Voices to hear

Marina V

2012-02-18T20:36:00.002-06:00

Hope Wait: House of the Rising Sun

2012-02-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

Hope Wait Invterview

2012-02-17T05:00:00.000-06:00

This is a reprint of Hope's Simply Six from late last year.

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew
they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed
Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan
half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

That moment came at a very young age. Going to church with my mom and hearing those singing voices, that was just it for me. I'd been singing since I could speak, but to realize that people actually got on stage and sang in front of an audience, and that you could MOVE people with that, and at the same time it could make you, the singer, feel as though everything else in the world made sense. Gosh, that was such a revelation.

2 . When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of

your favorites?

I try to get my hands on as many new artists as possible. I love showing up to shows where someone is playing whom I've perhaps never heard of. A lot of the times I am so pleasantly surprised. Other than the secret gems around the city, I've been listening to Adele, The Be Good Tanya's, Steve Earle, & Lucinda Williams.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record

or live?

Wow, that's difficult. I think I'd have to say performing in front of Jeff Buckley's mother at a benefit to help raise money for instruments for school children in Los Angeles last Fall. We were asked to perform a song that honored the memory of Jeff, and one that inspired us when remembering him. I chose Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday. It was the scariest and most freeing moment I've ever experienced on stage.

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to?

How much can music influence current events?

Absolutely it can change the world, and it does. Bob Marley and John Lennon caused a revolution through song. Now its Taylor Swift and Dr Dre creating an influence through gorilla marketing tactics. Artists sell more merchandise now than actual music. I'm not saying one influence is good or bad, I'm just saying there is an influence through music.

5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected

your career as a musician?

Technology has shifted the paradigm. Major labels are sweating, and anyone in the world who wants to be in this business can be. There is no longer a wall holding back those who wanna make a record. In- home studios are the new standard, and so are independent labels, or no label at all. Napster changed everything. I'm still trying to figure out if I'd even have a budding career if we were still in the old way of doing things. Its a double edged sword. Without all that free music, maybe 50 - 60% of my fanbase wouldn't continue to follow me, or come to the shows, or tell their friends about me. A hard copy CD on a shelf just doesn't reach as many people without a million bucks standing behind it.

6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of

shoes would you be?

Ballet slippers. Soft pink with the silk ribbon ties that wrap around your ankles.

Hope Waits: Get Behind The Mule

2012-02-16T20:59:00.002-06:00

Presenting our Artist of the Month: Hope Waits performing Tom Waits' (as she makes clear in the video no relation) "Get Behind The Mule."

How Moldovan Zdob Si Zdub Rocks the Post-Soviet Globally Induced Mayhem on Basta Mafia!

2012-02-16T18:32:00.001-06:00

What city what country is this stage I am on? Asks Roman Iagupov on the track “Gypsy Life” from the new Zdob Si Zdub album titled Basta Mafia! (February 14th), along with the digital single 'Running' (November 15th) . And it’s no surprise being that Zdob Si Zdub are in the truest sense of the word an “international” band. Constantly on the move crossing borders from country to country on never ending tours. Along the way the band has picked up and mastered many musical flavours. Incorporating as they see fit to express the mood to any song.

Their musical competence is outwardly obvious. From their humble beginnings as a Moldovan folk influenced ska-punk band, they’ve easily layered a true world mix of highly innovative listenable music with electronica dance and alt rock muscle without loosing any of their core roots. The band has propelled not once but twice to the high ranks of the finals of the Eurovision song contest. This year achieving this feat with the song “So Lucky” from the new Asphalt Tango release “Basta Mafia!”. Their appearance caused a storm of devotion on the internet from every country participating. Even capturing several prominent pop figures including Adele, Plan B producer Paul Epworth who went as far as to tweet his love of the band saying “…I just thought it was brilliant and so far removed from the Western European entries …. I loved the beautiful eccentricity … ”. But the band didn’t just appear out of nowhere from one of Europe’s poorest countries to having a audience of 160 million people rocking out to So Lucky. This Basta Mafia track was born from years of touring. Not just crossing borders and influences but views as well. The record title alone “Basta Mafia!” deals out a statement in itself of where they come from (the former Soviet Union) to what has become now (another superpower of the underworld) to where they are heading (their own independent route ). So with a sense of irony and humor the title “Basta Mafia!” suggest a stop to the old ways. Not only the political but also the musical and mental ways. To make the break from old the band went to record in the ever transformative city of Berlin Germany. The city that in turn transformed the likes of David Bowie, Iggy Pop, U2, Peaches , Bonaparte and countless others. In Berlin’s cross cultural talent pool the boys worked with Marc Elsner as their new innovative producer... Although he has stated that his secret is to work with the best musicians he can find, Mr Elsners ability to bring a band to full potential soundscape is absolutely unprecedented. New York’s Andy Schuman who spearheaded the songwriting of the pop to Pink Floyed like grandiosity of Dark Horse, the Nirvana like grunge of Handfullaflowers to the hardcore of San Francisco punk legends Verbal Abuse was also brought in to help bring Roman’s vision of the songs to English. This multicultured combination of talents has led to Zdob Si Zbub’s most ambitious and accessible piece of work yet. The band truly speaks to the world with their broadest strokes across the musical canvas to date. The bands ability to capture fans with their high spirited live shows is doubly blessed by their proficiency to write songs that hook listeners the first time through. “Basta Mafia!” is a monster of a record that grows and swells upon multible listenings. Enjoy…

