Even though this information is viewable from within the MacAddict Tour interface, we've been getting tons of letters asking us "Who's the band?". So here's all the info, plain and simple, for the artists you'll find in this month's Tour. If you like their music, drop these guys a line, or better yet, buy their CD's. Enjoy!
Fisher is the first music success story of the Internet. The duo’s songs have been streamed and downloaded from various Internet sites nearly 2,000,000 times in the last year, and they are the first artist signed to a major label because of its New Media success. Fisher’s first big break arrived via a soundtrack. The gold album for Great Expectations, the 1998 film starring Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow, included Fisher’s “Breakable” alongside tracks from Tori Amos, Scott Weiland and Iggy Pop, among others. Now there’s True North, featuring the new songs “Human” (“about not becoming a victim,” says Kathy), the darkly amusing “Miseryland” and the cheatin’ tune “Simi California.” Of course, great artists utilize tools that help them express their emotions - turning feelings into songs.
"I honestly don't think I'd be where I am today if it was not for Macintosh computers," says Ron Wasserman.
"I've been using them loyally since 1989, when I obtained my first real steady gig scoring television (Power Rangers, X-Men, Sweet Valley High, etc.). Every single Fisher song we've written was created on a Mac. The CD "True North" was recorded and mixed entirely using Pro Tools and Mac. How much do I love Mac's? I have 2 ibooks, 2 iMacs, 2 G3's, the Cube, and a new Powerbook G4!"
"Christmas Face" was conceived about a month before Christmas of 1999. "We wanted to make a holiday song available for our listeners at MP3.com, except I was finding it hard to get in the 'holiday spirit', knowing that one more Christmas was going to come and go with my family on the other side of the country. I realized, however, that I was not the only person on the planet in that position, considering how so many families are separated by so many miles on a daily basis these days. So I decided to write about the bitter-sweetness of the holidays. The result? I cried every time I heard the song...In fact, it hit me so hard that I cashed in all my frequent flyer miles so that Mom and her beau could fly to California to spend the holidays with Ron & me. It turned out to be a very merry Christmas after all..."
Six feet tall and stunningly beautiful, rock singer STORM - along with her her tight, fiery quintet STORM, INC. from San Francisco, California, describes the band's music as "edgy, and rife with hooks that will scare you into dancing. It's like PJ Harvey sprinkled over some Soundgarden, or Fiona Apple losing it at a Blink 182 show and grabbing the mic from the singer after kicking him in the crotch."
West coast critics have called their performances "exhilarating" and "unforgettable". Their sound is spellbinding, and when combined with Storm's jaw-dropping performances, one can watch as they turn an impartial audience into stomping, cheering fans. How does she do it? Storm, quite simply, does not allow her audience to resist.
"The Calm Years" CD, in true indie style, features a collection of songs that showcase the diverse talent of STORM, INC. Their songs appeal to multiple radio formats, including Mainstream/Modern Rock, Adult/Top 40, Adult Contemporary and College Radio, and is available through www.cdbaby.com.
"The Calm Years" has beautifully crafted pop tunes, some in a low horny grind and some stabbing with punk rock rage. The lyrics are clear, bold and at times laugh-out-loud funny. Storm's voice can soar angelically one moment, and the next it drops as though calling up all the souls in hell for a post-apocalyptic orgy.
The song was inspired by the young, slutty groupies in New York City circa 1989. "I was going to acting school during the day but at night I hung out downtown with a bunch of grubby rockers swilling boilermakers and listening to Guns 'n' Roses and Janes Addiction. Everyone was dressing like a glam-o-pirate at the time, but the girls...the hot catfish candy that tried to get lucky with all the lead singer/guitar playing pirates, wore daisy dukes cut up like g-strings, black fishnets, thigh high boots, and some slip of sleazy lingerie on top. Though I was envious at some of their physical tidbits (I couldn't wear that without looking like a fridge with a bra stretched over it), the thing that struck me about them was their stupid act - their shtick. I don't believe they were stupid, but they got into the whole aesthetic of being these dizzy, laced-up birds click-clacking in their crazy heels, and chasing pirates. And the way their pirate mounts would talk to, at, and about them was awful. The girls would roll their eyes in a mock bitch response or just stare slack-jawed at their nasty knob of the night while he and his other pirates would tally up points on her body parts and abilities. The chicks seemed to like it. I thought it was gross. So I wrote a song about it .
http://stormandherdirtymouth.com
Take Me To Your Heart
Eliana
Written by John Scott/Nubar/Brooks/Cherrelle D. Pate
Eliana began her professional career as the lead vocalist for the band Equal Time in her hometown of Ponca, Nebraska at the age of fifteen. Whenever she and the group performed at clubs, Eliana was required to sit in the front row with her parents after each set, because she was under the legal age to enter bars where alcohol was served. “Those were simple rules to live by because I felt fortunate to be able to play professionally at such an early age,” she recalls, “I went to school during the day and played music at night.”
