Serrada Escrima into Cadena de Mano.

My poor try, at converting a basic Serrada single stick technique, into a plausible boxing combination.

SHIVA ALI

Looking for something new and different in the world of Hip Hop?  I've got the artist for you!  Shiva Ali from Sherman, Tx.  Just 23 years old and well on his way to Rap Superstardom!  Check out his latest groove, UNIXORN PARKING ZONE, produced by Guziec of Poland.  A hot driving vibe with kickin' lyrics.

As his press release says:" Shiva Ali is an artist from Sherman, Tx that was born in 1993. Never fitting in growing up, Shiva secluded himself from most people and spent the majority of his time alone. Growing through life, it wasn't until Summer 2013 Shiva truly found himself through weekly psychedelic experiences.  Learning the innermost parts of his brain, Shiva realized the influence behind his mind and how he can change the world. Using music to do so, Shiva expresses his intimate smoked out feelings through creative ways that gives our ears a refreshing sound that is a new age of weird. "


Known as an artist with a twisted sense of humor, I had a chance to ask him some questions about his life and music!


1)  Where did he get his start in music?

I got my start in music in a dorm room in San Marcos, Tx after taking LSD my first time.


2) How does he create his music?  Who is his producer?

I smoke a lot of weed until I get super stoned and then I just start vibing to the music and it comes out organically. Right now I work primarily with Guziec from Poland, she produced all of my D.E.A.T.H. UNIXORN project and DrazenC from Tacoma, Washington, we have a project coming out later this year.


3) Does he perform live?  Does he have a show coming up?

Performing is my strongest suit as a music artist I feel. I have a show in San Marcos, Tx on July 23rd at Wake the Dead Coffee House.


4) Did he always wanted to be a Hip-Hop performer?

Performing is my strongest suit as a music artist I feel. I have a show in San Marcos, Tx on July 23rd at Wake the Dead Coffee House.


5) What does his music mean to and for him?

Freedom. Lostness. For me it's like guidance through an unknown/known world that people think they have figured out. But there's too much for us to figure it all out so we get what we can and do what we can with what we have, but there is always more... always. And a shit ton of fun.


6) Future plans?

My future plans. I have a lot. Going on a world tour for sure. Getting rid of all the lame ass fake weirdo's in the industry. Opening art/spiritual schools. Have my own strain of cannabis to name a few.

To get a taste of his latest musical treat, go to https://soundcloud.com/iiishiva/unixorn-parking-zone-prod-by-guziec.  

Lakotah, the Sweet Sensation!

With the holiday season now approaching, what better gift can a person receive than a gift of music?  And if your special someone is into good club music, than look no further and go a get a copy of Los Angeles' new queen of alternate electronic rock, Lakotah!

Her newest full length album ' The Maker ' ( by BooBoo records, ) has just been released and her new EDM/Dance single " I Feel Your Body " (co-produced by Mickey Oliver/remixed by DJ Kool-A-Shay and Mickey Oliver,) is currently being promoted to U.S. Top-40/AC Radio by Howard Rosen Promotions, and is playing everywhere!  Her last single "Falling"has just hit (#42) on the Billboard Dance Charts.

 Lakotah performed most of the instruments on her new album. She also performs most of the vocals, and the harmonies, as well.

Having lived all around the world, Lakotah now makes her home in Los Angeles.  Lakotah's first solo CD was entitled "Shape Shifter".  She has also created and performed as the lead singer for such rock bands as Soul De Sire, Love 11, and later, The Deep Happy. The Deep Happy released two studio albums: "Activate 11:11" and the self-titled album "The Deep Happy".

Lakotah's singing style reminds one of previous female artists like Laurie Brannigan, Laurie Anderson and Siouxsie & the Banshees.  Tight and precise.  Her voice is like a finely tuned musical instrument.  Her music and songs make you want to get up and shake it like nobody's there!

Go to her official website yourself and give a listen to her stuff!

 http://www.lakotahmusic.com/

Or better yet... Just go directly and buy her latest album, ' The Maker. ' 

At http://www.lakotahmusic.com/purchase/

Just in Time for X-Mas!

Rome Will Burn

Rome Will Burn has just released their first self-titled EP-CD.  Their music and videos have a sound and vision that will excited even the most critical pop music enthusiast.  Their songs are filled with energy and passion.  Their videos demonstrate a stagecraft and execution well beyond their years.   Their mastery of their instruments?  Profound as well.  Not surprising, considering that both Alyssa Suede and Carlton Moody both come from extensive musical and athletic backgrounds.

