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Tara Linden

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Blog Entries posted by Tara Linden

  1. Tara Linden
    (Photo by inkie Pixelstyles)
    Does your avatar need a furry friend? From more traditional options like dogs and cats to farm animals and exotic creatures, there is a delightful array of pets available at the Second Life Marketplace. No need to worry about whether your landlord approves or if you have the space.
    You can also pamper your pet with stylish collars, beds, and other accessories. Will your in-world buddy be a couch potato or a ball of energy? It’s up to you! They say pets take on their owners’ traits. Plus, just like people often ask to pet a dog they pass on the street, virtual pets can make great conversation starters. It might just be time for you to open the cat cafe of your dreams. Check out the Animals section of our Destination Guide for some awesome pet-spiration today.

    (Photo by ๖̶̶̶̶ۣۣۜۜζ͜͡ ƝЄƛԼ๑̶̶ۣ.)
  2. Tara Linden
    A couple weeks ago I wrote about Dancing in Second Life, and I wanted to elaborate on something I had mentioned: animation overrides. This is a scripted attachment that changes the manner in which your avatar’s body moves. Like most things in SL, they are created by Residents and the marketplace has a multitude of styles if you’d like to add a little oomph to the way you walk, jump, stand, etc.

    (Photo by Catloafs)
    You can get a set of animations or even a single gesture if you’re looking for something very specific. There are AOs made for females, males, and some are unisex. Some basic AO sets come with dances as well, which you can try out using the HUD. Swim like a mermaid, strut without a care in the world, or bellydance on a colorful Oriental rug. I even saw an AO that replicated the final dance scene in Dirty Dancing, so there is certainly no shortage of options. The animations category of the Destination Guide has many great shops in which you can demo different styles before purchasing.
    It’s important to note that certain situations, like pose balls or sitting on furniture, will require you to turn off your AO to function properly. This script will make that automatic, if you prefer. Since most Bento heads come with a selection of facial expressions, you can decide if you want an AO for the entire body or from the neck down. If you don’t know where to start, a tutorial should make the variety of animations a little more approachable. Our bodies are such a huge part of how we express ourselves in RL, so why not extend that element to your presence inworld?
    If you have a photo or video of yourself being particularly lively, silly, sleepy, etc., submit it to our Flickr!
  3. Tara Linden

    Announcing Music Mondays

    By Tara Linden,


    Music Mondays
    (Photos by ๖̶̶̶̶ۣۣۜۜζ͜͡ ƝЄƛԼ๑̶̶ۣ., Ryanna •{ The ImageMaker, and Roman Godde)
    We are very excited to announce a brand new initiative that aims to highlight the many talented musicians of Second Life. Our virtual world has a thriving community of artists who span a vibrant range of styles. At any moment in Second Life, you’ll find live music performances occurring across the many clubs and venues that are a key part of the fabric that makes up the Second Life community. We feel that the music scene in Second Life deserves wider recognition and promotion -- and that’s why we’ve created Music Mondays. 
    Beginning next week, we will be spotlighting a different musician in a blog post published each Monday. This is your chance to discover and celebrate the musicians of Second Life as we share insightful background information, interview questions, and links to their music and/or videos. As many of you know, there are hundreds of music oriented regions and venues in SL. We hope to spread awareness of this active scene, as the calendar of live performances is brimming with excitement. In the near future, we’ll start to showcase some artists on our recurring talk show “Lab Gab,” too!
    If you would like to be featured, or have a recommendation, please fill out this form.
     
  4. Tara Linden

    Calling Musicians!

    By Tara Linden,


    Music Mondays
    Photo by Selena Whalen
    We would love to have more Residents sign up to be featured in Music Mondays!
    Especially with SL18B and Music Fest coming up... If you are performing and haven't been featured, we'd love to get you some publicity before the events.
    Don't be shy! Sign up today
  5. Tara Linden
    Lean back with a coconut and pet an adorable sloth at Chankanaab
     
    Some of us may have started out the shelter in place phase with regular virtual happy hours and group video chats, but as this period of isolation stretches on, many of those activities faded away. Video call burnout is real, and pandemic or not, most people get a little bummed out by a monotonous routine. Interacting with your environment in Second Life and teleporting to regions with different terrains and weather conditions is a great way to mix things up. This week, I have some suggestions on how to make breaking out of that summer slump even more enticing.
    According to the internet, here are some of the silliest 2020 holidays in the next couple weeks:
    1. Tooth Fairy Day (August 22)
    You're never too old! Throw a fairy party filled with sweet treats at one of these fantastical spots.
    2. Ride The Wind Day (August 23) 
    What does that even mean? It's the anniversary of the first human-powered flight. But in Second Life, we can fly any day of the week. For those who haven't taken to the air in a while, Inspire Space Park and Forest of Mystical Dreams both have beautiful floating islands.
    3. Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day (August 28)
    If you're like me, pets are life. Read the Rainbow Bridge poem if you dare, it's a tearjerker. But you'll always have the memories. Have a tea party and share some of your favorite pet stories with friends.
    4. World Coconut Day (September 2)
    Don't have to tell me twice. Drinking out of a coconut and laying on the beach sounds like absolute bliss.
    5. Beyonce's Birthday (September 4)
    Okay, not technically a holiday but can you imagine the world without her? Get glammed up and remember how powerful you are.
     
    If you'd like to observe one of these unusual holidays inworld, please upload a photo to our Flickr!

    (Beautiful tribute to the Rainbow Bridge by Meriluu Lumoss)
  6. Tara Linden
    (Photo by Patch Linden)
    Today is the kickoff for Second Pride, and as we all know, things are going to be a little different this year. In the wake of many canceled celebrations in the physical world, we hope to make this Pride Month extra special, because the dignity in representation is priceless. Pride celebrations have become more and more inclusive over the years, going from gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender representations to a broader spectrum of gender expression and orientations.
    The phrase “Silence is Complicity” has appeared on many banners over the last week, and that sentiment certainly rings true with us. In recognition of intersectionality and the importance of allyship, the organizers have declared that this year’s theme is “together.” We all face different challenges, but standing up for each other provides the strength to keep going. 
    Come help us put the unity in community ❤️
    There are so many awesome events scheduled to celebrate love and equality. In addition to Second Pride, be sure to visit several of the simultaneous Pride celebrations going on across the grid including London Pride, Burrow Pride Fest, Pride Festival SL, and SL Pride at Home. 
    Check out our LGBTQ+ and Pride community pages to see even more featured regions. 

  7. Tara Linden
    (Photo taken at Puddles)
    One of the things I miss the most right now is spending Saturday morning in a coffee shop. There’s something about sipping an espresso beverage while nibbling on some kind of carb that makes me feel like all my worries have floated away and the day is filled with glorious potential.
    I found this video by Resident Emily Wand that really illustrates that experience.

    I ended up hopping around to a few different coffee shops in Second Life and without even meaning to, let out the biggest sigh of relief. I could even sense the muscles in my shoulders drop, because something about being in that environment makes me feel so relaxed.
    With all the Cafes & Hangouts available inworld, I encourage you to treat yourself to that feeling of “Ahh, that’s perfect” as soon as you can. There are so many good ones, each with a unique atmosphere, so I wanted to mention a few.
    Puddles Cafe and Lounge really hit the spot for me. This two level hangout has a super tall ceiling and a hip converted industrial loft aesthetic. Plus, prepare yourself for what I am about to say: there is a cat on a roomba. I may or may not have chased it around with a grin on my face for 15 minutes. Add the rainbow flag and Black Lives Matter sign, and I’m officially moving in. A sign says that there are group chats on Tuesdays and Fridays at 6pm SLT, so check it out!
     
    For a more rustic setting, check out Il Nido. As a cafe and wine bar, this is a great option for more of a late afternoon vibe. From my research I also discovered Bellis Blues Cafe, with DJ Stephanie every Monday from 10:00am-12:00pm. Coffee shops like Burrow Coffee & Whisky Co., which is remodeled regularly so there’s always something new, are great places to meet people and experience art, music, and the little things that make us happy.
     

    I wasn't kidding!
  8. Tara Linden
    Photo taken at the SL USF Health Campus
    While some of you may have just survived midterms, others might be just about to start the emotional rollercoaster that is trying to remember the year that Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire. You read it six weeks ago, remember? Maybe not, because in quarantine years, six weeks ago feels like when flip phones were the coolest thing since car phones.
    For many of us, midterms are a marathon that tests your physical and mental limits, and an experience that is made bearable by a sense of comradery with your classmates and vending machines filled with neon energy drinks. It can feel impossible to get motivated these days, even with important deadlines looming around the corner.
    Why not organize a Second Life study session with your friends? There are many universities, museums, and quiet places where you and your friends can gather inworld while you crack your notes open in the physical world. Library Land would be a great place to start: it has an actual library, and if you click on a book it gives you a link to an ebook like this. Plus, it's currently decorated for Halloween and has lots of space for both studying and hanging out.
    Here are some suggestions:
    -Set a time and place with your friends, and start by sharing your goals for this virtual study session.
    -It’s important to take breaks, so decide when to step away from your work to unwind.
    -If a region’s music is distracting, you can turn it down in the sound preferences, which are also available in the upper right corner.
    -Afterwards, treat yourself to a romp in a more lively region or stop by a club!
    This can apply to people outside of school as well. Knowing that other people are feeling the same way that you do is an important element of our social fabric, and accountability buddies are always helpful. So set up your power snacks and get in here, because adapting to these weird times does not have to be boring or lonely.
  9. Tara Linden
    When there aren’t a lot of positive headlines, sometimes it’s hard to balance being an informed citizen and preserving your sanity. For those of you not familiar with one of the most epic TV friendships of recent herstory, Christina Yang and Meredith Grey had a tradition of doing an impromptu jig together when things got overwhelming.

    (via GIPHY)
    During moments like this, I think we could all benefit by following their lead. Especially now that many of us are more sedentary than usual, it’s easy to forget that dance is such a natural mode of expression; distinct forms of dance have developed in almost all human cultures throughout history.
    Second Life has an array of clubs and lounges, but when the virtual world is your oyster, you can dance wherever you want. Many animation overrides have a fun selection of dance moves to get you started, but don’t hesitate to peruse the Second Life Marketplace if you’d like a particular style. I’ve seen everything from ballet to reggaeton. Beginners, fear not, as some regions have dance balls that automatically put you in party mode when you stand on them. Our forums are also a great place to get the inside scoop from other Residents if you ever feel stuck when trying out something new. Feel free to take some inspiration from videos Residents have submitted to our Flickr.

    (Photo by Belinda Newell)
    An inworld dance party is a safe and relaxing way to have fun and just be in the moment. Everybody deserves to let go of their worries every once in a while, so dance it out!
  10. Tara Linden
    (Pictured: Isle of Pandasia)
    The news can be a little scary as of late, and when you’re cooped up inside it’s easy to get stuck in a loop of not-so-positive thoughts. In fact, our brains are wired to remember negative experiences more easily than moments of kindness. However, it is absolutely possible to change your mental habits to make your day to day more fulfilling, and not just by watching videos of dog dancing competitions. Although there’s nothing wrong with that.
    An important step in this process is mindfulness. The act of being truly present and appreciating the moment has appeared in many belief systems, both religious and secular. No matter what school of thought guides you, we all have beating hearts that get tired from working overtime due to stress. Meditation has been proven to reduce anxiety and even improve your physical health. 
    It’s important to take care of yourself, not just for your benefit, but also so you can be around the people important to you for as long as possible. 
    If you’d like to take a moment to be still in nature or quietly contemplate, there are many soothing locations in Second Life for a virtual meditation session. We hope these places can help you feel free from worry.
    Chinook Rockies 3SL: A mountainous region dappled with lush patches of trees and waterfalls to help you take some deep breaths. Isle of Pandasia: This surreal cluster of small, mossy islands is a great place to admire birds, lily pads, and glittering rock bridges. You might even see a giant floating fish! Botanical: For the avatars with green thumbs, Botanical is a great place to take a peaceful walk surrounded by a variety of plants or get ideas to cultivate the garden of your virtual world dreams. Star Journey: If you’d like to take your “me time” with a side of cosmic splendor, this stunning collection of sky galleries is truly otherworldly. Saddles Art Gallery & Ballroom: Take a stroll through this enchanting garden adorned with artwork that is complemented by the sound of wind chimes and birdsong.  
  11. Tara Linden

    Machinima in Second Life

    By Tara Linden,


    Tara Linden
    (still from a video by Burnha Firehawk)
    Machinima, named for its fusion of machine and cinema, is a unique art form in which computer graphics are rendered and choreographed to create a cinematic production, like this recreation of 1920s Berlin by Pepa Cometa. It is shot in real time, differing from other forms of computer animation that are shot frame by frame. This approach to filmmaking has grown and evolved over the last few decades, growing such a large following that there are now machinima festivals, and Second Life is proud to host many Residents who create content in this medium. 
    As some of you may recall, a recent episode of Lab Gab hosted Residents Huckleberry Hax and Caitlin Tobias for a discussion of Stomol, SL’s first feature length cyberpunk machinima. The Second Life Flickr also receives many awesome music video submissions, which are a great way to show off your favorite dance animations. Earlier this year, hit Japanese pop composer Yasushi Watanabe made a music video in SL that is bursting with sugary, summer energy. And this mysterious trailer by Burnha Firehawk has me hooked!
    Another notable SL machinima artist is Bryn Oh, who also does 3D exhibitions. 
    We’re excited to report that the Supernova Digital Animation Festival in Denver has selected the works of Residents Huckleberry Hax, Tizzy Canucci, and Erik Mondrian, and we encourage you to experiment with machinima and the endless possibilities within SL.
    You can get more info from the SL forums and many YouTube tutorials. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
  12. Tara Linden
    Pictured above: fossil found at The Natural History Museum of Vienna
    There’s nothing quite like the serenity of a beautiful building filled with art. I always feel inspired after an afternoon of walking the quiet halls of a place dedicated to creativity. Since most museums are currently closed, here are some places in Second Life where you can take a virtual field trip.
     
