Happy Monday morning!

I’m in a good mood this morning and I rather adore this song by Jonathon Coulton so I thought I would share it via YouTube.  Chances are most of you have heard it already and Matthew Ebel has covered it as well.  It might stick in your head but Ellen’s voice is AWESOME so you won’t mind much.

Let me know when you start quoting the lyrics.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RthZgszykLs[/youtube]

Still Alive : Portal Song

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=5ibwzm-V1EM[/youtube]


I’ve been passing this video along to most everyone I know so I thought it was only fair to share it here. Black Lab has some AMAZING talent plus I can’t get enough of watching Paul sing.

Black Lab mashup – Ghost in Your Mind

Having been asked by a few people in the last couple weeks what music I listen to or would recommend, I thought I would share it with those reading my favorites.

If you’re regular reader you know that Goodbye Planet Earth was semi-released at Podcamp Boston, if not then you should take a moment to check out everything Matthew Ebel. I’m in love with Matthew’s music because it always speaks to me, makes me laugh, or soothes me. My ears and his musical talent just clicked. The new album includes Lost My Way, a great tune that makes me feel like pushing the limits and I Will Wait For You, a haunting love song that tangles me into it’s story.

Another great favorite of mine in recent months has been Lovespirals. With the stunning but soft vocals that come from only Anji Bee and paired with Ryan Lum’s beautiful guitar mastery this duo are sure to make you follow along with their stories, heart tagging along for the ride. They just released Long Way From Home which includes must listens, This Truth, a beautiful love song detailing a decade long relationship that has stood the test again and again. Along with Motherless Child which speaks to longing of parental love.

Craig Cardiff is a recent discovery that I have Neil Bearse to thank for pushing me toward. Each moment of listening to Craig’s album, Goodnight (Go Home) inspires the thought of lying in the grass by a fire staring up at the stars cuddling in warm blankets while his voice softly croons the lullaby, Rowentree. There are so many remarkable songs that if I could I’d list them all. Every CD is on my wish list which is remarkable for me.  When he’s not playing on those evenings after, you’ll feel something missing. Craig has written a great deal of music available on iTunes but you can also hear him on his podcast, Thank You For Your Ears.

Jeff Krantz, known as Hep Shepard in Second Life, is a stunning newcomer to the 3D world. While he hasn’t even released his first album yet, his fan base is quickly growing. A recent feature in Newsweek talking about his Second Life has helped his career move quickly along. His website needs updating hardcore but here you can listen to his award winning, Last Goodbye.

Kevin Reeves, giving a self-described finger to the RIAA is releasing his first album, It’s About Time as a free download while working on his next, currently titled Headspace. Reeves remarkable style with Shine and In Love With You shows the range of his talent in making you feel the emotions that he’s put into each lyric.

Each of these artists are very different in style but each of my favorite songs have a common theme, they inspire me or I indulge in them emotionally.  Go fill up your music player, take a while to listen and let me know how it goes.

Recommended Listening

One of the most important things that I try to do while reaching out to people is to let them know that I geniunely care about them, how they are, what they are doing in life and ask how I can help.

That said, one of the most beautiful gifts you can give someone is a thought, a reminder. Yesterday I came across a song, thanks to Sarah Wurrey, called Don’t Blink. I can’t emphasize this message enough for personal reasons.

Listen carefully.

(edit)  Strange YouTube won’t let me embed it.

Here’s the link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=p4ySSg4QG8g

Don’t Blink

Say what? Prince is releasing free copies of his CD in the Sunday Mail?

Fans love this kind of stuff. People in general love *free* stuff. It’s free *Prince*. Drop “shipping” your CD to thousands of people at no cost to them and they just might give a listen. They might fall in love with the music (and even purchase tickets to a fall tour as a result .

The ERA’s co-chairman Paul Quirk made a comment to the press about the paper/CD release:

“The Artist formerly known as Prince should know that with behaviour like this he will soon be the Artist Formerly Available in Record Stores,” he said.

“It is an insult to all those record stores who have supported Prince throughout his career. It is yet another example of the damaging covermount culture which is destroying any perception of value around recorded music,” Quirk told a music conference in London.

I’m with indiemusician.com, whose music is this again? Prince’s music not in record stores? Cold day in hell anyone?

I’ve said it before, the fans are what make the music successful. This inspires confidence that Prince cares about his fans. Inspiring that confidence is gold. If he/they can do that and bypass the machines of the RIAA and the ERA? Brilliant.

Inspiring fans creates publicity, publicity creates curiosity, curiosity creates new fans. If there’s anything that we’ve learned from the iPhone hype it should be that the right publicity can inspire joy in a product. Inspire the kind of joy that makes someone sleep with their newly purchased iPhone in hand….that’s marketing genius. Tap into that publicity for a CD release? Hello success.

Both associations and record labels need to put aside their old way of doing things and embrace new media and fast. Unless they innovate themselves instead of wasting time getting angry, they will soon find themselves obsolete.

P.S. Thank you Prince for standing up and making some noise.

[RL] Prince, the Mail, and his free release

I think I need to introduce myself.

Hi. I’m Michelle Wolverton. Also known as Chel Pixie. Now that you know my name, let me tell you who I am.

I came to the web to find community outside of the small sleepy Arkansas town I lived in. To that end, I joined Memespace (the old version on Caucus), which was founded by Christopher Abraham. Memespace held a lot of interesting people who inspired each other. I was a host there for a period of time before the Caucus version closed it’s doors and moved.

From there, I found my way to Howard Rheingold’s Brainstorms. I’ve been a member of this virtual community since 1999. Here I learned to communicate better online, to voice my opinions to a group of people and hosted two or three conferences. I was also editor of The Brainstorms Scoop for a time before several projects refocused by attention.

During this time, I also majored in Paralegal Studies at Kaplan University. I am member of Lambda Epsilon Chi honor society. I love reading and writing legal documents and doing legal research for cases. Family law is most interesting to me though Contracts is a close second.

Last year, I discovered Second Life. My avatar’s name is Chel Pixie. I am events planner/coordinator for SL Brand. I am a Second Life Relay for Life team member. I love events and people and live music. I love planning events and creating an environment for people to have a good time. Second Life is a great platform for live music, several musicians that I’ve had the opportunity to hear are Rich Desoto, Cylindrian, Uncle Seth, Jaycatt Nico, Kurt Bestor, and Louis Volare.

I discovered podcasting through Bucket and went on to add a list of podcasts that I’ve found interesting and inspiring. I am contemplating my own and working on a project that is inspired by podsafe music. I am looking forward to PodCamp Boston2 to learn more from people who are willing to hand you their knowledge and inspire you to use it.

Professionally, I’m working with my partner and mentor Christopher Penn as Project Lead and Marketing with Virtual Hot Wings. Virtual Hot Wings is a digital CD of tunes from Matthew Ebel‘s Second Life tour. Many people have asked why are you talking about this musician at great length? Are you getting paid for this? And er, some other not really repeatable suggestions. Isn’t enough that I believe in someone enough to give them my energy and time?

I am spreading the word about Matthew because his music is more than just another album released. Each song tells a story and I relate to each story. His music inspires me every morning when I wake to do better, to do more, to make my effort on something that matters. He’s very gracious and for the record has never asked for anything of me. I’m fueled by my own desire to help him and others.

My desire, my goal isn’t only to reach people about Matthew Ebel or Anji Bee but to make them pay attention to the issues in the music industry and to help them discover why indie music is so important. Imagine shutting down the RIAA because the public takes their listening habits in their own hands and makes the decision to listen to independent and podsafe music. There is a community available that I have joined that can help make that happen.

I am the pixie behind WickedPixieMedia.com. WickedPixieMedia is new media music label. It is representative of the musicians and the music that I promote and support, using new media to reach out to others about independent music. Then to encourage others to discover independent music, to encourage them to realize that it’s only with a community that a change can begin.

I am the student of new media and using it to market an idea or thought or presence that seems interesting to me and that I think other’s will find interesting. Ideas that can expand the community and its knowledge. I love learning how to apply these skills to reach people. In the past, I’ve managed an office, been an assistant to 2 CEOs, a receptionist and then later a legal assistant.

Who I am has changed in the last couple months. My mind has been opened to what I can achieve and how. I’ve found confidence that I didn’t have before in my ability to make a difference. A little instruction and an open door can go a long way in bringing out the best in people and inspire them to great lengths (thanks ninja).

I think I’ve summarized in a few sentences what’s next and in more than a few who I am. That’s changing because we grow and change on a daily basis. Want to find out more about how to open the doors? Just click on that contact me button at the top of the page, I love conversation.

[RL] definition of a pixie

Last night I attended the Bucket Pajama party!  There’s a party every Friday night at Nowhereville.  Just IM Madison Carnot for a limo to the party or you can always IM me and I’ll be happy to teleport you.

Today Nowhereville Concert series continues with redzone.   Trippy electronica sounds are coming from my speakers as I write this and I’m looking forward to hearing redzone life this afternoon at 1 PM SLT.  You won’t want to miss this event! Click here to teleport!

