How Great He Is!

Boy, has it been a while! Forgive me for the hiatus, but I have been quite busy with my studies as well as finding out new talent along the way! You may remember one of my older posts in which I interviewed the wonderful Australian vocalist Straalen. He recently contacted me, and I thought I would share one of his newest pieces, a rather inspirational rendition of the famous hymn "How Great Thou Art."

Enjoy!

Throw Television! (No...put it down....)

Have you ever found something so incredible that you just had to share it? Well that's how I'm feeling right about now after discovering a gem somewhere in Brussels, Belgium. His name is Alex Lambrecht.

And he's got something to tell us!


However, he isn't just flying solo. His band, Throw Television is slowly but surely rising to fame on myspace and youtube, and I'm just posting this in the hopes that it might help! The one thing I hope is contagious is their music!

Catch Alex at http://www.youtube.com/user/lexlamber
and the band at http://www.myspace.com/throwtelevision...

See if you don't come away impressed!

As a side note, their EP is set to come out on Itunes in a matter of weeks, according to Alex. Be on the lookout!

Wow!

An incredible example of how good things come to those who wait and work hard, the now Def Jam signed 15 year old youtube singing phenom Justin Bieber has come out with his first official music video, "One Time."



http://www.youtube.com/user/kidrauhl
http://www.twitter.com/justinbieber

Way to go Justin! I'm sure it's been quite a journey for you, and this is just the beginning! Stay true to yourself and your music, and I have a feeling you will achieve wondrous things.

Important!

Please note, for all you Troye Sivan fans there will be a live chat with that wonderful young man on Ustream.tv at 7pm pacific time, 10 pm eastern. For more info, please go to the following link:

http://www.theskykid.com/2009/06/12/your-chance-to-chat-with-troye-sivan

God Bless, and may you be able to watch it!

Meet Straalen!

Straalen McCallum, a 10 year old from Australia with a soul as big as his voice, is truly one of the best up-and-coming young singers of our time. Truly ambitious and positive, he is also the youngest ambassador of the non-profit charitable organization the Zig Zag foundation, dedicated to helping children in need.

I was able to ask him a few questions, and this wonderful young gentleman responded kindly.

What got you started in your musical career?
Hi tony!
I started singing blood,sweat, and tears songs around the house when i was about 5 years old and dad said I sounded good. So David Clayton Thomas was my hero. I also sang "Whiter Shade of Pale" and other songs abut the same time and the teachers at school got me to sing all the time at assembly.

What genre of music do you tend to like/sing?
Now I like listening to just about anything like cool jazz and soul, and I love singing the old Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darren ballads.

How do your parents feel about your singing career?
Dad and mum are really good and help me heaps with my singing. They send me to the world's best singing teacher, Venetta Fields. She has sang with the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Aretha Franklin, Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs, Barbara Streisand and all the best bands ever! She once sang in front of 87,000 people in central park! She is a legend and is very strict.

What do you see yourself doing in the future?
I WILL BE THE NEXT ROBBIE WILLIAMS!!!! I only want to be a superstar!


If you could give advice to other young artists trying to make a name for themselves, what would you tell them?
My advice to others is to know exactly what it is you really want and do everything you can to make it happen. It takes hard hard work. I get up at 5.30 EVERY morning and practice singing. You have to be very strict with yourself. I love it so it's not hard for me but sometimes I would like to sleep in. Dream big and follow your dream. I have that written all over my wall.

Thanks Tony!!!!
Straalen

No, thank you Straalen!


(Be sure to watch in High Quality!)

Enjoy.

Whether you are LDS or not...

You can't help but love these cds...for anyone who adores children's music,and religious music at that, these are a must have in my opinion:

http://www.hoffmanhouse.com/stories.html
http://www.hoffmanhouse.com/happy.html
http://www.hoffmanhouse.com/lullabies.html

http://deseretbook.com/authors/author-info/920
(be sure to look up Clive on Itunes and WalMart as well so you can hear the clips!)

The Story Behind The Glory...

So you might be wondering why I place such an emphasis on the boy choir commonly known as Libera. The truth is that they are irrevocably tied in with my faith and belief in the divine. I will attempt in my own words to describe just how I came to know this lovely group and the effect it has had on my life.

It all started about the summer of 2006, if I remember correctly. There I was, sitting at the computer desk with the tv to my left, having left it on the Soundscapes channel from the Music Choice channels available on Comcast. Out of nowhere, I hear something, something that absolutely sends chills down my spine. As I inquire as to what the sound was, I find myself glued to the television screen as I see this image displayed before my eyes:

I think to myself, what on earth is that!? Then my view is drawn to the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, where I see the name of the song, "We Are The Lost," and the artist: Libera.

As I continued to listen to the voices that poured out from those speakers, even as though they came straight out of Paradise and into my soul, I couldn't help but be struck in complete awe as I recognized that what I was listening to was not at all earthly. No, the only word that could come to mind was divine.

Needless to say, after that moment, I spent just about all of my time that year researching and finding out all I could about Libera, and was overwhelmed by it all. Managing to get a few short samples of their music on my Ipod, I could not help but listen to it over and over again. I had become a permanent follower.

Speed up to September of 07. My family and I are sitting on a bench downtown at night. Out of the obscure darkness, two college age men walk up to us in suits and ties, with nametags bearing the words "The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints." My mother invites them to teach us. December of that year, I am baptized and confirmed a member.

And now it is the present. I can not express the journey that I have had throughout these few years, but I can't help but see that that day at the computer, something spoke to me. Though I didn't realize it at the time, those boys had acted as a testimony of the reality of God and His presence to my very soul. They, in some small but incredibly powerful way, prepared my pessimistic self for the message of the restored Gospel and what I know in my heart to be the true church of Jesus Christ upon this earth.

I have so much that I owe, not only to the missionaries that found me, but the pure voices of a group called Libera, a not at all average choir that will stick with me in my mind and heart forever. They may never know it, but they helped save my faith, and my life in the process. I will be forever grateful, and if I never meet them during this life, I will surely wait until that day when we all have crossed the veil, and can greet each other again in all the glory and love that the Lord has afforded us. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for sending angels to us all.