Born out of necessity, a dwelling for the creative endeavors of Painter/Graphic Artist/Composer/Sound Designer Daniel Martin Diaz and his muse, Vocalist/Writer/Designer Paula Catherine Valencia, Mysticus Publishing desires to be a home for stylistic beauty and uncompromising integrity.
Things we like:
Loopholes, video games, lounging, second chances, poker, stormy weather, practical
jokes, nano technology, NASA, road trips, talk radio, baseball, alternate realities,
shadow people, the paranormal, propaganda, near death experiences, time travel,
late night convergences, white noise, phenomenal consciousness, science fiction,
secret societies, moon jellies, coincidences, renewal energy, bowling, cats,
philosophy, buffalo wings, sleeping, Gene Wilder, modesty, abstract psychics,
artificial intelligence, scrambled signals, Baron Von Munchausen, aliens, pixels,
vampires, Opus Dei, apparitions, space time continuums, religion, ABBA, Stephen
Wright, foreign films, antimatter force fields, volleyball, astronomy, fire
monsters, politics, British comedy, The Golden Ratio, Tim Roth, 4-way magnetic
impulse propulsion systems, Jesus, Weekly World News, chocolate, cuttlefish,
Phil Hendrie, cereal, the immaculate conception, remote viewing, physics, meta
tags, butt chins, Circle K coffee, babies, Art Bell, nocturnal creatures, and
courage of convictions.
Things we dislike:
Black holes, turbulence, complacency, do-overs, road ragers, panic attacks,
skeptics, long URLs, revolving houses, sanctimonious a-holes, propaganda, terrorists,
global whining, stars impersonating politicians, closure, complainers, serial
killers, men who pose as CPR dummies, political correctness, the last ten minutes
of any PBS documentary, Bakersfield chimps, non-voters, labels, and the phrase
"Can't we all just get along?"
"Spooky, ambient, and hauntingly erotic, sultry female vocals and strange
landscapes are the cure for chronic insomniacs, hypochondriacs, and patients of
psychotherapy."
The music of Blind Divine is best described as “art music.” These prolific and experienced artists have embraced a creative style that is as unconventional as it is carefully crafted, allowing subtle nuances to collide with deliberate profoundness. Their “musical paintings” may be a thirty second interlude designed to lure the listener into an otherworldly dreamscape, where floating rhythms, ethereal vocals, haunting piano, or effected guitars become a palette of many hues, a sonic texture that conjures a visual aesthetic. While others embrace a mix of moody beats and emotional vocals, where the “art music” becomes the theme of an enigmatic dream that is as strange as it is inescapably familiar in a delicate and abstract world, imbuing an ultra awareness of emotion, love, hate, fear, pain, life, death, elation, or faith, and inviting the imagination to ruminate.
“It’s about the process of discovering the beauty in the layers of sound,” explains Paula. ”When I write lyrics and melodies to Daniel’s pieces I’m careful to record every note I sing. I capture how the song makes me feel at that moment. There is an unveiling that takes place.” For Daniel, “trying the create a visual picture, a mood, a moment in time without thinking about it too much is a challenge. I like to keep the instrumentation classic and organic. I play everything live and avoid sequencing.”
Their first album, the 2005 release, "Devouring The Beautiful," was a definitive moment and a liberating experience, one that has brought forth a transfiguration of spontaneity and creation. Long-time friend and guitarist Michael Glidewell would lend his talents to several of the tracks as well. In 2006, Blind Divine released two albums simultaneously, "Desire To Destroy," mastered by the first Grammy Award winning mastering engineer, Gavin Lurssen, and "Music For Unmade Movies Vol. 1."
Blind Divine’s fourth release, the 2008, “Queen Of Venom,” is a 12-song emotionally rich offering from Daniel and Paula. In 2008, they were featured on the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for Clive Barker’s, “Midnight Meat Train.” Their fifth, a digital-only release, “Soul Retriever,” came soon after in early 2009.