[SL] Pajama Bucket Party and Nowhereville Concert series

This week, I’ve had multiple changes happening in Second Life. I have a new temporary home on Los Arboles. And I have a new kitten! Latte was born on May 29, 2007 at 5:49 SLT. Latte is Siamese and likes me to carry her around as you can see above. She meows hello to everyone she meets and is very friendly. The rumors are true, Latte *is* named after Latte Days and Porter Nights.

Very soon I will have a new home on Edloe Island. Yes, I’m scared of Crap. Yes, I love him too. I’m confident that he’ll make an excellent island owner. And yes he’s threatened me with bodily harm if I don’t live on the island. So I’ll have a new home once he’s up and running. Across from Nowhereville and Woodbridge and diagonally across from Los Arboles.

On Saturday evening, last I was interviewed by Chill Moskung along with Matthew and Christopher Penn. What does the birdie think of Virtual Hot Wings and a new album? Find out here!

Events! Matthew will be playing tomorrow at Raglan Shire Tree Stage in SL. If you somehow, someway, do not know who Matthew equals while reading this blog, then you should immediately go to http://www.matthewebel.com or visit Virtual Hot Wings!

Tomorrow night Bucket Beach will have their Friday event! Sports Bash at 6 PM SLT @ Beyond the Pail bar / casino. IM Madison Carnot or me for a teleport.

The rest of the weekend I’m likely to be catching up with people that I’ve been missing lately.  If you’d like to hang out, just IM me!

Introducing Latte…

Virtual Hot Wings has been a fantastic project and if I haven’t said it loudly enough; working with Christopher Penn, Matthew Ebel, C.C. Chapman, Crap Mariner, and Dedric Muriac; has been an amazing experience. That experience was celebrated yesterday during a concert by Matthew in Second Life.

During the concert, I received some IMs regarding the CD and the concept. One of the IMs was from a guy and what he had to say touched a nerve. The conversation (with names omitted) went like this:

[11:53] Random Guy: oh which CD?
[11:53] Chel Pixie: virtual hot wings
[11:56] Random Guy: ah didn’t even read most of the web page, it’s a cap of some Concerts in SL?
[11:57] Chel Pixie: it’s cuts of the concerts and then the concerts
[11:57] Chel Pixie: as well
[11:57] Chel Pixie: 7 hours
[11:58] Random Guy: ah I get beer and coffee
[11:58] Random Guy: the streams I can cap myselfe

He was wearing a fan tag above his head, enjoying the music, and it wasn’t the first time he’d been to a concert.

Yes, you can capture and record the future streams yourself. Think about it this way, if you couldn’t access the artist in the same way, if you had to purchase a CD in order to hear the music that you loved, then you would do so. No questions, no second guessing. You would be supporting that artist in doing so the only way you could. Supporting Matthew is one purpose of this project.

There is no money that gets sent to iTunes, there’s no money that CD Baby eats up, it’s all 100% to feed that bird who sang and played his heart out to his fans several nights in Second Life. This CD isn’t just a few tunes cut and slapped down to download, it’s over 7 hours of music.

If you don’t like Matthew’s music, I can understand not making the purchase. Not making the purchase because you can capture future streams yourself, that’s not supporting the artist who you claim to be a fan of.

why you should support independent musicians reason # 386

Photo taken by C.C. Chapman

Two weeks ago I started a conversation with a ninja (Christopher Penn, to those of you who don’t know) in Second Life who had broken into the treehouse to listen to a live stream of Matthew Ebel/Hali Heron in concert. The result? Virtual Hot Wings, a landmark fan created and released album of Matthew’s Second Life tour, is now available for download. This brilliant piano man gives himself to his fans each time he puts his fingers on the keyboard and does it so well.

Unlike buying an album from CD Baby or iTunes, which then take a cut from the sale, this album entirely benefits Matthew, 100% of all proceeds are instantly paid to him!

With the assistance of C.C. Chapman and crayon (read the press release here), this release has the power to change the way that the music industry works. The record labels and the RIAA have a whole lot of catching up to earn the love and loyalty of the fans the way that Matthew has.

Join the live concert by Matthew on tomorrow from 11 AM – 1 PM SLT (2-4 EST) at the Coke’s Virtual Thirst Pavilion. You can purchase a copy of the CD during the concert! I’ll see you there!

Don’t forget to digg or tweet this to the world, spread the word and show the RIAA what it means to be a fan! (All multimedia on this release can be found here.)

Craving something spicy? Virtual Hot Wings released!