My live radio interview on 6.3.2010 (podcast) with BlogTalk Radio host Tania-Maria...

If you missed my radio interview here is the podcast: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ian-narcisi-fear-no-evil-jun/id313536829?i=83824782

Make sure you open it with iTunes when prompted, or you will not see the podcast listed. Opening it using iTunes will take you right to my iTunes store and the podcast! :~)

Enjoy!

Ian

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LIVE RADIO INTERVIEW THURSDAY, JUNE 3RD (7p PDT/10p EDT). YOU ARE INVITED!

Ok, gotta promote. At 7 p.m. PDT, 8 p.m. MDT, 9 p.m. CDT and 10 p.m. EDT I am being interviewed live on
BlogTalkRadio for 1.5 hours. Consider yourself invited! Radio host Tania-Maria and I will be discussing my 05'-09' releases and reminiscing...I also will talk about what music is to come and when it most likely will ...be released.... http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129809600366097&index=1

Hope you all can make it! :~)

Ian

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Music sitch

It has been over two months since I last wrote. I have 14 new songs in the making. Nine songs are ready for drums and vocals. Five songs are a simple melody that will turn into full-blown songs in the weeks and months to come. It's this ninth song that is challenging me big time. I pushed myself to the limit on this one! "Heavy", solo parts at the end (piano). By "heavy" I mean "physically challenging". I have to actually practice my chromatic rises and descending arpeggio's to pull this one off. I know that it will all pay off in the end. Once complete it is on to the next five. I have simple melodies and chordal changes and due to this may jump straight into drums adding the keys later. I really do love writing songs on piano, but sometimes you just gotta get the hell away from it before all the songs start sounding like.....well......piano songs.

Studio time? Not in the plans at this point in time. I was thinking of some live stuff (and still am), but not sure when this will all come about. Another victim of the recession. I got out of that pit a month ago, but you know; these things take time to heal. So, as a result everything has been pushed back. No biggie. I will just keep on writing and recording at home until I can give Tim, Erik and Dave a call and we will begin working on the next album. Life is auspicious................

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Chicago Blizzard Tuesday?? (2.9.2010)

    The weather geek in me always peaks whenever I see a significant weather event coming together. Tuesday's (2.9.2010) potential snow storm in Chicago is no exception. As it looks now two low pressure systems (one heading south southeast from Manitoba, Canada and one from the southwest US) are to merge somewhere over north central Missouri some time Monday evening (2.8.2010). The exact track of this storm is not written in stone, but given the right scenario (i.e. the storm tracks through southern Illinois, north Kentucky) Chicago has the potential to receive 6 to 10 inches of snow. To potentially add insult to injury, lake effect may play a part in this storm as well. As the slow-moving mesocyclone shifts east a strong east, northeast wind will develop. With the cold wind howling over the relatively-speaking mild, 34-degree Lake Michigan waters heavy snow squalls could form buffeting Lake, Cook, DuPage and even McHenry counties with even more snow (at this point in time the National Weather Service is predicting 8 to 12 inches in the aforementioned counties.) 
    From what I have witnessed over the past 33 years (yes, I have been a geek this long) this merging of two mesocyclones (aka low pressure systems) to form one blockbuster storm is a rare occurrence. Even more amazing is how the massive blizzard that recently nailed the central Appalachians two days ago is so similar to what is about to occur here in the Midwest! This weather scenario too was a culmination of two mesocyclones merging which were further intensified by strong jet streaks (areas of very strong wind within a given jetstream). On the edges of these jet streaks are areas of intense lift. Within a given winter storm these jet streaks create incredible snow amounts due to intense, vertical lift (Dulles International Airport's very recent record of 32.4 inches of snow over a two day period! This massive amount of snow shattered their January 7, 8, 1996 two-day snow record total by 9.2 inches!!).
    If you are reading this, live in Chicago, or anywhere near Chicago (Winter Storm Watches are popping up more and more all over the Midwest, Ohio Valley, Pennsylvania, Maryland [yes, potentially Washington D.C. again]) please keep abreast of what is inevitable - A BIG ONE!!
CHECK OUT ALL THE WATCHES AND WARNINGS DUE TO THESE/THIS STORM(S)!
Take care everyone,
Ian

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Evolution of a full-length number two (possible live tracks too?)

LATEST NEWS: On the home front - (NOTE: The next few sentences relate to my 24-track at home and NOT StudioBallistico.) I am about to finish the keyboard parts for song 8 (roughly titled "Tricky Fingers" because it was a bitch to learn!) Songs 1 through 7's keyboard parts are done. Some of the drum tracks are also complete. My goal is to have 10 brand spankin' new songs (all tracks [keys, drums and all vocals/lyrics] completed by mid February (by "brand new" I'm talkin' "NOT including 'Feel No Evil' songs". The 5 from that EP will stay on that EP).


Now it get's REALLY exciting!! Ready?


I never actually planned on recording live with the guys I record with in the studio, but it is looking more and more like we will this March. The funny thing is - it will be "live" in the studio! (sorry to disappoint some. No live shows just yet). This "live" thing is in the fetal stages now. What I would like to do is record perhaps 3 or 4 older songs "live" in the studio and add them to the future full-length. I mean we're talkin' a possible grand total of 14 friggin' songs here folks! No lie! Not sure which 3 or 4 songs just yet (perhaps "Forever Today", "Trouble Free", "Sparkle and Shine" and "Burning"? That all depends if Erik [bass] and Dave [guitar] can have a spare bass/guitar on the side when the "tune-down" sections hit.) No tricks here. I want as little editing done as possible. That is how I have always been. When I record a keyboard part I make damn sure I truly can play through it in the most polished way possible (as if I were going to play it live the next day) prior to actually recording it. So "live" will be "live" in the sense of  "no bullshit - I'm talkin' like: "We can play these songs 'live' if we had to without a hitch." No manipulation (editing, correcting notes, blah, blah, blee) to the tracks. On top of that will be an HD video of the whole shebang! This will be our debut on YouTube and anywhere else for that matter. I am not messing around here!


Not sure when this full-length will be ready for the outside world (guessing September 2010? May put the live stuff out a lot sooner.)


So keep an eye, ear and sixth sense peeled because here we come! :~)


Ian

India and its influence

It comes as no surprise that I found myself in India last month. Ever since I was a teen I was drawn to its people and its music. I won't delve into the trip itself. I'd rather write about how my 21- day adventure influenced my approach to music.

I heard a lot of Indian music while I was there. Most of the music was Indian pop, but every so often some Indian classical influence emerged.

Other than the fact that The Beatles were heavily influenced by it in the late 60's thanks to master sitar player Ravi Shankar (Amazingly, Ravi Shankar turns 90 this April 7th and he is still jammin'!), I honestly know very little about Indian music.

I took some incredible courses when studying at The American Conservatory of Music in Chicago (African Drumming with a Ethiopian tribe leader) and at Elmhurst College (World Music), yet nothing compared to watching a performance live in its native country.

I certainly know that Indian music has a profound affect on my emotions. No doubt there is something going on here on a much deeper level. Incorporating it into my songs comes naturally. I have been incorporating it into my music long before I went to India. ("Forever Today", "Trouble Free" and "Stargazer" definitely have this influence).

Currently I have a couple of new, Indian influenced songs on my future full-length release (postponed until the summer of 2010).

My Indian experience was amazing! I plan to share it with you through my music in the years to come. World music has always influenced me and the more I delve into it the more it is reflected in my music. So keep an ear out the next time you listen and let me know how my music influences you and what influences to hear! I would love to know! And, please - if you have any world music suggestions please share!

Next EP is slowly becoming next full - length CD!

Things are really coming together these days! I was planning on having a 3 song EP recorded in January 2010. Much to my surprise, it looks as though I am well on the way to creating a brand new full - length album! Six new songs are currently on the menu three of which came to life in the last two weeks! One of the six songs is over ten minutes in length! Prior to leaving to India for three weeks in December, I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more tunes pop out of nowhere.

Recording times for this next full - length (yeah, that's right - I am already calling it a full - length), may have to be pushed back. In the event this occurs I am looking at a possible late spring/early summer release in 2010.

Musician's will once again include Erik Swanson (bass) and Dave Bowers (guitar). Tim Sandusky will, once again, pour his heart and soul into the sound engineering process and co-producing. Tim may even add some more Maui Xaphoon as well! Depending on the circumstances this winter I may consider adding some other musician's as well.

I haven't forgot about the Yellowstone sounds I recorded back in September 2009. I will be adding some of these samples to one or more of my upcoming songs. Keep an ear peeled!