The Ever-Turning Experience Of Joel Eilde

 

By Netera Landar

 

“If I want to make the listener cry, I add Indian music. If I want the listener to rock out, I add Arabic music.”
---Joel Eilde
 

 

It was a Friday afternoon when I ran into Joel Eilde. I had just left an Amforte set on Kona Beach. Amberle would be singing at Nevermore at 4 PM, so I teleported there. Shortly after arriving at the entrance, Joel said “hello.” He reminded me that I’d interviewed him for the Metaverse Tribune ten years ago. What a good memory he has. He was also a guest on the Netera Landar live chat when his band was called “Dragonfly.” That was years ago on Terric when I had a chat studio.

Branded as “Joel in Real Life,” his band’s vibe is “ambient, world, spiritual music with enough edge to keep it off the speakers in supermarkets and elevators. Joel said so himself. 

Joel is so easy to talk to. He’s like the friend you’ve known for 15 years. Catch his video for “Crimson Seas” on Instagram. Joel sings and plays acoustic guitar. The harmony and violin accompaniment have a Scottish vibe. (https://www.instagram.com/p/CO6RTxcDyVd/)  You will be easily swept away by the music. 

 

Joel’s also a member of Red Heaven, an experimental rock, metal, and blues band. I am personally more drawn to this band's music and have attended Joel’s gigs at both Nevermore and Hammerhead Harbor Club. He also performs regularly at After Dark, Templemore, The Octagon, and Feed A Smile. Red Heaven’s music has been featured on Second Life since 2011. He has performed over 3,000 shows on the grid since then. It’s all original music.

I think I’ve listened to “The Ever-Turning Wheel” about seven times. Why? Because the music is unlike anything I’ve heard. The best way to describe it is as a blanket woven from nature, relationships, memories, time, friendships, and the rejection of conformity. 

 

I touched base with Joel Tamas of Ontario, Canada, to learn what makes him tick and when music’s rhythm first filled his mind and soul. He stated that he’s been a musician since he was 14. He took guitar and bass lessons when he was younger. 

“My musical life and my inner ‘spiritual’ life grew up together, and, because that inner self is what propels us to make art, the two sort of evolved in parallel. You can see it in how my songs have always mirrored the spiritual condition I was in at whatever point I wrote them in the last 43 years. As I grew and my mind opened to subtler and deeper understanding, my music did too.”

Joel said that as time passed, in his 40s, he took jazz improvisation and flamenco lessons. He worked with real masters.

“Drummer Aaron Ferrera, for one, who grew up with me and taught me a lot of rhythmic concepts that a guitarist probably wouldn’t pick up on his own,” Joel said. “I owe him a great debt for that. I also worked with sitar master Anwar Khurshid for several years, and I learned a lot about classical Indian music from him.”

Joel established Red Heaven and writes all the songs, music, and lyrics. You can purchase his music on Bandcamp (https://redheavenlive.bandcamp.com) and through Apple Music. You can listen to his first single, “Martyr,” and watch the video at https://redheaven.ca/martyr.

I wondered why there were two bands and asked Joel; he replied that “Joe in Real Life” was formed in 2018 because he couldn’t keep all his music under a single band identity any longer. 

“On one hand, I’ve done so much hard rock and experimental music, but on the other hand I also love creating gentler, ambient world music…so I do both. It really was too confusing for listeners to figure out how to receive the material. For instance, sometimes I would finish an alt-metal gig, and then, when I came off stage, someone would approach me wanting to buy a few CDs,” he said. “I would then have to explain which CD’s sound like what they heard on stage and which CDs were all hang drums and meditative bells, etc. It was too confusing, so I split the product line and now market it under two different brand names to make things clearer.”

He brings his rocker energy to Red Heaven. He admits that’s where he puts his dark music, the thunder and lightning. He describes Red Heaven as if Tool and Kate Bush had a baby that grew up in Istanbul. He says it’s a weird way to describe it, but if you hear the material, it makes sense.

“Joel in Real Life” has a “world music” vibe that would work well for meditation or reflection sessions. If you were to ask him, he’d say it’s inspired by his interest in the Bahai Faith’s philosophies and concepts. Red Heaven is more autobiographical.

When you hear him perform a song online, it begins with parts he develops himself. He brings the parts together in his studio and tries them out on the crowd in Second Life.

“Once the song is ready to transition to a recorded release and/or an album, that’s when I get more serious and bring in the pros. Aaron Ferrera and his son Jacob Ferrera have both provided years of top-end drumming work for me. On a rare occasion, I bring in drummer Mike McNeil,” Joel said.

He told me that Anwar Khurshid plays all the sitar we hear. He’s also brought in MJ Cyr, Chimwemwe Miller, Olga Zoubkova, Bruno Randimbiarison, Dergham Aqiqi, and Liz Aday to sing with him. I know that Liz is a Second Life singer. For violin, he called upon Hannah Michel in the early days of the band, and, later, Marie-Claire Saindon. For harmonica, he brings in Marc Seguin. 

“I mostly play my own bass and guitar tracks, but when I wanted something special, I’ve brought in Tom McMahon (bass) and Trevor Lubin (guitar). On the new album, Trevor plays mandolin, which is an instrument Red Heaven has never used before. It sounds really great, too,” Joel said.

On stage, he’s worked with a long list of players, but has settled on a lineup he really loves. Jacob Ferrera on drums, Maddy O’Regan on violin, Trevor Lubin on guitar, Cyrus TR Orkish on bass, and Ally Bruneau on vocals and guitar.

“What’s cool is that, despite each one having vast experience and top-level skill, they’re all actually on the young side. So, I get all the amazing youthful energy, but each has the artistic mastery of much older, seasoned players. These guys are like my desert island band lineup. They are absolutely stellar in every way. I mean, when you see them doing their thing in full effect, they’re incredible. I’m very blessed to have them,” he admitted.

When Joel’s in Second Life, he sings and plays guitar live. He uses backing tracks for the things he can’t do live. He focuses on performing as a singer and guitarist, but it’s impossible for him to simultaneously play drums, bass, a second guitar, a third guitar, sitar, violin, and sing his own backups. He creates all the tracks he uses. Even though it’s recorded, it’s still his music and his performances and those of the people he hires. 

Besides attending many of Joel’s gigs, I’ve added Red Heaven’s “The Ever-Turning Wheel” to my personal “tune into music” sessions. I love how eclectic this digital album is. Of course, Joel wrote the songs. I asked him to tell me about them, and he said he could probably write an encyclopedia about each one and still not cover everything.

“I will tell you that there are a lot of old songs on ‘The Ever-Turning Wheel’ that I’d been wanting to record and release properly for years, and some for decades. ‘The Invisible World,’ ‘I Could Love You Better,’ ‘What I Am,’ ‘The Closest Thing To Love,’ ‘Now in Love,’ and ‘Ordinary People,’ had all been waiting around for a long, long time for their chance. And I decided ‘The Ever-Turning Wheel’ was an opportunity to get them released the way they deserved. There were lots of new songs too (‘Messages From The Storm,’ ‘Becoming,” et al), but when I close my eyes and think about that album as a whole it feels to me like a retrospective on 30 years of songwriting.”

Once the album was done and dropped, there were no songs left from his youth or bygone years waiting in the wings to be released. So, the upcoming Red Heaven album, “Let The Dead Things Die,” features songs no older than 2-4 years old. He wrote all the new songs within a short window of time.

“It’s one reason why I think the new album is going to feel both fresh and unified in a way previous albums didn’t.”

 

 Whether he’s dressed in a kilt or in a T-shirt and jeans, you will become immersed in the Joel experience. So put on your headset, adjust the sound, and sit back and get lost in his music. You will find Red Heaven’s discography at redheaven.ca.  Help support Red Heaven through patreon.com/RedHeavenLive. I signed up, so now if I miss one of his SL gigs, I can hear the show and see the titles of the songs he sang.

Red Heaven’s albums include:

(2013) AMPLIFICATION

(2015) MOTH

(2020) ECHOLOCATION

(2021) MEANWHILE

(2022) THE EVER-TURNING WHEEL

(To be released on Oct. 10) LET THE DEAD THINGS DIE

Netera Landar 

 

Interview With Maestro (Mythrilweaver Atlas)

 

By Netera Landar

You never know who you are going to meet in Second Life. I just happened to attend a political rally where RoseDrop Rust and Justine Johndory were singing. Not only was I impressed by the event, but I also met Maestro, who has incredible talent. I checked out his account on reverbnation.com.

I was lost in his song, “Wicked Thing This Way Comes.” When a song is written well, it takes you away. How far away is up to your imagination. He told me that he wrote the song about 12 years ago and that he’s made some small changes. “Under the quiet of the night, under the moon’s soft glow….” he sings, and you are transported to somewhere dark because of a curse. All is cold. Beware.

I asked him to tell me about the name Konstantin the Mithrilweaver on his ReverbNation account. 

“Well, Konstantin is my last name. Mythrilweaver comes from when I used to make chainmail armor, as the knights wore. I was using aluminum instead of steel because it is lighter to wear. Somebody asked me at a Ren Faire, ‘What is the metal you use?’ Thinking quickly of my love for Tolkien’s writings, like ‘The Hobbit,’ I said, ‘It is mithril,’ since aluminum was almost impossible to refine until the common era, so in the 1400s, it did not exist in the world in the form we know now. And he answered, not expecting that answer, ‘So you fancy yourself a weaver of mithril, do you?’ And I answered, ‘A mithril weaver? Well, me thinks I may just be good, sir.’ “And the rest is history.”

 

In real life, Maestro is a voice actor. He does radio commercials, character voices, and admits that he’s pretty good at imitating accents. 

Maestro began writing country music in 1984. His music was popular in the small Texas town where he’s from. He wrote a song a few years later, which George Jones recorded, and he got paid for it. For a teenager living at home, that was a lot of money. He signed away his rights and later learned that he didn’t receive credit on the album for his lyrics. Maestro said that was not all that uncommon back then. He began writing more Country and Southern Rock songs, and then this year chose to write Soft Rock and Blues.

He’s not sure of the exact number of songs he’s written, but said he has probably written the lyrics to over 200. He records all his own material and released one digital album in 2014.

Having listened to “Wicked Thing This Way Comes,” I had to ask him if he likes writing about the supernatural.

“I like the whole Edgar Allan Poe vibe,” he admitted. “For a while, I got well known for giving performances with a voice and delivery like Christopher Lee’s (the white wizard in The Lord of the Rings), using my newly deeper voice. I like gothic themes and classic monster movies, like Dracula from the 30s, the Wolf Man, from the 50s, and I like the more recent underworld movies, as well.”

Asked what genres he likes to sing, he replied, “I like most kinds of music. Until I was in my thirties, my voice was much higher. I got really sick, and it damaged my vocal cords and lowered my voice a bit. Now, I am a baritone naturally. I have sung in Second Life and recently started singing songs locally.”

