St. Patrick’s Day is religious holiday held every year on March 17 celebrating St. Patrick, perhaps the most recognized of the patron saints of Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day is a day of cultural importance for the Irish and a day to have a good party regardless of your heritage. With St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2014, just over two weeks away, we wanted to highlight some of the royalty-free music on MusicRevolution.com (www.musicrevolution.com) that would work for your ad campaign, production or for background music on St. Patrick’s Day. We have some great royalty-free music to set the mood for St. Patrick’s Day.

A search on MusicRevolution.com for “St. Patrick’s Day” yields the following 17 royalty-free music tracks—

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?keyword=st.+patrick%27s+day&application=0&mood=0&genre=0&instrument=0&influence=&vocals=1&results=20&x=28&y=4

A search on MusicRevolution.com for “Irish” yields 85 royalty-free music tracks-

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?keyword=irish&application=0&mood=0&genre=0&instrument=0&influence=&vocals=1&results=20&x=34&y=6

A search on MusicRevolution.com for “Ireland” yields 15 royalty-free music tracks-

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?keyword=ireland&application=0&mood=0&genre=0&instrument=0&influence=&vocals=1&results=20&x=32&y=5

A search for “Celtic” yields over 100 royalty-free music tracks—

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?keyword=celtic&application=0&mood=0&genre=0&instrument=0&influence=&vocals=1&results=20&x=34&y=5

A search for “Gaelic” yields the following royalty-free music tracks—

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?keyword=gaelic&application=0&mood=0&genre=0&instrument=0&influence=&vocals=1&results=20&x=35&y=6

With over 28,000 tracks of royalty-free music online, there are many other possible music choices to create the right mood for your St. Patrick’s Day ad campaign, project or background music on MusicRevolution.com (www.musicrevolution.com ). MusicRevolution.com has some of the best royalty-free music available anywhere.

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Chris Cardell is the co-founder of MusicRevolution.com http://www.musicrevolution.com, a royalty-free music marketplace with over 28,000 tracks online where media producers, video producers, filmmakers, game developers, advertisers, businesses and other music buyers can license high-quality, affordable royalty-free music from an online community of professional musicians. MusicRevolution.com also provides custom music production and custom music streams. The entire MusicRevolution.com production music library is available for third-party distribution and bulk licensing for background music for retail, restaurants and businesses, and for other commercial applications. Cardell has been involved with digital content and E-Commerce since the mid-1990’s.

Location: Alpharetta, Georgia, U.S.A.

Member since: August 18, 2011

Tracks in portfolio on MusicRevolution.com: 74 (click here to hear all tracks) http://www.musicrevolution.com/search?artist=1423

Background—

Davis Harwell Music’s mission is to make stories come alive by composing musical scores that inspire the heart, challenge ideas and capture the imagination.

With years of professional experience, Davis Harwell Music understands that a musical score can be the difference between a “good” visual product and an “outstanding” one. Davis Harwell Music strives to deliver a highly professional sonic identity. Davis Harwell Music covers anything and everything from classically-influenced orchestral tunes to ambient soundscapes to hard-hitting electronic and hip-hop.

–High profile projects or clients?  

Delta Air Lines, Chick-fil-A, Passion Conferences, End It Movement and North Point Community Church.

–Favorite music-making piece of gear or software?

A napkin!  Weird, I know, but when you use a napkin to strum an electric guitar, and then wash it out with tons of delay and reverb, you can get some pretty great textures!  I’m liking this right now better than finding a synth pad.

–Piece of gear or software you wish you owned?

I would love to own Altiverb because I’m starting to do a lot more orchestral mock-ups, and from what I understand Altiverb has some of the best sounding reverbs!

–Film Score You admire?  

Right now I can’t stop listening to John Williams’ score for the movie “Lincoln”.  Williams is one of my favorite composers.  Also, it sounds to me like he was influenced pretty heavily by Aaron Copland when he was writing this score.  I think that’s such smart composing since Copland is widely recognized as creating the “American” sound in classical music.  Lastly, the Chicago Symphony was used when they recorded the soundtrack.  In my opinion, they are the best American orchestra around!

–Music Education background?

Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Bachelor of Music

–If You had a Time Machine and could record or perform with any artist who would it be?

  Richard Wagner and any of his operas.

–If you could master another instrument, what would it be?

Cello!

–Favorite time of day to work in your studio?  

I used to be a night owl, but now I’m up and at ’em between 7-8 every morning.  Being in a consistent routine really helps me have creative space.  Coffee helps a lot, too!

–Some of your favorite tracks to feature?  

Watch How The Flowers Bloom

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=45225

…Everything Becomes Beautiful (for Mary)

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=44786

Christmas Overture

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=23085

A Tiny Speck of Light

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=44790

When She Walks In The Room (for Mary)

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=23104

Clouds and Contrails

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=44791

A Glimpse of the Summit

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=45226

We thank Davis Harwell for sharing some of his musical background with us and for contributing his tracks to MusicRevolution.com, the Royalty-Free Music Marketplace.  The next time you need anything from classically-influenced orchestral tunes to ambient soundscapes to hard-hitting electronic and hip-hop, check out Davis Harwell Music on MusicRevolution.com.

________________________________________________________________________

Chris Cardell is the co-founder of MusicRevolution.com http://www.musicrevolution.com, a royalty-free music marketplace with over 28,000 tracks online where media producers, video producers, filmmakers, game developers, advertisers, businesses and other music buyers can license high-quality, affordable royalty-free music from an online community of professional musicians. MusicRevolution.com also provides custom music production and custom music streams. The entire MusicRevolution.com production music library is available for third-party distribution and bulk licensing for background music for retail, restaurants and businesses, and for other commercial applications. Cardell has been involved with digital content and E-Commerce since the mid-1990’s.

If you have customers waiting “on hold” to speak to someone, you can ease the pain of the wait with carefully selected on hold music. Studies show that customers and prospects will stay on the line longer when they are listening to music. Our royalty-free music library contains a wide selection of on hold music that makes it easy and affordable to legally address your on hold music needs so you don’t lose those valuable customers. We wanted to highlight some of the excellent royalty-free on hold music available on MusicRevolution.com (www.musicrevolution.com).

A search on MusicRevolution.com for “on hold” yields over 3,700 royalty-free music tracks—

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?keyword=on+hold&application=0&mood=0&genre=0&instrument=0&influence=&vocals=1&results=20&x=31&y=4

MusicRevolution.com also has a number of CDs, available in both physical CD and download CD formats, with hand-selected royalty-free music tracks.  We have a great collection of royalty-free on hold music on “On Hold, Vol. 1” –

http://www.musicrevolution.com/cd_details/on_hold_vol_1/

This is a great CD of professionally produced, non-offensive, totally hip royalty-free on hold music. These tracks were expertly designed and hand selected with the sole goal in mind to contain and control your customers’ blood pressure levels with soothing, but energetic music that doesn’t sound dated. This is a collection of royalty-free on hold tracks that is worth checking out. With royalty-free music from MusicRevolution.com you pay once—there are no ongoing service fees or royalties to be paid.

With over 28,000 tracks of royalty-free music online in our production music library, MusicRevolution.com (www.musicrevolution.com) has some of the best royalty-free music available anywhere.

________________________________________________________________________

Chris Cardell is the co-founder of MusicRevolution.com http://www.musicrevolution.com, a royalty-free music marketplace with over 28,000 tracks online where media producers, video producers, filmmakers, game developers, advertisers, businesses and other music buyers can license high-quality, affordable royalty-free music from an online community of professional musicians. MusicRevolution.com also provides custom music production and custom music streams. The entire MusicRevolution.com production music library is available for third-party distribution and bulk licensing for background music for retail, restaurants and businesses, and for other commercial applications. Cardell has been involved with digital content and E-Commerce since the mid-1990’s.

Location: Lancaster, California, U.S.A.

