative and also quite funny.....I could go on and on. Sometimes producers and I don't have that much fun writing a song, but that's just because the work is hard and we're really pushing each other. That is still a great experience. Songwriting can be very hard work. I don't have a favorite, I'm just grateful that I've had so many nice and fun experiences with my collaborators.



Eleni Tramas - Australia
What is your greatest achievement to date and what determines great success?

I think my greatest achievements occur when I feel I am fully living in the moment. This pertains to both day to day life and in my musical life. Any activity or relationship I approach from a distracted mindset is one that is short changed. I don't want to participate in life half heartedly, but it can be quite difficult to live and participate in life without falling prey to soul harming distraction. There's not enough time to do everything, and thus if I don't believe what I'm currently doing is significant, I will feel I'm living a wasted life. I feel successful those times when I find the balance between doing what I want to do, and wanting to do what I have to do.



Ilana Harkavy - Usa
What qualities do you feel make a strong singer/song writer ?

Honesty, a willingness to take risks, loyalty to oneself, openness to experience, the work of others, and to the ideas of collaborators. It's important to keep one's ego in check, and to have a willingness to make mistakes even if they are in public.

Sandy Viola from Alabama:
How did you know you wanted to sing trance music?

Well, a lot of you probably don't know this, but i was born on a little fluffy cloud. After I fell 'out of the sky', i was Lost for awhile. Fortunately I kept going in Forward Motion, and made my way to a city, and I said so, 'this is miami'. There I spent many nights with a man on the run. Somehow these days live on In My memory. No one can Take it All Away.


Naeem Shaboddin - South Africa
If you were to give me a DJ alias , what would it be ?

I have a DJ alias. It's 'Clay DJ Guy'. hehe. He's my clay alter ego. He actually just got back from his victory party. He was awarded the #1 Clay DJ spot this year.




Thanks again to everyone who has been sending questions! Please keep them coming, as I'm happy to keep chatting with you!

You too, Birdman!! ;)

All my best,

Marcie