Vicki Iskandar Launches The Chinese Five Elements Oracle with Event at Mystic Journey October 15

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Featuring Reading Rituals and a Preview to 2024


Los Angeles, CA – September 14, 2023 – Noted expert in Feng Shui and other Chinese spiritual modalities, Vicki Iskandar, will launch her oracle deck based on the five Chinese elements at Santa Monica’s Mystic Journey Bookstore at 4 pm, October 15. The popular metaphysical retailer is at 2923 Main Street in Santa Monica, CA 90405. The event is free, but RSVPs are requested here.

Hay House/Penguin Random House’s upcoming oracle deck, The Chinese Five Elements Oracle, is set for release on October 10, just in time for Halloween merriment, holiday gift giving, and Lunar New Year divination next February.

Vicki has extensively studied and consulted on several other Chinese spiritual modalities, including BaZi/Four Pillars of Destiny (a form of Chinese astrology), the I-Ching, Qigong, and the ancient art of war of Qi Men Dun Jia, since 2012 while serving as a digital marketing consultant for a variety of brands in the LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability) space.

The Chinese Five Elements Oracle represents the 60 combinations of the five elements and the twelve animal signs of Chinese astrology, based on traditional theories and Taoist wisdom, channeled through a modern, East-meets-West perspective. Beautifully illustrated by Candice Soon, the oracle deck is designed to be easy to use but with many layers of meaning embedded in each card so that users can grasp it whether they are a novice or advanced in their knowledge of oracle cards, the five elements, and energy work. Divining a card’s meaning can be as simple as reading the guidebook entry or as profound as one’s understanding of Chinese Metaphysics.

The 60 cards provide insights into the past, present, and future. They can be used as a tool to connect and communicate with the Divine and to help users gain a deeper understanding of the secrets and mysteries of the Universe. They will work with the truth and flow with the way of the Tao.

Born in Indonesia to parents of Chinese heritage, Vicki grew up in a culturally diverse setting rich in spiritual traditions and ancient customs. She started her metaphysics studies with Western astrology in 2000 after getting her graduate degree in business. Not until Vicki answered her ancestors’ calls to go deeper into Taoism, Qigong, and Chinese metaphysics a few years later did she realize how profoundly applicable, strategic, and healing these ancient arts can be as a mindfulness tool in today’s busy lifestyle.

Vicki has contributed to print and digital publications as a writer since she completed her MBA in Marketing from New York University. No stranger to luxury and design, she started writing professionally in 2001, editing the pages of global fashion magazines, including as a founding editor at Harper’s Bazaar Singapore.

Readers can view her in-depth monthly insights on Feng Shui and the five Chinese elements on her website at vickiiskandar.com. Her daily astrological insights, a unique blend of Chinese and Western astrology, can be found on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @5elementsoracle.

Based in Los Angeles, Vicki is also a licensed California Realtor. Having worked with real estate agents, developers, investors, and homebuyers in the past few years as a Feng Shui consultant, she enjoyed the interactions and the relationships built so much that she decided to get a real estate license in 2020 to offer her clients an integrated approach to real estate.

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Celebrating the birth of Monk, MONK’estra and John Beasley

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The Jazz Bakery presents John Beasley’s MONK’estra Big Band
At Zipper Concert Hall, Colburn School, October 7 at 8pm


Los Angeles – September 7, 2023 –John Beasley shares a birthday with jazz legend Thelonious Monk born on October 10th. With this happy coincidence, since Beasley formed his big band MONK’estra, he has celebrated the double birthday with concerts in Berlin, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo. This year, the festivities take on a more special meaning as we mark the 10th anniversary of the inception of MONK’estra.

“When I was 14, I wrote an arrangement of Eddie Harris’ Freedom Jazz Dance, which won an award at the Berkeley Jazz Festival. The prize was a scholarship to the Stan Kenton jazz camp. And, the Stan Kenton Big Band performed my arrangement that summer. It was a magical experience. Since then, I had dreamed of my own big band,” says pianist, arranger, and bandleader John Beasley.

Fast forward 40 years, John Beasley found himself with time on his hands and thought to reimagine Monk’s music for big band. “It was time to realize my dream and have fun writing what I hear in my head blending the influences now in my DNA from performing, recording and writing music in various genres and platforms whether with Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Chucho Valdes, Dianne Reeves, Ivan Lins, Chaka Khan, Queen Latifah, Sergio Mendes, Jon Hassel and film and TV music with Thomas Newman.”

In January 2013 John coined the name MONK’estra. With his first five charts, he called some of the best jazz and session musicians in Los Angeles to play a series of concerts at the beloved jazz club, the Blue Whale. He went on to book almost every venue in Los Angeles to keep developing the sound and getting to know the musicians so that MONK’estra can shape a signature sound. “We were ready then to go into the studio to record,” recalls Beasley. “After that, I shopped the music and Mack Avenue Records responded enthusiastically by offering me a three-record deal in 2017, the centennial year of Thelonious Monk.

MONK’estra Vol 1 was released in 2017, which went on to earn two GRAMMY nominations and 4.5 stars in Downbeat. While touring across the US, Europe and Japan at major festivals and venues, Beasley worked on new arrangements, which led to MONK’estra Vol 2 in 2018. This earned another two GRAMMY nominations.

Jazz Times described Beasley as an “ingenious interpreter of Monk” [with a] “freewheeling Monk big band that draws inspiration from hip-hop, Afro-Cuban polyrhythms and the expansiveness of Quincy Jones. Beasley’s arrangements shift from lush orchestration to taut bass-and-drum ostinatos and rhythmic modulations, and from technically demanding unison passages to open solos performed over improvised instrumental backgrounds. Beasley conducts like Thad Jones, signaling with his hands and face when to extend a solo section or deviate from the written music, gesticulating rather than sitting at the piano bench.”

For the last of the trilogy of MONK’estra records, John arranged more Monk tunes but added original songs in the spirit of Monk, not just for big band but also for trio and septet ensembles. MONK’estra Plays John Beasley earned two more GRAMMY nominations; and Beasley took home a trophy for Best Arrangement for the song Donna Lee in 2020.

On Saturday October 7th, The Jazz Bakery will host the triple birthday celebration of Thelonious Monk, MONK’estra and John Beasley at Zipper Concert Hall, Colburn School in DTLA. Tickets are available now and can be purchased at www.jazzbakery.org

ABOUT JAZZ BAKERY
The Jazz Bakery was founded in 1992 by Ruth Price, a beloved figure in the jazz community. Price is known for her dedication to bringing the best jazz musicians to Los Angeles and for providing a nurturing environment for up-and-coming artists. It is through her uncompromising vision that the Jazz Bakery has achieved international claim for the past 30 years. Ruth continues her legacy by presenting world-class jazz performances in unique venues throughout the city.

_________________________________________________________________________
DETAILS for CONCERT LISTINGS
CONCERT Celebrating the birth of Monk, MONK’estra and John Beasley

DATE: Saturday, October 7, 2023, 8pm

VENUE: Zipper Concert Hall, Colburn School, DTLA, 200 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

LINKS:
Info: https://www.jazzbakery.org/events/john-beasleys-monkestra
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/john-beasleys-monkestra-tickets-706487100937?aff=aff0bandsintown&bit_userid=${user_id}&comeFrom=2090&artist_event_id=1029518157
Prices: $40 & $30 (student ID)

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Korean Content Streamer KOCOWA+ Expands Their Footprint at KCON LA 2023 with a Booth with KOCCA, and as Part of an Activation in KIIS FM’s K-POP VILLAGE at KCON

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Los Angeles – Korean content streamer KOCOWA+ is teaming up with LA’s #1 hit music station KIIS-FM as part of the first-ever K-POP Village at KCON, on Saturday, August 19. KOCOWA+ and KOCCA – the Korea Creative Content Agency, a South Korean governmental agency that oversees and promotes the advancement of the Korean content industry, will also host a booth at the KCON LA 2023 event at the Crypto.com Arena and Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) from August 18-20, 2023.

Fans can come by the booth to test their K-knowledge of their favorite shows and idols with a game show-like experience to win an assortment of prizes! Afterward, they can grab some popcorn and check out the highly anticipated new show from the “NCT Universe: LASTART” the latest season of “EXO’s Travel The World On A Ladder,” and hot new K-Dramas like “My Dearest” and “My Lovely Boxer.”

The KIIS FM K-POP VILLAGE will occur outside the LACC at the Gilbert Lindsay Plaza, on the corner of Figueroa and 12th Streets. The village is bringing together the worlds of LA’S #1 Hit Music Station, KIIS-FM, and the mega-craze of Korean culture! KOCOWA+ will host a private backstage interview lounge on site. KOCOWA+ and other sponsors will be there, engaging with attendees and handing out exclusive prizes and concert tickets to a few very special winners!

“With Korean content’s mainstream wave in the Western Hemisphere continuing to expand, we are excited to be the only streamer 100% dedicated to Korea’s fresh storytelling and diverse programming,” said wA CEO KunHee Park. “As a niche streaming service with broad reach, KOCOWA+ is competitive in the battle among streaming services by super-serving fans of Korean-produced content. We look forward to meeting our viewers in person, expanding our audience as part of the KIIS-FM activation, and providing all attendees with some fun at KCON LA 2023.”

“Korean content is finding an ever-greater place in the global market and in the hearts of many fans worldwide. We are excited to be back at this year’s KCON with KOCOWA+ to meet and engage with these diehard K-content fans. We will continue to support the Korean content industry so that more audiences worldwide will have a chance to be introduced to and fall in love with the Korean culture and content.” says Sungho Ju, the Director of KOCCA USA.

KCON LA is the world’s No.1 K-Culture festival celebrating Korean culture and music. The event launched in Los Angeles in 2012. It features an entire convention center to explore K-Pop, K-Drama, K-Beauty, K-Food, and beyond through engaging panels, an expo overflowing with innovative products and idol appearances, KCON LA-exclusive programs, and artist engagements giving fans a chance to meet their favorite K-Pop stars—along with star-studded concerts featuring K-Pop legends alongside the hottest rookies in the industry.

KOCOWA+ is a joint company between wavve Americas (wA) and the top three Korean broadcasters, KBS, MBC, SBS, wavve, and SK Square Americas. KOCOWA+’s international service allows customers to access new authentic content from Korea daily via their mix of K-Dramas, K-Pop, K- Reality, and K-Variety, in addition to thousands of hit and highly rated library titles and films.

As the service provider in the Americas with the most extensive library of Korean content, KOCOWA+ has quickly risen as an international platform since 2017. Programming is available in real-time after broadcast airtime in Korea, making KOCOWA+ the preferred destination for fans to watch new series and award-winning library titles or to discover new and exciting Korean content only available on KOCOWA+.

About wA and KOCOWA+:
wA is a global joint company between wavve, SK Square Americas, and the top Korean broadcasters KBS, MBC, & SBS. wA launched KOCOWA+, a subscription video streaming platform in the Americas, in 2017, with primary audiences in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. KOCOWA+ provides a robust lineup of over 25,000 hours of Korean Dramas, Movies, Reality, and K-Pop content in multi-languages on its direct platform. For more information, please visit www.kocowa.com.

About KOCCA
As the umbrella government agency for South Korea’s content industry, the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) supports creating and maintaining the content industry ecosystem in Korea. KOCCA supports a wide range of creative industries, including game, animation, character licensing, K-pop, fashion, and broadcasting. KOCCA actively supports these industries via production support, marketing, global expansion, talent development, funding support, cultural technology development, and policy research. For more information, please visit: www.kocca.kr/en

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Bhakti Fest, a Transformational Event September 15-17 in Joshua Tree, California, Announces New Lineup Additions

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Joshua Tree, CA – June 22, 2023 – Bhakti Fest, Southern California’s popular yoga and spiritual music festival, is excited to announce several additions to the talent lineup of their 2023 edition at the beautiful Joshua Lake & Campground over the weekend of September 15-17.

Newly announced yoga teachers include superstar Seane Corn, plus Raghunath Das, Hemalayaa & DTO, Devasonic, Natalie Valle, and Carmen Curtis from ARIEL Yoga. Other all-star yoga instructors include Yogrishi Vishvketu, Shiva Rea, Kia Miller, Andrew Sealy, Tejal Patel, Tommy Rosen, Allison Eaton, Govind Das & Jacqueline Michelle, Harpinder Kaur Mann, MC Yogi & Amanda Giacomini, and local favorite, Urban Yoga’s Kristin Olson. From those who have never stepped foot on a yoga mat to those who don’t travel without one, all student levels are welcome and encouraged to attend.

A curator of sacred sound, Bhakti Fest will host non-stop Kirtan and chant, along with other conscious music, across various musical genres, including blues, rock, pop, gospel, traditional, and hip-hop. New music lineup additions include Ayla Nereo, Amritakripa, Satsang, Radhika Das, Fantuzzi, and Egeman Sanli. 2023 headliners include transformational music legend Michael Franti, and Grammy nominees Pato Banton, Krishna Das, and MC YOGI. This year’s musicians also include favorites such as Desert Dwellers, Snow Raven, Sol Rising, DJ Drez & Marti Nikko, David Starfire, Raghunath Das, The Hanuman Project, Nina Rao, Gina Sala, Karnamrita Dasi, and more.

Bhakti Fest provides participants with the unique opportunity to interact and learn from some of the greatest luminaries of our time. New workshop leaders include Sita Devi Dasi and Paul Heussenstam. Other speakers include Michael Brian Baker, Radhanath Swami, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, Jai Dev Singh, Nidhi Pandya, Indy Singh, Scott Blossom, Reginald Hubbard, Zoe Kors, and Tejal Patel.

Bhakti Fest is a pioneering gathering known for non-stop yoga, kirtan and other spiritual and conscious music, meditation, sound healing, vegetarian cuisine, therapeutic bodywork, spiritual study, conscious community, and transformation that continues to serve as a beacon for spiritual seekers from around the world. After a COVID-driven break since 2019, the festival is excited to welcome its fans home.

Festival producer Bella Silberfein notes, “We are so thrilled to be collaborating with such an amazing lineup of talent for the return of Bhakti Fest this year. It is amazing to see how excited the community is for it to be back and to gather again after the past few years.”

No family festival is complete without a Kids’ Village! In the cool shade, fun, physical, creative, musical, and conscious activities allow parents and children to enjoy time together.

Bhaktis will feast on various raw, vegan, and vegetarian food and beverage options. There is an extensive marketplace with eco-friendly, sustainable vendors offering clothing, devotional art, musical instruments, CDs, crafts, jewelry, and more.

Accommodations onsite include glamping, camping, and RV parking. There are also several hotels within a few miles of the campground that offer discounts for attendees.

With a world-class lineup of musicians and yoga instructors, conscious workshops, and artisan vendors, Bhakti Fest offers the most heart-opening, consciousness-raising experience of any festival today. Attendees describe the festival as “immersed in the greatest conscious party you have ever experienced, filled with music, yoga, dancing, love, light, and heart-centered community.”

Tickets for Bhakti Fest 2023 are available here. The non-profit festival donates a percentage of its funds to charities and other nonprofit groups that provide food, education, and environmental beautification programs worldwide. These include Food for Life Vrindavan, Love Serve Remember Foundation, Ramana’s Garden, Share Your Care, and the Seva Foundation.

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Vincent & Theo Release Debut Single “Soul Smell” with Amazing AI Video Tomorrow

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Los Angeles, CA – May 11, 2023 – Vincent & Theo, the exciting collaboration between top television composer David Schwartz and singer/songwriter and noted guitar slinger Julian Coryell will release their first single and video, “Soul Smell” tomorrow May 12 on all platforms linked from here.

“Soul Smell,” asks a rarely thought of question – what does your soul smell like? The single inspired video director Ian Schwartz to create a unique AI-assisted video of monkeys at a bar, in space, and in a cyberpunk landscape to accompany the song. The video can be seen here.

“Soul Smell” is the title track for the Soul Smell album set for release on June 2. This unique project resulted from a COVID file-sharing collaboration between these two Los Angeles musical fixtures, Emmy-winning TV composer David Schwartz and singer/songwriter and session/touring guitarist Julian Coryell (Alanis Morissette, Demi Lovato) recording as Vincent & Theo.

As Julian was the main lyricist on the project, he notes that his inspiration for “Soul Smell” was, “What does your soul smell like, is an existential way of asking, how are you doing? This is a recurring theme throughout the album, examining life’s perennial queries from a quirkier perspective.”

Unlike the instrumental and guitar-oriented work they are known for, Soul Smell is a jazzy alt-rap affair that recalls both the spoken word and lyrical grunge of the 90s – Soul Coughing, 311, Cake, but sans guitar, along with a healthy dose of William Burroughs, Tom Waits, and Leonard Cohen’s world-weary slices of life.

In just a few short months, they had 11 songs which they filled out with some of their favorite musicians: noted film and television singer/songwriter Lucy Schwartz (vocals, vocal arrangements), keyboard legend Larry Goldings (piano, synths), Death Cab for Cutie’s Zac Rae (keyboards, synths), and popular LA session drummer Jake Reed (drums, percussion).

The group will play an album release event at the legendary Westside club The Mint on June 5 as part of the popular bi-weekly Monday night club Hunnypot Live – Where Music Lovers Go To Play. The well-liked event, hosted by music publisher John Anderson in his “Hot Tub Johnnie” persona, is known as a clubhouse for those involved in film and television music. Vincent & Theo will headline with a work-friendly set time of 8:15 pm. Before the music, John will interview David about his esteemed Hollywood career, starting at 7:15 pm.

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Tales of the last days as written by shadows: Liminal Shade Releases Debut Single, “On Fire” Today

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Los Angeles, CA – May 12, 2023 – Liminal Shade is darkwave electronic dance pop.

Honduran singer Mar Boreal and bassist & sonic alchemist John von Seggern.

Mar’s hauntingly beautiful voice enchants the listener, while John von’s bass playing provides a pulsating rhythm underpinning the ethereal soundscapes.

History is a hologram projected over a laughing void

Together they create a sound that is captivating and mysterious, with an emphasis on emotion and storytelling.

Music that is both haunting and danceable, inviting listeners to step into liminality and seek transformation.

Seeking an identity to survive the future.

They weave a sonic tapestry that ensnares the senses, evoking emotions and narratives from the depths of the subconscious.

Enter the liminal shade and embark on a journey of infinite possibility.

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John von Seggern’s Ambient Bass Guitar Album Out Tomorrow, Concert & Soundbath at Los Angeles’ Philosophical Research Society on June 15

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Los Angeles, CA – June 8, 2023 – Bassist, electronic producer, and Jon Hassell collaborator John von Seggern is excited to announce the release of his solo album Ambient Bass Guitar on all platforms tomorrow, linked from https://linktr.ee/john_von. To celebrate the album’s release, he will present an immersive audiovisual experience at the Philosophical Research Society in Los Feliz on Thursday, June 15.

From 2014-2020, John von worked closely with legendary trumpeter and electronic music pioneer Jon Hassell, resulting in the acclaimed 2018 release Listening to Pictures, which the Guardian newspaper named one of the top contemporary classical releases of that year. A follow-up release, Seeing Through Sound, was released in 2020. He also performed with Hassell at clubs and festivals in Los Angeles and Europe.

For this album, John von has taken the software setup he created for Hassell and used it on his bass guitar instead, creating a vast universe of transcendent ambient sounds from the five strings of his bass.

He notes, “All the sounds you hear are produced in real-time using complex chains of processing and effects, a live dialogue between me, my bass, and my computer. These sounds are made possible by advanced audio technologies, but every note here was played by my very human fingers on metal strings.”

He began his music career in New York City in 1991, attending the New School Jazz program in Manhattan for one year on a full performance scholarship. During this time, he honed his skills as a bassist and improviser, studying privately with jazz bass legends Gary Peacock and Reggie Workman.

He moved to Tokyo at the end of 1991 and began his career as a professional jazz bassist, playing at many leading jazz clubs such as the Shinjuku Pit Inn, Sometime, and Club J. He first played electronic dance gigs at clubs in the city’s vibrant Roppongi district, playing bass on the acid jazz scene and opening for leading Japanese dance act United Future Organization at Club Yellow.

John relocated to Hong Kong in 1995 to work as a touring and session bassist in the city’s booming pop music scene. Over the next six years in Hong Kong, he played on five world tours, many smaller gigs, and dozens of recording sessions as one of the top session musicians in Asia.

He began DJing in Hong Kong in 1999 and started his first electronic band, Digital Cutup Lounge, one of Asia’s earliest acts to use computers in live performances. DCL went on to sign a recording contract with an HK-based label and released two critically-acclaimed albums, Cutup Mixdown and Network Effects. DCL frequently performed at clubs and festivals in the region over the next few years, including significant gigs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Guangzhou, and Beijing.

John also began working as a remixer at this time, drawing on his knowledge of the music of non-Western cultures to rework major Western pop artists such as Nelly Furtado for Asian music markets, and vice versa.

From 2001-2003 John attended graduate school in music, first at the University of Hong Kong and later at the University of California-Riverside, eventually earning an M.A. in Ethnomusicology. His thesis research focused on how the digitization and etherealization of music via computer networks affected its production and consumption patterns. These trends would soon become crucial in determining the future shape of the music industry and music itself.

Since moving to Los Angeles in 2004, John has contributed sound design and effects for numerous films, notably joining composer Thomas Newman and his ensemble for the soundtrack to Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning WALL-E (2008). He also worked with composer Paul Haslinger (ex-Tangerine Dream) on numerous projects.

From 2005-2011, John also worked for Native Instruments as a music technologist and wrote the manual for the popular software synthesizer MASSIVE. At various times, he trained celebrity artists and composers for NI, working with Herbie Hancock, Dweezil Zappa, Steve Vai, and Dr Dre’s production team, helping them learn new music technologies.

John’s recent burst of creative endeavors was precipitated by moving from noisy Hollywood to the calmer environs of the San Fernando Valley, along with the influence of the students, teachers, and staff at Icon Collective, the top electronic music production school, where he directs the online education program.

He notes, “Being around young creative people, along with teachers and staff at the top of their game, inspired me to return to my earlier love of electronic music and bring it together with my bass playing. Bass is so integral to dance music. I knew I could bring a depth of emotion to dance and ambient by combining my musical life’s work and the most cutting-edge production techniques available.”

The event will host a pre-concert reception with the artist in the courtyard starting at 7 pm, with the performance beginning at 8 pm. The PRS, as it is becoming affectionately known by LA’s brainier spiritual hipsters, is located at 3910 Los Feliz Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027.

The event will also feature video projections by Steve Nalepa and Branden Sahagun.

John von is excited to present this performance at the PRS, a venue steeped in esoteric history and lore, the perfect place for a concert of ambient bass vibrations. His bass waves will gently vibrate every cell of listeners’ bodies as they enter a deeper state of contemplation and relaxation. Attendees should bring blankets or yoga mats to better relax into the music.

Tickets for the event are $15 ($10 for students) and are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/john-von-seggern-ambient-bass-guitar-concert-soundbath-tickets-638980025457.

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John von Seggern Presents Ambient Bass Guitar Concert & Soundbath at the Philosophical Research Society on June 15

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Los Angeles, CA – May 18, 2023 – Bassist, electronic producer, and Jon Hassell collaborator John von Seggern will present an immersive audiovisual experience at the Philosophical Research Society in Los Feliz on Thursday, June 15.

The event celebrates the release of von Seggern’s Ambient Bass Guitar album on June 9 on all platforms. The album can be pre-saved at https://linktr.ee/john_von.

There will be a pre-concert reception with the artist in the courtyard starting at 7 pm, with the performance beginning at 8 pm. The PRS, as it is becoming affectionately known by LA’s brainier spiritual hipsters, is located at 3910 Los Feliz Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027.

The event will also feature esoteric video projections by Steve Nalepa and Branden Sahagun.

From 2014-2020, John von worked closely with legendary trumpeter and electronic music pioneer Jon Hassell, resulting in the acclaimed 2018 release Listening to Pictures, which the Guardian newspaper named one of the top contemporary classical releases of that year. A follow-up release, Seeing Through Sound, was released in 2020. He also performed with Hassell at clubs and festivals in Los Angeles and Europe.

For this album, John von has taken the software setup he created for Hassell and used it on his bass guitar instead, creating a vast universe of transcendent ambient sounds from the 5 strings of his bass.

As he notes, “All the sounds you hear are produced in real-time using complex chains of processing and effects, a live dialogue between me, my bass, and my computer. These sounds are made possible by advanced audio technologies, but every note here was played by my very human fingers on metal strings.”

John von is very excited to be presenting this performance at the PRS, a venue steeped in esoteric history and lore, the perfect place for a concert of ambient bass vibrations. His bass waves will gently vibrate every cell of listeners’ bodies as they enter a deeper state of contemplation and relaxation. Attendees are suggested to bring blankets or yoga mats in order to better relax into the music.

Tickets for the event are $15 ($10 for students) and are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/john-von-seggern-ambient-bass-guitar-concert-soundbath-tickets-638980025457.

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Television Composer, David Schwartz Hosts Hunnypot Live – Where Music Lovers Go To Play, as a Release Event for his New Band, Vincent & Theo, at The Mint on June 5,

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Los Angeles – May 8, 2023 – Noted television composer David Schwartz (Arrested Development, Northern Exposure++) will co-host the popular bi-weekly Monday night club, Hunnypot Live – Where Music Lovers Go To Play, at West LA’s legendary music room The Mint on June 5. The well-liked event, hosted by music publisher John Anderson in his “Hot Tub Johnnie” persona, is known as a clubhouse for those involved in film and television music. David’s new band project, Vincent & Theo, will headline with a work-friendly set time of 8:15 pm. Before the music, John will interview David about his esteemed Hollywood career, starting at 7:15 pm.

Soul Smell is the unique project that resulted from a COVID file-sharing collaboration between two Los Angeles musical fixtures, Emmy-winning TV composer David Schwartz and singer/songwriter and session/touring guitarist Julian Coryell (Alanis Morissette, Demi Lovato) recording as Vincent & Theo.

Unlike the instrumental and guitar-oriented work they are known for, Soul Smell is a jazzy alt-rap affair that recalls both the spoken word and lyrical grunge of the 90s – Soul Coughing, 311, Cake, but sans guitar, along with a healthy dose of William Burroughs, Tom Waits, and Leonard Cohen’s world-weary slices of life.

In just a few short months, they had 11 songs which they filled out with some of their favorite musicians, some of whom will be joining on this gig: noted film and television singer/songwriter Lucy Schwartz (vocals, vocal arrangements), keyboard legend Larry Goldings (piano, synths), Death Cab for Cutie’s Zac Rae (keyboards, synths), and popular LA session drummer Jake Reed (drums, percussion). Some other top players helped on a few songs, including additional writing on “Bad Porn” by Isaiah Gage, R&B singer Antwaun Stanley, vocals on “Would Be Solar Panel Technician,” bass legend John Patitucci for the electric bass solo on “Junk Food Love,” and Tamir Barzilay gave some additional percussion to “Junk Food Love” as well.

Doors for this free event will open at 7 pm, John will interview David at 7:15 pm, Vincent & Theo will perform at 8:15 pm. They will be followed by André Miguel & The Moment at 9 pm and Fencer at 9:45 pm. Hot Tub Johnnie hits the turntables for the Afterparty at 10:15 pm.

While the event is free, we would love you to RSVP to susan@susanvonseggern.com if you plan to come.

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Music Legend Michael Franti Headlines Bhakti Fest, a Transformational Event September 15-17 in Joshua Tree, California

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Photo of Michael FrantiJoshua Tree, CA – April 5, 2023 – Bhakti Fest, Southern California’s popular yoga and spiritual music festival, is excited to announce a new headliner for their 2023 edition – socially conscious music legend Michael Franti will appear in a rare solo performance at the event at the beautiful Joshua Lake & Campground over the weekend of September 15-17.

Franti has been a regular performer at transformational festivals in his native California and beyond since forming his band Michael Franti & Spearhead in 1994. He is the creator and lead vocalist of his current independent project, Michael Franti & Spearhead, a band that blends hip-hop with various other styles, including funk, reggae, jazz, folk, and rock. He is also an outspoken supporter of a wide spectrum of peace and social justice issues.

One of the rare artists to use the powerful medium of music to explore social and political issues, Michael Franti has proved to be a musician with a moral conscience. This gifted spoken word artist, composer, poet, and political activist began his musical career with the industrial punk/spoken word band, The Beatnigs. He later formed the American industrial hip-hop band, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, a fiery group whose music explored political themes. Seeking further improvement and innovation, Franti founded Spearhead. He pushed boundaries with his music and became pivotal in hip-hop’s renaissance, drawing from soul-driven beats and funk rhythms. With Spearhead, he also explored new ideas and set on to a more provocative tone and style. Their debut album, Home, received critical acclaim. Widely regarded as a master of contemporary protest music, Franti is an innovative songwriter whose skillful songwriting abilities successfully blend rock, hip hop, punk, rock, and jazz.

