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dHarmic Evolution

308 Episodes

65 minutes | 19 days ago
302. Jason Damico, throws us back to the greatest “Rock & Roll”
Today we've got a really unbelievable guy, he is like a throwback to yesteryear. This young man is a tribute to the best rock music you've ever heard in your life. His music is like a rework of the whole sound of the classic rock icons of years gone by and made it even better. Check out this gentleman! He is a musician, producer, singer-songwriter, and mixing engineer. Moreover, he is an actor for a couple of decades now. All the way up from North Carolina, Jason Damico! A little background on Jason Damico He grew up with great parents who have been supporting him in both music and acting. He started out as an actor when he modeled as a calendar baby at 18 months old. At 2 years old, he was holding a plastic guitar, making the couch as the amplifiers and it is for him as a vision quest and that’s how everything started. He was raised music-wise with a little bit of the faith-based Christian raw community and the secular music – from the classic rock icons. At 15, he won the battle of the bands with some friends. Recording his music fueled his creativity in producing and as a mixing engineer to create sounds. During his freshman to sophomore years, he went to jazz camps at colleges. He was in college-level theory courses as a drummer, his main instrument. He also shared with us his injury back when he was 14 which instead of being a setback became a supernatural experience on understanding the context of soundscape both from a structural standpoint and also melodic theory. Jason as an actor, musician, and producer at this time Jason’s honest answer when asked how he managed to balance his acting and music career is “Barely”. He really got a lot on his plate. But from his standpoint, he considers acting and music as not as much different. Due to the current situation, Jason just did house concerts, but he is mainly focusing on all the projects he is going to roll out in 2021. He also did mix a couple of records for other artists. As of the moment, he is still in the process of elimination and is waiting to unfold what is in store in the future. More about Jason Damico Jason got good news on what he’s been working on and the best place to stay tuned is through his website, jasondamico.com. You can also catch him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. All links are provided below. Quotes: 13:59 I really didn't see any problem in not pursuing it. It seemed like a problem if I didn't pursue it. 27:07 If I can just take a second to try and encourage anybody out there who has been through any type of physical trauma. You know, there's light at the end of the tunnel and sometimes it could be your greatest asset later on. It just takes time. 32:48 You're just trying to be authentic and be present at the moment and have the best performance possible. 56:42 I would say, just stay true to yourself, and really take the time to meditate, spend time in prayer, whatever that means for you. And really settle down within yourself and just be okay with the silence. Timestamps 01:07 Introducing Jason Damico 04:18 Jason shares his musical influences 06:28 Listen to “Green Eyed Blonde” by Jason Damico 10:41 Jason’s take on bands and how he started producing 15:28 A little story on his eye surgery when he was a kid 20:05 Listen to “Hold Me A Little Closer” by Jason Damico 23:34 Continuation of Jason’s story on his surgery 28:01 Jason as an actor, how did it start? 30:49 How is Jason managing everything – as an artist, producer, and a singer-songwriter 32:55 Listen to “Old Soul” by Jason Damico 37:58 Jason’s take on being an actor vs. a musician 42:17 What are Jason’s aspirations for his career 47:11 Listen to "My Rock & Roll” by Jason Damico 52:56 What is Jason busy with right now? 55:52 Jason’s best wishes and parting words to the audience 58:22 Best place to know more about Jason and his upcoming releases 59:38 Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor Spotify Playlist Come and check out the Spotify playlist “Rising dHarmic Stars” Featuring amazing and talented artists who have been a guest in the show! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4loDaYF0OuWRjZeMXvEjK4 Special links and Mentions Jim Morrison Stevie Ray Vaughan Jimi Hendrix Woodstock Led Zeppelin Grand Funk Railroad Mark Farner The Beatles Duke Medicine (North Carolina) Stewart Copeland The Police Van Halen Deep Purple Robert De Niro Joe Pesci Jimmy Page Eric Gales PJ Farley Kenny Aronoff Gary Hoey   Connect with Jason Damico Website: www.jasondamico.com YouTube: jasondamico Instagram: @jdamicoofficial Facebook: @jdamicoofficial Twitter: @jdamicoofficial Snapchat: jdamico94 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7uUmUs9J7XhdPss0T61003 Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jasondamico1 ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/jasondamico  
64 minutes | a month ago
301. Isabelle Stillman, high achiever of many things
Come with me as I visit Los Angeles with the wonderful artist, we have on the show today Isabelle Stillman! She is an overachiever and she is so many things – she's an educator, a teacher, a singer-songwriter, a musician, and a full-time student too. Also, listen to her latest album “Heartrender” which is a collection of songs that navigate changing worlds and the strength that comes from the search for yourself. Isabelle Stillman’s Music  Most of Isabelle’s songs are lyric-based. She doesn’t want to bury the lyrics with the production that they are making. Well, you can definitely hear that with her songs feature today on the show, “Damage Control”, “The Gun”, “Tragicomedy” and “Why Didn’t You Tell Me?” Know more about these songs and the back story of them. This is a collection of her and someone else’s experiences that will definitely captivate you. Isabelle on balancing her careers  Isabelle Stillman is a high school English teacher, a singer-songwriter and currently taking up a Master's in English and an MFA in Creative Writing in fiction. She shares with us how complicated it is between her two careers. She also had a hard time preserving her creative side and needs to make sure she got to block off time to continue to be creative – to write, play, and practice. She’s planning of rethinking her schedule to balance things more. More about Isabelle Stillman  Isabelle updates things most frequently on Instagram and on her bio is a link where you can catch her on everything. All links to her social media pages are also listed below.  Quotes 10:04 “…it's definitely reinforcing for me how important a school community is to the health of a school and of its people.” 25:27 “…they think I'm always insisting that the person who held the gun is the person who has done damage, it’s an important lesson that I've learned, but one that we don't always tell young women for sure.” 35:43 “I think when we are afraid of one thing, in that case, the virus, we become afraid of almost everything.” 53:17 “…that's a lesson that I had to learn on my own, that not every interaction with love or intimacy is beautiful, and people hurt you.” Timestamps 00:21   Shoutout to the listeners from India through Ghana 01:52   Introducing Isabel Stillman 04:41   Isabelle’s hometown and transitioning to L.A 06:45   Isabelle Stillman as a Teacher and what she thinks on Zoom classes 11:47   Listen to “Damage Control” by Isabelle Stillman 15:41   Is her stripped-down music done purposely or created during the record? 19:25   The story behind the song “Damage Control” 21:09   Listen to “The Gun” by Isabelle Stillman 24:33   A backstory on her song “The Gun” 25:45   How does Isabelle balance her two careers? 29:36   How does Isabelle manage her schedule as a teacher, full-time student, and musician? 35:08   What is “Tragicomedy” about? 36:33   Listen to “Tragicomedy” by Isabelle Stillman 39:11   A little discussion on her song Tragicomedy 42:56   What formed Isabelle as far as being an artist? 45:56   Isabelle Stillman’s music influences 48:32   Listen to “Why Didn’t You Tell Me?” by Isabelle Stillman 52:32   Isabelle tells the story of “Why Didn’t You Tell Me?” 55:45   Best place to connect with Isabelle Stillman 56:25   Isabelle’s parting words and best wishes for the listeners 58:57   Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor Spotify Playlist Check out the Spotify playlist “Rising dHarmic Stars” Featuring artists who have been on the shows in the past! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4loDaYF0OuWRjZeMXvEjK4 Special links and Mentions Mel Brooks The Three Stooges Taylor Swift Joni Mitchell Sara Evans Martina McBride Trisha Yearwood The Chicks Connect with Isabelle Stillman  Website:          isabellestillman.com Facebook:       @isabellestillmanmusic Instagram:       @isabellestillmanmusic YouTube:        Isabelle Stillman Music Spotify:            Isabelle Stillman
68 minutes | a month ago
300. Susan Hickman, Singer-songwriter you will have her songs on “Rewind”
It’s Christmas and greetings of Merry Christmas to everyone!   Today, it’s a pleasure to have one of the most hardworking talented young ladies. She is a great songwriter and has an incredible voice, she was also a CMA winner a couple of years back! She's done it all and continues to have an unbelievable work ethic and motivation to keep creating, performing, and playing. A female country singer-songwriter, Susan Hickman all the way from Houston, Texas!   Susan has a tremendous desire, determination, talent, and work ethic all combined. She's been just playing forever to the point where she really did some physical damage to herself from overdoing it on stage. We’ll get to know the story behind this as she shared it with us today.   Get to know about Susan, her music, her sound, and her influences – and of course, we get to listen to her great songs!   Susan Hickman as a singer-songwriter   Susan loved music ever since she was a kid. She knew she was meant to do this. She started writing songs at the age of 5 or 6 years old as an entertainer to her younger sister. She grew up with parents who loved music as well. She shared with us the kind of music she listened to and what inspired her to craft her sound.  She does songwriting session’s and she loves to co-write! She even did a mentoring program with a lot of young singer-songwriters. Her talent and passion are really overflowing. We’ll get to listen to her great skills through the songs we have featured today and the back story of how it came to life.   More about Susan Hickman   Visit susanhickman.com, all her social media sites and periodically she sends an email list of her tour dates! All the links for her social media are also listed below. Check them out!   Also, take a look at her latest music video release “Rewind”.   Quotes:  34:52  So, whenever I decided to do music as a career. I felt like, I don't want to be pigeonholed. I just want to have my own sound and if I have influences from something soulful or something more rocking or something that's even a little Poppy, that's okay.   44:02  But sometimes just little things here and there. It makes such a huge difference. And that's why I just love co-writing because sometimes you just need to get out of your own way and get out of your own headspace.   45:36:  And as far back as I can remember, music was such a huge deal for me. I mean, I just thought I was always meant to do that.   55:58  I wish I just had a rewind button to where I could rewind and figure out how I can reformat my day, more efficiently.   