Alphanaut is raising funds on Kickstarter.com to help raise funds for the followup album to "Out of Orbit".
The new album titled "Little Sun" is a collection of songs inspired by the life of my dog Dingo. Unfortunately, we lost Dingo at the age of six after he fought a valiant battle with canine lymphoma. Dingo was truly an amazing creature who entered our universe for too short a time, touching all around him in ways I never thought possible. He was a daredevil, lover of life, pals with every human he met, best friend and star of the neighborhood. He taught us all a great deal, and when he was gone, he was greatly missed by all who had met him. The songs are are fictionalized accounts of key points in Dingo's life forming a concept album of sorts.
My goal with my campaign on Kickstarter.com is to raise $5,000.00 to pay for a small orchestral section to play on the album, as well as hire the other remaining musicians needed to complete the project. With Kickstarter and your help I can make that goal a reality. Check out my campaign, donate and receive cool pledge gifts as a way of me saying thanks for your support. I have 30 days from today to pull off my goal, and unfortunately if I don't reach my set amount the project won't get funded.
Once the album is completed my goal is to donate a portion of the proceeds from album sales to a charitable organization working on the issue of canine cancer. I'm still doing research as to who I want to reach out to to achieve this goal, but hope to make that announcement once the project is ready to be released.
Thanks for your help in bringing "Little Sun" into the light.
Share this link to promote Alphanaut's "Little Sun" campaign http://kck.st/dKy4hb
As of January 2011, the official Alphanaut blog has been moved from this blogger account to Wordpress on my main domain. Just wanted to give a heads up to any fans, friends and family following me here so you can update your bookmarks.
Here's the address for the new blog http://planetalphanaut.com/blog
Thanks again to all for your continued support and stay tuned for news on the second Alphanaut full length due out summer 2011.
Just posted the footage I shot of the recording session for "Spontaneity (Acoustic)". The clip features Chavo Villanueva on guitars, Jorge Villanueva on percussion and Teca Garcia of Tijuana No on charango and Peruvian flutes.
The song is featured as a bonus track on the "Spontaneity" single and can be purchased on iTunes and other digital retailers.
Just posted the final collection of images taken during the filming of "The Innocence of Time" music video on the Alphanaut Ning site. These images were taken in the Hollywood Hills, Griffith Park and the beach near Malibu.
If you haven't already checked out the finished product, you can view the Innocence of Time music video on Youtube.
During the filming of "The Innocence of Time" music video, I was fortunate to have my family with me on location. Actually, my nephew Austyn was down to star in the first half of the production as the lone astronaut stranded on some strange world. My mom, a shutter-bug herself, captured tons of great still photos from behind the scenes, while my sister Stephanie shot video footage.
Just posted two more photo galleries to the Alphanaut Ning Site of what they captured during the filming. The first is from our final day in the desert near Joshua Tree National Park. The second is from our day in downtown Los Angeles.
Keep up to date with Alphanaut at the official Ning Site.
"More Than I Do", the third single from the Alphanaut album "Out of Orbit" has just hit online stores. The release includes an edit of the album version and a remix of the song "More Than I Do (Flip's Stripped Mix)" by the artist Flip.
Click below to pick up a copy of the Alphanaut single "More Than I Do" on iTunes
Here is the video for the second segment of Behind the Scenes footage we filmed while making the music video for "The Innocence of Time".
In part 2, the scenes were shot in downtown Los Angeles. We utilized a number of locations that day including the Second Street tunnel, rail yard, Bonaventure Hotel and Million Dollar Hotel.
Nils Timm was at the helm with his regular crew including Rob Toth and Kanna Taniuchi with Mark's sister and mother on board capturing the behind the scenes happenings.
Finally had time to edit the behind the scenes footage shot during the creation of "The Innocence of Time" music video. Here are moments from Day One, set to the "Guilty As Charged Remix" of the song by Ted Scarlett.
Thanks to Stephanie, my sister, for capturing this footage for me.
Purchase a copy of "The Innocence of Time" on iTunes
Yesterday marked the official launch of the Alphanaut Community Site at Ning.com I've been working on this environment off and on for the last six months, and finally have it to a point where I feel comfortable letting fans and friends know about it. For the first 100 people to join in and set up their free profile, I'm offering a complimentary CD quality song download through Bandcamp.
If you're not familiar with Ning, they offer a really cool community space that can be used by anyone, for pretty much any purpose. I'm hoping it will provide me with a more centralized space where I can communicate with everyone about the latest happenings with the project. The site is in it's early stages but you can currently listen to all my tracks, cruise through every video and check out the discography pages with liner notes and lyrics for every release. I'm looking forward to adding more interactive features in the coming months.