Member since: June 15, 2010

Tracks in portfolio on MusicRevolution.com: 42 (click here to hear all tracks) http://www.musicrevolution.com/search?artist=266

Background—

Chris Cooke has been a professional musician and songwriter for over 20 years. Chris has had numerous song placements with artists and independent films. Chris is a diverse songwriter and, as a result, his music tends to have a lot of variety. Chris tends to lean towards Rock, Country, Blues and Electronica as his main musical styles.

–High profile projects or clients you have worked for?

I have been fortunate enough to work and record with, Delaney Bramlett, Gary Allan, Albert Lee, Billy Swan, Randy Meisner, Jerry Scheff, Curtis Salgado, Jeffrey Osborne, B.J. Thomas, Finis Tasby, Riders Of The Purple Sage, Greg London, The Seeds, John York, Al Bruno and Rich Harper. I also recorded drums on the song, “Light Of A New Day” that was featured in the movie, “Man Of The Year” starring Robin Williams.

–Primary instrument?

Drums and Vocals

–Favorite music-making piece of gear or software you currently use?

Pro Tools Mix Plus Recording System

–Piece of gear or software you wish you owned?

Neumann U-87 Microphone

–Film score or song you admire? Why?

This is a tough question . . .

For me, nothing can touch John Williams and the music he has done for film. The music to STAR WARS is so memorable and epic as is the music to all the films he has scored. To me his genius is that he writes such memorable melodies that become part of the zeitgeist and that is so hard to accomplish. As far as favorite songs there are too many to mention but, “Take It To The Limit” by The Eagles, “Cool Change” by The Little River Band, “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain” by Willie Nelson, “Tom Sawyer” by Rush, “What You Give” by Tesla, “Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC, “Rosanna” by Toto, “Brothers In Arms” by Dire Straits, “Let The Good Times Roll” by The Cars, “Crazy” by Patsy Cline, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” by Hank Williams, “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Gentle On My Mind” by Glen Campbell, “Misery And Gin” by Merle Haggard, “Tennessee Whiskey” by George Jones, “Run To The Hills” by IRON MAIDEN, “Living After Midnight” by Judas Priest, and “Knocking On Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan come straight to mind. I could go on and on with songs so I will stop here but I just love a great, simple song that says so much with so few words and has a melody and production that sticks in my soul and moves me. That’s the beauty of music!

–Music education background?

Graduated with honors from the Percussion Institute of Technology (P.I.T) at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA. Years of private musical instruction and everything else I have taught myself.

–Memorable “Aha!” moment during your musical education?

There are two . . .

The space and silence in a song is every bit as important as the notes that are played. Sometimes more important!
Always leave space for creativity and magic during the recording process. When you hire great players, let them feel free to express themselves before you ask for what you want. To quote Quincy Jones, “Always leave room in the recording studio for God to walk through the room.”

–Most embarrassing music-related moment?

My drum throne leg snapped during a very high profile gig and I went flying off the back of a very high drum riser in the middle of a song, landing with a huge crash into chairs and cases of beer in the backstage area. Audience loved it though! LOL!

–If you had a time machine and could record or perform once with any artist, who would it be?

I would want to record with James Jamerson on any Motown session back in the day.

I would want to perform with KISS on the “ALIVE 2” Tour.

–Moment you first knew you would be a musician?

I grew up in New Mexico and lived out in the country with horses so we always went to the Rodeo. They always had entertainment that would perform on a round stage that rotated in the middle of the arena and when I saw Glen Campbell come out in a rhinestone jacket and play the first notes to, “Rhinestone Cowboy” . . . the spotlight hit him and the jacket sent stars all over the arena, I thought, “I have to do THAT!” Soon after, I bought KISS, “Destroyer” and it was all over, I HAD TO BE A MUSICIAN!

–Advice you would give to a younger family member interested in a music career?

Practice, practice, practice! There is no substitute for practice! Now with access to You Tube, ANY artist or song or teacher is on there to teach and inspire so there are so many resources available to kids today that I am envious! Beware negativity in all its insidious forms like drugs and alcohol abuse and other people who will drag you down with their insecurities. Most importantly, BELIEVE IN YOU! BELIEVE IN YOUR TALENT, YOUR VOICE, YOUR VISION, YOUR PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE! At the end of the day, NOBODY CAN CREATE LIKE YOU CAN, YOU ARE UNIQUE AND SHOULD TRUST THAT YOU ARE DOING WHAT ONLY YOU CAN DO AND IT IS A TRULY SPECIAL GIFT THAT YOU CAN SHARE!