    1. Chic and modern buildings like The Vordun, where you can also take a relaxing walk around the large outdoor space and courtyard.
    2. The Peale Museum, a recent addition, is a replica of the RL building in Baltimore. Built in 1814, it was the first purpose-built museum in the United States. The virtual Peale has exhibits and events curated by the staff, so there's sure to always be something to pique your interest.
    3. Put on your cocktail attire and spend the evening at an art gallery, like Art Atelier. Their current exhibition, a collaboration with Museo Omar Reina de San Rafael of Argentina, goes until September 15. Mark your calendars so you don’t miss out.
    4. The Natural History Museum of Vienna, which has been designed to replicate the RL building. Currently, you can see exhibitions on both dinosaurs and steampunk. A combination very fitting for 2020.
    5. The Cats Museum is a quaint house dedicated to these furry ninjas and their antics. I always appreciate a splash of humor. We don’t all need to be The Louvre. The Cats Museum is an adorable place to make your quiet walk a little more fun.
    6. The Virtual Black History Museum is spread out over a beautiful piece of land with open grassy space and calming brooks to make a peaceful moment for yourself. There is an indoor text based history exhibit, as well as a stylized outdoor structure with photographs of many notable figures like Marsha P. Johnson and Diane Nash.
  13. Tara Linden
    This week's featured musician is Al Hofmann, whose one-man band has treated us to a fusion of rock, jazz, and electronic elements for 14 years. With over 3,000 inworld shows under his belt, his style has no doubt evolved time and time again and each performance brings fresh interpretations.
    Please check out his official website and YouTube channel to experience his music for yourself!
    Q: When/how did you hear about Second Life?
    A: I heard about Second Life in the summer of 2006 on a local tv program about new conceptual art tendencies.
     
    Q: What instruments do you play, and at what age did you pick them up?
    A: I play the guitar: electric, acoustic, classical and midi guitar. With the midi guitar, you can play any instrument sound with it. MIDI is an acronym that stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It's a way to connect devices that make and control sounds (such as synthesizers, samplers, and computers) so that they can communicate with each other using MIDI messages. {I also play} bass guitar, percussion and charango, an ancient South American {stringed instrument}, kind of mandolin. I started to play the guitar at the age of 5.
     
    Q: How would you describe your music?
    A: The style I play is being defined as fusion. A mix of different styles, mainly jazz and rock.
     
    Q: Tell us about some of the musicians who have been the most influential to you.
    A: John Mclaughlin, Jeff Beck, Chick Corea, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Weather Report, etc.
     
    Q: How has your relationship to music and creativity been affected by the pandemic, and what would you say to inspire other artists during this time?
    A: The positive side of the pandemic is that you have time to fully embrace what you do. Whatever that might be, you can improve what you love to do the most. A wonderful opportunity to even discover the purpose of your life. I strongly believe there is art in every individual. Life and humans are an act of art.
     
    Q: What is the most meaningful aspect of the SL music community to you?
    A: The most meaningful aspect of the SL music community is planetary conscience. No more borders, languages, political implications, time frames. One love: Art on the planet. SL has given us all a terrific chance to connect with artists and people around the world.
     
    Thank you, Al!
    If you or somebody you know would like to submit content to be featured in Music Mondays, please fill out this form.
  14. Tara Linden

    Music Mondays: An Interview With Amforte

    By Tara Linden,


    Music Mondays
    Image provided by Amforte
    This week's featured artist is Amforte, whose dedication to music started when she was a child, growing more potent with time as she became familiar with various styles. This singer songwriter is not afraid to bare her soul, and her music is an energetic and comforting reminder that there is always someone who can relate to what you're feeling.
     
    Please check out her official website to listen to her music and see what's she's been up to! Below are some links to follow her inworld.
    AMFORTE (AMFORTE Clarity):: 
    secondlife:///app/agent/16f3fc26-7d2b-4e89-9de2-0cd96303df2d/about
    SL Music Group
    secondlife:///app/group/6e7b8cdc-46a2-6ccd-dd97-f15423689378/about
     
    Q: When/how did you hear about Second Life?
    A: I heard about Second Life from a friend who was already performing online. It wasn't long before I signed up and started performing. This was all back in December of 2008.
    Q: How did you start playing music?
    A: I was eight years old when I begged my father to let me take piano lessons. Years later, I picked up a guitar and started to learn how to play and write music. I have never turned my back on music ever since. I started performing in SL as a guitar player and vocalist and never actually played the piano for 12 years until recently. I introduced piano to my concerts and haven't stopped.
    Q: Who are some of your favorite musicians?
    A: There are so many bands/musicians that are my favorite, but these are some of them: Radiohead, Billie Eilish, Coldplay, U2, The Verve, Garbage, Alanis, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Cranberries, and many more! I don't just like one genre of music. I listen, love and sing to country, rhythm & blues, pop, rock, edm, jazz, blues, and I don't stop there. Music is my life. It moves me and it's my therapy.
    Q: Tell us about one of your best songwriting moments.
    A: To me, emotion has a lot to do with songwriting. I have to feel something. I remember a few years ago, I experienced such heartbreak, and ended up writing a song in a matter of minutes. My emotions took over and I ended up writing one of my best songs.
    Q: Do you have a favorite SL venue for performing?
    A: All of the venues that I have performed in within SL have been amazing. Although I've had to cut my schedule down a lot, I will still be writing music and performing in SL. I have been working on my second album that should be released in December 2020, or early January 2021. I am also working on a couple of film projects: one is a web series called GHOST SLAPPED that will be out sometime early in 2021, and the other will be a short film (and perhaps my first feature film) later in 2021. Anyone interested can follow these projects or my music in the links shared here.
    Q: What is the most meaningful aspect of the SL music community to you?
    A: The most meaningful aspect of SL to me is reaching out to the community and sharing my music with the world, virtually. There is a community here that relates to my music, and some find comfort in it.
     
    Thank you, Amforte! Here are some more links to her projects.
    AMFORTE MUSIC RL LINKS:
    Subscribe: www.REVERBNATION.com/AMFORTE
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMFORTEMUSIC
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amforte/?hl=en
    AMFORTE FILM PROJECTS:
    www.GHOSTSLAPPED.com
     
    If you or anybody you know would like to submit content for Music Mondays, please fill out this form.
  15. Tara Linden
    Donn Devore at Gonja Land
     
    This week's featured artist is Donn Devore, a talented multi-instrumentalist who creates electronica and post rock inspired by the paranormal, his spiritual experiences, and more. He even has an album of Brony music!
    Please check out his official website, Bandcamp, and an extended YouTube set.
     
    Q: When/how did you hear about Second Life?
    A: It was around the Thanksgiving holiday in 2006 when I saw a news story on tv about SL and virtual worlds. I had been playing WoW for a couple of weeks but I wasn’t that interested in quests and monsters. SL seemed more interesting: with an economy, virtual real estate, you can fly everywhere, meet people, make out with them, have a laugh, and no one is trying to kill you. I explored SL for a year before I decided to perform. I saw musicians performing for crowds of 80+ listeners in a sim and thought, I can do this! So I learned how to set up a Shoutcast audio stream and started playing gigs, singing cover songs and playing acoustic guitar. That was in October 2007 and it’s been an interesting ride. 
    Q: What types of instruments do you play?
    A: I play guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, organ, drum machines, and various electronic devices. I’ve played guitar and keys since I was about 9 years old, I took lessons as a kid and studied music in college. I performed in metal and hard rock bands all through high school and college but was always creating electronic music in my room with synthesizers and drum machines. I worked as an audio engineer in recording studios for many years so that experience helps with the technical aspects of performing a live stream show since it’s essentially a live broadcast of a studio session. 