Around 2005, Maestro began writing poetry. He also participates in poetry slams and has won more than 30 over the years. 

“I have been performing in the spoken word poetry genre for almost 20 years now. On reverbnation.com, I have been ranked #1 in my genre several times over the years,” he stated.

In terms of performance art, he said. “I’ve gotten some notoriety in the RL poetry scene across America,” he said. “I also do what I call bardics, where I read and sing in the same piece, which makes me fairly unique.”

He also wrote a satirical piece for the opinion section of his local paper. Readers appreciated his wit and encouraged him to focus on it.

When he has free time to come in-world, he enjoys exploring, going to concerts, and visiting friends. 

“I enjoy poetry, socializing, and doing artistic things, like building in SL. I have a massive tower on my mainland in the Horizons area that I modified from its original dimensions,” said Maestro. “I also built an 8-story castle in the air.”

Check out his reverbnation.com page: Konstantin The Mithrilweaver: https://www.reverbnation.com/konstantinmithrilweaver/

 

Netera Landar 

 

Singer Austin Moores Returns To The Stage

 

By Netera Landar

After nearly three months, Second Life and OpenSim singer Austin Moores is eager to return to the virtual stage. With his medical leave over, the multi-genre performer updated his new calendar dates and was welcomed back to Rockin’ Robin on Sunday, Dec. 21.

Interviewing Austin where his New Year's Eve tribute will be held. Join his group to get an invitation.

“I have three shows for the end of the year,” said Austin as we spoke five days ago in his gorgeous teal venue. “Rockin’ Robin, Christmas Dreams, and then the New Year’s Eve Neil Diamond-Kenny Rogers tribute. I wanted to include Eva Fae, and Kenny has a number of duet songs,” he added when asked why he chose to combine two of his tributes. 

Austin's next tribute will focus on the iconic Neil Diamond and the late Kenny Rogers.

Austin has already selected his song list and posted it for the Angels to gather trivia and pick dances. 

Eva is Austin’s singing partner and the other half of Fusion of Two. He’s very grateful to be working with her and said she’s a joy to work with.

For his other shows, you’ll see him on stage with the Angels. Austin and the Angels have been performing on both Second Life and OpenSim grids for over seven years. 

Asked how he felt about returning, he said, “Well, it’s like getting back on a horse. I’m going to take it slow, but it’s something I’ve been looking forward to.”

Austin’s current goal is to contact venues where he performed to inform them that he has resumed virtual performances. He has reached out to a few. He appreciates that Rockin’ Robin, Dillian’s, and Rockin’ Roost have kept him on their schedules in Second Life as well as Rockin’ Sands in the Wolf Territories grid. 

“I’m very proud to have the same crew all these years. It’s really rare to keep the same people. My hat is off to the Angels for sticking with me through the grumpiness and the laughs. We’re just here doing our thing. A special thank you to Sandy for coordinating everything. She was the one who contacted everyone with updates. She builds the stages and coordinates what the Angels wear,” said Austin.

Austin misses the venue owners we lost due to passing: White Horse’s owner, Joy, and hostess Whisper, and those who are no longer online: Scarlet from Scarlet’s Opry and numerous other venues. 

“My best to their families,” he said. “And a big thank you to everyone who has been in touch, wondering how I am, and waiting for me to hit the stage again. Thank you to all the folks who have participated in the tributes. Liam (Hoffen) for tribute lighting, honorary Angels for stepping in, you, Sandy, and Talia participate in backup, greet people, carry on conversations, and do the trivia.”

Austin and the Angels wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! (Photo by Sandy Hauster)

The next day, I invited Talia Sunsong and Sandy Hauster, my Angel sisters, to add their thoughts about Austin’s return.

“We missed Austin so much when he was gone; we didn’t get to play any pranks on him, like when we turned his furniture upside down and stuck it on his ceiling,” added Talia, on the night of the Rockin’ Robin performance.

“We’ve all (Angels, friends, fans, and family) missed Austin these past few months. I was afraid I’d need retraining to do my job after all this time off. This is the greatest job I’ve ever had and I’m so grateful to be working with this amazing group. Happy Holidays, everyone,” said Sandy.

Netera Landar
 

Interview With Aby Teamo-Hastings (AbyGail Hastings)

By Bixyl Shuftan

I recently interviewed Aby Teamo-Hastings (AbyGail Hastings), a singer whom makes frequent appearances in Second Life, and will be among those at the upcoming Second Life Sixteenth Birthday. She invited me to her island, Kupendwa, in the Caracas sim, "This is my home. I terraformed it to a chill out spot for all in my group." Once there,
she invited me to take a seat.

Aby told me she had been singing since long before coming to Second Life, "I sang for a living in real life from the age of 21, started singing on stage at the age of six. But at 21 my father died and I sang so to keep my family." Her singing online started in IMVU, "A man that I knew there made jewelry so I used to sing love songs and he would add them to rings or rooms. It was all for romance. He sold his products and I got a percentage of the revenue." But eventually came trouble, "The rules changed, and they stopped all songs in items in fear of copyrights."

No longer able to sing in IMVU, she headed to another place online she had heard about: Second Life, "I came here when the rules changed. I didn't know there was a music community here. ... Second life had a bad reputation in the UK for being very sexual. I came in here to experience the virtual worlds, see what places looked like. I think everyone who comes to SL has a need for it, something in their life (is) missing that Second Life can fill. Mine was I had just separated from my marriage.

Once here, "I bought an island and I rented it out. ... a small plot and put a house on it." She described her first days here as, "Scary. It was all so realistic. I could walk, fly, and yet I knew nothing about it and knew nobody here. I was unsure I would stay for the first few weeks. ... Second Life was new exciting. I learnt a lot terraforming and I loved it." Her home was in "a community type sim. I met a number of people there, so it was a great experience."

But eventually, the idea came for her to sing in this virtual world, "After I bought the private island I had a man help me to develop the sim. I was working on the terraforming and I was singing away to myself. He over heard me and asked if I wanted to sing in SL. He was running a Make-A-Wish foundation three-day festival, and asked if I would sing for it. I agreed. I did the festival and got a number of offers of jobs. But I wanted to focus on the island as I was still singing inreal life. So I did not start to sing here full time until about five years ago. I sang for two years, and then my job in real life took me out of Second Life for three years. I came back in 2017.  I have been singing since then. Now I sing everyday here."

Aby smiled, "I love it. Singing is my life. I love to create fun and smiles. I do both romantic songs and upbeat, mostly I do upbeat shows.  I love the fun that can be created." When asked how often she sings, she smiled and answered, "Everyday at the moment. I used to have a day off but now it is everyday. Ville De Coeur was the first place that gave me a spot, and now I sing for Rainbow Painters, Cafe Musique, Key West and many others." She still sings for charity events, "... when I get asked I do all charities. I find that 'Relay for Life' is the big one now here, or 'Feed a Smile.' ... Recently I sang for RFL three times at different venues, 'Feed a Smile' I have done many times too. 'Make-A-Wish' is one I have not seen in a while, but if I did I would offer a show. In real life I used to make a charity, or an old folks home, every fourth show. In SL it is not so easy to organize that way."

Aby was one of the singers at last year's Second Life Birthday celebration, "I wasn't aware of it before. So when I was told about it, I auditioned and was sooo excited to get in last year. It is a big event and I loved it. Last year I sang twice, and one of those (was) on the main stage, which was stunning." She's also appearing in this year's SL16B, "I am on Festival stage on Thursday (the) 27th at 3PM."

The land around was a pretty landscape of islands, with beautiful scenery and things to do. The audio stream was on a love songs station. Aby told of the place, "I got it and set it out so my fans could come and relax or play the games, or surf on the waves, my way of giving back to them. There is a bit of something for everyone" she smiled, "I get a lot of support from my fans, they deserve something back from me." The place is named Kupendwa, "It is my past, I was raised in South Africa, the name is Swahili for 'Oh to be loved.'"

Aby had come to the interview wearing a hat with purplish pants, bracelets, and a dark top. Asking about her clothes, she answered it was for her performance earlier in the day, "the show was an 80's show, so I dressed as if 80's. My dress changes according to the show.  I have a few sets where I sing with a dance troop. That dress is made by the lady who makes our dances and so on.

When asked about her future plans, she responded, "I think most singers in here aim to places like Key West. I am happy with all and if it carries on with the same fun. I am here long term. (smile) I wish I could get to Sansar as I would like to perform there too. Alas, I am on a Mac.  I was asked to go and sing there at Easter. Alas, I could not access it, which was sad."

Aby's final words for the interview were, "All I want is smiles and fun truly.  I know a lot of people need fun and I want to give it to them in music. It has been lovely to meet you, and hey, thank you sooo much for asking me."
It was about then we parted ways. Once again, Aby will be appearing at the SL16B on Thursday June 27 at 3PM SL time.

Bixyl Shuftan

A Favourite Irish Musician Returns to Perform at Music Island

by Klaus Bereznyak

Two years since his last recital inworld, the composer, performer and raconteur, Dainial, returned to Second Life to give a live performance on Sunday December 9 at Music Island. A little slice of Ireland was created for this intimate opportunity to hear Dainial's music and stories once again. The audience were invited to join him around the fire in a traditional Irish croft house, with a roaring fire in the hearth and the sound of birdsong in the trees outside the window.

The room full of avatars, lounging in armchairs and perched on kitchen stools, was evidence enough that Dainial's return was much anticipated and his music well loved. We were treated to a program of original works entitled "an Sean Phobal " (The Old Parish), drawing inspiration from remembered faces and voices from the past. Dainial 's music is strongly influenced by Irish traditional music and song with a twist of jazz and classical expression. He uses synthesizer and piano to score layers of sound as a canvas for his lyrical saxophone melodies. While juggling all these elements during the live performance, Dainial kept up a patter in his soft voice, bringing each piece alive with his own memories.

The audience could follow along with a specially prepared souvenir program with text and photographs. It opened with "Equinox", a song written for "Mikey" , one of "old people" who Dainial recalls gathering each in an old shop that sold clocks, radios, bikes and bric-a-brac, to exchange songs and poems. The program continued with compositions in which the music was layered over poems, stories and songs passed down through the generations, from various sources such as an interview with Dainial's grandmother and an old cylinder from a German POW camp in 1914. We were also treated to interpretations over the words of poems written by Irish poets and read by people known and dear to the composer. His piece "Summer has Gone" in memory of Sean O Cinnéide was especially poignant. Dainial explains: "Sean recites a 9th Century Poem for Christmas: It is called 'l have news for you' and was written in the margin of the Book of Kells by a scribe monk. Really though, this is a song about my grief still at his sudden death last February. He was a true friend and colleague. With a remarkable voice."

