Global Musicians Fish Pond

Born in Acapulco, Mexico, Margo Rey has a rich history in music; with a solid 10 year grounding in the classical style, at 16 she fronted rock band The Debs, and went on to lead Latin/Jazz/R&B band Miss Margo and the Lost Souls, with whom she achieved one top 5 and two top 20 pop releases. With a successful career in the theater, and releasing albums ‘My Heart’s Desire’ (2008) and ‘Get Back (The Remixes)’ (2010), her latest, ‘Habit’ (2012) is a beautiful mix of styles. With a genre all of her own, Margo describes her music – organica – as “…basically adult pop music that’s deeply rooted in jazz, with really, really funky grooves; and it’s created by humans, not machines”.

‘Habit’ features “Between Us”, as well as Billboard number 17 chart hit “Let the Rain”, co-written with John Oates, which remained in the charts for 21 weeks.

In so many ways, this album is an interesting work of art to review. Living up to the spirit of ‘organica’, there is so much variation in style, all tied together with Margo’s strong and beautiful vocal. I can only imagine the way these songs evolve when Margo performs them live.

Beginning the album with a strong and softly rocky title track, “Habit” is a perfect introduction to Margo in 2012. Inconspicuous, yet making its point:

“I want to love you, but now I’ve got to leave you,
creating a memory of the things we never did do…
wouldn’t you agree, that you’ve become a habit to me”

Building into the body of the album, it’s a catchy first number; toe-tapping, and reminiscent of late night live country music, dancing, and good times.

“Let the Rain”, featuring John Oates, brings a completely different mood; musically intelligent, and instrumentally well-composed, the lyrics are fascinating – clearly a song with a message. The chorus washes over you, much like the often-mentioned rain:

“So let them run and hide, I like a cloudy sky,
and let the rain wash over me”

Written in challenging times for Margo, as you can hear in her TV interviews, she is a woman who overcomes adversity and writes it out in strong songs like this one. There are particular lyrics in this song which I consider “daring” for a sweet and popular number:

“Winds blow round a plastic bag, a pile of leaves,
and a dirty mag; children yelling, playing tag,
A man lights up and takes a drag; what a drag”

These are not typical images I like to think about, and yet they offset the song beautifully, the rain washing all of these things away, to “sanctify me”. Another great example:

“Rainbow pools of gasoline, another city washes clean,
sparkling like a beauty queen”

I love it. The kind of lyric that isn’t particularly safe, and evokes the power of the title even more, images and colors and people of contrast painted into this powerful little song.

We move onto “Between Us” (also featured on Margo’s Fish Pond profile here). I have to confess, this is my favorite on the album. Right from the start, it makes the very best of Margo’s natural vocal talent, which she’s obviously worked hard to perfect over a long career. It’s catchy, the guitars and the little touch of country violin in the intro creating the perfect setting:

“We are not alone, you and I
Trying to make a home, but there’s something that stands between us”

From verse, to prechorus, to a lovely swelling chorus, this is a study in songwriting. Writing a popular song like this one is very much about being educated in what you’re doing as well as needing to have a natural gift. Creativity is a wonderful thing, but put it together with smarts as much at she has here, and you have a very pleasing number for public consumption, and a hit on your hands.

“What if I held you so close to me,
You wouldn’t see my faults,
And could you ever look at me the same
if you knew my thoughts,
I wanna give myself to you, without the fear of it all”

Equally beautiful, is the use of the violin in the solo and woven throughout the song, it feels like an often-told story. It’s a song I could listen to again and again.

“Get Back” is a completely different direction again; coming off the back of the big hit song on the album, it truly does “Get Back” to Margo’s roots; fast, funky, danceable, and introducing a mood for this two song sub-section of the album. Following on, “I Saw You” is liquid, smooth, and sweet, the funky bass holding down a solid groove, and a great chance for the band to excel and produce a true musicians track. It’s the type of music that would sit well in Ronnie Scott’s club in Soho. All musos, fine Scotch whiskey, and fat cigars as the band produces something truly organic.

“I’ll Give My Heart” transitions us back to pop; it’s a nicely produced ballad. Lyric of the day from this song for me was:

“It took some frog-kissing to prove I was,
I was missing the prince in you”

Throughout the album, Margo surprises with this type of sentiment. The true diamond lyrics are easy to miss in these well-crafted big-hitting songs, if you don’t take the trouble to read through them to understand what she’s singing about. It’s more than worth grabbing a lyric sheet to enhance your listening experience.

“Couldn’t Be More Wrong” fits and follows on, as another ballad which is easy to empathize with. Some of the easiest songs to absorb yourself in on a rainy Sunday are lyrically based on unrequited or cast-aside love. This song is moody and haunting, and uses beautiful strings, my favorite, the cello, providing backing.

“No passion to run wild, no longer fortune’s child,
Betrayed my hopes and all the trust that I had for you,
You’ve lost your fighter’s rage, and settled for a cage”

Once again it’s a strong message for the empowered, and beautifully delivered by Margo’s soulful tones.

It’s chased by “Saturn Returns”, the second John Oates collaboration on the album, poppy and upbeat, and a little reminiscent of Peter Gabriel and Genesis in their heyday.

The album takes a political turn with a little reggae feel, and “Plastic Karma”. Cheery and upbeat, yet not a “nice” message, it has to be said it’s good fun. With a serious side, the song is a challenge to “big business”, and in some ways maybe it reveals why Margo went the way she did with “Organica” and the Organica Music Group. Tired of answering to others and being boxed into a non-existent “genre”, and the overly-present focus on financial reward with little regard to humanity in “big business”, she took her own path. And this song feels like a celebration of her success in that, wishing “peace” and farewell to corporate America. It could apply to anything of that nature; the banking crisis and the mantra “too big to fail” (as she sings), or African or Middle Eastern politics, or the worst side of the music business; it’s well-written, and gets an important message across with a smile.

“Roses” is a sweetly heartfelt love song. Wait – no, of course it’s not! Deceptive in title, there are so many lyrics in here to dwell on. Not disturbing, but vengeful in an ironic way;

“Roses are red, violets are blue,
This is a song about me and you;
Violence is golden, revenge is sweet,
You threw me down but I’m back on my feet”

You can only wonder what caused this intensity of feeling. To me, it’s not even necessarily written to an individual; it could equally apply to other adversities in life which challenge, but can be, and have been, well and truly beaten.

“Off in the distance, the church bells ring
The blade sinks deeper and the angels sing;
The sheets turn red, your skin turns blue,
I kiss your lips and whisper “I loved you””

But then again, it really feels like someone really messed with Margo, and got a lyrical beating in return. The thought makes me smile.

“10 Reasons” is back to that funky groove, rich with a head-nodding instrumental vibe. It’s a well-written pop song, and quotes the 10 reasons “why not” (“you want me to kiss you, tell you that I miss you”). It’s a fun listen, and by the end had me really into the vocal and band blend they’ve created.

The album is finished off with a couple of little gems hidden in Tracks 12 and 13. “You’ll Be Coming Back” is close to surfer rock, has a great beat, and feels like a return – musically – to her roots in Acapulco. “She’s Not There” is a delightful end to ‘Habit’; it’s so 60’s, and for me ties nicely to the surfer beat in “You’ll Be Coming Back”; it has me picturing the famous Travolta/Thurman dance scene in ‘Pulp Fiction’. It’s a mover and shaker all right, and the pre-chorus build with the title line, the song is reminiscent of all that was great and free about late-60’s rock and roll, and it gives me a smile as I think of dance hall images in black and white.  Try it; it will make you want to get up and party for sure.

True to her word, in “Habit”, Margo has delivered a thoughtful and organic work of art. It’s intelligent, and it’s well put together, with some superb and varied musicians putting their creative best into the process. Lyrically, the message is often harsh, but with a wink and a smile that Margo is empowered, can cut through glass like a diamond, and is more than able to respond; in short, she’s going to be  more than alright. The musical styles vary a huge amount, as you’d expect from a musician of Margo’s philosophy, so there is something for everyone on a long 13-track album; far from being chaotic, it’s knit together so well that the transitions really work. A great listen, and added to the “repeat plays” for me. Some might even say; “Habit” forming.

You can buy “Habit” here. It’s a superb album, and most certainly deserves the accolades and chart positions it has achieved thus far.

You can also read more about Margo on her Fish Pond profile here.

The Richter Sisters – Pranam Bai and Ruchi Singh – come to The Fish Pond from Davidsonville, Maryland. Raised in a family of 7, the youngest two aces in the deck, they have always been around music. From early recordings with ‘The Richter Scale’ and both picking up the guitar only a couple of years ago, these girls have built their ethos around family values, musical ability, and sheer dedication to a life well lived. Their debut demo is a testament to the effort they have put into making it happen for themselves.

The Richter Sisters do something unique with their songwriting; they’ve created a style for themselves which is distinctly their own, and rather than opt for complex lyrics and standard formats, in “Show Me” they have produced a song which thrives on its lyrical beauty. You can listen to the demo of “Show Me” here while you read the review.

