The Medusa Crown EP is almost ready for release! I will send out email newsletters and postings on Facebook, Tribe and Twitter. If you want a more direct announcment, please subscribe to the EMP Newsletter: http://www.empcds.com/contact.html and hit the blue "sign up for our newsletter" button.

I've posted a new song for you to sample from the new EP, "The Indiscriminate Low". Enjoy!

Whatever that means? Truely? True to yourslef. Not sure, I sit here writing this as a artist, musician, producer and I think to myself, where are we going? Not sure. Everyone is trying to grasp on what the next best thing will be. I say, "who cares". Musically, I do what I want, I am biased only to myself, though my statement of "who cares" my seem bias to someone else. So be it!

Recently, I've changed my business plan, it pains me to release my artists who have also become my friends and extended family. It also pains me that I have not met thier requirments as a label head and for this I truely regret and take responsibility for. I am truely sorry my friends. I would also like to thank these same friends for remaining my friends and understanding my dilema. You are truely my brothers.

Music. What does it mean to me. Almost everything. Where is it going? Not Arabic pop, that's for damn sure. I have to thank BDSS for at least making it available and accessable to a more broader audience, but only in a limited fashion. It is Belly Dance for Belly Dancers and I haven't really seen much growth in audience. But I have seen a growth of sales thanks to BDSS. Is it old hat? Where do old hats go? In the closet. Which brings me to why I started writing this in the first place.

Gorgon Days, the next Solace release is complete. It is a diary of fear, ,mis-understandings and insecurity. It has forced me to look inward to seek an answer. You will not be disappointed with this record, it's some of my best work, even better than Opium Head. I can't wait to share it with you.

I've all ready started work on the next Solace, oddly enough. Gorgon Days allowed me to explore a different realm in which I've decided to go further with. It is more masculine, more raw. It is purposful with extreme intent about anger, dissatisfaction and pain. Feelings most people don't like to think about. Done are the days of song titles called "Dancing Wind" or "Desert Oasis". How much can we stand for crying out loud. It's time to dig deep and be honest even if it hurts and reveals a sensitive and vunerable side.  I think most belly dancing music lacks this, it has become more focused on what "belly dance" is. I don't even know what belly dance music is supposed to sound like anymore! I'm a sculpter of sound, not a rehasher, some of my distributors don't see progression and don't understand why I'm doing what I'm doing. In fact they ARE just distributors, and that's all! They are 10 years behind, thinking of the olden days. Those days are gone. I've gravitated to a more grungier view on music. I have to thank Maduro and Knossos for this, they have set a bar. But I have to follow my path, my musical visions, not thiers, they just opened my eyes to the possibility of it. Now I'm going to take the bull by the horns and go with it.

Uncomfortablness in a song is a great song. It forces emotions that we are not comfortable feeling. I have to thank my work companions at UPS for ignoring me and seeing me as a threat. I say thank you! You have made me fight for my right to have this job and provide for my family. I can take on any challenge and overcome it. It scares them that I can do this, I don't know why. I help them everyday, but they tell me to slow down. They are threatened by me. In some way, I like it, I like the challenge. These feelings are being reflected in my music and I love it! The music has become a challenge, so bring it!

Thank you all for reading, Solace is changing. EMP is changing. What's to come is only a vision of what I want and expect to hear from this community. Challenge yourselves, but most importantly...listen with openess and honesty.

Jeremiah

Finally, finished with mixing. 12 songs on the front burner. Almost done mixing an additional 5 tracks. Don't want to say much about it until I organize my thoughts and set my goals. But I will say this, there is a special remix of "Ceremony Of The Skull"  that will tag along with the other 4 tracks of this TBA release. Stay tuned...

Work...work...and I'm not talking about the good kind of work. I feel singled out, which I truely am. No appreciation for the years and hard work I've done. No, not the music industry, I know I'm loved and appreciated. UPS. I've worked there for almost 20 years and just recently since our move up north, obstacles and people who are jealous are getting in the way. All I can do is smile. What I WILL do is eviscerate them in music and song. Take that and rewind it back motherbleepers!!

Thought I'd share the musical direction I'm going in. I have 12 songs complete and writing more.  Working on cleaning up and fine tuning the tracks for next Solace CD which "Grey Day" will appear on. Mixing will commence in June. Here's what I will tell you:

Theme: fear, insecurity and doubt.
Model: Katie Kay
Cover Concept: TBA
Title: TBA

I have so many ideas, but not sure how to implement them. I am thinking of releasing a mini-album of about 7 to 8 tracks at the end of the year, maybe limited edition to 1000 copies, not sure yet. Don't want to say too much, I tend to change my mind alot, these are just thoughts I'm organizing in my head. I'm sharing them with you on this early, rainy Sunday morning.

I want and need to write more, I realize the fans want to hear from me. I'm a private person and not "out there". If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

Have a great morning!

Here alone at home, contemplating music, themes and experiences. Would love to know everyone's thoughts about the below text which was posted on the EMP site.
 
I've been writing new music for Solace and feeling out the next theme for the CD. I have also been working on a new compilation, but I don't want to say anything about it yet until more details are hashed out. I tend to jump the gun and regret some of the things I say.
 
So with that said, I can talk a little about new Solace music. I've written about 15 new tracks with another 5 simmering on the back burner. I'm not going to explain how they sound, because all my descriptions sound the same...and that's boring!! So here are some clues to the theme, "stone", "trip", "stutter", and "grey". If you think you might know or you want to guess, email me at: emprod100@aol.com. I would love to hear your ideas and thoughts.

Hello everyone! I am honored to announce that Mags and More, based in Germany, will be the exclusive European manufacturer and distributor of all Solace titles!  This is great news for all of my European wholesalers and retailers. No more high import taxes and high shipping costs. Now you can order within Europe and save!

Starting in January 2009, all Solace titles will be available:

Rhythm of The Dance

Shawaza

The Gathering Season

Ahsas

Satya

Iman

Vadalna

Balance

Nagari

Moon Moth Mixes

Opium Head (the new CD!)

For wholesale inquiries, please contact Mags and More:

info@mags-and-more.de

www.mags-and-more.com

Thank you, I am very excited about this!!

Sincerely,

Jeremiah M. Soto