Changing Times Blog

Andy Grammer Liberty Live Tour

Son of widely acclaimed, Grammy-nominated children’s singer, Red Grammer, Andy has been around music his whole life and got his itch for songwriting listening to his father hammering away chords in the next room.

Andy Grammer brings a fresh uplifting approach to the singer songwriter scene. Navigating with a sharp wit and honesty through the perils of dating, sex, materialism and love, Andy looks to Baha’i teachings for a search for truth.

Tara Ellis “Big Poppa” Music Video

Tara Ellis, a high voltage singer will release her new EP, Live & Die In LA, produced by Benny Cassette,(Crimson World) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008. Ellis has been setting a new standard for the Los Angeles music scene for the last year,  and her album Live & Die In LA has emerged as a tribute to some of the greatest hip-hop artists of this generation.

“One day I’m sitting in my living room and Biggie Smalls video comes on Big Poppa. I remember saying out loud “I miss this guy, and I miss when lyric writing was an art. What’s happened to the life that words use to have?” So I began some research on some of my favorite old school Hip-Hop songs and read through the lyrics. Inspired through melody, I sat down with my guitar and wrote my own version of these songs. This is my way of reminding the world of how great some of these artists are, and on the flip side how much the art has gone down hill, backwards and completely out of touch. You decide which one is which.” ­ - Tara Ellis

Listen to the rest of her brand-new album at http://taraellis.bandcamp.mu

Tara Ellis New EP Release

(af) The sensational Los Angeles based singer-songwriter Tara Ellis certainly knows how to draw in a crowd, with her ability to produce heartfelt music in the form of musical Devotion while also making tracks which leave her own mark on the popular music scene. Many people may recognise Tara’s alternative soul sound from her contribution to the Dawnbreaker Collective but what you might not know is that she has collaborated with; Will I Am, Eve, Ghostface Killah and The Procussions just to name a few.

With a full length pop rock album on the way and a variety of mixtapes to her name, I’m sure Tara will be someone to keep an eye out for. The ‘country girl’ meets ‘the city’ charm in her personality shows her versatility as a vocalist and her latest project, a self produced Mixtape titled ‘Live and Die in LA’ is a fine example, it blends old school Hip Hop classics to acoustic guitar, 808 hard snares and pop melodies. It doesn’t matter if you know Dr.Dre is a rapper and not a real physician, Tara’s unique take on the tracks are a bold rendition which still reflect her own style leaving you reminiscing or discovering the days when Tupac and Biggie were living legends and Gangsta Rap dominated LA.

This ‘chick’ is certainly true to herself, and that personal insight can be heard in her lyric’s quest for universal fellowship, which relate to her love of life and the Baha’i Faith. When a fresh angle on commercial music is hard to come across, this artist is a gem who has her own light to shine and it all began while rocking out on the guitar at the age of 15.

Listen to the new EP ‘Live and Die in LA’ now (bookmark both…you must)

http://taraellis.bandcamp.mu or find Tara at http://www.myspace.com/taraellis

A behind the scenes look at Tara Ellis and the making of her new album:

Prayer for Marriage - Shadi Joy Toloui

Shadi Joy and her fantastic voice produce this beautiful intonation of a Prayer for Marriage by ‘Abdu’l-Baha.

O my Lord!  O my Lord!  These two bright orbs are wedded in Thy love, conjoined in servitude to Thy Holy Threshold, united in ministering to thy Cause.  Make Thou this marriage to be as threading lights of Thine abounding grace, O my Lord, the All-Merciful, and luminous rays of Thy bestowals, O Thou the Beneficent, the Ever-Giving, that there may branch out from this great tree boughs that will grow green and flourishing through the gifts that rain down from Thy clouds of grace. Verily, Thou art the Generous.  Verily, Thou art the Compassionate, the All-Merciful.

Download the MP3 (2.76MB) or listen to the song here:

Tara Ellis - Anis (Video Recording)

Tara Ellis playing an excerpt of “Anis - Love Song” from the Dawnbreaker Collective album ‘Arise’, recorded by the Baha’i International Radio Service. There’s more good news coming from Tara soon, stay tuned.

Badasht Musical Empowerment Tools

This is good news for guitar/piano beginner/professional alike. The entire fantastic Badasht CD produced by JB Eckl and Eric Dozier is now available with guitar tabs, sheet music AND video instructions on how to play the songs. They provide three videos to every song: A live performance, guitar instructions, and guitar instructions with simple chords.

Your contribution to the next musical fireside?

Everything here: at Badasht Community
http://www.badasht.net/community

Devon Gundry’s Next Video

The music video to ‘Armed’ was amazing and unprecedented. Here’s your chance to help Devon shoot the next video (If only you’d pay a dollar for the times you hit repeat…)

“I’m trying to gather the funds to film my next devotional music video. $5 from everyone would go a long way :) thanks so much for all your support!”

It’s PayPal-safe!

Devon Gundry’s “Armed” Music Video

Watch this dramatic new music video to Devon Gundry’s “Armed”. The cast is no less brilliant:

Eva La Rue (CSI: Miami), Alex Rocco (Oscar and Emmy-winning actor), Red Grammer (the godfather of children’s music), Benny Cassette (Dawnbreaker Collective), all of whom are Baha’is, plus a host of top US actors.

In case this doesn’t work: http://vimeo.com/2228238