Over the past twenty-five years, Michael Brook has forged his own path, fueled in equal parts by scientific curiosity, the thrill of playing guitar, technical prowess and a fervent interest in music from all over the world. His creative energies and expertise have been tapped over the years by those who recognize Michael as, variously: a record producer; a soundtrack composer; an instrument builder; an inspired collaborator and player; and a solo artist possessed of a unique sensibility.
Michael was born and raised in Toronto, Canada and studied music at York University. In the early 80s he worked as an engineer at Daniel Lanois’ studio. He reflects, “From Dan, I got the sense that many things only happen in the moment, as music is being performed or written.”
At this time, Michael also met pianist Harold Budd and musical iconoclast Brian Eno. “I used to work a lot with Eno, and I think I learnt quite a bit of my approach to the studio from him… that it’s important to stay in touch with a kind of intuitive, emotional sense of direction.”
In 1985, Michael’s first solo album Hybrid, with contributions from both Eno and Lanois, was released on EG Records to great critical acclaim. That album remains among the ground-breaking works of the mid-80s.
“In a lot of ways, what I do is more oriented around sound than music, and my work is probably simpler than initial impressions might suggest — I pay a lot of attention to atmospherics.”
His second solo album Cobalt Blue (4AD Records,1992) also featured Eno among its larger cast of musicians; Live at the Aquarium (4AD,1993) appeared shortly afterwards, recorded at London Zoo, on the occasion of Cobalt Blue’s press launch.
Between his past releases and forthcoming disc, RockPaperScissors, Brook has collaborated with a long list of international talent including Pieter Nooten, Mary Margaret O’Hara, The Pogues, Bryan Ferry, Youssou N’Dour, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Cheb Khaled, Indian electric mandolin player U. Srinivas and the Armenian duduk flute master Djivan Gasparayan.
“Every time you work with somebody else, you learn something you wish you’d known before. I really don’t like working by myself. I get cabin fever!”
Another form of collaboration for Brook is film music. In 1992, he composed and performed the acclaimed score for the Academy Award nominated documentary “The Fires of Kuwait.” As his opportunities increased, Michael moved to Los Angeles, his current residence and the site of his new studio, La Lavanderia, in the hills above Hollywood.
Following work on the soundtrack to director Michael Mann’s 1995 film “Heat”, Michael was invited to compose the music for Kevin Spacey’s Albino Alligator, and the score for Paul Schrader’s 1998 feature Affliction.
“When you are working for film you basically have a patron, which is usually the director. They are an audience of one, and sometimes it is easier to please an audience of that size… sometimes…”
As a musician, Michael’s electronically-enhanced guitar may be heard on many films, including composer Hans Zimmer’s scores for “Black Hawk Down”, “Mission Impossible 2”, and “The Pledge”.
Most recently, Michael has composed the score for the hot-button, 2006 Al Gore global warming documentary An Inconvenient Truth, and produced the soundtrack, as well as contributed compositions, to the much lauded traveling exhibition, “Ashes and Snow” (with collaborators such as Lisa Gerrard).
On his new album, one can hear evidence of all of Michael’s experiences and skill sets.
Much of RockPaperScissors developed over time, taking in elements from his surroundings: “For me, composing is like going for a walk in an unfamiliar city. It’s an adventure: you go out the hotel, turn right and just see where each street leads you.”
“I started writing the songs for the album in 2003. The pieces all evolved in an exploratory way, in that there wasn’t really a plan. So the idea of collaborating with people just came as the music developed. I would think about adding an orchestra or having Claude Chalhoub play violin. Or, as it turned out, for the first time I thought to invite lyricists and vocalists to work on a solo record: it was liberating. And hard work!”
Michael and multi-instrumentalist/arranger Rich Evans (of Peter Gabriel’s band) even traveled to Sofia, Bulgaria on behalf of this ambitious project, where they recorded local orchestral and choral ensembles. Into the mix, Brook also introduced several singers: his former 4AD labelmate Lisa Germano; L.A. songwriter Shira Myrow; the UK’s haunting Ben Christophers; as well as the widely acclaimed Paul Buchanan of The Blue Nile. There are also extraordinary, posthumous contributions from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Sir Richard Burton.
“There are a few familiar elements on the album but, hopefully, in unusual combinations. They seem to work together in quite a natural way. I was trying to evoke a sense of place, of different landscapes, of atmospheres. More than anything, RockPaperScissors is a kind of travelogue… and I hope the listener feels comfortable coming on this slightly eccentric journey with me.”

#theMNproject

The best brands are built on great stories - Ian Rowden (Chief Marketing Officer, Virgin Group)

#theMNproject is telling compelling stories in the light of contemporary culture through music and digital media while still remaining true to our values. We are a digital branding platform that creates engaging communities around “Music With A Positive Influence”. 

