The Winner of Give Away #2 is.... Yea! Hurray! *Cheers and Whistles*
Pendragon Inman
Let's keep the fun going with Awesome Giveaway #3 in the Month of Giveaway Awesomeness. But first, make sure to check in often in the next 2 weeks, because we will be giving away more than one thing a week.
Lately there is an addition to quite a few new books making it to the bookstore shelves--a play list. I'm not 100% positive but I think this started with the Twilight books. Not only is a list included in a lot of these new books, but the website of the authors quite often features a complete or partial list of songs that set their muses to working.
When I find music the helps me get into that alternate reality, I play it exclusively while I'm writing that book. I played the Batman soundtrack (Hans Zimmer) for nine months straight. Manic Bloom is another group I've played for months on end.
This week I'm not offering something different than Bookmom Musings. This will be another chance to win the the Unseen Album from up and coming Electronica artist Lori Cunningham.
All you have to do is comment on any blog this week to be eligible to win.
Here's the deal... Listen to these promos from the coming cd Emeria, a project that she's working on with Adam Amos. Then leave a comment about the overall sound and what is unique about them. Plus, what other groups or projects they sound like.
From Lori: "Please help Adam and me write a biography for Emeria. I will give anyone and everyone a copy of my solo album, “Unseen,” if we use even a part of a bio you submit. There’s a potential for a lot of cd’s to be given away this month!"
I'll send your comments on to Lori Cunningham's blog, Reflections. They'll be added to the comments there and she'll pick the ones she likes.
Golly gee Ali, thank you. I'm really honored. This is the second Blogger award that has come my way.
Here are the rules:
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award. 4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might not know.
5. Nominate 7 Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.
Ali Cross: Author - Writing Young Adult Sci Fi and Fantasy that transcends the ordinary.
7 things about myself people might not know.
1. I went for several years refusing to listen to any music at all.
2. Then I went completely the other way. I suppose playing the Batman Begins soundtrack all day long, every day for nine months is as opposite to refusing to listen to music as you can get. Or maybe it's just plain odd.
But I always listened to music that way before I took my musical vacation. (boycott, really.)
A while back Nightwish was a four month listening stretch. The song Marooned by Balligomingo was the only thing I listened to for four weeks while I revamped my novel Prithiel.
Lately it's been Manic Bloom, see my play list on the sidebar.
3. I have a real obsession for super cars. I spent four years in a mechanics shop learning everything there is to know about cars. I'm always on the look out for my favorite vehicles, all of which I can't possible afford. One can hope, right?
800px-Mercedes SLR C199 2007
Lamborghini Reventon Limited
Just yesterday I got a real, up close ogling of a genuine Spyker. Really fun.
2008 Spyker-C8-Aileron (In the small town where I live, cars like these don't come along very often.)
4. I can spend days on the computer looked for pics to use for inspiration in my writing.
5. I'll stop anything I'm doing to watch a move with Karl Urban: Doom, Chronicles of Riddick (it doesn't hurt that Vin Diesel is also in it) The Bourne Supremacy, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and Return of the King. And soon (squeal!!!) Star Trek when it comes out on DVD in October.
Karl Urban
6. I LOVE LOVE LOVE dragons...
Roost by eic
7. My favorite character in any book or movie, is usually the bad guy-- you know, the one who gets killed in the end. Then I'm real bummed for a while.
Here is the first new promo for “Unseen” using the track “Reflections” by npa productions and Lori Cunningham. She'll be doing several of these videos, so check out her official blog. [reflections]
Status: Slogging through lists of agents
Song: Solarity - Lori Cunningham
An Outstanding Debut CD Promising a Bright Career
When I decided to review Lori Cunningham's CD Unseen I wanted to give it the test of time before I made my decisions about it. Before I decide whether I like something or not, I listen to the entire project several times through. Since I write books and use music as my inspiration, I had to separate Unseen from my writing place. I chose to listen to the CD for several weeks in my car as I drove around the many miles to my piano lessons. I also listened to it at the gym as I did the treadmill, because there are things I pick up with head phones that I don't hear in the car. The effect is completely different.
Being compared to the likes of Engima and Delierium, Lori Cunningham has put her own stamp on the electronica genre. Unlike other voices that are classically trained, she has kept the uniqueness that makes her sound her own. Her voice is beautiful, ethereal and pristine and extremely easy to listen to.
Electronica downbeat is a genre that is widely misunderstood. Instead of the voice being the focal point or the solo interest, the voice is dialed back to meld with the music like another instrument. Lori Cunningham has accomplished this with skill.