Dainial learned music in the traditional, aural way, by playing and by listening and, although he can read music, he doesn't sight read, and prefers to learn by ear. While he scores his music, he says "it doesn't feel intuitive to me. I suppose this is not surprising for an Irish musician in a way, because I share this way of learning tunes, by ear, with generations of traditional Irish musicians, but also my own family who are alluded to by my grandmother in my tune 'the music is in all of us'."

We came back in to land by way of "The incantation of Amergin", featuring the voice of  Padraigin Ni hUallachåin singing an ancient Irish poem. The magical, transportive experience was over all too soon, leaving the audience hungry for more. Dainial thanked Kate Miranda of Music Island for hosting the concert. We hope it will not be as long as two years before we have the chance to hear him again.

You can hear a little taste of Dainial's music on his SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ceolsampla
Music Island has an ongoing program of wonderful live music performances:

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/VIRTLANTIS%20Community/197/66/23


Klaus Bereznyak

Interview With Ichie Kamachi

By Bixyl Shuftan

Of Second Life's live musicians, Ichie Kamachi has made a name for herself in the Grid. Her virtual career included having performed for several years in a number of venues, with her songs covering a number of genres. I recently had a chance to talk with her, and we met at the Newser office.

Bixyl Shuftan: "To begin with, how did you find out about Second Life?"

Ichie Kamachi: "Some friend and I were in another 'world called 'There.' we were all ex-pats from the islands. They had some mutual friends who had a sim here in (Second Life) and convinced them to come over."

Bixyl Shuftan: "How did your first days here go?"

Ichie Kamachi: "(giggle) For the first three months, I almost never left the 'island.' I didn't know how or where. Sometimes someone would TP me to a shop then back home again, so my contact with other citizens was extremely limited."

Bixyl Shuftan: "What island was this and how was virtual life there?"

Ichie Kamachi: "The sim that our friends had. They put up a house for us. We'd have gunfights and sword fights and talk, but that was about it. I don't even remember the name of the sim anymore. It doesnt' exist in SL today."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Gun and sword fights?"

Ichie Kamachi: "Yes, being from Hawaii, most of us were into the Oriental/Japanese things, so we all had samurai swords and kimonos. (The guns were) mostly the freebie guns like the one that shoots watermelons."

Bixyl Shuftan chuckles a bit at the mention of watermellons, "So these were just sword matches rather than any roleplay?"

Ichie Kamachi: "Yes strictly for fun and to try out new toys. We were all still us. we had actually met on a forum for former residents of Hawaii."

Bixyl Shuftan: "That sounds interesting. Have the people on the forum continued to keep in touch here?"

It was then that our interviewee remembered something.

Ichie Kamachi: "(giggles) (I) didn't realize I was still wearing my microphone from my show last night." I chuckled a but and she then took it off, "not much, I think I'm the only one who is still around regularly. I have run into them once or twice in the past 3 or 4 years."

Bixyl Shuftan: "So when did you head off the Island for anything other than shopping?"

Ichie Kamachi: "Well we had a visitor who sort of introduced me to poseballs. (laughter) He had his own sim, so I would visit there and met some other people. Oh, and one of the people who was with the Hawaii group but not from the islands, is still in SL. She is my oldest and dearest SL freind and she started TPing me to clubs and everything. She is autistic and this is her social life, so she is still around."

Bixyl Shuftan grins, " 'sort of' introduced you to dance poseballs?"

Ichie Kamachi: "Well, actually it was a kiss ball (laughter)."

Bixyl Shuftan chuckles

Ichie Kamachi: "I didn't know there were such things (laughter). 'There' didn't have things like dance balls and poseballs."

Bixyl Shuftan chuckles a little more, "Sounds like you had quite a surprise."

Ichie Kamachi: "(laughter) I did! opened a whole new world not only on ways to live SL but what kind of feelings could be invoked with other people."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Sounds like things were quite fun for a while afterwards (grin)."

Ichie Kamachi: "They were. (I) found out i could listen to music, hear dj's, dance. (I) met some awesome people... started a relationship that lasted nearly 2 years and we are still friends today thought he's not in SL much anymore."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Sorry about him not being on ... when did the idea of you singing come to be?"

Ichie Kamachi: "In one of the blues clubs, I met a friend and we'd have long talks, and I found out he was a musician. I told him I sang and he kind of perked up. (He) asked about a bunch of songs then got all excited when I told him I could sing them. He was a guitarist only, so I recorded one song and he would play it and play his guitar over it. He encouraged me to try singing live."

Bixyl Shuftan: "I take it the first event went well."

Ichie Kamachi: "Yes though I was tricked into it. It was at Merry Pranksters and he TPed me to hear him play. (But) when I got there, he said 'you're up next two songs.'(momentary pause) I guess it's tradition, (laughter) so they say."

Bixyl Shuftan chuckles, "Had you been singing long in real life at that point?"

Ichie Kamachi: "I had not. I'd done a lot during high school but had pretty much stopped for maybe twenty-plus years."

Bixyl Shuftan: "So you had only just recently started again?"

Ichie Kamachi: "Not until I started in SL. I still don't perform in real-life, only in the grids."

Bixyl Shuftan: "So what happened after the first sesstion?"

Ichie Kamachi: "People liked it I know, and I don't even remember how I got started doing the clubs and things anymore it's been almost seven and a half years."

Bixyl Shuftan: "About how often were you playing then?"

Ichie Kamachi: "At one point i was going two or three shows seven days a week. (I) burnt out after a couple of years. If it's no fun it's time to stop."It was around this point the interview was interupted by real-life events. So we met later to continue the interview.

Bixyl Shuftan: "We were last talking about how often you were performing."

