Here are a couple images from UK-based artist James Roper’s new show, “All and Nothing” at Joshua Liner Gallery from April 12 to May 7, 2011.
In the artist’s words, “I use themes taken from religious iconography specifically influenced by the Baroque period and it’s dynamic use of the human body, billowing cloud formations, the voluminous folds in fabric and architectural structures to depict a heightened version of reality.”
I like it because it looks like a Marvel Comic book on acid.
I rarely post about stuff that I buy–mostly because it’s music gear that 99% of the people reading this blog wouldn’t care about even if they understood what it does (Yes, I’m talking about you, Neko).
But I just got something that I can’t stop talking about, for two reasons: 1.) because I’m appalled that I didn’t have the sense to try it out sooner, and 2.) it’s literally changing the way I listen to and find new music.
Friends have been telling me to try out SONOS for months, and I kept putting it off. I remember Joe Hahn saying something like, “you really need to try this. It puts your entire music library, plus all kinds of online stations and stuff in any room you want, and it’s really easy.” Someone else knew I love Pandora, and told me, “If you use Pandora, you have to get SONOS, because they work really well together.”
The Sonos website calls the product “a wireless multi-room music system unlike any other. One that sets up instantly and expands effortlessly.” There are basically two types of player units they offer: one that plugs into your existing stereo, and one that is independent (it has speakers).
Add a little internet connection, and each of these little guys allows you the option to listen to: iTunes library, Pandora, IHeartMusic, Sirius, Last.FM, Spotify, Napster, Rdio, a bunch of other music services, and what seems to be any radio station–terrestrial or internet–from anywhere in the world. Flip between alternative stations in Australia and France, dance stations in the UK, and local music from the Caribbean and Hawaiian Islands; listen to your iTunes playlists; search music on Spotify. All your playlists, favorites, stations, songs, and virtually every bit of information is available and editable when you turn it on.
If you look at the units, you’ll notice that there aren’t really any buttons. They sell a Sonos remote…but, after a quick download from the App Store, you can use your iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or iPod Touch for FREE. I love this part. I can be anywhere in the house, and I don’t need to go over to the unit or my computer to change the song–I just pull out my phone. That part is just as easy as Apple’s “remote” in a sense (which I was using before)…but “remote” only controls iTunes; Sonos allows you to access a lot more.
Each of the players run from $350-$500 new. The app for your phone is free, as is an app for your desktop or laptop computer. There are a few other optional devices that enhance the experience. All of it can be found at http://sonos.com/
Thanks to everyone who has been supporting Download To Donate by donating and spreading the word. I’ve been doing interviews this week; they’re starting to go live, like these: HERE and HERE.
Also in the news this week, the Huffington Post called Linkin Park one of the “10 bands shaping the Post-Nirvana Era.” Also on the list: Arcade Fire, Coldplay, Radiohead, Pearl Jam, and The White Stripes among others. See the list and article here:
This is “Issho Ni,” the Linkin Park song we contributed to www.downloadtodonate.org. There were a lot of positive comments (thanks), and I also saw some of you were saying: 1.) you thought it should have been arranged in a different way, because you wanted more “action” earlier in the song, and 2.) you thought there should have been vocals.
I’ll tell you what: you guys edit it, add vocals, sample it, do whatever you like–I’ll let you finish the song. The vocals don’t have to be about Japan, they can be about whatever. Sing, rap, rearrange, remix, write new material, whatever….and I’ll post the best versions I hear up here on www.mikeshinoda.com.
This week, we got an amazing letter from the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, acknowledging Music For Relief and Linkin Park’s ongoing efforts in Haiti & environmental protection. It read “Both your international and local commitments are a valuable contribution to our global efforts to build a better world. What you do through your music, your fans, your entrepreneurial spirit, and most importantly your passion, is commendable.” I wanted to share that thought with you, because I want you to feel the same pride we do–the good feeling that comes from making an effort to help someone else who needs it.
With that said, I’m asking all readers of this blog to act, and get something in return.
We are thrilled to announce that the NEW www.downloadtodonate.org Japan site is up now. Donate $10 or more, and get access to great music. We intend to add more tracks in the coming months; anyone who donates will have access to these tracks PLUS future tracks that get added. Right now, we have new recordings from Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Angels & Airwaves, B’z, Hoobastank, Sara Bareilles, Flyleaf, Staind, Slash + Myles Kennedy, Counting Crows, Plain White T’s, Elliott Yamin, Enrique Iglesias, and Linkin Park.
The Linkin Park song is entitled “Issho Ni,” meaning “we’re in this together.” It’s an instrumental song that I cooked up this week to benefit the cause.
100% of donations benefit www.savethechildren.org. Please help the kids affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan by donating today! Go here, donate, get music, and spread the word:
Here’s a little preview of a surprising show I just got a preview of, by LA-based Patrick Martinez. The title of the show was inspired by a neon piece Martinez completed in 2008 titled “Selling Out is the
New Keeping it Real.” Here are some of the standout pieces in the show, which runs from March 19th – April 9th at Known Gallery. Check out the mixed media, with working neon overlaid…
Matt Pinfield is a human wikipedia of music history and information. Very few people I can think of know their stuff better than this guy. I grew up watching him on MTV, and getting schooled by him as a viewer. I used to wonder if he’s just well-prepped by a staff or something, but a few interviews with him reassured me that he is exactly as sharp as he seems.
Now, every time we see him to do an interview, I look forward to it. I feel confident that the questions are going to be smart and well-researched, and it’s going to dip into some topics that most interviewers don’t know enough to ask about. Because the dude knows his stuff, and he shows artists the respect of knowing about them well before he sits down with them.
That said, it’s awesome that he’ll be returning to 120 Minutes on MTV. Good call, guys. Matt is one way to put the “M” back in MTV.
As many of you know, I occasionally try to put some helpful tips for you musicians here on the blog. It’s been a while, but this week seemed like a good week to put something up. Not just because SXSW is going on, but because Ian Rogers and the TOPSPIN team just announced that their amazing new service is finally available to all. Topspin is a service that helps you get your your music, videos, movies, books, t-shirts, tickets, posters, or nearly any merchandise to fans anywhere on the internet, using any currency in the world.
From Ian’s announcement:
“So what the hell have we built, anyway? Topspin’s software has been built to serve the direct-to-fan marketing and retail needs of the thousands of artists we’ve been working with. As we’ve been trying to solve the challenges of marketing and releasing art direct to consumers on the Internet we’ve been working those solutions into an integrated platform which can be operated by anyone marketing art. Topspin helps you manage your stuff — digital media or files of any kind, t-shirts, posters, box sets or anything you can describe and deliver, tickets including an iPhone ticket scanner, and memberships and fan clubs. It helps you build awareness for unheard and unseen art through streaming players and tools which make sharing easy. It helps you build direct connections with prospective fans via email, Facebook, and Twitter and communicate to build a real, trusting relationship with those folks. And it helps you sell to your fans, anywhere they are, in whatever currency they’d like to transact in, on Facebook, your web site, etc. It is a feature-rich, powerful, non-trivial piece of software.
We (Linkin Park) have been using Topspin for a while now, and I believe in these dudes. In fact, you can see Topspin in action on our website here.
If you make music and you want to build your fanbase, find out how to get and use Topspin here: http://www.topspinmedia.com/
As you know, I occasionally do a “Lyrics In Print” segment here on mikeshinoda.com. And with the super-sad news that Nate Dogg has passed away, I was going to put “Regulate” up…but then I saw a post by a friend on Twitter…and caught the Wikipedia “Synopsis” of the song’s story, which goes a-little-sumthin’ like this:
