The REV It Up List

Great Aussie Gal singers: Ashleigh Mannix

young and sweet and so talented.

Ashleigh Mannix.

Great Aussie Gal Singers: SIA.

One of my all time favourite songs..

and an amazing voice.. meet SIA.

Great Aussie Gal Singers Part trois: Lisa Mitchell

Glorious young talent : Lisa Mitchell... love her voice.

Enjoy,

Peace.

Ngaire

x

Great Aussie Gal singers part deux: Kate Miller-Heidke

another amazing artist..Kate Miller-Heidke...from my home town of Brisbane Australia. Peace. Ngaire x

Great Aussie gal singers : Sarah Blasko.

The first in a series of my favourite Aussie girl singers..Sarah Blasko. We are SO lucky to have so many talented singing girlies...... Enjoy! Peace. Ngaire x

Jann Arden~A Million Miles Away Hits The Airwaves

Written by Pamela Detlor

The long awaited first single, from Jann Arden’s soon to be released 10th record: “Free,” has dropped! “A Million Miles Away” is an up tempo tune with meaningful lyrics and lush sounds. Anyone who has ever missed someone will feel this one. From the opening acoustic rhythm and steady beat the song grabs hold. You just may love it within the first 16 bars! The arrangement goes to unexpected places, and those places work! Just as I was grooving along with the deep dance beat undercurrent, up jumped a fiddle run. That little taste of Tennessee gels perfectly! Not to worry, all you Jann – POP fans, this is not a country song (not that there’s anything wrong with that). It’s just a fantastically mixed song with many musical elements.
The Songs from “Free” will uplift/move die-hard fans, and are sure to embrace a legion of new Arden fans. We (my cats & I), here at The Thought Vox, were honored to have a sneak listen to the new material. All of it is true to Jann’s high standard of music making. But there’s something fresh and new about this batch of songs. “Free” is, without a doubt, some of the best work Jann has ever written. Her voice is in top form, and she is ready to blow the doors off with this one! She’s excited – fans are excited: It’s gonna be a barn-burner!

Here’s what YOU can do to help:

Buy the single and the album when they hit i-tunes. The single should be available soon. The full album will be in stores and on line September 15th.

Right this moment you can request “A Million Miles Away” at your local radio station. The following is a list of stations/search engine to find the nearest station to you. Call their 1-800#s and/or request on line. For a taste of the single now, go to Jann’s official Myspace.

Radio Stations

search postal/zip http://twurl.nl/lg2cvz

Prince Edward Island http://twurl.nl/tp2khv
Nova Scotia http://twurl.nl/iv26k7
New Brunswick http://twurl.nl/wnthw5
Quebec http://twurl.nl/f8igb0
Ontario http://twurl.nl/t204q0
Manitoba http://twurl.nl/58ebkq
Saskatchewan http://twurl.nl/ojvqw0
Alberta http://twurl.nl/mbesn2
British Columbia http://twurl.nl/36rsns
Northwest Territories http://twurl.nl/4evs15
Yukon http://twurl.nl/c3r5y1

Images property of: Jann Arden, Jannarden.com, Universal Music

Revving it up for the Disney enthusiast: Summer edition of D23 magazine

Written by Maria Hammon

For the Disney fan that I am, what I just finished reading has been the highlight of my week!  Yes, I just got done going over one of my new favorite magazines, directly from  D23 (the official online community for Disney fans): the Summer 2009 edition celebrating Donald Duck’s 75 years of mischief, mayhem and mirth!

