Godin Guitars

I proudly endorse Godin Guitars.

Novation

Although Novation dont have an Aritst endorsement agreement like most companies they kindly gave me some equipment at an artist price and put some features up on their website. So id like to acknowledge their support here. 

Again click the title for a direct link to their website...

K&K Sound

I proudly Endorse K&K Pickups for my Sitars.

You can click the above title 'K&K Sound' for a link to the website. Most of my blog entires have links within the title!! 

Home studio upgrade

Finally got it working!! 6 Channels of Audio!!
All hooked up ready to go!
The Sub woofer!
Blue Sky Media desk 5.1 system

Part of the fellowship will be composing new music specifically for multichannel formats Quadraphonic, 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound either for DTS and/or Dolby Digital. I decided to upgrade my home studio with a 5.1 monitoring set up and add this to my current stereo monitoring system. I was very exited to get this and actually listen to alot of music in true 5.1 and not Dolby Pro Logic 2 which just converts a stereo signal and hasn't really been mixed for the 5.1 environment. My main inspiration for wanting to work in 5,1 was the album 'This Binary Universe' by Brian Transeau or BT as he is known. When i finally got it all set up and working i was blown away by hearing this album!! Check it out, its really incredible music!

Digital City Labs

This is one of the Digital City Labs where i will do some of my work on the fellowship. Full of high spec Apple Mac G5 and Mac Pro's set up with all the latest software. I will work with Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Reason, Pro-Tools HD and Final Cut Pro. Also in the building is a £100,000 studio running Pro-Tools HD3 with the ICON D-Control desk and monitoring in 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound. 

Digital City and the Institute of Digital Innovation

I was recently granted the Digital City Fellowship at the Institute of Digital Innovation in Teesside. I will spend 6 months researching, developing and creating new works for music teaching online and music production in 5.1 surround sound. Alot of exiting things will be happening over the 6 months and i will post them here so keep checking back often. 

Northern School of Sound- NSOS

Recording Sitar at Ginger Music Studio's for a great feature on the NSOS Website. Keep your eyes and ears on the lookout for this. 


Dee Dowling and Logic pro

Several months back i met Dee Dowling from Ginger Music Company in Gateshead. He was in the process of starting a new company called Northern School of Sound which i had alot of interest in working with. Turns out we hit off well and i was asked to teach there. Now Northern School of Sound is a full Apple Authorised Training Centre (AATC) for the Pro Apps- Logic Pro, Soundtrack Pro and Final Cut Pro. The scheduled launch date is the 17th of April. Im currently working on authoring 2-3 courses on the fantastic program 'Ableton Live' and will attend the next certification event at Ableton HQ in Berlin to become one of the country's first Ableton Certified Trainers!!!   

Its been a while

Well its been around 8 months since i last updated the Blog. It was originally intended to document and be a sort of 'tour diary' from the May/June 2008 Ravi Shankar Farewell to Europe and Anoushka Shankar Project Tour. I had decided to keep the Blog live and add to it with my other activities once i got home from the tour. 

Ive been quite busy since i got back in July 2008 and from now on ill be regularly updating the Blog so please check back often and feel free to leave any comments or email me with any questions. 

The venue in Singapore- Espelande

The view from my position on stage. Next to my Mic you can see my Sitar tool box with strings and things like that incase anything goes wrong with the instrument during the concert. Luckily this has never happened....yet...but im ready if it ever does!!
The final show of the tour here in Singapore.
Backstage....pictures of some artists who have performed here.
One of my musical idols is the great Pat Metheny.

Final stop before home...Singapore

Pan Pacific Hotel Atrium 

The view from the room...Also in the bottom right you can see a dome shaped building which is the venue for the performance here in Singapore. 

Entering Singapore

There are very strict laws here in Singapore. As you can see this is the immigration card you have to fill in upon entering countries.  I am also told not to chew any gum as this is also illegal and may result in a trip to prison. 

National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center- Taipei, Taiwan

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall


All of these buildings are in the grounds of the Hall we performed at here in Taipei. 

The Venue in Taipei- National Concert Hall

The National Concert Hall- this is what it looks like without the scaffolding!! 
The National Theater
National Concert Hall- under contstruction

Liberty Square 

more from the Night Market...

I mean who in their right mind would eat this stuff????
But people are queing up for it!! 
Frog Juice??? 

Oh My God!!!!! The Night Market

I cannot believe that this place exists!! The smell is so so so so bad i cant put it into words. And people are at the stands ordering this stuff to go eat! I went up to one woman and asked her if she was going to eat that stuff and she was telling me its so good and that i should try some!!!!