Spotlight: LadderSouL

2012-02-16T18:25:00.001-06:00


	Music Promotion via MusicSubmit.com


Webpage: http://itunes.apple.com/md/artist/laddersoul/id413208501
Location: North Hollywood, California, Unites States
Description: "LadderSouL is a mix of Alternative Rock and Experimental sounds,..LadderSouL uses various tunings to create a different and unique approach to 'Alternative Rock'. Alternative Rock music mixed with blues and atmospheric sounds."
Biography: Steve Webb is a solo Alternative Rock singer/guitarist,currently recording and performing under the name of "LadderSouL". All Songs were recorded in Hollywood, California. (studio production: All songs written,produced & performed by Steve Webb) Born in Lakenheath, England into a military "musical" family... His parents Don and Mamie, placed all the kids in classical music lessons. Along with his older siblings, he performed classical piano recitals at the Hilton Hotel,on Okinawa, Japan. After moving to Maryland, he grew an interest in Alternative music,rock and hip hop, and began learning to play guitar and various other instruments. While growing up in Stuttgart, Germany, he played in various bands and with local musicians.Mainly the Rock group "Blushok" with drummer Pat Tolbert and guitarist Mike Ellis. Returning to the US, he recorded solo under the name: "LadderSouL" and is currently in collaboration with the Alternative Rock/industrial group "Meek Made Mighty". Other collaborations include "Perks Place West" with owner Doug Perkinson,Producer/drummer Terry "Rankin" Watkin,and Producer/musician Michael James of the "Michael James Band" LadderSouL Discography consists of 4 albums total (The 5th LadderSouL album is currently in pre-production) LadderSouL "Running In Circles" Release Date:2003 cd release by LadderSouL Studio Length: 28:14 LadderSouL "Storing Treasure" Release Date:2005 cd release by LadderSouL StudioLength:32:06 LadderSouL "Dreams or Dramas" Release Date:2007 cd release by LadderSouL StudioLength:34:28 LadderSouLRelease Date:Jan. 2011 LadderSouL Length:33:19 LadderSouL is currently searching for new representation/management & record labels. Biography by Nira Deluna
Press Release: LadderSouL Track List 1 The Gamble 2:55 2 Good Things 3:19 3 Clouds 2:55 4 Finding the Words 3:15 5 Looking Over My Shoulder 3:07 6 Mystery 3:18 7 Treasure Hunt 2:30 8 Plan "B" 2:46 9 The Forgiving Day 3:18 10 Soon Enough 3:11 11. Round 2:32 12 Trusted Shelter 2:13 © LadderSouL 2011 12 tracks Special Features: UPC: 812517014469 Product Category: Alternative Rock. All Songs Written,Recorded,& Produced by Steve Webb of "LadderSouL" © LadderSouL(Steve Webb) 2011 CD Cover Art and Sleeve design by Shaun Ladymon of TMG.

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ADVERTISE HERE

2012-02-16T18:15:00.001-06:00

If you're a band or performer that would like to advertise on Voice to Hear please look at the following. Actually you don't have to be a band or performer, we'll take your ad too.

Banner Ads: Runs across the top of the posts. $100 a week

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Classifieds: Will run on the left double column: 3 rows (19 letters in a row) $5.00/week

All ads must be ready to be inserted into the site. Include links to your site.

Let the readers that love and read about music see what you've got to sell.

At the moment we have over 5,000 hits a month.

Send all inquiries to JohnH985@yahoo.com
Please put Ads@VoicestoHear in the subject line

Coming Up on Music on the Couch

2012-02-16T16:46:00.000-06:00

Monday, February 20, 2012
10pm Eastern; 9pm Central; 8pm Mountain; 7pm Pacific

We will take your calls and questions for both guests at 1.347.633.9400

The live interactive chat room opens 20 minutes before show time. Follow this link HERE and scroll down to see chat.

Come hang with the fans and musicians who visit each week.

Come Sit On The Couch With
Musicians You Should Know

THIS WEEK:

Will Johns & Shelley Lynne Hardinge

Sit On The Couch

Will Johns

Will Johns has been playing his riffs across the globe for more than 15 years with a blend of fiery vocals and guitar wizardry.

Will is son of actress/model Paula Boyd, and L.A. Record Producer/Engineer Andy Johns (The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, and Eric Clapton) and was mentored by his aunt Pattie's husband, Eric Clapton.

Will has a new band and a new album,Count On Me. We will discuss his career and the new music and band while listening to songs from the album.

Shelley Lynne Hardinge

Shelley Lynne Hardinge hails from Manitoba, Canada. Born in Edmonton, Shelley knew her career path by the time she was 6 years old.

She released Reclaim You Land last year and it is generating buzz throughout Canada and now the US.

The Hip-Shakin' Mama is primed to make her mark in the blues world and we will discuss this with Shelley and listen to songs from her album.

Our New Kickstarter Project: Bonnie and the Clydes

2012-02-16T16:44:00.001-06:00

I want to thank everyone that helped push Megan Blue over the top on our last Kickstarter project. I don't know how much we helped tilt the odds in her favor, but I'm sure all of you out there made an impact. We now move on to a new project.

The name of the band is Bonnie and the Clydes. From their bio page on their site:

Dust off your dancing shoes, real country music has returned. Bonnie & the Clydes bring a brand of swingin' music that makes it nearly impossible to sit still. In a world overrun by alt and pop country, they conjure up the sounds of the genre's legends. Led by Bonnie Sims, Bonnie & the Clydes feature soulful vocals, dynamic fiddle and guitar solos, and a solid country swing groove.
Bonnie Sims sings the only way she knows how, full throttle and without regret. The combination creates a wild freedom that few performers possess. Bonnie started performing at a young age and has loved being on stage since then. At twelve, Bonnie picked up the guitar and began performing with her father, Mike Cruciger, all over Texas.
She’s played venues such as Silver Dollar City (Branson, MO), Six Flags Over Texas, and was included on the Texas Commission on The Arts Touring Artists Rooster for the 2005-2007 season. Most recently Bonnie performed with KC Groves & the Blue Maddies at Rockygrass (2009), Fox Theatre, Boulder Theatre, Wildflower Pavillion and other local venues.
Bonnie’s powerful singing and fiery personality are the driving force behind Bonnie & the Clydes. The authenticity of her voice lends itself to old time favorites, but her youthful take on them make the songs anything but dated. She breathes new life into old tunes and is so genuine, you can't help but believe her.
Bonnie is now joined onstage by her husband, Taylor Sims of SPRING CREEK, on electric guitar, Nancy Steinberger on the fiddle, Michael Schenkelberg on the upright bass, Chris Ramey on pedal steel, and Jason Pawlina back on the drumkit. All of the Clydes are accomplished individual musicians, and joined together they are a seamless unit of rockin' country sound. This group is on schedule to record in the new year, with a projected release date of June 2012 for the sophmore installment of Bonnie & the Clydes. Come see a show soon with this amazing new lineup!

