(Track #1 on E=m_otion)

We all have them. Much of our “lives” revolve around them. Many of us never reach our full potential because of them. Some of us suffer greatly at the hands of them.

Take a moment to examine the rituals that permeate your life. Have you ever thought to ask yourself why you follow a prescribed set of guidelines for living?

Have you ever questioned what was taught to you by your parents?

…your church?

…the government?

All strung up (Image ©Erin Faith Allen)

Ritual is about breaking free.

It is about rising above the oppressive nature of our ritualistic and programmed lives. It is about looking inward for answers and living life based on your own truths.

Ritual is about you.

My latest album is a collection of songs primarily about consciousness and the human condition, about life, about feeling, energy, motion, and of course, emotion. A fun little play on words, yes… but there’s more.

The obvious play on Einstein’s E=mc² equation detailing the relationship between energy and mass is an idea that came to me when I was sitting in Cafe Louvre in Prague, a place that Einstein himself frequented during his stay in Prague (thanks for the idea, Albert!)

But something was wrong with his equation (at least in my eyes) because I’ve tried very hard to break through limitations in my music. The universal constant “c” represents the speed of light in a vacuum, and is widely accepted by the scientific community as the fastest anything can travel in our universe. But I’m asking: why subject ourselves to this limitation? Recent studies in quantum physics suggest that thought and emotion travel instantaneously–that is, they are not bound by this constant. Since what makes me “me” more than anything are my thoughts and emotions, neither am I.

So, I don’t need it.

In my equation, Energy = motion. I’m talking about Source Energy. I’m talking about Motion within ourselves. We need to keep moving, evolving, and progressing to survive. If we stop moving, we have no Energy. My songs are about Motion and our own internal evolution. Every song on this album expresses a universal concept of humanity and what it means to be alive and conscious. Every song is a story of change and progress. Every song is about perpetual feeling, energy and movement.

E=m_otion. The new Tim Guion album.

…you follow your dreams,

…march forward in defiance,

…let your whims take the wheel,

…and listen to the silence?

I am pleased to officially announce the next collection of Tim Guion music:

Tim Guion: E=m_otion

Perpetual Energy, Feeling, and Movement

More than just a collection of songs, my newest work delves deeper into the condition we know as humanity.  All of us share a common connection, the collective consciousness, and when we stop thinking about our “lives” and pay attention to our souls, even silence has a message.

I hear music in the silence.

Music of our shared stories, lessons, truths…

I am humbled and thrilled with the opportunity to express our humanity through music.  Each song on E=m_otion offers a tiny glimpse into what it means for me to be alive, connected, aware…  And it is my hope that as you listen, you feel more alive, connected, and aware of your own humanity and all that we share together.

E=m_otion will officially be released in a few weeks, but I invite you to listen to the entire album preview on my Facebook page.

That one year would prove to be one of the most (but certainly not the last) interesting, rewarding, challenging, eye-opening, amazing, spiritual, humbling, joyous, life-changing… and productive years of my young life.

I’ve certainly had a few distractions in the past year as well: co-producing some awesome projects related to my former career in the lighting industry, a couple trips to some fascinating places in Europe and beyond, a few attempts at some sort of personal life and… oh… that little matter of moving to a foreign country!

“So, Tim,” you ask wryly, “how’s that new album coming along? “

Well… as any artist will tell you, we never really consider our work truly finished.  But I do have the distinct pleasure to announce to you now, that after one year of dedication, focus (and distractions)…

Not glamorous, but it works

I have finished composing music for my new album!!!

Now on to the remaining details: final edits, mixes and masters of the music; the visual and artistic designs of the album itself (a collaborative project with my dear friend and visual artist Erin Faith Allen); and the final submission to the production/duplication company.

This is an important milestone for me and the new album.  In the coming weeks I plan to release further information about it, possibly with the official unveiling shortly after the New Year.

Stay tuned…

While many of the details will remain behind a veil of secrecy until the great reveal, I would like to share with you one aspect that has garnished significant contemplation recently: my musical genre.

This is something I’ve struggled with forever. “What kind of music do you write?” O that question! I usually start my answer with, “It’s something like…” then add any number of descriptors ranging from New Age, Contemporary Instrumental, Instrumental Pop, Smooth Jazz… but honestly, none of those accurately describe my work.

The other day, while deep in thought during a meal, it came to me as I was making a mental list of all the characteristics of my music:

Swirling Ideas

• Simple, and not overly technical or academic
• Un-tamed and free of pre-conditions
• Originates from a place of purity
• Is a living entity in it’s own right; usually writes itself with a natural flow

This music is organic.

So there it is.

Tim Guion: Composer of Organic Instrumental Music.

Hehe… kinda fun, huh?

My initial reaction to the question is, “Well, I sound like… me,” but ultimately that’s of no help to someone who knows nothing about my music and is trying to decipher a frame of reference to continue the conversation.  Truth is, there is sooooooo much music “out there” that I’m not sure I will ever find that mysterious “who” I can liken myself to or compare myself with. Imagine if I said, “I sound like Bach,”  vs. saying, “I sound like Sting.”  Might take the conversation about my music on different paths, wouldn’t you say?

