rickyleepotts.com | a voice of rhythm, reason, & reality

The world-premier of Dubspot Online, a new, state of the art, web-based learning environment, is now just days away. Launching Monday, January 31st with the Ableton Live Producer Certificate Program, this new educational system will reinvent how people begin their careers in music production through its unique approaches to developing technical knowledge, artistic growth, and hands-on learning.

The Ableton Live Producer Certificate Program provides comprehensive technical knowledge while also informing a student’s entire journey of becoming an artist. Through each of the six levels, programming techniques inside Ableton become increasingly rich and complex, while also becoming more tailored to a student’s personal voice and genre. Specialized compositional skills and story-telling methods are developed at an individual level, while Dubspot’s elite group of instructors demonstrate their own unique and effective work flow methods, from the basic to the advanced. Dubspot Online students leave with ability to improvise both creatively and technically, and invent new ways of bending the capabilities of Ableton around their individual goals.

By the end of the program, students will have developed a portfolio of work that includes 1. a four track EP, 2. a submission to an active remix contest, and 3. a video reel of commercials scored with their original compositions. Upon completion of this portfolio and an administrative review, successful students receive Dubspot’s Ableton Live Producer Certificate – an acknowledgment of their success, and a mark of Dubspot’s high standards.

Many other Dubspot Online courses on music production and DJing are starting soon. See dates below and visit dubspot.com/online-school for more details. Online students will also have access to community-wide forums for technical, artistic, and cultural discussions among staff, faculty, and visiting artists. These forums serve as an ever-growing knowledge base and connecting point for aspiring and established artists alike. Together with high quality instructional videos, bi-weekly chats, a variety of educational resources, online workshops, and more, Dubspot will revolutionize the world of online education in music production and DJing, just as it did the physical experience in the classroom.

Dubspot Online Upcoming Start Dates

Ableton Live – January 31, 2011
Essential Music Foundations – February 21, 2011
Mixing & Mastering – March 13, 2011
Sound Design & Synthesis – March 27, 2011
Reason & Record – April 3, 2011
Logic Pro – April 3, 2011
Digital DJing w/ Traktor – April 17, 2011

*Registration is now open at  dubspot.com/online-school.

Dubspot.com  has been re-designed and re-imagined to provide an intuitive, user-friendly experience, featuring an in-depth overview of the educational opportunities offered, plus videos discussing the school, students, and community, instructor profiles, details on their facilities, and more. Search for classes either by software or by focus (DJ, producer, or both), and check out the latest from the Dubspot Blog, which hosts in-depth artist interviews, smart technology reviews, inside industry updates, and exciting news from all around the music world.

It took me a long time to see this movie, but I finally watched The Social Network. I didn’t see this in the theater even though everyone that saw it had nothing but good things to say about it. Considering that I am obsessed with social media, including but not limited to Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and more, it took me forever to finally watch this. But a Saturday night, home alone, and with nothing to do but be bored, I headed to Redbox and picked this up.

Now, this movie has since won a few awards at the Golden Globe Awards. It actually won movie of the year, and while this movie was good – very good – it does not deserve to be movie of the year. Let me start with the good parts about this film.

I have been on Facebook since the very beginning. The social service, to date, has over 600 million registered accounts and over 90 billion pieces of data. (That includes pages, events, groups, and more.) There is a lot of content on this social site, and recently it topped Google as the most visited site on the Internet with 7% of all web traffic, and 34% of all web searches. That is impressive to say the least. But the point of this blog post is not to talk about Facebook stats; it’s to talk about the movie.

This movie is the story of Facebook. As you may or may not know, the guy that originally started Facebook “stole” the idea. Whether that is true or not, he built it. The guys that he stole the idea from were going to have him build it regardless, hence why he was sued (for $600 million) and why he paid them without batting an eye. Facebook is currently worth $50 billion. So what he had to cough up (he being Mark Zuckerbuerg, Time Magazine’s man of the year) was nothing.

Jesse Eisenberg plays Mark in this film, and does a fantastic job with it. He deserves a few awards just for his role in this film. Justin Timberlake makes an appearance, as well as a few other faces you have seen on TV and on the big screen lately. But Jesse is the main character and plays a major part in this film. I mean, he is the guy who created Facebook.

The movie quickly jumps from the concept for the service to the development of the service, to Mark’s move to the Silicon Valley, and more. It is literally a two-hour montage. Then we get to the good stuff. Then the lawyers get involved. You see, two different parties were suing Mark at the same time. That is mixed in together, and could easily confuse the average viewer. I highly recommend you research the story of The Facebook before you watch this film. (Facebook was originally called The Facebook, until Sean Parker told him to change it. Speaking of Sean Parker, did you know that he created Napster?)

The ending of this film is horrible. You are literally smack dab in the middle of these two lawsuits, and then all of a sudden… it’s over. Sure, the story of Facebook lives on today. It will continue to grow until God knows when. But the movie could have ended differently and still had an equal impact.

The cast is great, the acting is incredible, and the movie is fun to watch. The soundtrack is mediocre, and for a film of this magnitude, a true iconic film that will be watched by millions of people, I felt they should have added a little more effort toward the soundtrack. But the movie was great, 4/5 stars from my perspective.

In Recent News

This just in; Sean Parker is calling the movie a joke. He called it a “complete work of fiction”. Mark, on the other hand, said this is pretty accurate, saying that what happened is in the film, but how it happened is not accurate. When he was originally sued for $600 million he walked into the room, took out his checkbook, and wrote out a check. It was that simple. But, as all Hollywood movies go, you have to add a love story and some action, alcohol abuse, and drug use to the mix to make a film successful. This film has all that and more.

If you are on Facebook (I would love to meet someone who is NOT on Facebook at this point in time), then you need to see this movie. It’s long, but keeps your attention. I applaud Jesse Eisenberg for his role, and I hope that Mr. Parker can get his stories straight. I hope he is not just trying to steal some of the spotlight from this great work of art.

Alright, well, I need to get back to Facebook. Or The Facebook? I think I like it as The Facebook. What do you think?

On Thursday and Friday, January 27 and 28, the Grammy nominated Metropolis Ensemble presents Hallucinations, a mind-bending concert featuring the world premiere electronic-acoustic remix by Ricardo Romaneiro of John Corigliano’s Three Hallucinations, based on his Academy Award-nominated film score to Altered States, paired with music by Enrico Chapela and newly commissioned electronic-acoustic works by Du Yun, Gity Razaz, and Ricardo Romaniero.

Hallucinations is an adaptation of selections from composer John Corigliano’s Academy Award-nominated iconic film score Altered States, as re-imagined by Ricardo Romaneiro for chamber orchestra and live electronics. Surrealistic instrumental and electronic effects are combined with frenetic orchestral textures and sparse, eerie melodies to create a surround-sound cinematic experience.

Using programs like Ableton Live/Max and Sibelius, composer Ricardo Romaneiro has created electronic-acoustic remixes, performed live with analog synth modules and drum machines as well as controlling computers using a Lemur touch controller. In addition, orchestral instruments such as harp, bass, keyboard, bassoon and strings are processed through the electronics. For Hallucinations, Romaneiro re-arranged pieces originally written for a large orchestra to be performed by a smaller chamber orchestra, remixing and adding electronic elements in the process. The result is not simply electronics added to an orchestral instruments, but an true integration of the two. “The orchestra is electrified; vibrations from the strings run in harmony with electronic currents,” Romaneiro says. “The key is to blend the sounds as one.”

Including Hallucinations, the concert features four “World Premiere” Metropolis Ensemble commissions.

Romaniero’s Strata, for chamber orchestra and electronics, weaves the listener through layers of pulsating grooves and radiant harmonies, creating a kaleidoscopic tapestry of sound and rhythm.
The Metamorphosis of Narcissus by Gity Razaz is structured as a triplex musical soundscape with each section exploring an internal/psychological stage of Narcissus’ metamorphosis. Themes from the first section return as fragments in expanded form, giving an overall sense of perpetual development.

Rising star composer Du Yun contributes Fallen Warriors, the Cihuacoatl’s Eye for winds, string quartet, and electronics. Du Yun uses her unique voice to shed light on the Aztec mythology of Cihuacoatl, the goddess of fertility and childbirth. In many traditions, childbirth has long been compared to warfare and the women who die in childbirth are honored as fallen warriors. At once chaotic and monstrous, this piece ultimately traces a sense of resilient lament.

Receiving its New York Premiere will be Enrico Chapela’s work LiPo, based on the poem Li Po by the Mexican poet José Juan Tablada, who took inspiration from the life of the Chinese poet Li Po. Tablada traveled to the Far East during the first years of the last century where he discovered the poetry of Li Po. This poem is based on Li Po’s biography and on a free Spanish translation of his most famous work, “Drinking alone with the moon”.

About Metropolis Ensemble

Metropolis Ensemble is a nonprofit professional chamber orchestra and collective of the finest emerging performing artists and composers today. Led by Grammy-nominated conductor Andrew Cyr, Metropolis Ensemble is dedicated to launching the next generation of outstanding composers and performers and has quickly established a reputation for presenting “new music played with the same kind of panache and bravura we usually experience only in performances of standard repertoire” (Esa-Pekka Salonen).

Founded in 2006, Metropolis Ensemble has commissioned fifty-five new works of music from a dynamic mix of young composers and is becoming a leading producer of unique, innovative, and interactive concert experiences. The Ensemble attracts diverse audiences by engaging arts enthusiasts to be active participants in the creation, performance, and perpetuation of the music and organization. Metropolis Ensemble is equally dedicated to making a difference in our local community by collaborating with other cultural organizations, nonprofit partners, and schools to serve under-resourced populations.

Metropolis Ensemble has appeared with the Wordless Music Series, Lincoln Center, Celebrate Brooklyn!, (le) Poisson Rouge, Carnegie Hall, and in radio broadcasts by WNYC Radio, National Public Radio, KSJN Minneapolis, and KBAQ Phoenix. Recently, Metropolis Ensemble was delighted to announce a classical nomination in the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards (2010) for Avi Avital (soloist) and Andrew Cyr (conductor) (with Metropolis Ensemble) for Avner Dorman’s Mandolin Concerto, part of their first studio album, Avner Dorman’s Concertos.  The album was made in collaboration with producer David Frost and appears on the NAXOS American Classics imprint.

For those of you who don’t know me, my entire apartment is decorated in French decor. I love the city of Paris, and have spent a lot of time there. From the Eiffel Tower to the beaches of Normandy, France just captured my heart the first time I visited. Ever since I have been hooked on their culture and their way of life. That is why, when this young artist contacted me for an interview, I was delighted to give her music a listen. From the first note, I was again hooked. It wasn’t because all of the lyrics were in French (although that did help as I like to listen to music in foreign languages), it was because the sound is something so powerful, something so epic that I had to sit down. I am not kidding here, listen to some of this work and tell me you are not inspired. Then I saw the music video for the tune I Don’t Care. You want to talk about a good song, let alone a magical video. Just watch, you will see. It was my pleasure to sit down with this artist, and it my absolute pleasure to introduce you to her here today. I am sitting with French performing artist Aube L.

Wait a second, you are from France? Are you born and raised in France?

Yes, I was born and I grew up the south of France.

You will be happy to know that my entire apartment is decorated in French décor. I love Paris. Do you visit Paris quite often?

Oh yes, Paris is beautiful and has something unique! I’m curious to see how an appartement is decorated in French décor! I like the culture and the movement of this town but, I miss the sun a lot and sometimes the silence too!

How long have you been performing?

Oh, it has been almost two and a half years.

Some of your tracks are in English. Some of them are in French. How do you decide which language you want to use?

That’s a good question! The only thing that helps me decide is the musicality of the word. You know, French is a special language. Every word has a musicality almost brutal and broken. In English, the words ring soft, tender flexible and melodic.

When we sing, we need to feel that the language goes out of the body as a long continuous thread which we bring out as one goes along… And my way of singing asks me to use tones which leave me the possibility of passing of the grave in the treble with no problem at all.

How did you learn how to speak (and to type) in English?

Oh it’s funny, I learned to speak English by writing songs and letters. In this period, I corresponded with a German boy (“heysleepyhead “). We made songs together (“Oh I Felt”).  And, even today, my English is not perfect but I try very hard!

Have you ever been to the United States?

Never. But it would be great to be able to visit one day!

Who are some of your biggest influences?

I have so many musical, film, literary influences… My influences are human! In all I listen, see, breathe, read, I search the human being behind. But, musically, I have a big admiration for Björk! Her inspiration and her liberty have no limit.

I assume traveling to other countries in Europe is similar to traveling to other states here in America. Do you travel often?

Yes, but not enough! I like performing everywhere! Meet lots of people, discover other streets, other worlds. It is always so enriching humanely… And then, I am lucky because my music arouses a really particular human contact. People are what they are with me by forgetting all the masks which they give themselves socially. I love that!

What is the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

(Laughs) People in the street! I say it almost like a joke but, there is some truth in this sentence. I have played in La Cigale, it is a big concert hall in Paris. It was intense!

The smallest?

One time, I sang in a bar and I was blinded by the light, I could only see two persons! One man, totally drunk, and my friend! It was really hard for me, I had the feeling to play for a empty room, but I have learnt something. You don’t know really how you touch and who are here! When I have finished, a man that I had not seen before came up to me and said. “This concert was very important to him”. And, one day later, I receive a mail from a man who explains me how he lived my concert and he says me that never, he would never forget this moment. This mail was very touching.
So, I have understood that the most important thing is to sing for the univers when you think that you have nobody in front of you.

Where do you get your inspiration for a new track?

For years, I have found my inspiration in my past… After, it was my present, here and now, but always linked to my past. And today, i’m really surprised because all my lyrics concern the world, people and life! How can we live and make better in our lives, in our own truth? How can we be happy? I think I’m growing up!

What is your first memory of the guitar?

Oh, it’s a good question! My way with the music is a little bit particular! I have learnt the violin when I was a child. And when I stopped playing it (13 years old), I quit everything . But, some years after, when I got a guitar, I felt like it was the key to a door of some place inside of me, some place hidden for so many years! So, my first memory of the guitar is like a feeling to be born.

Tell me a little bit more about Souls to the Wind.

Souls to the Wind is an album about living plainly and also about the fear of falling! all of songs are like this question: what can we do to touch the light with our dark side?

What would you be doing if you were not performing?

Wow, what a question! I think that I would have been a psychiatrist! I am very fascinated by the strength of the human being. We can survive and adapt ourselves to everything, it is a question of the way you think. Everything that I make is on that: how I am made to survive?

Do you write all of your own lyrics?

Yes. During a period of my life (when music was not in my life), I wanted to be a writer! I am passionate by language. And, I have learnt to live by reading! To write is the possibility to share and speak all the things that I care about! Anyway, I know that silence is death, I speak to live.

Your video for I Don’t Care is incredible. Where did you come up with that idea?

Yes, I am still under this video’s spell! I have had the great chance to meet Arnaud Lalanne, the director. He is the one who had all those awesome ideas… He asked me to talk about the story of my song and he found the best way to make those ideas pictured. Everything is magic and beautiful in this video!

Where did you film that? It is so epic!

Oh yes, it was literally epic indeed! I had never touched a horse before, and when we have made the part in the forest, it rained every five minutes! But it was magic because every one here was incredible! Very talented and so human! A truly timeless moment.

How many tattoos do you have?

(Laughs) Your questions surprises me! I have certain number of tattoos… Now, I don’t know exactly how many! Maybe 15! For me, I try to make a tattoo looks like a ritual. When I spent an important step of my life, I crystallize it in an image or a symbol. You can read my story on my body…

I see you have some live shows coming up. What can someone expect from you in a live performance?

Oh, it is difficult to say but I can say how is the scene for me! It’s as if you built a unique world to share with people present in the room. An earth where each one lives what he is in the most true part. For me, it looks like a crossing of appearances and I think that it is the same for every body else… A lot of people come to see me at the end of the concert and say to me that they were profoundly touched and that they had the sensation to live a timeless moment. I can just say that I bring on stage all that I am and all which made me with all my sincerity.

Your website and your MySpace page use the color red. Not just any red, a deep, dark red. Is there any reason for that? (I must say, it fits your sound perfectly.)

This color came naturally… And now that you say it, maybe that this red looks like blood! And, finally, when you think of it, the blood is the life, the blood symbolizes the joy of living! When you lose it, you are afraid of dying!!

Fade Into the Moon has a radio version. Is your work on the radio in Europe?

Yes! Little by little, my songs get to air on the radio!

You are way too talented to not be on a record label. Are you actively seeking  representation?

Oh thank you! I just can say that French have a very intellectual relation with the music while everywhere else, the music comes through the body.  And it goes without saying that labels looking for products have no interests in me.

So, I follow my path and as my music travels from hearts to hearts, I have good hope to be able to touch some more people!

What is the best concert you have ever been to?

It was a concert of Gossip! It was magic to feel this special connection between every persons and beth Ditto!! in those moments we feel full of love and strength!

You had a song in Des Illusions. What was like that hearing your work on the big screen?

Oh! I actually did all music for this movie and it was very touching and great to listen  to those songs I wrote while at the movies!

You are on Facebook, MySpace, and have a website. How do you keep all these social media sites straight?

Oh, all by myself! It is one major discovery when you become a musician, you become too a industry director! It’s not always so much fun for me, but I accept it… until I find some interesting label!

Tell me about the rest of your band mates.

Oh, I am alone! I decided to work alone on this album and on tour. During a certain time, I have played with musicians. My envy evolved and also my musical style finally! When I played with 4 musicians on stage, I was in a post rock period and I wanted a massive sound!

And one day, I wanted much more relief, silences, delicacy and nevertheless strong. Then, I tried to play in duet with Syn-, who was in the bass and the guitar. It was brilliant but I wanted to be able to touch people even more. I understood that I would have this sharing only by playing only. Playing alone make you completely free and involved at every moment with the audience. Everything gets more intense! Today, I want this connection but at the same time, I would love to work with an orchestra!

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself on a big scene with a lot of people and we are all united and connected as all the trees of a forest are!! Seriously, music makes my heart beat and carries me through life to an extent I could not have possibly thought! One day, after a concert, someone told me, “Really, you don’t sing, you are!” I was impressed by the strength of what she said to me because yes, when I sing, I feel that I am where I was meant to be and this much more strongly when I sing for people.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

Wow! This question is not easy! Maybe that i made music like i lived, with my heart and with sincerity!

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

First of all, I want to thank every people who are helping me on my way! And I’m really lucky!  I didn’t forget where I come from and i know that if I became who I am, it is because I have met a lot of people full of love, faith and generosity. And, particularly for Souls to the Wind“, thanks to Jo.ha.nD who made me the artwork, Siegfried Hand who made me the mastering and Arnaud Lalanne for his beautiful pictures on the cd and this incredible video clip!

My last words will be to wish to everyone to keeping their souls to the wind, it is my way of saying that as long as we are really ALIVE, we will be making ourselves a better world!

The boat simply could not sink. That is what people believed as they boarded the Titanic. The ship was to take passengers from Southampton to New York City. She left port on her maiden voyage with 3,547 passengers and 860 crewmembers aboard. The boat set sail on April 10^th, 1912. The ship never made it to New York City. The boat would strike an iceberg and sink to the bottom of the ocean on April 15^th, 1912.

When the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) Titanic set sail back in 1912, everyone on board was excited for the journey ahead. The ship was in pristine shape, and was led by Captain Edward J. Smith. Captain Smith was actually set to retire, but was convinced to take the Titanic on her maiden voyage.

Rather than sit here and tell you about the ship, her voyage, and the historic fate of the boat, I wanted to talk to you about the artifact exhibition that was on display at the Indiana State Museum. It was the official artifact exhibition and was on display at the state museum from September 25^th through January 16^th, 2011.

I had the chance to go see the exhibition first hand, and was blown away with the number of artifacts on display and the story that was told as I made my way through the exhibition. I have always been impressed with the way the Indiana State Museum is able to tell a story by the way they display their exhibitions. This was no exception, and it was quite possibly the best exhibit I have seen to date.

The exhibition had over 240 artifacts on display and literally told a story as you traveled from one room to the next. This is the largest collection of Titanic artifacts on display anywhere in the world.

The first room had a few artifacts in it, including some thermometers. This might not seem like a cool artifact at first, but these thermometers still had the mercury intact. Each artifact that has been removed from the debris field is collected and restored separately. These delicate thermometers are over 100 years old, and are sitting here as if they had never been touched.

The Titanic sits over two and half miles below the surface of the ocean. For a recovery mission to take place, it takes nearly two hours to get to the wreck site. Being that far under water, the water pressure is 6,000 pounds per square inch. Because of that, artifacts are literally suffering constant deterioration. It is said that the entire ship itself will disappear due to corrosion within the next fifty years.

Larger Than Life Images on Display

One thing that interested me about the exhibition was the collection of photographs. There were tons of photos on display, some showing the ship being built, others showing passengers just having a good time on board. The images are creepy, to say the least, and the folks at Premier Exhibitions have done a great job preserving these memories to showcase to the world.

The ship was built at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast. She weighed in at 46,328 tons and had a top speed of about 23 knots. To walk through the exhibition and see photos of this ship being built was a great way to appreciate the sheer size of this thing. One of the images on display showed a few of the workers hammering away on the outside of the ship. The hull was built from thousands of one-inch thick steel plates that were secured to the frame of the boat with steel rivets. A few of these rivets were even on display. It is estimated that over three million rivets were used to hold this ship together.

First & Third Class Accommodations

Some of the coolest parts of this exhibition were the room re-creations they had on display. While walking through the exhibit, the first room you come to is a complete re-creation of first class accommodations. Not only did they have the room setup with tables, chairs, beds, and even wallpaper from the time period, they had actors on hand to explain the rooms. There was an older lady and her daughter, and she explained how the first class passengers were treated.

At the time, it would cost you roughly $2,500 to set sail on the Titanic as a first class passenger. To give you an idea of just how expensive that was, it would cost you around $40,000 today. It wasn’t cheap. But with those accommodations you not only had the best possible service imaginable, you got your very own bathroom. That was a big deal back then as second and third class passengers had to share bathrooms with more than one family.

When we got to the room that showcased the third class accommodations, I was shocked at the size of the room. From what the guide said, second class was not much different than first, but third class was all down below the deck. When I saw the room, the first thing that came to mind was a college dorm room. There were four beds to a room, and could hold families of six if need be. There were families that sucked it up and dealt with the small quarters to make it to the USA.

Put a Cork in It

Back then, when the Titanic set sail, beer and wine bottles were not capped as they are today. Corks were used for all bottles. On display they had a handful of wine and beer bottles, some with the corks still intact. As a matter of fact, some of them not only had the corks intact, they still had the liquid inside. Imagine being able to go over two miles to the bottom of the ocean, nearly one hundred years since the ship sank, and recover unopened bottles of wine and beer. They are just cool to look at if nothing else!

Freezing Cold in Here

After seeing all of the accommodations and checking out some more artifacts, you enter a room a little colder than the last. This room was to showcase the actual sinking of the ship. In one corner there was an actual iceberg. The Titanic hit an iceberg, which tore a huge hole in the side of the ship, and you could actually touch an iceberg to see what one feels like.

Another cool thing on display in this room was a tub of water. The water was set to the same temperature it was the night the ship sank. It was cold! I did my open water certification dives in cold water, but this was insane! Seeing as how the ship hit an iceberg, you can imagine how chilly this water was. It was so cold that if you jumped in, you would die within minutes without protection. (Check out an episode of Whale Wars on the Animal Planet. The water they are in is just as cold! Thanks to the Atlantic Ocean I suppose.)

The Before & After Photos

In the same room as the iceberg, there were three large photos on the wall taken at the actual wreck site. One of these images was of a bench. The photo was taken at the wreck site, where there is no light what so ever. The room we were in was dark too, so the creepy feeling I had before was back. But the cool thing about the photos (three in total) was that the actual artifacts were also there. So the bench that you are staring at on the bottom of the ocean was sitting there in the museum for all of us to see.

There was also a stack of dishes that were literally buried in the sand on the bottom of the ocean floor. They were recovered and on display just as they were found.

Did you know that Premier Exhibition, in conjunction with RMS Titanic, Inc. is the only company in the world allowed to visit and to recover artifacts from the debris field? They have been to the wreck eight times, with plans for more dives soon. Also note that no one, not even the RMS Titanic, Inc. is allowed to go onto the ship itself. This is considered an underwater grave and also serves as a sign of respect for the lives lost on that chilly morning.

Did You Make It?

When you first enter the exhibition, you are handed a boarding pass. On the back of the boarding pass is some detailed information about an actual passenger on the RMS Titanic. As you go through, you can’t help but think about that passenger. You learn your name, your class, and who you were with on the boat. This really comes into play in the last room of the exhibition.

When you enter the last room, on one wall is a huge dossier of the entire list of passengers on the ship. It breaks it down by class and those who survived versus those who perished. You can literally walk over and see if you survived or died the night the ship sank. It’s a creepy, yet heartwarming touch to the exhibition. It makes you feel for those lives lost, and the closest thing I could compare it to would be those affected by the attack on the twin towers on 9/11.

The exhibition is making its way around from city to city, state to state, and country to country. The exhibition strives to tell a new story each time it goes on display, and the artifacts literally change with each and every stop along the way. This exhibition at the Indiana State Museum was the largest collection of artifacts every brought together at once, and was the first time the Titanic ever stopped by the Hoosier state.

I am sure you have seen the blockbuster film featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, but nothing comes close to seeing these artifacts up close and personal. Until you have seen this exhibition you have not experienced the Titanic. The last survivor of the shipwreck passed away in 2009 and while there might not be anyone left on earth that remembers that dreadful night, the artifacts continue to live on. I am honored that I was able to take part in this exhibit, and I look forward to learning more about the ship as time goes by.

Please take a moment of silence for all of the men, women, and children that lost their lives that night.

This movie starts out with a man… a man dressing mice. Stay with me, it does get better. Well, sort of.

So as the man stands here dressing and arranging these mice, I tell Sheryl, “I hope they never explain this. I want this movie to end and never explain these mice.” Sure enough, the movie starts, and for a good forty-five minutes you have no idea what these mice are all about. It eventually comes into play, and plays a major part in this film, but still a weird way to start a movie.

This movie features some pretty big names such as Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis, and Jemaine Clement from the HBO series Flight of the Concords. The acting is good, but there are a handful of scenes that are just completely ridiculous.

The idea behind this film is simple. Tim, played by Paul Rudd, is trying to get a much-needed promotion. Before he lands the job, he must partake in a “party” where all the big wigs get together. The concept of this party is to bring one “guest”. These guests must have special talents; basically they must be idiots.

Tim finds his guest of honor by literally running him over with his car. Here come the mice. Barry, played by Steve Carell, works for the IRS, and his hobby is to build scenes from our history with dead mice. I know, it’s weird, but hey, he’s a nice guy.

Barry eventually ruins Tim’s relationship, and there is a lot of drama there. But the overall moral of this story is doing the right thing. Even though Barry is an idiot, Tim realizes he is a nice guy and all he is trying to do is be a friend. I know people like this, heck some of my best friends are like this. That’s why I love them and what makes them interesting.

The movie is decent, and I gave it 3/5 stars for all the good one-liners. I was laughing out loud at a lot of Barry’s commentary. I wouldn’t watch it again, and I would suggest that you watch it with a room full of friends.

This film did make me look at dead mice in a whole new light.

The last time I heard from these guys they were performing in the Circle City trying to make a name for themselves. Now, out of nowhere, I hear they are down in Atlanta, Georgia with a new name, a new face, some new members, and a new sound. Well, “sounds” might be a more appropriate way of putting it. They are rock. They are rap. They are hip-hop. Basically, they are a little bit of everything. Regardless, they are good. That’s all that matters. The other day I got a phone call from their newest member asking to do an interview. Of course, that’s what I do!

I have known their front man for a long time and was excited to hear about all their success down south. We set up a time to chat and got caught up on years past. It’s hard to compare these guys to anyone else, but it is my absolute pleasure to sit down with the guys in KontaBand Muzik.

Wait a minutes, I thought you guys all lived in Indiana. What happened?

About a year ago, we signed a management contract with a company who had a lot of label connections in Atlanta.  After showcasing with Konvict (Akon’s label), our management made it pretty clear that it would be much easier shopping us around if we were more accessible.  We had spent a lot of time in Indiana.  All of us had been in pretty successful projects in the Midwest, and we felt like we took it as far as we could there.  We needed to take a chance.

So how long have you been living in Atlanta?

We have been down here for about a year.

What made you decide to move to ATL?

Opportunity.  With our style of music, and the success rate of the artists coming out of the South, we felt like our music was diverse and different enough to break through, and that we could be seen in an area that was producing a lot of talent.

How is the local music scene down there?

It’s amazing.  The talent level is nuts.  Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of talent in Indiana, but because Atlanta is a larger city there are more aspiring artists, more talent, and more venues.

(Davey) The music scene is very competitive but at the same time people are always helping each other out.  Hip-hop in Atlanta is the equivalent to rock and country in Nashville. The music is everywhere and the culture is very accepting of it.

Tell me more about the band.

It’s a mash up of different influences and talent.  We’ve got a hip-hop DJ, a drummer and bass player that were in gospel, funk, and R&B projects, a guitar player influenced by jam/pop/rock, and an emcee with a rock background who can also sing.  That allows us to experiment with a lot of different styles and sounds, and constantly evolve.  We’ll never be stuck in one category of music or sound.  We feel like it can appeal to people of all musical tastes.

Describe your genre in one word.

I hope we can use a hyphen. I would say “mash-up” pretty much sums us up.

Where did you guys all meet?

Davey, Dox, and I have all known each other from playing many of the same bars in Indy, while in different projects.  Dox and I being in The Franchize, and Davey in Austin Bridges.  Leon and Jeremy had known each other from playing in church together, and different R&B and soul projects that they were involved in.  When The Franchize broke up, I met Leon while he was playing with another group, and we decided perform live together during my solo stuff.  Leon suggested putting a band together, grabbed Jeremy, and I eventually pulled Davey in to be on guitar.  It was kind of crazy how it all happened, since we were all a bit familiar with each other from other projects, and an opportunity came where we were all looking for a project and challenge, and decided to form KontraBand Muzik.

You guys recently signed with KG/Universal. How did that all come about?

Very random.  I was working with a guy in Atlanta who passed along the demo CD to his friend, Teddy.  Teddy had a friend who owned KG Records.  KG liked the music, and came out to see a show at DePauw University that Davey had set up.  He put an offer out the next week.  It sounds like an overnight thing, but we had put in a lot of work with some majors, and didn’t get the result/offer we were looking for.  This was the best opportunity for us, and we’re excited about it.  It’s crazy how things work out sometime.

Are you working on a full album?

Oh, yes.  It’s self-titled and was released the middle of this month actually. It will have around nineteen tracks, and you can get it on our website, as well as iTunes. It will be all over the web.

Who writes all of your lyrics?

Nate, but Dox came up with the hook for Rockin’ That Shit, and we always take the feedback and ideas of the other members.

(Davey) The next record will involve more collaboration between the band.  This record is the product of songs written by Nate before this band was fully formed.  Everyone in the band brings a different flavor and skill to song writing.

Where do you guys practice?

We practice in our living room.

You guys have a favorite venue?

In Indy I would have to say Peppers and the Vogue Theater.  In Athens it’s Sideways. In Atlanta Apache Cafe.

(Davey) I look forward to going out to LA and NYC with this group to my favorite venues we’ve both played in our other projects.  I really love playing the Roxy and The Whiskey A-Go-Go in LA and The Knitting Factory in NYC.

You guys have jobs outside of music?

Odd jobs, but no career type jobs.

What is the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

Probably 1,000 people or so.

The smallest?

Oh, I’d say five. (Laughs)

I know it’s been over a year, but it still seems to be affecting the music industry. How did you react to the passing of Michael Jackson?

I think everyone was disappointed in the way that it happened, and sad that we didn’t get to see what would’ve been an amazing final tour.  I don’t think it’s possible to make music without being influenced even a little by Michael Jackson.  But, the main thing is that I think a lot of people truly forgot how great his music was, and after his passing, with all of the re-releases coming out, you truly appreciate his talent and soul.

What does a typical Friday night look like for you?

Fuzzy.

(Davey) (Laughs) Loud with a lot of laughter.  We have a lot of fun.  We make homemade music videos every week made up of movie clips we take of stuff that happens throughout the week.  We capture the shenanigans, jokes, and pranks we pull and edit them to our songs.  We film everything! Anyone who hangs out with us is subject to being in a video.

What would you be doing if you were not performing?

Partying, playing video games, joking around.  It’s really a fun bunch of guys to be around.  Lots of laughs.

You guys have a show coming up in the Netherlands. Everyone have his passports?

Working on it… (Laughs)

You played overseas before?

Not as a band.  We’re really looking forward to it.

(Davey) I’ve been to every state in the continental US and driven across the country six times but have never been out of the country.  I absolutely cannot wait to get overseas and experience new cultures.  Plus, Amsterdam is a heck of a place to kick off my European travels. (Laughs)

What are your thoughts on the current state of the music industry?

It sucks; at least when it comes to the majors.  They’re only looking for web hits.  They don’t talent scout anymore.  So, as a musician, you’ve got to become your own marketing guru, as well.  I think that takes away from the art.  On the other hand, it definitely frees up the independents to carve their own niche, which is why we signed with one.

Social media is becoming a crucial part of marketing. You guys are on MySpace. What about Facebook and Twitter?

We should warn you… we don’t Tweet about what we’re watching on TV. We Tweet all of the funny stuff we hear and say during a given day.  Consider that your parental advisory.

Love that logo. Who designed that?

Finally!  We get to give a shout out to the guy that does the majority of our artwork and posters… the one and only Kevin Vincent Bertolini.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, 2Pac, Biggie, Outkast, Kanye, Jay-Z, the 80’s.

How did Davey get hooked up with this group?

We needed a wizard on the guitar, and he answered the call.

(Davey) I had always wanted to work with Nate and I really enjoyed his music so when he called I was more than happy to get involved.

Rock, pop, hip-hop; why can’t you guys just pick a genre?

(Laughs) Because that’d be boring.

(Davey) Yeah, what he said!

Who did all your photography?

Once again, the man, the myth, the living legend… Kevin Vincent Bertolini can take all the credit.

Where do you see yourselves in five years?

Accepting another Grammy for Album of the Year, on a world tour, and hopefully not facing multiple paternity suits. (Laughs)

What do you want to be remembered for when this is said and done?

That we brought different types of people together.  That our music was relevant, and resonated with our audience for however long they decided to keep listening.  That we were honest, creative, and passionate with our songs, and that we gave our best performance at every show.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

Word.

Time for dinner! If you are sitting around the house tonight wondering what’s for dinner, look no further. I hope you like seafood because this dish is all about the deep blue sea. But in case you are not all that impressed with the main course, I have a good drink for you to sip on as well. Grab your apron because we are headed into the kitchen.

Sophisticated Lady

Let’s get this party started with a nice cold adult beverage. I am all about sipping on the latest fashion and this drink is new, even for me! The Sophisticated Lady is cucumber based drink with a pinch of salt. This will go great with the salt-crusted shrimp we will prepare later on. It includes two ounces of cranberry juice, one ounce of fresh squeezed lime juice, and one ounce of simple syrup. The booze on the other hand is up to you. I have tried this drink with both vodka and rum, and depending on your poison, it goes great with either.

Start by taking the four cucumber slices and muddling them in a shaker with a pinch of salt. Please salt to taste. Too much salt can ruin your evening though. Then add the cranberry juice, the lime juice (and please squeeze these limes yourself) and top it all off with the simple syrup. Add your booze and shake your little heart out.

Once you have finished shaking the cocktail, strain it and add a cucumber slice for decoration. Toss a fresh picked cranberry in there if you are hosting a party. It will impress all your guests with a personal touch.

Bottoms up!

Salt-Crusted Shrimp

I love seafood. If I could eat seafood all day everyday, I would. I like crabs, oysters, tuna, perch, and shrimp; if it comes from the sea, then baby it’s for me. Nothing beats freshly caught shrimp from the coast of Hawaii though. I did have some freshly caught shrimp from the Gulf Coast on Christmas Day. It came close!

Let’s start this off by taking 1½ cups of good quality mayonnaise. That doesn’t mean the store brand; this means good, expensive, and local mayonnaise if you can find it. Grab a single tablespoon of wasabi powder. Whisk that stuff together and refrigerate.

Moving on, let’s grab two lemons. Grind those suckers and save the zest. You would be surprised at how much flavor this pulls out of the shrimp. Then take a single cup of water, four pounds of course sea salt (yes, I understand that’s a lot of salt, but stay with me) and two pounds of jumbo (and I mean jumbo) shell-on shrimp. You will have to peel these before you eat them, which is why four pounds of salt is sufficient.

Grab that wasabi dip from the fridge and chow down. This is a good appetizer, or can be served as an entrée if you wish. One bite from these zesty, salty sea creatures and you will have a new appreciation for the deep blue sea.

Let me know if you try this dish. I am curious your reactions and if you enjoyed the recipe. Cheers!

When we started to plan our trip to Aruba, we had no idea where to stay. We are not really into the whole resort thing, so we wanted to stay away from that part of town. With a little bit of research, we learned that almost all of the major hotels were in an area known as the high-rise part of town. Here you could find tons of hotels and resorts lined up and down the beach. That was not our scene, so we started to look a little deeper at more locally owned hotels.

Without much work at all, Sheryl found a place located on Eagle Beach called MVC Eagle Beach. It is a very small hotel, with only 19 rooms available, and is located literally across the street from Eagle Beach. We did a little more research on the beach itself, and found it is rated as one of the nicest beaches on the planet. White sand, crystal clear water, and not very busy since it is a couple of miles from the high-rise part of town.

Most people that I have talked to, those who have been to the island, said that staying in a resort is the only way to go. People said the same thing about Hawaii. We don’t like to be stuck, literally flying into the airport, getting a ride to the hotel, and never leaving. So while we were in Hawaii, and while in Aruba, we grabbed a rental car and just figured it out as we went along.

In Hawaii, it was a lot easier to get around. One, we were still in the United States so our cell phones worked. But down here in Aruba we had no access to wireless Internet or GPS whatsoever. When we pulled out of the rental car place, we had no idea where to go. Trust me, the map they handed us did not help either.

We eventually found our way to the 1A/1B, which is one of the only true roads on the island. It literally goes north and south on the west coast of the island and that’s it. The entire east coast of the island has no way to get there, sans renting a Jeep.

Our hotel was on this street, and we pulled up not knowing what to expect. The hotel actually closes at 3:30 in the afternoon, and after our flight got in late we were way past that time. As a matter of fact, the pilot had to circle the island three times because he “did not know how to land in the rain”. Oh yeah, it rained from the day we got there until late Monday evening. Don’t even get me started on the rain.

Anyway, we get to the hotel and surprisingly someone was in the office. They had our key, and we headed to room 3. The room had a king size bed, and the AC worked. That was all I needed! Granted, the room was small, but we had a really good rate, and we literally could walk across the street and be on the beach. We did that a few times, but the visibility in the water was poor, so the snorkeling was weak.

The hotel offers a breakfast buffet every morning as well, but it is not free. It is $8.50. Now, if you choose to have breakfast at the Tulip Restaurant, the restaurant attached to the MVC Eagle Beach, don’t expect pancakes and sausage. It was a very European breakfast filled with fresh fruits, hard-boiled eggs, and toast. We only had breakfast there one morning, as the rest of the trip took us elsewhere for food and drinks. The coffee was good, though. It was quite strong.

Speaking of the Tulip, every night we came home, rain or shine, it was always packed for dinner. The sign out front read, “Affordable Meals on Eagle Beach”, but after looking at the menu, we didn’t agree. Of course, when a meal at Wendy’s costs $15 per person, maybe a $20 entrée was affordable.

The hotel was nice, though. We didn’t have anything to complain about. The TV in the room was small, but who goes to Aruba to watch TV? (Of course, when it’s raining in Aruba, that might be something you choose to do.) All of the channels were also in Dutch. But it provided some unique entertainment while we were getting ready each morning.

Sheryl and I love to immerse ourselves in a culture like that. The hotel is locally owned and operated, is affordable (all things considered), and is in a great location if you have a rental car. If we ever went back to Aruba (which we will never do thanks to an awful first impression) we would totally stay at this hotel. Nothing negative to report from here!

(When you start to look for a room on the island, I encourage you to look at some of the nicer hotels in the high-rise. We talked with some folks that were staying at the Marriott Aruba Resort, a time-share community, and they were paying $495 a night. The nicest hotel there is the Riu, and while we have no idea how much a room cost there, we do know that paying just over $100 a night was a good deal.)

Part of the reason why I wanted to learn how to scuba dive was so I could dive shipwrecks. There is just something about a shipwreck that draws my attention. I actually had the chance to dive my first wreck in December of 2010. We were in Aruba and I did a wreck that sat over a mile off the coast and about sixty-five foot below the surface of the ocean. Regardless, scuba diving aside, perhaps the most famous shipwreck is that of the Titanic. This boat was said to be unsinkable and was boarded by some of the world’s most prestigious persons. (You had to be rich to afford first or second class accommodations.) The captain of the ship even came out of retirement to take this boat on her maiden voyage. As we all know, the boat would eventually strike an iceberg and sink in the icy cold waters of the Atlantic. Even though the last remaining survivor has passed on, the history of the wreck and her artifacts will live on forever. That is where Premier Exhibitions and Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition come into play.

This exhibition was on display at the Indiana State Museum from the end of September, 2010 through the first part of January, 2011. I had the chance to see this exhibit and have been bringing you exclusive coverage on this for the last few weeks. But the exhibit wasn’t enough for me. I needed to sit down with someone behind the scenes. So I called up Cheryl Mure, Vice President of Education for Premier Exhibitions. We had a nice long chat about the wreck and what her role is with Premier Exhibitions. Sit back, relax, and set said as we learn more about Cheryl and Premier Exhibitions.

How long have you been working with Premier Exhibitions?

I have been here for five years.

What did you do before that?

Before coming to Premier Exhibitions, I was a teacher. I actually tutored students and brought that education background to Premier Exhibitions. I help develop curriculum about the ship, the language arts, the map, the technology; to create Titanic teaching units that culminates in say, a field trip to the exhibition.

I assume that working for Premier Exhibitions that you get to see the exhibits that you promote. Have you seen the Titanic exhibit?

I can’t see it enough. Each exhibition that we host has its own personality. We showcase different artifacts and different room recreations. Each one tells it’s own story.

What do you like most about your job?

I really enjoy being in the exhibition with people, especially kids. Watching their reactions to the story as it unfolds before them. I like to be able to interact with them, answer questions, and I am always astonished by the smallest of Titanic enthusiasts. The kids under eight years old always seem to have the questions I can’t answer. I do enjoy being inside the exhibition with all of our visitors.

Are there things you hate about your job?

It’s really unique and gives me great opportunities all over the world. The exhibition, as I am sure you know, tours the world. I have traveled and have met fantastic people in museums all over the globe.

Where did you go to college? What did you study?

I graduated from Emory University in Atlanta. I have a degree in psychology from there and a Master’s in education from Georgia State University.

What is Running Subway Productions?

We partnered with Running Subway Productions them when we brought the exhibition to New York City.

These exhibitions are overseas quite a bit too. Do you get the chance to travel overseas very often for work?

Very often I will go to the exhibition during the grand opening so that I can meet with local teachers and promote the exhibition with the students. I also work with the media in the different cities.

Surely you have seen the movie Titanic. Did you like the film?

Everyone relates to Jack and Rose in Titanic, the blockbuster film. But they are fictional. So is the heart of the ocean. Those elements were added to create the drama needed for a film of that magnitude. What I love, and what I look at when I see that film, are the artifacts that we have in our collection. I look at the ship and I look at the setting and I think, “Oh we have that artifact our collection.” I also love to listen to people’s stories about Titanic. That film really brings those stories to life.

Explain more about what a typical day in the office is like for you.

Oh my goodness! We read a lot of curriculum from all over the United States. We collaborate all of our teacher’s study guides for the city that holds the exhibitor and go from there. We are very well versed in the expectations state-by-state. We are always adapting and adjusting our curriculum to make sure it’s current, appealing to kids, and teacher friendly. We spend a lot of time on the development of those learning tools. We are busy, that’s for sure.

Like I said, I do travel quite a bit. I am often on my way to the airport or on the way back at any given time. We are always looking for ways to make this a better visitor experience.

Where are your offices located?

We are located in Atlanta.

You guys work with other exhibitions, not just the Titanic artifact exhibit. I have been meaning to see the Bodies exhibit. What is it like?

For Bodies, we developed the curriculum materials for that as well as for Dialog in the Dark. That is another exhibit that people are really starting to get excited about.

I have heard about that. Tell me a little bit more about your Dialog in the Dark.

Dialog in the Dark is an exhibition in complete darkness. You are lead through everyday environments like a park, a city street; all the while you are being led by a blind or visually impaired guide. You are relying from someone who cannot see to be your eyes in this exhibition. You end up in a café setting where you can sit down to talk to your guide and have a dialog with them. It is a very moving and emotional exhibit. It stays with you long after you leave the exhibition.

Tell me about the role you guys have with Titanic recovery.

RMS Titanic Inc. was basically formed for the purpose of exploring the wreck of the Titanic and surrounding ocean areas. This area is called the debris field.

The Maritime Courts awarded us access to the wreck site. We can to go to the debris field of Titanic and recover artifacts with the sole purpose of conservation and display. No one goes on board the ship and no one is allowed to take anything off the ship. This is out of respect for the lives lost that night. We can film and document the wreck itself, but no one can take anything from the ship.

How do you choose which city gets what artifacts?

We have a staff of curators that help decide. They look at every artifact before it goes on display. When we leave Indianapolis, the collections team will look at all the artifacts and determine their readiness to continue to be displayed. The metal, the paper, and the textiles have to rest up to two years before they can go out again in all the light and humidity. They make very careful determination based on the conditions of the artifacts themselves. There are some that we always want to be able to showcase. We try to always bring certain things but any exhibition you will see different pieces of our collection.

You do a lot of work with teachers. What makes a teacher want to teach about the titanic?

That is a great question. We created the Titanic teachers guide to answer that question for teachers. We have cross-curricular lesson plans. There is math, creative writing, geography, and fine arts so that every teacher can look at this theme and find something that correlates to his or her classroom. We make those teaching materials easily accessible, free, down loadable so that teachers can access them, use them in the classroom, in whatever manner makes sense, and then come to the museum and watch all of those teachable moments happen around every turn in each gallery.

That is what we live for as teachers. Light bulbs to start going off.

How many schools did you work with in Indiana?

We worked with the museum itself, but not just with Indiana but the surrounding states. We pulled in teachers in from all over the region.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Are you gunning for the President’s chair?

(Laughs) You should ask the current president, who is sitting in the office right next to me. Please don’t tell me I have peeked already!

I always let the bands and DJs that I work with get the last word. So why not let you get the last word too? Go.

I would like to say that coming to Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is a great experience. We have never been to Indian before, and we don’t want you to miss it. Nothing tells the story of Titanic more direct and emotionally than the artifacts that you will see.

There are 240 artifacts at the Indiana State Museum. They tell the story of the maiden voyage of Titanic. It starts out with you actually boarding the ship. You receive a boarding pass when you enter. On the back of that boarding pass there is a name of an actual passenger. You know your name, your class of service, your age, where you are going, whom you are with; everything you would ever want to now about one of those passengers. But you don’t know your fate until the last gallery. We have the ships manifest on the wall in the final gallery. You look for your name and you look to see if you survived or perished. It really is an experience you will never forget.