One of the articles that I loved the most was on pages 18-23: Life in the Transportation Business by Michael Singer. Yes, it literally transports the reader into the magical world behind the Hollywood mega producer Jerry Bruckheimer (creator of Flashdance, Armageddon, Titans, Glory Road to Pirates of the Caribbean and National Treasure, to name a few of Bruckheimer’s ultra amazing productions.)  It never ceases to amaze me when someone of Bruckheimer’s caliber is willing to admit that he is driven by fear of failure!  “I don’t look back and celebrate,” he tells Singer. “I just worry about the next one.” And the next one is actually NEXT ONES, as in several ones. He is currently working on many projects including G-Force, a 3D comedy; The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (a live action spin to Fantasia!); Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time; a fourth entry to the Pirates of the Caribbean (yes, I’m already day dreaming about this one) and The Lone Ranger also with Johnny Depp. Oh yeah, and Singer tells us in his article that Bruckheimer additionally has eight current TV programs airing or in production. Suddenly, my life does not seem busy at all. Does this man ever sleep? Does he ever go on vacations? Well, at least the second question was answered in this article. He doesn’t really take many of them, he said. “When you really love what you do, you don’t feel the need to get away.” I love it. Isn’t that just beautiful? The bliss of doing what you love to the point of feeling like vacations are really not necessary! Wow. I just love this man. But perhaps what made me fall in love with him even more (besides the fact that he is in many ways responsible for bringing Johnny Depp and Nicolas Cage into even bigger stardom status) is what I learned about what he actually likes to do for relaxation, something I can totally, 100% relate to!  He loves photography!  This has been his hobby since the early age of 6. How could I not relate to that kind of life-time passion?  Certainly, too close to my heart. The article included several pictures that I loved. Like one of him sitting right next to Jonnny Depp. And one on page 22 with Buckheimer on the set of Prince of Persia.  He is holding a Nikon camera though.  I’ll have to pretend that I didn’t see that.  I’m a Canon girl after all. But it is quite okay. No one is perfect.

Besides Singer’s awesome article, the magazine also shares wonderful peeks at what the Disney Imagineers are creating and planning for the future of California Adventure Theme Park, and a glorious article in honor of Donald Duck (one of my most beloved Disney characters) as well as many imaginative sections filled with magic and many photographs that are sure to be treasured forever by all the true Disney fans like myself.  What an awesome issue!  

Seriously, I totally recommend this new magazine.  And no, there is no ulterior motive for my writing of this review.  Unless you consider my complete adoration for all things Disney a form of bias of some kind. 

Singer Sara Kamin Kamin Hosts Benefit Concert for Congo Rape Victims

Written by Pamela Detlor

On Saturday June 6th, 2009, Toronto based singer/songwriter Sarah Kamin hosts the annual SAFER and Sound Benefit Concert. (SAFER: Social Aid For the Elimination of Rape - Working to end sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.) The mission statement of the SAFER organization is as follows:

Address the immediate medical needs of sexual violence survivors by providing a sustainable source of medical supplies, equipment, and expertise to health care centers.

Support and/or initiate programs such as education or vocational training that can alleviate the socioeconomic impact on the survivors and help them break the cycle of violence.

The evening will also feature performances by:
The Pigott Brothers www.myspace.com/pigottbrothers
Amy Campbell www.amycampbell.ca
Lindy www.lindymusic.com

I took the opportunity to sit down with Sara to discuss this important event as well as learn a little more about her musical journey.

How long have you been singing/involved in music?
I began singing when I was about four years old. I used to stuff a pillow under my door and sing along to Debbie Gibson and Tiffany records. When I was about 14, I wanted to sing at a high school talent show, so I asked my mom to listen to me sing and tell me if she thought I was any good. I sung Celine Dion’s “The Colour of My Love.” My mom immediately recognized my potential and said she would enroll me in singing lessons, an offer I promptly accepted!

I started playing guitar in 1996, when I was about 16, after going to a Jann Arden concert at Convocation Hall at the University of Toronto. As it happens, Patty Griffin was supporting her at that particular show. I was completely transfixed by Patty and Jann’s performances - so much so that I went out and purchased my first guitar within the week. I had already been writing lyrics for years, but started writing full songs as soon as I learned my first few guitar chords.

I released my first CD, In Her Own Time, when I was 21 and the second, Somewhere in Between, about four years later. I have also been performing professionally for the past ten years.

What inspires you to keep going in an industry that is harder and harder to crack?
When I was 25, I enrolled in a Masters program in Performance Psychology at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Performance Psychology is a relatively young field of study, which applies sport psychology techniques to performance issues across different domains.

I have since published several articles in the field and as much as I hope this work will help other independent artists, I too benefit from the techniques I have studied. For example, I have learned how to stay motivated when faced with the inevitable challenges of the industry. In addition, I use various relaxation strategies as well as confidence-building exercises and purposeful goal setting.