    Q: While there are so many types of music software, do you have a favorite or do they each serve different functions?
    A: It depends on what kind of project I'm working on. I’ve been a Protools operator for over 20 years in recording studios. It’s the most stable DAW and is especially good for recording acoustic instruments and bands, and it’s better at synchronizing with video or film. But in the last 5 years I prefer to use Logic Pro and Ableton Live for electronic music production. Ableton is a loop-based digital audio workstation which lends itself well to electronic music, letting me trigger samples and loops in real time to create a song from sections instead of a pre-recorded track that plays the same every time you play it. I use Logic Pro for a few specific instruments because it has the best sounding Hammond B3 organ and electric pianos in the game.  I perform using Ableton Live and Logic Pro in combination with real keyboard synthesizers. With Ableton Live I can create song arrangements on the fly using an 8x8 grid controller like a Novation Launchpad, triggering different loops that play the various sections of a song. It gives me control over each individual instrument in the mix. I use drum pads and note repeat functions to play live drum fills, create transitions, and dial in delay and reverb effects on the fly. Or, I will let the loop run for a while and I’ll play melodies or improvise solos on keyboard or guitar.
    Q: I'm a fan of electronic music and I really enjoyed your album Telepathic Alien Communication. Did you have a strong reaction to the Pentagon releasing UFO videos? Although it quickly faded to the background with all the 2020 madness! 
    A: Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed the album.  As a fan of the paranormal and ufology I appreciate this question, and I could speak for hours on UFOs and the decades of government cover up. We’ve known since the 1970’s that UFOs have shut down nuclear launch control systems like Malmstrom AFB in Montana and visited military bases in the UK. Other countries have released video and information about UFOs. Our military has known about them since the 1940s going back to the Roswell crash and the Mt. Rainier sightings or the Phoenix Lights in 1997 and other more recent events like the Tic Tac videos released by the Pentagon. I’ve followed many of the authors and speakers in the UFO community that have advocated for disclosure for many years so it wasn’t really a surprise, but it was an odd time to drop that information on the public given what we’ve all been dealing with in 2020. Most people either didn’t notice, didn’t care, didn’t believe it, or said “I’ve been saying this for years and I told you so!” I’m probably in that last group. But we should always be skeptical since we've been lied to and they have reversed their position on this topic many times in the past.
    My personal contact with aliens was through a series of shamanic experiences. With the intention to quit smoking cigarettes in 2015 I used psilocybin mushrooms to help me overcome my addiction to nicotine. In those ceremonies I communicated with different alien-like entities. This is a common report from people who travel in these spaces. I composed most of the songs for that album as a result of those intense experiences. I spent the next three years recording and mixing the songs, all the while suffering from serious health problems as a result of a toxic mold exposure. This album project was part of a long healing process for me and the ‘aliens’ gave me encouragement to continue on the path, to find ways to heal myself from a painful chronic illness, to tell my story and help others. I’m in a much better place now, despite the current pandemic, since through that crisis I have learned many different methods for maintaining my mental and physical health. Music is a part of that along with a healthy diet, yoga and exercise. 

    Q: Where would you suggest starting out to someone unfamiliar with the SL music scene?  
    A: For listeners, the fastest place to find music inworld is through the live music listings in the search tab. Search for live music events inworld and go to lots of shows. If you want to get onstage and perform, search for open mic events. It doesn’t matter where you start, just go to lots of different places to listen and watch what people are doing, and you’ll get a feel for the environment and find a place you like. Make some friends, talk to hosts and venue owners. The scene is like a small town with hundreds of musicians and dozens of live venues where we all play on a weekly or monthly basis. There are many live music announcement groups you can join inworld to get artist info and landmarks for all the shows happening or upcoming.

    Q: What is the most meaningful aspect of the SL music community to you? 
    A: Sharing a few precious moments of live music with other humans listening from around the world is meaningful. Music relieves stress and reduces anxiety for the listener. It transcends language, political and cultural boundaries, it can lift spirits, make you cry, make you laugh, make you dance... It can have an emotional impact on the listener, remind them of the beauty and joy in the world, and how awesome it is to be alive. When someone tells me they have been inspired by me or my music to improve the quality of their own life, that's meaningful and makes me proud of what we are doing here.
     
    Thank you, Donn!
    If you or somebody you know would like to submit content for Music Mondays, please fill out this form.
     
  16. Tara Linden
    This week's featured artist is Downunder, who has been playing energetic rock music in SL for over six years. Come get amped up at one of his shows soon!
    His music can be found on SoundCloud.
    Q: When/how did you hear about Second Life?
    A: Well it was by accident really. I was on a program for a while called IMVU, where I could dj only. A friend on there that recommended Second Life to me, as he said you can perform there, so I joined up. At first I didn't like it, avatars weren't so good, so I went back to IMVU for another year or two. Then, I finally went back to Second Life and stayed. I was lucky to find an awesome manager, Pam Astonia, who has been with me for many years, and of course the amazing Downettes. They get to experience what it's like to be onstage and they all do an amazing job.
    Q: How did music come into your life, and what instruments do you play?
    A: My love for music began at an early age, always listening to the radio for new bands, but unfortunately I played professional sports so that took priority. It was only when I retired from sports that I joined bands and started playing all over Australia. I’ve tried to play the guitar but was hopeless, so singing is what I concentrated on.
    Q: How would you describe your style, and how has it evolved over the years?
    A: My style is all over the place, I like to consider myself an entertainer as well as a singer. I love having the crowd involved, I feed off that energy and at most shows I have too much energy and perform for many hours. I think my record is a five hour show. I think most SL performers evolve together for all new genres that come around.
    Q: What are some of the albums/tracks that have helped get you through the last year?
    A: Bands like Matchbox 20, Neil diamond, Foo fighters, and Inxs to name a few that I draw my inspiration from and have helped me get through a personally terrible year for myself.
    Q: What was your favourite inworld performance?
    A: Other than the numerous charity events, the show that always sticks in my mind was a memorial for a past manager of mine, Annie, who unfortunately passed away. It was a very hard show to do as she was loved by a lot of people, and I still dedicate her favourite song to her to this day, bless her.
    Q: What is the most meaningful aspect of the SL music community to you?
    A: Well, the talent. So many amazing performers in Second Life right in your lounge room, every genre, anything you like. Now that is amazing.
     
    Thank you, Downunder! If you or someone you know would like to submit content for Music Mondays, please fill out this form.
    Have an amazing week, everybody! 
  17. Tara Linden
    Photo provided by Fly Kugin
    This week's featured artist is Fly Kugin, an immensely talented violin player who injects a classical flair to jazz, rock, pop, and music from all over the world. She enjoys both solo performances as well as dual-streams with many talented SL performers.
    For more information and to hear her music, check out her official website and SoundCloud
    Q: When/how did you hear about Second Life?
    A: I discovered Second Life five and a half years ago. I had a new laptop and was searching for games. I discovered an advertisement on the internet about Second Life, so I downloaded the viewer and created an account. It happened by accident via the internet.