Thanks so much to everyone for their support! Anyone who want to join Alphanaut on Ning CLICK HERE. I'll email you your link and coupon code for the free tune!
Created my first iMix on iTunes and decided to focus on some lesser known music by both well known and not so well known acts from the past. Check it out and give it a rating on iTunes if you like it.
I wanted to give fans and friends some input on selecting the third single for the album "Out of Orbit". After combing over stats of what songs seem to be getting the most plays and downloads, I chose the top three.
To vote, first have a listen to each song by hitting the play button for each tune. Then visit the poll listed below to cast your vote.
So it's been a while since my last post featuring the inspiration behind the songs on "Out of Orbit". I've unexpectedly found myself swept up by a creative 'tidal wave' the last 6 months, which has kept me away from doing as much social networking as I would like. However, as a result of all my efforts, I have not only penned 13 songs which will be the next Alphanaut full length, but I've also begun a collection of ambient instrumentals. If all goes as planned the instrumental album will be released Spring 2011 and the full length in summer the same year. I'll keep everyone posted on how things are coming along.
The next tune up from "Out of Orbit" is "Happily Sedated". This was the only song on the album that went to the studio without a finished demo at the beginning of the recording session. I don't think I even had a lyric beyond "We're all happily sedated, in the life that we created". That's it, and the pressure was on to figure out what the message would be around that line.
At the time the songs were being recorded, the world was in free fall as economies were collapsing and our communal spirit began to deflate. One day I was out around town and took notice of how many people were shielded from the outside world by their hand held devices. One after another I noticed individuals paying more attention to the texts they were sending rather than where they were walking. That was enough to trigger the lyric "Look up, power down your cel phone" and I found myself with inspiration for the son's direction.
I wrote the song about a how each and every one of us is culpable for the woes of our current situation, and how blame can't simply be tossed at bankers and politicians. I began to realize that four decades of institutionalized excess of the Western world had drug us down and taken the rest of the world with it.
The song's message is hidden behind a catchy little tune that wound up developing rather organically in the studio.
"Happily Sedated" Lyrics - By Alphanaut
Look up, power down your cel phone Line is busy, the call’s not free Something’s up in the days of plenty Too many people marking absentee At a time when you had more money Smiled and drove along happily But no matter what your mind is thinking I can hear you body singing
But if you're happily sedated In the life that you created Those who only disagree Will shut the book and let it be
Get out from under your headphones Shuffle up from your MP3s If you want to draw my attention Open up your mouth, stop texting me There were days when skies were sunny But it shifted so violently No matter what you the future’s bringing I can hear your body singing
But if you're happily sedated Thinking life is overrated Take a page from history Shut the book and let it be
Haven't you heard your religion's withdrawn So buddy get your dogma off of my front lawn
Because I'm happily sedated In a life incorporated I may not ever come around But my boots are firmly on the ground
We’re all happily sedated Life incorporated Take a page from history Shut the book and let it be
Purchase CD quality downloads of Alphanaut tunes at Bandcamp.com
To purchase "Happily Sedated" on iTunes
To purchase "Happily Sedated" on Amazon CLICK HERE
Just got an alert that WRIR, 97.3 FM in Richmond, VA was cool enough to spin "Night Blind" this past weekend. Until now the song was only part of a promo disc sent out to radio stations, but as of this week the song is available as one of two bonus cuts on the "Satellites Crashing" single.
Thanks again to WRIR for giving Alphanaut some airplay.
The new Alphanaut single "Satellites Crashing" is now live on iTunes and should be popping up on all other digital retail sites in the coming weeks. The release features two non-album tracks and an instrumental version of the title cut. Here's the lineup.
1. Satellites Crashing 2. Sleep Spun Brown 3. Night Blind 4. Satellites Crashing (Instrumental)
You can also purchase "Satellites Crashing" from the Alphanaut profile at Bandcamp.com which features CD quality downloads of the songs unavailable anywhere else. Bandcamp offers artists the ability to set their own pricing and fans can purchase for the base price or donate a little extra to help support independent artists. Also, as their is no 'middle man' for the transaction like with iTunes, Amazon, etc., all the funds go directly to the project to help support future recordings.
To purchase "Satellites Crashing" from Alphanaut's Bandcamp profile
You can now download CD quality Alphanaut tunes through Bandcamp.com including the "Never Been To Athens" single which includes two remixes and the bonus cut "AL 424-15".
Support Alphanaut by purchasing direct from the artist as the Bandcamp system cuts out the middle men. This way all funds go directly into funding the next full length album.
Finally, the music videos for the Alphanaut singles "Never Been To Athens" and "Jennifer" have been added to iTunes alongside the visual for "Spontaneity", which has been up for numerous months. It was a long, endless ordeal getting these videos through distribution but the wait is over.
