I just ate a bunch of jellybeans, and so have the kids. I also spent the day outside in balmy spring weather. A very nice spring in Soundzania.
Soundzania is always happy to help out a charity that is devoted to kids and families. We’ll donate CDs or schedule a performance if you have one that you’re involved in. Recently, a friend of Soundzania mentioned a charity their family is involved in – the Samaritan House in Ohio. They provide emergency shelter for homeless women with children. Since Soundzania is kind of a long way away from Ohio, I offered to ship some Soundzania On Safari CDs out to the shelter.
Hopefully, the Soundzania discs can bring a little music into the lives of some families in need.
If you work with a charity that helps families and children and would like to bring Soundzania to them, please let me know.
Spring is coming – I’m certain – we’ve just had a flood of rain last week and today the kids and I were hiking with only light jackets on!
Spring also seems to be the time that pre-schools want people to come play music. So, just about a week ago, I packed up all my instruments (friends) and brought them over to Good Shepherd Preschool (where my children attended). I’ve included a video clip below for your entertainment or bewilderment – whichever fits. My personal highlight happened as I was showing the kids the CDs I had made and one of them shouted – “I have that CD!” Yes, her mom had recently picked up a copy.
Anyway, I am just about over losing the extra hour of sleep from the spring forward – I hope you all are doing well.
About half the country has had snow in the last week or so – amazing !! Everyone dug out and got their power back on? I hope so.
Here in Soundzania, we’re going to start some more recording sessions in February. The long awaited third album (thereby completing the master trilogy of children’s anthem bop) is making headway.
Once we have any new mixes or rough cuts of the songs, we’ll be sure to share them here on the blog to let you comment and criticize.
Stay warm everyone and if you need to get one of our CDs or a shirt, we’ll share the love a little for February and give you a nice 28% discount (28 days you know). To get the coupon code, you need to subscribe to the newsletter here.
I’m starting this newsletter out with some sad news with some good news at the end. The new album has been delayed and will not be available before christmas this year. Yes, I know, millions of children will be lost and forlorn without their bi-annual Soundzania new CD fix. But, there is still hope. We will still continue our work on the next CD, and will make it available as soon as we can.
woo hoo - we love Soundzania!
If anyone is interested in purchasing single tracks as we create them before the album is final, please let me know (reply to this, or comment on it, or just email me). I’m curious if that would be better for some folks.
Anyway – its fall and the leaves are falling and the temperatures are falling and Halloween has past and we’re getting ready for Thanksgiving.
Now – to hold you over, we will offer a major sale on stuff for the month of November. Share this with your friends…. get 50% off everything purchased at Soundzania.com. (available for subscribers of the newsletter only, if you want the code, just sign-up here)
So, encourage some friends to pick up a Soundzania album now for their kids, and we’ll continue to work on the next one!
No scary things this time around. Just a quick video from a recent block party in Del Ray where Soundzania had a chance to play. Lee and Andy joined in as well. We’ll share one video here now, and more later, stay tuned.
Whoa – its time for school !! The weather has significantly cooled off this week in Soundzania and the kids have all got their school supplies and haircuts and are ready for the first day. Can you hear the school bus?
Time to get down to business on the album though. We only have about 3 months to finish the Soundzania Elementary School album!
Last month I mentioned a visitor came to the studio. Everyone is welcome to bring their kids on by the studio for a quick tour of how we make the music here in Soundzania. This family brought a video camera and edited down a few clips of their visit:
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
It locks down the beat in every song.
