Arts

Repost your Soundcloud!

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A blog featuring John Breen, Fraser Fifield and TradConnect

It is great to realize that soundcloud has grown into a site where musicians and listeners can interact and repost music. Have you been reposting the music you heard too? I have been doing this today. I have not uploaded my podcast in soundcloud as I use mixcloud for that. But soundcloud is still the biggest site where you can reach many people.
From a mere(passive)listener of tracks you can actually make a difference by reposting. So you don’t have to be a blogger to influence people if you have a soundcloud account. Just share what you are listening to and the Internet will take care of the rest.

When bloggers like us experience a downtime in traffic and comments, we launch into conclusion that perhaps we have done something wrong to put our readers off. Maybe we are not doing good enough and that is why readers are going somewhere. Well, the truth is, you are wrong. For niche bloggers like me, it is expected that I will get specialized subscribers who are really passionate about Celtic music. I don’t expect pop listeners to check out what I post. This goes with other niche blogs out there.

Too many choices.

As new bloggers crop up everywhere, competition becomes deadly. The market is no longer dominated by those who are ‘stalwarts’ in this industry. Prepare for that. When you are doing video blogs or simply writing blogs, don’t be discouraged when you have lost view counts. This is normal. It happens to everyone. It’s even happening to Tech vlogger Chris Pirillo.

Don’t be afraid to try something new.

Are you afraid that if you do something different you will turn certain subscribers off? Don’t be. In fact it might be a good thing. Blogging is like marriage. There are times when a relationship hits plateau and you need to do something different to spice the relationship up.

Going back to soundcloud, I have discovered new posts today and I am sharing them with you. Yes this post is after all about soundclous. But if you get something helpful from by detour then good!

 

John Breen’s Compilation

 

 

I enjoyed many songs from John Breen. There is this simplicity in his way of delivering songs. Expect a range of songs going from simple to grand treatments. This time he compiled his own soundcloud playlist of what he thinks are his top artists.

 

Fraser Fifield Playlist

Here’s the Scottish master of eclecticism. This is a good introduction to what his music is all about. There are other amazing talents that share the spotlight with him, in these recordings.

 

TradConnect playlist:

If you are looking for something purely trad then this is the best site for that.

 

 

Max T Barnes Interview: The Tour of Ireland and More

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Photo of Max T. Barnes Taken June 16, 2011 at Ray Stevens music in Nashville.

Photo of Max T. Barnes Taken June 16, 2011 at Ray Stevens music in Nashville.

I have featured interviews about Irish artists touring the United States. This time it is the other way around. This interview focuses on Max T Barnes who is a million-selling  American artist and his tour of Ireland which is happening very soon.  

It is great to get fresh perspective from a mind that has seen it all. But Max T Barnes does not carry the attitude of “ been there done that.” In fact he continues to thrive in the music world with a sense of humility underneath the wisdom. He shares them all unconditionally. And he is one fascinating artist that many can learn from.

 

1. After many hits in America, and having more than 20 million records sold worldwide, do you ever feel nervous or excited about this upcoming tour of Ireland?

    MTB: That is a great question. We are coming to have fun with the folks and make friends. Of course I am a little jittery about this tour – “Will they like me” etc. But I am coming over with a great partner in Craig Curtis who is a great singer and showman and that gives me some peace. We all are striving I guess for what we have yet to achieve. That is the human condition I reckon.     

2. You wrote songs for major labels like Warner Brothers, Sony, Curb, Polygram and MCA. What have you discovered so far? How competitive is the music environment?

    MTB: I would say it is dog eat dog but that would be an insult to dogs 🙂 just kidding.  No at the level which you are consistently having hits, it is very fun and rewarding but in your mind it can be very tense. Imagine you have to write a song a day. now imagine it has to be a great song a couple times a week. Now imagine your songs have to beat the biggest names in country music to get a #1 -consistently – it is heady stuff. I have learned humility.  Having said all that, I really don’t understand it fully  — I think God must have given me this gift and I hold on to my faith in God.   

3. You will be joined on stage by Craig Curtis, with Paul Hollowell. How do you feel performing with these talented artists? 

MTB:Paul is my best buddy and we talk every morning but he will be on tour with Dolly so he can’t come this time

I know they are playing Dublin and Belfast on their world tour “Blue Smoke” which I think is sold out. 

Craig Curtis has a Randy Travis like voice and I have a Vince Gill/Colin Raye Type voice so it’s a good blend. Craig is a very funny guy and we have a big big time on stage. Where appropriate, we have a beer on stage and ask the audience to join in our drinking game 🙂  We have a good time and I tell stories about these hits we sing – behind the scenes stories no one has heard. He and I write all his stuff together so it is very comfortable – Vey fun! 

4. What’s the reason behind your decision to launch a music tour in Ireland?

        MTB It is complicated- another story,  but I love traditional country music and from what I understand the Irish do to. 

That’s why.  

5. What will your Irish fans expect to hear from you?

         MTB My  big hits and my dad’s 24 hits. These are very well known songs    “Love me” by Collin Raye – “Who’s gonna fill their shoe”s by George Jones “Look at Us” by Vince Gill and so many more   so fans will recognize them but the cool thing are the stories about the back scene in the biz.   With the exception of Craig’s new stuff, We sing nothing but hits.  

6. What are the places you wish to visit when you are there?

         MTB I took my wife Robin some years ago for a 10 day vacation there so I have seen the tourist stuff. (it was amazing!!)

But this time, I could think of nothing better than to see the inside of someone’s home because we got an invite because we made a new friend.    

7. What’s the pivotal point in your upbringing that made you decide you want to be in music?

          MTB  True story— I was 17 at a movie by myself because a girlfriend broke up– and I remember thinking what do I want to be?

and the answer was —be in music (play guitar) and I realized that I needed to practice!!! so I got up and left in the middle of the movie, went home and practiced!!!    Still practicing 🙂 

8. Can you tell us a bit about your record collection these days? What tunes are you listening to?

          MTB I don’t really have a collection. I have maybe 7 or 8 hundred cd’s from artist’s my dad or I have cuts on —  or friends cuts — or my artist friends.

I am typical of songwriters though- in that I rarely listen to music on purpose . I was cleaning out the barn the other day and my wife asked me why did I not have the radio on? I told her because I like the records in my head better – I really do hear music in my head and I sing along – But my mental jukebox is eclectic!   Coldplay, Bad Co. Hank Jr. Randy Travis (a lot of Randy lately)  And I love to sing in John Anderson’s voice!!

John Anderson was over to my house just yesterday recording!! Oh my gosh I love his voice!!! 

9. Thanks for you time Max .     MTB  Thanks buddy

Official website: http://www.maxtbarnes.com/

 

Interview with Brian Cunningham (audio)

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Interview with Brian Cunningham of the Atlantic Steps by Baxter Labatos on Mixcloud

Brian Cunningham of Atlantic Steps took the time to have this interview . He talks about:

1.How are things going on the creative side

2. What can we expect from Atlantic steps this 2014

3. As a producer of a tour.

4. Teaching Sean Nos  Dance lessons in Milwaukee.

5. How he maintains his agility as a dancer.

6. What’s great about sean nos dancing and why should people come and see or even learn the art.

You Tube version of the interview:

Atlantic Steps promo clip:

A New Year’s Message Plus Podcast #18

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My peers have already their 2013/reflection up so I guess I have to add my own. A brief one. I started this site around 2009 as a way to relieve boredom. I was working on a night shift in another part of the country. I remember that my first article was all about Planxty. Back then I had no idea as to what kind of direction this blog was going to take. But I knew I need one in order to connect to the world. I knew back then that there’s a big world out there. All I needed to do was to tap into that energy and things will just happen.

And things happened. Good and bad. But they are part of the bigger picture. They had to happen so that life can unfold. That way, things will be set in motion. Bands come and go. Friends arrive and leave. But it’s just the natural order of things. We ebb and flow…and strangely find our paths to each other again. All we need was to have patience and to have a sense of detachment and trust that things happen so that they can set our destinies in motion.

It is beautiful to devote one’s life to music. Be it as a performing artist or a chronicler of the music. There are many wonders to be found. There are blessings that await us. Celtic music opened doors for me. Because of this site I got recommended and now I have other affiliations. www.celticmusicfan.com

www.spheremusic.com

 

www.expatspost.com

 

http://www.mixcloud.com/thecelticmusicfan/

 

www.radiohappy.eu

 

and www.subkulture.net

It is good to be part of bigger things. But it is also great to remember where we came from. I think that naïve, provincial and awkward part of us is that part what we should always hold close. The world will always try to shape, pound and level us into something that’s acceptable and ‘normal.’

But to be like a sponge requires good memory and persistence. They can confine us, hold us and put us in a box for a moment. But we will always return to our original form. And this is what makes us who we are. Happy New Year.

***

For those who missed my radio show this Saturday  Podcast #18 is up!

Playlist:

Robert Doyle-Flags of Belfast
Michael (Blackie) O’Connell and John Joe Kelly – Traditional Medley
Eamon Murray- Bodhran Solo
Paddy Keenan-Uilleann Pipe medley
Tri Yann-L’Irlandaise
The APRILL-Fun Times
Nouvelle Electro-Radio
Sean McCarthy-Anami ( A prayer for Earth)
Joel Sarakula-I Will Deliver
Sarah Vaughan-The Man I Love
Gavern-Crystal Clear & Light is Passion (Incantation)
Samuel Smith-Bantry Bay

Cisalpipers and The Emilian Bagpipe

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Band:Cisalpipers

Hometown: Center-North region of Italy Emilia-Romagna, formed in the fall of 2004.

I’ve been meaning to post something about this folk and Celtic band called Cisalpipers. But due to personal events it too longer than I intended. But here it is finally. My take on this energetic five-piece band consist of Chiara Temporin, Fabio Vetro, Davide Candini, Marco Vinicio Ferrazzi and Mauro Pambianchi.

Th incorporate world influences. There are traditionally inspired tunes. There are moments when I think I am hearing a prominent Galician and Asturian piping. But it isn’t. They are actually showcasing the unique sound of The Emilian Bagpipe which has an interesting history.

Bagpipes in general are pastoral instruments. They evoke the beauty of nature. They echo the simpler times. The laughter and sorrows of the field workers. They’re the people’s instruments. Thanks to technology and the resurgence of love for unique instruments, The Emilian Bagpipe has once again found an audience. And this is due to the experimental music and love for fusion of the Cisalpipers.

Other instruments with the band are Scottish Bagpipes, Whistles, Drums and Percussions. You should check out their energetic youtube videos. I am sure seeing them perform live is such a breath taking experience.

You can download the full presskit from the link here: http://www.cisalpipers.net/documenti/presskit-cisalpipers.zip

The official band website has an option for both in Italian and English (upper right) Thanks to JP Kallio of Sliotar for introducing me to this amazing group.