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Plays: 3020
Views: 1569 |
Members:
Richard Gannaway [stringed Instruments & vocals]
Jay Oliver [keyboards, Synths & samples]
Miriam Stockley [Vocals]
Formed: 1996
Official Site: www.aomusic.com
iSound Site: www.isound.com/ao_fl
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Bio:
AO, "music for a new eon" is cinematic & intoxicatingly rhythmic - described by critics as "astonishing" (visit aomusic.com)... The immediate freshness of this sound has a way of making people "feel" something wherever on the earth they're from. AO music is a comple |
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Saturday, September 20th, 2008
AO & Miriam Stockley
MIRIAM STOCKLEY JOINS FORCES WITH AO TO RELEASE IMAGINATIVE SECOND ALBUM: TWIRL
AO [éi-o] n. ancient Polynesian word; 1. pure light; 2. all colours
Oct 3rd 2008 - AO release their highly anticipated second compilation of vibrant, multi-layered, universal music, ‘Twirl’.
Since releasing their first album, ‘Grow Wild’, to widespread critical acclaim in 2001, much has developed for AO’s passionate primary composers, artists and producers, Richard Gannaway and Jay Oliver. Joined now by world class female vocalist, Miriam Stockley, and film composer and producer, Sandeep Chowta, plus a cast of supporting artists, describing the diversity and depth of sound Twirl creates is both an intriguingly complex and intuitively simple task.
This multi-dimensional “music for a new eon” weaves together primal beats, uplifting melodies, lyrics that fuse together a variety of ancient indigenous languages - or freshly crafted phonetics that don’t apply to any particular language at all! – and powerful vocal ensembles from all over the world to create a musical dimension that is at once both excitingly exotic and instinctively familiar. Simply put, this melting pot of expression cuts across borders and boundaries to eloquently express its message of unity in a language that speaks to us all – music.
“Emotion and passion are what really count. When it comes to music, they are most important to me and I need to show that in the work I do” says Miriam Stockley, demonstrating why both her voice and vitality are so in synch with the energy and vision of AO. Miriam is not an artist to be pigeon-holed, a classical star of critical-acclaim she was the voice of Karl Jenkins’ multi-million selling ‘Adiemus’ project but has also worked with such names as Kylie Minogue & Elton John, Tina Turner & Tom Jones, alongside cumulating varied TV and Film credits (Rob Roy, Lord of the Rings, Great Expectations, The Clandestine Marriage). AO is the first collaborative project to feature Miriam Stockley since Adiemus, which achieved global notoriety after featuring in a Delta Airlines commercial. Having previously used this work as an invocation of the kind of spirit they hoped to create with their refrains, AO are thrilled to welcome Miriam to the group as both a uniquely captivating vocalist and inspirational co-composer. Miriam, meanwhile, is equally as impassioned:
“Richard & Jay gave me some great foundations on which to work with this project. They have such immense talent and I sometimes don't think that they even realise it…. totally inspirational”.
Led by a desire to “capture honesty and vibrancy wherever on the globe we can find it”, AO have travelled extensively in China, Indonesia and Sandeep Chowta’s native India, immersing themselves in local musical traditions – from the multifarious ensemble of Indonesia’s Gamelan tradition to the spirited sounds of Punjab’s Bhangra beats – their experiences and influences are excitingly eclectic and all dynamically co-exist within Twirl.
Whilst in China, AO were invited to compose theme music for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and were subsequently introduced to the regions traditional instruments and finest talent. The result is the first track on Twirl, "On Jai Ya", an exhilarating introduction to the energy of the album as a whole, punctuated by sweeping refrains and powerful vocal ensembles sung by local children.
Approaching each song on Twirl as if it were a story or journey over an ever-changing landscape offers a refreshing freedom of sound that Jay Oliver masterfully steers toward new musical horizons. As Richard Gannaway describes, “When I bring new compositions to Jay, they wind up places I never dreamed of…”. Oliver’s former credits include: Sheryl Crow, The Eagles, Celine Dion, Jimmy Buffet, Bonnie Raitt, Wynona Judd, Glenn Fry, Joe Walsh, Chick Corea & Dave Weckl.