Upon graduating with my MSc, I began lecturing in my department at the University of Edinburgh, and have since taken up a post as a Professor in the Independent Music Production program at Seneca College in Toronto. By finding ways to incorporate music in both my academic and professional pursuits, I have been able to ensure music is always a part of my life, even as I continue to pursue my first love of musical performance as a singer-songwriter.

You’re currently recording your third independent CD, how is it different from the first two?
For this CD, I decided to take a really stripped down approach so that the finished product would capture the vibe of what it’s like to be at a live performance. My first two CDs were recorded with a full band, whereas the new record involves only a handful of musicians. I’ve been lucky enough to have the support of Oliver Pigott on guitar and background vocals and Lyndell Montgomery on violin. The CD was recorded at the CBC, and engineered by the wonderful Adam Tune. It has been five years since my last album was released, and the songs that I’ve chosen for inclusion on this record reflect the emotional, personal and professional growth I’ve experienced during that time. Living overseas, ending a significant relationship, relocating back to Toronto, teaching… all of these things have gone in to this album in a way that makes it my most heartfelt and honest release to date.

How long have you been involved with the SAFER organization and why did you choose to support their cause?
I first heard about SAFER (Social Aid For the Elimination of Rape - www.saferworld.ca) at an event held at Convocation Hall in November 2008. The event brought together amazing humanitarians including Stephen Lewis, Eve Ensler and Dr. Denis Mukwege, the Director of the Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where survivors of sexual violence are offered treatment and support. SAFER is a Toronto-based, volunteer-run organization that donates 100% of the proceeds raised through their fundraising efforts to the Panzi Hospital.

In the past, I have always worked to support causes that address issues impacting women. Upon learning about the incredible work of Dr. Mukwege, I felt compelled to lend my support to SAFER through my music.

Do you have a goal amount you would like to raise on June 6th?
As important as it is to raise money, I believe it is equally important to raise awareness. SAFER, being small and locally based is exactly the type of organization that could benefit from this type of grassroots support. Since 100% of the money raised by SAFER goes directly to the Panzi hospital, every dollar raised really can make a difference.

Beyond your charity work, what goals do you have for the near future?
I am really excited for the release of my next CD, The Music in Me. In celebration of its completion, I will be having a CD release party at Hugh’s Room on September 8th. Please visit http://www.myspace.com/sarakamin

In the meantime, I plan to continue teaching at Seneca and working as a performance consultant.

For more information about SAFER and Sound, please e-mail saferandsound@yahoo.ca

Show Details: Saturday, June 6th, 2009 _Tranzac - Main Hall (292 Brunswick Ave, just south of Bloor) _Doors 7:30 p.m. Show 8:00 p.m. _Tickets available at the door: $15 general admission, $10 students/seniors)

Alisa Burke: where fashion and art meet function

Artist and author Alisa Burke can make anything out of canvas. Everything from her wall art to fashion accessories roar with vibrant colors and rich urban textures and begin with canvas as her base.
Alisa's wonderful clutch purses are now available for custom order! Starting at $40 per bag, you can now have your own unique piece of art to carry around with you that will certainly be the envy of everyone around, and quite the conversation starter!
For information on ordering your own custom Alisa Burke Clutch, visit her ordering page. Keep your iPhone and lipstick in a functional work of art~ they'll love you for it.

Alisa Burke Links:
Alisa's Etsy
Alisa's Website
Canvas Remix (Alisa's Book)

Indie Rockers~ Kiss Kill: A Driving Force

Written by Pamela Detlor

Pop-punk band Kiss Kill’s music has been likened to Tracy Bonham, Garbage, and Tegan & Sara. The band, co-founded in 2007 by, wife and wife, duo Michelle (vox/violin) and Dusti (bass), has since morphed into a quartet of four equal parts with Jeff (guitar/vox) and Mike (percussion).
Operating out of Portland, OR, the group has built a following across the Northwestern US. When they’re not rockin’ the stage both Michelle and Dusti are employed as social workers. Their belief in giving back has inspired them to stay involved in the queer community whenever possible. Michelle often speaks at high schools, and treatment centers about her previous battles with anorexia and self-mutilation. The bands next big gig is a May 22nd fund-raiser for SMYRC (a GLBTQ youth mentoring organization in Portland). The event will consist of the theatrical play, “She Had Wept” (based on selections from Michelle’s book of the same title), followed by an after-party featuring several bands including Kiss Kill. A silent auction is also planned for the event. Donations to the auction include art from Jann Arden, Linda Woods, as well as local Portland artisans. If you would like to donate $$ or prizes for the auction please contact Michelle @ http://www.kisskillrocks.com/

The ladies took some time from their busy lives to answer a few questions:
Why is it important for you to give back to the GLBTQ community?