Their sixth and latest album, “Breathing Spell,” embraces several genres at once, Shoegaze/Dreampop/Indie/Alternative/Hypno Rock, while still visiting their unique blend of Trip-Hop and Dark Ambience. With this album, Daniel abandoned his keyboards and wrote strictly on the guitar, “I wanted to challenge myself to create strange and beautiful sounds without the use of synthesizers. What emerged was really interesting, it took on a life of it’s own.” For Paula, “our son went to Australia for three weeks and it was sort of a turning point for us all. Daniel and I couldn’t stop writing, it just flowed so naturally.” Later, bassist Jacob Stevens and guitarist Damian Diaz would add their flavor to several of the tracks.
At present, Stevens and Diaz, and drummer DJ Esparza, who power up their live show, which invokes an intimate, yet powerful feel that showcases the beauty and emotion of the songs, join Paula and Daniel. In addition to their album releases, Paula and Daniel have written and produced the entire film score for the award-winning New Zealand feature film, “Orphans And Angels,” and their music has been licensed for many film and television productions.
Over the years, Paula and Daniel have become producers of more than just music, they have become a production team, which have collaborated on the design and installation of the new Historic Hotel Congress “Proscenium” stage, the album cover and CD artwork for “Payable On Death” by Atlantic Records band P.O.D., which sold over one million copies, and the book design and layout for Daniel’s art books, “Triginta Uno Dies, Thirty-One Drawings In Thirty-One Days” and “Mysterium Fidei,” published by La Luz de Jesus Press and Last Gasp. They are currently working on three prominent public art projects for the City of Phoenix, including projects for the innovative Arizona Light Rail.
Discography:
2000 Abstraktions, Vol. 2, Abstrakt Reality Records
2002 Purified: The Liquid Lounge Chill Out Series, Water Music Records
2005 Devouring The Beautiful, Mysticus Publishing
2006 Strange Flesh, Eventide Music Productions
2006 Desire To Destroy, Mysticus Publishing
2006 Music For Unmade Movies, Vol I, Mysticus Publishing
2006 Melancholia Box Set, Mysticus Publishing
2008 Midnight Meat Train Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Lakeshore Records
2008 Queen Of Venom, Mysticus Publishing
2009 Soul Retriever, Mysticus Publishing
2009 Breathing Spell, Mysticus Publishing
The music of Blind Divine has been licensed
by the following clients:
...MTV - Diary Of Angelina Jolie & Dr. Jeffrey Sachs In Africa
...MTV - MHD, Uncompressed, VJ Hits: Episodes 5, 6, 12
...MTV - Little Talent Show: Episode 112
...MTV - Britney's First
...MTV - MTV's New Year Of Music
...MTV - Date My Mom: Episode 310
...MTV - Room Raiders
...MTV - Real World
...MTV - Made: Rocker
...MTV - Made: Homecoming King
...MTV - Fake ID Club: Episode 5
...MTV - Direct Effect: Episodes 1221, 1226, 1230
...MTV - True Life: I Don't Fit In
...MTV - India, Ishq Deewane
...MTV - India, Hero Honda Roadies
...MTV - Indonesia, Rumah Gue: Episodes 35,37
...MTV - Latin America, Top 20
...MTV - Shop MTV: Crush...Interrupted
...MTV - Trick It Out: Episodes 105,107
...VH1 - Classic's: Rock Autism PSA
...VH1 - SuperGroup: Episode 105
...VH1 - Breaking Bonaduce: Episode 105
...VH1 - Box Set: John Mayer
...VH1 - Michael Jackson Special
...VH1 - VH1 News Presents: Michael Jackson's Secret Childhood
