The After Glow - Unified Heart

On Saturday, January 21st, I had the pleasure of attending Morgana Nagorski's photography exhibition Unified Heart, a tribute to the words of songwriter/singer Leonard Cohen, now 78.

The gallery brought together numerous artists to pay homage to his timeless lyrics.   [I expound on the significance of his work to the film industry on my machinima blog.]   Morgana brought together 20 artists to share their artistic interpretations of his work, and below are some photos from opening day.   Attendees and artists mingled at the gallery to appreciate the diversity of works presented, while a soundtrack dedicated to Cohen's music played in the background.   It included songs sung by Cohen himself, as well as covers of his work by many esteemed musicians who added their own touches to his music.

Enjoy.  Congrats to Morgana.   I am sure that Leonard Cohen would be pleased that his words have entered the virtual realm.   Be on the look out for a feature article dedicated to her exhibition in the February issue of Best of SL Magazine, coming soon to a kiosk near you.

In closing, let me inform or remind you that Leonard Cohen officially releases his 12th studio album, Old Ideas, on Tuesday, January 31st. It was streamed online at NPR and The Guardian on the 22nd and 23rd. He is 78 years old, and his ideas are very much relevant to today. 


:) Soni

Post Note:  Morgana mentioned to me that Leonard Cohen did see some of the work, and she was told by his manager that he found the project interesting and liked what he saw.   Maybe she inspired him to go virtual!   Nonetheless, the lines continue to blur between both realities - first and second.     Later....

Leonard Cohen Reading & Exhibition

I am back from Holiday Break, and pleased to report Second Life is hopping with wonderful  music and music-related events in 2012.  Now does the name Leonard Cohen mean anything to you? - it should, but if not, rest assured he has been a cultural influence and force behind so much of today's popular culture for more than 50 decades.  

I thought you music lovers, in particular, might be interested in a tribute to this legend of nearly all the arts - yes, Leonard Cohen.  Two performances/exhibitions this weekend - 20 works of art from 20 artists, inspired by a song title or a line from a Cohen song, is the themed premise for this presentation.  But the idea grew to so many more pieces. Cohen's works are too many to stop short at a mere twenty, but you have to start somewhere.

The exhibition is titled Unified Heart - and its theme - Second Life artists interpret the words of Leonard Cohen.


The contributors are as follows:  Acacia Merlin, Ariel Brearly, Burk Bode, Cat Boccaccio, Corinne Helendale, Danteliicia Ethaniel, Del May, Harbor Galaxy,  Johnfrancis Laville, Kato Salyut, Kira Westland,  Lily Laufer, Maloe Vansant, meilo Minotaur, Morgana Nagorski (curator, originator), Patricie Sapphire, sanam Sewell, Skip Staheli, Tamzin Xigalia, and Zebra Thursday.

Location:  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Tasogare/43/39/22

News Flash, Crazy Woman on Ski Slopes

Belinda Barnes is back in the news. the woman formerly known as virtual Marilyn, and the hit of the children's story book classic A Steambook Classic (info later in this blog) was caught in this rare film footage that coincidentally she shot and edited herself.  Watch below.....

For higher quality, go to her vimeo site.

Season's Greetings.

:) Soni

*     *      *     *       *

A Steampunk Classic: The Adventures of Bel and Soni
Hard copies are available in Second Life at
Lowe Runo Productions LLC on the Island of Fame
A Flickr in Time Gallery

see prior blog for more information.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

BOSL Radio, the super station that it is, came in as the hometown favorite in the Avi Choice Awards 2011.  The station staff is taking a well-deserved break in real life over the holiday season.

So I found a way to occupy my time - by creating a children's book as my Christmas card to you all.   A Steampunk Christmas:  The Adventures of Bel and Soni.

Enjoy.   - And Happy Holidays to all, whatever you celebrate this time of the year or on a daily basis.   :)

Special thanks to dear friends who helped - Kara Trapdoor, Lowe Runo, and the lovely actress Belinda Barnes - starring in her role as Bel - the steampunk teen!   Below, her tribute photo to Marilyn Monroe.

The versatile actress is featured in this soon-to-be holiday storybook classic.  There she is on the cover - with Soni.  

A Steampunk Christmas:  The Adventures of Bel and Soni

Catch Bel on Flickr (Bel's World) and around the Second Life grid. 

Sonicity Fitzroy on vacation in REAL LIFE.   Yes, I do have one and like it! 

Happy Trails!

A Lot Like Christmas

Her name is Annan Dreamscape.  Her voice is lovely, and she carries a note and herself well.  She is comfortable with her audience and interacts well.  I had the pleasure of listening to her sweet sounds, with her accompanist Norith Westland.

Being this is the holiday season, her voice is a joy to listen to for all the classic holiday tunes.  But that aside, Annan does a wonderful Adele!  Some of her recent adds include tunes from Norah Jones, Ingrid Michaelson, and Rumer.   She's worth the time!  I caught her at For The Love of Music, http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nile%20River/216/210/23

After Annan, I hopped over to Key West to hear Dark Shoreland (a.k.a. Troy Shoreland of The Follow fame).   It was a great hour set, as to be expected with the usual FOLLOWERS as well as others.   Key West was decorated festively, and the venue was packed. 

I caught some pics of Jenna Dirval, AJ Darkwatch, Powers Avon, and even the Retropolitan Editor Phideaux Mayo, among others.

Note that this Saturday, your favorite live musicians will be performing Christmas and Holiday favorites at Key West,  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Key%20West%20Island/64/63/23
(Click on image below for larger view.)

Yours truly,

Sonicity and Belinda

Merry Christmas 2011

Grand Opening of Sediments

When it comes to rockin' the grid, it's Sediments.  Okay, so sort of a pun.   After months of preparation, a  new dance club provides another option.   The Sediments DJs offered up an interesting mix of underground music throughout Friday night, with DJ Delish Kellish D igniting the big G.O.  The venue promises a variety of industrial, punk, EBM, rock, dark cabaret, dub step, techno, psy, trance, hip hop, aggrotech, etc.   The second dj set, by Germany-based Simor McMillan, featured some alluring alternative beats to complement and complete the late night in Second Life.  I didn't anticipate hanging around through two dj sets.  But I did.  Quite a few people checked out the club, and the staff was in full force, interacting with everyone, for its grand opening.  

The surroundings - all holidayish - offer some photo opps and some eclectic shopping.   It's just a worth a visit or two, and the staff is wonderfully hospitable.   I don't really want to categorize Sediments;  it's going to grow into its identity.   It will be interesting to go back now and then to check on it.

And there's even public restrooms with a bit of graffiti.

It's the extras that sometimes make the difference;  nearly clean restrooms.  All kidding aside, with such a committed staff, it is likely to stay around for awhile, or as long as they want to, given that there are some creative types involved in putting together this venue. 

Every now and then, I like to recommend some non-live music venue options.  Sediments is located on Mystic Isles.   

The Staff on opening night included:
Sediments DJs:  Founder/Co-owner Delish Kellish D (Kelandra Shoreland) and Simor McMillan (also builder).  Sediments Host (Co-owner) Lillith (Lillithmei Heron) was there to the end!

 http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mystic%20Isles/92/94/22

Thanks to Belinda Barnes everyone got fire torches and some glow rings!

Catch ya later, 

Soni