    Q: At what age did you start playing violin, and do you play any other instruments?
    A: I was at a fine arts high school when I started playing the violin and have been playing since then. At the same time I also started playing the piano. In addition to the violin and the piano, I can also play the flute and the ukulele.

    Q: Are there any aspects of playing the violin that are specific to this instrument and not found in other string instruments?
    A: I was at high school when I started playing the piano and violin, as I stated above, and in the beginning the violin was harder for me to play than the piano. This is because I had experience with the piano in middle school. I had a small keyboard and was playing melodies and the piano was initially my first musical passion. At the beginning of my professional classical music education in high school, my main instrument was the violin and everyone in my class had to play the piano. I still loved to play the piano at the time, as I was more familiar with the violin, but one cannot get the sounds as easily on the violin than on the piano. But my high school violin teacher started to give me very emotional pieces to play. An example of such a piece is Pietry Illyric Tchaikovski's "G Minor Canzonetta." This particular classical piece went straight to my heart and was so emotional. After this, I started to practice the violin more. Within four years I realized my violin skills had improved very much. I applied to university with the violin as my piece for the entrance exam to the music program, and I passed! At this point, the violin was my main passion. In music I really cannot compare any instrument, but I was wrong because you have to be patient with instruments. I was not patience with the violin, so in the beginning the piano was my main piece and I practiced it more. I believe that there is no instrument that is harder than any other: all instruments can be played if you have time, patience, and are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to learn the instrument.

    Q: What are some of your favorite songs to cover on the violin?
    A: There are too many to count and name! But there are a few that I feel really passionate about. These pieces are: Lara Fabian's "Je T'aime," Queen's "Show Must Go On," Tomaso Albinoni's "Adagio," and Lucio Dalla's "Caruso." I am always adding new covers, but I cannot ever stop playing these four pieces.

    Q: Tell us about your creative process as it pertains to instrumental music, like how you convey ideas and feelings without words.
    A: This is hard to explain, as it is about feeling. For example, if the song is about losing someone, I put myself into the song so to speak and I think about a time when I have lost someone and put that emotion into playing that particular piece. If the song is a funny song, I remember a time when I was having fun as a child and put that particular feeling. My feelings are reflected with my violin fingers when playing. Music is a reflection of feeling, so the audience will feel the pieces as well. If I feel happy I will play happy music, If I am sad then the music I am playing is sad.

    Q: What is the most meaningful aspect of the SL music community to you?
    A: For me the most meaningful aspect of the SL community is the music. Because music is life for me. Music is the place or object where I realize I am real when I am in Second Life. Music makes me feel so alive.  I could make music in any location or in any time zone, but Second Life provides a great opportunity for me to share my music to strangers and friends who are around the world. This is important because there are so many people around the world who have different perspectives about music, so getting appreciation from many people from different backgrounds and cultures gives me confidence and makes me very happy.
     
    Thank you, Flyqueen!
    If you or someone you know would like to submit content for Music Mondays, please fill out this form.
  18. Tara Linden
    (photo courtesy of Gabriel Nyoki)
     
    Bringing us hard rock from Porto, Portugal, this week's featured artist is Gabryel Nyoki, who comes from generations of musicians. His foray into playing music started with playing covers until he amassed a loyal following, who then asked to hear more of his original songs. He is now creating and recording music as part of a power-trio and has gone on RL tours in the UK and Europe!
    He has an abundance of online sources to hear his music:
    Official website: www.gabrieldasilvamusic.com
    VEVO
    YouTube
     

    Q: When and how did you hear about Second Life?
    A: A magazine around 2007. I only joined later when I bought a faster computer.
    Q: Your bio on your website says that you come from a family of musicians. Are there any similarities between your musical style and theirs?
    A: My father's father built and played almost all instruments all by himself. Most of my family, my uncles, aunts, and cousins play and sing a variety of genres, but not rock.
    My father was dedicated to electric guitar so eventually I dedicated myself to hard rock, my favorite, although I have over 3,000 gigs in different genres and instruments.
    Q: Your music is incredibly polished and well-produced. It's clear that you've been honing your craft for a while. Could you tell us about the brands/models of instruments you use and why you prefer them?
    A: What I use is humble, I am an electronics and IT engineer and experienced a long curve of courses both in music theory and music production, bringing the best I can out of each to my own flavor.
    I have two electric guitars, a steel acoustic, a nylon acoustic, one rock bass guitar, two Yamaha keyboards, a vintage drum set, and I invest a lot in the digital audio world inside Apple products.
    My main guitar and the one heard in my latest album is actually a PRS made of paper!
    Q: You've signed with an agency and have toured in the UK and Europe. Did you have to cancel any real world shows due to COVID? And has the pandemic affected your ability to practice with your band members?
    A: Yes and yes. All plans were canceled.
     
    Q: You hail from Porto, Portugal. Do you feel that Portuguese rock has any characteristics that differ from rock music in other cultures?
    A: In some genres yes, not in rock, no. And my music is 99% in English as we tour in different continents and not specifically for Portuguese people. Portuguese people enjoy international rock a lot!
    Q: What is the most meaningful aspect of the SL music community to you?
    A: Being able to connect directly with different people around the globe so fast.
    I share and learn so much, and that is priceless. Everyday I extend my fan base through rock fans around the globe with Second Life, and I love delivering them good vibes and entertainment. We have over 10k fans in SL.
    Please take a look at his calendar for upcoming Second Life concerts. He suggests the Solarwinds Music Concert as it is moderate.
    More of his content can be found here:
    Facebook SL
    Facebook RL
    Music video
    Flickr SL
    Twitter: @gabrieldamusic
    Instagram: gabrieldasilvamusic
    Thank you, Gabryel! 
     
    If you or someone you know would like to submit content for Music Mondays, please fill out this form.
     
     
  19. Tara Linden
    Pictured above: Holly Giles at ~No Strings~
     
    This week's featured artist is Holly Giles (pronounced 'Jiles'), a smooth crooner with an eclectic style hailing from Australia. She likes to sing country, rock, and pop from classic to contemporary and can be found at her venue ~No Strings~ each Tuesday and Saturday at 8pm SLT. (slurl for venue: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Areumdeuli/226/27/80)
    Please check out her music on her website as well as this video.
    Q: When/how did you hear about Second Life?
    A: In 2011 I joined an online chat platform called IMVU due to some personal stuff that forced me to be at home and unable to work. I ended up staying for 5 years. I heard about SL from some people at IMVU who were trying to convert some of us over, haha. I created an SL account in 2015 and kinda used both IMVU and SL for about a year until I decided that SL was more to my liking, with people around my own age. I was in SL for about 2 years before I even KNEW there was a Live Music Community lol, so once i discovered that, I gave away my IMVU account to a friend and I have never looked back.
     
    Q: I really enjoyed your renditions of classic country songs. What drew you to that genre?
    A: My music is actually very mixed genre, with country music only taking up about one third of my song list. I was raised on classic country music with my mum having her own band in my childhood, so I learnt my love of country from her and I always say that classic country is my soul music lol. But I do love all music so I tend to sing what I love, from classic country, classic rock, 90's pop and country, through to modern pop like Lady Gaga.
     