Eliana has since refined those chops she started developing in her early years. She has the ability to shine in a variety of musical settings, ranging from rousing rhythm pop to classic ballads. As a true songstress, she only performs material with which she personally connects. “It’s important for me to connect with my audience on a personal level,” she says. “The way I do that is by writing and performing music that reflects who I am and what I believe to be true about life, love and relationships.”
Her powerful emotional voice is one that the world is embracing. In fact, an impressive portion of the planet has already caught a special glimpse of her extraordinary talents. She has traveled throughout the world and performed live shows with such high caliber artists as Sheryl Crow, Trisha Yearwood and Eddie Money.
Currently, Eliana is writing and recording her debut album with an array of composers and producers, including Nubar, John Scott, ShyBoy, Jeeve and Dr. Brooks. The project will combine pop, R&B and dance styles. “We are creating a record that showcases her powerful voice but also captures her ability as a profound storyteller and an exceptionally exciting stage performer,” notes Nubar, who as part of the band/production team Hypnogaja has produced and remixed projects for Snakefarm, Citizen King, Ozomatli, Zierra and Esthero, Sky Tyler, Jared Douglas, Sophia Maria, and more….
Longevity is a key factor for Eliana in determining what material she writes and records. Notes the singer, “I believe in writing and choosing songs that will stand the test of time, songs that match my energy level.” Collaborator John Scott continues, “In a world full of one-hit wonders, Eliana stands tall in the company of a select few who harbor the ability to create a longstanding music career. I think the key is great songs, great production, great singing and a great live show. Nubar and I believe she has all of the pieces in place.”
When asked about her motivation for making music, she notes that her six-thousand member fan club has been a key inspiration. “My fans have always been very loyal to me; some have followed my career since the beginning,” she smiles. “This debut album is special because I will finally be able to give them something that truly represents who I am as an artist.”
After experiencing his first rock concert at age 13, Mark Edward Lewis was inspired to try his hand at composing pieces for piano and electronic keyboards. He went on to pursue a formal education in music, commercial composition, recording arts, film scoring, conducting, and music theory with an emphasis in composition from Fullerton Community College, UCLA Extension, and Azusa Pacific University. He consequently holds two Associate in Arts degrees, one Certificate, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in the above mentioned fields. While attending Fullerton College, Mr. Lewis won first and third place in the Dan Radlauer Composition Competition; he was also awarded the title "Musician of the Year" in 1994 at Azusa Pacific University.
Mark Lewis is also an accomplished pianist, cellist, conductor, and accompanist. He began his musical education on the piano with his mother, Victoria, at age 4. At age 9, he began cello lessons with Orange County recitalist and studio musician Carolyn Litchfield. Since that time, Mr. Lewis has studied piano with Dr. Mary Mark Zeyen, Dr. Robert Sage, Mr. Dwayne Condon, and Mrs. Brenda Reinebach. Mr. Lewis studied conducting with Dr. Gary Bonner and Mr. Al Clifft at Azusa Pacific and privately with Dr. John Reinebach.
Along with formal education, Mr. Lewis has a rich background of internships with Brent Pierce, Don Marsh, Herbie Hancock, and J.A.C. Redford. He has written numerous original compositions and arrangements for jazz bands, orchestras, choirs, ensembles, and synthesizers. He began scoring films for Moody Institute of Science in 1990 at his digital recording studio, LEM Studio Productions. Mr. Lewis has conducted and recorded scores in Los Angeles and London, England, and has seen his music performed on ABC, CBS, NBC, Showtime, Fox, networks A&E, IMAX, Travel Channel, Disney Channel, and various radio stations in the California area. Mr. Lewis hopes to continue his film scoring career and follow in the footsteps of such greats as John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith.
Mr. Lewis owns and manages his business as a free-lance composer/ performer/ producer. He is currently working in such varied fields as television advertisements, independent films, international software development, and production for independent music artists and record labels. Mr. Lewis is the keyboardist in the contemporary jazz group, "Monterey Blu."
"Big Legged Woman" was recorded, programmed, and mixed on a G4 500 SP. This piece was composed for Sweeten Production's new film "Blue Bird," written and directed by Michael Duddie. This piece is COMPLETELY synthesized with no real or live players at all (including the vocals). Judicious use of sample libraries including "Finger Styles", "Vocal Planet", and more, resulted in a piece that is described as "a pretty wild meshing of unlikely key centers and tempi rolled into an impossibly real sounding song." The tune plays under a bar scene in which our hero talks with a mysterious lady about the intricacies of the time travel machine the NSA has just uncovered. "It only lasts a few seconds, but I flushed out the rest of the tune for the soundtrack, and of course, the Mac Addict CD." The rest of the soundtrack (which is predominantly orchestral) is available by e-mailing Mark Edward Lewis from his mp3.com website at http://ww.mp3.com/markedwardlewis.
See Mark Lewis' COMPLETE information and demo reels at:
