by Traci Nubalo
It’s always exciting when a Second Life musician releases a new song collection and all the more so when several SL musicians collaborate on a project. It displays the huge depth of talent that we have among the working musicians here in SL.
That’s the case with veteran SL player Lexie Luan and her newly-released project appropriately titled “Meet Lexie.” She comes from the Philadelphia live scene where she gigged and recorded with The Lexie Smith Band. She’s been playing the virtual club circuit since March, steadily building a large and loyal following.Lexie and I sat together recently to listen to the four tracks on the set. I found it to be a nicely-performed and produced piece. In fact, it turns out that our friend Zorch Boomhauer, one of Second Life’s premier singer/songwriters took the helm as producer and session player.
Traci Nubalo: Lexie, I really enjoyed the collection. Who are the backing musicians on it?
Lexie Luan: Well, I played two rhythm guitar tracks and sang lead and harmony vocals. Zorch produced the project and contributed another layer of guitars, and also played bass and drums.
TN: Excellent. Very nice work. I especially enjoyed the open and spacious feeling in the production. Everything sounds crystal clear.
Let’s listen to the first track “I Could Get Used To You”. What’s the origin of the song?
LL: When I wrote the song I was looking to describe the feelings of a new , fresh kind of love. It was like meeting someone I could really like; it's about the possibilities. I had written so many sad break up songs and I wanted to say something positive.
TN: Yes, I got that. But I can also sense a little conflict in it. You want this new relationship to move forward, but there’s something holding a part of you back. You sing “Still there‘s a part of me/I don‘t want anyone to see.”.
LL: And it’s not just me. I think that just about anyone can identify with it.
TN: Yes, of course. We've all been there.
LL: *laughing* Well, you don’t want to give away the whole store without using a safety net!
TNL: *laughing*
LL: I also like that the song has this James Bond feel to it. Sort of Lexie 007!
TN: Yes. Great observation now that you mention it. It really would make a great Bond theme.
Zorch also added a very tasty Spanish guitar-style lead guitar break.
LL: He had been playing with me for a while and he said that he heard it turning out like this all along.
TN: That’s classic Zorch, isn’t it?
LL: Yep! *laughter* Overall, I’m really happy about the way this track came out. It’s really honest.
The rest of the collection impressed me as being as good as the opener. Lexie’s voice throughout carries great emotional weight. She’s able to express herself in a number of significant ways via dynamic change, alternate voice inflection, and even a sexy little growl which she uses sparingly but to great effect.
Her guitar work is steady all the way through with rhythms that accurately support the story, and occasional little lead bits that add some sonic color.
A couple of the tracks, “Throwaway Girl” and the set-closing rocker “Warning Label” are already crowd favorites at Luan’s numerous SL club gigs. I’m certain that this collection will be eagerly gobbled up by her many fans inworld.
TN: Lexie, you have a very loyal audience here in SL. What would you like to say to them?
LL: They come to my shows because they identify with the music. That means they are paying attention and listening. And I thank each and every one of them for that.
They are the reason that I play here.
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Shine stage to welcome Buckley Moonwall,
Strum Diesel and others
in Dec.10 Grand Opening Concert
by Traci Nubalo
On December 10th, Shine - the new Second Life music and arts sim - invites you to a Grand Opening Concert featuring the great Buckley Moonwall and SL favorite Strum Diesel. Opening the show will be Carmel Daines, one of SL’s new and popular female singer/songwriters, and the 19-year-old “one-boi band” Geoffrey “Goof” Unsworth who will continue his series of Beatle album covers with a performance of RUBBER SOUL -- the entire album, complete and uninterrupted!
* * * *
One of my early spiritual teachers taught me that the only things one should have in her home should be items that are either beautiful or functional. I was reminded of that lesson when I first saw Shine, Second Life’s new music and arts sim.
The performance area at Shine is truly a thing of visual wonder. From the air I was guided in by the three intertwining rings (symbolizing eternity) laid into the dance floor at the mainstage, just next to the wood swirls of a gorgeous fire sculpture. There is truly beauty in every direction with whimsically-stunning mountains rising up on two sides and a fascinating eyelet of rock emerging from the mysterious sea behind the stage. Total beauty and function - a perfect place to dance and sing and celebrate our Second Lives!
And on December 10th that is exactly what we are invited to do!
The owners of Shine - my good friends Kaitlyn Merlin and DJ Babenco - are presenting a fabulous Grand Opening Concert, with the help of me, Traci Nubalo and SECOND TIMES.
With one of the hottest and most interesting lineups in memory, the extravaganza will kick off at 4:00 pm SL time with Goof Unsworth, a 19-year-old musical phenom. His forte is called “album immersion” in which he creates complete backing tracks for a song or album, and then uses them to perform the piece with his own voice streaming live. At the Shine event he will perform The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” in its entirety, uninterrupted. This is a unique act - not to be missed!
At 5:00 Carmel Daines will grace the Shine stage with her country-tinged originals and pleasantly-surprising selection of covers. She’s a first-rate acoustic guitarist, and has a voice from heaven. Only in SL since August, Carmel is fast becoming one of the darlings of the SL singer/songwriter set. If you haven’t seen her yet, this is the place to catch her act!
6:00 will bring the great Strum Diesel to the stage. He’s one of Second Life’s most-loved performers both for his awesome instrumental/vocal/writing abilities and for his commitment to raising consciousness on the planet through his work and his life. His shows are fast-paced and upbeat with lots of audience interaction. With eight song collections under his belt, and a nonstop inworld playing schedule, Strum appears to be everywhere in Second Life. And we’re very glad that he’ll be joining us at Shine.
Buckley Moonwall rocks the house at 7:00. BILLBOARD MAGAZINE has called him “One of the top independent artists in America” and both SECOND TIMES and TREET-TV have compared him to Bruce Springsteen. Moonwall is one of those “can’t take your eyes and ears off him”-type performers. Backing his amazing storytelling songs with powerful guitar and melodic harmonica, Buckley weaves a musical web that is capturing music lovers from all corners of the grid.
And after the smoke clears, the Shine stage will continue into the night with dancing to streamed music featuring live Bob Marley and much more!
This concert is dedicated to raising awareness and consciousness in both worlds, and to sharing personal and global peace and happiness everywhere. So put that darkness aside for an evening, and join us to Shine!
4:00 - Goof Unsworthy
5:00 - Carmel Daines
6:00 - Strum Diesel
7:00 - Buckley Moonwall
8:00 - Dancing under the stars to streaming music