Visit the following links to purchase a copy of the video for your computer, iPhone, iPad or other hand held device.
Purchase the Alphanaut music video for "Never Been To Athens"
Purchase the Alphanaut music video for "Jennifer"
Purchase the Alphanaut music video for "Spontaneity"
I just posted the latest Alphanaut music video for the song "The Innocence of Time". The tune itself is actually from "The Lunar Age" EP and was officially released as a single this time last year, however at the time I was ramping up to record "Out of Orbit" and had to dedicate my funds to the full length. I knew the video was going to have to wait, but the timing worked out perfectly as I was able to work with Nils Timm once again. Nils directed the video for "Spontaneity" and I was happy to coordinate time with him, and his busy schedule, to work on ideas for visuals for the song.
After presenting my initial concepts for the music video, we fine tuned a story line that would work within my budget, which again was next to nothing. Nils is fantastic and bringing together a crew that are passionate about film making and can create top notch visuals for a shoestring. As an example, the space suit we rented for $150, but we couldn't afford the backpack unit that came with it. So Kanna, the wardrobe girl, grabbed some cardboard boxes, covered them with white nylon, attached a few found objects that looked like controls, creating her own version of the life support unit. Brilliant!
I have some behind-the-scenes footage that I will be revealing in a few weeks and will go over a few additional bits of trivia from the shoot. Don't want to go over them now as I don't want to ruin any surprises before people watch the clip.
Just posted behind the scenes footage of the Alphanaut studio session for "Sleep Spun Brown".
The song will be the bonus cut to the next single "Satellites Crashing" which should be ready to release soon. Just need to send the song to mastering and upload the files to the usual online retailers and then we're set. Hope to see the song on iTunes and Amazon by the end of July.
Sleep Spun Brown - Guest Musicians
Ted Scarlett - Piano Chavo Villanueva - Guitar & Ebo Alberto Campos - Drums Art Agunod - Fretless Bass
The song "Without You" was by far my most ambitious piece on the "Out of Orbit" album. I had actually written the melody back in 2006, a good year before I started seriously rolling up my sleeves to compose again. I knew this song wasn't going to be an appropriate fit for "The Lunar Age" EP, so I decided to hold it for my envisioned full length, which would have a much broader sound. I knew I wanted "Without You" to feel epic, complete with live piano, drums, percussion and strings. I got my wish on all that, with the exception of my desire for a live string section. My budget just didn't allow it this time around, but I was lucky enough to work with Benny Brydern on fully flushing out my string arrangements with synths.
For the longest time the piece floated around as an instrumental and I tried a number of lyrical ideas. Then one day I ran across an old demo with the song "Without You", which was set to an entirely different melody. I tried singing the words to my instrumental and it was a perfect fit.
The concept behind the lyric was to tell a story of someone who had passed away, moving on to the spirit world, yet unable to get over the love they left behind on Earth. I chose to reference heaven, even though I don't subscribe to any particular concept of the after life, because I felt it would be the easiest reference for most people to understand. Ironically, during my vocal sessions, I had experienced my own loss of someone close to me, so I channeled that emotion into my voice. I think the delivery on this song is pretty raw and intense, and I'm very happy with the result, though this is one I can't listen to quite yet because of the emotion that motivated my vocal parts.
"Without You" Lyrics - by Alphanaut
Raise your hands up to heaven I’m reaching out to you Rest your holy heart in the temple of my hands I had waited for you In and out of my life But lost, the moment has gone away now
All I wanted was to see in your eyes Someone who cared without compromise This distant need had eternity aching In a place where a heart is breaking I’ve been waiting for you I’ve been waiting for you
Raise your eyes up to heaven I’m sanctified by you Wash my weary soul with the grace of your hands I’ve been waiting for you In and out of my life Please don’t take this moment away now
All I wanted was to see in your eyes Someone who cared without compromise This distant need has eternity aching In a place where a heart is breaking I’ve been waiting for you I’ve been waiting for you
Raise your hands up to heaven I’m reaching out to you Rest your holy heart in the temple of my hands I’ve been waiting for you I’ve been waiting for you
How was I breathing without you How was I dreaming without you How was I, now how am I Something’s keeping the terror in me alive
How was I breathing without you How was I dreaming without you How was I, now how am I Something’s keeping the memory of you alive
Purchase a copy of the Alphanaut song Without You on iTunes
Just got word of a new review for "Out of Orbit" by Vish Iyer on the site Daily Vault. He had some kind words for the release and I thank him for his support. Click Here to read the article on the Alphanaut album "Out of Orbit".