–Five songs or albums you’d take with you to a desert island?

Rush – Moving Pictures

The Eagles – Greatest Hits

Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms

AC/DC – Back In Black

Little River Band – Greatest Hits

–If you could master another instrument, what would it be?

Guitar

–Favorite time of day to work in your studio?

6PM until 3AM

–Any studio collaboration you experienced that stands out in your mind?

Recording and singing with Delaney Bramlett on my song, “Set Me Free”. To watch, learn and create music with one of my hero’s and a genuine musical legend was indescribably cool and something I am so very grateful for!

–2 or 3 of your favorite tracks that you would want us to feature in the blog.

“Set Me Free” http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=17454

“Get Back Up Again” http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=19750

“Shakin’ ” http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=17456

“Let Your Love Fly Free” http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=8667

“Time” http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=17462

 
We thank Chris for sharing some of his musical background with us and for contributing his tracks to MusicRevolution.com, the Royalty-Free Music Marketplace.  The next time you need Rock, Country, Blues or Electronica music, with vocals or in instrumental versions, check out Chris Cooke’s music on MusicRevolution.com.

________________________________________________________________________

Chris Cardell is the co-founder of MusicRevolution.com http://www.musicrevolution.com, a royalty-free music marketplace with over 28,000 tracks online where media producers, video producers, filmmakers, game developers, advertisers, businesses and other music buyers can license high-quality, affordable royalty-free music from an online community of professional musicians. MusicRevolution.com also provides custom music production and custom music streams. The entire MusicRevolution.com production music library is available for third-party distribution and bulk licensing for background music for retail, restaurants and businesses, and for other commercial applications. Cardell has been involved with digital content and E-Commerce since the mid-1990’s.

There are many lenses through which advertising geeks can view all the great spots that aired during Super Bowl XLVIII. We lay claim to the “underscore” lens. Unlike the Oscars, we don’t delineate between original score and original song. Why draw a line that is useless to the ad agencies who make the creative choices behind these spots with virtually unlimited resources? The music either works or it doesn’t.

And with that, here are three Super Bowl spots that, in this humble writer’s opinion, featured the best musical underscore:

1) Coca Cola – “It’s Beautiful”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=443Vy3I0gJs
Agency:McCann Erickson

2) Chevy – “Life”

Agency: Commonwealth
Artist:Ane Brun

3) Sonos – “Face Off”
http://www.superbowl-commercials.org/33117.html

Agency: 72andSunny
Artist: Rick Rubin

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Mike Bielenberg is a professional musician and co-founder of http://www.musicrevolution.com, a production music marketplace with over 28,000 tracks online where media producers, video producers, filmmakers, game developers, businesses and other music buyers can license high-quality, affordable royalty-free music from an online community of musicians mbielenberg@musicrevolution.com.

MusicRevolution.com has over 28,000 tracks of high-quality, royalty-free music online. MusicRevolution.com also offers a variety of royalty-free music subscriptions that are a great value. For limited time, buy a 1-Month Complete Subscription (regularly $249.99 for up to 10 downloads) for only $199.99 and Save $50. That’s less than $20 for any track in our production music library. Tracks can be downloaded in either WAV or MP3 format.

Check out our subscriptions today at http://www.musicrevolution.com/subs_options.  This special offer to Save $50 expires February 28, 2014.

With a variety of royalty-free music subscriptions and over 28,000 tracks online, MusicRevolution.com (www.musicrevolution.com) has some of the best royalty-free music available anywhere.

______________________________________________________________________________

Chris Cardell is the co-founder of MusicRevolution.com http://www.musicrevolution.com, a royalty-free music marketplace with over 28,000 tracks online where media producers, video producers, filmmakers, game developers, advertisers, businesses and other music buyers can license high-quality, affordable royalty-free music from an online community of professional musicians. MusicRevolution.com also provides custom music production and custom music streams. The entire MusicRevolution.com production music library is available for third-party distribution and bulk licensing for background music for retail, restaurants and businesses, and for other commercial applications. Cardell has been involved with digital content and E-Commerce since the mid-1990’s.

One the greatest events in sports– the Winter Olympics — begins today, February 6, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. I really enjoy watching the Olympic Games. We wanted to highlight some of the great Olympic themed royalty-free music on MusicRevolution.com (www.musicrevolution.com) that could be used for a range of purposes including TV and radio commercials, corporate videos, web videos, trade show videos, background music, on hold music and a range of other applications. We have an excellent collection of Olympic-themed royalty-free music.

A search on MusicRevolution.com for “Olympic” yields the following 28 royalty-free music tracks—

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?keyword=Olympic&application=0&mood=0&genre=0&instrument=0&influence=&vocals=1&results=20&x=45&y=4

Here is a great track from Davis Harwell Music entitled “Olympic Theme” that will make you feel like you are at the Olympics. This track is really worth checking out for any project that needs music with an Olympic feel–

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=23088

A search on MusicRevolution.com for “uplifting” yields over 1,500 royalty-free music tracks—

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?keyword=uplifting&application=0&mood=0&genre=0&instrument=0&influence=&vocals=1&results=20&x=22&y=7

A search on MusicRevolution.com for “triumph” yields over 250 royalty-free music tracks—

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?keyword=triumph&application=0&mood=0&genre=0&instrument=0&influence=&vocals=1&results=20&x=35&y=5

A search on MusicRevolution.com for “victory” yields the following 72 royalty-free music tracks—

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?keyword=victory&application=0&mood=0&genre=0&instrument=0&influence=&vocals=1&results=20&x=46&y=6

When I think of the Olympics, a word that comes to mind is “inspiring.” A search on MusicRevolution.com for “inspiring” yields over 8,000 royalty-free music tracks—

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?keyword=inspiring&application=0&mood=0&genre=0&instrument=0&influence=&vocals=1&results=20&x=32&y=4

With over 28,000 tracks of royalty-free music online in our production music library, MusicRevolution.com (www.musicrevolution.com) has some of the best royalty-free music available anywhere.

_________________________________________

Chris Cardell is the co-founder of MusicRevolution.com http://www.musicrevolution.com, a royalty-free music marketplace with over 28,000 tracks online where media producers, video producers, filmmakers, game developers, advertisers, businesses and other music buyers can license high-quality, affordable royalty-free music from an online community of professional musicians. MusicRevolution.com also provides custom music production and custom music streams. The entire MusicRevolution.com production music library is available for third-party distribution and bulk licensing for background music for retail, restaurants and businesses, and for other commercial applications. Cardell has been involved with digital content and E-Commerce since the mid-1990’s.

While it’s not Black Friday or Cyber Monday, Presidents Day is still a significant retail shopping day when retail stores traditionally hold sales. With Presidents Day, February 17, 2014, less than three weeks away, we wanted to highlight some of the excellent royalty-free music on MusicRevolution.com (www.musicrevolution.com) that could be used for background music for your retail store to create the right environment to increase sales.

A search on MusicRevolution.com for “retail” yields nearly 2,400 royalty-free music tracks—

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?keyword=retail&application=0&mood=0&genre=0&instrument=0&influence=&vocals=1&results=20&x=27&y=6

A search on MusicRevolution.com for “background” yields over 1,800 royalty-free music tracks—

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?keyword=background&application=0&mood=0&genre=0&instrument=0&influence=&vocals=1&results=20&x=40&y=9

A search on MusicRevolution.com for “coffee shop” yields the following 21 royalty-free music tracks—

http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?keyword=Coffee+Shop&application=0&mood=0&genre=0&instrument=0&influence=&vocals=1&results=20&x=27&y=7

MusicRevolution.com also has a number of CDs, available in both physical CD and download CD formats, with hand-selected royalty-free music tracks.  We have a great collection of royalty-free retail music on “Retail, Vol. 1” –

http://www.musicrevolution.com/cd_details/retail_vol_1/

Retail, Vol. 1 CD

The cool booming music of mall clothing stores or unplugged jazz in upscale coffee shops is available on this compilation of royalty-free retail music. Atmosphere is everything. The tracks on these CDs will make your place of business “stickier” to foot traffic, invoke a sense of sophistication, and just make it a nicer place to be. This is a collection of royalty-free music tracks that is worth checking out.

And for background music for your retail establishment, restaurant, business, fitness club or website, MusicRevolution.com’s Internet Music Stream offers nine unique playlists that provide a continuous stream of royalty-free background music for your in-store environment. MusicRevolution’s Internet Music Stream playlist includes a “Retail Dreams” stream—

http://www.musicrevolution.com/music_streams

With over 28,000 tracks of royalty-free music online, there are many other possible music choices to create the right atmosphere for buying in your retail establishment for Presidents Day and beyond. MusicRevolution.com (www.musicrevolution.com) has some of the best royalty-free music available anywhere.

_________________________________________

Chris Cardell is the co-founder of MusicRevolution.com http://www.musicrevolution.com, a royalty-free music marketplace with over 28,000 tracks online where media producers, video producers, filmmakers, game developers, advertisers, businesses and other music buyers can license high-quality, affordable royalty-free music from an online community of professional musicians. MusicRevolution.com also provides custom music production and custom music streams. The entire MusicRevolution.com production music library is available for third-party distribution and bulk licensing for background music for retail, restaurants and businesses, and for other commercial applications. Cardell has been involved with digital content and E-Commerce since the mid-1990’s.

Location: The Hague, Netherlands

Member since: March 10, 2010

Tracks in portfolio on MusicRevolution.com: 150 (click here to hear all tracks) http://www.musicrevolution.com/search?artist=118

Background—

Renowned Netherlands composer Martijn de Man of MDM Music presents certain of his award-winning tracks on MusicRevolution.com. His compositions have appeared in numerous feature films, TV commercials, corporate films and other media. Working in over 20 genres, Martijn has provided music for O2, Shell, Olympus, Mirai, and Lotus, among others. From the epic soundtrack “Fallen Sky” to the elegant, soaring Disney-like “A Fairytale” and songs with melancholy African flutes, Martijn’s fresh originality will add flare to almost any media project.

–High profile projects or clients you have worked for?

Shell, Canon, Microsoft, among others.

–Primary instrument?

Piano

–Favorite music-making piece of gear or software you currently use?

I love Spectrasonics Omnipshere for its depth and ease of use. I also just bought a second hand Roland A-90. It’s not easy these days to find a good 88 master keyboard that also has after-touch, breath control and a good set of keys.

–Piece of gear or software you wish you owned?

Always wanted to own a Fairlight II X and a Yamaha DX-1.

–Film score or song you admire? Why?

Too many to mention, but John William’s “The Empire Strikes Back”’ is an absolute favorite of mine. The song ‘Rendezvous 6:02” by U.K. also comes to mind.

–Music education background?

Private music lessons, piano, drums and music theory.

–Memorable “Aha!” moment during your musical education?

Explanation of the ‘leitmotive’ and learning to see ( hear)   the structure of themes and songs

–Most embarrassing music-related moment?

I was playing keyboards in a band and we played ‘I Wish’ from Stevie Wonder for the 1st time at a gig. The sound on stage was very bad and nobody in the audience seemed to like it. Halfway through I discovered the guitarist was playing the song in E-Major while I was playing it in E Flat Major…………

–If you had a time machine and could record or perform once with any artist, who would it be?

Would love to work with Mark King (Level 42) or Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)

–Moment you first knew you would be a musician?

My whole family is working in music, so I guess it was meant to be.

–Five songs or albums you’d take with you to a desert island?

Arcadia ‘ So Red the Rose’, Level 42 1st album, Gone to Earth form David Sylvian and some soundtracks from John Williams and Thomas Newman.