Both Dusti and I feel that although society in general has become more progressive, it is still extremely difficult to be a queer adolescent.

30% of the completed teen suicides are committed by LGBTQ youth. 50% of all queer youth state that their parents have abandoned them due to their sexual orientation. Over 55% of gay men have problems with substance abuse and 30% of the queer community suffers from alcoholism. The numbers just get worse and worse: homelessness, parental physical/ verbal abuse, high school drops out rates, etc. It’s truly horrifying; and to think that we, as a society, are doing this openly to our youth…

I (Michelle) for one can only imagine how my life would have been different if I might have had a positive queer role model in my life. I can’t say that it would have all been rainbows and butterflies with puppies and sunshine…We just think that having well adjusted LGBTQ adults actively supporting and giving back to their community is one of the only ways society will be able to break down the walls of stereotypes and statistics.

Our hearts and sympathies go out to Sirdeaner Walker: whose son, Carl Walker an 11 year old Massachusetts boy, hung himself after suffering from anti-gay bullying in his middle school. It’s all so terribly tragic!

Michelle, you are very open about your personal life struggles. What motivates this?

When I was 19 years old, my younger sister wrote me a letter that changed my life forever. She wrote: “Do you know how I love you? I always have and no matter what you do or what you choose I will always love you… it’s just so hard to say goodbye… I understand a little now- not goodbye but see you later. I love you.” She loved me so much that she could understand if I needed to kill myself; she just wanted me to be happy.

At that moment, I realized how love was perhaps the one thing still worth fighting for. I made a promise to myself from that day forward: I would be “that love” to the world- that my life was meant for something so much greater.

I see no reason in hiding from my past. I try to vocalize my struggles as much as possible because I have always dreamt my music and poetry would one day be the hope and the love that one person might need to change their life so completely:

Your whole life can change in a single moment- life is comprised of a series of choices and actions that make up these moments. And in life, the only thing that remains constant, is the idea that love is the driving force that encourages the soul to move forward…to seek out the light amidst the darkness…to strive for things greater than despair. Be aware of others. Love them because they are human, because you are human; because love will heal all wounds and love is the one thing that many find themselves without.

Your lives have been the topic of a soon to be released documentary. Can you tell us a little about that?
The film follows the wedding planning process and the actual wedding itself. We were married on Hahei beach, in New Zealand on March 12, 2007. The documentary highlights the struggles that we as a couple faced during that time: with our families, politically, personally, and of course together. The film also focuses on our back-stories and interviews many people from out past. Both Dusti and I share our crazy life stories concerning our journeys through alcoholism, anorexia, and self-mutilation. In the end, the film takes place over several months and illustrates both the struggles and the triumphs we endured.

Now that your first CD has been released, what goals come next?
As a band, we are happy to have this first EP out of the way! We call it an EP because we are still interested in recording these songs and our newest (previously unrecorded) songs professionally. We are shooting for sometime this summer to get into a “real” recording studio and bang out a kick ass record. This EP was actually recorded in our living room and Jeff, the guitar king, mixed and mastered this baby all on his own. We are very happy with the outcome but look forward to a professional record soon.

We are also tentatively planning a “mini-tour” around the Western United States. Where we hope to hit our hometowns of Moses Lake, Washington, Laramie, Wyoming and Mesa, Arizona. But as of right now, we are all just mindlessly slaving away at our prospective day jobs- trying to make enough money to pay for said “mini-tour.”

What is your favorite thing about performing live?
Well, I (Michelle) for one am terrified of being on stage. I have extreme stage fright, so perhaps Dusti is the more qualified lady to answer this question…

(Dusti) Even as a teenager my greatest dream was to become a rock star. Music has always been the most influential force in my life. I can remember going to the live shows of many great female musicians (Ani Difranco, Melissa Ferrick, Courtney Love) and being in complete awe not only of their talent but of their passion and attitude on stage.

When I perform live, I just want to Rock… it’s that simple.