Showing posts with label Video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Video. Show all posts

Friday, May 26, 2017

Video Game Composer and Audio Producer Alexander Brandon to Lead Score-Com 'Game Music Bootcamp' Symposium June 17-18 in Nashville


         NASHVILLE -- Video Game Composer and Audio Producer Alexander Brandon will provide insights on composing music for video games during the Nashville Composers Association's annual Score-Com Symposium from June 17-18 in Nashville.
        
         "Game Music Bootcamp" is expected to draw 50 emerging and professional composers to Ocean Way Studios on Music Row for two full days of game music training. Attendees will learn aspects including non-linear scoring, integration, writing techniques, and working with supervisors. Writing session demonstrations will feature Steinberg's Nuendo with practical techniques that can be used for any digital audio workstation such as Pro Tools, Logic and Reaper.

 

         All Score-Com symposium attendees will be invited to attend a Film-Com film and television conference networking event on Saturday night. A free Film-Com laminate will provide access to a Film-Com VIP Kick-off Reception, business panels, and the annual Film and Television Industry Gala.

         "We are thrilled to have Alexander Brandon as our workshop leader for our first 'Game Music Bootcamp,'" said Geoff Koch, president of the Nashville Composers Association. "He is a game audio veteran with 20 years of experience and more than 50 titles to his credit, among them for hits such as 'Unreal' and 'Deus Ex.' He runs the audio production house Funky Rustic in Georgetown, Texas."

         Tuition for Score-Com's two-day "Game Music Bootcamp" symposium is $55 for NCA members and $85 for non-members. Individuals must register by June 7 to receive a free Film-Com conference laminate. Ocean Way Studios is located at 1200 17th Avenue South.

         To register, visit http://www.nashvillecomposers.org/product/score-com-2017/. To learn more about the Nashville Composers Association, visit http://www.NashvilleComposers.org.
        
         The symposium will occur from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's schedule will include a brief history of game audio, an overview of the industry, an overview of toolsets, demonstrations of non-linear composition (vertical and horizontal), and typical industry points. Sunday's highlights include integration in Wwise, use of Wwise and Nuendo, integrations in Unreal and Unity, and licensing and networking. 

Alexander Brandon

         Brandon is a game audio veteran with 20 years of experience and over 50 titles to his credit, among them the soundtracks for such hits as “Unreal” and “Deus Ex,” and more recently music, sound and voice for such games as “Torment: Tides of Numenera,” “Wasteland 2,” “Alpha Protocol,” the “Neverwinter Nights” series, “Bejeweled 3,” “Skyrim,” and “DC Universe Online.”
         He has skills in music composition, sound design, voice acting, voice direction, audio direction, and game audio technology. He has written the award-winning book “Audio For Games: Planning, Process and Production” and written columns for Game Developer and Mix magazines. He has also lectured at UCLA Extension, Texas State University, and Berklee School of Music.
         He has also worked with Hollywood voice talent, symphony orchestras, and high-profile music acts such as BT. Brandon continues to write on numerous game audio subjects, and is always honoring his roots, interviewing such Japanese game music rock stars like Hip Tanaka and Tetsuya Mizuguchi. As part of the game audio community he has served on the steering committee of the IA-SIG and as vice president of the Game Audio Network Guild.
         He now runs the audio production house in Georgetown, Texas, “Funky Rustic”, with his wife, Jeanette, and distributes music through Bandcamp and Soundrop, releasing an album every now and again.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Scott Coner Teams Up With Hit Songwriter Carol Chase for 'Whiter Shade of Pale'

By Chuck Whiting
MCAU Editor


            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 2016) – Country artist Scott Coner and hit singer-songwriter Carol Chase have teamed up for a new single and music video of the classic Procol Harum rock classic, "Whiter Shade of Pale".

            Coner, who has recorded several classic rock covers in the past, says he discovered the song in the early 1980s on the soundtrack for the movie "The Big Chill". It's been a favorite ever since.

