Well we had a great time at the benefit and I hope all of you who were there enjoyed the show. A gigantic thanks to all the performers, Susana who organized it, and Cozmic for donating the space to make it happen. We raised more than our goal amount, the raffle and silent auction were huge successes. And our belly dancers were just awesome!
We’ve just confirmed a benefit to help raise funds for wildlife and bird rescue in the BP Gulf Oil Disaster. As you know, I’ve been doing all I can to help out, and what I do best is music…so here it is.
July 29th Thursday night at Cosmic Pizza, Psychanaut will be playing, there will be performances by belly dancers (and we’re working on having dancers to some of our songs too, thanks to the fabulous Barbie Gregg), And another performer or band will be added to the lineup soon. Luckily, Susana Romatz is organizing the event, and I’ve heard that there are wonderful goodies being donated from local stores for lucky people to win in a raffle.
It just feels so great to be able to join together with other caring, talented people in working together to help out. I’m looking forward to meeting more wonderful people as we network together to make a great show!
Please mark your calendars early and PLEASE bring as many people as you can. We’ll have a lot of fun while helping our precious wildlife in this time of dire need. Rockin the Rescue!
We were in the studio last night with a friend from out of state, listening to the songs that are nearly mixed and a couple that are just awaiting mastering…and he suggested changing up the cowbell in Looking Glass Road. We’d already mixed it, but we went ahead and laid a track with a different feel – what a great idea! It instantly brings the energy up to just where we wanted it. So now we have a touch of additional remixing to do, but it’s really sounding quite…Psychanautic.
UPDATE:You can hear the new Looking Glass Road mix – and, as always, visit the music pages here at ScarletJinn.com, or Psychanaut.com to check out more tunes.
The song “Arriving” has rarely been performed live yet, and even rarely played in rehearsal, so it’s been a bit nebulous to record. It really needed big harmonies, which we didn’t have in Rock Scarlet, and I’m hoping to add extra background singers with Psychanaut to perform this one live.
the song is a bit laid back in energy, kind of hypnotic and spacy. Initially we recorded very basic tracks for it, to allow us to develop it’s energy and see where it takes us. The drums were really simple, no fills or frills, and we used a slide guitar for the lead riff.
I’ve recorded the vocal tracks in almost every style, from big and loud rock to soft and breathy before deciding upon the approach that best suited the song. Usually I know right away how I want the vocal, but this tune is unique. It’s one that really encompasses the hybrid style that is Psychanaut.
We’ve been on this one for several days in a row now.
Several of our older songs and almost all of the new ones fall into the Labyrinth Collection that will be featured on Psychanaut.com. It’s a musical story (although any song can stand on its own too) of Universal Consciousness taking physical form, and having a myriad of life these experiences on the way to remembering itself. These last days in the studio working on the songs for this collection have been super productive.
Yes, I’m getting all your emails and messages on myspace and facebook asking “when is the next show?” Some of you are worried, some of you are a bit annoyed, and some of you are just really wanting the music and miss us. We miss you too. I love hearing from you, it really touches me that so many of you care enough to write…
The newest song we’ve completed writing and recording is Gravity Well, and it’s almost ready to mix. Once that’s done, we’ll post it and I’ll announce that it’s available. We had a lot of fun recording the harmonies for this one, it required projection of a certain attitude that could only be achieved by singing the harmony parts in a unusual voice. We should have videoed that session, it would’ve made you laugh.
My favorite part of this song is the chorus, “The game is hide and seek till I find myself, hidden in illusion at the bottom of – the gravity well.” the music is played a bit heavier to portray the gravity.
And of course there’s nowhere to go from the bottom of the Gravity Well but up. 
It’s part of the Labyrinth collection that will be featured in a new section on the Psychanaut website. Many of the songs in the Labyrinth you’ve already heard at Rock Scarlet shows…such as Wayside, Egypt Eyes, Oracle & Alchemy Waits. What’s been missing is a format to present them and let them tell a story.
So adding this piece is going to help bring it all together. Of course, if you don’t want to venture into the Labyrinth or play with ideas, and you just wanna rock — you can still get the songs directly from the download page… but eventually, the Labyrinth will be a cool way to preview the tunes while visiting some cool imagery within the Labyrinth.
PS)I’m looking for artistic people to help with creation of the Labyrinth artwork. If you’re interested or want to help out, contact me either from ScarletJinn.com Psychanut.com or Rock Scarlet.com.
The new logo was developed by artist Todd Bradford. Working with Todd was really a delight, and he’s so intuitive that he totally got what I wanted really easily.
We’re in the studio for the rest of the season…but look for the new logo at the next show!