Alyssa is from a family of highly accomplished musicians.  Her dad is the well known arranger/composer David Campbell.  The Grammy-award winning rock star, Beck is one of her brothers, and her mom, Raven Kane, is a singer and theater composer.  While growing up in Los Angeles, Alyssa was a champion figure skater.  She and Olympic Silver medalist Sasha Cohen trained together and was at one time, the Los Angeles Artistic Champion.  As for Alyssa's vocal talents, the online music magazine, Muzikreview has this to say," Pairing her breaking, twangy voice with quartet accompaniments and various electronic flourishes, Suede finds a superior niche that evokes more intimacy and feeling. With that being said, Suede’s musical likeness to Jewel is often startling."

Manifesto, grew up in Virginia and was for a time a competitive roller-bladder.  He began learning the violin at the age of 5.  He also started DJing at 11 and has traveled the world with his unique and thrilling Disc Jockey show combining rock, classical and Traditional Irish violin and innovative dance numbers.  It was while attending one of his shows in Washington D.C; that Alyssa first met Manifesto.   “I had never seen anything like it.  I wanted to make fun - music, but didn’t want to have to sacrifice complexity of musical composition to do that,” Suede says.  

Not long after their initial meeting, Alyssa approached her father, David Campbell with the idea of producing their music.  He agreed and Rome Will Burn was borne.  

Campbell predicts that, “Rome Will Burn will build a loyal following from a diverse fan base. I’ve seen audiences of varying age groups and tastes - teens, young adults, 30's-50's - get drawn in by the band's on-stage chemistry, strong melodies, hooks and electronic production. They connect on all the levels - musical, rhythmic, stage moves and command of a crowd.” 


 “We were written in the stars.” Alyssa has said.  Manifesto himself agrees saying, “It’s time to bring music back to music!  It’s time to bring music back to music.”

Go check out their music and their videos and see for yourself!  I highly recommend watching their Chameleon video.  A breath-taking combination of dance, electronic fiddling and soaring vocals!  One look and you'll be a convert to Rome Will Burn! 

Rome Will Burn - http://www.romewillburn.com

Rome Will Burn - CD and shirts - http://www.romewillburn.com/store/

Interested in Carlton Moody (aka Manifesto) as a DJ?  Go to http://www.djmanifesto.com.

Are you an Alyssa Suede's fan?  Go to http://www.alyssasuede.com for her latest news!

Everything Old is New... Again!

Everything Old is New,,, Again!



There's a saying in Neijia ( Chinese Internal Martial Arts ) that goes how your training will bring you back to your " original " energy.  I had previously considered this to be a kind of mystical, esoteric state of being similar to Star Wars' The Force.  A very Taoist, almost unattainable level of existence.  I never really gave it much thought, but over the years, this proverb to become a more personal and practical experience than I could ever had imagined.

As I wrote in an earlier entry on my blog,  I made a decision to make physical fitness a part of my life.  Running was the chief focus of that essay, and it still is as far as my workout routine go.  I'm currently up to a two to three miles a day, five days a week.  Previously, I was only running a mile, every other day, three days a week.

I've also added weights, calisthenics, and aerobics to my workout routine, but as essential as the methods are; none are as important to me as my re-commitment to martial arts training.

Since the early 80's, I've been a martial arts practitioner.  I've had the opportunity to be able to train with some extremely fine teachers and a wide array of styles and systems.  To be brief, I've trained in Korean Karate, Chinese Kung Fu, Filipino Escrima and Kali, Historical European martial systems, Western boxing and kick-boxing, and Japanese Ninpo.

For the past 30 years, I've always been working on some aspect of what I've learned and since my renewed determination to improve my fitness level, I've put an emphasis on trying to elevate my skills.
 
Fitness training and martial arts go hand to hand.  One feeds the other.  For every added push - up that I've achieve, it's just one more Choong Dan Kong Kyuk ( Reverse Punch, ) I can do.  For every day that I running, there's another 30 minutes I can perform a kicking set.  For every hour I spend at sword-work, the deeper my resolve for weight training.

I still have a long way to go with this.  My flexibility isn't where I would like it to be.   I sometimes get frustrated with myself over the things I've forgotten or lost over the course of time, but one thing that has returned with a vengeance has been my enthusiasm for the martial arts.    I feel like where I was when I first started out in my old Korean Karate class at EMU.  Eager, and thrilled to be a part of a tradition that spans across an ocean, into the deepest recesses of time.

" Original " energy doesn't have to be some strange metaphysical spell conjured up by wizard found in a Tolkien novel.  It can be our faith, our joy, our work to a discipline or craft or art.  I'm beginning to experience a feeling something akin to how I felt when I was younger.  I don't mean to say that I'm feeling younger, but rather I'm feeling like what it was to be young.  Too many times, I think, we become jaded as we get older.  We experience disappointment with the things in our lives.  Sometimes we experience great pain for our endeavors.  We expect rewards and praise, but instead get grief and criticism.  It's only natural to become a little hesitant about involvement in anything new or to restart an old pursuit.  The fear of pain and failure is hard to ignore.  Maybe this is why we need to do things for their own sake, to experience the feeling of accomplishment that only comes from constant practice of a thing.  To feel like a beginner and an advanced student at the same time.  Years and experience are to be treasured and honored, but so too, is the novice.

In the end, we all just travelers walking the same path.  Does it really make any difference in the long run who's ahead of the other?  Is anyone really ahead of the other?

Cyndi Cresswell Cook: Comedy Diva with the Funky Soul!

Cyndi Cresswell Cook:  Comedy Diva with the Funky Soul!

I think there's nothing better than a bright combination of pop music with a good dash of humor and if you're like me on this than look no further than the brightest star ever to arise from the quiet little town of Hanover, Mass.  I'm speaking of the immensely talented singer/songwriter and one-time stand up comic, Cyndi Cresswell Cook!

A one time stand-up comedienne, who used to perform under the name of Cyndi Stiles.  She's written jokes for the Judy Brown Joke Books and when she is not performing around the Massachusetts area, she is the owner and manager of an apartment complex located outside of Hanover.

Gifted with an expressive face and an even more expressive voice, Cyndi and her songs recalls the light humorous efforts of Cyndi Lauper and Julie Brown.  With a funky style and an ear for catchy tunes, Cyndi has something to offer anyone.

Her surreal Zombie Wonderland, happily reminds us that the X-Mas holiday is for everyone, even the Walking Dead!  I'm certain that even Daryl Dixon would agree that's something to smile about for the upcoming Zombie Apocalypse.

Cyndi brings real soul to her Would You Tune My Air Guitar?  Joined with a talented combo band of musicians with their invisible instruments, Cyndi tells a tale of longing and promise that clearly demonstrates a flair for the dramatic.

Meds has a great hippy, dippy beat that explores the possibilities of co-dependency and medication therapy.  Maybe mixing your meds has some advantages, huh?

Drivers Ed is my personal favorite Cyndi song.  Starting with a snappy rock-a-billy guitar lick, it soon proceeds to a driving sing-along about the hazards of being a drivers education teacher in a world of hapless, clueless students.  This song reminded me of the comic songsters from my teenage years, like Da Yoopers of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  A band most famous for their Rusty Chevrolet song, a tune often heard on old radio Dr. Demento show.

I highly recommend going to her website ( http://cyndicc.com/about.html ) and take a look at her inventive musical videos ( a Keep The Edge Studios production. ).  It's always great to see a great talent at their promising start and I'm sure you'll agree when you see Cyndi perform!

Red Martian

Here's another great band to give an ear to!

Red Martian.  BUGHLT, Valentine (UK) and Shoplifter (Americas)

There must be something special in that Seattle coffee that keeps producing great new musicians!  Red Martian, self-proclaimed "  neue shoegazer " band ( their words, not mine, kids... )  hailing from the City of Flowers, have just released their latest digital album titled Ghost in the Fog.

The term shoegazer refers to a sub genre of alternative Rock and Roll from England in the late 80s. The term "shoegazing" was coined by the British press as a verbal jab against the collection of bands who stood still during live performances in a detached, and somewhat lifeless presence, often with their heads down.  They were known for pedal effects ( which probably contributed to the " heads down " look, ) audio distortion and muted vocals and disjointed sound effects.  The band most known for this style of music are My Bloody Valentine, Curve, Slowdive, Heretoir, and Ride.

It's a shame that the English press didn't seem to take kindly to this branch of Rock because a lot of good music can be found there.  As readily attested to by the endeavors of Red Martian's new Ghost in the Fog album.

From its title song, Ghost in the Fog, we are treated to a hard driving, high tempo groove that still manages to convey an almost surreal, nightmare feel in their singing.

The 2nd song to their album, None has a slightly slower and deeper tone to it, but loses none of Red Martian's nervous energy.  I couldn't but bop my head up and down on this one.

Their 3rd song is my favorite!  The strangely titled, みなぞう is a wonderful fast paced, joyous tune.  It will make you want to grab the closest girl next to you and
dance like nobody else is around.

The song Igen, Ingenting shows the band's Seattle roots with it's soulful, ominous tones.  You can almost feel the Washington grass under your feet and the smell of its trees on this one.

All in one great album here and the perfect gift for even the stuffiest progressive music enthusiast!  Remember kids, it's never to early to get in your X-Mas shopping!
https://redmartian.bandcamp.com/album/ghost-into-the-fog-2