Me and the keys

But really–I DO sound like me… only “me” sounds like a combination of many artists that have influenced my musical style and technique over the years. And this is how it goes.  Composers of every time period have been inspired by composers that have preceded them: Beethoven was influenced by Mozart, Ravel was influenced by Schubert and Debussy (and much of modern Pop is influenced by all of these composers.)  This is how music evolves over generations to suit the tastes of the music-listeners and to suit the whims (artistic or not) of the composer.

So (you saw this coming, didn’t you) here’s a (partial) list of my influences to hopefully help answer the question: “Who do I sound like?”

Yanni

For those of you who have known me for a while, this is a no-brainer.  Yanni’s vast instrumentation choices, the blending of acoustic and light electronic elements, and his acute sense of melody and structure puts him at the top of my list.  I did my geometry and trigonometry homework listening to Yanni’s music (and got an “A” in the class.)  To this day, I consider Yanni the benchmark that I am striving for as an artist.  After decades of tremendous success, his work continues to grow and evolve, and his most current album breaks Yanni tradition by including vocals and lyrics.  My number one inspiration.

Enya

Enya’s ethereal, angelic sound nourishes my soul.  Soaring melodies combined with deep bass-rooted chord transitions make Enya one of my biggest influences for my slower-tempo pieces.  I love minor chords, and Enya’s music has taught me so much about using minor chords effectively in pieces meant to inspire.  Enya is also not shy about using interesting percussive elements in her music, and I’ve been bitten by that bug as well.  Like Yanni, Enya’s sense of structure (which seems very Baroque to me) is appealing.

Erasure & Pet Shop Boys

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP combined with deep, chest-pounding bass, great high-range arpeggios, cutting-edge electronic instrumentation and lush string pads… need I say more?  Except that again in many of the pieces by these iconic groups there’s a great sense of Baroque structure (sensing a pattern here…?)

Sigur Ros

Sigur Ros seems to take everything I love about my previously mentioned influences and turns them all on their head. It’s no wonder I love their music so much!  Deep, brooding chord structures, tons of acoustic keyboard instruments, bone-chilling electric guitar riffs, bass, bass, bass… plus ethereal vocals, tons of feeling and emotion, unexpected melodic elements… in a word: divine. Breaking the pattern: not much Baroque about Sigur Ros (perhaps the modern equivalent of Romanticism?)

Tim Guion

Ultimately as an artist, I develop my own style, create unique musical elements and share something wholly new with my listeners.  It is the experience in my own life: the people, places and journeys that have the most significant influence on my music, but as a listener of music myself, I can’t help but recognize and thank the gifted artists who have helped shape my creations.

Well, I don’t need science to tell me that music is a form of communication (it’s in my DNA, remember) although I will admit that there is some comfort in knowing that research can back up what you and I already “know.”  The real question is: have we forgotten?  Are we ignoring our instincts and dooming the language of Music to antiquity?

Throughout human history, stories have been told, lessons have been taught, territories have been claimed, and prey has been lured with music–as necessary techniques of survival.  Ancient civilizations sung history and tradition to educate young citizens, villages were established (or decimated) with songs of triumph and war, and hunters won their prize using tightly rehearsed musical phrases.  Now, some may argue that this still holds true today ( i.e. current music celebrities winning their prize using “tightly” rehearsed musical phrases) but the stakes (and prizes) have changed.  Everything has changed.

Our current story-telling, lesson-teaching, territory-marking, prey-luring music has been largely reduced to, and increasingly focused on, entertainment.  Roughly somewhere between 500 B.C. and John Lennon, the element of music rooted in survival perished completely (I believe Mr. Lennon knew his music and the messages contained within were matters of life and death) but all is not (yet) lost for anyone who hopes that music can be a positive, beautiful influence on this planet as a method of communication.  We just have to listen deeper.

I recently read a fascinating article detailing some views of the rock band U2 as revealed in a recent interview.  In the article, the band admits that today’s music world is different and that the band needs to meet the difficult challenges in this new world.  Band member Adam Clayton explains that the traditional concept of the rock music fan might be “outdated” in this new (digital) age.  The band would rather focus on creating complete albums with mood, feeling and an overall message rather than creating just a series of pop hits that can be easily digested by the download-one-song-at-a-time-to-my-iPod pop-music fan.

This is striking to me.  As one of the most progressive, in-touch, leading-edge and dare I say “spiritual” bands in existence, U2 would not let this little tidbit fly if they did not believe that something has fundamentally changed and that music artists need to heed the call to respond.  I’ve always felt that U2’s music (perhaps more than any other modern rock band) is loaded with significant messages–mostly of hope and triumph–with lyrics that are utterly poetic, unlike much of the lyrics that dominate current pop music.

Is it possible that the vast majority of song lyrics have already run their course (yes, I am an instrumental artist, but please don’t think that automatically makes be biased against lyrics) and everything that can be said, already has been said?  Perhaps… except for that which has yet to be said.