To give you some listening pleasure:

And finally here is where to contribute to their kickstarter campaign. You can also find it on the sidebar for the next 40 something days.

Catching Up

2012-02-16T16:33:00.000-06:00

As I'm sure it's no surprise that even tough we try to give the impression here at Voices to Hear that we might be a bigger concern than we are the truth is that this is the labor of a one man band. I realize that over the last month or two I've been remiss in keeping up the posts, but between surgeries and a lot more work than I expected at the job that actually pays me I've fallen quite short of my goal. I still have plans for a Best of 2011, hopefully before I need to do one for 2012. I know the Artist of the Month has been there for more than a month, I plan to change that shortly and the next Artist will just be here for a month and half or so. And there are other articles that I want to get to and plan to. Basically I wanted to apologize to any readers out there that look for, if not daily posting, a lot more than once every week or two and aim to do better. And if you like the site share it with a friend. To really help matters, and I hate to get material about it, feel free to click on the donation button. If you really like some of the music, order it from the amazon link I try to leave for as much music as I can. Everytime you buy something from clicking on such a link you help me out a little.

Okay, apologizing and groveling are over. Let's get back to the music.

And please feel free to leave comments. If it wasn't for the stat meter I would feel like I'm operating in a vacuum here. I'd like to hear what you think.

Video Wednesday Extra

2012-02-15T21:33:00.002-06:00

Because we've been remiss the last month or so and missed some of your Wednesday Video treats and because after watching the last one we wanted to present Irene Sage.

Video Wednesday

2012-02-15T21:30:00.001-06:00

An old favorite Brian Stoltz with Irene Sage singing "Norma's House".

Spotlight: Kenny Texeira

2012-02-14T02:46:00.001-06:00


	Music Promotion via MusicSubmit.com


Webpage: http://www.kennytex.com
Location: Hollywood, CA, United States
Description: Kenny’s sound is about power. If you like it loud, tasty & melodic, Tex is the artist for you. His amazing guitar work, along with the sing along power choruses, makes Kenny’s material very chart friendly. Kenny & his band does not disappoint live!
Biography: Kenny Texeira (pronounced: Tex-era) hails from Western Massachusetts. After relocating to Hollywood in early 1991, Kenny found himself writing and performing theme songs for motion pictures. His prowess guitar work can also be heard on countless CD’s, TV commercials, and TV shows worldwide, as he has been recording in various studios from coast to coast for over 25 years. Tex has performed over 500 live shows in his career, and has released 2 CD’s as a solo artist; 1997’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll or Bust” and 1999’s “Turn it Up!” (with former David Lee Roth drummer Gregg Bissonette). In the summer of 2007, he Executive Produced his first DVD “Rock Asylum”, and followed that up with 2008’s “Rated R”. In December of 2009, he released his 3rd DVD “No Fear”. And now in January of 2012, Tex releases his 4th DVD entitled “Maximum Overdrive”. It contains the 2 brand new music videos “I’m Coming For You” and “You’ll Be Mine”.
Press Release: Kenny’s 4th DVD “Maximum Overdrive” contains 2 brand new music videos, a ‘behind the scenes’ look at making the videos, and a bonus section that contains more than 50 still photos from the film sets! The videos were Directed by Douglas Elford-Argent (Storage Wars, The Brazen Bull), and the audio was mastered by Grammy award winner Evren Goknar (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Poison, Megadeath). Kenny & his band play dual roles in the hilarious music video “I’m Coming For You”, co-starring actresses Amanda Majkrzak & Lira Kellerman. Tex also shines in the beautiful acoustic “You’ll Be Mine” video, that was filmed on a quintessential Southern California beach at sunset. These 2 brand new music videos are Kenny’s best to date!

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Del Castillo, Infinitas Rapsodias (Smilin' Castle Records)

2012-02-14T02:41:00.000-06:00

Del Castillo, which combines elements of Rock, Latin, Blues, Flamenco and World music in their amazing palette of sound, announces aMarch 13 release date for their new album, Infinitas Rapsodias, a special 2-disc set that also includes a 5-track bonus DVD, all shot in HD. Infinitas Rapsodias will be distributed in North America by Sony/RED and in Europe by their label and distribution partners, The Music Agents GbR (Blue Label) / Soul Food. The band will kick-off the new release with an extensive world-wide tour, beginning with a European series of shows starting on March 3 in Zurich , and ending in Berlin on March 25.

Infinitas Rapsodias showcases five brand new Del Castillo songs, as well as newly-created versions of several tunes from previous CDs that have become fan concert favorites and have taken on a whole new life of their own with different arrangements and instrumentation. These include “Brotherhood,” “Vida,” “Porque” and “Perdoname.” Demonstrating their global appeal, the band has even included a new take on their popular song, “Maria,” only this time with a vocal in Italian.

The audio CD features the band with such favorite Austin artists as guitarist Monte Montgomery, singers Malford Milligan and Leann Atherton, and violinists/gypsy fiddlers Erik Hokkanen and Phoebe Hunt. It also includes a song featuring producer and pianist Carl Thiel, and closes with the powerful duet, “Amor Venme a Buscar,” performed by acclaimed German opera diva, Anna Maria Kaufmann, and Del Castillo lead singer, Alex Ruiz. Infinitas Rapsodias was recorded at Smilin’ Castle Studio in Kyle , Texas , and produced primarily by Rick and Mark del Castillo.

The high-definition DVD includes a behind-the-scenes, up-close-and-personal look at the making of the entire project. It also features a video for the new song, “Canta de Alma,” which was shot by the band while on tour in Europe in 2011 and directed/edited by Mark del Castillo. Other DVD tracks include three studio jam session performance videos of Del Castillo favorite cover songs: the Doobie Brothers classic, “Listen to the Music;” the Louis Armstrong chestnut, “What a Wonderful World” and a slamming guitar-driven rendition of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” with special guest guitarist Monte Montgomery.