    Q: As with any artistic style, country music has evolved so much over the last century. Which decade/era is your favourite, and why?
    A: Oh that's easy. I love the old country. The Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn era of country. These country legends are like storytellers. Every song has a story. Every song has a purpose to it. I don't know how else to explain it. I can have my heart broken and find my story in a classic country song. I can feel overjoyed about something and find my happiness echoed in a classic country song. While I love all music and listen to even the most modernist of pop music, I personally just don't get that feeling from it. I get the happiness of an awesome beat, or well-written lyrics but yeah, not that feeling.
     
    Q: If you could open for any musician (alive or deceased), who would it be?
    A:I think a lot of people who follow my music would expect me to say Dolly Parton right now, and I thought I would too, but you know, I think I would LOVE to open for Bette Midler. Wow, what a musician she is. I think if I opened for Bette Midler, I could sing anything I wanted to before she took the stage. I could sing some James Brown, followed by a Dolly Parton song, followed by some Creedence lol. I wouldn’t be restricted to one genre, like I would be if I opened for Dolly, I feel.
     
    Q: Do you ever get stage fright before performing in SL? Describe your preshow ritual.
    A: OMG. I only started singing, I mean really singing in Second Life AND real life 2 years ago. The reason I never sang before is that I suffered MASSIVE stage fright. I would freeze up and my voice would go shaky if I tried to sing in front of anyone. It took a lot of help and compliments from online friends for me to get the courage to sing in Second Life. My very first show I was so nervous that I felt sick. But by halfway through I suddenly forgot that I was nervous and I just sang. I found the talking part a lot harder than the singing part lol. Now, I don't feel any nerves in Second Life, but am working on my nerves in RL lol.
     
    Q: What is the most meaningful aspect of the SL music community to you?
    A: Without a doubt, the part I enjoy the most is singing a song and seeing in local things like “OMG I love this song!” or "Oh wow, I haven't heard this song in years!” I love getting requests, I love sharing my love of music with others. I love talking about how my mum used to sing this song or that song in her band while I slept under tables at the local pub. I love that 2 years ago I couldn't sing this song or that song, but that now with some practice under my belt, I can blast that song out like it's nothing. I love just being able to sing and the fact that people want to hear me sing still blows me away every time I open my mouth.
     
    Thank you, Holly!
     
  20. Tara Linden
    This week's featured artist is Jack Slade, whose moving and relatable songs are inspired by his life. From his humble beginnings to the Army and beyond, his voice highlights the beauty in the seemingly ordinary and is sure to leave an impact.
    For his music and bio, check out his website here.
    Q: When/how did you hear about Second Life?
    A: Someone who heard my music told me that I should sing in Second Life... I don't remember when. Around 2014?

    Q: How did you start playing music and do you play any instruments in addition to singing?
    A: I started playing guitar in the Army in the 80's and began writing songs not long after that.

    Q: What is your favorite genre of music?
    A: . I don't have a favorite genre of music... but I prefer songs that come from the heart or that touch mine.

    Q: Who was the last person you saw perform in SL?
    A: The last person I saw perform in SL was Lexus Melodie or Mimi Carpenter.

    Q: Tell us about your album, Beautiful.
    A: My album , Beautiful, is a not very well produced CD that I created with a few songs that I've written over the last 35 years... not much more to say about it, really lol.

    Q: What is the most meaningful aspect of the SL music community to you?
    A: I would say that the most meaningful aspect of SL music is how far reaching it can be... to sing to people in France, Germany , Russia, Ukraine, Italy, Japan... all at one time, is amazing.
     
    Thank you, Jack!
    If you or anybody you know would like to submit content for Music Mondays, please fill out this form. 
  21. Tara Linden
    Photo Credit: Kissmy Spicoli
    This week's featured artist is Jed Luckless, who has been providing us with upbeat and improvisational guitar jams since 2009! With over 600 shows under his belt, his immense music archive is filled with enough tunes to get you through the rest of winter and then some.
    Please check out his website as well as his YouTube channel.
    He also has some great videos of inworld performances: Nantucket Yacht Club, The Cave, & Hippiestock.
     
    Q: When/how did you hear about Second Life?
    A: I first became aware of Second Life in 2009. I heard there was a live music scene happening there. At the time I was playing in a Grateful Dead cover band, and I was honing my skills on that music so I wanted someplace I could recreate the complete Dead show experience. I did a search in Second Life for Grateful Dead and stumbled upon a {region} called DarkStar, which had a complete recreation of the Dead’s stage setup, and I knew I had found my place. That was my home for many years and I played a lot of shows there. After a while, I branched out into playing more of my original music.

    Q: Your music draws from a variety of styles, what subgenres do you think would be appropriate to describe it as?
    A: My style really is all over the place, which likely comes from being exposed to all kinds of music by my parents, from classical to jazz to showtunes. My own musical tastes gravitated initially toward hard, classic rock, like Led Zeppelin, then later progressive rock like Genesis, and eventually jam band music, which is typically how I describe myself now: jam band inspired, which reflects the large amount of improvisational jamming I do at my shows.

    Q: How many years have you been playing guitar, and how did you get into it?
    A: I picked up guitar around age 15. I think it all started with the Partridge Family. I wanted to be Keith Partridge and I loved the idea of driving around in a bus playing music. An early love for guitar heavy rock bands like Kiss, Aerosmith and AC/DC also propelled me to pick up the six-string.

    Q: Tell us about some of the musicians who had an influence on your style.
    A: I mentioned a few of them already, but not the biggest one which is Phish. Not too many people even know who Phish is, but they have such an eclectic mix of styles in their music and that’s what first drew me in. It might surprise people to know that I first saw Phish live in 1992 and have seen hundreds of their shows over the past 30 years. They do a lot of improvisational jamming too. My tours and shows in Second Life are very much patterned after the way Phish and The Grateful Dead do it, with a run of shows set up around a theme like “Winter Tour 2021” and stops at various venues across the grid over a few weeks or months. The concerts themselves are typically a two-set format with a setbreak.

    Q: Do you have to adjust any effects like distortion, whammy bar, pedals, etc. while streaming in a way that is different from a performance in the physical world?
    A: I would say that if anything, I have to change the way I perform in the physical world to replicate what I do in Second Life, since that is where I have really developed my act and my sound. When playing in Second Life, I use in-ear monitors and an on-stage mixer that allows me to put drums, keys and other instruments through my looper to create a kind of one-man band. It’s really hard to do that on a physical stage with the typical amps and monitors that a bar or club has set up. In Second Life we also have an amazing particle light show by Moondance Parx. If only we could make that work in the real world!

    Q: What is the most meaningful aspect of the SL music community to you?
    A: I think the answer is right there in your question. Community. The group of fans and friends that come to the shows and the interaction I have with them and they have with each other is really what it’s all about for me. It’s very similar to the vibe of a Dead or Phish show, and that’s the goal. It’s not just about the music, it’s about the scene. That’s why we have a set break, so people can socialize and connect. I totally love that I’ve been able to build a community around my original music and I couldn’t have done that without Second Life. But my shows are only as good as the energy the crowd brings to them. The more connected we all are the more the circuit hums and the more likely it is to be an electric experience for everyone.
     
