margonaut.com

I just spent most of the weekend in a recording studio working on the highly ridiculous (and somewhat offensive) Jack Cass and his Cow Mountin’ Boys album. I enjoyed the process and really got in touch with how much I love to drum and how much I enjoy comedy.

It really is clever and hilarious. I’ll share some sounds after the final touches….

So right now I’m in two bands, a country comedy act and Giant Triangle. GT is the same people as the other act plus an amazing new singer, who made the first image below. The second image is my belt buckle for the comedy act. I feel so lucky I get to do this stuff :)

Stay tuned…

I am realizing there are myriad reasons I’ve been called back East…

I’m enjoying playing drums very very much…

very downtempo music

posted a new track to my Myspace page called “Ace Metrix” which uses this sound and this sound from freesound.org

click the screenshot to listen

I have done a bit of playing around with nature sounds from this site and am now working on something a bit more complex with other things from this great source of audio samples.

A few samples: embroidery machine, laughing baby, cricket, didjeridoo

Click on the random sound link for more.

Freesound.org
www.freesound.org
The Freesound Project aims to create a huge collaborative database of audio snippets, samples, recordings, bleeps, … released under the Creative Commons Sampling Plus License. The Freesound Project provides new and interesting ways of accessing these samples, allowing users to

* browse the sounds in new ways using keywords, a “sounds-like” type of browsing and more
* up and download sounds to and from the database, under the same creative commons license
* interact with fellow sound-artists!

Neto’s Aquatikon is is the first release from the new mid-tempo electronica label Omnitropic.

I find it highly original and compelling. It’s a free, legal download.

not much to say today

In this practice session, I relax and forget the camera is running about 35 seconds in…

I’ve had this song in my head for weeks and at times thought I’d come up with some verses for it, however it seems to be useful as a mantra on it’s own right now.

& there’s something nice about the simplicity of “la la la….”

Made a video for the “heart opening” flute track with poetry…

a meditative track “remixed” from the Heart Chakra track @
www.sourcevibrations.com/downloads.html

and the creek sound @
www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php? id=66327

audio digitally remastered by Akhentek

flute playing, poetry, & video by Margot

TEXT:

take a moment
and STOP
remember…
everything that is going on
every 3D appearance
all the stories
are mere illusions
tiny temporary sparks
impermanent!

see the BIG picture
all existance is ONE

Now

go inward
breathe
notice whats real
only Love

Now
Love Now

and if your Now is dark
Love it alll
(all the more)
Love the dark
as part of the Oneness
for its perfect lessons
and bless it on its way

because…

its all One
Now

life happens this Way
for your benefit
always (all ways)

only Love
Now
Love Now

Last night I went to a full moon meditation with yogini & musician Bachan Kaur with a group of wonderful neighbours.

We listened to a track with harp and singing and were asked to whistle the tune along with the recording, feeling the way the sound moved in our bodies. It can be challenging to whistle in tune (especially in a group) and at a few points we burst out laughing. I did not whistle much myself as I was busy loving the harp sounds & happily fantasizing about playing the instrument.

Remembering that I have the precious gift of music in my life brought in an intense feeling of joy about the future & the laughter reminded me my “problems” are actually quite mild. Once I was in that happy headspace I was clear enough to receive some good “higher self” information about my healing process and faith that I’ll know what to in each moment.

May all of you feel a similar joy today!

Drawing by Bachan:

A candid shot of a genuine hug of Love at the start of a fine romance:

Someone gifted my church with an Autoharp and I was asked if I wanted to use it!

I have been thinking about harps a lot (according to Wikipedia the Autoharp is really a type of zither) and this instrument seems like it will be a lot of fun and get me started with string instruments. I was having a lot of resistance to learning guitar for some reason.

I’ll post some audio examples after I get the thing tuned and play around with it a bit.

Here’s a video of a gorgeous June Carter playing one with her husband Johnny Cash on mandolin:

one of her mother, Maybelle Carter

& a new video from modern master Jo Ann Smith

Last Sunday I played at church and it was one of the best musical experiences of my life.

A peaceful energy descended and it felt as if a huge amount of emotional anxiety and sadness was being cleared from the room.

Afterwards I needed to cry for quite some time.

Despite the darker feelings that moved through me, there is nothing I love more than the experience of being a vessel for healing music!

I made more music yesterday! Listen and/or download here.

It’s a meditative track “remixed” from the Heart Chakra track @
http://www.sourcevibrations.com/downloads.html

and the creek sound @
http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=66327

I am remembering two years ago when I felt I “didn’t know how to improvise” and now it flows so easily!

After yesterday’s recording session with incredibly complex software & electronic equipment, today’s music project was quite simple in comparison.

I made this in one take & decided it was perfect as is, enjoy!

Youtube version:

MP3
http://www.musicv2.com/listen.php?m=61992

I spent the day in the studio with Akhentek working on the next Pharoelidae track for the upcoming Entheos Conference and Festival soundtrack.

We decided to base the track in the key of E because it closely matched a 528 Hz drone I wanted to base the track around.

I learned about the 558 Hz frequency (said to repair DNA) via Facebook, in a comment to the (crossposted) Hz so good post above.

We started out with minor however flute-wise it felt right to use the unusual Locrian mode. The bassline is especially interesting.

I look forward to sharing the track with everyone soon!

screenshot of the day (click to enlarge)

musical reference site of the day
http://www.looknohands.com/chordhouse

video of the day

Click on the image below for a short video featuring a passage from Deepak Chopra’s book Overcoming Addictions that relates to music.

these tuning #s for the various chakras may be valuable for music makers

Root -261.626Hz -C
Sacral – 293.665Hz – D
Solar Plexus – 329.628Hz – E
Heart -369.996Hz – F
Throat – 415.305Hz – G
Third eye -440.000Hz – A
Crown – 493.883 – B

“arbitrary system” from
http://www.sourcevibrations.com/Downloads.html
(includes some nice examples)

One of the prettiest things I’ve heard….

There are several examples of the instruments on Google, have requested more information about which were used in this example. In person it must be so much more amazing (recordings are never the same as real resonance.)

More and more I am choosing to devote myself to studying the healing power of sound. I am spending quite a bit of time each day just listening.

I am loving the music of Maneesh De Moor today, WOW!

Inspirational.

listen on Myspace

from his label page
http://www.mdmsound.com

Born in the Netherlands, currently travelling, Maneesh mastered the art of sound synthesis and sound sculpturing, after studying classical and pop/world. He specializes in the crossover of ethnic/traditional styles and contemporary atmospheres and grooves. Over the years he has been collaborating with many musicians from around the globe (Sudha, Praful, Bahramji, Deva Premal & Miten, Prem Joshua amongst many others) and released the groundbreaking solo album “SADHANA an ethno-ambient journey into Oneness”.

Download “Sharanam” via Itunes!

another track has been completed

click on the image below to hear and/or download it

Here’s my first Garageband track! Click on the link or the picture to listen :)

Something One Thing
http://www.musicv2.com/listen.php?m=59580

I’ve started collecting links of my favourite online radio stations on Delicious.com.

I’ve just been introduced to Subflow.net which offers enjoyable electronic music via online radio!

I am very much enjoying the music of Hol Baumann at this time. The track “One Step Behind” is exceptionally beautiful.