Austin-based Del Castillo began as a CD project for family in 2000 by award-winning guitarist brothers Rick and Mark del Castillo. They’re joined by exciting and charismatic lead singer Alex Ruiz, plus Albert Besteiro on bass, Mike Zeoli on drums and Jason Murdy on percussion, who make up the band’s dynamic rhythm section. The music these six individuals create has a passion and energy that transcends any language barriers, which has resulted in Del Castillo becoming international touring stars.

Rolling Stone called Del Castillo “tumbling brilliance on nylon-string classical guitars” with “eruptions of technique and taste (that) conjure images of Eddie Van Halen fronting early Santana (with an assist from the Gipsy Kings).”

Del Castillo has become a symbol of the cross-cultural power of music, with their eclectic blend of Flamenco, Rock, Latin, Blues and World music having made the band into a world-wide favorite of fans all over the globe. Between the release of their first CD, Brothers of the Castle in 2001, and their 2009 self-titled release, Del Castillo, the band received an astonishing 23 awards, including SXSW/Austin Music “Album of the Year” Awards for Vida (2002) and Brotherhood(2006); “Band of the Year” (2003); ASCAP’s “Best Independent Group of the Year” (2005)"; and Austin Music Pundits “Best Live Act “(2004).

For the past two years, Del Castillo has toured extensively in the US and Europe, both as a headliner and in support of such diverse artists as Styx, Los Lonely Boys, B.B. King, Don Henley, Buddy Guy, Los Lobos, Bela Fleck and Willie Nelson. They’ve performed at three of Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnics and Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival. Other US and international venues they’ve played include the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Scotland; California WorldFest; Austin City Limits Festival; Strawberry Music Festival; Tropical Heatwave Festival; Vancouver Folk Festival; Wendelstein Festival; Jazzfest Gronau and Bergen Fest (Norway). They’ve also performed on BBC Radio in London and Scotland .

Acclaimed film director Robert Rodriguez became a big fan of the band after attending one of their shows in 2002 and has featured their music in such films of his as Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Sin City,Grindhouse and Spy Kids 3-D , even enlisting the group to perform with him at the premieres. Rodriguez was so impressed with Del Castillo that he wanted to record with them, so together, they formed CHINGON and recorded an amazing electric rendition of the Mexican classic song, “Malaguena Salerosa.” Director Quentin Tarantino loved it so much that he re-did the ending sequence of his Kill Bill Vol. II film to fit the song into his movie.

In 2008, the band’s two guitar virtuosos, Rick and Mark del Castillo, were selected by Gibson Global as two of only six guitarists in the world to launch Gibson’s new Les Paul guitar line, “Dark Fire.”

Del Castillo recently performed a beautiful, unique song with Carlos Santana, Willie Nelson and Los Lonely Boys on a CD benefitting The Hermes Music Foundation. The song, “Claro Que Suede” (“Yes We Can”) is featured on their website, www.delcastillomusic.com

Simply Six: Norine Braun

2012-02-13T00:42:00.001-06:00

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

For me as a girl I Ioved collecting all my parents records and spreading them on the floor and listening to them one by one. I was very little around 8 or 9 and I used to dream about how wonderful it would be to make my own record with my own songs when I grew up and I did! :)

2 . When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?

I love listening to all kinds of music. Lately this week I have been listening to more mainstream music with Amy Winehouse last cd after her sad passing, Adele, City and Colour and

the upbeat song The Look by Metronomy is a fave at the moment too.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

Every recording captures moments that I do my best to express my emotion or art as fluid as I can. My latest cd No. 8 I am proud of the full force and emotional release in the song Only One and I love the dreamy qualities of Drift Away and Midnight and really captures that haunting feeling of the message. My most favorite live moment was playing in Japan where my music and heart had to impact the audience and not the words as I was singing in English. I really understand how music transcends there.

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to?

How much can music influence current events?

Music can change the world and unites us. Music has no boundaries and brings people together. Music is part of our lives and marks our important life events, weddings, funerals, graduations, parties, all have music central to creating the feeling and expression.

5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

Yes I am so blessed to be a musician in this time period. Technology like garageband makes it so user friendly to create ideas and record with full control of soundscapes and instruments quickly and easily. In addition the internet lets me connect with people from around the world anytime of day to share my music . People buy music from me everywhere in the world with out me ever leaving my home and touring.

6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

Black hiking shoe boots that are very comfortable and stylish and built for rugged terrain, adventure and endurance. This shoe can travel anywhere, looks great, can last forever and never goes out of style. :)

French Quarter Fest Coming

2012-02-13T00:33:00.002-06:00

What's new at the 2012 French Quarter Festival

29th anniversary celebration to deliver
new kinds of fun for festivalgoers

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA (February 9, 2012) - Tourism officials call French Quarter Festival 'the kickoff to festival season in New Orleans,' and what started as a neighborhood festival and a 'locals event' has grown into one of the largest music festivals in the United States. The 2011 French Quarter Festival hosted over 500,000 local and out-of-town visitors and had an economic impact of over $245 million. 'Locals' Lagniappe Day' was launched in 2011 and French Quarter Festival officially became a four-day event. In 2012, there is even more festival to enjoy, with extended hours on opening day, Thursday, April 12. And, next year brings the 30th anniversary of this exciting and beloved festival

Remaining dedicated to New Orleans Music and our Musicians

On twenty (of its twenty-one) music stages, only Louisiana artists are featured (the festival hosts one 'International Stage' where traditional jazz bands from all over the world perform.) Part of the great appeal of French Quarter Festival is that attendees get a true and authentic New Orleans experience - locals and visitors can hear a broad range of artists and a diverse variety of musical styles and genres. French Quarter Festival is committed to keeping Traditional Jazz alive, and features New Orleans' finest artists throughout the four days of festival, on stages all over the French Quarter. A new music stage has been added in 2012, bringing the total to twenty-one. A Cabaret Stage debuts at this year's festival and will have its home at the beautifully renovated Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone.The Hotel Monteleone is a sponsor of the festival and its 'official hotel'.

French Quarter Festivals, Inc. recently launched the Musician Sponsorship Program, in which the community was invited to 'adopt an artist' at French Quarter Festival. The response has been incredible and corporations, foundations and individuals from all over the United States - from Minneapolis to Maryland - have joined the program and are helping to keep French Quarter Festival FREE for the community, as it remains one of the largest music festivals in the United States. The 2012 French Quarter Festival will feature over 800 local artists. The musician program will continue to seek sponsorships.