52 weeks, 52 songs! From Monday December 1st 2014 we release a song (Radio Edit, Instrumental, Vocals) by Mercy Njoki for free download via www.soundcloud.com/themnproject as well as:

• A monthly video shoot released on the last Monday of every month 
• A themed acoustic live recording set (4 - 6 songs) every other month
• An intimate invite only concert every quarter
• Planned media tours, church tours and an East African tour to promote our agenda

#TheVoice

To be a recognised voice of truth, hope and soberness, among young professionals, specifically women in Kenya, Eastern Africa and eventually Africa.” @MercyNjoki254

Enter Mercy, a Masters in Psychology graduate and gifted singer/songwriter with big dreams and a global-sized heart. She’s looking to impact teens and young professionals; especially young women by helping them address and more importantly overcome every day struggles and issues, e.g. in living a fulfilled life, achieving dreams despite the challenges, having a reliable anchor and in that building a concrete sense of self or having an appreciation of life in the face of so many demands. 

A psychology by profession she is currently the school counselor at Rusinga Schools. Mercy is using her voice as a platform and gateway to positively influence young people through entertainment and education.

Her passion and voice seeks to inspire hope. The unprecedented level of engagement on social media and features alone are a testament of the impact our project is already having on the public just 3 months in. Involved in the project as well are several influential and experienced professionals such as the likes of music producers Robert “R. Kay” Kamanzi, Gideon “Gidi” Kimanzi and Jazz “That Guy” Odongo who are behind the success stories of Baba, Impossible, Niongoze, Asante and Natafuta to name a few.    


#TheCause 

Music is the universal language of the soul

Music plays a crucial role in our life intuitively and its strategic integration to business is thus essential for brands as music provides not just a personal relationship, but also a long-term loyal behaviour through emotion, experience and engagement. 

#theMNproject is not just about music but an authentic and powerful platform that reaches out to fans through different digital channels and events whose agenda and impact will positively influence the personality and reputation of partners involved.   
#theMNproject is breaking new ground and pushing the boundaries in music and digital media, by doing it in a grass-roots and heart-driven way. 

#TheRevelation

Interaction is becoming a barrier for communication between brands and customers nowadays but music appears to be an authentic bridge that can bring them together. 

The social power of music can move a whole community to action and companies can leverage this to engage their customers and provide meaning value on a long-term basis. 

Musicians have long been opinion leaders based on their ability to translate an intended message in a genuine way.  These word of mouth endorsements are a significantly more credible source of brand evaluation as customers now expect more than just functionality, but connection and exclusivity from a company. The cultural mission of music allows iconic brands to tap into society’s values and even inspire a shift in them. 

Singer/Songwriter from the 30th state of the Union, Wisconsin.

You may not have heard of Kurt Gunn; he's far more interested in writing and performing music than promoting himself. But with three solo albums to his credit, and a nomination for Singer Songwriter of the year by the Wisconsin Area Music Industry, Gunn's fan base has grown steadily, as his talented guitar work, turned phrases, and unique, impassioned songwriting continually garner attention in Green Bay and beyond. Kurt tastefully appropriates whichever styles best accompany his story-songs, capturing crowds whether he's leading a fluid cast of sympathetic musicians, or simply strumming and picking solo. Ultimately, Gunn's ability to lend both gravity and levity to his work -- sometimes within a single song -- is what will stun his listeners for years to come.

WISCONSIN AREA MUSIC INDUSTRY NOMINEE/2016 (Singer-Songwriter Of The Year)
MILE OF MUSIC (Performer) (Appleton, WI)
EAST/WEST MUSIC FEST (Performer) (De Pere, WI)
ELECTRIC CITY EXPERIENCE (Performer) (Kaukauna, WI)
STEELBRIDGE SONGFEST (Performer/Venue Host) (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
BAYFEST LIVE (Main Stage Performer) (Green Bay, WI)
ARTSTREET (Main Stage Performer) (Green Bay, WI)
SAVOUR GREEN BAY (Main Stage Performer) (Green Bay, WI)
THE VOICE (Season 3/ Private Industry Invite Audition) (Chicago, IL)
NACA NORTHERN PLAINS SHOWCASE (Featured Performer) (St. Paul, MN)
ALBIZ MAJOR LABEL SHOWCASE (Featured Performer) (Columbus, OH)

Three Independent Released Albums:
THIS & THAT EP (2008)
UNDERNEATH (2014)
SCENES FROM A SMALL TOWN IN MAINE (2015)

