Posted by admin on April 20th, 2008 — Posted in Music Tips
MAESTRO has evolved past his “Let Your Backbone Slide” days, but people still associate him with his first hit 15 years ago. Does that bother him? No way! For MAESTRO it is through his accomplishments as an artist that he has evolved and looks fondly back on his early years with pride.
To date no one has exceeded the levels of accomplishments that MAESTRO has achieved. To date, 7 music awards, 7 albums, 11 JUNO nominations, Gold and Platinum albums, Gold singles and a mixture of other awards in film/T.V and personal achievements. All of this, plus a film and television career? No wonder his latest album is called Urban Landmark 1989-2005 - it’s obvious he has made his mark, now let’s see where he goes from here!
One of my very first interviews on radio was with MAESTRO, back when I was working at York University radio, he was a special guest on a show called, ” The Cutting Edge”. I realized back then after our brief hour together on the show, that this is one hell of a passionate man! He is passionate about what he does, whom he speaks to, what he involves himself with and most of all passionate about MUSIC. It is the same passion I saw and felt when we (Liesa Norman and I) sat down with him the day before his CD release party. He truly is “conductin’ thangs” now more than ever, his life a full blown “Symphony in Effect” - just goes to show you he is “Built to Last”
HAVIN’ WORDS WITH WES
You seem to have a love affair with Canadian contemporary and rock artists? This is not the average approach to hip hop is it?
WES- Janet Jackson sampled Joni Mitchell, that is a lot farther apart than me, a Canadian artists, sampling another Canadian artist. See?
Yes, but you are the only one that has been acknowledged for doing it.
WES- No, Swollen Members did it too, but not a lot of people know they did a track with Sarah MacLachlan that was HOT. This was off their last album…..I don’t know WHY those guys did not make it the single, it was so hot!
To date you have worked “with” HAYWIRE, GUESS WHO and now Gowan!
WES- It is just something I like to do. Take Canadian rock records and just revamp them. I have these albums, I like them- I collect them.
So, within the song that you are listening to, you hear another song?
Orlena, Hip Hop up n’comer Subliminal, Liesa WES- yeah, yeah. Like when I heard “Stick to Your Vision” (track off his last album, that sampled The Guess Who’s - These Eyes)- I was like….Whooooo! That was a nice reflective song to talk about what you been through and inspirational at the same time.
So that was a favourite?
WES- Hell, yeah! (chuckles)
Lyrically do you find that the words come first or does the music?
WES- There is no specific formula. A concept may come first and then the music after. You know I never try to assimilate - I try to innovate.
So your latest track, Criminal Mind with Larry Gowan- was that something that you heard within the song, or was that something you conceptualized on your own?
(l-r) Orlena, Actor-Richard Leacock, Liesa WES- Nah. It was more like the original version was talking about being a criminal and having a criminal mind. I had the take on it of the justice system being more criminal. But, at the same time, we as a community not being in a position where we are more followers, rather than being the leaders that we should be. In life you have to be a leader and STOP MAKING EXCUSES for whatever! With the song I just put my own little spin on it. What I love is that Randy Bachman and Larry Gowan, both like what I did with the song.
Were you in the studio with Larry Gowan?
WES- Nah. I was in his living room when I played him the track when it was done and I saw the hair stand up on his arms. Then we went downstairs to watch his video from Criminal Mind and then my new one, that he is in. The video is full rotation now - it’s just BANANAS!
Do you find the violence is accurate to what the media portrays? Or do you really feel that there is a surge of violence within minorities?
The Showstoppers(ctre) Maestro
and Kardinal Offishall WES- Yeah, Yeah (as he sighs). It is a bit of both. A bit of sensationalism still occurs though. But, to me it is embarrassing for all people that we carry on like that with each other. We don’t have to be like that. We have lost our ability to “talk” to one another. My question is how did the guns get here in the first place? Who is bringing them into the country? That is the last line in my song Criminal Mind. I come from a good place and I hope that people gravitate toward what it is that I am doing.
The album, which came out August 23, has 5 new hits?
WES- The album does not really have five NEW hits, but 5 previously unreleased songs. These tracks have been out before, but just on radio and more as singles that were unavailable for purchase.
Well, your greatest hits album, is going cover the span of your career - are you prepared to do any of those moves you used to spin for “Let your Backbone Slide”.
R&B Sweetie Melanie DurrantWES- Oh yeah. I am going to have a full-blown show! Choreography, the works..it is going to be hot to death!
You are still hot to death after all these years. You still have the same fever and flavour that you had when you were younger. It is good to see! What are you listening to in your car right now? Do you have any music influences?
WES- Right now I am listening to myself (outbreak of laughter from us all). I have my show CD in and I am practicing that over and over again.
Laughter aside, you have a reputation to upkeep, if you don’t come correct you know people are going to be writing about it! Watching and waiting for you to fall..or just all off the stage!
What a night!WES- That’s fine…watch…just keep watching!
We will!
FYI- The next day MAESTRO came with it and blew the roof off the MOD CLUB! The place was packed, people were bumpin’ to his hits and when he let us have the final track…it was all over. Hey! When MAESTRO left the stage - everyone else left.