Coming Up On Music on the Couch

2012-02-13T00:32:00.000-06:00

Monday, February 13, 2012
10pm Eastern; 9pm Central; 8pm Mountain; 7pm Pacific

We will take your calls and questions for both guests at 1.347.633.9400

The live interactive chat room opens 20 minutes before show time. Follow this link HERE and click on the Chat Now icon.

Come hang with the fans and musicians who visit each week.

Come Sit On The Couch With
Musicians You Should Know

THIS WEEK:

Omar Kent Dykes & John "JP" Pagano

Sit On The Couch

Omar Kent Dykes

Omar Kent Dykes hails from McComb, Miss. , a town with the distinction of being home turf for Bo Didley. Omar started playing guitar at seven, took to hanging out in edge-of-town juke joints at 12 and joined his first band at 13.

He and his band Omar & The Howlers have been spreading their musical word since.

After 50 years, 2011 finds Omar tighter, funkier than ever and slated with a great new release in 2012. But Omar always loves to play live. The album is "The Essential Collection" and it drops the day after we speak with Omar about his incredible musical journey and hear cuts from this new collection.

John "JP" Pagano

Then John Pagano joins us. You may know him as JP Blues.

JP started playing guitar at the age of 8 and by age 10 it was clear that something special was happening here. This "Something Special" was recognized by legendary bluesman Sam "Bluzman" Taylor. Sam took JP under his wing and began to what Sam use to call "SAMerizing" him.

The JP Blues Band has a new album, "I Will Not Go Quietly" and it has spent 20 weeks on the RMR National Blues Charts.

JP will sit and discuss his career and we will hear some music from the album.

Spotlight: Kristen Faulconer

2012-02-13T00:29:00.001-06:00


	Music Promotion via MusicSubmit.com


Webpage: http://www.kristenfaulconer.net
Location: Winnetka, California, U.S.A.
Description: I am a solo recording artist that performs and writes Rock/Alternative that is viable for the Billboard Top 100 but unique enough to be classified its own genre.
Biography: Hello my name is Kristen and I am a singer songwriter from Colorado. My music is about empowering and uplifting people. I am an abuse survivor, and I wrote many of my songs about the abuse I endured and also my struggles with being adopted. Now that I am rehabilitated my mission is to use my music to inspire and help people in the same situation and all people through their struggles in life. My focus is to write music that has a message. I am a survivor and throughout the toughest times in my life all I had was my music, it spoke to me. Now I am creating music to do the same, it is an outlet for expression. I write with passion, from experience and from my heart. My hope is to reach out to my listeners and inspire them to make healthy decisions in their life and to choose to be in healthy relationships. My music is an emotional release of how I feel and I can be brutally honest. Too often we are unable to speak our truth and so I try to create an outlet that we can all relate to, my hope is to unite my listeners by creating something that is universal. My Debut Album is, "Phoenix", come check it out, Thank You : ) XoXo Kristen
Press Release: KRISTEN FAULCONER'S OFFICIAL BLOG: Visit Kristen Faulconer's Official Blog where you can locate all of Kristen's Current News and Press. Below are several of Kristen's Current Press Releases: http://kristenfaulconer.blogspot.com/ KRISTEN FAULCONER'S NEW SONG, "SLOW DOWN" FEAT. RAYMOND HERRERA, ON THQ'S VIDEO GAME ALIVE: MX VS. ATV 2011: Kristen Faulconer's Song, "Slow Down" Feat. Raymond Herrera (from Fear Factory) is on Xbox and THQ's International Video Game Alive: MX vs. ATV 2011: http://www.mxvsatv.com/ KRISTEN FAULCONER NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD FOR HER SONG, "SLOW DOWN" FEAT. RAYMOND HERRERA AT THE HOLLYWOOD MUSIC AND MEDIA AWARDS 2011: Kristen Faulconer was Nominated for an Award at The Hollywood Music and Media Awards 2011. She was Nominated for her song, "Slow Down" Feat. Raymond Herrera (from Fear Factory) on Xbox and THQ's New Video Game Alive: MX vs. ATV 2011, in the Original Song-Video Game category for writing and performing the song. http://www.hmmawards.org/ KRISTEN FAULCONER NOMINATED FOR "BEST ROCK ARTIST" AND "BEST POP ARTIST" AT THE 2012 ALL INDIE MUSIC AWARDS THIS FEBRUARY 2012 Kristen Faulconer has been Nominated for "Best Rock Artist" and "Best Pop Artist" at The 2012 All Indie Music Awards, that will take place this February 10th, 2012 at The Notorious Key Club in Hollywood California. http://www.aimusicawards.com/ KRISTEN FAULCONER'S 2012, "DOLLHOUSE", RELEASE WITH LABEL: DAVID DANCE, ITALY: Kristen Faulconer is Now working with Label: David Dance Italy, for the Worldwide, (February 2012), Release of her song, "Dollhouse" and the "Dollhouse" Re-Mixes, including a Re-Mix with the Notorious "D S K O T E K" DJ's. She is also included on various Compilations CD's with the Label. http://www.daviddance.net/ KRISTEN FAULCONER'S DEBUT SINGLE "PHOENIX" FEAT. CHET MCCRACKEN (FROM THE DOOBIE BROTHERS): Kristen Faulconer currently released her Debut Single, "Phoenix" which is featuring Drummer Chet McCracken from The Doobie Brothers. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/phoenix-feat.-chet-mccracken/id491667486 KRISTEN FAULCONER'S NEW SONG, "HISTORY" FEAT. JASON SUTTER (FROM CHRIS CORNELL) DUE TO RELEASE THIS WINTER 2011: Kristen Faulconer's New Song,"History", is Featuring Jason Sutter from Chris Cornell and is set to release this Winter 2011/2012. KRISTEN FAULCONER'S PRESS/MAGAZINES FEATURES/INTERVIEWS/NEWS/ECT... Visit Kristen Faulconer's Official Blog, Below, for all of her Current News/Press/Interviews/Features/Ect... http://kristenfaulconer.blogspot.com/

CAIRO UNDERGROUND

2012-02-13T00:26:00.001-06:00

One year ago, on Feb. 11th 2011, the world was transfixed, watching live on TV as Egyptians in Tahrir Square celebrated in ecstasy the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. Egypt's revolution has brought much to light, including a lot of music that's been percolating in hidden corners there, largely ignored by nearly all broadcast and print media. It turns out a musical revolution has been going on in Egypt well before the political uprisings of 2011.