...VH1 - Driven: Green Day
...VH1 - Driven: Jessica Simpson
...VH1 - Driven: Paula Abdul
...VH1 - Driven: Eve
...VH1 - Made: Rocker
...VH1 - 100 Greatest Teen Stars
...VH1 - Acceptable TV: Episodes 101,102
...VH1 - Best Week Ever: Episode 212
...VH1 - Best Week Ever: Episode 708
...VH1 - Best Week Ever: Episode 801
...A&E - The Sopranos: A&E Insider, The Fans
...A&E - The Secret Life Of Vampires
...A&E - Biography: Caroline Kennedy
...A&E - Biography: Christina Onassis
...A&E - Biography: Warren Buffet
...A&E - Close: Vladimir Putin
...A&E - Close: Gerald Ford
...A&E - The History Of The Holidays: Easter
...A&E - Save Our History: Gold Rush
...A&E - First Ladies
...A&E - Final Days
...A&E - Heir Apparent
...A&E - Meth In The City
...A&E - American Justice: Palm Beach Law
...TLC - Flight 175: As the World Watched
...TLC - 99 Most Bizarre: Crimes
...TLC - 99 Most Bizarre: Medical Mistakes
...TLC - 99 Most Bizarre: Self-Inflicted Injuries
...TLC - 99 Most Bizarre: Sleepwalking Misadventures
...TLC - 99 Most Bizarre: Survival Stories
...TLC - Town Haul: Home Sweet Home
...TLC - Town Haul: Mile High
...TLC - Town Haul: Moving On
...TLC - Town Haul: New Beginnings
...TLC - Town Haul: Summer Lawns
...TLC - Astronaut Scorned: The Lisa Nowak Story
...TLC - Texas Cheerleaders: Lone Star
...NBC - Maximum Disclosure: Eating Disorders
...CBS - InTurn TV Special
...CBS - InTurn 2, Episode 7
...MSNBC - Catastrophe: Northridge Earthquake
...Bravo - 100 Funniest Movies
...Bravo - Flipping Out: Episodes 103,104
...Spike TV - Roadies 2: Episodes 19, 25
...Spike TV - Captain Morgan's Halloween
...History Channel - History Of Hell: The Devil's Domain
...History Channel - Mysteries Of The Bermuda Triangle
...History Channel - Last Stand Of The 300
...History Channel - History's Mysteries: Miracles, Mystics, and Prophecies
...History Channel - History's Mysteries: Lost Worlds
...History Channel - Vampire Secrets
...History Channel - Washington's Generals: Benedict Arnold
...History Channel - Washington's Generals: Nathanael Greene
...History Channel - UFO Files: Pacific Bermuda Triangle
...History Channel - Maneaters: Lions
...Biography Channel - The Writers: Dostoyevsky
...Biography Channel - The Writers: Bram Stoker
...Biography Channel - The Writers: Sylvia Plath
...Discovery - Living On The Down Low
...Discovery - Extreme Engineering
...Discovery - Proof Of Innocence
...Discovery - Children Of Waco
...Discovery - Flight 175: As The World Watched
...Discovery - Secret History Of The Free Masons
...Discovery - Conspiracy Files: Mystery At Roswell
...Discovery - Conspiracy Files: CIA Mind Control
...Discovery - Conspiracy Files: The JFK Assassination
...Discovery - Lived To Tell: Mount St. Helen's Erupts 1980
...Discovery - Lived To Tell: San Francisco Earthquake
...Discovery - The Bourdain Experience: From Mao To Now
...Discovery - Yearbook: 1968
...Discovery - Yearbook: 1973
...Discovery - Yearbook: 1978
...Discovery - One Step Beyond
...Discovery - SUV Revolution
...Discovery - Ashley Judd and Youth AIDS: Confronting the Pandemic
...Discovery - Heaven's Gate: The Definitive Story
...Animal Planet - Cheetah, Race Against Time
...Animal Planet - Miami Animal Police: Battle to Live
...Animal Planet - Miami Animal Police: Toughest Cruelty Cases
...National Geographic Channel - The Hunt For Lincoln's Assassin
...National Geographic Channel - Odyssey Marine Exploration
...National Geographic Channel - Explorer: Swarms!