    Thank you, Jed!
    If you or someone you know would like to submit content for Music Mondays, please fill out this form.
  22. Tara Linden
    This week's featured musician is Joel Eilde (Joel Tamas irl), who plays rock interspersed with little doses of jazz, country, and blues both inworld and with his band Red Heaven. He has played over 3,000 shows in SL over the last decade and encourages newcomers to join the unique virtual music scene.
    Please check out the official Red Heaven website.
     
    Q: When/how did you hear about Second Life?
    A: Back in early 2007, I was working as a tech journalist and I was doing a week-long series about Second Life, which I had only just heard of at that point. So I made an account to jump in and try it out and… I stayed. Simple as that. 
    Q: What instruments do you play, and what made you pick them up?
    A: I sing, I play guitar, and I play bass. Like a lot of young adolescent males with unrealistic dreams of stardom, I picked up bass as a young teen and got more into guitar later on. I didn’t get singing for real until I started performing in Second Life in 2011. I had dabbled before, but never felt confident about my voice until I was in my 40s. Now I actually think of myself as a singer first, so things have really changed.
    Q: Tell us the origin story of your band Red Heaven.
    A: Red Heaven is, unequivocally, a Second Life success story. I started performing in Second Life because I wanted an option to play music without going to bars and all that malarkey. And doing so built up my skills really fast: singing, playing, songwriting, all of it. I really credit Second Life for being the woodshed that got me to the point where I could really make Red Heaven a proper real-life band. I honestly couldn’t have gotten to this point with the albums and real world live shows if I hadn’t been grinding in Second Life for so many years. 
    Q: Are your bandmates also SL Residents?
    A: Only one: Olga Zoubkova, whose SL name is Loreen Aldrin. She lives in Russia so she’s not part of my performing band, but she’s all over every single Red Heaven album. The others, I don’t think they have any idea what Second Life is.
    Q: How has your relationship to creativity been affected by the last year?
    A: Well, since January 2020 I’ve released two albums (with another to come this summer), started streaming live Facebook shows, did the biggest livestreamed full-band show of my life, and have been pounding out Second Life shows on the regular. So I guess I’d say it’s been pretty good, but I’m also one of those very lucky people who’s had tons of free time during the pandemic so far, and therefore it’s been easy for me to put it to good use doing what I love.
    Q: What is the most meaningful aspect of the SL music community to you?
    A: What I love more than anything and with all my heart is the absence of “stardom.” An ordinary person can just turn on their mic for an hour and play their acoustic guitar and sing, and they can get a legit following and even make a little money. That’s a beautiful thing to me; the way Second Life audiences embrace amateur music without celebrity. I don’t know any other audience that’s so open to and supportive of amateur music. And I honestly wish the world was more like Second Life in that way.
     
    Thank you, Joel!
    If you or somebody you know would like to submit content for Music Mondays, please fill out this form.
     
  23. Tara Linden
    (Photo courtesy of Juel Resistance)
    This week’s featured artist is Juel Resistance (you may know her as Suzen Juel), whose creative output consists of soulful music as well as dreamy visual art.
    Please visit her Spotify and this awesome RL video of her playing music. We hope you check out her calendar to catch her live inword!
    She posts some amazing photos in a variety of styles on Flickr, and more information can be found on her website. If you’d like to experience some of her artwork inworld, head on over to Altered.
     
    Q: When and how did you hear about Second Life?
    A: I was playing an online game with a friend called The Sims Online. He told me to check out Second Life, so I did. I created Juel Edison and explored the vast spaces and just couldn't figure out what to make of it.  While I was exploring I met another friend that I kept in touch with and eventually I just lost interest. In 2005 my SL friend said, “JUEL, COME BACK, there is live music in SL now!” I told him he was full of s*** haaa, and I came back as… well, me.

    Q: What instruments do you play, and how did you first become interested in music?
    A: I had a thing for the organ at my grandma's house when I was about 4ish. It had all those fun bossa nova, samba, cymbals sounds, so I'd putz around on it, playing what I would hear on the radio. Mom would sometimes play it with me, she had taken lessons when she was young.  I lost interest… at about 13 I found a guitar in my grandparents’ attic, a tiny one. I ran downstairs: “PAPA!” He smiled and said, “I made that the year you were born, it's yours… go play it!” I loved that guitar and I was going to learn it… so I got some books and taught myself for a while, eventually taking lessons until my guitar teacher asked me to sing and play “Delta Dawn.” I slowly packed up my little guitar, walked home, and never went back. I was mortified. SING? I'm NOT going to SING in FRONT of YOU! OMG! That was that.  I really haven't put it down since. I also have a ukulele that I love, but I don't really play it as much. I dabble around on harmonica and also have my mom's banjo, which I would like to learn as well. Oh, and I whistle, that's important too!

    Q: The painter Wassily Kandinsky was known to experience synesthesia and expressed hearing music as he painted, associating colors with distinct musical notes. As a visual artist, do you ever feel that your paintings are informed by your music, or vice versa?
    A: It's interesting that you bring up this question! When I was a preteen or so, I would listen to music, what kid didn't, right? My mom had come into my room and asked what I was doing. So I said without hesitation, "I'm drawing the sounds: this is the bass, this is the drum, this is the guitar," She just said, “Ok… interesting.” I didn't find out until many years later that this is synesthesia. It has had a profound impact on my art and music. I often paint in what I'm seeing or hearing from music with a good bass line, like trip hop. It's full of vibrant imagination to me.
    My own music doesn't really make me see colors, more shapes...closing my eyes when I perform is like a putting up the big screen theater, haha.

    Q: While there have been many incredible female Blues and Americana figures, the mainstream image of the "greats" of these genres is predominantly men. Please share some underrated female musicians that you feel we should know about.
    A: I'm a sucker for female songwriters. Lucinda Williams tells some soulful stories in her lyrics. She's relatable, she gets it. Holly Williams. Mary Gauthier. Rory Block. Beth Hart. They all have serious soul, edge, and guts.

    Q: A huge obstacle to gender equality in the arts is the notion that many see female/non-binary experiences as only interesting to them, but male experiences as universal. Do you try to make your work universally appealing, or do you aim for a niche audience?
    A: I do quirky little cartoon drawings called 'inkies.' They can have curly hair or long hair and they always have a shirt on. Someone once asked why they are all female and I said, “Nooo, they aren't, they are gender neutral.” And as I'm grinning, I realized  that no one has ever questioned this before in my inkies. As far as music goes, I write what I write and hope someone else finds it relatable, I hope someone feels something. I hope people find a little release, be it funny or sad or any other emotion. I tend not to create things to be universally appealing, it's quite personal and very much a niche audience.

    Q: What is the most meaningful aspect of the SL music community to you?
    A: That we are a global community all in one little world called Second Life. We are music and art driven, we support each other with all the unique gifts we have. It's a great community that I fall more and more in love with every time.
     
    Thank you, Juel. Keep it up!
     
  24. Tara Linden
    This week’s featured musical artist is Komuso Tokugawa, whose work defies easy categorization. His style has evolved over many years of studying music to the molecular level and is also deeply informed by his travels and different cultures.