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Posted by admin on April 10th, 2008 — Posted in Music Tips
Introduced in 1982, the compact disc was intended to provide better sound than the 40-year-old long-play record album, popularly known as the LP. Using a laser rather than a diamond needle for playback the compact disc was smaller, more convenient to use, and less susceptible to damage than the LP. A bonus was that the format was said to offer “perfect sound forever.” “Forever” isn’t that long these days; improvements in digital sound have come along in the last twenty years and the music industry introduced two new formats this decade that are designed to improve upon the “perfect” sound of the compact disc. Those formats are the Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD) and DVD Audio (DVD-A.) Over the years, various audio publications have criticized the sound of compact discs, describing the sound as “harsh”, “brittle” or “sterile” compared to the sound of the LP. After years of research, SACD and DVD-A were introduced several years ago and introduced sound that was said to be cleaner and more natural than that of the compact disc. In addition, these formats offered multi-channel sound, and artists such as Pink Floyd offered special multi-channel versions of their albums to entice sales. It hasn’t worked, and sales of both formats peaked in 2003. What is interesting, however, is that both formats still trail the LP in sales!
According to the Recording Industry Association of America, the combined sales of SACD and DVD-A were less than those of the LP in 2004. The music industry is in a slump at the moment, and sales of all formats were down last year. But sales of LPs were down 13% from 2003, while combined SACD and DVD-A sales were down 33%. It would appear that the new formats are failing, even though they are said to be superior to the compact disc. The LP, on the other hand, continues to have steady sales. While the major labels are still somewhat hesitant to release new product in LP form, labels that specialize in reissuing older material, such as Classic Records, are releasing as much product as their manufacturing capacity will permit. It is worth noting that much of this reissued product comes in the form of high-quality, limited edition LP pressings that often carry premium prices of up to $50 per title. Why are records continuing to sell while the new formats fail?
There are several reasons why records are outselling the new, “superior” digital disc formats:
Format wars. Like VHS vs. Beta in the 1970’s, the SACD and DVD-A formats are largely incompatible. While players have been introduced that will play either one, most players play either one format or the other. Worse, neither one will play on a traditional CD player. You must replace your player to play either one.Multichannel sound is difficult to use and requires purchasing new amplification equipment. SACD and DVD-A both have multichannel capabilities, but neither format’s players have digital outputs. Both must be connected to amplifiers or receivers with special SACD or DVD-A analog inputs. Most of the music fans who preferred the sound of records to compact discs still prefer the sound of records to either SACD or DVD-A. Most will agree that while the new formats sound better than compact discs, the unique “digital” sound of compact discs is still there. Many listeners aren’t interested in sound quality. Arguments can always be made about the sound of compact disc vs records vs SACD vs DVD-A, but millions of consumers are content to listen to music in MP3 format on portable players. MP3 format is inherently inferior in sound quality to all of the other formats, but MP3 players are selling as fast as companies can make them.The day will never come when records again become the dominant music format. The convenience of portable players for CD, SACD, and DVD-A discs and MP3 files outweighs the advantages in sound quality that records offer over those formats. Nevertheless, it appears that a small but steady market for records remains very real, and that that market exceeds that of the new “improved” SACD and DVD-A formats, which will probably soon go the way of the forgotten Elcassette, Minidisc, and 4 track tape formats of the past.
©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm that operates several retail Websites, including AluminumChristmasTrees.net, a site devoted to vintage aluminum Christmas trees and accessories, and RarePinkFloyd.com, a site devoted to rare records, compact discs and memorabilia by the band Pink Floyd.
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Posted by admin on April 8th, 2008 — Posted in Music Tips
Starting her music career at a tender age of 8, Lara Fabian knew that she would become a singer one day. She also emphasized this on her show From Lara with Love, broadcasted by PBS, when she told the audience about her encounter one day when she drove with her dad and vocalized exceptional high notes she heard on the radio, without any problems. This is where she knew she would become a singer one day.
It is not everyday you get such a talented, vibrant person and it is these artists that fans love all over the world. She has a beautiful voice, a beautiful face and a beautiful personality. Everything you need to become famous, and famous Lara became. Yet her name is not a household name like Celine Dion or Enrique Iglesias, but she has all the talents these great performers have. She is frequently compared to Celine Dion but just like Celine, she also performed the soundtracks of movies like Final Fantasy and AI, she even played the voice of Esmeralda of the Hunchback of Notre Dame and sang the theme song of the movie “Que Dieu Aide Les Exclus”.
It is clear that Lara focuses on the European market, because she has so little English albums (2 English between a total of 8 albums), but who blames her. She did a great job with her album A Wonderful Life, with each song on the album being a hit on its own. Her best English single would be I Will Love Again, which would also please the younger music fans. Having compiled such a rich album with songs that will suit most fans with a good taste for music, she did not find the response she was hoping for.
Her music has depth and besides the fact that she has wonderful vocal talents, is she an exceptional songwriter. Lara sees herself more as a writer with a beautiful voice; she knows her talents and did not hide them under a bucket. Her charisma surrounds every audience wherever she performs and it is clearly visible by the loud cheers and applause she gets before and after performing her titles Lara gives her music so much life and excitement that you can’t ignore it.
Lara has been very successful, without the support of the people who can’t appreciate good music. She has won many awards, and has sold millions of copies of her records. If everyone could see her great potential, both as a singer and songwriter, she could have sold maybe three times the number of copies than she actually did. But still Lara did not let that get her down. She showed that she also has the talent of not giving up, and Lara has not given up yet, there is still much more to come and there have been reports that she is working on a new album. Lets hope that one of her future albums will be an English one again, maybe people will show more appreciation for her work when that happens.
The rest of the world should show much more appreciation for artists like Lara Fabian, otherwise we would be left with the junk that’s hitting the Top 10 each month.
The author is mainly an accountant who does computer programming on the sideline. He has a wide range of music tastes, ranging from pop, rock, classical, country and techno. His favourite artist is Lara Fabian, because of the fact that she sings such beautiful and peaceful songs that enrich the soul and calms your mood while listening. Please check out the author’s homepage at http://myweb.absamail.co.za/coendb/cppgenius.htm
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