Ichie Kamachi: "Back then two or three shows a day every day, got burnt out. Now (it is) between two to six times a week. Things are picking up again now."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Do you sing mostly songs you or a friend compose?"

Ichie Kamachi: "No, although I do have a few originals from myself and others i'd say 97% of what I sing are covers. I'm not a great songwriter (laughter)."

Bixyl Shuftan grins, "Which are your favorite songs to sing?"

Ichie Kamachi: "Favorite? .. hmmmm, I think right now blues and Celtic. (It) changes a lot though. Whatever my new one is, it's usually a current favorite."

Bixyl Shuftan: "What have been some of your favorite venues to sing in?"

Ichie Kamachi: "Oh so many for various reasons. A lot of them become like family. Endeavour cove, I've been singng there for more than seven years now. I'm at Shades of Grey twice a week and they've become close to me too, but all my venues I love or I wouldn't be there for long (laughter)."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Seven years (at Endeavour)? That's a while."

Ichie Kamachi: "It is! I've been singing almost seven and a half years now."

Bixyl Shuftan: "How has that location changed over time while you were there?"

Ichie Kamachi: "The majority of it stays the same, but they are always tweaking. They have always had the main stage where I started. Then we moved to the blues club, then the ballroom, and now we're back at the main stage again. During the winter we are on the ice at the ice skating rink."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Singing at an ice rink? Sounds like fun. (smile)"

Ichie Kamachi: "(laughter) (The) first couple of years, they kept asking if I could sing and skate. Now they know be better, and no way (laughter)."

Bixyl Shuftan chuckles, "What have been some of the more noteworthy events you've been in?"

Ichie Kamachi: "I do a bunch of RFL. I love playing for the tinies at Raglan they are always so much fun. Memorial concerts always stick in mind, the sad side of SL I've done Second Life Birthday (events) a few times."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Which Second Life Birthday events were these?"

Ichie Kamachi: "Just over the years they've put out calls for live performers. Sometimes I get an invite, some years no (laughter)."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Heh. ...  Was there an event in which a number of things went hilariously wrong?"

Ichie Kamachi: "Well not a number, and there are always things that don't always go right during my shows. Once though I did a whole hour long show. I was dressed in a pretty white lace dress with a huge bow in the back. near the end of my last song, I started getting these pictures. No one else saw any clothes. Just the bow. No one said anything (before that), they said they didn't want to interrupt (laughter)."

Bixyl Shuftan chuckles, "That would be, different ... heh."

Ichie Kamachi: "(laughter) I've come to take things like that in stride. It's part of SL.

... But there is always something during the warm months, I inhale flies, a lot, the tiny fruit fly variety."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Oops."

Ichie Kamachi: "They make me cough and choke (laughter)."

Bixyl Shuftan: "That can be, inconveintent."

Ichie Kamachi: "It has been. We all just laugh about it now. The fans don't care, makes you more real, something that's hard to get people to remember sometimes."

Bixyl Shuftan: "I take it over time, the fans have had much to say."

Ichie Kamachi: "Some you see once. some for a season and others keep popping in all the time. Everyone has been so good to me. Some are (like) family to me now."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Sounds very nice."

Ichie Kamachi: "Live music fans are very enthusiastic and wonderful with their praise. I am just happy they like it."

Bixyl Shuftan smiles, "So what are your plans for the near future?"

Ichie Kamachi: "Just keep on keeping on. I have found someone who plays guitar and has offered to make soem backings for me. so hopefull I can get some music out for the fans to buy off my website. I'm hoping to do Scarborough Fair soon. It's public domain and my hubby Honor's favorite song."

Bixyl Shuftan: "How did you meet him?"

Ichie Kamachi: "Met him the first time in one of the clubs that Carla and I owned, 'The Classy Tease.' Been together on and off but recently for more than a year. we've always been friends. Now more and we see each other now and then real-life too."

Bixyl Shuftan: "'The Classy Tease?' Interesting name ... oh? You meet in real life as well?"

Ichie Kamachi: "It was an interesting club (laughter) ... Yes we do. He is a good man."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Nice. ... I take it there was a reason for the 'tease' part of the name?"

Ichie Kamachi: "(laughter) Well you've met Carla. It was a, wasn't a strip club, no dancers but nudity, yes. A lot of flirting yes, some hot suggestive music.... usually (smile)."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Sounds like fun."

Ichie Kamachi: "It was, and it was only run part time also, 4 days a week I think."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Sorry you couldn't keep it up more. ... Was there anything else that

you'd like to mention?"

Ichie Kamachi: "Hmmm I don't think so. Just I'm grateful for all the places that let me sing for them. I know it is hard to run a club in SL. a lot of work. AND also to the fans that come whether once or time and time again. A dream come true for me to sing for them."

Bixyl Shuftan "Well, thank you very much for your time. And I wish you well for the future."

Ichie Kamachi: "Thank you Bixyl."

To find where Ichie is playing next, check her groups. You won't have to wait too long before you next get an opportunity to hear this talented singer.

Bixyl Shuftan

Interview with Frets Nirvana

By Bixyl Shuftan

Frets Nirvana is a musician in Second Life best known for the benefits he helps organize at Veterans' Isle every month. Just before the concert in May, I had a chance to interview him and ask him a few questions.

Bixyl Shuftan: "So how did you find out about Second Life?"

Frets Nirvana: "Through a former employee and friend, Von Johin. He was performing in SL, told me about it and helped me get started."

Bixyl Shuftan: "So you had a friend performing here? What did he tell you about it?"

Frets Nirvana: "He basically said it was fun and you could actually make money performing (at that time! Ha-ha!) Anyhow, he had not heard me play before although he had worked for me. When he heard me play ... he said they would love what I do musically in SL ... and encouraged me to perform in SL."

"That was about five years ago now ..... Due to real-life he is no longer performing in SL, but he used to a lot."

Bixyl Shuftan: "How did your first few days go here?"

Frets Nirvana: "Well the first performance was great. I performed at his venue and he helped promote it. We had sixty people that night. After that his manager helped promote me and I was off and running ......playing a lot of covers with my own arrangements of other people's tunes."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Sixty people, that's pretty good."

Frets Nirvana: "Yeah ...Von was pretty well established at that time, so it helped. After that though ...it was a lot of hard work, and a bit of a struggle. I was not singing at that time ...just doing all instrumental. So it was a harder sell."

Bixyl Shuftan: "About what point did you include singing?"

Frets Nirvana: "I also tried doing a duo with a female singer. That was going well ... unitl (laughter) she bumped me and went on her own. Kind of the story of my musical life with singers."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Oops, what happened after that?"

Frets Nirvana: "I strated singing about six months after I entered Second Life. I had never sang lead vocal before ...just backup. But I figured out that I needed to sing if I was to have more success in SL, and well ... I just jumped in and worked on it and went for it. (laughter) Hopefully not offending anyone. Along with my guitar playing it is something that I have worked on a good bit. Although I will probably never be a love song singer."

"Kind of like everything for me in life ....I just make a decision that I am going to go for something, and work hard at it and do it."

Bixyl Shuftan: "What did audiences think at first?"

Frets Nirvana: "Well ...(laughter) nobody left due to singing to my knowledge. And they seemed to like it, and my crowd and bookings grew ... so guess it was a good decision."

Bixyl Shuftan chuckles a bit

Frets Nirvana: "But of course ...guitar picking has always been the feature."

Bixyl Shuftan nods, "when did the idea first come to you about doing bennefit events for veterans?"

Frets Nirvana: "That idea came about the same time ... about six months after starting performing in Second Life.  I saw all the activity forRelay for Life, and some other causes, and thought 'gee, why not for vets?' If not for them we could not be doing any kind of benefit for other causes .... or for that matter Second Life ... huh, trying living in Syria or Iran!"

"So, I took the initiative, and started it. Take note,I am not a vet. I just feel strongly about what they do and how they sacrifice, and how they should be supported. ESPECIALLY in today's world.

Bixyl Shuftan nods again, "How did the veterans respond to your idea?"

Frets Nirvana: "Well, once I figured out who to get in contact with, they responded well and jumped right in. Some of the original people involved are no longer in SL much, but it has kept on going. Dahlea Milena is a BIG part of that at this time. She has been sooo helpful and supportive."

Bixyl Shuftan nods, "I recall the events were first at Patriot Island for Wounded Warriors"

Frets Nirvana: "In general though ....it all had to picked up by the bootstraps at first of course .... And yes, until last fall, all were for Wounde Warriors Project. I switched allegiance to Homes For Our Troops at that time. one main reason, lack of support by WWP. I won't go into that any further. They still do good work but HFOT is much more supportive and I feel that the percentage of dollars that actually help Vets is higher with HFOT."

Bixyl Shuftan: "What was the most successful of these events?"

Frets Nirvana: "Mmmm ,,,, well it is really hard to say on that. It varies really, and so far I have not really found a definite 'this is the best.' But I can say this soemtimes we have raised as much as 300,000 Linden for vets in one month. I keep trying to keep the trend going up."

Bixyl Shuftan nods, "I wasn't familiar with Homes For Our Troops before. Where did you hear about them?"

Frets Nirvana: "I found HFOT on the web. I was searching for an organization that would be more supportive, and I talked to a lot of them. Amazingly, many did not want to get involved, and I have some theories on that (government!). But HFOT jumped right in and said yes."

"I hope we can honor that support with soem excellent donations going to HFOT. They do great work."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Sounds great. Did they have someone who was familiar with Second Life?"

Frets Nirvana: "No, they were not familiar with Second Life. I had to educate them on it. But they were open right away to hearing about it. Others seemed to resist.""We have sent over $45000 to help veterans through WWP and HFOT in the last five years."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Forty-five thousand dollars, that's pretty impressive."

Frets Nirvana: "I would like to do that in one year! An then increase it from there (laughter)."LOL

Bixyl Shuftan: "Heh heh ... Have any of the veterans made an effort to involve another charity?"

Frets Nirvana: "Yet ... on an aside, Relay for Life states they $250,0000 in one year, so why not for vets? Not that RFL is not a good cause."

"Not aware of vets trying for another charity. But if they do,good for them. But I know what I went through getting this set up, a lot of work."

Bixyl Shuftan: "What other benefits for veterans in Second Life have you heard of?"

Frets Nirvana: "Well ....I haven't really ...."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Just one time performances and nothing else on a regular basis?"

Frets Nirvana: "Usually .... Since I have been involved in this for some time now, if someone wants to do something for vets they will contact me, and I give them donation kiosks etc. .... there are others who do benefits, but they will use our donation kiosks etc."

"So if that is what you mean, there are venues here and there that do things, but not on a regular basis like our monthly benefit. But I WELCOME that big time. Our vets need all the help we can get. RFL does not, collects $250,000 with one benefit! (laughter) But I don't have the time to organize what they do."

Bixyl Shuftan nods, "Besides the charity events, can you tell me what else goes on at Veterans Isle?"