It’s a song of verse chorus, verse chorus chorus – no solos, no bridge, no instrumental – and yet it excels on it’s own because…it just compels you to listen to the words behind the music. The simple guitars, sounding rich and expensive, are a great prelude, well mixed, with Ruchi Singh strumming and Pranam Bai finger picking over the top.  Pranam Bai introduces us;

“Settle into my arms, make your home in my heart,
Find a way to find a way, to love me”

Having heard the Richter Sisters live a couple of times now, the vocal is very “them”. You’re already starting to hear the well-practiced harmonies in the second line of the song; such a distinct feature of their music even at this early stage. From the first verse, as with so much of their extensive catalog of material, you have to wonder how so much depth of feeling welled from such young songwriters, and credit them for being able to write it down and perform it so coherently and honestly.

The chorus is a measured and bright follow on, it emits a positive sunny glow:

“We take from this life, what we give
So show me a little love, and I’ll reciprocate it”

It strikes me, even this early in the song, of how rare it is to hear such a well produced, and yet enigmatically hardly-produced, recording. It’s doing its job. It’s going to be exactly what I’ll expect at the next live performance.  Commercially it’s also pretty clever, because I can’t wait to hear the album version, and yet I’ll have to.  Maddening, in all the right ways.

The second verse keeps the same melody and harmonies, simple guitars warm and bright, and backing the vocals so well, loud enough and yet not overwhelming. And to my favorite line, frankly brilliantly written to evoke such a simple emotion:

“Hold me close, kiss me on my nose,
Tell me you love me while you’re sure you know”

The sentiment is pure and lovely, as I mentioned, almost deliberately simple musically, just so you can’t help but get into the joy of the song.  It’s indicative of true empathy with the listener.  The final line is clearly one which these two will always live by; it makes it believable.

“Life’s too beautiful, to just waste away”

The planning that has gone into this first release is pretty spectacular. Listening to their first two tracks (“Into Your Love” is also on their profile), it’s recorded to be a demo; not an EP, not an album, but a deliberately raw and emotional version of what you’ll get when you turn up to hear The Richter Sisters play live. Beautifully paired harmony vocals, strummed and finger-picked guitars, and no more. It’s what they wanted. At this stage in their career, to establish a live sound, and a live presence off the back of it, it will serve them well when the inevitable album recording comes. With very few rough edges, but in all the right places, this will surely become a collectible.

In many ways, this so-looked-forward-to first recording lives up to its message; almost a challenge, “Show Me” is what the two have surely done. I’ve had the privilege of hearing this effort live, briefly reviewing it as such, and of performing it once as a collaborative effort with Pranam Bai. It’s great to hear that such a beautiful and simple song has not been spoiled at all in the recording, and also to anticipate that we’re bound to hear more produced versions, equally beautiful in their own way, in the future.

Congratulations, girls, and I look forward to hearing much more of your recorded work in the coming year.

David Mark Smith
The Fish Pond
david@globalmusiciansfishpond.com

Melanie Taylor; a hard-working singer with a love and passion that pours into every note of her music; succeeds in blending a wide range of styles; Hip-Hop, Techno and Pop-Punk. She’s created an album that will have you dancing from track one.

‘All About Today’ is a pure reflection of how the singer lives her journey. Each song on the album is an expression of a day in her life, and moments she’s trapped in the lyrics she sings. Originally from San Diego, California, Melanie’s heart was always in music. And while her family was constantly on the go, she found her strength in the musicians she looked up to, and the musicians like whom she aspired to create music. She has embraced and welcomed every aspect of what it takes to produce music, from the songwriting process, to producing, to her favorite part; performing.

Beginning the album is a subtle yet hard-hitting number titled; ‘Cease Fire’. The intro of the song is beautifully crafted with just a simple piano; unsuspecting to what is about to come. Once the first verse drifts in, I’m instantly reminded of Jordan Spark’s hit; ‘Battlefield’. Melanie takes you on a vocal-range journey in the chorus, equally pushing against the power that’s built musically to give the listening ear a song worthy of jammin’ out on the dance floor to. The very catchy chorus is the part of the lyric that will linger with you once the song comes to a close…

“Cease fire, I’m putting hands up, hands up, hands up
Cease fire, cause I’ve had enough, had enough, had enough
Cease fire, I’m through with all my guns, cause you were number one
I’m walking out, get it out on the wire, I’m calling for a cease fire”

Filled with so many dance-themed songs, I turn to track 5 for feel-good; ‘Him’. Again, the lovely work of a piano introduces the song, blending nicely with simple techno effects, accompanied by snare and bass drum rhythm; there’s a perfect foundation for Melanie’s lyric. Spinning the tale of a love that’s just beyond the reach of a girl’s fingertips, you can’t help but understand what she’s describing. Melanie’s lyrics are so easy to relate to, sung by a voice that touches on the range and tone of singers like Rihanna, Jordan Sparks, Madonna, and Sarah Haze. Though the entire song is easy to sing along with and just grooves, some of my favorite lyrics are in the chorus; purely for the way Melanie sings them; it gives me chills…

“If only you were him, then I would be with you
When I’m not with him, doing what I should not do”

For a touch more on the Hip-Hop feel, flip to track 7; ‘Badboy’. With a slight edge on the reggae side throughout the song, Melanie’s voice has a chance to really shine through; without the cloud of too many effects. Filling the song in the middle is a simple rap by a guest singer, adding another dimension in the music Melanie has vocally already stamped her mark on. Reminding me of Rihanna’s ‘Man Down’, I really enjoy this side of Melanie’s lyrical and singing ability. Though it has a laid-back feel, you may find yourself reminiscing on your life, and your impact on others. With the message ‘you are strong’, Melanie questions where your priorities are. It’s time for reflection.

Second to the last on the album comes; ‘Whatever’. The message in this song is a reflection on the title; Melanie lives this life, this song, this journey for her. And that feeling is instantly recognizable, and extremely contagious. You’ll be rockin to this song all the way through. A great lyrical sentiment and use of instrumental creativity; including a very nice guitar solo mid-song. Easily my favorite on the album, right from the intro, and start of the first verse; she’s got you…

“A smile on my face, woke me up today
And I knew today, it would be ok
There’s not a real reason why I feel so good
But who said I need a reason to feel like I know I should?”

An album worthy of a debut release, Melanie is off to a strong start; with a beautiful voice to match. I’ll be excited to see what the future holds for this young and rising star, and I hope you follow this journey with her…it is certain to be an amazing one.

You can hear more from Melanie on her profile here

By Pranam Bai Richter
Singer/Songwriter, The Richter Sisters
Head of Global Publicity, The Fish Pond

We are so grateful to be welcoming so many new artists to the Fish Pond, and congratulating so many established Fish Pond musicians on their EPs, albums, and new singles. Your hard work never goes unnoticed, and it is our privilege to review, support and watch you grow on your musical journey here at The Fish Pond.

Since the relaunch of the official Global Musicians Fish Pond website on 11th January 2013, we have grown tremendously; more than we could have imagined in these few short weeks. We have welcomed an intake from Berklee in Boston, Hollywood Musicians Institute in LA (and thanks to our Hollywood based family for making David so welcome in February 2013); additionally some great experienced artists such as Gregg Wright (formerly guitarist for Michael Jackson), Josh Doyle (former lead singer of the Dum Dums and winner of Guitar Center’s Singer/Songwriter of the Year 2012), Margo Rey, Stereolizza, Queen Caveat (ABC’s Sunset Boulevard), Marci Geller, Voices of Prayze (Jason Mraz), and most recently Ron Pope (“A Drop in the Ocean”).

The Fish Pond is truly a family, and there is no judgement here; helpful criticism yes, but everyone is looked upon as an equal, and hopefully as an inspiration to everyone else. Whether you’re an established musician releasing your album, or a budding artist wetting your musical toes for the first time, the Fish Pond offers opportunities to expand your horizons in a growth-full way, and aid you in reaching your highest potential.

It is important to the Fish Pond that we LIVE the mantra; One World; One Family; One Musical Heartbeat, and not make empty promises. When we welcome new artists to the Pond, it is with a family attitude, and we will be there through thick and thin to support that musician in fulfilling their dreams. Though we cannot be responsible for someones success in the music industry, we try our best to help each one and each other along in the best way that we can.

It goes without saying that whenever new opportunities arrive, other things must shift so everything can find room. So as we welcome so much new talent to the Pond, it becomes harder to give full and complete attention to each individual. That’s why we encourage you to look to one another to find that same support. We are all your family, and when you open up to the musicians that surround you, you may be surprised by what you find. After all, we all have similar dreams; to share our message with the world. Global Musicians Fish Pond is about bringing our community, our family, together; globally.

With a growing list of opportunities for you to take part in; here are a few to recognize we offer;

(1) Reviews on; bands, EPs, singles, albums, musicians, like this.
(2) Promotion for; live performances, tours, new releases, music videos, like this.
(3) Interviews for you to use as a resource, like this.

As a musician, we encourage you to recognize that these resources are valuable, and when you have received a review, promotion, publicity, or other resource from the Fish Pond, we ask you to do your part by sharing and promoting the Fish Pond in equal return. Overall we are growing together; with each other, let’s do all we can to support this global family to all the success we can achieve.

Here are a few things you as a musician can do to make the most of the resource you have at your fingertips by being a part of Global Musicians Fish Pond;

(1) Share your review on your personal social media sites
(2) Invite and encourage fans/family/friends to support Global Musicians Fish Pond
(3) Promote other Fishes’ posts to family/fans/friends, to gather more attention and support
(4) Listen to your fellow Fishes’ music and support their musical journey

We would like to offer this to every musician; understand that we will have to be somewhat selective on which musicians we are able to review but know, we will always support in every way we can.