...Sony Pictures - Safari Tracks: Dogs Of Africa
...Soap Network - Soapography: Episodes 13,16,17
...Weather Channel - Full Force Nature: Episode 103
...Travel Channel - Anthony Bourdain No Reservations: China From Mao To Now
...Travel Channel - America's Scariest Halloween Attractions
...Travel Channel - 5 Takes Europe: Washington DC
...Style Network - Clean House: David Allan Grier's Family
...Comedy Central - Showbiz With David Spade: Episode 310
...Noggin - Degrassi's 40 Most Go-Therest Moments: Episode 4
...Logo - Out 100
...Logo - Curl Girls: Episode 101
...Logo - Coming Out Stories: Hip Hop Ready To Drop
...Logo - The Advocate Newsmagazine: Edition Two
...Logo - First Comes Love
...Logo - Be Real
...E! - Gastineau Girls: Episode 209
...WETV - Unwrapping Macy's: Episode 107
...Disney - Popular Season 2 DVD
...Court TV - Under Fire
...Court TV - Al Roker Investigates: Innocence For Sale
...Nickelodeon - Myths And Legends: Film Frights And Red Scares
...Nickelodeon - Splash TV
...Herzog - Taking Lives DVD
...Big Fish Entertainment - Wild
...Venture Three - Brand Recognition
...DRAFTFCB - Health Care New York
...Net Pickle, Inc. - RockYou.com
...YES Network - Ultimate Road Trip
...Lakeshore Records - The Midnight Meat Train Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Clive Barker
...Titan Television - Sweden, Norway, Singelco
...Titan Television - Sweden, Norway, Prinsar
...CMTV - Greatest Miss America Moments
...CMTV - Most Shocking: College Sports Scandals
...CMTV - Popularity Contest: Episode 108
...Discovery Health Channel - The Critical Hour: To Live or Die
...Discovery Health Channel - The Critical Hour: Attack by City Violence
...Discovery Health Channel - The Critical Hour: Too Young To Let Go
...Discovery Health Channel - The Critical Hour: Crash Out Victims
...Discovery Health Channel - The Critical Hour: Night Game Nightmares
...Discovery Health Channel - The Critical Hour: Nine Miles of Chaos
...Discovery Health Channel - The Critical Hour: Times of Terror
...Discovery Health Channel - The Critical Hour: Shattered Worlds
...Discovery Health Channel - Shalom In The Home: Schwartz Family
...Discovery Health Channel - Shalom In The Home: Herron Family
...Discovery Health Channel - Shalom In The Home: Maxwell Family
...Discovery Health Channel - Strictly Sex With Dr. Drew
Feature Films: "ORPHANS AND ANGELS" Blind Divine composed the original score
for the award winning full-length feature film "Orphans and Angels". This chilling
art-house suspense drama was filmed on location in New Zealand by writer/director
Harold Brodie. If you would like more info about the movie visit www.orphansandangels.com
Blind Divine appears on Lakeshore Records release of Clive Barker's feature film, "The Midnight Meat Train," Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, starring Bradley Cooper, Leslie Bibb, Brooke Shields, and Vinnie Jones.
Check out "Whenever We Come Back," a collaboration with Rob Knife of Breaking The Jar and remixed by producer Justin Lassen!
Saw you guys at Hotel Congress last night and thought you were amazing! I'm very picky about bands with female vocalists, but you guys blew me away. Thanks for the add :)
Thanks for adding me to your circle of friends Your music is very nice is exactly my taste. I wish you much success and also fun with your projects All the Best for You !!! Greetings from Germany Orientchill
HEY GUY'S HOPE ALL IS GOOD FOR YOU. WE ARE LIVE AT PLUSH .THURS. OCT. 15TH. IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD OLD FASHION HOOTANANY ( well maybe not old fashion). WITH SH#TLOADS OF TOMFOOLERY TO BE HAD BY ALL MY FRIENDS. IF YOU COME OUT I'LL HAVE TO GET YOU A ROUND ON ME.