Frets Nirvana: "As far as Veteran's Isle .... candidly you would have to talk with Dahlea about that."

Bixyl Shuftan nods, "Did you have any plans for special events soon?"

Frets Nirvana: "Well, we have one event a month that I organize,last Sunday each month. That is about all the time that I have to be able to organize an event. But I definitely welcome anyone who wants to put something together for HFOT. ... this months benefit, May 31. Then the next one will be June 28 .... etc. Always last Sunday of each month from 5-9 PM at Veteran's Isle. That way we have at least one benefit, and hopefully establish a schedule that people put on their calendar."

Bixyl Shuftan nods, "Were there any venues that you performed at which had benefits of their own?

Frets Nirvana: "Not on a regular basis .... thinking about it, I cannot highlight any that I perform at that have benefits for vets. But I would welcome that."

Bixyl Shuftan checks the time, "Was there anything else that you wanted to mention?"

Frets Nirvana: "Just that I encourage people to take the time out of their busy lives and think about the needs of our wounded veterans ....and help as they can. And if anyone wants to sponsor an event for HFOT, contact me."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Thank you for your time and good luck."

It was then that we parted ways. Shortly afterward, Frets messaged me about one more detail, "Here are a couple more names that have been very supportive.  Jardasius Ecksol, Checkers Firelight and Vicktoreeia Resident. They are the primary ones that come to mind that sponsor events other than our monthly benefit. They do a lot with motorcycle clubs in Second Life. If you do mention other people, please make sure to mention them."

Shortly after this interview, the May 31st benefit on Veterans Isle took place. It was a success, raising 200,000 Lindens. Frets is still doing well at what he does. The next fundraiser there is Sunday June 28. Before then, he can be found performing at a few venues across the Grid.

Bixyl Shuftan

Interview with Kaeko Freenote

Kaeko Freenote is a talented, live singer with a sweet, soulful voice that you will instantly warm to. I had the distinct pleasure of attending one of Kaeko's live shows in Second Life recently and afterwards, I was honoured to spend some time with Kaeko to have a chat with her and to meet her SL family.

Kaeko invited me to her home - a delightful little trailer set amongst an orchard of peach trees (more about that later!) where I joined Kaeko and one of her loved ones, Carson Wylie for a chat.

This evening, Kaeko performed at Hepburns, a club where she has only sung a couple of times. Kaeko considers her 'home' venue to be 'Smooth Jazz Club', "The venue owner, Maebh Jewell, is an amazing person. She found me and 'rescued' me from just a dreadful venue, that treated me horribly. She heard something in me. She has always been laid back, professional, friendly and encouraging. I asked Kaeko if this felt like a rebirth of sorts for her. "Well, in a way I've had two rebirths at Smooth. First was her finding me at all and welcoming me to sing jazz standards, which I really prefer to pop and alternative. And also giving me somewhere I felt welcomed and appreciated and just...home. And then, after I got sick and had to leave for a while and had my surgery and all that, she welcomed me back with open arms. I could sing again, something I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to do again. So that was really an SL and a RL rebirth, through Maebh and Smooth and SL."

"She is brilliant. I can't imagine anyone I would rather sing for..."

Kaeko has branched out and written some of her own lyrics and one day, she would love to be able to hear her own music and to try it on her own audience.

"Because of my Chiari Malformation, I have never been able to learn an instrument. It effects the part of the brain that handles the fine hand/eye coordination it takes to play. Sometimes I think it would be wonderful to have a live pianist or guitarist that I could sing with, so we could create music together."

"Theres something about the energy of two artists thats intoxicating..."

Our chat is momentarily but pleasantly interrupted by a lively bundle of energy, also known as Kaeko's son, Cable. Little Cable greets us all before running off as quickly as he bounded in, his mind fixated by other, less 'adult' endeavours.

Kaeko smiles at her son as we continue our chat. Kaeko's taste in music is varied, although she has no particular favourite genre of music. "I don't have a favourite style, persay, but its what I studied in real life. Jazz standards, choral pieces and Broadway. So my style is more tuned for it. I do enjoy my pop shows. We have fun!"

Kaeko's pop shows have an extremely universal theme - the theme of SL love. "Moving from the moment you see each other and feel that spark, to the passion, to the doubt and jealousy, to the insistence of self-strength, to the trip and sobbing over the one who got away, to finding yourself again. To me, thats such a common, common theme in SL. Almost everyone knows it, almost everyone understands and can relate"

Our chat takes an interesting twist when I ask Kaeko an extremely personal yet soul-searching question....

'Kaeko, tell me honestly, do you sing in the shower?'

Kaeko laughs, "Its funny. I ONLY sing in the shower when I'm sad or angry and haven't found words to capture it yet. And then you can hear me singing 'Noone Knows Who I am' from Jeckyl and Hyde or 'Need A Place' from Secret Garden.

"My mind works, and sound comes out of my face without my knowledge or permission..."

An evening, an hour, even a few minutes with Kaeko and her beautiful voice will inspire you to believe in the words as you listen to them escaping her lips. Her songs are chosen especially by the lady herself, "Songs that touch you because you know that situation, that feeling, thats the common factor for me."

You can find Kaeko in Second Life and on Facebook. Oh, and if you attend one of her performances, you will not only leave with a lingering smile on your face and sweet memories in your heart, your head will be FULL of facts on peaches....Kaeko loves them!!

Kaeko, thank you for your gift and once again, thank you for sharing your voice, your time and your family with me. YOU are the sweetest peach in the garden.

Nova Halderman