CAIRO UNDERGROUND

On this program, guided by historian and musician Mark LeVine, we hear music that either was or still is "underground." We meet Cairo rock musicians from the band Wust Al Balad, and also from widely stigmatized heavy metal musicians who appeal to a small, passionate, and surprisingly wholesome audience. We also hear experimental music by composers out to break the orthodoxy of the Egyptian past, and sample new forms of sha'bi pop and Sufi music, bubbling up from poor urban neighborhoods where street weddings may offer a glimpse of Egyptian pop music to come. It’s all on “Cairo Underground”. The lead producer is Afropop’s Banning Eyre.

You can also download a podcast about the surprising and adventurous electronic music scene in Cairo. As well as read interviews, see photos and videos and more

“Cairo Soundscape”
Hip Deep's Egypt program series kicks off with a sonic tour of Cairo from the chatter of car horns on jam-packed streets to the lulling waters of the Nile. We start with a focus on the city's spiritual life, the persistent call to prayer broadcast from mosques city wide, koranic recitation, Coptic hymns sung in ancient churches, and a Zar healing ritual in a working class Cairo neighborhood. This program introduces the themes and central characters for this unique Afropop program series, which takes the pulse of an ancient civilization in the midst of upheaval and historic change. and

“Cairo—Hollywood of the Middle East”
By the mid 20th century, Cairo had become the unrivaled center for music and film production in the Middle East. Producers, writers, composers, actors, musicians, star singers, and creators of every stripe flocked here to take part in the city's fervent, international, progressive artistic milieu. This was the heyday of the diva Umm Kulthum, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, and the beloved singer and composer Abdel Halim Hafez. But events of the 50s and 60s signaled an inward turn for Egypt and Cairo. The 70s saw the rise of a rougher, more street-wise music--sha'bi--and films began to lose their edge. And the 80s saw the emergence of a slick new pop sound that has resonated in the Middle East ever since. We hear from artists, producers, and scholars in this unique Hip Deep edition.

ABOUT AFROPOP WORLDWIDE

For 23 years, Afropop Worldwide, hosted by broadcast personality Georges Collinet from Cameroon, has stood at the cutting edge. From its first broadcast in 1988, the public radio series coined a new term, Afropop, and fostered a new understanding of the African continent and its cultural diaspora. Afropop broadcasts gave Americans their first exposure to now-legendary artists: Youssou N’Dour, Salif Keita, Hakim, Khaled, Chico Science, Cesaria Evora, and others. Afropop’s website, www.afropop.org, launched in 1997, was one of the first websites on African music, and one of the first for any public radio program. The site has kept pace with technology and now offers original audio, video, a rich blog, and the most extensive archive on African music to be found on the web.

Since 2002, with support from the National Endowment of the Humanities, Afropop Worldwide has produced a set of programs that blend music with history and other disciplines. The series is called Hip Deep, and its 70+ programs and web resources are permanently available at www.afropop.org/hipdeep.

Additional support for Hip Deep Egypt comes from over 100 PRI member stations across the U.S. and the New York Council for the Humanities. Over the years, Afropop has taken radio listeners and web fans to some of the world’s most exciting cultural destinations: Ghana, Cameroon, both Congos, Guinea, Gambia, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Angola, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria, Brazil, Cuba, Martinique, Trinidad, Jamaica, Belize, Honduras, Ecuador, Colombia, Portugal, France, Spain, and more.

Video Wednesday

2012-02-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

Jennifer Westwood.

