Is it hot where you are? Whew – its been pretty hot in Virginia this summer – the pool has never been so inviting.
The news in Soundzania is that the art for the cover of the new album is starting to take shape!! Our last newsletter I shared links to a couple of songs we have recorded, and now some art work.
Artwork for the album - by Ken Hougasian
Aren’t those drawings neat?! Ken Hougasian provides the art for the Soundzania albums. He is also the author of the lyrics for songs like Willie Westermore, Crazy Cat and some others. Thanks Ken – these look awesome!
Also, we recently had a visit from a fan. The studio here in Soundzania is always open for visitors. If you are ever in the Northern Virginia area, be sure to drop a line and I’d love to give a tour of the studio where Soundzania is all made.
This has become more of a seasonal newsletter – I think I missed June. No matter, things are hot here in Soundzania and the new album is starting to take shape!!
I am posting my rough mixes over at ssounds.net – under the “Soundzania” project – you can take a listen and drop a comment if you like – I’d love to get some feedback as I go. These mixes are not anywhere near final.
The picture of the desk shows some of the interesting sound makers that are employed on “Bus Ride” – one of the new songs. I also added another picture of my favorite bass 🙂 It locks down the beat in every song.
Springtime
We’re most of the way through spring here in Soundzania and everything is blooming and green and windy and fun. Anyone gardening out there? Here’s what we have growing in Soundzania:
Here's the garden after a month and a half
We also finished up a lot of visits to pre-schools! Here are some photos of those visits:
and these are called the bellows...
woo hoo - we love Soundzania!
Fire Sale
And last – we’re getting some warm weather around here, so I am inspired to make a fire sale on CDs and see if anyone still needs to pick up a few. If you need another copy, or know a friend who needs one – now is the time…. use the coupon code [[sign up for the newsletter to get the code]] to get 50% off anything in the Soundzania store !!! I’m not kidding.
Take care and remember to use your sunscreen 🙂
Scott – writing for Ben Joe who is off somewhere doing a documentary on an elementary school
That could be a new tune… March in Soundzania… maybe we’ll put a march song in our next cd. We’ve started putting our ideas down for the next album “Soundzania Elementary School”. We’ll try to share some samples through this blog as we have them. It should be a fun process. If you have some ideas for the album – go ahead and post some comments here – we’ll incorporate what we can.
February and March have been very busy months for us in Soundzania. We’ve donated a bunch of CDs to the Charis House in Indiana for their silent auction (being held today on the 20th). We love helping charities involved in directly helping children. If you’re involved in one and think some Soundzania CDs could brighten the day and help out in anyway – give us a holler.
We’ve also been visiting some local preschools and providing performances. You can see some video clips of these performances here and here. We’d love to visit your preschool as well. Let us know if you’re interested – scott@soundzania.com.
Well – that covers it – spring is here – time to get out of the house and run around in the warm sun! Oh, and since its spring weather and t-shirts are being worn more… you get a free t-shirt with any CD purchase for the rest of March – just purchase the CD and we’ll contact you for your size! What a deal!
We’ve been at it again. Another visit to a preschool. This time – Knollwood. I’ve attached a clip of a version of Pancakes I play on the banjo – there is some good clapping from the kids during the song.
Soundzania has been visiting more local preschools and having a good time! The kids love the music, get to clap along and shout some animal names out. Along the way, I share my instruments – stand-up bass, guitar, banjo, ukelele, accordian, tenor saxophone and the kazoo.
I am sharing a video clip here of the stand-up bass section… the kids are laughing at the sound of the bass (unless its me 🙂
Soundzania has national appeal.
Our passion is to create music that makes kids smile – and a recent initiative has done just that in places like Fort Wayne, Indiana. One avid fan helped us partner with the Charis House homeless shelter for women and children. They are the largest homeless shelter for women and children in the region – and have to turn away, on average, 100 women and children a month because they are at capacity – and all of the other shelters in the region are full as well. As part of the Charis House fundraising campaign to build a larger shelter, Soundzania has provided donated CD’s to sell with proceeds going directly to help the Charis House serve more homeless children. As part of our support, Soundzania music will be offered at their upcoming Extreme Makeover: Charis House Edition Live & Silent Auction on March 20, 2010
The homeless children at the Charis House are grateful for the silliness and smiles that Soundzania gives them to brighten their day.
Charis House
About Charis House:
Charis House is a part of Fort Wayne Rescue Ministries which has been providing shelter, food and clothing to the homeless to Northeast Indiana and the surrounding region since 1903. We were recognized as exempt from federal income tax in 1935 and continue to maintain our 501(c)(3) status. Thus, contributions to our organization are tax deductable. We are in the process of building a larger shelter specifically for the women and children in need with an expected completion date of April 2010. Learn more about the new Charis House
I’m sitting here listening to the first Soundzania album while my youngest falls asleep.  I’m excited to think of the recording and songwriting that will happen this year as we work to create the third Soundzania album.
Also, I’m gearing up for a few local pre-school visits in the next couple of months.  I will be visiting Good Shepherd Preschool as well as Knollwood Preschool.  If you are in Northern Virginia and would like Soundzania to come visit your pre-school, let me know – I thoroughly enjoy sharing my music!  If you want to see some of what we do, check out some of the video from last year’s performance.
Welcome to “Tanner Sax” into the Soundzania world.  He will be on the new CD no doubt and will likely make an  appearance at the pre-school visits.  I’ve been practicing on the sax now for a bit and its a blast!
Don’t forget – if you have ever bought a Soundzania CD, you are eligible to give one away!
If you subscribe to this newsletter via email, you got a monthly discount coupon in the email – this month it is 20% off anything in Soundzania.  Signup for the email newsletter here.
Brrr – its very cold here (I know Fargo – you’re laughing at us)… but we’re about to have a big snow storm (I know Buffalo – you’re laughing at us)… but anyway – its exciting.  We might be building snowmen and sledding tomorrow.
I hope your winter is starting off well.
As for news in Soundzania – the CD giveaway is still going on.  Remember – you can give away as many as you have purchased in the past!  Just click here to get started.
There’s still time to order a CD as a gift for Christmas.  I will ship your order the same day you order it.  I ship via USPS First Class Parcel which is usually 2-5 days.  So order today !!
Special deal (for email subscribers only) get $5 off any purchase between now and the end of the year.  Even if you’re only picking up a $10 cd !!
Well – I hope the holiday season is treating you and your family well.  Take care – and
Thats what we have around here.  Leaves and Rain.  Must be Fall.  This will be a short newsletter.  Not much news to report, but I was surprised at the number of people who took me up on my offer to send out FREE CDs to their friends!
Leaves and Rain