Throughout his multi-decade career with Spearhead, Franti has earned threeBillboard No. 1’s with triumphantly hopeful hits “Sound of Sunshine,” “Say Hey (I Love You)” and “I Got You,” as well as six Top 30 Hot AC singles, 10 Top 25 AAA Singles and three Billboard Top 5 Rock Albums. Spearhead’s 12th studio album Follow Your Heart, released in June 2022 and debuted at No. 2 on the iTunes Pop Chart behind Harry Styles.

Franti resides in Bali when he is not on tour and owns Soulshine Bali, a 32-room top-rated boutique hotel located in Ubud, Bali that focuses on joy through wellness and music, offering unique retreat opportunities and accommodations, along with special events and celebrations. Soulshine Bali continues to expand and grow with recent renovations, including a second restaurant, day club, panoramic yoga shala, and a new spa. For more information, visit soulshinebali.com.

In January 2019, Franti released his self-directed documentary Stay Human, which won an array of awards at film festivals worldwide and influenced his writing for his album Stay Human Vol II (Thirty Tigers), which debuted at No. 1 on both the Americana and Independent Album charts and received critical acclaim from USA Today, Billboard, Associated Press, and Paste.

Bhakti Fest is a pioneering gathering known for non-stop yoga, kirtan and other spiritual and conscious music, meditation, sound healing, vegetarian cuisine, therapeutic bodywork, spiritual study, conscious community, and transformation that continues to serve as a beacon for spiritual seekers from around the world. After a COVID-driven break since 2019, the festival is excited to welcome its fans home.

Festival producer Bella Silberfein notes, “having Michael Franti appear at a Bhakti Fest event has been a goal of ours since we started in 2009. We are so thrilled he’s headlining our first festival post-COVID and are looking forward to integrating his vibe and fans into our festival.”

The festival returns with all-star yoga instructors, including Yogrishi Vishvketu, Shiva Rea, Kia Miller, Andrew Sealy, Carmen Curtis, Tejal Patel, Tommy Rosen, Govind Das & Jacqueline, Harpinder Kaur Mann, Michael Brian Baker, MC Yogi, Amanda Giacomini, and local favorite, Urban Yoga’s Kristin Olson. From those who have never stepped foot on a yoga mat to those who don’t travel without one, all student levels are welcome and encouraged to attend.

A curator of sacred sound, Bhakti Fest will host non-stop Kirtan and chant, along with other conscious music, across various musical genres, including blues, rock, pop, gospel, traditional, and hip-hop. In addition to Franti, headliners include Grammy nominees Pato Banton, Krishna Das, and MC YOGI. This year’s musicians also include favorites such as Desert Dwellers, Snow Raven, Sol Rising, Kirtaniyas, Satsang, DJ Drez & Marti Nikko, David Starfire, Raghunath, Hanuman Project, Nina Rao, Radhika Das, Gina Sala, Karnamrita, and many more.

Bhakti Fest provides participants the unique opportunity to interact and learn from some of the greatest luminaries of our time. Speakers include Radhanath Swami, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, Jai Devi Singh, Nidhi Pandya, Indy Rishi, Scott Blossom, Reginald Hubbard, Zoe Kors, and Tejal Patel. As always, Bhakti Fest will screen digital Satsang with the legendary, dearly departed Ram Dass, whose book Be Here Now helped bring Eastern philosophy west in the 1970s.

No family festival is complete without a Kids’ Village! In the cool shade, fun, physical, creative, musical, and conscious activities provide an opportunity for parents and children to enjoy time together.

Bhaktis will feast on various raw, vegan, and vegetarian food and beverage options. There is an extensive marketplace with eco-friendly, sustainable vendors offering clothing, devotional art, musical instruments, CDs, crafts, jewelry, and more.

Accommodations onsite include glamping, camping, and RV parking. There are also several hotels within a few miles of the campground that offer discounts for attendees.

With a world-class lineup of musicians and yoga instructors, conscious workshops, and artisan vendors, Bhakti Fest offers the most heart-opening, consciousness -raising experience of any festival on the scene today. Attendees describe the festival as “immersed in the greatest conscious party you have ever experienced, filled with music, yoga, dancing, love, light, and heart-centered community.”

Tickets for Bhakti Fest 2023 are available here. The non-profit festival donates a percentage of its funds to charities and other nonprofit groups that provide food, education, and environmental beautification programs worldwide. These include Food for Life Vrindavan, Love Serve Remember Foundation, Ramana’s Garden, Share Your Care, and the Seva Foundation.

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