Vol.9

AWA NEWS is Music Free Magazine. it’s Oh! Music Producer GillesSnowcat Special Edit.

it’s Oh! MUSIC We are Music Label from MIYAZAKI, JAPAN.www.its-oh.net

Editor:GillesSnowcat, 雪猫ジル(In Japanese)it’s Oh! MUSIC EU Producer, Musican

Vol.13

n°13, 3rd of December, 2009

www.awaken.be

[downloadable pdf version here]

Dear friends, fans and passing smiles,

here we are, the last month of 2009 is here. While most of the projects are still on their way (new song from Awaken, solo album from Snowcat and even -yeah- some new Nekokawa pieces in sight), we will close this year with a special present for you fans. What? To know more, just...

...jump into Awa-news number 13!

Artists sometimes say very smart sentences, with or without knowing. 

It's rock'n'roll philosophy time!

One of my mottoes is that if you want to get unusual results, work fast and work cheap, because there's more of a chance that you'll get somewhere that nobody else did. Nearly always, the effect of spending a lot of money is to make things more normal.

(Brian Eno)

What are the hottest news in Awaken's Universe?

SOMEDAY AT XMAS?

Are you a true Awaken fan? If so, you will soon be able to get your own copy of the online 45rpm from Snowcat himself. Let the sleighbells rock! In waiting, why not refresh your magnetic mind by taking a new trip into Awaken's Parallel World? Ah, and if you look closer to the selective discography below, you may find the Xmas record too. 

Links: http://www.awaken.be

Our interview:

KEVIN SHAKEY: Strange, Radical and “Hitchhiker”.

Once upon a time, there were the 70s. Creative. All excesses were permitted. Music was a large field of experimentations, some that remained obscure, some that gained credibility to the eyes (and ears) of an underground audience (Gong, Can, just to name a few), and some that got the huge success they deserved (David Bowie, Tangerine Dream). Then came the 80s, with their electronic rhythms that were, if you look closer, a commercial recognition for what we still can call 'experimental', although the pop format kept those creations into an underrated mold. Yes the 80s were money-related, but still flamboyant, creative, excessive. Then, to our big misery, the 90's saw music started to play it safe.'Safe' is the worst sticker that can ever be put on art. Kevin Shakey definitly doesn't play it safe at all: having a wide range of inlfuences covering Neil Young, Léo Ferré and the German Kosmische Musik, Shakey records and spreads his quite personal style without seeming to care much of pleasing the average audience. Having recently releasedan album with Ted Melvins, and still working on several projects, Shakey kindly replied the Awa-news interview.

-Nice to meet you, Kevin. Please use three words to introduce yourself. Kevin Shakey: Strange, Loner and Electric. -What brought you to become an active musician? Kevin Shakey: Music herself. -Kosmische Musik is a strong influence of yours. Do you think of bringing it to a further step, making something revolutionary with it? Kevin Shakey: Oh no, the KM is just one of my influence, but I don't (and I don't really want) to make it. I am very electric in music, and I heard many different style of music. I think I make "indie music", because I record many different things, like folk song, or drone, electronic things, rock, and other. I don't want any label for my work, I record all that I want, I got no limit in my brain and in my heart. -Among your work, what is the piece that you think represents you the most, and why? Kevin Shakey: Very difficult question, I got just one album and a side project (Ted Melvins), and I record many things for the next album. But I don't got the answer, excuse me. -Any song you're ashamed of, and why? Kevin Shakey: Good question: I don't know too. -If you had a magic wand, in what band would you play right now? Kevin Shakey: With the Climax Golden Twins or Shellac. -What would you say to Awa-news readers who might not know you, to convince them to listen to your albums? Kevin Shakey: Let me sleep, let me dream. -Would you like to live in a specific place just to be influenced by its atmosphere, like David Bowie did in Berlin? Kevin Shakey: In Bordeaux, because this is a very beautiful place, and the musical scene is very good. Or maybe record in Quebec city, because I love this place, and I really want travel in Canada one day. Barcelona too, to record music about Antonio Gaudi work. -Last but not least, would you openly admit that you are an Awaken fan? Kevin Shakey: When I listen to "Beppu Nights" and "I Know Time Is Passing By..." live at Radio SI, I want to cry, because

Snowcat got a beautiful voice, and an very important emotion through it. I love to me magnetised by Awa' record, that's a real pleasure to discover new records, and Gilles is a very cool guy, and I love it.   

Links:  http://www.myspace.com/kevinshakey

What happened on December some years ago? 

Let's jump into Awa-news' time machine...

01/12/1988: Jerry Garcia, from the Grateful Dead, releases his "Almost Acoustic" album.

31/12/1948: Hello Donna Summer!

18/12/1987: Bye bye Conny Plank, producer of Kraftwerk, Killing Joke, Gianna Nannini, and a bunch of others...

You like Awaken? You *will* like this album:

SIEDAH GARRETT, Kiss Of Life (1988)

Suddenly famous thanks to her contribution to Michael Jackson's Bad, Siedah Garrett seized the opportunity to record  her album on the following year: Kiss Of Life. Although released on the Quincy Jones' label Qwest, the Dude doesn't produce here. However, it sounds like if he had been there: tasty digital synthezisers, strong drumprogramming, amazing synth-bass lines, well, that kind of high-class electro-funk, with inspired songwriting and the great voice of Mrs Garrett. Some sounds seem to come directly from Jackson's Bad with a slice of Thriller's Rod Temperton unmistakable style, but Kiss Of Life has a life on its own and is strongly recommended by yours truly. No filler to regret, only strong and quality-oriented songs, like the swinging gem "The Legend Of Ruby Diamond", the powerful "Refuse To Be Loose" (what a beat!) or the smooth sexy "Nobody Does Me"... On the trivia part, it's fun to hear that her  "Baby's Got It Bad" is actually Michael Jackson's "Got The Hots". Copyrights, anyone? 

Links:  http://www.siedah.com/

What's hot on the web side? Awa-net surfed for you and found this:

DIAGONALE

With the decline of record companies and the easy access to the internet, underground labels flourish everywhere on the web. This is a kind of revenge toward a system that ignored artists through the years, like the punk revolution in 1976. Diagonale Music is a kind of  label created by Kevin Shakey (see our interview above) and Matt Reen to release their own side-projects, in order to gain more and more freedom in their music. Wotnot and Ted Melvins are the first ones on the list. Feel free to visit Diagonale, listen to their artists and, why not, submit your own work. Who knows?...

Links: http://www.myspace.com/diagnoalemusic

http://www.myspace.com/matthreen

http://www.myspace.com/kevinshakey

Marco Mariani will tell us about his musical visions and projects, while you'll find a way to discover the Xmas 45rpm from Snowcat and know if Xmas will be the same thus year... or not. Take care and see you!

email: awamail(at)hellokitty.com 

Awaken main sites: www.awaken.be

www.beppunights.com

It's Oh! Music

© AWAKEN-Awanews-

[downloadable pdf version here]