Timestamps   02:10 Introducing Susan Hickman  06:30 Listen to “Moth to a flame” by Susan Hickman  10:55 Susan shares the recording process and the people he worked with her track “Moth to a flame”  16:13 Susan tells the story of the surgery she went through  22:04 Listen to “Hesitation” by Susan Hickman  26:02 A little background on her song “Hesitation”  30:05 Susan’s affiliation to Nashville  33:51 The kind of music Susan does  36:43 Listen to “Save Me” by Susan Hickman  40:54 The story behind “Save me”  44:15 When did Susan recognize her ability with songwriting?  45:52 Susan’s influences to craft her sound  50:12 Listen to “Rewind” by Susan Hickman  53:32 A little back story on “Rewind”  1:00:30 Best place to connect with Susan  1:01:20 Last words of wisdom and wishes to the audience  1:02:38 Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor   Spotify Playlist   Click the link below and check out the Spotify playlist “Rising dHarmic Stars”   Featuring amazing and talented artists who have been a guest on this show!  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4loDaYF0OuWRjZeMXvEjK4   Special links and Mentions  Stormy Cooper Motown Poppy Pete Townshend LeAnn Rimes Dolly Parton Vince Gill Garth Brooks Stevie Nicks Linda Ronstadt Don Henley   Connect with Susan Hickman   Website:https://www.susanhickman.com/  Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/susanhickmanmusic  Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/susanhickmanmusic/  Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SusanLynnetteHickman/  Twitter:https://twitter.com/susanhickman  Snapchat:SusanHickman1  Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ZS0CtuGcK8LdoxORVMf6u  Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Hickman/dp/B001VG48RS?pldnSite=1  Apple Music:https://music.apple.com/us/artist/susan-hickman/86311049   
49 minutes | a month ago
299. Spotlight Series No. 3: MoeDell, Jordan White, Kylie Odetta, & Mikalyn Hay
We’re back with another Spotlight series today! I’m delighted to give attention to these four awesome artists we are revisiting. We are enclosing the links of the full interviews below so check to download them and here all for songs from each artist! Let’s listen and enjoy the music and stories from these singer-songwriters, musicians, and vocalists. We’ve got four talented artists lined up today: MoeDeLL Jordan White Kylie Odetta Mikalyn Hay Interview with MoeDell We’ll start this show with MoeDeLL -- a hardworking and talented man that holds 250-270 shows a year. He has performed for crowds of every size, from farmers' markets to bars, and corporate events. MoeDeLL is a prolific Americana songwriter. He plays the guitar and will captivate you with his unique voice and creative lyrics. He loved music as a kid and he started to learn to play the guitar at 9 years old. Listen to MoeDeLL’s song being featured today in the show, “Hoppin’ Trains”.  You can listen to MoeDeLL’s full interview here: https://dharmicevolution.com/old-blog/de226-hoppin-trains-with-moedell/ Interview with Jordan White Next, we have Jordan White, a young man originally from Philadelphia. He writes great pop-rock songs that really cut to the heart. He has a good voice and a great chord structure. Every time he comes up with something new I am plugging in and listening, I have become a fan... He’s been on the dHarmic evolution twice. Let’s look back on the conversation where Jordan is describing some transitional period in his life which led to the recording of the track being featured today. The song is Jordan’s title track for his new EP, “High Road”. You can listen to Jordan’s past full interviews here: https://dharmicevolution.com/old-blog/de225-jordan-white-taking-the-high-road-from-nj-to-philadelphia/ https://dharmicevolution.com/old-blog/de49-jordan-white/ Interview with Kylie Odetta Now, we’ll have a young lady which is way wiser beyond her years, Kylie Odetta.  She is an indie/soul singer-songwriter. She creates music that is powerful and dreamy. Her raspy voice will definitely capture you. We have one of Kylie’s smash hits “Under the Sun” featured today on the show. She shared on the show before a cool discussion about songwriting, vocals, voice changing, surgery, and mostly sounds. She also mentioned one of her favorite shows that created a cozy welcoming experience where people get to be a part of the music and it’s not just her who performs on stage. You can listen to Kylie’s past full interviews here: https://dharmicevolution.com/old-blog/de223-kylie-odetta-is-back-with-a-new-sound-and-lots-of-sunshine/ https://dharmicevolution.com/old-blog/de36-kylie-odetta/ Interview with Mikalyn Hay  Lastly, we have a hardworking and fabulously talented young lady from Guelph Canada. Talent and work ethic combined is a powerful elixir and it is Mikalyn Hay. She is a talented singer-songwriter and an in-demand collaborator.  She also had a list of achievements and awards that are really so impressive! Mikalyn’s song featured today on the show is “Deep End”. There are a lot of cool things and cool places to visit in her hometown and she shared them with us! Check out these cafés mentioned by Mikalyn, “Red Brick Cafe”, “B Side Lounge”, “Kate’s Cafe”, where you might also catch her life. There’s also discussion about pre-production, the studio, friends, and support.  You can listen to Mikalyn’s full interview here: https://dharmicevolution.com/old-blog/de219-mikalyn-hay-canadian-360-artist-with-a-bright-future-in-your-world/ Timestamps: 00:30   Spotlight Series 3 4:08   MoeDeLL 7:22   Listen to “Hoppin’ Trains” by MoeDeLL 11:17   Jordan White 14:55   Listen to “High Road” by Jordan White 18:07   Kylie Odetta 26:30   Listen to “Under the Sun” by Kylie Odetta 29:24   Mikalyn Hay 39:23   Listen to “Deep End” by Mikalyn Hay 43:53   Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor   Spotify Playlist Check out the Spotify playlist “Rising dHarmic Stars” An awesome collection of music from artists who have exclusively been on the dharmic Evolution! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4loDaYF0OuWRjZeMXvEjK4   Connect with MoeDeLL Website:          https://moedell.com/ Facebook        @MoeDeLLMusic Instagram        @moedell Twitter             @moedell Spotify             MoeDeLL Connect with Jordan White Website:          www.jordanwhitemusic.com Facebook:       @jordanwhitemusic Twitter:            @jordanfWhite Instagram:       @jordanwhitemusic Spotify:            Jordan White Connect with Mikalyn Hay Facebook:       @MikalynMusic Instagram:       @mikalynmusic Youtube:          Mikalyn Music Soundcloud:    Mikalyn MusicTwitter:            @MikalynMusic ReverbNation  Mikalyn Music Patreon           Mikalyn Hay Younk              Mikalyn Hay   Connect with Kylie Odetta Website:          kylieodetta.com Instagram:       @kylieodetta Facebook:        Kylie Odetta Twitter:             @kylieodetta Spotify:             Kylie Odetta Soundcloud:      Kylie Odetta YouTube:          Kylie Odetta Reverbnation:   Kylie Odetta Selected links and mentions: Antigone Rising Better Than Ezra Cheap Trick Bret Michaels Blind Melon Eagles Fleetwood Mac Willie Nelson Goo Goo Dolls
59 minutes | 2 months ago
298. Lillie King, Theatre, NYC, and Now for The Singer/Songwriter Career all at 17!
We have an awesome young artist in the show today! She is just 17 years old but she already created a unique vintage Americana sound that crosses the boundaries of many different styles. With the help of influences based in the 70s, rock rhythm and blues, and modern poeticism. Singer, songwriter, and actress from a small town in West Virginia, Lillie King! Check out her brand-new debut self-titled EP, and fall in love with the sound that will remind you of the good old great songwriting that happened in the late 60s and early 70s. Lillie King shared that it was what she loved listening to while she was growing up. Lillie King’s Music career and her Theater Life  Lillie King started out as a theater actress at around six years old. Her parents are not into music, but her grandparents are the ones who pushed her to take the classes. She eventually stopped but at the age of 12, she missed performing on stage and went back to the theater where she was filled with four years of great experiences since then. She is a trained soprano operatic singer; she went to the New York Film Academy for this when she was around 14 or 15 years old. She just started writing songs at 16 years old. She won Talent West Virginia where she got herself an EP deal and had to write her own song. That’s where “Cheated Love” was born. One thing to watch out for, as well, is her song “Home by Ten” which is what she described as an autobiography of her life. Also, check out her metaphorical song titled “Roses”, which relates to her life in the theater. “Red” is another track that you can relate to, whether it’s a family relationship, a friend relationship, or, a personal relationship. Currently, Lillie King made the executive decision to stop singing in the theater realm for a while. She struggled to switch the two voices that she is using – her soprano voice and her studio voice. She wanted to focus on her music career right now. She hopes that one day she can go back to the theater without having to worry about switching her voices.  More about Lillie King Good news! Lillie King loves to connect with people, the best place to do it will be on her Instagram. If you want to know more about her, check out her website. All the links will be provided below. Quotes: 4:47 I'm not trying to write what's in right now. I'm trying to write what I love to listen to. 22:02 When you love what you're working on, you want to work on it. You don't want to stop, and you have fun while you're doing it. That's just the best part of the process. 25:17 I love nature. I love being outside. So, it's just finding those little moments that I can take to rest. Then so I can get really excited to come back and work on the stuff that's important. 52:25 I know a lot of people in my life who are stressing out about their futures and what may or may not happen, and I just want to let everyone know that it's better not to stress.  It's better to let God's hand take over because something good will come from it. You just have to wait and work hard.  Timestamps 2:39 Welcoming Lillie King to dHarmic Evolution 3:56 Lillie King’s self-titled EP and a little look at her music influences 6:05 Listen to “Cheated Love” by Lillie King 9:23 What is the backstory of the song “Cheated Love”? 11:03 Lillie King’s background in Theater and how it helped her be the star that she is today. 14:36 What is the song “Home by Ten” about? 15:40 Listen to “Home by Ten” by Lillie King. 23:42 What are Lillie King ‘s hobbies and favorites outside of music? 26:57 How did “Red” came about and how did it get written? 29:11 Listen to “Red” by Lillie King 32:53 A little glimpse on Lillie King’s experience in New York City and the New York Film Academy 39:50 Listen to “Roses” by Lillie King 42:59 The questions behind the making of “Roses” 44:19 Balancing her theater and music career 46:55 Is Lillie King working with a vocal coach? 50:58 Best place to reach Lillie King 51:31 Lillie King’s last words for the audience 53:24 Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor Spotify Playlist Check out the Spotify playlist “Rising dHarmic Stars” Featuring 30 artists who have been on the shows in the past! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4loDaYF0OuWRjZeMXvEjK4 Special links and Mentions  The Supremes Brian Wilson Paul Simon Motown Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Chris Caskey (Producer) Eagles Glyn Johns Bill Szymczyk Joe Walsh Roxie Hart Connect with Lillie King  Website:          https://www.lillieking.com/ Instagram:       https://instagram.com/lillie.king Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/lilliekingmusic Tiktok:             @lilliekiing Spotify:            https://open.spotify.com/artist/6KQfcQmOwwEprVSGK2avMr Youtube:          https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfbN1LVsqAK3i73uZPKZ5ag/    