            "Procol Harum did a great job with the song," said Coner, who will include the tune on a new EP to be released this summer. "When I first started talking with Carol Chase, I wanted to begin on common ground. We hadn't begun writing together at that point, and I thought it would be good to start with a more established song. I had been considering the song already, and when I mentioned it, she loved the idea."

            To view the "Whiter Shade of Pale" music video, visit Scott Coner's YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/n1AMo4-g7zk. To download the song at iTunes, visit https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/whiter-shade-pale-feat.-carol/id1114887283.





            Scott's wife, Cyndi, shot the video for Cynnamae Media Productions on the Coner family farm in Nancy, Kentucky, and during a recording session at 515 Studio in Nashville. The video was themed with different transition shots using natural shades of white. She added 1960s effects at the beginning after studying the original Procol Harum video.

            "We've all reviewed the video, and everyone is very happy with the results," Scott added. "I like working on our family farm because of the pretty surroundings, the seclusion, and my own memories of the farm itself. We hope people will enjoy it as much as we did while recording and filming the song."

            Scott's goal for the recording was to take a new approach, while respecting the original feel and structure of the original Procol Harum hit. Listeners can still hear the signature Hammond B-3 organ licks and "Beatlesque" percussion made famous in the original.



 'Whiter Shade of Pale' - Scott Coner Featuring Carol Chase


            "We kept the song at the same beats per minute," the artist continued. "My direction to the drummer was to attack it like John Bonham on a very simple, stripped-down set. As things progressed in the studio, the song went a slightly different direction with more of a pop sound. To allow for easier transition, we went with a simple bend in the guitar hook to maintain the contrast of the organ and the original direction of sound."

            "Whiter Shade of Pale" follows the release of a music video for "Maybe She Lied", a hit duet featuring Scott Coner and country singing legend Tanya Tucker. The "Maybe She Lied" video has been downloaded almost 250,000 times at http://www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic. The song hit number one on the United Kingdom's Hot Disk Top 40. "Maybe She Lied" and other song selections can be downloaded on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/scott-coner/id333235738.

            Scott also has recorded with country legends T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. Other songs, including "Sanibel" (a duet with Brown) and "Reedy's Dream" (with vocal and instrumental contributions from Daniels), have been heard on terrestrial and online radio stations around the world. Also an emerging author, Scott recently penned the book "Lynyrd Skynyrd: Ronnie Van Zant and Me" with Gene Odom, a survivor of the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash.

            To learn more about Scott Coner or to download his songs and videos, visit www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer. Subscribe to the artist's YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCepl18iQT9-j_GX8eYZHrVA?sub_confirmation=1 .


Thursday, June 25, 2015

Country Artist Scott Coner Releases 'When The Angels Cry' Video on Domestic Violence

By Chuck Whiting
MCAU Editor



            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 2015) – Hit country artist Scott Coner has released a new song and accompanying video that reveal the often unspoken but devastating impact of domestic violence on married women.

            Scott says he was inspired to write his latest single, "When The Angels Cry", after his wife Cyndi recounted some heartbreaking incidents that happened to her mother more than 20 years ago. Scott recorded the song with top-tier session players in Nashville, and the couple teamed up to shoot a stirring video on their rural farm near Franklin, Ind. The artist hopes the song and video will be a meaningful tool for organizations that are helping abused women realize their own potential while encouraging men to overcome a lifestyle of abuse.

            To download "When The Angels Cry" song or video, visit the artist's website at www.ScottConer.com, his Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, or You Tube at https://youtu.be/SXUUgLl43TA .



            The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that one in five women have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Startling statistics show that on a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls to domestic violence hotlines nationwide.

            "I think I am passionate about the issue in part because of my own wife having to live in an abusive situation as a teenager," said Scott, who has recorded songs with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker and T. Graham Brown. "But there is more to it than that. I hate to see anyone lose her self-worth and identity because of someone else. We all deserve a voice, and we all deserve respect."

            Scott wrote the song late one afternoon while he wife was preparing dinner. It tells the story of a woman who is abused by her husband night after night. In the lyric, the woman pleads with her spouse to stop. "You've taken all that I am... There's nothing left of me but this broken wedding band... Please don't hit me again... Please don't take my life... Look into these eyes for God's sake... That's your wife."

            Stylistically, "When The Angel's Cry" was a departure for Scott, who loves to rock the house with high-energy country tunes. Given its dark topic and overall feel, he decided to keep the recording simple and bare. For the recording session, he was joined at Nashville's 515 Studio by Clint Black keyboardist Dane Bryant, Martina McBride guitarist Mike Waldren, and veteran engineer Logan Schlegel. A special console was loaned to Scott by Rob Royer, a member of the legendary 1970s pop band Bread. The resulting sound is organic, tender and heartfelt.


            "So often in my writing process, I record new music pretty quickly," Scott added. "'Angels' was a song that lived with me for years. I recognize that this song isn't a 'feel-good' piece, but I felt I had to record it. I don't know how it will be received. But if the song and video help one person, it will be worth doing a thousand times over."

            Cyndi, who runs the family's Cynnamae Media Productions, brought the black and white video to life with realistic scenes of a Southern woman battered by an intoxicated, uncaring husband. In the end, the victim finally decides to run away. But when she opens a closet door to get her suitcase, a Bible falls out onto the floor. Listeners/viewers can hear Scott singing the chorus. "When the angels cry... You can almost taste the tears... Flowing like a river... It's been dammed up for years...."

            "To me, the Bible signifies hope and resolve in knowing there is a better life out there for her," continued Scott, who noted that the video features performances by a local couple and Scott and Cyndi's youngest daughter, Taylor. "One of the things I wanted to point out is that abuse happens in all parts of society."


 
            Scott Coner has recorded songs with a who's who of country legends including Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown, and Charlie Daniels. Scott's single "Maybe She Lied", a duet with Tucker on Reedy's Dream Records, hit number one on the United Kingdom's Hot Disk Top 40. Other songs, including "Sanibel" (a duet with Brown) and "Reedy's Dream" (with vocal and instrumental contributions from Daniels) have been heard on terrestrial and online radio stations around the world. Also an emerging author, Scott recently penned the book "Lynyrd Skynyrd: Ronnie Van Zant and Me" with Gene Odom, a survivor of the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash.

            To learn more about Scott Coner or to download his songs and videos, visit www.ScottConer.com.

(Photos by Cyndi Coner)

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Chakra Bleu Releases Humorous New Video for Romantic Rock Anthem 'Love Me Like My Guitar'


By Chuck Whiting
MCAU Editor

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 2015) – Americana/rock/pop artist Chakra Bleu chooses her guitar over a man in the humorous new video for her popular rock anthem about romance, "Love Me Like My Guitar".

            The video, which was released at You Tube on May 18, shows the artist cradling her guitar while refusing to allow a pursuing love interest into her room. She dances with the love of her life, her guitar, as the disenchanted suitor begs outside the door. Viewers are treated to a tongue-in-cheek story featuring Bleu's high-energy rock vocals and moaning (but loving) guitar. When all is said and sung, a man just doesn't compare to her musical instrument.

            "I loved shooting the video for 'Love Me Like My Guitar'," said Bleu, who recorded the song for her latest album, "All of Me". "My guitar is my constant, loving companion... the true love of my life. So, why not make a unique play on something that's close to my musical heart and soul?"


            The video, which features co-star Pal Sheldon, was shot and produced by Ray Boone of Music City Video. The song features performances by veteran Nashville session players John Billings on bass, Brice Foster on drums/percussion, Tom Britt on lead and slide guitar, Ronnie Godfrey on keyboards and organ, and Dana
Robbins on saxophone. The "Love Me Like My Guitar" video can be viewed online at https://youtu.be/Pvs05GYuARc.

            The "Love Me Like My Guitar" video follows the release of two singles from her latest album, "All of Me". The first single, "The Shadow", reached number one on the NMW Indie Top-40 chart, where it remained for six weeks. The title track recently hit the top 20 on NMW's Top 40 and Hot 100 charts. The Nashville, Tenn., artist co-produced the recordings with Billings, a former bass player for the late Donna Summer.

            In "Love Me Like My Guitar", Bleu places certain conditions on her potential lover, singing, "I better let you know now... before you're in too deep. Don't want to get your hopes up... if you can't compete. If you're gonna love me... You need to love me like my guitar." Her infectious, rocking love song offers a sultry, sexy and humorous look at the ferocious tug-of-war between lust and wisdom.

            "I describe my latest album, 'All of Me', as a savory treat of pop-rock and R&B -- sweet and sultry with a shake of sass," said Bleu. "The song 'Love Me Like My Guitar' fits well into that mold. The storyline and feel are perfect for a video, presenting clever one-liners and crying electric guitar. It was fun writing the script and casting my unfortunate love interest."

            The "All of Me" album, which features "Love Me Like My Guitar" as the fourth track, is available for download on the artist's website, www.ChakraBleu.com , iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/all-of-me/id882273855?uo=4), and all major online stores, including CD Baby, Amazon, Spotify, iHeartRadio and Sony Music Unlimited.


            All of the songs were recorded in Nashville at Funky Tymz Studio, with Bleu on vocals and electric guitar. Music industry veteran Gary Lefkowith is overseeing radio promotion. Whiting Publicity and Promotions is handling publicity.

            According to Dave Carew, a writer for the blog Underground Nashville, Bleu is "hands down one of the most original and distinctive pop/rock/Americana artists ever to grace the underground Nashville music scene. Inspired by everything from the styling of bands like Heart and the Cowboy Junkies, to transcendent New Age thought, she has forged, over the past decade, some of the most uplifting, eclectic, thought-provoking, and empowering music ever created in Music City USA."

            Born and raised in Spokane, Wash., Bleu grew up with a passion for music and the outdoors. She started writing songs in middle school and performing with jazz choirs and grunge bands in high school and college. On weekends, she headed to the mountains for hiking and camping. After college, she lugged her guitar and synthesizer to Paris, only to lose her green card a year later. She spent the next two years back home in Washington working in secondary education. But a trip to Nashville changed her life. Successful performances at the Bluebird Cafe and other venues convinced her to move to Music City to pursue a professional career as a singer-songwriter.

            Bleu's music accomplishments have been substantial since then. Her recent single, "The Shadow", quickly climbed various NMW charts, reaching number four on Top 40, number four on Hot 100 A/C, number five on Top 40 Internet, and number one on Indie Top 40 (where it remained for six consecutive weeks). Her sixth album, "Souvenir", generated five top-40 hit singles on various charts, with the song "Addicted to You" receiving "Spotlight" recognition in Cashbox Magazine. Other hit singles from previous albums include "When I Hold Your Hand" and "Hopelessly in Love".

             "I want to be as inclusive as possible, providing music that is inspiring, empowering and joyful," added Bleu, who returns home to Spokane every summer for songwriting, while enjoying the outdoors of the Great Northwest. "My songs speak to individuals from every walk of life."

            Bleu said there is nothing better than playing live in front of enthusiastic audiences. She has performed at a wide range of Nashville venues, even taking the honors of being the showcase artist for BMI and Bluebird Cafe shows. She is the recipient of the prestigious "Arena Award", an honor bestowed to legendary artists such as Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, and Jo Dee Messina.

            "I'm very grateful for the Internet in that it allows me to run my music business that includes my record company, 1746 Records," Bleu continued. "By working directly with distribution and manufacturing companies, I am able to reach fans across the globe simultaneously through my website and other online stores such as iTunes and Amazon."

            For more information about Chakra Bleu or to hear her music, visit www.ChakraBleu.com. To book the artist for an upcoming event, send an e-mail message to 1746Records@chakrableu.com.     
   
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Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The WannaBeatles Release 'Oh Betty!' Song and Video

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 2012) – The WannaBeatles didn't win a Grammy this year for their CD "Fab Fan Memories -- The Beatles Bond", but they hope to walk the Red Carpet again in 2013 with "Oh Betty! (The Betty White Song)". 

            The Nashville band's new song and video honor the ever-popular, 90-year-old actress (the one who beat them out for a Grammy in the "Best Spoken Word Album" category).  The video, which features The WannaBeatles as a '60s-styled singing quartet and Evelyn Ford as a Betty White imposter, is available for free viewing at http://www.theWannaBeatles.com or at http://youtu.be/d_9TG-qwgKU .  The song is available at http://www.iTunes.com .

            "Oh Betty!" was released on Sept. 1, just in time to be considered for a Grammy nomination in the Best Short Video, Best Song Written for Visual Media, and Best New Artist categories. Members of The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences can vote for the song and video and/or The WannaBeatles at http://www.Grammy.com  till early November. Grammy nominations will be announced on Dec. 1.



            "It was an honor to be a Grammy nominee earlier this year alongside Betty White," said WannaBeatles percussionist David Toledo.  "We wanted to find a creative way to share our unique experience with both our fans and people who love Betty.  And who doesn't love Betty White?"

            In their video fantasy, the group fills in for Betty White at an imaginary concert.  They are dumbfounded when a Betty White imposter appears onstage. After the band launches into "The Betty White Song", a magical kiss from the Betty look-alike transforms the boys into a plaid-jacketed, '60s-styled singing quartet.

            "The rest is pure silliness, including a Betty conga line and shots of the group admiring Betty's centerfold in a magazine," said vocalist/guitarist Dennis Scott, who co-wrote "Oh Betty!" after returning from the Grammy Awards.

            Scott and his band mates worked hard to craft a tune that exudes the true spirit of what Betty White is all about.  The toe-tapping, hook-driven number is reminiscent of clever, sing-along hits from the 1950s and '60s.  The star said she was "very flattered" after listening to the song.

      The video was taped at the historic Palace Theater in Gallatin, Tenn.  The "Oh Betty!" team included The WannaBeatles, director Vince Pinkerton, videographer Tom Terry, stage manager Larry Gregory, choreographer Brooke Bryant, and production assistant Lucy Hart. Evelyn Ford portrayed "Betty", while Brooke Bryant and Susannah Smith White served as silver-haired Betty White dancers. Costumes and props were provided by Halloween Inc., Kim & Kit Vintage, and Get it Guru. Chuck Whiting served as project publicist, and meals were catered by The Pizza Machine.       

            "Ours is the typical showbiz story: Band goes to the Grammys, band loses to Betty, band writes 'The Betty White Song'," Scott added with a laugh.

            The WannaBeatles (Bryan Cumming, Nathan Burbank, Dennis Scott and David Toledo) received their first Grammy nomination in December 2011 as the producers of "Fab Fan Memories - The Beatles Bond", a CD featuring songs, stories, recollections and fond thoughts about The Beatles from celebrities and everyday fans.  The project was nominated in the "Best Spoken Word Album" category.  The other nominees included Tina Fey, Betty White, and Val Kilmer. The audio book features narration by George Harrison's older sister, Louise Harrison, with performances by The Liverpool Legends of Branson, Mo., and The WannaBeatles in Music City.

            "The Beatles are well known for putting their anecdotes into songs," said WannaBeatles keyboardist Nathan Burbank. "We are following the sample of our mentors by telling our tale in the best way we know how.  The Betty White video could be the beginning of a reality-based WannaBeatles TV show."

            Guitarist/trumpeter Bryan Cumming noted that the group's Betty White song and video are "the latest example of The WannaBeatles' formula for success: 40 percent music, 40 percent comedy, and 40 percent bad math."       

           To learn more about The WannaBeatles or "Oh Betty! (The Betty White Song)", visit http://www.TheWannaBeatles.com or send an email inquiry to dsmusic1@me.com.