Stay interactive with the Fish Pond, because in the very near future we will be introducing some incentives to members of the Pond. As a family, we are growing, welcoming more and more musicians, and will need the support of listeners in order to make our mission a success. In order to bring benefits to everyone, we will need supporters and fans that will purchase the music you and your fellow Fishes create, and share the wealth of talent with others. Together we can build a huge fan base, because as a family we deserve it. Together we can change the world. Together.

With our support always, and welcoming your input and energy.

One World; One Family; One Musical Heartbeat.

David Mark Smith, My Lucky Fish, and Founder, The Fish Pond
Pranam Bai Richer, The Richter Sisters, and Head of Global Publicity, The Fish Pond

Ron Pope is a man with an amazing career. Growing up in Atlanta, with a love for baseball which he played at the collegiate level for two seasons at Rutgers, he transferred to NYU to focus on his music career. Among many achievements, he is known by so many for his 2006 hit “A Drop in the Ocean”, a top 100 download on iTunes in 2012, which was covered and recorded by Season 1 winner of “The Voice”, Javier Colon.  With 10 albums to his name, Ron joins our family releasing a strong new single, “Monster”.

You can listen to “Monster” here while you read on;

Drifting in beautifully, as the song starts, I’m already expectant for Ron’s vocal to hit. My first feeling was curiosity; given the title, and his back catalog, what journey will he be taking us on with the lyric this time? With a beautifully rising piano, overlaid with a soft but punchy bass, he sets himself up perfectly with a beat which has me nodding along from the start. And he’s in.

Switching from the mainstream sound of the intro, he brings it down to a minor key turnaround;

“London, seven in the morning on a Saturday
and I just missed my train;
Worship, of the kind of goddess that I sacrifice,
Will reap hard on me”

It’s a beautiful sound, the vocal, the harmony, and the quality of the songwriting straight away drawing you in. The mood immediately brings me back to thoughts of his early days and “A Drop in the Ocean”. We’re on a theme here, and a very successful one, with which we can all empathize.  Heartache, love unfulfilled (not necessarily unrequited), and the huge range of emotions that can be expressed musically through it. For me, it’s what makes Ron as a songwriter and musician quite brilliant; being able to express in such a unique but meaningful way something which everyone in this life will likely feel at one time or another.

It’s a song of short verses, and brings us in timely maner to the chorus, answering the set up of the intro. It’s a mantra, it’s driving, the use of guitar and piano building the crescendo; it’s a very interesting point about this song, that the chorus is written to be the longest part of the song, only to be repeated twice. The sentiment is wonderfully expressed, so much so that it’s difficult to pick a favorite lyric, as the instrumentals repeat and underline the best of Ron’s vocal;

“I’ve got an itch, you’ve got an emptiness
I couldn’t fill, false gods and tenderness,
Into your will, pray on the falling
Straps from your shoulders, how do I hold you?”

They are achingly lovely, these lines. You can only wonder who they were written for, wonder how the subject felt, wonder if indeed they ever realized or saw the results.

The second and final verse is short, again, an unusual but very effective piece of writing, and it serves to bring the pace down for just a short while;

“Nightmare, falling as the bottom reaches up for me
Wake up on the ground;
Reject every lesson anybody has to say,
Cause I won’t be saved now”

The piano is delightful in the verses, well used, and building us back up. The chorus is welcome, I’m needing it back by now, this second time, and I can honestly say that I get lost (in the best way) in the song at this point. The theme of “Monster” makes sense, it all fits;

“Make me a monster, make me a beast,
Prey on my weakness, become my disease;
I’ve been lovesick and empty, cold and I’m trembling,
Still holding out for my fairytale ending”

With an epic use of strings, we’re treated to a 30 second instrumental to round out the song, bring it to the mountain top so that the listener can consider the depth of feeling in the lyric. For me, it’s an unusual conclusion, unexpected, and yet so well done, quietly coming to a peaceful ending as it began. Frankly, it left me wondering what had just hit me.

All in all, a superb song, and showing that Ron is absolutely at the top of his songwriting and recording game. I loved it (could you tell?), and would recommend supporting him by buying it and enjoying it as I surely have. You can purchase a copy right here.

Ron, we’re proud of all you do, and we’re glad to count you as a family member in the Fish Pond.

By David Mark Smith
Founder, Global Musicians Fish Pond
www.globalmusiciansfishpond.com

I sat down for a Skype interview with the amazing Elizabeth Lee a few short days ago. After only hearing a few little pieces about her, and reading a bit on her many websites, I knew it was going to be a more-than-worthy use of my time; and I was right.

