World Listening Day, July 18th

Listen up! Today is World Listening Day. So take a few minutes to really listen to sound around you whether you live in a city or the countryside. We are enveloped by soundscapes. - even in our virtual world - http://www.worldlisteningproject.org/world-listening-day/  This Saturday, you are welcome to an open house celebrating sound in Second Life at the UWA-SIU Virlantis sim [Machinima World - Sonic Lab].  It is part of an online course that I am teaching for my university, and tied to a much larger media project under development.

A few of us created the Sonic Lab where we teach sound online historically and culturally as art and practice. A multi-layer sound lab was constructed to help students develop critical listening skills, by virtually tuning into the modern origins of music and learning to appreciate the sonic environment, now and then, that contributes to our daily soundscapes. The virtual classroom experience leads students through time, place - and sound.

You enter the virtual world via a medieval realm soaked with layered sounds ignited by one's presence and touch. Visitors acoustically engage into a soundscape rich with nature's lush greens and harbor sounds, and perhaps stop into the local tavern for a chat and music.

Your travels take you to modern times, from Ragtime's Scott Joplin, to experimental masters Edgard Varèse and John Cage, to those they have influenced, Reich, Zappa, The Beatles, Hendrix, Ramones, Riot Grrrls, and New York's alternative scene to a mock up of Oblivion from the movie of the same title.

The sound installation was funded by a summer course development grant awarded by my university.  To learn about this project, attend the VWBPE Conference session, Sonic Immersion Part I: Hearing is Believing, Case Study: Sound Studies in Second Life, Friday, July 26, 8:05-8:55 AM SLT, Builder's Brewery Auditorium. Part II will be held at Virlantis during VWBPE's MOOC post-conference, with times to be announced soon. Admission is free.

Join us Saturday, July 20th, Noon to 2PM SLT for an Open House.  Musician and old friend AcousticEnergy Nitely and BOSL friend and colleague DJ CottonCandy will provide the entertainment. Visit the sim, spanning four levels and six regions, when we unearth the sonic mysteries of sound, as noise, music and art.  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/UWA%20Virlantis/107/126/23

Special thanks to *Belinda Barnes,* Lowe Runo and Kara Trapdoor, as well as Jay Jay Jegathesan (Jayjay Zifanwe) of UWA for their support and assistance on this project. 

Here we go! Again!

Welcome me back.  I will be following the wonderful virtual musicians of Second Life, and  broadcasting from my new sim.  Details upcoming!   Stay tuned.   Let's make some new great memories together, and keep supporting our talented musicians (and local entertainment/venues in the virtual) for another decade.    Leaving ya'll with some pics from the past few months or so, most unposted.   See if you recognize any of these folks! - besides me and Bel.  Thanks Belinda for my new logo - you inspired me to continue the good cause!

Hugs!  Soni

 

Rise Up and Ascend - LEA 16

Summer is coming, and Sonicity is out and about ....after a long hard Spring full of activity.  I have been keeping tons of pics of live music events for the past few months, just no time to post.  Plus, I still have no idea when I will have time to return to my weekly radio show.  Alas, I felt compelled to share with you a very cool "Sound" Sim.  


Welcome to Ascension!   Officially dubbed LEA 16.   Sound gets the spotlight!

Rise up to a powerful mix of lights, music, and energy - on this Saturday afternoon in Second Life, I joined the opening party, accepting an invite from the lovely BOSL Editor Persia Bravin.  The "sonic" vibes were courtesy of SL/RL Mixologist Mantis Oh playing the first set for the event.    Several floors of spectacular design and creativity await you.  This is Mantis' project, part of his RL/SL Hybrid Productions.  H-Productions is a RL Techno Record Label by Swedish producer Cari Lekebusch.

Ascension is a sim fueled by sound, a defining force you must experience allowing the bass to reverberate through your being.  Enough said for now.  That's just a tease if you missed today's party.  You can drop by anytime.  It's sound-art-energy all rolled up into one amazing build.  Here's some photos of Bel and Soni catching the vibes.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA16/130/128/3306

Below, Ascension's Mantis - and Persia Bravin.

More about Ascension in Best of Second Life Magazine (BOSL)'s June edition.

www.carilekebusch.com

From Acoustic Buckley to the Jazzologist

Buckley at Mattawan

Incredibly talented Buckley Moonwall sang to a full crowd from the porch at Rara's - and oh my, this guy's the real deal!   Buckley is an amazing acoustic performer - from harmonica and guitar, to voice, he weaves in and out seamlessly.  

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mattawan/231/84/3801

He did an especially stunning performance on Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love as a closing tune.  Billboard Magazine calls him "one of the top indie artists in US." In RL, he's Gordon Vincent, http://www.gordonvincent.com/Home.html
 

Miles11Hour at Lennox Lounge!

And then I hopped over to Miles Eleventhaur's new club, Lennox Lounge.  It is filled with his extraordinary art work, and of course Miles spins the jazz oh so well.

A good portion of the second half of his show was a tribute to the legendary trumpeter Donald Byrd, who passed Monday (February 4th).

On the bar counter is the latest edition of Best of SL Magazine featuring his Second Life music, machinima and many talents over several pages.

For more about Miles, http://magnummachinima.blogspot.com, which links to the BOSL February feature.  Also on the counter was a Retropolitan article (by Kara Trapdoor) featuring Miles as well from some months earlier.

You will notice a big movie poster in the lounge, announcing Miles' latest machinima production (Miles11Hour) - Red Carpet - now on YouTube!   Great laughs!  

It was also great to see old friend/artist Indea Vaher - looking her sexy self!  She's says she back so look out for some amazing shows, exhibits, and good times. 

Thanks Belinda and Kara for hanging out with me!  It was a superfab Thursday night on the grid!

Virtual Harlem: Lenox Lounge 11thArt Gallery, http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Harlem/54/90/30