Hello everyone!
Well I don't blog all the time but when I always try to post something interesting, I will make my best effort to do so. So, what's been going on in Arrizza's world? Well, it's been, for lack of a better term, COLD! - Yes, winters have been best spent indoors sipping on hot cocoa and watching Netflix lol…not always. But, time spent indoors have been quite productive for me as I have been busy in my project studio continuing to compose more music.
As you all may know, I have released my album, “Astronomia” back in October of last year. It was an album that has been a culmination of two years of new material written since my first Electronic/New Age album, “Electronic Dreams” back in 2020. I had wanted to write a concept album that touched upon a subject that has been very near and dear to my heart, Space & Astronomy. I occasionally hinted at it on my last album, with titles such as “Cosmic Dance”, “Distant Shores”, “Sun Chaser”, “Heavens Above” and my most successful one, “Star Master”. This time around, I had wanted to focus specifically on space-themed songs that reflected my deep love for space. It was an album I had wanted to compose for a while now and was very pleased with the end result. Most of them evoke images of space and interstellar travel, exploration and discovery. I released the album on “International Astronomy Day” which fell on October 1 this year, a release date so well suited for such a project. (In case you were wondering, the CD physical format will be made available on April 29, this year's Astronomy Day). There was also a serendipitous moment as well as I had recently joined a local astronomy club called “ASLI” (Astronomical Society of Long Island) in August of 2022 while I was finalizing the album. The club, comprised of wonderful space enthusiasts with a passion for amateur astronomy, have further inspired me upon completing the album, as I was introduced to some fascinating lectures and presentations as well as being in the inside of a planetarium, which is a sight I haven't seen in a very long time. I have mentioned ASLI in the liner notes, giving them due credit for the added inspiration and re-awakening my burning passion for this natural science. I have since continued to be a part of ASLI and listen to some great presentations by some of the most brilliant people around.
So what is new music-wise, you may ask? Well, as I mentioned above, I have been busy promoting my new album. But I have been composing new music as of late. I am in the process of wrapping up production on a new song that will be released as a single next month in mid-March. It will be more of a New Age-influenced number with fantasy-themes inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien and other folkfore. I am excited about it as it will be a more mainstream piece of music that will be well-suited for many New Age and Contemporary Instrumental radio stations and streams, so stay tuned!
So with all this music going on, it begs the question: “WHEN IS THE SPANISH GUITAR COMING BACK?”
Haha, good question! I have been experimenting with my Electronic and New Age roots lately, with my last two albums being almost all Electronic-based. However, I have dabbled with some Spanish guitar on Astronomia (Occultation). The past two years have brought much inspiration and musical creativity playing on Electronic keyboards and synthesizers, which come from my earlier influences from Yanni and Jean-Michel Jarre. But, in fact, I have been working on a new project for Spanish guitar that brings the familiar sound of the nylon-string. It has been shelved numerous times due to working on other projects and also not being up to my usual standards. But I have recently dusted it off and gave new breath and life to it as I continue to compose new music specifically for the project. Most of the songs have been actually composed before the release of my debut album back in 2014 (almost 10 years to this day, wow), some of them completed while some others sketched out still not quite yet materialized. I will have to narrow the amount of songs to a select few that I feel are representative of the signature “Arrizza” sound but it is coming out nicely! Some new additions are new instrumentation with more Electronic sounds and played instruments such as the Greek bouzouki! It will be under wraps at the moment, but I am hoping for a release time sometime in 2024, exactly 10 years since my debut release!
As for live performances, much of the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023 has been rather quiet as I have been devoting myself to composing new music. I do have some real exciting live shows in-the-works coming up for the year, and when I mean exciting, I REALLY mean “EXCITING!”. The first one being a special presentation that will be called “ARRIZZA - Under the Stars”, a mesmerizing and immersive show that will be held at the Reichert planetarium at the Vanderbilt museum in Centerport, NY. It will be a full 360-degree audiovisual experience that will utilize the full capabilities of the planetarium which include state-of-the-art visuals, a dazzling laser light show and seat-rattling surround sound that will captivate the senses. It will be in promotion of my album, Astronomia, playing songs from it as well as a few covers I carefully handpicked that captures the space and futuristic vibe. It is currently in the works and the show will be in May. I am extremely thrilled to present this latest project and hope that it will all go well, so stay tuned!
The next major one is also in the planning stages, a non-planetarium format of the planetarium show planned to be performed at the South Country Library in Bellport, NY. I can't wait to perform this show as well, as it is especially for those who couldn't attend the show at the planetarium. Keep checking my website for the latest news!
What else…Oh! I am delighted to announce that my hit song, “Constellation” has been receiving lots of traction with positive feedback and encouragement. It has achieved over 29,000 views on YouTube since it has been released and the accompanying music video, which was released two weeks ago, has already received close to 1,400 views! - AWESOME - I am truly grateful to those who have commented on the song and “liked” it. Thank you so much!! :-)
I have placed the “Constellation” music video as well as a few others on the “Videos” section of my website for your viewing pleasure.
That's all for now, I will keep updating as more news comes, much blessings…
Arrizza ~