Six-piece band Delta Rae consists of Liz Hopkins and Brittany Holljes who front the robust group with sultry harmonies rounded out by Holljes’ brothers Eric (vocals, piano) and Ian (vocals, guitar) as well as Mike McKee (drums) and Grant Emerson (bass). The band who made their way to Nashville from Durham, NC chose their moniker from a mythical story the Holljes siblings’ mother wrote about a Southern girl of the same name who summons the Greek gods to earth. A regular on the festival circuit since forming in 2009, the socially-conscious band’s larger-than-life performances have earned coveted spots most recently at Country 2 Country (London, Scotland) in addition to Bonnaroo, Tortuga Music Festival, Austin City Limits, Hangout Fest, VOODOO and Lollapalooza. They have received national attention with features in NPR, Washington Post and New York Times in addition to multiple late night performances and inclusion in Forbes' 30 Under 30 list. They were recently named by CMT as a “18 for 2018” Listen Up artist with both Rolling Stone and Billboard touting Delta Rae as "Artists to Watch.” Beginning September 5 at The Basement in Nashville, the troupe will begin their 16-week Delta Rae Revival that features the perfect mix of light and dark sounds and an immersive audience experience. They will perform songs from their Valory Music Co. EP’s A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE and THE BLACKBIRD SESSIONS as well as introduce fresh music into the set each week, plus invite special guests throughout the residency. For tickets and additional information, visit DeltaRae.com.

It's not easy to find a success story as genuine as Creed's in popular culture these days when considering all of the carefully scripted rises to glory and the falls that inevitably follow careers built on hype. If any band in recent years can claim to have ascended strictly on its own merits, it's Creed. This Florida-based band went from zero to sixty, (or, more accurately, from zero to selling more than twenty million albums) by virtue of a combination of finger-on-the-pulse songs and powerful live performances. Their debut album, My Own Prison, has sold over six million albums to date. Creed's sophomore effort, Human Clay, debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts and has gone on to sell more than 10 Million copies. The band's third release, Weathered, also debuted at #1, selling more copies in its first week than any other rock release in 2001, and tying the record for the longest run at the top following a #1 debut.

"With My Own Prison, I knew we had the talent to get a record deal and I knew we had songs good enough to get played on the radio, but I never had any expectations of reaching this many people," says Creed's frontman Scott Stapp.

Nonetheless, the band's success has been truly phenomenal. Creed was the first band in history to have four #1 Rock Radio singles from a debut album. On the strength of their singles, including the crushing title track and the more pensive "What's This Life For," Creed topped countless year-end charts and was recognized as the Rock Artist of the Year at Billboard's 1998 Music Awards. Their debut album was also the #1-selling Hard Music album of 1998 on SoundScan's Hard Music chart.

With the release of their second album, Human Clay, Creed upped the ante yet again. "Higher," the first single from their 10-times platinum sophomore release, broke the Active and Mainstream Rock airplay records for the most consecutive weeks at #1, holding the coveted spot for eighteen weeks. Furthermore, Creed was recognized once again as the Rock Artist of the Year at Billboard's 1999 and 2000 Music Awards. Human Clay 's first three singles ("Higher," "What If" and "With Arms Wide Open") again achieved #1 status, setting a record with a total of seven consecutive #1 Rock Radio singles.

"We're the type of band that functions really well under pressure and the only pressure that we recognize is our own. We definitely wanted to top ourselves [after the My Own Prison album]," says Stapp. "We wanted to make a really great record. The band's goal has always been to make records that are solid from start to finish; records that take you through an entire range of emotions." Guitarist / co-writer Mark Tremonti added, "We always kept in mind that we had to write for ourselves because as long as we are proud of it, our fans will be as well. We try not to set any other goals above and beyond that." While Stapp grants that the band's increased resources had some impact on the structure of Human Clay, it's clear that Creed's evolution is far more than just a matter of dollars and cents.

Once again, Creed has returned with an album of songs that collectively offer the listener a passionate journey of emotive energy. Tremonti and Stapp's collaborations stand among the select few that seem to effortlessly draw the listener in and truly move the spirit through the simple art of expression. The lead single, "My Sacrifice," opens with a signature Mark Tremonti guitar intro and then envelops the listener with the mood and power no other band today commands.

For Weathered, Creed once again turned to longtime friend and producer John Kurzweg to ensure that they captured the anthemic guitars, dramatic vocals and bold lyrics that have made the band's brawny-yet-intimate sound a radio staple for several years. The band also decided to invite Kirk Kelsey, their longtime live sound engineer, to co-produce the new material. Together with Kurzweg and Kelsey, Creed recorded the new album in a home studio just outside of Orlando. Drummer Scott Phillips commented, "We've done our previous two albums in home studios and have felt that this is our best creative environment where we can feel comfortable and creative as a band." Guitarist Mark Tremonti performed all of the bass guitar tracks on Weathered and a few special guests made passionate contributions to the album. On "Don't Stop Dancing," the band was joined by the Tallahassee Boys' Choir and Amie Stapp. Regarding his sister's appearance on the album, Stapp noted, "I had been looking for a female vocalist for awhile and it dawned on me that I didn't need to look any farther than home." On "Who's Got My Back?," vocalist Bo Taylor, an archivist at The Museum of the Cherokee Indian, makes a special appearance on the invitation of Creed. Taylor mentioned, "I really like Creed's music because they are asking questions that all human beings should ask as they look outside of themselves. Music touches people and Scott contacted me to celebrate where he originally came from and to reconnect with his ancestry. It speaks volumes about his character that he reached back and made this statement and it means a lot to me personally that he did this."