Spotlight: Sexy Heroes

2012-01-30T20:25:00.002-06:00


	Music Promotion via MusicSubmit.com


Webpage: http://www.heroesrock.com
Location: Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, USA
Description: Describing their music a "HaPunk", or, Happy Punk....Sexy Heroes combine Punk, Pop, Ska, Rock and Funk!
Biography: SEXY HEROES Genre: Punk, Pop, Grunge, Rock, Funk Members: Chris Watts – Vocals, Bass Mike Watts – Guitar, Vocals Nick Everett – Guitar, Vocals Dan “Special” K. – Drums Hometown: Upper Saddle River, NJ Record Label: Pop Detective Records Release name: interroBang Websites: www.Popdetective.com , www.heroesrock.com The music business changes dramatically almost overnight! The focus should always be on innovation and originality! Sexy Heroes is a group that has created their own unique style blending elements of melodic punk with funk, rock, and ska. Over the last few years, the three core members (Watts, Watts and Everett) have written and recorded two full length albums and two EP’s, all self released, which have been in heavy rotation on Seton Hall’s WSOU Radio Station (voted the nation’s #1 college station!) Sexy Heroes are winners of most every band competition they have entered, including two time winners of New Jersey’s “Battle of the Bands”, and “The Break Contest” for a spot on the main stage at the Bamboozle Festival! Their live set is energetic and engaging and combined with a polished stage presence, has set them apart from the norm leading to sharing the stage with such national touring acts as The Bloodhound gang, New Found Glory, Fall Out Boy, Bayside, The Aquabats, Bowling For Soup, Streetlight Manifesto, Catch 22, and Big D and The Kids Table. With Influence ranging from NOFX to Queen, Show tunes to Punk, Sexy Heroes appeal reaches all generations! A band that truly needs to be heard as well as seen….Sexy Heroes are proud to present their first full length label release on Pop Detective Records (home of Vibeke Saugestad, The Yum Yums, The Dahlmanns, The Deadbeat Poets, and The Terrifieds). The album, titled “interroBang” has a street date of November 6, 2011 and features remixed and remastered tracks compiled from their self released albums and EP’s, plus three new tracks written for this release! Available from CDBaby, Itunes, Kool Kat and through Pop Detective Records at www.Popdetective.com For more information on Sexy Heroes and their new album “interroBang” please contact: Mark W. Hershberger Pop Detective Records 156 Princeton Road Audubon, NJ 08106 USA (609)230-7855 president@popdetective.com www.popdetective.com For booking information, please contact: Nick Everett nicksexyheroes@gmail.com Mike Watts mikesexyheroes@gmail.com
Press Release: The music business changes dramatically almost overnight! The focus should always be on innovation and originality! Sexy Heroes is a group that has created their own unique style blending elements of melodic punk with funk, rock, and ska. Over the last few years, the three core members (Watts, Watts and Everett) have written and recorded two full length albums and two EP’s, all self released, which have been in heavy rotation on Seton Hall’s WSOU Radio Station (voted the nation’s #1 college station!) Sexy Heroes are winners of most every band competition they have entered, including two time winners of New Jersey’s “Battle of the Bands”, and “The Break Contest” for a spot on the main stage at the Bamboozle Festival! Their live set is energetic and engaging and combined with a polished stage presence, has set them apart from the norm leading to sharing the stage with such national touring acts as The Bloodhound gang, New Found Glory, Fall Out Boy, Bayside, The Aquabats, Bowling For Soup, Streetlight Manifesto, Catch 22, and Big D and The Kids Table. With Influence ranging from NOFX to Queen, Show tunes to Punk, Sexy Heroes appeal reaches all generations! A band that truly needs to be heard as well as seen….Sexy Heroes are proud to present their first full length label release on Pop Detective Records (home of Vibeke Saugestad, The Yum Yums, The Dahlmanns, The Deadbeat Poets, and The Terrifieds). The album, titled “interroBang” has a street date of November 6, 2011 and features remixed and remastered tracks compiled from their self released albums and EP’s, plus three new tracks written for this release! Available from CDBaby, Itunes, Kool Kat and through Pop Detective Records at www.Popdetective.com For more information on Sexy Heroes and their new album “interroBang” please contact: Mark W. Hershberger Pop Detective Records 156 Princeton Road Audubon, NJ 08106 USA (609)230-7855 president@popdetective.com www.popdetective.com For booking information, please contact: Nick Everett nicksexyheroes@gmail.com Mike Watts mikesexyheroes@gmail.com

The Great Wild North: Sagapool Brings Tales of Raucous Romps and Wintry Meditations to Life on New Album and on North American Tour, March-April 2012

2012-01-30T20:21:00.001-06:00

As the accordionist and clarinetist jammed together to The Godfather theme in the halls of the conservatory, they knew exactly what they had to do: Start a klezmer band.

But what happened was a completely different story. Joined by a whole family of other instruments, Sagapool went from Balkan and Gypsy-inflected impromptu shows on the summer streets of Old Montreal to crafting acoustic original instrumentals as a six-piece band—one so in synch that it’s no surprise when the guitarist jumps up to join the bassist for a thumping four-handed riff. It’s a gang of good friends and relatives sharing long, winding stories (the sagas in Sagapool)—but with stunning chops.

Now the inventive ensemble turns inward, adding a Northern note to their wild and swirling romps on Sagapool (Canada release: March 6, 2012; U.S.release: March 20, 2012), a gentle reflection on everything from Quebec’s remote and windswept reaches to quiet winter mornings. Nonetheless, Sagapool can’t help but add an ample dose of the group’s characteristic, sustaining quirky humor, chronicling bittersweet grooves for synth-addicted cousins and last-minute leaps on stage.

“Early on, we were bringing heat to the cold winter, but now we’re assuming our northerness,” exclaims clarinetist and co-founder Guillaume Bourque. “I think the result is really well balanced. We’re known for our energetic pieces, when people switch instruments—we all can play all the instruments involved. And we keep that energy, even if our music feels more introspective.”

This mix of good-natured shenanigans, striking musical skill, and Northern thoughtfulness has won Sagapool a Canadian Folk Music Award (Best Instrumental Album, 2008) and gained them showcases at major music events like WOMEX (2010). Their dynamic, freewheeling show will reach theU.S. and Canada, as the group tours in March and April 2012. The band’s journey will take them from North Carolina to Northern New England, with a stop in New York (Living Room, March 29), and to the Maritimes.

{full story below}

If Sagapool’s music has a wry bent, it’s because the band is always making a friendly bit of mischief.

The group has been known to make a double bass explode, or to shock an audience—and a baffled stage manager—by leaping on stage just in the nick of time (a humorous, if unusual event, that musically transformed into “le Fil boréal”). They can make it sound like the Hot Club has been occupied by jubilant beatboxers (“Mon cousin joue du synthé”) or that a new music ensemble has been airlifted tenderly into a far-off village wedding party (“De cordes et de bois”).

Sagapool has grown up together, and gotten serious. And seriously melodic: thought rocking many a rollicking tune, it’s melodies—not grooves or beats alone—that truly guide the band. They spring sometimes from a single note, inspired as much by film scores and classical gems as Gypsy and Eastern European roots music.

“We want people to get up and dance, but we also want them to think,” Bourque explains. To do this, Sagapool draws on its many family ties. “The name ‘Sagapool’ doesn’t really mean anything. It doesn’t refer to a style. But in French, it sounds like a family story, an old story passed down,” smiles Bourque.

The story is rich with characters and intriguing settings. With members from Hungary (percussionist Marton Madersparch) and Italy (second-generation accordion whiz and co-founder Luzio Altobelli), with links to Quebec’s remote, stunning Magdalen Islands (“Le vent des Îles”) and to the culturally vibrant northern reaches of the St. Lawrence River, the band knows exactly how to capture the spare outlines and rich textures of hyperborean places and people. The pieces evolved into little stories of their own, telling tales from the cosmopolitan hub of Montreal and from the outer edges of northeastern Canada, with its still expanses punctuated with leaping, bubbling energy.

The original fascination with the intersection of movie music and European roots, with the flash of Balkan exuberance and the stately skip of klezmer lines, may no longer be the sole animating force behind the band’s music—though it’s still a major element in its high-intensity, spirited live shows. But the cinematic, and it’s the suggestion of narrative, continues to inspire Sagapool.