    (Photo Courtesy of Komuso Tokugawa)
     
    Q: When and how did you discover Second Life?
    A: In 2005 I was in Australia researching game based learning and heard about SL. At the time they didn't allow international signups. Eventually they opened it up and I signed up. I quickly discovered there were a handful of musicians live streaming into SL and that sounded interesting (literally!) so I got to work (with the help of some great SL collaborators) and started jamming too. There are a few of those original musicians still jamming in SL too!
     
    Q: You describe your music as Bitstream Boogie and Bluestronica. For those not familiar with these terms, could you please describe them?
    A: I have a lot of musical interests, and I like doing mashups of different genres to create new hybrid musical genres to go with my experiments into new sounds and instruments. Bitstream Boogie I'd describe as a mix of groove-based Mississippi Hill country blues blended with world music roots rhythms and sonic experimentation around a core of blues tone. Bluestronica is a mix of electronica grooves with electric blues. I've also done a lot of ambient music work.
     
    Q: What drew you to these genres? Any albums you would suggest?
    A: Great question! If I had to describe my style in a short sentence I’d say it’s all about Groove, Tone, and Story. The groove is the heartbeat of the song, the tone is the emotion expressed through instruments/voice, and the story is the composition and arrangement flow that takes the listener on a journey. Any music that has those three elements captures my mind, body, and spirit.
    There are so many great influences but to pick a few: 
    -Ali Farka Toure & Ry Cooder - Talking Timbuktu
    -Morcheeba - Who can you Trust?
    -Younger Brother: A Flock of Bleeps
    -Atomic Skunk & Bluetech - anything by them
    -The Blues Roots: Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Hound Dog Taylor, Etta James, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and so many more.
     
    Q: What instruments do you play, and how did you start playing music?
    I sing and play slide guitar mainly (with a dose of finger style and pick), harmonica (mainly in a rack), Shakuhachi, and electronics of different types via different control interfaces. I developed a dynamically controlled AI rhythm section as backing for playing online in SL.
    My parents had an extensive record collection so I grew up listening to a lot of jazz and big band music. Then one night I was trawling the airwaves on my radio (a device we had back pre-internet days) and out of the static came this sound I'd never heard before - the crying sound of a blues harmonica and it captivated me with the emotion. I'd found the weekly blues show from a university radio station, and I was off on a musical discovery journey.
    I'm mainly self taught but I've since done a music master’s degree. My experience being a self taught musician has also been behind my development of music education apps like https://harpninja.com/. I'm currently in the alpha testing stage of a new web app I'm developing to help musicians practice more efficiently and effectively.
     
    Q: Your music draws from musical styles found all over the world. How did you learn about these?
    A: A big part of it was the uni radio station I mentioned before, they had specialist shows of different genres you never typically heard: African, folk, world music, etc. When I went to uni there I volunteered for graveyard announcer shifts and spent them exploring their eclectic album library. Since then I've lived all over the world (now in Tokyo) and have explored many musical cultures.
     
    Q: What aspects of the SL music community are the most meaningful to you?
    A: SL music has always been the "killer app" of SL to me due to its effectiveness in bringing diverse people together to create long term virtual relationships through the high bandwidth emotional channel of live music. 
    Some examples:
    -Venue owners like Dr. John Kane, owner of Dr. John's Music Park (and also a great musician!), where I've been performing a weekly gig every Friday night since 2013.  There's been a bunch of other great venue owners and promoters over the years (RIP Circe Broom).
    -Real time music jams/collaborations with other musicians, like fellow SL musicians Hathead Rickenbacker, Noma Falta, and others. An example of one real time networked live music event in a custom juke joint set I made, filmed by the late great SL Machinima artist Osprey Therian (RIP).
    -The audience relationships. I'm forever grateful to anyone who's willing to listen to my musical experiments, and happy it can help soothe their soul. It's as much musical therapy for me as it is for the audience. Many of them are long-time SL'ers who I've never met in real life but we come together via SL to have a high touch emotional connection experience via live music. 
    -One of my audience wrote this about me which I think describes my style best: “Komuso Tokugawa’s approach to the blues is unique. The rough-around-the-edges sound is often described as ‘dirty’, ‘grungy’ or ‘alternative.’ Highly experimental, Komuso takes influences from world music and wraps them around the emotionally charged blues core to create his sound.”
     
    Please check out his music below!
     
    Websites
    https://komuso.info/
    https://sonicviz.com/
     
    Audio Links
    SoundCloud
    https://hearthis.at/sonicviz/
     
    Videos
    https://komuso.info/category/videos/
  25. Tara Linden

    Music Mondays: An Interview With Levi Zuzu

    By Tara Linden,


    Music Mondays
    Levi Zuzu at The Burrow
     
    This week's featured artist is Levi Zuzu, whose modern take on 80s synth pop, rock, and jazz is the perfect soundtrack for some cinematic musing.
    Please check out his SoundCloud and stay tuned for his new album, which is in the works.
     
    Q: When and how did you hear about Second Life?
    A: It has been a minute! I was looking for a new game to play with a more realistic touch, and later on I found Second Life. 
    I bet it doesn't sound very exciting when I say I found it through Google but living in Germany you don't have too many English-speaking people, so I was also happy to be able to connect to other people. This way my English was also going to be kept crispy! 
    Q:  Do you play all the instruments in the recordings, or do you collaborate with anybody? Tell us about the instruments used in the music you shared.
    A: Oh yeah! My starting point is the piano, a Yamaha upright felt piano with a very close mic so, and an absolute classic, the Fender Rhodes Mark 1 stage piano.  When it comes to my synth sounds, it's either me crafting the sound on my computer or my Roland Dx7 Synthesizer. It doesn't get more 80's than that. Oh, and lastly drums, a Gretsch drum kit! 
    Q: I also listened to the Djane Batista remix of "I can feel myself" and really enjoyed it. Is this the first time someone has done a remix of your music? How does it feel hearing someone reinterpret something you created?
    A: That was the first time! I was just so surprised. Never saw this one coming. I have to say it made me proud. 
    Seeing that my music inspires someone, and they even go to the lengths of remixing it, is a huge compliment for me as a musician. 
    Q: Your style seamlessly incorporates elements from diverse styles, from an 80s synth vibe, to a jazzy cover of "Roxane" by The Police, and toned down r&b. How did you acquire such a wide range of tastes?
    A: Good question! I guess my taste in music has to do with how I grew up. It's always been 80's and classics from back in the day from various genres. I've always been incredibly curious when it came to music, and my parents were always very passionate about it as well. So I guess that's how this came about. I  started with music quite young. Got my first drum kit at the age of 3, piano followed shortly, along with singing. And later in life, even career choices were all around music. 
    I have always loved covering songs and giving them my twist. That's also what I do on Second Life. Sometimes I slip in my originals but since my album isn't fully finished I try to mix it up.
    Q:  What are some of your favorite musicians?
    A: There are so many good musicians out there that have inspired me and continue to do so, to this day. But my top list would be: Prince, George Michael, Nat King Cole, D'Angelo, Phil Collins, and lastly, Thomas Newman.
    Q: What is the most meaningful aspect of the SL music scene to you?
    A: I think the connection to people. It's wonderful to be able to touch someone emotionally, give them a smile, or just a good minute of escapism through music. 
     
    Thank you, Levi!
     
    If you or somebody you know would like to submit content to be featured on Music Mondays, please fill out this form.
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