The sweetest lady, she has true poise and a contagious smile. I was so nervous about doing my first interview, and she made me feel right at home and like we were old friends just catching up. A beautiful soul, she took me into her world for a short while and inspired me with her passion and courageous attitude towards life and her true mission of finding her place in the world. She’s here to make a difference, and in the brief time I got to talk to her, she made a difference in my life.

Let’s talk music, how did you get started?

“I got started in a church choir about the age of 10. I’ve been in many bands over the years, working on a lot of different projects. The band I currently tour with is Cozmic Mojo, and we’ll be touring this spring; March 22nd through May 15th, you can see dates available on our website here. I also delight in a very eclectic and amazing project in Austin called Knuckle Yummy. We will be performing SXSW, as we do every year, and we’re currently working on a new record that should be released in the Summer. I also work with various artists co-writing and doing studio work. In addition to that, I work extensively with writer and producer/guitarist Larry Chaney on a wide range of projects including jingle writing/production, film soundtrack and scoring. The latest film – ‘The Last Mark’; we provided the entire soundtrack for it.”

“I consider my writing a gift from God, and as a funnel of love, I want to channel it to all areas that feel right. One of my most recently written songs, which is probably the most beautiful love song I’ve ever written, and pretty much stands up to the most beautiful EVER written..so I’ve been told, is called ‘Lost Up In You’.”

“The story is; I met someone at a dance hall on a Saturday night with a bunch of my friends. I was doing what I love; dancing and being with the people I care about. I was absolutely out of the “dating” scene, as I had just ended a long relationship of 10 years one year prior and was not in the “mood” for dating. I was still just happy working on myself when there he was, and as he tells me, there I was. Our eyes locked, we danced…and danced and danced…and the dancing got slower and slower and slower, and the energy got faster and faster and faster. And before I exploded, I turned into a pumpkin and ran home and wrote this song. Not exactly like that…but close! If meeting this wonderful man was only to win me that Grammy, well, thank you God and keep them coming!!! HA! LOVE IS GRAND!!!”

What is the Red Dawg?

“Red Dawg is the canine vehicle for effecting change in the world. He is all about innocence, purity, love, light and goodness. Red Dawg is an inspiration from the God light in me, and that’s in all of us. His sole purpose is to help others and to spread love. The proceeds from the Red Dawg go towards various community needs, such as; education, relief efforts, environmental projects, schools, medical attention and food. He has been a donor to several organizations world wide through his children’s book; ‘A Red Dawg’s Tale’ and his CD; ‘Gotta Red Dawg’ both of which are available online here. Red Dawg’s belief is that if each of us would just pick even ONE small cause, we could change the world.”

Where do you see the future of the Red Dawg?

“I would like Red Dawg to become a foundation that sponsors youth in education, safe place shelters, animal care and clinics, no kill animal shelters, environmental clean up and energy and relief efforts globally. Ultimately any crisis relief; be it food, medical, health or mental health. Wherever he is needed, he will go.”

What are you most passionate about?

“Opening up spiritually. Searching for the meaning of life, and the questions God has asked me to answer. I practice daily inward meditation and yoga to really just find myself…that is my ongoing quest.”

Beyond the Red Dawg are there any charitable organizations you are involved in?

“We provide support to several organizations, with an always-expanding list that grows daily; KSPCA Kenya, which protects and cares for animals, domestic, livestock, and wildlife. The Hope Streams Academy, which provides quality education and hope for a brighter future in Kenya. Haiti Global Project, Cherish Our Children, Nobelity Project, Emancipet, Central Asia Institute, Persecution Project Africa, Make It Right, The Siddhartha School, The Kibera Penda Project and Crisis Bread Basket…just to name a few.”

How long have you been a part of Global Musicians Fish Pond, what does it mean to you and how do you see it helping other musicians grow?

“I’ve been a member of the Fish Pond for a couple of years now. The Fish Pond is all about networking and working together, which is key. It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a village to raise a musician. You need others to keep you inspired, to open you creatively and to add color to your own art; it’s a self-expanding process. Having alone time is great, but the co-time is priceless. Having others that love what you love and support you will open up your creativity and help keep you going and moving forward in a positive direction.”

What are three main points you would advise for new musicians just getting started in the music industry?

“Networking is so important, especially for people just starting out. Professionalism. It’s not “cool” to be late, or to do drugs. People respect people with respect. Professionalism is key and the more educated you are about the “business” and how to navigate that and the people who work within that structure, the more successful you will be. And always keep learning. Continue to grow and keep expanding, listen to others that take you out of your comfort zone. If you’re a jazz musician, listen to rock music. If you’re a country music man, listen to some classical or flamenco. The point is to always be illuminating your craft, which can only help open up your mind and further your creative process.”

The greatest value I learned from Elizabeth, is that she lives and leads by example. She doesn’t encourage others to be healthy, if she isn’t herself first, she doesn’t advise others to expand their creative knowledge if she’s not doing the same thing at that very moment. We have a lot to learn from someone special like that, and I look forward to seeing her win that Grammy!

You can hear more from Elizabeth here.

Learn more about the Red Dawg project here.

By Pranam Bai Richter
Singer/Songwriter, The Richter Sisters
Head of Global Publicity, the Fish Pond

Have you ever heard something so beautiful it made you want to cry and smile at the same time? That’s the result you may find after hearing to the music that Kevin Erskine has created. Simple in it’s nature, complex in it’s creativity, beautiful in it’s entirety. With the release of his new EP ‘Ashford’ comes three songs that send a feeling of pure joy to the heart, and will have you needing to listen to each one multiple times to fully embrace every little detail he touches on musically.

First track on the EP is my particular favorite; ‘Far Away’. The beginning reminds me of Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ but only for a moment, once Kev’s voice dominates the listening ears, there’s no mistaking that tone. The song has a steady heartbeat-like rhythm, when all of a sudden, before the start of the second verse; a slam, like ball and chains hits, taking the song to another level. Kev adds a layer of depth to each track on the album, without creating a mess chaotic clutter. That’s much harder to do than one would think, and it becomes obvious how well he understands his craft. He knows when to add something musical or vocal, when to let something drop out, and when to just let it ride the sound waves.

Next up on the EP is titled; ‘Birdcage Chest’. Beginning with a soft and drifting intro of finger-picking guitar work, his vocals lay on the gentle foundation he’s building with graceful ease.

“Wake me when you’re home,
my eyes are growing tired,
I’m scared that I’ll miss out,
on a single kiss goodnight”

…his voice is so intriguing, soft and smooth, with more than a touch of raw emotion pouring out when he drops into his lower register. He accents the combination of dynamic vocal skills and well written lyric, with unique touches and sounds. Sounds of everyday noises you would hear around the house; like the tweeting of birds. He has a way of making the tiniest things, almost always taken for granted, newly appreciated, and musically; borderline genius.

Last on his three song EP is; ‘You Owe Me’. Kev adds the touches of violin, and the sound of waves in the mix with his dominate skills on the guitar. Like the songs prior, ‘You Owe Me’ has it’s own signature mark on the musical scale. This one has a slight country/folk like sound to it, all the while it’s unmistakably Kevin.

“There’s something that the morning craves,
and I’m not very well behaved”

..and that’s how he leaves you, with a lingering thought, hanging on the last notes, the last words in the lyric, grasping for a few more moments with the life he shares through a song; his song.

I could say the same thing about many songs; they take you on a journey. But it never ceases to amaze me that lyrics someone else has written can become “your” story, become a personal part of “your” life, a moment shared on “your” shelf….and Kevin has achieved just that and more. There aren’t enough words to describe how that impacts you, it’s just a feeling you have to have for yourself to fully understand.

You can hear more from Kevin here.

You can purchase his EP here.

By Pranam Bai Richter
Singer/Songwriter – The Richter Sisters
Head of Global Publicity – The Fish Pond

This weekend we are so proud to feature an interview with our very own Fish Pond star of Idol in his home country. Ola Weel Skram, from Sogndal, Norway, has been in our family for a year now, after I first heard his YouTube material, and contacted him; a great guy, he immediately agreed to be “in”, and now it’s great to see his voice and musical talents recognized all over the press in Norway; the below interview charts his early musical career, induction into the Fish Pond family, and his continuing journey on Idol.

Ola took some time out after his success with “I Will Wait” by Mumford and Sons this week on Idol to talk to us about his journey:

Everyone has “a special story” about musical roots. How did you originally develop a passion for music?

I`ve been singing since I was a little child. I come from a very musical family, and my mom and my sisters and me were performing together since I was maybe 2-3 years old. All my life has been about music, and I knew from an early age that I had a special talent that a lot of others in my primary school did not have. I kept on performing on shows, and when I was ten years old I started singing in a band. That was the start for me, and my developing as an artist. Since then I`ve had several shows and been performing a lot, growing as an artist and all the time practising to get a better voice. Now I`m here, and I see this as an opportunity to get new experiences and to develop a lot on the stage! I also hope to show off my voice to the Norwegian crowd as much as I can, so I hope I`ll get further in the competition. It`s a close race, so you never now. All I know is that I have to perform and deliver like hell, and thats what I intend to do!

What do you truly love to write about?

I like to write about certain life situation that people get into. I have written a lot of songs about love, lost love, depression, and of course more positively loaded songs.

Lyricist, composer, or both? Which comes easiest to you and why?

I am much more of a composer than a lyricist, because the melodies come naturally to me, while the lyrics take a lot more work and is much harder to be 100% satisfied with .

