Melanie Martinez's creative drive and talents have always distinguished her from other musicians. After releasing her platinum-certified 2015 debut album, Cry Baby—which reached No. 1 on Billboard's alternative albums chart and has amassed over two billion streams worldwide —she conceived and directed a video for each song on the album. These mini-movies traced the traumas and insecurities experienced by the album's character, Cry Baby.
 
Melanie’s sophomore album and film, K-12, is another ambitious triumph. K-12's music is a vibrant and singular melting pot of low-key hip-hop, soulful pop and indie-leaning electro. K-12's universe is an expansion of the one introduced in Cry Baby. Using lyrics rich with metaphor, songs address the struggle to find a place to belong—including within friendships, the physical world and romantically—even when fitting into society feels like an uphill battle.
 
To accompany the album, Martinez wrote and directed a 90-minute movie (also called K-12) that incorporates the album's music and mirrors the themes and characters introduced. Filmed on location in Budapest, Hungary, the movie focuses on Cry Baby (portrayed by Martinez) and a class of students who find themselves trapped in a horror house-like residential school. As they experience the usual grade school rites of passage—a lunch room food fight, the embarrassment of gym class, a romance with nefarious intentions, courses taught by checked-out teachers— they have to figure out a way to escape.

Color Of Water was selected SOUNDCLOUDER OF THE DAY on November 4th, 2011. 

Thank you Soundcloud, and thanks to all the amazing people who have followed us since our selection.
We truly appreciate all the supportive comments left on our tracks, and are humbled by the appreciation shown to us.

We are ALL privileged to be a part of the movement toward oneness, that this site helps facilitate.

Color of Water is what I call this project, begun in early spring of 2011.
After years of searching for musicians who were unusually talented and creative,
I found craigslist of all places, yielded some exquisite diamonds within the coal pile.

I found a precious few who knew, what they were doing and where they were going.
When I surrendered my will to the universe, and allowed the right people to appear
when the timing was right, the results were most impressive.

We truly LISTEN to each other, and I believe this is what makes our music so unusual.

Together, we present these sound sculptures for the pleasure of your enjoyment.

.....COLOR OF WATER.............................

Water becomes what ever color it reflects back, or is influenced by.
From shallow to deep, the sea is pale turquoise, to deep midnight blue.

This elemental quality seems to aptly describe the compositional method we employ,
to generate sound waves resembling music.

To some, music must be structured around a predetermined set of rules and traditions,.
To me this seems rigid and unforgiving.

The music we make is essentially a clear medium, like water, that's tonally influenced
by the colors and textures we feel momentarily inspired to play, or "paint" with sounds.

Sometimes the music is dark and mysterious, other times intensely compelling, or light and whimsical.
It never allows us to know how it will sound. 
If I weren't recording everything we do, none of us would ever be able to recall what was played, or reproduce any of the music.

We each play our own musical instruments in real time, simultaneously, 
with NO rehearsal, or discussion of what's to be played. 

No do overs, nor overdubs, what you hear is exactly 
how it was transmitted to us, "out of thin air".

We have rejected the safety of familiarity, 
and "always being in control of the outcome", so prevalent in modern culture.

These pieces are all examples of our dedication to the music, and our subservience to a greater creative force,
accessible only with a willing heart, and a mind in alignment with the upward evolution of consciousness.

More simply put;

We empty ourselves of any need for control, and allow 
the sound that's always everywhere, to take over and PLAY US.

This may sound preposterous to some, 
and stream of consciousness thinking as it pertains to composing music,
can be difficult to teach as a technique to others. 
However...
The music is a testament to what's possible, if all players present can really listen to the others,
and augment just enough to make a balanced contribution, yet still allow the music to breathe.

The outcome is always determined by the musicians involved, their talent, experience, tastes in music,
and willingness to surrender ego and fear, for the betterment of the music.

The more accomplished and comfortable a player is with their instrument, the better the 
sonic channeling sounds.

However, even average players can amaze themselves with what's possible 
when they let go of the wheel, and allow intuition to guide their expression.

I have created a recording studio sanctuary, 
far from the mundane methodologies of musical mediocrity.

My goal is to somehow help enhance the way people listen; 
to the creative impulse, each other, and especially
the sonic frequencies they create as musicians,
and absorb as listeners.

And to co create music that quiets the mind and nourishes the spirit. 
Sound with no pretense, agenda, or offensive origins.

Those who find themselves invited to the studio, 
are always welcomed to express their individuality in any way they see fit.

The sounds created in an environment of total freedom can be quite breathtaking, 
and astonishingly articulate, in spite of their seemingly haphazard compositional nature.
 

THE MUSICIANS:

Michael Pennington; Drums, Percussion, Native Flute

Daniel Mullikin; Cello, Mandolin, Guitar, Bass, Banjo, Sitar, Sarangi

David Belzer; Piano and Synths

Zach Zarrow; Piano, Synths, Keyboards

Xitlalic Hernandez; Piano, Synths, Guitar

Studio, Engineering and Post Production; 
Michael Pennington, Lesser Pyramid Studio

Every session is professionally recorded, even sound checks, just as they happen.

We have diverse backgrounds, and yet find our common interests dwell within a totally in the moment,
free form stream of consciousness style of creating unique, not easily defined music.

Every note you hear is somehow channeled through us, 
in the moment it was received, and hasn't been altered
or adjusted to conform to ours, 
or anyone's idea of what music should sound like.

We are fearless explorers in mysterious realms, without limitations or self imposed boundaries.

The healing aspects of this activity can be heard and felt in a very visceral way.

If this method is approached with humility, 
It will widen narrow perspectives, and begin to heal the body, mind and spirit. 

Please relax, take a deep breath, and allow all the invigorating energies passing through our instruments 
to accumulate within your place of peace, be it internal or otherwise.

COLOR OF WATER

Frequencies of full spectrum sounds, that flow unhindered over real and imaginary topography. 

Created by finding the joy in abandonment, and the paths of least resistance.

Evolving through emotive environments that compel and inspire our ever awakening state.

This concept is welcomed within our hearts and musical expression, 
and has thus become manifest in these movements of sound.

We seek to refine and restore our connection to as many subtle and intricate qualities of sound as possible.

We invite any willing participants to travel with us on these sonic sojourns, 
through the deep, dark and distant, or shimmering, immediate, places they take us. 

I've heard it said, "we'd make great pets", and "the coming age is new".
But sometimes when your back is turned, the truth's in FRONT of you.

Thanks to all our families, friends, and followers for your support and for listening.

Thanks to Soundcloud for allowing it to happen.

Be good to each other.....

Always Everywhere,

Michael Pennington
Color of Water
1.1.2012


 


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