Lisa Torem on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

Live on YouTube is my interview with Chicago's Lisa Torem, author of five books on Billy Joel, Suzanne Vega, Tori Amos, including co-writes with Ava Cherry and Jim Peterick. She's also a music journalist, songwriter, public speaker. A big topic in our interview is resilience.

Christmas in July

Santa's Got a Brand New Bag Tom Ciurczak  male vocals, similar timbre as Bruce Springsteen, rock band with horns. This song is about Santa getting a new bag. The first few notes sound like James Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," but the song swings into theatrical rock. It mentions the children all over the world, way up in the sky.'' 

Christmastime in Hollywood Tom Ciurczak  upbeat rock with sleighbells, male vocals, looking for the soul of Christmas, thinking of "It's a Wonderful Life." trying to imagine life with snow in Hollywood, "None of this is real in tinsel town." "I just want my Christmas to be with you" jingle bells interludes. 

A Million Matzoh Balls Dean Friedman acoustic guitar with male singer and children, humorous folk-show tune, tall story about his mama making a million matzoh balls, and everywhere they were at his home! "There were so many matzoh balls I didn't know what to do!"

A Million Matzoh Balls | Dean Friedman

 Ave Maria (Instrumental)  Stephen Melillo instrumental, slow, strings of classical piece, “Ave Maria.” 

Glogg Emily Hurd  Clever lyrics like “Let’s go shovel the sidewalk in a relative sense.” There is an underpinning lyric “Because there’s wine” throughout the song. bells and electric guitar.    

 I Ruined Christmas  Refestramus  Contemporary art-rock band, female fronted-vocals like Miley Cyrus, bells, "I ruined Christmas this year...It's like I told you before, it won't happen again, my dear."  This is a list of things she's done to reindeer, family members, and the eggnog! 

Never Take Love For Granted Dan Berggren Shopping in the malls for Christmas. “You’ll never take love for granted if you always give love in return.”  Male bass/baritone and acoustic guitar.  Folk styled. 

 

Charu Suri on The Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

Charu Suri, who is playing Carnegie Hall for the fifth time, is the guest on my Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show. We talk about the calming magic of ragas, family, travel, and kindness. Her concert is July 25. Lots of special guests, and she'll be sharing a new album, "Shayan" for our healing. https://youtu.be/3e3fxA_B3-k?si=WGDdvAjZ5N3Bz_ZK

Sharon Katz & The Peace Train - September 2025 East Coast Shows

 and get ready for a New Song Book!

Put on your Dancing Shoes, bring your singing voice & join Sharon Katz & the Peace Train Coast to Coast celebratory concerts and release of The Peace Train Songs & Stories Book!

Thursday Sept. 18th  - New York City

Joe's at The Public Theater (Joe's Pub)

425 Lafayette St., NY, NY 10003

https://publictheater.org/performances-jp/2025/s/sharon-katz-the-peace-train/

and

Saturday Sept. 20th – Philadelphia

World Cafe Live

3025 Walnut St., Phila., PA 19104

Special Guests: Anna Crusis Feminist Choir

https://worldcafelive.org/event/sharon-katz-the-peace-train/

also

 Saturday & Sunday Sept. 28th -29th

South African Food, Wine & Music Festival at Grayhaven Winery, 4675 W. Grey Fox Cir, Gum Spring, VA

https://southafricanwinefestival.com/

For more information and tickets: SharonKatz.com

The Peace Train band features Sharon on guitar and vocals, Wendy Quick (vocals); Richard Hill Jr. (bass), Suzzette Ortiz (keyboards); Eric Roberts (Drums); Jan Jeffries (Percussion) and David Church (sax & flute).

World renowned for leading South Africa’s first 500-voice multiracial and multicultural performing group to help promote Nelson Mandela’s election in Post-Apartheid South Africa, Sharon Katz is a guitarist, singer and composer from Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth/ Nelson Mandela Bay) in South Africa. A multiple award-winning film, When Voices Meet was made about Katz’s social activism.  

In recent years, she has facilitated musical projects with children living on the USA Mexico border, who survived torture and trafficking rings in San Diego and Tijuana. Sharon has conceived and directed productions with orchestras, and choirs in South Africa, the United States, Cuba and Mexico and has many albums to her credit including the most recent “We Can Be The Change” and “For You.”      

This year she’ll be publishing a multi-media songbook, “Songs and Stories of Sharon Katz & The Peace Train” featuring ten of the Sharon’s songs along with choral parts, guitar chords, and archival photographs of The Peace Train project. The book also features QR codes and links to videos and recordings of the songs. Look for the book’s physical and digital release on all platforms on September 18^th.

Songs from the new Songbook will be performed at the upcoming concerts, as well as songs from other albums that have been on the Grammy ballot.  She will include favorite covers from South African superstars, most notably Miriam Makeba.

Sharon has worked with Ms. Makeba, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Pete Seeger, and is featured on the “Carnival!” album with Sting, Madonna and Elton John. In 2019 she received the Phil Ochs Award in recognition of her music and activism.

In addition to the September concerts on the East Coast, this October, the San Diego based Classics4Kids will present 7 concerts featuring Sharon Katz performing with the Classics4Kids Philharmonic Orchestra. Several of the songs in “Songs and Stories of Sharon Katz & The Peace Train” will be on the program that will reach thousands of San Diego school students.

Michael Veitch - The Lucky Ones

Here's a live version of Michael Veitch's reflective song "The Lucky Ones." It's one of the songs I'm plugging this week.

Robin Batteau's “Banned In Sparta”

Collaborative Album with Classical Greek Poets and Modern Folk Singers

On July 11, Robin Batteau is releasing “Banned in Sparta,” a new collaborative album of songs based on poems by Classical Greek poets, and recorded by friends Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen, Carolyn Hester, Livingston and Kate Taylor, Matt Nakoa, Robin Lane, 2-time Tony winning actor James Naughton and his gifted children Keira and Greg. Robin was inspired by an Ancient Greek History class he took when he returned to Harvard during the Pandemic to finish a degree he started in the 1960s. Robin earned the World Record of taking a 50-year break (between 1970 to 2021) to return to Harvard and finish his degree in 2022.   

“Banned In Sparta” focuses almost entirely on poets from Ancient Greece between 700 and 400 BC.  One poet, Gaius Valerius Catullus (84 – 54 BC), as smitten with the ghost of Sappho as Robin or Alcaeus, is from Rome during Julius Caesar’s reign, for whom Eric Andersen performs “Cross (of Gold),” an ode to interlaced and conflicted feelings, “Odi et Amo"— I hate and I love.

The title “Banned in Sparta” finds its name from Archilochus, the Bob Dylan of the 7^th century B.C., a warrior-poet so irreverent he was “Banned in Sparta.”  James Naughton sings the song “Archilochus Re-Deemed (I Am a Servant of the Lord God of War).” Kate Taylor performs “Telesilla’s On the Wall,” from the female poet Telesilla, who led her fellow women warriors to victory against those same renowned Spartans. 

“The Greek Lyric poets performed live, and were the stars of their day,” says Robin. “They were singer/songwriters, they played the lyre (hence "Lyric") and danced around the stage like Tom Paxton and Taylor Swift.”

Robin, who studied Ancient Greece and Integrative Biology at Harvard, found that most of what was left of the poems were fragments and myth, “So I mosaic-ed songs to reflect their expressions and intentions— who they were, and are to me.”         

A range of female poets contributed to the lyrical history of Greece including Corrina, whose “In Her Loving Arms” is sung by Carolyn Hester, and Praxilla’s “The Most Beautiful Thing in the World,” a hymn to Adonis, sung by Keira Naughton.  Sappho’s writing inspires “Terra Cotta Heart,” sung by Robin Lane.  Livingston Taylor sings “My Sappho, Sweetly Smiling” from the smitten neighbor and rival Alcaeus. 

The fun and frolicking “Shake your Hair (You Thracian Filly),” sung by Tom Paxton. Pianist and folk singer Matt Nakoa offers a Bruce Hornsby-like treatment for Simonides of Ceos’s “Theatre of Memory (Man of Gold).”    

Sharing Grammy, Emmy, Clio, and Gold Record Awards and an Oscar nomination, Robin’s recorded over a dozen albums with Pierce Arrow, David Buskin (Buskin & Batteau), and many others.  His jingles feature in long-running, award-sweeping advertising campaigns from "I'm Lovin' It" for McDonalds to “Can’t Beat It” for Coca-Cola to "The Heartbeat of America" for Chevrolet. He’s played his 1898 Scarampella violin with everyone from Yo-Yo Ma to Benny Goodman to Bruce Springsteen and has had his melodies sung by Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Judy Collins, Paul Newman, and more. His songs have supported charities and causes, including World Hunger Year, Ocean Alliance, Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, and Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for kids. The Boston Globe defines his music with David Buskin as "Acoustic Heaven."

“Banned In Sparta” songs

“Stolen in Love”  (Gorgias)  Greg Naughton (vocals: lead, harmony, background, descants),  Mark Dann (bass, synths), Robin Batteau— (acoustic guitar (custom 7-string Sigma), Greek Chorus oohs and aahs, fingerpop and heartbeat percussion). 

“In Her Loving Arms” (Corinna)   Carolyn Hester  (lead vocals), Jennifer “Genevieve” Vitanzo (harmony vocals), Jerry Marotta (drums), Mark Dann (bass, electric 12-string guitar, synths) Robin Batteau (violin (1898 Scarampella, muted), Sigma guitar).     

“Archilochus Re-Deemed (I Am a Servant of the Lord God of War)”  (Archilochus) James Naughton (lead vocal), Jerry (drums), Neale Eckstein (acoustic guitar), Robin (harmony vocals, handclaps, drums, Sigma guitar, violins).

“Telesilla’s on the Wall”  (Telesilla) Kate Taylor (lead vocal),  Mark Dann (bass, synths),  Jerry Marrotta (drums), Robin Batteau (violin, acoustic guitar (1948 Martin 0-17, nylon-strung), background vocals, descant).

“My Sappho, Sweetly Smiling”  (Alcaeus)  Livingston Taylor (lead vocal, acoustic guitar), Mark Dann (bass, synths), Jerry Marrotta (drums), Robin Batteau (violin, Martin guitar, synths, background vocals, descant).

“Terra Cotta Heart” (Sappho)   Robin Lane (lead vocal), Mark Dann (bass, electric 12, synths), Jerry Marrotta (drums), Robin Batteau (Martin guitar, drums, percussion).

“Shake Your Hair (You Thracian Filly)” (Anacreon)   Tom Paxton (lead vocal), Eric Schwartz (piano, organ), Mark Dann (bass, synths), Neale Eckstein (acoustic guitar, drums),Robin Batteau (Sigma, drums).

“Man of Gold (Theater of Memory)” (Simonides) Matt Nakoa (lead vocal, piano, synths, bass, drums, electric guitar).

“How Can You Love Me”  (Stesichorus)   Robin Batteau (lead vocal, harmony vocals, Martin, violins, synths, drums, percussion), Yani Batteau (harmony vocal, banjo), Neale Eckstein (drums, percussion).

“The Most Beautiful Thing in the World” (Praxilla)  Keira Naughton (lead vocal), Robin Batteau (Martin Guitar).

“Cross” (Catullus)   Eric Andersen  (lead vocal),  Abby Newton (cello-1897 Scarampella), Mark Dann (bass, synths), Robin Batteau (Martin guitar), violin, percussion (inspired by Marshal Rosenberg)

Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show on YouTube

Just joined the 100 subscribers on YouTube club. VIRTUAL HIGH-FIVE! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCshqROg9L1za-pdih2bmrMA #YouTube #WorkInProgress #InterviewShow #FriendsAndFamily #Fans #Inclusion

Peppy Castro on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

Peppy Castro (Blues Magoos, Balance, Alessi, Hair, Barnaby Bye, and that's just the 1960s through the '80s) and I philosophize about inclusion, competition, Greenwich Village, friendship, entrepreneurialism, and enthusiasm on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show, which premieres on Tuesday, July 1, at 6 pm!