The first time I heard your voice was on a video with Ole Martin Volle singing ‘Raining in Baltimore’, a video posted originally in 2008. Can you tell us about that period of your singing career?

At the time when I was performing with Ole Martin, I was 17 years old, and just starting high school. We found our passion for music and life itself in a small dark rehearsing room where we played songs like ‘Raining in Baltimore’, a lot of songs by Damien Rice, Lifehouse and The Fray, as well as creating our own music. Sadly, we`ve been living in different cities the past few years, but we still remain great friends, and play a lot when we get together.

We’re so proud as a family to see you progressing through Idol and getting the recognition your voice deserves. Tell us about your “Road to Idol”.

My “Road to Idol” started when the producers of the show contacted me. They had heard of me, and really wanted me to give it a try. At first I was really skeptical, since it`s a reality show, but I decided to give it a try anyway, of course keeping in mind that it could be a really big break for me if I went through. The auditions went really well, and I went straight to the top 40. Last Wednesday I went through from the semifinals, becoming one of the top 10 finalist out of over 5,000 competitors. And now here I am!

As a Fish Pond family member, tell us what the family means to you.

It`s great to be a member of this family. It`s so inspiring to hear all these wonderful talented musicians from all over the world, and to know that I am considered as one of you guys is truly an honor! In this family we share our music all over the world, and today, using social networks, that’s one of the quickest, easiest, but also the best ways!

I`d just like to say thank you to all of you guys for your comments, I really appreciate it! And I wish all of the other hopeful musicians in the family the best of luck. Continue to work hard and believe in yourselves; it`s the only way!

We thank Ola for taking time in his busy schedule, and encourage you to support him as he continues his quest to be Norway’s Idol for 2013. You can also check out Ola’s profile here.

By David Mark Smith
Global Musicians Fish Pond
3rd March 2013

The Sandman’s Orchestra; a dynamic duo, with sounds coming straight from the time of egyptian princesses, they define their style as a warm atmospheric folk sound, with touches of minimal dark jazz and electronica.

The combination of singer/songwriter Pierre Laplace, and his 17 year old niece Léonie Gabriel is a strong and unique one. They bring together family, music, passion and love in every note they sing. With Pierre’s long list of musical instruments he’s studied – guitar, banjo, wurlitzer, piano, cello, and drums – there’s a limitless amount of creative direction these two can take. They put this into full force in their album, ‘Nocturne’, to be released on March 25th, 2013. The compilation was not only written by Pierre, but also produced by him as well. Pierre also played the majority of the instruments for the entire album personally, with just a few guests aiding in the final outcome of this beautiful piece of musical art.

From the first notes of their song ‘In Your Wake’, I was instantly hooked. I couldn’t help but picture a scene of exotic luxury, filled with pyramids, Egyptian gods, and this duo luring cobras from their depths with mesmerizing harmonies. Pierre’s voice has a slightly raw edge to it, which in contrast to Léonie’s airy vocals, creates a golden combination.

Then comes ‘Wildfires Of The Mind’, which has a completely different flavor to it. A much more jazzy feel flows through the verses of this song. Touches of saxophone from guest on the album David Laisne give an added dimension to the song, and sets it apart from the others as unique in it’s own right. Throughout, Léonie carries the lyrics with such a depth and precision; her vocals come across as if she has been singing for many many years.

The duo demonstrate their beautiful harmonies and intertwined style of singing on ‘The Dying Light’. A soft and steady rhythm of drums and piano serenade throughout, while well written lyrics drift in; “I see your ghost sweeping past my window, why did I ever have to let you go?”. The song sinks deep into the heart, drawing out raw emotion and feeling, allowing you to relate; yet emphasizing, in the way they sing it, that it’s very personal to them at the same time.

With a piano based number, ‘To Haunt You’, Léonie introduces her vocals with far more maturity than you would expect from someone of her age; “In dreams I see you, your arms around me, we curl into an embrace…”. You can feel the control she demonstrates as she carries the melody with effortless ease. The song is beautifully crafted; gentle with intentionally placed spaces, the lyrics have the freedom to become haunting and linger in your mind long after the song is over. There are so many delicate touches throughout; a wind chime, bells, a snare drum (to name just a few); the thought put into every measure is evident.

Listening to just a few songs from the album these two have produced, I’m amazed by how ‘signature’ each one is, while still having a very distinct sound and thread throughout. The skill demonstrated in their musicianship is truly remarkable, and there is obvious dedication to their craft, as their songs and lyrics are beautifully written. The Sandman’s Orchestra has something very special to share with the world, and I look forward to witnessing it.

You can hear more from the Sandman’s Orchestra here on their profile page;

by Pranam Bai Richter
Head of Global Publicity, Global Musicians Fish Pond
Singer/Songwriter, The Richter Sisters
Contact: pranam@globalmusiciansfishpond.com