Music In America

Music in America 2011

From November 15, 2011 through January 3, 2012, Gia Scott's Dawn of Shades will be airing a series titled "Music In America."

This series was born of audience requests for "something different and new" as we continue airing in our fifth year of broadcast on the Paranormal Radio Network.

While some may think that embarking on a series of programs featuring musicians is "peculiar" for a "paranormal and alternative" radio station, even with The Dawn of Shades being listed as a "variety" program, it's not a huge leap from the paranormal and mystical world to the world of music.

Mysticism and music were closely intertwined in our dim and distant past, and probably percussion instruments were among the first used by our ancestors as they delved into the world of mysticism, magic, religion, and spirits. Wind instruments such as flutes were likely the first to follow, with stringed instruments next in line. It's also not a huge leap to see that in today's technical world, a much more technical form of music, far from the simple beginnings, has taken root in our cultures.

Today, music is still used in religious ceremonies and as a mood setting influence. From the military marches to the funeral dirges, we use music regularly to enhance our lives, encourage soul seeking, stir our restless souls, and send them back to rest.

Music is used today to make social statements, to profess undying love, to vent anger, to express sheer joy, to share religious views, and even to help remember things. Remember those little sing-song rhymes you learned to help remember how to say the alphabet or to spell "Mississippi"?

From our cradles with the lullabyes to the funeral dirges, music marks our lives. A song can carry us back to a moment in time, a moment of emotion so strong that it will never die, no matter how many decades span from incident to memory. Music can shift our moods, make us work harder, calm us down, reduce exhaustion, give us hope when we're losing it, reduce us to tears, and then make us laugh.

Don't miss this series--who knows what gems you may discover...or re-discover! You may learn things you never dreamed of, and discover worthy causes you'd never given thought to before. Tune in each Tuesday evening between 8-10 pm Eastern, 5-7 pm Pacific...and discover the story behind the music we love.

Guests:

Keith Secola--Native Americana

Brett Wehmeyer-Black Metal

Belle--Pop/Folk

Jonathan Jenkins--Country/Rock

Robin Miller--New Age/Instrumental

Willow Family Band--Folk/Country/Rock

Rosco Bandana--Americana

Buddy Cage--Steel Pedal Guitarist

So who is coming to the series? We've got a broad spectrum of musical artists. Choosing just eight artists out of the thousands of talented American musicians was as tough as any decision could be.

Even so, we tried very hard to get artists that were requested by audience members. Some of them weren't available during the series--and we're truly sorry that we couldn't extend it further. We could have easily found a thousand artists, all with great talent, great insight, and great stories to share.

We were amazed at the sheer difficulty of our choices, but we still held onto the idea of delivering a broad spectrum of genres to the audience. As a result, we've got a Native American artist, a black metal artist with a micro-sized record company, an urban pop singer, a country singer and composer, a "New Age" musician, a busker from New Orleans, and a funky veteran slide guitarist from a well known band. They all have their stories, and they all have their music to share too.

The next question for most people would be to ask what the programs are going to do with the musicians in a format such as is used with the Dawn of Shades.

The answer is simple--the same thing we always do, whether its a practitioner, an experiencer, a writer, or any other type of guest. We're going to sit down and talk. We'll find out what they do, why they do it, and what is dear to their hearts. It's not like most interviews of a musician, but if you wanted the "usual stuff" you wouldn't be tuning in to the Dawn of Shades.

Just like always, the Dawn of Shades tries to bring the person directly to the audience in an intimate conversation that allows you to feel almost as though you were having a cup of tea or coffee (or whatever else!) with the guest yourself. It's relaxed, it's fun, it's as comfortable as a pair of favorite jeans...

Plus, you'll get to hear music that maybe, just maybe, you'd never have heard otherwise. You might discover a new favorite along the way. Some of the artists joining us have paid their dues for their musical career for decades. Some of our guests haven't even been adults for decades yet.

Music...it's a lot more than background noise to shut out the noise pollution of the surrounding city. It's a lot more than a mandatory class in seventh grade too. Music helps us in ways that we don't always immediately perceive.

Did you know that kids who receive musical instruction perform better in math class too?

Kids who are devoted to music, whether they are aspiring rock band members, classical musicians, or playing bluegrass are also far less likely to fall behind on their grades or get involved in other negative behaviors. They are busy, and your grandmother's saying about "Idle hands are the devil's playground" isn't too far off the mark.

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