61 minutes | 2 months ago
297. Dani Felt making an impact through her music
Pop-singer, songwriter, and an artist coach! Dani Felt will join us today for an exciting view on her music solo career and her business in the music industry. Dani Felt is originally born in Philadelphia. She has adapted her music life to the Music City. She exceeded the expectations of many when she switched from being a singer-songwriter to the pop genre. She spins tales of twisted love dark secrets and haunted stories. The dark pop sound of her music complements her powerful and seductive voice. She released her debut pop single “Queen” this year 2020. She made a bold statement and a hardcore vibe through her latest track. She wanted to make sure that her music is impacting people in some way.  Which is definitely something we can feel with her tracks. Dani Felt’s musical background  Dani Felt started to enjoy performing when she was a little kid. She started with Nursery rhymes at the age of two and would perform in front of her parents. At 10, she started doing voice lessons. She did musicals and theaters during her middle and high school years, as well. In middle school, she started doing poetry. She combined her love for writing words and music and put them into songwriting. She also entered several musical camps when she was a kid. She liked being in studios writing, recording, and performing at a really young age. Her parents are not musically inclined, although they have a huge passion for music. Her grandmother can sing but did not really pursue a career in it. Her dad’s second cousin is a song-writer and wrote the song The Greatest Love of All. Overall, she is surrounded by a creative vibe. Dani Felt’s early career in the music industry  It was in college when Dani Felt learned that she loves leadership, project management, and finding the right people. A year later, she interned at a music PR company in London wherein she got fired. She wanted to prove that she can do her own thing. And so, she started a music blog without any connections and started from there. She moved to New York and realized that she is really good at connecting people together.  She gets to showcase artists and got to connect people in the industry -- filmmakers, painters, artists, musicians, business people where she would put up events together. Eventually, she had to stop since it was a lot of work for not a lot of money. Her business in the music world  Dani Felt believed that artists should not just focus on one platform. She said that the main point is to understand who their fans are, where they are, what your brand is, and what you're selling. She believes that there are many ways to monetize the artist’s skill, they just have to get creative, create, and plan. She likes to teach people to put themselves first and value themselves and their gifts. She gets frustrated most when people need her help, but don't want to change or do the work. Although this year, she is learning to let people have control of their own lives and make decisions. Without any pressure, she just wants them to come to her when they want to work with her. That’s when she realized that when she focuses on what her working on, it attracts more clients because seeing what she does makes them want to be part of it. She also believes that mindset portrays the biggest part. She stated that if you don't believe that it's possible, it will not be possible. She is also a fan of learning and she shares them with her clients, from the emotional aspect to money management.   Timestamps  2:16 Check out Dani Felt’s new single, “Queen” 2:44 A look at Dani Felt’s sound and musical background 7:45 Listen to “Gone” by Dani Felt 10:40 The crazy story behind the song “Gone” 12:44 How is her family doing back in Philadelphia? 15:02 How did she get involved in the business world of music? 18:56 Listen to “Drowned in Heartache” by Dani Felt 22:50 A continuation on the journey of her business that helps artists to showcase their talent. 26:52 What is her take on doing business on Spotify? 33:56 What does Dani Felt get excited about; being a creative artist or a business person? 37:33 Listen to “Queen” by Dani Felt 41:05 Dani Felt’s shares her experience in the studio while creating her single “Queen” 43:32 Her most challenging experience in coaching 48:07 Who are the thought leaders that inspired and helped her? 52:50 Where’s the best place to connect with Dani Felt? 53:29 Dani Felt’s parting words of wisdom to the listeners 56:08 Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor Spotify Playlist “Rising dHarmic Stars” is the Spotify Playlist to keep an eye on! it has past stand out guests that you simply must give a listen to here! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4loDaYF0OuWRjZeMXvEjK4 Quotes: 16:33 That was a really cool moment because I realized so many things that artists can make an impact with their music, that anyone can do anything even if they've never had any experience. 34:27 If I had to choose, I would choose music, but I would have to make sure that the music I'm making is impacting people in some way. 45:28 I realized that the more I just focus on whatever I'm working on at the moment, the somehow attracts clients. 47:17 If you don't believe that it's possible, it will not be possible 52:40 Really value your time because it is the only thing we have. Everything. Like that's the only thing that we have. 53:59 I would just say, never give up. Like, never give up on your dreams. Do what you love. Take action. Just take it one step at a time. Selected links and Mentions  Linda Creed Whitney Houston Justin Bieber Poo Bear Stevie Wonder Imagine Dragons Lorde Whitehouse Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee) Sara Longoria Jourdan Rystrom George Gilder   Connect with Dani Felt  Website:          https://danifeltmusic.com/                         https://danifelt.com/ Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/danifeltmusic/ Instagram:       https://www.instagram.com/danifeltmusic/ Twitter:            https://twitter.com/danifeltmusic/ Spotify:            https://open.spotify.com/artist/26afSnl4Sw12ZtTtEF8IVl Youtube:          https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6eSYoqIwDTv7g7GxEmXl9g          
72 minutes | 2 months ago
296. VICU A Special Talent Taking Us All “Back To The Future Love”
Our guest today is a young man who has made a name for himself in the music industry. He is a self-taught producer, audio engineer, musician, singer and songwriter. “Complementary”, his first EP was released May of this year and people are raving about it. Let’s welcome all the way from Maryland, Vicu! His songs “BTTFL” (Back to the Future Love), “Blame it on Me”, and “Something About Her” to name a few showcase Vicu’s unique sound, fantastic guitar techniques and skills that perfectly combined with his modern edge songwriting and creative phrasing. Moreover, his songs have brought love, hope, and inspiration to a lot of people. Being one of the top promising producers, Vicu has worked with some of the amazing artists in the industry. Most recently, he has worked with Matt Viers, his production partner, on none other than Rihanna’s upcoming album. As a musical producer and an artist Vicu’s passion is to bring out the best in people. Consequently, he finds it joyful to help artists along the way. As a matter of fact, Vicu has developed a lot of artists, groups, and even rappers especially in his state, Maryland. Not only does he have a pursuit to produce and develop artists, but also Vicu wanted to be an artist himself. Through cultivating his fellows, it really helped him get sharp with production and songwriting. He is also a self-taught artist and very hands-on. Growing up he would sit and watch Youtube to learn how to play songs on a guitar. Over the years he has also developed his one-of-a-kind writing skill, and the lyrics of his songs captivate the hearts of many. Balancing producing, artistry, and life Having a lot on his plate right now, running his production company with his friend Matt Viers, working with other artists, and at the same time being an artist himself, Vicu still manages to balance everything that is happening in his life. On the other side of the spectrum, in these difficult times when people in general lost a lot this year, whether it be happiness, rough situations, or even people. Vicu was one of those people; he actually lost four of his loved ones this year. He even opened up about a detail in his personal life - that he is adopted from Romania. Knowing that information, Vicu’s outlook is to take full advantage of his life and just make the most of it. Despite all these, he remains positive and grateful with all the blessings and opportunities that are being showered upon him. More of Vicu Connect with, support, and learn more about Vicu’s music, artistry, production, and everything in between through the links below.  Timestamps 3:58 Vicu’s journey to producing and being and artist 8:52 Listen to “Blame it on me” by Vicu 12:55 What did Vicu start with and what is he currently using on his audio development journey? 15:46 Listen to “BTTFL” (Back to the Future Love) by Vicu 19:47 What possessed Vicu to write the song, “BTTFL”? 20:32 At what part of the journey with making “BTTFL” did Vicu feel that he is into something special? 24:56 A glimpse of Vicu’s production company and the balance with producing and artistry 26:22 Vicu’s learnings and outlook in life as an adopted child 32:37 Listen to “Something About Her” by Vicu 36:05 Who are Vicu’s musical influences? 45:40 Listen to “Coconut Rum” by Vicu 48:28 Why “Coconut Rum” is Vicu’s one of favorite songs? 53:59 If Vicu’s stuck in a desert island, which 3 records will he take with him? 57:02 Vicu’s thoughts on marketing and Spotify 1:04:47 Shoutout to everyone listening on the show; best place to connect with Vicu 1:07:06 Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor Spotify Playlist “Rising dHarmic Stars” is the Spotify Playlist to keep an eye on!, it has past stand out guests that you simply must give a listen to here, so click, and listen! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4loDaYF0OuWRjZeMXvEjK4 Quotes 6:04 Just being somebody that could bring things out of people, I really love doing that a lot with this music stuff. 6:13 The discovery of learning to do new things, you know, being able to do something you couldn't do yesterday as an artist is a joy like no other. 8:35 Music makes itself once that becomes available to you. And once you become available to yourself, and that just takes time. It takes growth…it takes going through things, uncomfortable things…growing up is uncomfortable for everybody. 27:41 I have to take advantage of my life, and just make sure I make the most of it. Connect with Vicu: Website - http://www.vicumusic.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/vicuofficial Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vicuofficial/ Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/vicuschek Twitter - https://twitter.com/vicuofficial Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3n14MuW6YIPjO7TrCUqhsk Selected links and mentions G-Eazy Darrell Williams Jason Derulo Rihanna Michael Jackson Bruno Mars George Michael Sam Smith Elton John Freddie Mercury SJ3 Little Wayne Desmond Dennis Kyle Thompson Tone Stith Chris Brown Prince John Mayer Drake Pink Sweats Ed Sheeran    
64 minutes | 2 months ago
295. Erin Coburn, Blues, Ambition, and a Burning Passion for Guitar!
Today we’ve got something special - a young lady who is just a badass in rock and roll with an intense passion for audio engineering, guitars, and blues music. Wow! This girl is one of a kind! Our guest for today is just 19 years old, yet her talent is so palpable. Let’s welcome on the show, musician, vocalist, and lyricist, Erin Coburn! How did Erin get into music? With all kinds of different music coming from each area of their house, Erin was indeed surrounded by music even at a young age. Her parents and brother are also listening to music 24/7. But what really sparked the interest in Erin was her dad’s guitar which she tried to play and claimed it her own when she was just 2 years old. As far as blues goes, her third guitar teacher introduced her to that music genre during their first lesson. It was when her teacher started playing around and doing solo that made her intrigued about blues. It is such a raw form of music. And what attracted Erin the most is that with blues, it’s just whatever you feel; it’s a straight expression. Inside stories about her songs The first song played on the show today is entitled “Everybody” which streamed from moments when life gets overwhelming, from everyone trying to get attention, and trying to do a million things at once. The next song is called “It’s Over” was played with a Fender Stratocaster that her grandpa helped her get when she was younger. It was one of her favorite guitars. And her song, “Misfit” is her newest single. It came from the Rudolph Christmas Special where they sing “why am I such a misfit”. This song is a message to everyone that it is okay not to fit in; it is cool to be unique. Thoughts about streaming services For Erin, streaming services is wonderful from the consumer’s point of view. On the other hand, as an artist, the idea is also great. Through streaming services like Spotify, artists can connect with fans at the push of a button. However, the tables have definitely turned. There is not a big enough value on what musicians are doing today. She believes that listeners/consumers need to put a value on the artists on social media. More about Erin Connect with Erin and get to know more about her life and music through the links listed below. Timestamps 2:46 Who in Erin’s family inspired her to get into music? 4:47 Listen to “Everybody” by Erin Coburn 9:19 Inside story about the song, “Everybody” 11:41 When did Erin get interested in audio engineering? 14:58 Listen to “It’s Over” by Erin Coburn 19:17 Erin describing her Strandberg guitar 20:56 Listen to Erin play a couple of riffs on her guitar 23:03 What is the most intriguing part of the audio production for Erin? 26:29 Who are Erin’s musical influences? 30:52 Listen to “Out from Under” by Erin Coburn 39:31 Who gives the cue when Erin’s using the backing track live? 42:00 What is Erin’s take on Spotify and streaming in general? 47:21 Story about Erin’s newest single: “Misfit” 49:26 Listen to “Misfit” by Erin Coburn 55:11 Shoutout to Erin’s fans! 56:44 When is her studio going to be built? 56:56 A glimpse of Erin’s family 59:03 Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor  Quotes 10:25 Sometimes you just need to take a step back and write a song 4:34 Blues is such a raw form of music. And it's like a straight expression. Like there's no thinking. It's just whatever you feel and I think that's what really attracted me to it. 38:01 I love to mix it up and do the unexpected 49:17 I wanted to let them know that, it's okay to not fit in or to not feel like you fit in. It's cool. It's cool to be unique. 58:08 I love it when somebody really embraces an instrument and continues to take it up to new levels. Connect with Erin Website - https://www.erincoburn.com/ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5o0doXIq7OsAEOlFwcwwDJ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ErinCoburnMusic/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/ShenanigansOnTheHill Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erincoburnmusic/ Selected links and mentions  dHarmic Rising Stars Spotify Playlist Badflower The Black Keys Cage the Elephant Joe Satriani Matt O’Ree Bruce Springsteen Leslie West B.B. King Gary Clark Jr. Janis Joplin Michael Jackson  
57 minutes | 2 months ago
294. Asiah Million, Celebrating “Dreams, Love, and Music”
Welcome to episode #294 of dHarmic Evolution I am so excited about today’s show because we are graced by the presence of a very versatile artist. She is a vocal coach, singer-songwriter, and also an author. Not to mention her notable collaborations with famous artists like Sean Diddy and Mary J. Blige to name a few. Let’s give it up for Asiah Million! Born and raised in Queens, New York, Asiah is one of seven siblings. Growing up, she is surrounded by music all across the board. Hence, she is greatly influenced by her family from sharing interests with her siblings, admiration of her mother’s strength, to motherhood with her wonderful children, Taiwan, and Ocean. New Book: “Dreams, Love, and Music Lifestyle Revised” Together with her new book, Asiah has written tracks to go along with the chapter titles. This will soon be released as an album, so watch out for it! Moreover, Asiah has fascinatingly tied her music to the stories in her book. This was born out of the desire to be true to herself and do something that really makes sense. Owing to the fact that Asiah knew she can better express herself through music, and that is her truth. She wanted to tell a story but wanted to do it musically so that it could be authentic. Let’s get to know about the stories and adventures that came along with writing and making her singles: Firstly, “DLM” was done at her home last June. She felt alone and was a little depressed at this time because of the pandemic. Consequently, this has been her inspiration to write this song to give a good vibe to everyone because there was just so much going on. Her son has helped her with the arrangement and recording of the song; the track is done by the great musician, Arden Altino. Secondly, in the book, Asiah talked about what gives her the drive, and that’s how she found her purpose. As a result, she was able to write the song “Driven”. Music is so powerful to Asiah’s life that it can make her forget about the negativities in life. That is why she started doing the songs for each chapter of the book. She wanted to inspire people to get up, get out, and do what they’ve got to do. Lastly, “Her Story” is chapter one in the book. This was about a young lady telling her story to Asiah. It was about how the girl got out of one relationship that held her back. Then she met a guy who totally supported what she was doing. Get to know more about Asiah The best place to connect with Asiah is through her Instagram, @TheContinent. In addition, get to know more about her music and books from the websites listed below. Timestamps 3:20 On tying music to the stories in her books 5:13 Listen to “DLM” (Dreams, Love, and Music) by Asiah Million 10:00 Studio process and journey on creating the song “DLM” 13:10 On being one of seven children in the family 20:14 Listen to “Driven” by Asiah Million 23:28 The adventure of writing the book and sharing it musically 27:03 How are things now in New York? 30:21 What is Asiah’s favorite thing to do when she goes into the studio and work with people? 33:13 Asiah’s favorite setup in the studio as far as instrumentation 34:28 Story behind the Asiah’s song “Her Story” 35:17 Listen to “Her Story” by Asiah Million 41:51 Asiah’s writing process 45:22 What is her take on Spotify? 48:42 Connect with Asiah 51:31 Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor Quotes 4:43 I want to tell a story, but I want to do it musically so that it can be authentic. 12:00 You know what, for those who feel like they're going through something alone, you can actually play music and be okay. 25:00 I wanted it to inspire people that really get up, get out and do what you got to do. 25:48 … celebrate your life, whatever your life is. And I think that's why God tells us don't compare yourself to anyone. 25:25 This song is for the women to really like, understand how powerful you are. Even if you're going to be at home wife, be that great. Turn on your music and do the dishes and wash clothes and just be happy. Whatever you decide to do, just do it well. 31:47 So paying attention always served me better than trying to get attention. Connect with Asiah Website - www.asiahmillion.com Facebook - @AsiahTheContinent Instagram - @TheContinent Twitter - @AsiahMillion Youtube - @AsiahTheContinent Check out Asiah’s book: “Dreams, Love, and Music Lifestyle Revised” Amazon -“Dreams, Love, and Music Lifestyle Revised” Barnes & Noble - “Dreams, Love, and Music Lifestyle Revised” Selected links and mentions Sean “Diddy” Combs Teddy Riley Cory Rooney Adina Howard Mary J. Blige Anita Baker Arden “Keyz” Altino Jerry Wonda Wyclef Jean Michael Jackson Madonna The Bangles
34 minutes | 3 months ago
293. Spotlight Series No 2, Featuring Stand Out Artists & Future dHarmic Stars!
Welcome to episode #292 of dHarmic Evolution Today’s show is very special. I will be featuring four of the best interviews I have done on the dHarmic Evolution. The links to the full interviews will be shown below. Let’s indulge in the stories and music of these singer-songwriters, vocalists, and musicians who are certainly extra special in what they do.  So, who do we have today? We have:  Luna Keller   Marc Jordan   Alyssa Marie Coon Savannah Morris   Interview with Luna Keller  Our first ever Spanish artist. Luna Keller is all the way from the Canary Islands. I was very honored to have her on the show six months ago. With so much experience, talent, and passion at such a tender age, Luna Keller’s unique blend of songwriting, teamwork production, and instrument playing will dazzle any music fan out of their seats! Luna’s song featured on the show today is “Alice is in love with a Mad Hatter” You can listen to Luna’s full interview here:  https://dharmicevolution.com/old-blog/de259-luna-keller-singing-and-songwriting-on-the-canary-islands-simply-paradise/ Interview with Marc Jordan  Next is a true music legend, brilliant songwriter, music inspiration, and a talented artist from Canada, Marc Jordan. Additionally, he is the writer of Rod Stewart’s famous song “Rhythm of my Heart” and has written many other hits for major artists. Jordan has already been the recipient of several music awards including the ASCAP, JUNO, and the Smooth awards. Despite having already accomplished so much in the industry, the drive and passion that Jordan has for music and songwriting, according to him, is deeper and more profound than it’s ever been.  Marc’s song featured on this episode is a romantic smooth jazz rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” You can listen to Marc’s full interview here:  https://dharmicevolution.com/old-blog/de258-marc-jordan-celebrates-both-sides-of-music-smooth-jazz-cant-get-any-smoother/  Interview with Alyssa Marie Coon  Now let’s go down to Florida as we listen to Alyssa Marie Coon’s music. I think she was 15 or 16 when she guested on the show. Her vocals are simply incredible, listening to her, you could easily forget that she’s just a teenager. Not only does this young woman have undoubtedly a great and special voice, but she is also a gifted songwriter who plays piano, guitar, and ukulele.  Listen to Alyssa’s featured song on this episode “Country Girl” You can listen to Alyssa’s full interview here:  https://dharmicevolution.com/old-blog/de257-alyssa-marie-coon-age-is-oblivious-to-talent-and-determination/  Savannah Morris Last but not least is Savannah Morris from Nashville, Tennessee. As one of the 8 Nashville Natives, Savannah feels blessed both career-wise and socially by networking and linking with a lot of the Native locals in the music and entertainment industry, all of whom have supported and helped her evolve and get better with her music.  Moreover, I want to ask everyone to pray for Savannah. She has recently recovered from COVID-19. On the other hand, she has recently been diagnosed with Leukemia and is now being treated.   Savannah comes from royalty. Her whole family is rooted in music. If my memory serves me right, her father still plays for Loretta Lynn and her mom has done vocals for Elvis Presley, and many other huge stars.  Listen to Savannah’s featured song on the show “Kudzu” (a wildflower that grows in Tennessee) You can listen to Savannah’s full interview here:  https://dharmicevolution.com/old-blog/de253-savannah-morris-one-of-the-8-nashville-natives-a-beautiful-energetic-sound/ Timestamps 00:25 Spotlight Series Number Two  2:56 Luna Keller   4:08 Listen to “Alice is in Love with a Mad Hatter” by Luna Keller   7:37 Marc Jordan  9:11 Listen to the rendition of “Both Sides Now” by Marc Jordan  16:26 Alyssa Marie Coon  17:32 Listen to “Country Girl” by Alyssa Marie Coon  21:14 Savannah Morris  23:26 Listen to “Kudzu” by Savannah Morris  29:16 Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor  Connect with Luna Website: www.lunakeller.com  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Mqp7hngFJzrCbUePtHzTj?si=iTRdqQzCRpmgb0wKDZ7PmQ  Instagram: @luna_k_music Twitter: @LunaKellerM  Facebook: @lunakmusicofficial Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_Vz06q1UPI3ezzwfmirZQ?sub_confirmation=1  Connect with Marc Website: www.marcjordan.com    Facebook: @marcwjordanmusic   Instagram: @marc_jordan_music   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEKnobe-hfDGmsvxWgP9fNQ   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2clUjxvyf90rQi8Rz7absT     Connect with Alyssa  Website: www.alyssamariecoonmusic.com Facebook: AlyssaMarieCoonMusicAM Twitter: @AlyssaMarieCoon Instagram: @alyssamariecoon YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/alyssamarie136 Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/alyssa-marie-coon/912450783   Connect with Savannah  Facebook: @savannah.morris.9406 Instagram @savannah_grace4 Website smorris697.wixsite.com/savannahmorris  CdBaby store.cdbaby.com/Artist/SavannahMorris   Amazon www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PZ94XDP/  Selected links and mentions  Joni Mitchell  Rod Stewart  Loretta Lynn  Elvis Presley
70 minutes | 3 months ago
292. World Maestro, Colin O’Donohoe, Conductor of the Pangean Orchestra
Welcome to episode #292 of dHarmic Evolution It is with pleasure for me to introduce the only symphony conductor we have ever had on the Dharmic Evolution. Drummer, composer, and “World Maestro”, let’s welcome for the third time on the show, Colin Donohoe! The last twelve months have been both awesome and crazy for Colin. He and his wife, Ceren, wanted to be away and be in the woods to concentrate on the projects they are working on. Hence, they are currently in the beautiful state of Oregon. Unfortunately, there was a major fire in Oregon recently. Colin expressed his gratefulness and admiration to the dedicated team of firefighters. In dire circumstances, the team was able to drive the residents away from the fire while they were driving into the fire. And because of these efforts, they were able to come back safely home. Pivotal moments in Mongolia About a year ago, Colin embarked on a tour to Japan, South Korea, and Mongolia. This was a part of the project he was working on for his orchestra, “The Pangean Orchestra” wherein he interviews at least one musician from every country. He delved into the approaches, technical aspects of the instruments, and just learning their music in general. One of the most pivotal moments for him was in Mongolia where he was able to see a lot of concerts, jam with bands backstage, and what it is like to be a musician in Mongolia. He jammed with the musicians using his Kanjira which is an Indian drum (a very small frame drum, but it gives the characteristics of a drum set). Although they needed a translator from Mongolian or other languages to English, these musicians are totally eloquent. They blended pretty well and music has been their language. The Prayer Garden This project was born in Mongolia. Colin and Ceren went there to unplug from the world, get away from news and social media. Moreover, they went to the Gobi Desert, where there was no WiFi, literally nothing except endless sky and white foxes. Consequently, they were forced to live in the moment and just have a spiritual and peaceful time. Then at one of the concerts in Mongolia, they heard a woman announcer mispronouncing some English words. It sounded like “Prayer Garden”, but she actually said player something. As a result, the epiphany came to Colin, and realized that it is a good concept. However, his father died in February. Then they came back to Arizona to be with his mother, unfortunately, COVID-19 broke out. Due to the pandemic where everyone cannot go out and Colin had to take care of his mother, Colin, also needed an escape from everything that was going on. And so together with Ceren, they created The Prayer Garden. Wanting to be in a good space and just getting away from the anxiety, and apprehension during the pandemic, and also the recent loss of his father, Colin was able to write these incredible tracks. It initially started as a live stream, then he continued working out on the music and created a cinematic soundscape that would go underneath it. Because The Prayer Garden is supposed to bring the listener deeper into a meditational or relaxed state, he wanted to play something that was a bit of a flourish and a bit virtuosic, but also musical; it has to be melodic. He always makes sure the spirit of the piece is paramount, and that his playing should only be supporting the piece which is to bring people into peace and calm. Check out The Prayer Garden from the links below; this was just released on 10/16/2020. He also released an EP called The Sunset Serenity Mixes. Amazon  Facebook  Instagram  Spotify Timestamps 4:32 Experiences in Oregon and the recent major fire 8:19 Asian tour and pivotal moments in Mongolia 12:44 Listen to “Eloquent” by Colin O’Donohoe 16:50 The birth of “The Prayer Garden” album 25:54 Listen to “Inhale” by Colin O’Donohoe 30:24 Music is an escape and writing the tracks 33:32 Using space in music 38:11 Listen to “Morning Air” by Colin O’Donohoe 43:21 Where did Colin record the tracks 45:22 Plans on where to go next 49:52 Listen to “Solace” by Colin O’Donohoe 55:53 Does Colin find it difficult to connect with English translators when he interviews musicians from other countries 59:54 How are Colin’s kids doing? 1:00:26 Words of wisdom from Colin 1:04:35 Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor Quotes 24:20 It's funny you wrote the track. But as you're recording and practicing to it, you let the track speak to you. And you start to learn the track, and it's weird because you created it. You should know what the track wants, but now the track is its own entity. It's it is own thing. It has its own characteristics. And you listen back at it, you say, oh! I should be playing this here. Oh, that's what you want. And you get a relationship going with the music you just wrote. 28:27 Wherever you travel to, you bring a little piece of that back with you. 29:10 Just be alive and let your imagination take you where you want it to go. And if things work, you know, somehow get into your mind while you're listening. That's fine. You know, let it go in there and then let it pass out like a wave and then just be alive in the moment of the music. 29:30 One thing a lot of composers and performers forget is that one of the best things they can do with their music and with their instrument is just not played. Because silence is a note. 29:49 It's called embrace the silences because that's what makes music so beautiful is the spaces 42:59 We’re not trees. We don't have these roots that stick us in the ground. We're human, and humans have moved throughout the history of our species, we move. 43:31 If there's someplace you've always wanted to go to, then start making it a dream of “I've always wanted to see Australia or Ireland” or wherever, and make a plan to go there. Set yourself a plan and a course on how to get there. 45:33 If you're just so passionate about what you're doing, then it's just fun to get up every day. 58:09 But I would encourage all of us for all of our sakes, to take some time out every day, close your phones, close your computers, meditate, go for a walk with the trees. And take some time to get to know yourself. Because it's so easy with the things on our phone to just forget who we are. Connect with Colin Website www.worldmaestro.com Instagram @worldmaestro Facebook @worldmusicmaestro YouTube www.youtube.com/c/WorldMaestro/about Soundcloud soundcloud.com/worldmaestro Selected links and mentions James Brown Mark Twain As always, thanks a lot for being a part of the dHarmic evolution podcast, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and connect with us on social media. Follow our Podcast on Facebook Twitter Instagram  You can also see the show on The James O’Connor Agency YouTube channel and join our community on dHarmic Evolution Community Facebook Group
73 minutes | 3 months ago
291. Sarah Christine, Shows Us How We Are All “In it Together”
We’re heading out west today. All the way from Colorado, let’s take a ride on the musical journey with the sole theme of “In It Together” with singer-songwriter Sarah Christine! With eclectic inspirations from pop, indie, folk, to even electronic sounds, Sarah Christine’s music is undeniably rare. She enjoys the technicality behind EDM and finds interest in learning how to put that together and produces some of that music on her own. Sarah Christine’s journey unravels the cathartic episodes she has experienced and overcome in life. She once faced a near-death accident when she got hit by an F-150 truck. Consequently, her experiences in life, even when she was still juggling her corporate job and music career to going full time in music and everything in between ended up pointing her to what she is here for. Moreover, these have been the inspirations to the lyrics of her songs. “Like the Movies” was about her getting married at a young age; everything seemed awesome, then things started breaking apart. One day, she woke up literally with nothing. On a lighter note, when she just moved from Minneapolis to Colorado. Her neighbor was throwing a rager and blasting some John Mayer songs on a vinyl player at about 2 a.m. She got up and knocked on the neighbor’s door. Instead of asking him to lower the volume, she asked him to turn the music up. She got hooked with the music. As a result, she was inspired to write “Summer Nights” Thoughts about streaming services, dealing with the pandemic Sarah Christine is adapting to the emerging streaming services by learning the nitty-gritty like the QR code with Spotify, setting up playlists, understanding how everything interconnects with the algorithm, and how that to connects with other platforms. She believes that these platforms are invaluable to her. Hence, she focuses on how can she use the platforms to get as many people as possible and try to connect with them through her songs. And from there, she tries to figure out how to build relationships with those people. Like with any other businesses, Sarah Christine’s career is also affected by the pandemic. 52 shows that she has set up herself have now been canceled. Right now, Sarah Christine is working on private shows and doing custom songs on the side. Above all, the value is the relationship she builds with and the lessons she learns from the people she writes the songs for. Learn more about Sarah Christine To know more about her life, music, or should you ever wish to have a custom song made by the one and only Sarah Christine, please do not hesitate to visit her website and other links listed below. Timestamps 3:28 How does she prefer to be called? 5:24 Who are Sarah Christine’s musical influences? 8:28 Listen to “Summer Nights” by Sarah Christine 13:34 Story behind “Summer Nights” 16:36 Listen to “For You” by Sarah Christine 22:47 The love for vinyl players 27:21 What are her thoughts about streaming services both as a consumer and an artist? 31:47 Listen to “Like the Movies” by Sarah Christine 37:00 Story behind “Like the Movies” 42:44 Continuation of the discussion about streaming services and dealing with the pandemic 50:26 Listen to “Aspen” by Sarah Christine 57:18 The story about the accident she was involved in with an F-150 truck 1:04:08 Connect with Sarah Christine 1:05:14 Parting message and motivational words 1:07:31 Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor Quotes The mistakes are sometimes the best part of the music. I replaced all the anger and hatred with love and forgiveness. And once I did that, it was like, oh man! The world is off my shoulders. You have certain things that happen, where they end up pointing you into what is your purpose, what are you here for. I think I think we have to just try to enjoy the journey a little bit more on the way I mean, it can be frustrating, but I think if we get a few little victories along the way, it's okay to stop and just, you know, celebrate that, you know The universe tends to provide I think, what you're doing what you love Stay strong out there on your worst days. It will get better, just keep pushing forward. Connect with Sarah Christine Website - http://www.sarahchristinempls.com/ Instagram - http://www.sarahchristinempls.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sarahchristinemplsmusic Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/4hP91FEVqwGpopor9xWlFp Apple Music - https://open.spotify.com/artist/4hP91FEVqwGpopor9xWlFp Buzz Music - https://www.buzz-music.com/post/sarah-christine-makes-our-heart-melt-with-like-the-movies Deezer - https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/4097841 Selected links and mentions Ellie Goulding Amos Lee John Mayer Fleetwood Mac Led Zeppelin Taylor Swift Beyonce Joe Rogan Tim Ferris  
65 minutes | 3 months ago
290. Megan Nadin, Debut Album “This Was Then” One of Her Beautiful Things
It’s always a joy for me to see when someone is blessed with musical talent and then decides to share her blessings with others. I am very delighted to be joined today by a musician with a good heart - Megan Nadin! Today we will have a glimpse of Megan’s life, music, and her debut album “This Was Then”. All the way from Thunder Bay, Canada, Megan moved to the music city last January. This emerging artist has a very unique and original sound, with her voice being her main instrument, it is a surprise to many that she only started her music career in 2017. Her mission is to change lives by being an honest and authentic voice to those in need and providing hope through altruistic platforms. This is very palpable to Megan’s life because she was a teacher before she pursued her career and passion for music. Wanting her music to be so real, she masterfully uses lyrics and melody that help paint the picture of the story, Megan is lucky enough to work with some really great creatives in the industry. Producer/songwriter Johnny Black has helped her create a demo. From there, she has built it up with the producer, Keith Thomas, who has worked with incredible people like Whitney Houston and Amy Grant. With this wonderful team, the production is stellar. The brilliance of how it was crafted around the subtleties of Megan’s voice is very evident. Weight loss journey Megan is not only an inspiration in her music career but also her weight loss journey. She has lost 61 pounds! Knowing family and friends with medical conditions, and wanting to be around for a really long-time inspired Megan to make sure that she has a healthy body and mind. She apprenticed to be a chef for two years and started making her meals from scratch. It did not happen in an instant. It also helped that Megan is surrounded by strong and empowering women helping her not to view her weight as a struggle. As an artist, she wants us to stand up for who we are as people. That it’s all about a good mindset and how people treat themselves. Inspirations behind her songs Beautiful Things was written when her friend gifted her the Rumours album by Fleetwood Mac. Megan and her friend were talking about the success and everything good that came from the album, but the band was suffering as a group. Unexpectedly, the lyrics came out from her mouth: “it's crazy that some of the most beautiful things come together when things are falling apart, like the sweetest song written by a broken heart”. While the album inspired the main lyric, the actual verses are built upon a series of journal entries written down by Megan. Heart of a Lion was Megan’s first opportunity to work with the producer, Keith Thomas. It was her first writing session with Keith, and he just started playing the piano and Megan began singing into the air. Voila! Lyrics and melodies are coming out, and the song was created within that day. This has set the precedence of their future projects together. In fact, he ended up being the executive producer of this new album. The song was influenced by the notes that Keith was playing. It painted a picture in Megan’s head where she envisioned a person that had it all together but deep down, this person is falling apart. The Joker was literally from the movie “Joker”. The movie unmasked and unveiled a lot of the things people deal with in society. She was so moved and inspired that she was able to write the song in one night. She painted the life of this beautiful person who had been jaded and treated unfairly. Learn more about Megan Get to know more about Megan’s life, music, and even blogs by visiting her website. Her songs are also available on different streaming platforms listed below. Timestamps 4:40 Transition from Thunder Bay, Canada to Nashville 6:31 Listen to “Beautiful Things” by Megan Nadin 13:14 Production process 16:08 Listen to “The Joker” by Megan Nadin 20:58 Megan’s weight loss journey and lifestyle change 28:19 Story behind “Heart of a Lion” 30:07 Listen to “Heart of a Lion” by Megan Nadin 34:15 How did Megan feel when she worked for the first time with Keith Thomas 35:47 The milk bath post on Instagram 36:41 Does Megan have tattoos? 41:01 Writing habits and regiments as a songwriter 42:42 What is her preferred instrument 44:22 Who are her most profound music influences 46:03 Listen to “Electric” by Megan Nadin 50:01 “Five Ways to Protect Your Energy That You Need to Try!” a blog by Megan 53:08 Story behind “The Joker” 54:58 Megan’s parting advice and message 59:57 Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor Quotes I'm hopeful some of the most beautiful things come together when they fall apart, like the sweetest song written by a broken heart. "Because at the end of the day, we all get old. And we know our looks can only take us so far. It's about who we are on the inside. It's about how we treat people, and it's about how we treat ourselves." "I think naturally, you'll be more attractive no matter what weight you are, no matter how you look, or how people will perceive you there will be like an inner beauty that shines out that makes you beautiful, no matter what the physical appearance is." "You are enough. You have a purpose; our purpose is always changing and growing and evolving, but just go with the flow and step into the fear." "Fear comes up when you are on to something good; fear comes up when you are on the verge of something really good."     Connect with Megan Website - https://www.megannadin.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/megannadin/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/megannadinmusic Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5I8qJrgqnPQH7TaIgQ1Sgg Deezer - https://www.deezer.com/en/album/62727682 Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/megannadin Twitter - https://twitter.com/megnadin Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/ca/album/gypsy-sea-single/1378348177 Selected links and mentions Fleetwood Mac Johnny Black Keith Thomas Vanessa Williams Whitney Houston Amy Grant “Colors of the Wind” (Pocahontas soundtrack) Joker (2019 film) Celine Dion Bryan Adams Alanis Morisette
58 minutes | 4 months ago
289. Into the life of Cory Singer, On music and being in the higher end of the spectrum
Let’s welcome for the second time on the Dharmic Evolution, full-fledged singer/songwriter, musician, and theatre performer, Cory Singer! What’s new with Cory? Cory hopped on the bandwagon and started his own TikTok account with music and funny content. People started noticing him when he uploaded a video talking about autism, specifically Asperger’s disorder or high functioning autism. With the unexpected turn of events, he got many views, likes, and even questions from parents with kids who are also on The Spectrum. Cory then started putting out more content talking about what it’s like being on the higher end of the spectrum, his interests, and also the things that bother him. His videos inspired a lot of people making them realize that they are not alone anymore and that there are others who are going through the same situation. Cory shared that this was also true to him back when he was in high school. Luckily, he has a best friend, who also has Asperger’s disorder - he has been with him even when they were students and now considers him as his brother. He highly believes that kids on the spectrum should have a safe space to talk and relate with people for them to be assured that they are not alone. Aside from his inspirational videos, Cory also uploads funny skits to make people laugh and brighten their day. As a theatrical performer We can recall on Cory’s past guest appearance in our podcast where his mom shared that certain people are trying to convince him to change his style of voice, but Cory stuck to his guns and grew comfortably to his own skin. He believes that in this superficial society where everybody is trying to fit in, he still chooses to be remembered by sticking out and being different. His voice is basically his brand; this led him to great opportunities especially with being part of theatre shows. Becoming a theatrical performer has always been a dream of Cory’s. He loved watching movies and seeing productions. He got his first break when he was in grade school, and landed all the lead roles during high school. He also joined the American reality competition on Bravo called “The Kandi Factory” which sparked his interest in songwriting. As a songwriter For Cory, the best songs happen when he’s inspired, specifically in the evenings when he is finished working his two jobs, and he can be “in the moment” to write good songs. In addition to being a singer, songwriter, and theatre actor, Cory is also a fulltime warehouse worker and part-timer at a local deli. He does not want to be stagnant and keeps himself busy particularly during these times when theatres and other venues for artists are shut down due to the pandemic. Journey to becoming fit and healthy Staying in shape is very important for singers. Cory used to be overweight, weighing in at 220 lbs! But was motivated by a songwriter in Nashville to change his lifestyle and start his journey to becoming fit. He lost 70 lbs and has maintained his weight by watching what he eats and working out. Learn more about Cory Get to know more about Cory, his music, theatre performances, and TikTok videos through the links below. Stories behind some of his songs “Everybody Sing” – This song was written in thirty (30) minutes. It is about personal freedom and everything that is happening in the world at the moment when Cory wrote this song. “Blind in Love” – This was produced by Wes Edmunds (Wyclef Jean’s producer) “Goodbye Felicia” – This song is the closest to Cory’s personality. It came from the term “bye Felicia”. Cory heard this from his mom when she was dealing with a specific person and she kept saying that term, so he decided to write a song about it. “Girl”- This is stemmed from his mom encouraging him to write a romantic song because he usually writes dark and depressing songs. It is somewhat inspired by Radiohead. Timestamps 2:13 Cory’s TikTok account - music, funny videos, and talking about autism 3:59 How did he feel after sharing his story 6:02 Advantages of TikTok as a platform 7:09 Thoughts about disallowing TikTok in the United States 8:25 Listen to “Everybody Sing” by Cory Singer 12:30 Juggling stage performances and musical career 14:08 Sticking to the style of his voice 16:11 What inspired Cory to become a theatrical performer 17:03 Listen to “Blind in Love” by Cory Singer 21:40 Songwriting process 24:35 Cory’s two jobs 29:52 Listen to “Goodbye Felicia” by Cory Singer 34:47 Favourite comedy actors 37:33 Skits on TikTok 38:52 Cory’s social life 40:47 journey to becoming fit and healthy, intermittent fasting 44:45 Listen to “Girl” by Cory Singer 48:59 Eclectic music inspirations 50:38 Words of wisdom 51:28 Connect with Cory 52:47 Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor Quotes   I think the fact that you have that kind of bravery and transparency helps a lot of people who struggle with exactly what you struggle with.   Kids on the spectrum should have a safe space so they can talk to people, relate to them, and know they're not alone. That's how everybody should be. I feel like especially now these days, we live in such a superficial kind of society, where everybody's trying to fit in. But that's how you get forgotten. By sticking out and just doing you, that's how you're likely to be remembered.   Some people have that in mind that work is a dirty word, a four (4) letter word they say you know, but work is such a blessing. And I was talking to some people about this recently a working physical is one of the best gifts you could ever have.   Focus on your abilities, not your disabilities.   Connect with Cory  Website www.corysingermusic.com Spotify Cory Singer Youtube Cory Singer TikTok @thecorysinger Selected links and mentions  Jason Derulo The Kandi Factory Wyclef Jean Rodney Dangerfield Jim Carey Richard Pryor Jeff Dunham Louis C.K. Robin Williams Michael Jackson Radiohead Stephen Sondheim AC/DC Aerosmith Neil Young Frank Sinatra Stevie Wonder Pearl Jam  Chris Cornell Bruce Springsteen Metallica Bobby Caldwell Guns N’ Roses Rolling Stones As always, thanks a lot for being a part of the dHarmic evolution podcast, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and connect with us on social media. Follow our Podcast on Facebook Twitter Instagram  You can also see the show on The James O’Connor Agency YouTube channel and join our community on dHarmic Evolution Community Facebook Group
62 minutes | 4 months ago
288. The Iveys, Family And Music, Born To Be Creative!
With 10 years and counting of making music together, let’s get to know more about the humble beginnings, struggles, and successes of the wild sibling group – The Ivey’s! I am joined by 4 out of 5 members of the band, unfortunately, Hugo (lead guitarist and banjo player) can’t make it today. But I am delighted to be graced by the presence of Jessica, Jenna, Galen, and Arlen here on the show. With seven kids in the family and five of them in the group, their other sibling Julia, used to be part of the band as well, and their oldest brother Shannon is into farming, it is very evident that the family loves music so much. Their interest in music started with their dad who they always hear singing while they are growing up. Their dad also exposed them to trying different vocal harmony lines; eventually, they individually learned to play musical instruments - Jessica with piano, Arlen on guitar, Galen took drum lessons, and so from there, everything evolved into the music that they have today. To keep the creative flow going, the siblings put a lot of time and effort into discussing, planning everything out meticulously, and establishing the goals ahead of time, even scheduling the days when they have to go to the studio for recording. Luckily, they’ve got a studio a couple of miles away from where they live, and they consider this their second home. It is called Sonic Ranch Studios located in Tornillo, Texas. Over the years, they have gotten to know a lot of different musicians and artists who they’ve got the opportunities to do a collaboration with. One of them is Jerry Ordonez, a fantastic music engineer who co-produced their last two projects, Leslie Johnson played the bass for some of the recordings, Michael Ways recorded cello with them and many other musicians. Democracy of siblings in a bandAs with all relationships, disagreements cannot be avoided, especially with The Ivey's because not only are their siblings but bandmates as well. Their mindset is really to try to be always focused on their goals and continue moving forward, always trying to remember that it’s not one person against the other. It’s more about having different ideas and coming together for the best possible option. They will always be a family and have each other. Get to know more about the members of The Ivey’s: GalenGalen is the drummer of the band; he graduated just last December with a film major. “Running Wild” is one of the first music videos he directed with his siblings. He is now in charge of the music video direction and post-production. Jenna Jenna is 23 years old, graduated just last semester with a degree in theatre arts. She was helping the band to write songs even before she joined. She usually collaborates with Arlen when conceptualizing and writing songs, and works with Galen when filming their music videos. JessicaArlen tagged Jessica along when he needed a pianist and a singer. At first, they were just doing cover songs together, then Arlen started bringing in original music, and the rest is history. When Jenna and Galen joined the band, and the group recorded “Colors of Honey”, layers upon layers, getting down the piano, guitar, vocals, and hearing it all together, was when Jessica had this epiphany that these have brought The Ivey’s sound to where it needed to be and completed it. ArlenHe is the second among the seven Ivey siblings. He is the guitarist, “road manager”, and one of the songwriters of the band. Jenna and Arlen have written songs together; they sometimes write songs out of dreams, sometimes they work together and lead each other to a path, and it fits well. Something magical can happen with songwriters that are connected to each other and constantly working together. Arlen is not only the “spokesperson” of the group but he is also in charge of the bookings and schedules of their shows and tours. Thoughts about their parentsTheir dad is a firm believer in the power of art. Their parents have been so encouraging now, and as they were growing up. They are so proud of what The Ivey’s have accomplished, and they are no doubt their biggest fans. Want to know more about The Ivey’s?Click the links below to learn more about their music and future projects. Timestamps2:12 Humble beginnings of The Ivey’s 5:00 Listen to “You’ve Got Something” by The Ivey’s 9:33 How do they keep the creative flow going 11:25 Recording process 14:22 Listen to “Running Wild” by The Ivey’s 17:41 Get to know more about Galen 19:33 The democracy of siblings in a band 22:27 Get to know more about Jenna 24:01 Get to know more about Jessica 24:47 Songwriting Inspirations 30:04 Listen to “Colors of Honey” by The Ivey’s 36:55 Galen’s experience being on the road with the band 39:54 Arlen’s role on the band 42:28 Listen to “Once an Eagle” by The Ivey’s 47:22 The epiphany of Jessica about the sound of The Ivey’s 49:08 Collaborations with other musicians 51:07 Thoughts about their parents 54:34 Connect with The Ivey’s 55:13 Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor Quotes“I would say what we try to do, is, we try because at the end of the day, you have to focus on the fact that you're both trying to get to a goal, and you both want to do what is best for the band.” “We're always going to have each other. So that also makes it easier because this is a passion project. And we're all working together for the good of it and trying to convey something and capture a bit of magic with that, so with that focus, it helps because you always get back to that and disagreements have to be resolved, because you want to continue moving forward, and you love each other. You want it to be a positive environment.” “It's important to be educated about music in general. But the sky's the limit with creativity and how you can apply your own creative juices to the subject constantly and keep learning new ways to do it all the time.” Connect with The Iveys Website - www.theiveysmusic.com Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDQv2iL6DYLU06B-gNr9Ypg Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/4DfWZliaM2iPkHWyyeNz0j Selected links and mentions Beatles Simon & Garfunkel Bob Dylan Johnny Cash The Avett Brothers The Eagles The Lumineers First Aid Kit  Jerry Ordonez AC/DC Metallica Leslie Johnson Michael Way - a symphony orchestra
63 minutes | 4 months ago
287. Fingerstyle Guitar Extraordinaire Tim Farrell Shares His Music!
Welcome to episode #287 of dHarmic Evolution Join me as we take a ride today from Nashville to Pennsylvania with the musician, recording and performing artist, composer, educator, and finger-style guitar connoisseur, Tim Farrell. Growing up jamming with friends and playing rock music, Tim eventually studied classical guitar, shifting from jazz. His eyes and ears were opened to everything that one can do, not only by playing the rhythm and lead but also melodies, bass line, and open strings, the list is endless! He then applied everything he learned from classical to steel-string guitar and combined the techniques and tones available to steel-string. Realizing that this was not just about playing a chord, but telling a story which Tim believes was one of the best compliments he received when he became the first-ever instrumentalist to play at a venue in Florida and someone quoted to him that “your story is in the music”. Tim’s music has shades of Michael Hedges; it’s like there is practically no limit to what he can do with his imagination on the way he approaches even the tuning of the guitar. Tim, for the most time, has been using standard tuning when he came across alternate tuning with Little Martha by Leo Kottke. He figured out that he was using open E tuning and heard the potentials that open E created and intensely explored it, in fact, he keeps a guitar on hand with that definitive tuning. Coping with the pandemic With the current situation, Tim believes that the biggest change was not being able to play and perform his music to a larger crowd. While keeping himself active doing walks, yoga, and taking care of his crops, Tim is streaming concerts every other Sunday. He also has a scheduled online concert and workshop at the Cooperage in Pennsylvania. His concerts with his trio called StringSongs - playing alongside Michael Manring and Christopher Garcia are also currently canceled. StringSongs StringSongs was formed when Tim first met Michael on a gig and did some recording together. Eventually, they decided to make it formal, and initially joined by the Grammy-winning piano player and producer, Pat Robinson but later replaced by Christopher due to conflicts in schedule. Tim together with Michael and his fretless bass, and Christopher using a very exotic percussion - they all blend, just perfectly fit, and their music is very unique. What’s next for Tim? Watch out for the new solo album that he is working on. And StringSongs – with Michael and Christopher where they are now planning for the recording and rehearsals even during this time of pandemic to come up with new projects Streaming and Music Industry In this confusing time where CDs are going away, vinyl making a comeback, where consumers love streaming and artists hate it. Tim, who is also an educator, is continuously sharing his music and develops workshops online and onsite, performs at senior centers and performing art centers. He believes that this is an eye-opener for people to see that there are so many unexpected things that can be done with an acoustic guitar aside from strumming chords or playing solo. To know more about Tim Farrell’s music and everything that he does, you can support him by playing his music through streaming services, ordering his CDs through his website, supporting him on his online live concerts. Timestamps: 2:54 How Tim got connected to finger-style acoustic playing 7:52 Alternate Tuning 9:10 Listen to “Joyride to Tranquillity” 13:49 When did he first come across the idea of starting alternative tuning 17:28 Online concert and workshop in Pennsylvania 19:04 Listen to “Rosewood Alley 25:10 StringSongs with Michael Manring and Christopher Garcia 29:38 Tim’s work ethic towards music 33:31 New solo album and plans with StringSongs 36:05 Listen to “Walk Away Renee” written by the Four Tops 40:22 Thoughts about streaming and music business 44:29 Challenges with rehearsing and recording together with Michael and Christopher 49:12: Listen to “Kindred Spirits” 53:20 Coping with the pandemic 55:52 Learn and support Tim Farrell’s music 58:13 Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor QuotesIn some ways, you get to be like the complete composer when you do what you do. Because It is an entire orchestra, it’s not just by playing a chord…and it just brings out so much in the story of what’s being played And they said to me afterward, you don't need the words, your story is in the music. A lot of people expect that you will either be strumming chords or playing a solo, and they don’t realize you can do these other things together. It’s phenomenal to see it open people’s eyes and ears up. I think the more your style of playing is out there, the better that songwriters will continue to develop songs in general. We will get better music because it incorporates so much imagination and so much beauty into the songs. Connect with Tim Website: www.timfarrellmusic.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCZeAvq_RNxO90JQeeBi9KvQ Apple Music: itunes.apple.com/us/artist/tim-farrell/1749396 Deezer: www.deezer.com/en/artist/1076837/radio?autoplay=true Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/2ZUazTgHPZia5PfuXsTtyu?si=XmDO2VwGQvOiqmon3gosLQ StringSongs Selected links and mentions. Michael Hedges Leo Kottke Michael Manring Christopher Garcia Pat Robinson Connected by James Kevin O’Connor As always, thanks a lot for being a part of the dHarmic evolution podcast, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and connect with us on social media. Follow our Podcast on Facebook Twitter Instagram  You can also see the show on The James O’Connor Agency YouTube channel and join our community on dHarmic Evolution Community Facebook Group
40 minutes | 4 months ago
286. Shifting the conversation on mental health with Mary Albertoli
Mary Albertoli is a former clinical social worker who is on a mission to execute actionable solutions to help individuals struggling with mental health problems. She has a Degree in Social Work from Columbia University and has practiced for 12 years, specializing in counseling children, adolescents, and young adults suffering from mental illness. Even though she left the counseling profession, Mary kept up with the news and statistics in the industry. With shocking numbers of a 56% jump in suicide rates, coupled with school shootings and drug overdoses, Mary knew that something had to be done in order to help the youth population from continuing on the path of self-destruction. Having worked with both individuals and group session clients between the age of 10-24, Mary knows first hand from experience that individuals in this age group don’t tend to open up a lot. A lot of youth go through mental problems, but because this isn’t a popular topic in society, they end up feeling either disgraced or ashamed of these new feelings, and instead of talking things out, they instead act out. Social media in current times has only acted to catalyze the rate at which young adults experience loneliness, depression, and social anxiety. A lot of teenagers using social media end up experiencing ‘splintered identity’ A phenomenon in which teenagers report feeling very good and inspired about one post and feeling the total opposite in the next post. This has made them disconnect from their true and authentic self, further isolating themselves, and going through more suffering. Handling depression when growing up. Growing up back in the day, it was very unpopular for guardians to help you through tough mental problems. A lot of these issues were merely swept under the carpet - as you’re told to ‘power through the pain’ This has proven to expose unhealed wounds of the past that need to be catered to. The pain that you powered through is the reason for your current suffering. And it can only be solved by having open and genuine conversations about your feelings surrounding the traumatic experience, and how it has affected you. Mary was able to handle the mental pain and depression that she suffered as a child in her adult life. Having faced the demons in her closet, Mary was inspired to help others accomplish the same. And this is the inspiration behind ‘The Shift’ - A platform where individuals can connect with counselors, peers, and other individuals, to share issues they’re going through without the fear of feeling judged or condemned. Mary now hopes that the platform can evolve to be a diverse tool with resources that help all demographics in working through their mental problems. In conclusion, remember to always live in the present moment, because nothing is more important than life itself. Be loving, kindful, and generous to your neighbor, especially in these fraudulent times, because we’re all going through something, and the only way out, is by supporting each other. Text hello to the crisis hotline 741741 and a counselor will discreetly attend to you. Quotes “It’s easy to think that you’re alone in life when you’re isolated, this coupled with the pandemic facto is why so many people are going through depression right now. And when humans suffer, they only isolate more.” - Mary on the quiet loop of depression “A lot of young adults are embarrassed by their mental issues because this isn’t something they’re accustomed to. The shift is about changing the conversation so that these individuals can know that they’re not alone, and what they’re going through is normal.” “The important thing to remember is that nothing is permanent, things change, and they’re still changing on a daily basis. Something better will eventually come - How to cope with the current pandemic” “I love being in service to other people because it helps me discover myself even more. The mental path that I’ve journeyed through life is successful because I can openly share what I’m going through without feeling alone.” - Mary on why she loves volunteering” Timestamps 02:48 The shift 05:47 The effects of social media on the youth 08:19 Tools used in the shift 11:13 Finding ways to handle and release stress 13:47 How we’ve come to where we are 16:26 What Mary and her team are doing to help people 18:19 Mary’s defining moment for creating the shift 24:17 Making the difference 25:29 How volunteering has fulfilled Mary’s life 27:50 Experience working with different kids 31:26 The future of the shift Connect with Mary Albertoli Website - www.shifttheshow.com Facebook - www.facebook.com/theshiftseriesofficial/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/theshift_series/ LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/theshiftseriesofficial YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCVFfUOd7grD8dhdik4Sl0Wg Mentions Nadia Sarmova Adrienne Finch Maureen (Mo) Isern Kitty Overton As always, thanks a lot for being a part of the dHarmic evolution podcast, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and connect with us on social media. Follow our Podcast on Facebook Twitter Instagram  You can also see the show on The James O’Connor Agency YouTube channel and join our community on dHarmic Evolution Community Facebook Group
25 minutes | 5 months ago
285. September 11th 2001, where were you on that day?
Welcome to episode #285 of dHarmic Evolution Chances are that you know of someone who was in some way affected by the 9/11 terror attacks launched by Al Qaeda in 2001. Where were you on that day? I for one, remember in complete detail all the events for that day. I was at a seminar in a hotel conference hall that was filled to the brim with people. I’m not very sure what the person in charge was teaching about, but I clearly remember someone walking in and began doing a play by play of what was happening in downtown Manhattan. It all felt so surreal. With 2,977 dead, 25,000 injured, September 11th, 2001 was undoubtedly a horrible nightmare for almost all Americans and our allies and friends throughout the world. Remembering the survivors. We have details of the first responders and witnesses over what happened on that day. We, however, don’t have as many details from the families on how the experience was for them. What has been able to help us understand these scenes from the victims' perspective are the phone calls that were made between the people trapped in the building and their families. Technology still hadn’t evolved as much as it has today, and phones played a very crucial role in how the events of that day played out. For example, The united airlines' flight 93 which was also hijacked by Al Qaeda terrorists, and was initially intended to blast into the Capitol building crashed into a field in Pennsylvania when the passengers and crew tried to regain control of it after getting phone calls from their family members over what had just occurred in New York. The value of family Looking back at the whole incident, and also through the phone calls that were made on that day. One can’t help but appreciate the value of family. Unfortunately, so many of us take our families for granted, up until it’s too late, and we no longer have the time or resources to be with them. Be grateful for the family you have. So many people out there would give anything to be with their loved ones who have been taken away from them. If you’re one of the lucky few who still has a family by your side, then be with them before it’s too late for you too. The Tribute in Light The two columns which are lit up every year on September 11 from the ground upwards (replicating the structure of the Twin Towers that were destroyed) won’t be projected this year. Commonly known as the tribute in light, the event has been canceled this year, following concerns brought by the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of the projections, the National September 11 museum is planning to host an alternative event that will involve buildings across the city illuminating their structures with blue lights. Timestamps 02:42 Moment of silence for the 9/11 attacks 03:52 How I spent my day on 9/11 05:21 Remembering the first responders 06:35 What the 9/11 survivors experienced. 09:09 Flight 93 10:53 Appreciate the value of family 13:09 The annual blue lights ceremony 21:09 Listen to Speak to me Selected links The New York Times - 9/11 Light Tribute to Take Different Shape History.com - Flight 93 Reel Truth History Documentaries - 9/11: Phone Calls from People Trapped in the Towers | 911 Documentary NY Mag - 9/11 by the Numbers Speak to Me by James Kevin O’Connor As always, thanks a lot for being a part of the dHarmic evolution podcast, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and connect with us on social media. Follow our Podcast on Facebook Twitter Instagram  You can also see the show on The James O’Connor Agency YouTube channel and join our community on dHarmic Evolution Community Facebook Group
41 minutes | 5 months ago
284. Labor Day With 2020 Vision, A Pandemic Lesson
Welcome to episode #284 of dHarmic Evolution Labor day is celebrated on the first Monday of September and we all have the U.S Labor movement to thank for it. This years’ Labor day celebration falls on September 7th for both the US and Canada. However, most countries celebrate Labor Day on the 1st of May. The history of labor day. There are two versions explaining how Labor day began. Version A The first version is set in September 1882 by the Knights of Labor, who were at the time, one of the most important labor organizations in America. This organization held a public parade on September 5th every year to honor workers. With time, the Central Labor Union secretary Mathew Maguire proposed that the holiday be held on the 1st Monday of September to honor the epic public demonstrations held annually. Version B In the second version, labor day was proposed to the Central Labor Union by Peter McGuire, the Vice President of The American Federation of Labor in 1882. He suggested it be held on the 1st Monday of September stating that the date is perfect because the weather is great during that time, and also, this falls between the July 4th celebrations and Thanksgiving. The Haymarket Affair. In May 1886, a time in which most American workers toiled for up to 20 hours a day, thousands of the laborers protested countrywide in different cities to demand an 8-hour workday. The protesters were attacked by the police in Chicago, which resulted in tons of injuries and the death of six protesters. Another peaceful protest was planned and the Chicago police once again showed up to man-handle the demonstraters. An unidentified person exploded a bomb that killed an officer, causing the police to open fire. This resulted in a quagmire which led to the death of a dozen workers and police officers. Labor day vs May day. Communists and socialists across the globe decided to go with May 1st as the day to mark the Haymarket affair. A conference was held in 1904 to make the 8-hour day the standard worldwide. This is what came to be known as Labor Day or International worker's day. Effects of the pandemic The pandemic had different impacts on individuals. While some people are happy about the opportunity to design a new lifestyle for themselves, others are stressing over the new normal, and can barely keep up with reality. A lot of individuals have developed counterintuitive habits in order to replace their usual habits. And this has proven to be very stressful. I think what’s important is that we take time to communicate, connect, and bond with our families. Family is something that a lot of us usually take for granted, oftentimes until it’s too late and we’re in trouble, or realize that we can longer be with them despite their vital roles in our lives. Winding up, I'd love to advise you on embracing these difficult times with open arms, and taking the time to reassess your life, in order to develop healthy habits to handle life; like spending time in nature or being in service to others. More about this on DE265 - What are you doing at home It’s understandable that a lot of people are suffering during this time. Taking a lesson from Paul in the bible, it’s vital that we learn to develop the spirit of perseverance. Enduring through the pain is what leads to growth and progress in life.   TIMESTAMPS 03:55 Trains and labor 05:22 The end of summer and start of Labor day 06:03 The meaning of labor day 08:04 Labor day history 09:55 The Haymarket affair 10:42 The Pullman strike 13:30 Labor day vs mayday 15:46 Other related stories 17:56 How has the pandemic affected your family? 21:37 The importance of family 23:42 Working on your music career 25:09 Getting through your days with advice from my depression manual. 31:46 Advice from Paul in the bible 34:28 Perseverance 36:21 Listen to Connected. Download Depression Fighters Ebook here! Selected Links and Mentions Labor Day – September 7, 2020 10 Labor Day quotes to help us honor the workers Why Not Wearing White Became A Fashion Rule After Labor Day Mulan Will Be Added To Disney On Labor Day Weekend 8 Labor Day Activities To Enjoy Summer’s Final Fling As always, thanks a lot for being a part of the dHarmic evolution podcast, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and connect with us on social media. Follow our Podcast on Facebook Twitter Instagram  You can also see the show on The James O’Connor Agency YouTube channel and join our community on dHarmic Evolution Community Facebook Group    
50 minutes | 5 months ago
DE Artist Spotlight #1 George Hillman, Cynthia Brando, Azalea, Emily Zuzik
We’ve had the honor of hosting great music artists across the 5-year span that dharmic Evolution has been active. Through the interviews, the various singers/songwriters have shared valuable content in the form of tips, insights, and personal stories. In a new series titled ‘The Dharmic Evolution Spotlight Series,’ I’ll be sharing tidbits from the various interviews I’ve held. Starting with the most recent and go back all the way to as far as 5 years ago when the show was started. Spotlight Series Number 1 In this episode, I’ll be featuring the previous interviews I’ve had with; George Hillman Cynthia Brando Azalea Emily Zuzik George Hillman Hailing from New Jersey, George Hillman is a Christian artist, producer, and sound engineer. We had a very spirited conversation and dived into the topics of song production, Christian living, and the changing church culture. Hillman’s  song featuring on this episode is ‘In God We Trust’ You can listen to the full interview here: DE279 George Hillman: Songwriter, Musician, Engineer, Pastor, & God's Grace Cynthia Brando I’ve had the pleasure of having Cynthia on the show twice. The most recent interview dived into the depression that comes from being an artist, and why so many singers/songwriters experience mental problems. Cynthia has performed across different states in many venues, festivals, and street performers too. Cynthia’s song featured on the episode is  ‘The changing skies of my life’ You can listen to the full interview here: DE274 Cynthia Brando, Why Artists Are Prone To Sadness, Depression, and Suicide. Azalea ‘Azalea’ is the musical duo of Benjamin and Mia Hackett. The show they featured in was an amazing roller coaster story of how they had to cancel their ship performance gigs due to the COVID crisis. They get into how they’ve adapted to the crisis, and how they’ve taken the current pandemic as an opportunity to bond more with each other and explore new music ventures. Azalea’s song featured on the episode is ‘Your Lullaby’ You can listen to the full interview here: DE264 Azalea, Australia & Canada combine beauty and Art, then steal your heart!   Emily Zuzik Emily Zuzik is the definition of a diversified and skilled artist. She’s a singer, songwriter, guitarist, actress, and model. In the show, we get into her collaboration and the personal connections behind the production of ‘Torch and Trouble album’ She shares how networking has helped her grow and learn while still being a performer in LA. Emily’s song featured on the show is ‘Alone’ https://dharmicevolution.com/old-blog/de260-emily-zuzik-a-brave-rocker-releasing-her-latest-torch-trouble/ Until next time. Thanks once again for being a follower, and remember to share, subscribe, and review the show across the different platforms that you’re tuning in from. Timestamps 03:00 The DE Spotlight series; Number one 04:09 George Hillman 05:39 Listen to George Hillman's ‘In God we Trust’ 11:03 Cynthia Brando 13:04 Listen to Cynthia Brando’s ‘The changing skies of my life’ 17:23 Azalea 25:46 Listen to Azalea’s  ‘Your Lullaby’ 31:12 Emily Zuzik 36:04 Listen to Emily Zuzik’s ‘Alone’ 45:13 Listen to ‘Connected’ As always, thanks a lot for being a part of the dHarmic evolution podcast, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and connect with us on social media. Follow our Podcast on Facebook Twitter Instagram  You can also see the show on The James O’Connor Agency YouTube channel and join our community on dHarmic Evolution Community Facebook Group    
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