Empty Chair’s New Single is Out!

A while ago I created a video with the help from a friend, about Creativity in the Middle East. In the video there was a band that I talked to about the challenges they faced being creative in the Middle East and what obstacles they had to overcome to get their music out there. A few days ago Empty Chair released their very first single and I am excited to say that it is quite good! I’ve watched them live a few times, and they have always rocked the audience. Not only by how they played each song, but the interaction they had with each audience member. Always eager to please and take suggestions, be it song suggestions, or constructive criticism. They have worked very hard and it is obvious the love they have for what they do is what drives them to create music that touches peoples souls.

One thing that captures me are the lyrics. What I love about this song is how I can relate to it, and I’m sure most people can as well. It starts out with Kamal singing

“Sitting here alone
In a cold dark room
Wishing you were here
To ease the pain”

Haven’t we all felt this way at least once in our lives? And yes, I am not ashamed to admit it! The loneliness of not having someone there to ease our pain, to make us feel as if everything will be alright in time gets to each one of us.

“It hurts too much
To just sit and stare
At a scattered memory
At an empty chair”

One reason I love the lyrics above is because of the smart way they integrated the name of their band, Empty Chair, into the song, and made it make sense! I fell in love with this song because it hits home for a lot of people. So many people experience the pain they are describing in their lyrics, that it connects us all together. Makes us feel as if we are not alone. The feeling they put into playing their instruments and the way the song is sung makes you feel as though they have experienced  the heart ache, and pain of losing someone and by doing so, they connect with their audience in such a magical way. What better way is there to to relate to your audience but by singing about something you have experienced and what others can relate to.

Empty Chair definitely has a gift. Not only with the way they play their instruments, with passion and intensity, but their lead singer, Kamal Shbeir, sings from his heart, and it doesn’t help that he has a one of a kind, husky voice that captures the women in the audience! They bring something different to Amman, and now that they have released their fist single, I can say that they are stepping up and proving to everyone that they really are made to be stars.

Congratulations Empty Chair, on a single that not only makes a person experience different emotions, from sadness, to hopefulness, but for proving that with hard work, determination, and dedication, anyone can live their dream.

 

To All Fellow Artists

A friend of mine, who is an incredible creative artist, sent me this video and I had to share with everyone on here and whoever else accidentally finds my blog. An incredible speech by Neil Gaiman where he addresses the University of the Arts Class of 2012. If you are having a hard time finding inspiration, or simply feeling down about you work, this speech will inspire you beyond words.

To all my creative friends and fellow artists, keep on making good art!

Dinosaurs & Astronauts

A few days ago I received a message on Facebook asking me to check out a Facebook page called Dinosaurs & Astronauts, and if I liked what I heard to like the page. I was curious, with a name like that, who wouldn’t want to check out what kind of music it would be! I was pleasantly surprised, not only because of his unique sound, but that he was brave enough to be a Folk Singer / Songwriter in Amman, Jordan of all places. Definitely not most peoples style in this country.

Dinosaurs & Astronauts is the stage name of Nabil Awad Gonzalez who is based in Amman, Jordan. His act consists mostly of playing the guitar, or banjo while singing, and occasionally using the harmonica and ukulele. Playing shows around Amman, his main goal is to spread his music around the world and gain bigger crowds not only globally but locally as well. On December 2011, Dinosaurs & Astronauts released his first debut single “Noble Beast” which was studio recorded. He self recorded his second single “Seesaw” due to difficulties, but is keeping his hopes up that by the end of this year, the rest of the album will be out!

Check him out and follow! Local talent always has a spirit to them that carries on through their work.

You can follow him on Twitter, here!

The Power of Music

“Without music, life would be a mistake.”  - Friedrich Nietzsche

An incredible video about an elderly man reacting to hearing music from his era. The life that the music brings back in him will move you beyond words. Music can truly heal a person in many ways. The most abstract forms of art there is.

Stop Motions by PES

Stop Motions by PES. Extremely creative and the concepts are incredible! Here’s a few of my favorites! A must watch!

 

Changing the World with Art

I’ve always said art can change the world, and I believe it to be true, 100%. I saw this video today and it really got to me. I know a lot of people believe they can’t change the world, but I don’t believe that to be true. Educating the world is the most important way of changing anything from negative to positive. It doesn’t have to be where you stand out side screaming with signs, or trying to get people to sign petitions. I’m not saying those things aren’t good and effective ways, they are, but some people get so discouraged when they believe thats all they can do.

Art can create a conversation. It can start a dialog and it can bring peoples attention to the cause. There are people in the world who are visual. Its the way they learn, and its the way you grasp their attention. If we are trying to change the world for the better, why not use every form of communication we can? Why aren’t we using the arts, music and even videos? Below is the video I watched. If you don’t believe in visual communication, this should prove you wrong.

You may not believe that you, one in a billion, can change the world, but you are wrong. One person seeing your work, seeing your videos, listening to your music, can create an audience, that can create a movement, that can change the world. If you can’t afford to help with money, try with your artistic ability. Create something. Share it. Involve others.

I hope this moves you as much as it moved me.

Nuttin’ But Stringz

If you are looking for music that is passionate, intense and creative, look no further, Nuttin’ But Stringz are incredible. Two brothers, Damien and Tourie Escobar, from Jamaica, Queens both play violin. They began studying violin at the ages 8 and 7, and eventually studied at the Julliard School. They play a blend of classical music, hip-hop, jazz and R&B. Music that will make you move!

I listen to their music while I create, paint, and even exercise. It gives me this energy and movement that no other band has given me. Check some of their music below!

Using Music to Create

I never realized how much music affected my art work until I had to create an art piece while listening to an instrumental piece of music for a project. While looking at the blank canvas, I started noticing how my mood would change depending on the music. Picking up a paint brush and starting with no plan or idea of what I was creating, I realized how much I depend on music to guide me through it. Fast beats make me paint more intensely, while calmer music creates this sort of meditating rhythm to my movement.

If instrumental music can do that to my mood, what could music with lyrics do? Think about it. Most people use music as background sound while they work, but subconsciously you are listening to every word that is being sung. Depending on the song you’re listening to will create an atmosphere and mood for your work. Does that mean I can create an art piece based on moods that are created by music? I think it would be an interesting experiment. It does make me wonder if we have control over our work then. If we sit in silence creating something, we have other things around us affecting our senses. Does that mean our art work is actually not ours at all, but is the environments work?

Above is the piece I created for my project, and the below was the piece of music listened to when creating the piece. Play the music and look at the piece. Do you see the movement of the piece based on the music? It’s fascinating, isn’t it? =)