For those who don't know... Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing. Downtempo (or Downbeat) is a laid-back electronic music style similar to ambient music, but usually with a beat or groove unlike the beatless forms of Ambient music. The beat is sometimes made from loops that have a hypnotic feeling. Sometimes the beats are more complicated and more featured instead of being in the background, but even then they are usually less intense than other kinds of electronic music. (From Wikipedia)
Okay, enough education.
The facts - Lori Cunningham - a girl, her keyboard, 18 track recorder, a mic, and a strong love of music.
Additional drums and percussion - Adam Amos on "Solarity" and "Inside."
Guitar on "Inside" - Sam Benham.
And collaborations with: Adam Amos, Katie Reeve, n pa productions, and Rose.
When I first started listening to Unseen I had my favorites. I really liked Inside because of the darker, heavier feel of the piece. A song like this can't be written by someone who hasn't been through hard things in life. It has a way of reaching into your heart and twisting. Anyone who feels the world doesn't know who they really are inside will find something here that touches them.
The second one on my list of favorites was Everytime. If you have been in a failing relationship you can't help but feel the pain that resides in the words and the tolling drums underneath the accompaniment. As I listened to the piece over the weeks, this song rose in my estimation. Lori's command over the inflection of her words is masterful.
Next in line is Silver Threads. There are two main reasons I like this song. I am a big fan of repeating notes or tone sequences that play over and over through many the chord progressions. The sameness of the tones have a way of connecting to the spirit and pulling the listener into the song. Lori cleverly uses this in several ways for this song. There is a danger here, because if not done well, a repeating note can become irritating, but Lori used several of them and handled them astutely.
The second thing I like about Silver Threads is the story line. Lori Cunningham was up front that the Dragon Riders of Pern books by Ann McCaffrey, [official website] were her inspiration for the piece--though not specifically borrowing from the works was pure genius.
I could say something about every track on the CD, such as.... Without You is very beautiful and has a similar feel to Everytime, though not as painful. I didn't want to fall into a listing of lists.
Okay, I have to say something about Without You. Well, not specifically about the song but about the creators. Lori Cunningham and Adam Amos is a collaboration that clearly works.
Adam Amos is a masterful composer known for his wonderful instrumentals, his down tempo electronic music, a lot of which has cinematic leaning. Amos is mostly known for doing great remixes in which he focuses on mixing in the voice. On this CD he did the remixing of Everytime, Without You, and Empty Well [Overflow Mix]. He is very good at drums and did the percussion on Inside and Solarity.
Cunningham and Amos compliment each other well and together they create something magnificent. Happily they are working on another collaboration called Emeria. I'm waiting eagerly for this to be completed.
The surprise of Unseen was the fun discovery of Solarity. As I drove around I grew to like this track more and more. It's an intriguing symbiosis between New Age musicality, classical influences, and dance-club rhythms. The collaboration with Adam Amos [here] really makes it a delight. In truth, Solarity is just plain fun. My favorite bits, (apart from the drums, the repeating keyboards and the etherial voice), are the charming instances of laughter hidden like diamonds in the piece. I heard them first with headphones and recommend you try to find them yourself.
The rest of the tracks are also well worth the listen. I recommend this CD highly.
Track listing:
1) Reflections
2) Unseen (The Impact)
3) Silver Threads (Falling Down)
4) Everytime
5) Empty Well
6) Inside
7) Solarity
8) Tears of a Rose
9) Without You
10) Return
11) Into Absolution
12) Empty Well [Overflow Mix]
13) Unseen [Instrumental]
Like a lot of writers I use music to get into the mood of my scenes. When I find a piece that works I play it over and over, sometimes for days at a time if I need to stay in the place where my characters are. I use several groups, some of which are--Within Temptation, Muse, Nightwish, Evanescence. This is only a small sampling, believe me.
I have to make special mention here of Lori Cunningham who has taken her own spot in the music I listen to. Not only is she beautiful, but she is a wonderful talent. And a woman of courage who stands up for the ideals we all should espouse. I expect her to do great things with her music and become a real success. I feel privileged to be able to use her music in my work. See her sites here and here
My most recent find, one that I'm excited about is Manic Bloom. Not only do they have great music, but their lyrics totally reflect what I am writing. It's as if they looked inside my head. I hope to hear more from them. See them here and here.
Pendragon Inman
All you have to do is comment on any blog this week to be eligible to win.
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