–If you could master another instrument, what would it be?

I’ve picked up the bass recently.

–Favorite time of day to work in your studio?

I am equally happy in the morning and evening.

–2 or 3 of your favorite tracks that you would want us to feature in the
blog.

“Black Sunglasses” http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=540

“Just Like Old Times” http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=44664

“Conversation with George” http://www.musicrevolution.com/search/?trackid=827

We thank Martijn and MDM Music for sharing some of his musical background with us and for contributing his tracks to MusicRevolution.com, the Royalty-Free Music Marketplace. Martijn’s music spans over 20 genres including melodic, symphonic orchestral, world music, pop and smooth jazz. Check out Martijn’s music on MusicRevolution.com.

_________________________________________________________________________

Chris Cardell is the co-founder of MusicRevolution.com http://www.musicrevolution.com, a royalty-free music marketplace with over 28,000 tracks online where media producers, video producers, filmmakers, game developers, advertisers, businesses and other music buyers can license high-quality, affordable royalty-free music from an online community of professional musicians. MusicRevolution.com also provides custom music production and custom music streams. The entire MusicRevolution.com production music library is available for third-party distribution and bulk licensing for background music for retail, restaurants and businesses, and for other commercial applications. Cardell has been involved with digital content and E-Commerce since the mid-1990’s.

When I wrote jingles back in the late 90’s I often felt the need to beat up singers. After all, they cost more. The subtle nuances of a trained human voice whispering a line in order to lure in the listener had no place in my vocabulary. If that singer didn’t leave my session, crying and bleeding, and give me a track full of high-range, chest-voice belting (regardless if that was their specialty); then some of my client’s money was still on the table.

Doing that to vocalist Jan Smith was like that scene in Man of Steel where the US Army soldiers try to keep Superman in handcuffs.

Back when I produced this track for a Ford commercial (by way of their agency J. Walter Thompson) Jan was not only an Atlanta first-call session vocalist, she ran a vocal coaching studio (she’s now known in the industry as the voice-teacher-to-the-stars with clients like Justin Bieber and Rob Thomas).

Listen to “Your Speech Was Absolutely Fascinating”

Most producers, myself included, try to get as much of a singer’s je ne sais quoi down on tape as possible in the short time that we have them. Later, when mixing, it’s good to have as many options as possible. So I remember spending most of this session having Jan do as many takes of that 2-second tag-line as possible.

But Jan’s singing was so spot-on, so controlled, so well-crafted I honestly couldn’t think of anything intelligent to say to the woman. Actor Christopher Walken said there’s really only two things a director can say to an actor after a take: “Do it again”….or “print”. Eventually my inner-cheapskate just had to say “print”.

Next, we moved on to the first twenty seconds of the track where I needed some vocal filler. At the time I didn’t think it would be an important part of the track so I asked Jan to just improvise some “ooh-aah” stuff so we could have something. The agency probably wouldn’t use it anyway.

The agency totally used it. There wasn’t a moment’s hesitation: “I like the version with the girl singing all the way through. Let’s air that one.”

Sessions like these made me feel like nothing more than a banker with a cool job title. And I loved it. And I love having my very own Jan Smith story.

To complete the hommage, here’s another one Jan and I did together, years later, for the World Congress Center (also featuring vocalist Mike Gleason):

Listen to “That is One Frustrated Mormon”

A few days I ago I reached out to Jan to learn about any upcoming gigs she may have. For you lucky Atlanta folks, Jan will be performing with Peter Vogl, Michael Doke, Lesa MacGregor and special guest Carmen Ford at the Red Clay Theater on Friday, Febrary 14th, 8 PM.

Here’s to you, my well-respected colleague and all of your vocal badassery. I’ll try to come out and see your show.

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Mike Bielenberg is a professional musician and co-founder of http://www.musicrevolution.com, a production music marketplace with over 28,000 tracks online where media producers, video producers, filmmakers, game developers, businesses and other music buyers can license high-quality, affordable royalty-free music from an online community of musicians mbielenberg@musicrevolution.com.