“I think a lot of the power of our music comes from the melodies,” says bassist and pianist Alexis Dumais. Melodies that unfold with quiet intensity in solo piano pieces and charming ensemble moments that use the contrasting colors of strings and reeds to emotional effect (“45.56°N 73.58°O -90°N”). “We jammed more for this album,” Dumais continues. “We took the material and melodies different members of the band brought in and just played. As we did that, the songs came to life.”

Last Day!

2012-01-29T08:00:00.000-06:00

Okay, this is the last day. They have to have the money by tomorrow or they don't get any of it. Let's make sure they reach their goal.

2 Days to GO!

2012-01-28T20:26:00.000-06:00

Counting Down!

Beautiful Struggle: American-Ivorian Trans-Atlantic Band Zieti Turns War, Separation, and MIDI Madness into Perfect Afropop on Zemelewa

2012-01-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Far across the lagoon, people swayed as the music from battery-powered amps and sardine-powered jams drifted over the water.

They were dancing to the beach rehearsal of Zieti, two Americans (guitarist Michael Shereikis and drummer Alex Owre) and two Ivorians (lead singer Yeoue Narcisse and guitarist/vocalist Tiende Laurent) who had unexpectedly become fast friends. By the water near Abidjan’s oceanfront shantytowns or in a tiny rehearsal studio built from shipping crates, the quartet developed an exuberant rapport in skillful, insistent songs.

Now a decade removed from Abidjan's mellow beaches, after years of political turmoil and violence, and despite the players' radically different backgrounds, Zieti has done the impossible: make roots-rich music that sounds utterly fresh and organic. Undulating bass lines, bright vocal harmonies, glittering percussion, wailing organ and accordion, and a vintage vibe winking at the best of 70s Afrofunk, they all come together onZemelewa (Grigri Discs; March 6, 2012) for a refreshing and passionate take on Ivorian tradition and the current state of Afropop.

But it almost never happened: “Before I left the country, we had gone into the studio and recorded ten tracks,” Shereikis recalls. “That recording was lost, which was a major blow to all of us. It sounded great though, and a lot of the songs on Zemelewa come from that time.”

Those songs were honed over two halcyon years of playing together. Composers Yeoue and Tiende had been friends for years, playing music together since they were kids in their home area in far Western Ivory Coast. It was King Shabba, a heavyweight on the Rasta-dominated local scene, who first connected them with drummer Owre. Owre soon brought along Shereikis.

“It was instant friendship,” Yeoue remembers, “because Alex and Mike would come out and visit us, even though we lived in a part of town people thought was rough, and we’d go visit them. We saw each other all the time. We’d share simple meals—manioc and oil, sardines and bread—and we’d all eat from the same bowl.”

“From the very beginning we sat down and just played,” Owre reflects. “Not, ‘You play this, you play that.’ The guys accepted my style and they liked what I brought to the mix. They were happy to have some approaches that were different from what they got on their home turf. The faith and trust in each other superseded any need to be orthodox.”

Songs came together effortlessly: the group penned “Bah Bohi” five minutes after their first meeting with Shereikis. The friends practiced on the beach—a fact that’s almost palpable on elegant, aching tracks like “Tche.” They drew on Yeoue and Tiende’s Guere traditions for the lovely melodies and unique rhythms of their deep-rooted musical heritage, especially on songs like “Tindehe” and “Zion Do.”

Wide-ranging musically, Yeoue and Tiende’s lyrics tackle issues from AIDS awareness to the power of tradition, from love lost to the need for political unity in a country torn by infighting and violence. They sing primarily in Guere, but as Shereikis says, “You don’t have to understand the words to appreciate this music. As you’re tapping your foot, Narcisse’s unique phrasing and tone convey a visceral sense that this is message music.”

When Zieti played an outdoor concert in Western Cote d’Ivoire, on Yeoue and Tiende’s home turf, they had their Guere compatriots dancing in circles and cheering to the group’s hard-hitting lyrics. The crowd even demanded they play “Zion Do” twice, to ecstatic response followed magically by a flourish of rain. “That was one of the proudest moments of my musical life,” Owre exclaims.

But after Owre and Shereikis left in 1999, things got complicated. Ivory Coast descended into civil war. Tiende was called home to one of the most violence-wracked areas of the country, resurfacing after months of silence, during which the other members feared he was dead. Yet Zieti managed to stay connected, and Shereikis arranged for local studio time for Yeoue and Tiende via an Ivorian contact he met at an African record store in DC.

The resulting cassette, full of MIDI-driven production, didn’t make much of a splash in Ivory Coast, but became the core of Zemelewa. Struck by the continued power and beauty of the band’s work, and deeply frustrated with the production approach favored in Abidjan, Shereikis set about to recast the songs, drawing on his exhaustive knowledge and passion for African pop music—from West African funk-inspired sounds to Congolese rumba. As Yeoue told Shereikis, “We’ll sing and play guitar, and you dress it up.”

Tracks began flying back and forth from Maryland to Maine where Owre had settled, as the American side of the project emerged. Through Grigri Discs, a label and incubator for the Afropop scene in DC, Shereikis recruited masterful players of everything from sax to slide guitar, including bandmates in Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band and émigré musicians he knew from around DC. Now more lushly arranged, Zemelewa channels the band’s original spirit, first formed on the sand across the ocean long before.

“I fleshed out what we had done together, the way I remembered it as we played and recorded it,” Shereikis notes. “I added a few other colors and elements to give it a bit of edge. None of these choices were calculated, beyond my hope that they would make Narcisse and Laurent happy and give this music its full worth.”

For Zieti, the music and message don’t stop with the herculean effort of finally making their debut album. The group is now working together to help struggling artists harness their creativity by providing instruments to Ivorian musicians, lack of which is one of the key reasons MIDI production rules the day there. A first shipment of instruments was recently delivered to Yeoue, who has rented a small rehearsal space near his home in Abidjan, a place poised to become a community music hub.

“The project we started with the instruments is very important,” Yeoue says, “and that’s what’s going to make the difference. Our work together proves what can be done, no matter how far apart or how different we seem from one another.”