2025 Summer Missive of New Music from Anne Leighton's Superhero Songwriters

The Most Beautiful Thing in the World (Praxilla) Keira Naughton (on Robin Batteau's "Banned In Sparta," a collaborative album with classic Greek poets, one Roman one, and contemporary Folk Singer-songwriters)  acoustic guitar, gentle female vocals, nature and eloquent lyrics, remembrance of "the most beautiful thing in the world.    Only the thing you leave behind"  "I was your harvest, you were mine." "You were my adonis-you astonish-- me."  Note: This tracks will be embedded mid July after this album's release.

Sleep Alone  Izzy Meth  I believe this could be a great "Song of the Winter." Acoustic, light instruments, gentle tenor with reverb, descriptive lyrical setting in winter and contrast one how he's a young man in love with trouble sleeping 'cause his yearning and morning are still here. "I don't want to sleep alone anymore." 

Top of the Rainbow Tom Ciurczak  horns, vocal, tenor-clear distinctive male vocals, like "Toby Beau," a break up song, "I was on top of the rainbow with you, I don't understand when you said you were leaving," self doubt  yacht rock/nu-coast.  

2 Pianos Phoebe Legere piano, female singing voice, coaxing piano w/ ice melting, French and English, slow ballad, oceans, memory flashback piano on the tongue of the world to give it a voice. This song is finding its way in soundtracks for Phoebe's collaborations like her new multi-award winning short "The Gender Symphony."    

 

Immigrant Blues  Dan Berggren  folk, banjo, male baritone, simple story song of how immigrants have struggled here and in coming to our country, and those before us are immigrants.  Here's a live performance of Dan's song. Dan was awarded a Lifetime Achievement honor from the Albany NY-region's Eddie Music Awards.

Get My Thing Going  Art Edwards  famous for The Refreshments. This is from a 2024 album, "The Brightness of an Ordinary Star." forward motion,grunge vocals & band with British invasion rhythm, male vocals  "When I finally get my thing going, you're see the best in me." alludes to other worldly torments like the world ending. The Brightness of an Ordinary Star | Art Edwards

Count My Blessings   Elliott Murphy  acoustic guitar, harmonica, narrative voice kindred to Tom Waits.  a bluesy "comfort solution" for a guy that needs reality check for a breakup or his own life, using cowboy imagery and urban issues, "this town's a widow maker" "get out of dodge"

I Am Like a Mountain  Micaela Kingslight   Soft and meditational-inspired rock-pop, vocal percussion and finger-snaps, celestial, female vocals (harmonies)  "I am like a mountain breathing in, breathing in.... I know."  "water, ocean, strong."   

Just Enough   Rachael Sage  mid-tempo Hammond B3 and soulful instruments, gentle female vocal, fresh song about feeling love, every time you touch me, I feel love.  "It feels my cup, just enough shalalala"   

 

 

 

 

 

Sleep Alone

I'm promoting "The perfect winter song" this week. "Sleep Alone" by Izzy Meth. It's descriptive and melodic, theme is similar to "Teenager in Love," but it's a completely different song. poetic lyrics. Melodic.

"Yorick" The Music Video and Album by Tom Ciurczak

The title track from Tom Ciurczak’s “YORICK” album is Tom’s decided story about the skull of “Yorick” discussed in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”

As a rock singer-songwriter inspired by Bruce Springsteen, Warren Zevon, Steve Earle, and a range of classic/prog/timeless rockers, Tom likes to create “what if” backstories about his songs’ characters. “Yorick was introduced in ‘Hamlet’ as the skull of the court jester with Hamlett’s famous quote ‘Poor Yorick I knew thee well.’  But who was he? And how did he lose his head? I created a little fable to tell his story. At its core the song is a love story that’s marred throughout with deception.  The song’s narrative combines elements from the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, Rapunzel and Rumpelstiltskin. It centers around Yorick’s rescuing of the fairytale princess together with his get rich quick scheme to steal a ‘hidden treasure.’ But, unfortunately instead of the princess, Yorick finds the proverbial old witch masquerading in her place. They both quickly realize they have been deceiving each other. Yorick’s greed leads him to make a deal for the money with the witch. But as is the case with witches, you can’t trust them, and she reneges on their agreement, winds up killing and decapitating him in the end.”

Directed by Robert Wakamatsu, the “Yorick” music video shows Tom as “Yorick” with the band (drummer Sean Derksen, backup singer Melissa Robin, keyboardist Chris McKinney, guitarist Ken Harrill, and bassist Phil Stein) in Elizabethan costume. Melissa portrays both the princess and witch, ultimately responsible for killing “Yorick.”

The album, “YORICK” is due June 27.  The music video will go live on June 20 at www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K5dcdI1Z18 .

From the time he was a child, growing up in New York’s Hudson Valley, with a professional musician father, Tom’s written songs and worked on his music. Though he focused on raising a family on the west coast while working in the Specialty Lighting industry, Tom continued writing and playing guitar. Finally, in 2014 he attended Steve Earle’s Camp Copperhead, and found his musical voice and tribe.

Tom’s first album “Call Me Ishmael” was released in 2020.  Then came the 2021 single “Christmas Time in Hollywood” his second CD, “I Ain’t Ever Growing Up -Volume I,” and 2023’s “I Ain’t Ever Growing Up-Volume II” and an ep, “Christmas Time in Hollywood.” He and five other songwriters from the Steve Earle tribe put together “Muscle Shoals Record Shop” recorded at Muscle Shoals legendary Cypress Moon Studio, home of the Swampers (aka Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section)!   

“YORICK” celebrates the artform of storytelling, and features songs from Tom’s creative imagination. There’s investigative intrigue in “Am I M.I.A.,” “The Watcher,” “Chameleon,” and “A.L.T.O.W.D.” which is short for “Another Long Typical Ordinary Working Day.” The album’s more topical songs are “You’re Next,” “Malleus Maleficarum,” and “Where Do I Belong,” which focuses on the homeless crisis. There are also story songs from Tom’s experiences: “Wild One,” and “Top  of the Rainbow.”

The album was mixed and produced at the world-famous Sunset Sound Studios by Brett Grossman and Stephen Haaker, and mastered by Brett Grossman. 

The Tom Ciurczak Band regularly plays throughout Southern California.

Pre-save link for “Yorick” YORICK is Coming!!!!

Pre-order “Yorick” at tomciurczak.com/buy-cd

https://tomciurczak.com

 www.instagram.com/tokyotommy58/

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092202082226

www.youtube.com/@tomciurczak8782

The “Yorick” music video to go live June 20  www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K5dcdI1Z18 

Other Music Videos “The Watcher” www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrHQwvnZfLA

“Top of the Rainbow” www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cbO3dNRcu8

“YORICK” track & musician listing

1.   The Watcher  
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Billy Diisko
Electric Guitar: Matt Hornbeck
Background Vocals: Tita Hutchison
Keyboards: Valerie Chaikin

2.   Wild One
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Sean Sobash
Electric Guitar: Oscar Jesus Bugarin & Jimena Fosado
Background Vocals: Melissa Robin

3.  Yorick
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitars: Dylan Tirapelli-Jamail
Acoustic Guitar: Angela Petrilli
Ukulele: Matt Hornbeck
Keyboards: Neara Russell
Background Vocals: Tita Hutchison & Eli Arnold

4.   You’re Next
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Billy Diisko
Electric Guitar: Matt Hornbeck
Thump Solo: Brandon Washington
Keyboards: Valerie Chaikin
Background Vocals: Eli Arnold

5.   Where Do I Belong
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitars: Rob Reischak
Keyboards: Bobby "Bundst" Victor
Background Vocals: Tita Hutchison

6.  Chameleon
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Sean Sobash
Electric Guitar: Jimena Fosado
Acoustic Guitar: Oscar Jesus Bugarin
Background Vocals: Eli Arnold

7.  Top Of The Rainbow
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitar: Matt Hornbeck
Keyboards: Neara Russell
Background Vocals: Tita Hutchison
Trumpet: Jon Manness
Trombone: Lasim Richards

8.   A.L.T.O.W.D.
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitars: Rob Reischak
Acoustic Guitar: Sydney Moreno
Harmonica: Matt Lomeo
Keyboards: Bobby "Bundst" Victor
Background Vocals: Melissa Robin

9.   Malleus Malificarum
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitars: Rob Reischak
Keyboards: Bobby "Bundst" Victor
Background Vocals: Melissa Robin

10.   Am I MIA
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitars: Matt Hornbeck & Dylan Tirapelli-Jamail
Acoustic Guitar: Angela Petrilli
Keyboards: Neara Russell
Background Vocals: Tita Hutchison

 

Yorick

I’m coming down

From the steeple ‘til I hit the ground

Cause I’m the guillotined Jester’s head

 

Jugglers, jokers, puppet shows

All in the Market Square

Jester grins, stares at the sky

Storm clouds are everywhere

 

Everybody heads inside

The banquet will start soon

The tower’s left unguarded

Clouds block the light from the crimson moon

 

Won’t you let your hair down like Rapunzel did

Won’t you spin your straw into gold for me

Is there a silver lining in those clouds up above

I’m climbing up to rescue you and set you free

 

Duels and Fools and Fire Breathers

the festival’s a blaze

The King and Queen are mesmerized

By the poet’s Shakespeare plays

 

No one see’s as I scale the tower

drawn by her Sirens call

don’t know if I’ll make it

or if I’ll slip and fall

Won’t you let your hair down like Rapunzel did

Won’t you spin your straw into gold for me

Is there a silver lining in those clouds up above

Cause I’m climbing up to rescue you and set you free

 

But it’s taking too much time

something doesn’t feel right

You’re not who you’ve been pretending to be

 

And this room’s not full of gold

For a princess you look real old

Who’s this Stiltskin

I don’t know what you were told

 

My name is Yorick I’m the royal fool

Never been one to follow the rules

Everything’s so obvious when you know all the answers

You’ve got nothing to gain here, cause I’m not who you’re after

 

Just let your hair down like Rapunzel did

And I’ll spin your straw into the gold of your dreams

cause there’s a silver lining in those clouds up above

and nothing here is what it seems to be

 

You’re not the princess and I’m not your savior

I thought this would be easy, you’re not who I came for

Let’s make deal, we can break this spell together

I’ll spin that straw to gold and we can both leave with the treasure

 

I’m coming down

From the steeple ‘til I hit the ground

Cause I’m the guillotined Jester’s head

 

C 2025 by Tom Ciurzcak / Ciurczak Songs (BMI), All Rights Reserved

#####

Stewart Brodian on The Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

I'm excited to have my longtime friend Stewart Brodian on the Anne Leighton Inclusion. A "self-made-man," Stewart offers insight on how he's dealt with the health care system, plus created career opportunities and his art--music, books, radio shows, a TV pilot, online shows.... You name it. The man is a creative force with an ear for talent and a nose like Howard Stern's! Well, tune in.  You'll find out what that's about!

Days Between Stations Updates on “Being” & “Perpetual Motion Machines (Music for a Film)”

The Days Between Stations music video collaboration with Durga McBroom is called “Being.” The band and Durga are available for interviews on both video and the new Days Between Stations’ album, “Perpetual Motion Machines (Music for a Film).” 

The group’s manager and video producer Erik Nielsen created the video from concept to final editing. “He’s produced all of our music videos,” guitarist Sepand Samzadeh says. “This is our third video shoot with Erik, he has a minimalist approach to matching visuals to the music.  He has a great sense of style, creativity, strong leadership qualities, and extensive knowledge of technology.” Erik and his Supposable Productions have worked with the classic rock and prog community for a variety of video productions—such as streaming the ProgStock Festival, video production for Las Vegas’ hit show “Raiding the Rock Vault,” and music videos for many artists—notably Dave Kerzner, Asia Featuring John Payne and hard rock band “Last in Line” on Frontiers Records. 

Through the years prog greats including Yes’s Billy Sherwood, Peter Banks, and Rick Wakeman, plus XTC’s Colin Moulding have collaborated with Days Between Stations. Then there’s Durga McBroom, known for her phenomenal musical and theatrical background, including singing for Pink Floyd from 1987-1994, acting and dancing as the character “Heels” in the movie “Flashdance,” and hitting number 1 on the Billboard dance charts and on Top of the Pops with the song “(Can You) Feel the Passion.”  Now along with her sister Lorelei, she’s in the Australian Pink Floyd Show and recent starring role in the satire movie, “Sammy-Gate.”   

Billy Sherwood produced Durga with keyboardist Oscar Fuentes Bills and Sepand for a song and music video “Witness the End of the World” on the album “Giants,” released in 2020 and voted track of the week by Prog magazine readers.

When it came time to find a singer for “Being,” the only song with lyrics on “Perpetual Motion Machines,” the band knew Durga was a perfect fit. The “Being” music video makes use of colors, light, and people! Actress Rae Dawn Chong felt Durga’s “goddess power” when she saw “Being,” and posted in the comments, “

It is a joy to see you in your element. I love the message.”

Erik wanted to first showcase Durga’s amazing stage presence and present the band in a stylized performance setting, “and use some simple visual effects to suggest different aspects of the concept of ‘Being.’”  Oscar based the song’s lyrics around the general concept of existence and trying to interject what artist Jean-Paul Bourdier’s art “inspired us to do, and we let the music speak for itself.” (“Perpetual Motion Machines” initially was intended to be a film soundtrack for a documentary on the artist.)

“Seeds,” the first video ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kmLDoapIkg ) in “Perpetual Motion Machines” won track of the week by Prog UK readers. ProgRock.com cites “Being” as one of the best epic songs of 2024.  MusikReviews.de praises everyone’s work, citing Durga closing “the all-round emotionally cinematic and moving album with a quiet song that gives the entire album an unusual (vocal) twist.” Echoes and Dust praises Durga for her “angelic, soulful voice” and makes comparisons throughout the review to a range of classic treats including music by Alan Parsons and David Bowie!           

The band sees Durga as a force like a Jedi! Sepand says, “She has so much experience and talent and her confidence just glides in with her energy.  She is a true professional.” One of Sepand’s fondest memories is playing, and when she started singing, “It feels like thunder struck my back. I looked over to Oscar and we telepathically spoke with each other... the message was if we died that day, we were grateful for this moment, we experienced brilliance at its best.”

Likewise, Durga loves collaborating, which allows her to “add my brand of art to that of others, thereby creating something totally new and different. I would urge people to find other artists to collaborate with. You learn a lot, and it can push you out of your comfort zone.” Durga feels much respect for Oscar’s lyric writing, “I learned how to make his vision come alive by making it personal.”

Sepand relates, “When you are surrounded by so much love, talent and creativity everyone elevates you to your new best.

Formed 20 years ago in Los Angeles, Sepand and keyboardist Oscar Fuentes Bills named the band after Steve Erickson’s novel “Days Between Stations.” The Pineapple Thief’s Bruce Soord inspired the band to work on their music after he used some of Sepand and Oscar’s musical experiments as the basis for “Saturday” on The Pineapple Thief’s “12 Stories Down” album. The duo continued to work with a range of musicians on what became their first release, “Days Between Stations,” in 2007. Their 2012 recording “In Extremis” was produced by Yes’ Billy Sherwood. In 2020 they released “Giants.” 

“A Rose for Your Stone” by The Kings

The Kings’ “The Longest Story Ever Told” continues to build.  After months on regional radio stations and finding support even internationally, the group’s song “A Rose for Your Stone” is finding support on AAA/Americana radio. The music video features Western imagery and lead singer David Diamond performing solo on acoustic guitar. The idea behind the song is about a gunfighter returning home after hearing his former girlfriend has died.  He left her because he wanted to seek fame with his gun, but he never forgot her.  He’s chosen to not regret the choice he made, despite the tragedy.  All he can give her is a rose to put on her headstone.  

 

Mixed by Michael Vail Blum, who has worked with Madonna and Prince the western inspired song has found support on podcasts, blogs, and magazines. Michael's Record Collection is intrigued by the song, “It pays tribute to old country story-songs, such as ‘El Paso’ by Marty Robbins." Americana Highways raves about the song’s musicality, including its Spanish-flavored horns, and more, David Diamond’s voice is still as powerful as when he sang ‘This Beat Goes On/Switchin’ To Glide’ on their first album.” Rave and Roll hears its cinematic quality, "How about some spaghetti western atmospherics? A Rose For Your Stone produces that vibe, underscored by an accordion and playful mariachi horns."

The Kings, originally formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Oakville, Ontario, are a Canadian rock band. The original lineup was David Diamond (lead vocals, bass, songwriter), Sonny Keyes (vocals, keyboards, songwriter), Max Styles (currently Todd Reynolds) (drums), and Mister Zero (guitar, songwriter).

Before their breakthrough, they spent over three years as WhistleKing, refining their skills through rehearsals, club gigs, and songwriting, always with recording as the goal. Their journey led them to Nimbus 9 Studio in Toronto, where renowned producer Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, KISS) joined the story.

Ezrin's involvement led to a worldwide major label deal with Elektra Records in Los Angeles. Their debut project, "The Kings Are Here," featured the smash hit 'This Beat Goes On/Switchin' To Glide,' which received extensive major market airplay all over the USA and Canada, spending 23 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100, earning them a Canadian Juno Award nomination, Platinum album and Gold single status and induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The Kings continued their musical journey with the albums "Amazon Beach," "RSVP," "Unstoppable," "Party Live in '85", "The Lost Tapes of a Seventies Bar Band" and "Because of You," all of which showcase their energy and songwriting prowess. They also released a captivating documentary titled "Anatomy of a One-Hit Wonder”, as well as the incredible concert film "Live at Heatwave".

Now, in 2024, "The Longest Story Ever Told," reaffirms the Kings’ status as a rock band with songwriting depth. With a history of hits, over 2000 North American shows and a devoted fan base, The Kings remain a hungry band with something to prove.

“Wake Up,” New Song & Music Video by Platypus Planet

Song Deals with Recovery Through Progress and Truth

 

Platypus Planet have a new song and music video, “Wake Up."

The group and music are the creation of German Starseed/Singer/songwriter/ keyboardist/ multi-media music leader Anna Black. The band’s core consists of Anna and three more passionate artists: drummer Frank Nolte (Germany), bassist Alexis Bietti (France), and what Anna calls Platypus Planet’s enigmatic secret weapon, keyboardist Robeone (United States).

Notables in the prog rock community have contributed to her meditative and electronic-inspired progressive music including Imaginaerium’s Clive Nolan & Laura Piazzai on a recent single called “Inner Peace.”

Lifesigns/Strawbs/ Dave Bainbridge & Sally Minnear guitarist Dave Bainbridge joins Platypus Planet on the new meditative and electronic-inspired progressive music single “Wake Up.”

The music video for “Wake Up” shows imagery and Anna performing with a message. about why so many people are awakening and changing these days, moving away from lower vibrational people that take energy from them.  The story spotlights on recognizing and defining pain, progressing, and going through the process with truth.  Anna says, “The song is a call to break through the noise, to let go of the versions of ourselves we've been taught to perform, and to reconnect with something real. It’s about waking up to the truth that there’s nothing to fear in being who you are.” 

She says the theme of her songs are about serving, “As I wake up, I’m helping you wake up.”

The music video and song resonated with Fan MamaChar Leonard, who posted on her social media, “I believe this one will be added to my morning routine! “   

 

Anna, Frank, Alexis, and Robeone are working on their first album to be called, “Echoes of the Soul.” There are other songs on the upcoming album out, in addition to “Wake Up” and “Inner Peace,” songs already on streaming media include “Sincerety,” “Identify,” and “Song of Sorrow.”

“Wake Up” 

Eyes are blinded,
Touch is grinded,
No one to feel it,
No one to heal it,
Calling,
You to wake up,

You need to wake up,
You need to wake up,
Wake up,
You need to,

Listening on the surface,
I tell you what my truth is,
Now stand up,
And be yourself,
There's nothing you can't do,

Listening on the surface,
I tell you what my truth is,
Stand up,
And be yourself,
There's nothing you can do,

Let yourself be your truth,
Wake up,

Eyes are blinded,
Touch is grinded,
No one to feel it,
Calling,
You to wake up.

 

C 2025, Anna Black, All Rights Reserved