04.27.12: IMPORTANT UPDATE
I wanted to let you all know I have had to push back the release date of my new album to 5/15/2012. My mom is currently going through a health crisis in the hospital and I've had to temporarily shift focus. We are still moving forward with the album listening & music video screening event tonight in NYC, so come show some love. I'll blog with more updates in a few days when things are calmer. - Aris
04.27.12: To the finish line!
"Twilight Revival" is nearly on the horizon... sorry, I couldn't resist being punny. The past few days have been fantastic. The mixes are sounding great and everything as a whole has really come together better than I could have ever hoped. The album goes to master May 2, and will be uploaded to digital outlets on May 3rd. This means by Cinco De Mayo you can party with a pitcher of margaritas while blasting my new album from your iDevice. Let's rock! Speaking of iDevices, I gave my mom an iPod touch for her 70th birdthday this week and she loves it! It is so nice to see something so small yet so powerful bring such transformative powers to someone's life. Thanks Apple! And speaking of apples, if you are in the Big Apple next Friday 5/4, I'm having an album listening party and music video release party for my new single "Astral Symphony". Come on down! (8pm @ White Rabbit 145 e Houston). I still have a lot of work I need to finish before the big release, so peace for now. - Aris
04.23.12: The British Touch
I have been really blessed to work with some amazing collaborators for this album. That goes not only for musicians in the studio, but also photo and film artists. One in particular who has ended up working with me quite a bit is Marc Hall. We met while both working for the MacDella Cooper Foundation's AV department. I enjoy his British wit, and respect his keen artistic eye and musicial background. Since our days at the MCF, we've worked together on a variety of projects for clients, and recently have begun collaborating on music video projects. Marc filmed and co-directed some of the Twilight video with me, and took a series of amazing photos onset! One ended up being the cover of my single "Twilight" and the rest of the series will be used as the album artwork for "Twilight Revival". I like working with Marc so much that I asked him join me in Puerto Rico to shoot my new music video "Astral symphony", which premieres in 11 days! I'm really excited to share it with you. Marc and I will also be working on more music video projects together in the coming months...stay tuned!
ps. check out some of the album artwork, and some additional incredible team members in this behind the scenes video for "Twilight"! 04.21.12: Ode to the Clown King
For today's blog, I want to spotlight one of the main contributors/players on my new album. His name is Peter Litvin. I met him online in April of 2010 while looking for new collaborators for what would become "Twilight Revival". As it turned out, Peter was my neighbor, living only a block away. Serendipity of sorts, I think. Two years later and we've made some amazing music (including the album's lead single "Twilight"). Peter is one of the most gifted multi-instrumentalists and producers I've met, and also one of the quirkiest. Filled with magic tricks, 90s rock references, corn and clown obsession, and a suitcase full of abstract-improv-sketch-comedy characters, there is never a dull moment with Peter. He ended up playing on 10 of the album's tracks, co-producing 2 of them with me, as well as mixing 6 or so. Enjoy this clip of Peter mixing and dancing to my new song "Savior". Here's to you Peter, who yesterday turned 27. Happy Birthday! - Aris
04.18.12: Crunch Time
Things have been so busy the last 2 days in the studio! I am a perfectionist. It's a blessing and a curse... since I'm in the producers seat this time, it means a lot of extreme focus an analysis. Tonight is likely going to be an all-nighter. There's a lot mixing left to do on all our last minute overdubs and track additions! It is times like these I am greatful for coffee and passion... and, of course, music. The music keeps be going, always. Notice my coherency fading? Yes it is time to brew another pot. I'm off to work on the choir section on "Pray for Change" now. Goodnight! - Aris
04.16.12: Ready for a Revolution
Great day today at Revolution Studios in Bushwick. Long time collaborator and friend Peter Litvin and I are putting the finishing touches on the mixes for the new album. It is fine -toothed-comb time. Final tweaks, some unexpected surprises, and some great music. I'll be talking more about the individual songs as we get closer :-) Tomorrow I'm back in the studio putting finishing touches on the mixes of the band tracks with Jimmy Jenkins. I initially tracked my band on 15 tracks in May of 2010, in the midst of the promotional shows we were doing for my last album. Seven of those tracks made it onto the new album, the rest will see light sooner than you think.
Back to work! - Aris
04.15.12: 3 weeks 'til "Twilight Revival" drops!
Today is a busy day. I spent the morning working on mixes for the new album and the afternoon tracking vocals on an interlude track that is a completely last minute addition to the tracklisting. There's 2 of those, the interlude "Deliver Me" which I wrote on acoustic guitar, and the straight up clumb thumper Blessed Be which was originally written on piano. These 2 songs have really completed the album. It's now exactly what I hoped it would be, and more.
I'm also finalizing the edit of the video for Astral Symphony tonight. Really looking forward to sharing it with you! I'm envigorated and energized being this close to the finish line. This album has so much dimension to it, and I can't wait to share it all with you. Every single song from the album will be getting a video treatment! TWILIGHT REVIVAL digital release date expected to be 5/4/2012. Physical release 6/16/12. New website premiering next week! New blog tomorrow. Stay tuned! - Aris