Consider another one of my favorite bands, Sigur Ros.  Several songs sung by lead singer Jónsi Birgisson are in a language called Hopelandic, a language entirely invented by the band.  Whoa.  Lyrics that are not meant to be understood by the listener?  Take a moment to consider that… What does the song mean?  Where’s the poetry and the profound message?

Trust me, the message is there… have a listen to a song by Sigur Ros and see for yourself.

What Sigur Ros focuses on in their music is pure feeling.  The listener is free to tell any “story” he or she wishes, but the overall message comes through loud and clear regardless of the listener’s own story.  In this case, words (in any known language) would simply get in the way and needlessly direct the listener to a prescribed “story.”  Even songs with lyrics sung in their native language convey intense feeling (if you happen to understand Icelandic then you get the added bonus of hearing divine poetry.)  Like U2, Sigur Ros creates music to communicate in a way that is understood primarily by our DNA not the VMA.

Ironically, the longer I’m on this planet the more I have an increasingly hard time communicating precisely what I am feeling using the limited constructs of verbal language (living in a country where I am not a native speaker of the language has emphasized this point.)  Words often get twisted and there simply aren’t enough words to accurately describe the subtle nuances that occur in human emotional and thought patterns.  Throughout my life, music has served as a supplement to my verbal language skills and I now understand that this is they way it is meant to be–it’s in our genes, folks.

So here’s my call to all of us:  let’s not forget how to speak the Universal language of Music.  In an ever-shrinking, yet expanding world, this is ONE language that we all understand.  Our very survival may depend on our ability to bridge divides by communicating in extraordinary ways; with bands like U2 and Sigur Ros on the leading-edge, this is One movement that I am thrilled to get into lock-step with.

Turns out, Jan Hammer is Czech.  Born in Prague, in fact.  I have no idea why I didn’t know this.  I always knew he was from “some European country” but I never bothered to really look into it–until today.  Actually, I figured he was German (sorry, Jan, but it seems there was a lot of German influence in American pop music in the ’80’s.) But not German… Czech!  What a wonderful discovery!

In so many ways, Prague is synonymous with music (being half-way between the other musically-renowned cities of Vienna and Berlin certainly has to help) and there is so much history in Prague musical culture that carries forth to this day with it’s numerous historical opera houses, concert halls, music academies, and countless places linked with famous musicians and composers.

Every day I walk along Smetanovo Nábřeží (Smetana Waterfront, as in famous Czech composer Bedřich Smetana) which is the main street that runs along the river near my flat in the center of Prague.  I also frequently walk by the Stavoské divadlo (Estates Theatre) where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart premiered two operas, Don Giovanni being one of them.  Turns out, Mozart and Prague had a pretty intense love affair and he spent quite a bit of time here (now I want to watch Amadeus again…)

Me at Cukrkavalimonada

When I sit outside at one of my favorite cafes (Cukrkavalimonada) I am treated to the luscious sounds of music and opera carried on the breeze from the practice studios at the music academy next door.  If that’s not enough, from that same cafe, I can see the house where Ludwig van Beethoven stayed when he was in Prague (turns out Beethoven spent quite a bit of time here, too, along with Berlin.)

And of course, there’s arguably one of the most famous Czech composers, Antonín Dvořák of Slavonic Dances fame.  In fact, Wikipedia lists no fewer than 200 Czech Composers!

So lots of music history in Prague, yes.  But what also makes Prague so great is the musical tradition continues to this day: music is ingrained in Czech culture.  Some of my favorite Baroque and Classical composers are closely related to Prague, and today I discovered the same about Jan Hammer, one of my favorite modern composers.  All Praha.

I’m so happy that I’m here!

My dear friend Erin Faith Allen is One of whom I speak.

A truly gifted Mixed-media artist, photographer, poet, seer/knower, Erin has a captivating capability to capture energy, as well as feeling and emotion in her work.

Prague Alley, Photo by Erin Faith Allen

Our senses and memory are closely linked–we know a pungent smell can instantly take us back to a place and time.  Erin (especially in her photographic work) transports us not only to the physical place, but to the timeless realm of worlds past, present and future that can be found locked in shadows, reflections and textures.  You can actually feel the places in her photos (and not only from the perspective of when the photo was taken, but beyond.)

Examples of Erin’s work can be seen here on her blog and her website.  Take some time to explore.  You will be impressed.

Take a closer look at TimGuion.com.

You may not immediately notice, but I’ve made some subtle (and some not so subtle) changes.  Overall, the site is more streamlined (i.e. no frames) so it will work better with a wider variety of browsers, and I’ve added a couple new features (like this blog.) Also for you frequent visitors, you’ll notice that a brand-new song is playing on the home page…

While still in progress, this is the Phase 2 of the multi-phase TimGuion.com site re-design project.  Phase 2 will be wrapping up shortly after a few more changes & features are added:

• The addition of “mini-sites” for my albums (G-ography will be the first)
• Pop-up music players so you can keep the music playing while browsing
• Re-freshed fonts & graphics

Yes, Phase 3 is still planned and will coincide with the release of my new album. That re-design will incorporate more significant changes than this “mid-year refresh.”  The next phase will result in the “All-new TimGuion.com” for 2010.  Stay tuned…