AO’s message is one of Unity, Positivity and Peace. As we rapidly move into a new communication-led millennium where one world culture is emerging and evolving as the gaps between our nations and continents blur, they provide a soundtrack that speaks to our collective human consciousness. Unaligned to any particular age, genre or region they speak to us all, and in this open offering true liberation exists to uplift and unite…
“Hopefully anyone who listens is inspired to feel a little less separate from the rest”.
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 | TwirlNot Rated
Released: 2008 |
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Click on one of the albums below for more info.
| | TwirlNot Rated
Released: 2008 |  | Grow WildNot Rated
Released: 2000 |
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Bio:
AO, "music for a new eon" is cinematic & intoxicatingly rhythmic - described by critics as "astonishing" (visit aomusic.com)... The immediate freshness of this sound has a way of making people "feel" something wherever on the earth they're from. AO music is a complete hybrid of universal expression, unlike anything ever produced, and appeals to all ages in all genres of preference... Gannaway & Oliver grew up in St. Louis, MO. They met in 1988 & moved to the Los Angeles area in 1989... They began working on the AO project in 1996... Gannaway toured Western Europe & Canada extensively as leader of the group, Tiger & the Helix before founding the vision of AO... Oliver's former credits include: Sheryl Crow, The Eagles, Celine Dion, Jimmy Buffett, Bonnie Raitt, Wynona Judd, Glenn Fry, Joe Walsh, Chick Corea & Dave Weckl... Jay has also created something extraordinary with his colleague William Lenihan... Check it out at soundsciencebaby.com... AO's message is simple, "unity", & it's method - four components of beauty" (music, color, form & movement)... A key ingredient in AO's unique expression is powerful vocal ensembles, sung by children throughout the world... Refrain lyrics are often a variety of ancient languages or carefully crafted phonetics, chosen for their "shape"... The object is not to hold allegiance to any particular region, so the impression is fresh & exotic from any place on the earth... Miriam Stockley fortifies these choral ensembles or sings them exclusively with her own overdubs... Miriam grew up in South Africa before moving to the U.K. where she met husband/engineer, Rod Houison... Miriam & Rod are AO's newest members (miriamstockley.com)... In 2000, Gannaway & Oliver produced their first AO compilation called "Grow Wild"... They released it as a test market on NPR radio accross North America with excellent reviews... In 2001, AO teamed up with Frank Mayor of Artist International Management... Frank brought AO to China & introduced them to CRC (China Record Company)... Through that connection, AO was invited to compose music for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing... The song "On Jai Ya" was written for that purpose & is the first time AO featured Miriam Stockley... Frank also brought AO to Indonesia & introduced them to the gamalon tradition... In 2005 Gannaway & Oliver were invited to Sandeep Chowta's studio in Mumbai... There, they rehearsed, then performed the first ever AO concert in Bangalor, India... Sandeep is a well established film score composer in that region & a new member of the AO production team... Miriam Stockley & Rod Houison officially joined the AO sound in 2006... AO's new music collection is called, "Twirl" & will be available in the Fall of 2008...
Band members:
Richard Gannaway (stringed instruments, vocals) & Jay Oliver (keyboards, synth samples) are the primary composers, artists & producers of AO... Miriam Stockley of the U.K. has recently joined as a powerful vocal ensemble & also contributes as co-composer... Rod Houison (Miriam's husband & engineer) overdubs & co-produces all Miriam's vocal tracks... Miriam's South African upbringing is what she attributes to the incredible youthful spirit of her tracks... We were introduced to her work on the acclaimed Adiemus project, "Songs of Sanctuary" & are proud to have her as one of us... Film score composer & producer, Sandeep Chowta of Mumbai, India is a supporting member of the AO production team & through his resources, we have access to fantastic talent & musical traditions throughout that region... Andy Georges is a contributing artist (stringed instruments) & occasional co-composer... Other contributing artists are: George Bernardo (percussion), Doug Lunn (bass) & various children’s choral ensembles throughout the world... Most of the recorded textures (flutes, violins, drums, shakers, sticks, bells, rattles) & layers of world indigeny that define AO's extraordinary rhythmic feel are performed by Jay Oliver via synths, samples & keys... Richard, Jay, Miriam & all AO's supporting members continue to uphold key elements of it's message & directive, "UNITY"...