"I think my lyrics are very direct and understandable," says Stapp. "People can relate to that, so that's something I didn't want to move away from. At the same time, we're a little bit older and more mature now and we've been through a lot in the past few years, so we are looking to put things across in a way that reflected that." Co-writer Mark Tremonti added, "We wanted to take our sound and expand on it. I think Weathered is the most diverse, dynamic record we have written to date."

Creed's reputation for dynamic and passionate live performances has led to consistently sold-out shows. Over the past four years the band has played to more than four million fans worldwide. "We were out on tour for a long time and wherever we went, there were people telling me how much certain songs meant to them and how they felt so close to them," says Stapp. "That means more to me than any other kind of attention. It's important to feel as if you're doing something worthwhile and in this band, with Mark and Scott, I feel like I am." On a similar note, drummer Scott Phillips added, "Our success has been dictated by the fans. They are the most important thing in the band's life. The three of us feel blessed to have such a great following of people. It's amazing to me when I sit behind the kit during a show and see the passion and emotion displayed by the audience."

In January 2002, Creed embarked on a world tour that will bring them to over one million fans throughout the year. The year began with a trek across North American arenas in January, after which they touched down in Australia and New Zealand in July. The band will then return to the U.S. for a Summer / Fall stadium tour. When asked before the tour about his feelings on getting back on the road and in front of the band's fans, guitarist Mark Tremonti replied, "Personally, I can't wait to get back on tour. It is something I truly enjoy and can't live without. It has been too long since we played a full blown show." Scott Phillips mentioned, "It's been over a year since we've had a chance to perform in front of a crowd. Our experiences in previous years have been amazing and we can't wait to continue that feeling."

In 2000, Creed's presence on television and their impact on end-of-year award shows were undeniable. The band released their VH1 Behind The Music special, taped and released VH1's Storytellers with The Doors and garnered numerous awards. In November, Creed earned two awards at the Radio Music Awards and the fans bestowed four awards on the band at the My VH1 Awards. They also received the award for Rock Artist of the Year, for the third year in a row, at the Billboard Awards in December. The writing team of Mark Tremonti / Scott Stapp kicked off 2001 by winning a Grammy Award for the band's composition, "With Arms Wide Open," a deeply personal song that was inspired when Stapp learned he was going to become a father.

Stapp is also continually besieged with requests to help with a variety of fund-raisers and charities and helps whenever and wherever he can. He has started his own charity, the "With Arms Wide Open Foundation" in an attempt to help underprivileged children and to be able to give something back to the communities that have supported Creed.

Invite Rocktopus into your school and have them take you on a songwriting journey! Here you can listen to the songs created...

Credits to Questorium on reddit for my profile pic!

Hey, I'm Jam, a nerd who likes to make cool tunes using FL Studio 20. 

~Q & A~

Q. What program do you use to make your songs?
A. Ableton.

Q. What's your favorite song?
A. In general, I prefer listening to emotional tracks. Corridors of Time from the Chrono Trigger soundtrack comes to mind, I can't get enough of that ostinato in the beginning haha. ASGORE from Undertale is another personal favorite of mine and something I look back on in terms of arrangement and intensity. As for non-vgm pieces, Porter Robinson's entire discography hits all the marks for me. 

Q. Do you take requests?
A. I'll take a peek at comments from time to time for inspiration.

A laboratory with an open bar and floating altar. Come on in! 

Here are various solo and collaborative projects - songs, soundscapes, live looped solo guitar improvisations. 

This project used to be called "imaginary friends", but it became too real for that name, as did many of you.

I hope you enjoy something you find here. Do feel free to be in touch, you never know what might happen.  

I also invite you to attend @hypnopompetus, a duo project with the illustrious Cheesemont Paisley-Paisley https://soundcloud.com/sel-sync, and Fictive Sisters, a transatlantic band with  the incomparable Wheelwright https://fictivesisters.bandcamp.com/album/immaculate-distraction.

With over four decades of smash hit songs, sold-out tours and inspirational messages, one may wonder, "Where did it all begin? What gives Third World the staying power so rare in the music industry?" Third World is more than just one of the top Reggae bands of all time, it is an institution that stands for producing and performing music that, while holding firm to the cultural and ancestral roots of its members, still pushes forward the cutting edge of music worldwide. It is an institution whose themes are positive, progressive and internationally relevant.
We invite you to take a listen to THIRD WORLD!

Esme York is following