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| Saturday, September 20th, 2008
AO & Miriam Stockley
MIRIAM STOCKLEY JOINS FORCES WITH AO TO RELEASE IMAGINATIVE SECOND ALBUM: TWIRL
AO [éi-o] n. ancient Polynesian word; 1. pure light; 2. all colours
Oct 3rd 2008 - AO release their highly anticipated second compilation of vibrant, multi-layered, universal music, ‘Twirl’.
Since releasing their first album, ‘Grow Wild’, to widespread critical acclaim in 2001, much has developed for AO’s passionate primary composers, artists and producers, Richard Gannaway and Jay Oliver. Joined now by world class female vocalist, Miriam Stockley, and film composer and producer, Sandeep Chowta, plus a cast of supporting artists, describing the diversity and depth of sound Twirl creates is both an intriguingly complex and intuitively simple task.
This multi-dimensional “music for a new eon” weaves together primal beats, uplifting melodies, lyrics that fuse together a variety of ancient indigenous languages - or freshly crafted phonetics that don’t apply to any particular language at all! – and powerful vocal ensembles from all over the world to create a musical dimension that is at once both excitingly exotic and instinctively familiar. Simply put, this melting pot of expression cuts across borders and boundaries to eloquently express its message of unity in a language that speaks to us all – music.
“Emotion and passion are what really count. When it comes to music, they are most important to me and I need to show that in the work I do” says Miriam Stockley, demonstrating why both her voice and vitality are so in synch with the energy and vision of AO. Miriam is not an artist to be pigeon-holed, a classical star of critical-acclaim she was the voice of Karl Jenkins’ multi-million selling ‘Adiemus’ project but has also worked with such names as Kylie Minogue & Elton John, Tina Turner & Tom Jones, alongside cumulating varied TV and Film credits (Rob Roy, Lord of the Rings, Great Expectations, The Clandestine Marriage). AO is the first collaborative project to feature Miriam Stockley since Adiemus, which achieved global notoriety after featuring in a Delta Airlines commercial. Having previously used this work as an invocation of the kind of spirit they hoped to create with their refrains, AO are thrilled to welcome Miriam to the group as both a uniquely captivating vocalist and inspirational co-composer. Miriam, meanwhile, is equally as impassioned:
“Richard & Jay gave me some great foundations on which to work with this project. They have such immense talent and I sometimes don't think that they even realise it…. totally inspirational”.
Led by a desire to “capture honesty and vibrancy wherever on the globe we can find it”, AO have travelled extensively in China, Indonesia and Sandeep Chowta’s native India, immersing themselves in local musical traditions – from the multifarious ensemble of Indonesia’s Gamelan tradition to the spirited sounds of Punjab’s Bhangra beats – their experiences and influences are excitingly eclectic and all dynamically co-exist within Twirl.
Whilst in China, AO were invited to compose theme music for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and were subsequently introduced to the regions traditional instruments and finest talent. The result is the first track on Twirl, "On Jai Ya", an exhilarating introduction to the energy of the album as a whole, punctuated by sweeping refrains and powerful vocal ensembles sung by local children.
Approaching each song on Twirl as if it were a story or journey over an ever-changing landscape offers a refreshing freedom of sound that Jay Oliver masterfully steers toward new musical horizons. As Richard Gannaway describes, “When I bring new compositions to Jay, they wind up places I never dreamed of…”. Oliver’s former credits include: Sheryl Crow, The Eagles, Celine Dion, Jimmy Buffet, Bonnie Raitt, Wynona Judd, Glenn Fry, Joe Walsh, Chick Corea & Dave Weckl.
AO’s message is one of Unity, Positivity and Peace. As we rapidly move into a new communication-led millennium where one world culture is emerging and evolving as the gaps between our nations and continents blur, they provide a soundtrack that speaks to our collective human consciousness. Unaligned to any particular age, genre or region they speak to us all, and in this open offering true liberation exists to uplift and unite…
“Hopefully anyone who listens is inspired to feel a little less separate from the rest”.
Posted By AO (FL) @ 4:15 PM |
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