Tim Scullion--Lead & rhythm guitars, keyboards, mandolin, vocals/harmonies, Native American flute, drums, Native American rattles, all of the artwork and photos, all production and engineering on the posted recordings.
My song "Journey to Palestine" is available on a metal compilation album put out by Quickstar Productions for up and coming acts in metal. Here is a copy of the front and back covers of the new CD, called Downtown Metal available soon on Amazon:
Some of my many influences include Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Elliott Randall, Edward Van Halen, Steve Vai, the two Erics (Clapton & Johnson), Brian May, Joe Satriani, Santana and even jazzers like George Benson, Larry Carlton & Al Dimeola. (Maybe I should just say everyone that I have ever listened to.)
Thanks to Brian Boone for the great interview on Smokin' Tunz Radio!RIP Brian!
Sounds Like
It sounds like the tonal expression of human emotion.
My new CD, "Powhatan Renaissance", soon to be released on iTunes and Amazon, has a Native American influence and is dedicated to the tribes of the Powhatan Nation. There is a feeling of rebirth because of a recent victory in court over greedy land developers that allows the Mattaponi to keep their land. The "Powhatan Renaissance" CD can be purchased at the following website, with 100% of the proceeds to benefit Native American needs such as health clinics and housing:,
Foundation for American Heritage Voices
Angela L. Daniel "Silver Star," President
5406 Horan Ct., Williamsburg, VA 23188
Home & Fax: 757-564-1506
A little background on me:
After a few years on the road with a rock band, I returned to school (College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA) and got a Bachlor's and a Master's in education. I've been teaching school and writing, recording and playing music on weekends and in the summers. I have dabbled in just about every genre of music, but I decided that most of the music I had been playing was not challenging or musically where I wanted to be, so I created my own genre of music: Ambient-Metal. I also titled my first CD Ambient Metal:
Elliott Randall (guitarist for Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers; studio guitarist extraordinaire, solo artist) wrote that Ambient-Metal is "absolutely beautiful"; a compliment that was unsolicited albeit greatly appreciated considering that his playing is one of my early influences as I developed as a guitarist.
"Ambient Metal" sounds like the love child of Randy Rhoads and Enya grown up and traveling the world, soaking up the influences of different musical genres and cultures and in a perpetual state of flux: Melodic at hyperspeeds and slow bluesy bends, intense and yet tranquil, relaxing one minute and raging the next. It moves at the speed of emotion; it is a deliberate oxymoron, it is fire and water, and a combination of heaven and hell that touches all of those that inhabit that halfway point between the two, it is the tonal expression of being human when words are not enough . . . the essence and the expression of my humanity.
Here's a little background on each song up on this site, from both the Ambient-Metal and Powhatan Renaissance CDs:
"Flight of Swift Eagle" Kenneth “Swift Eagle” Custalow gave me one of his hand-carved wooden flutes because I admired its beauty and exquisite craftsmanship. Unbeknownst to me, this is a Native American custom that dates back centuries: If you greatly admire something that a Native American has, very often he or she will give it to you. Their culture places more emphasis on relationships and the spiritual aspects of life rather than the materialistic, and they will give up something material in order to gain something more important: Friendship. My gift to Swift Eagle is my friendship, this song as a tribute to him, and the CD "Powhatan Renaissance" as a tribute to the Powhatan Nation.
"Huskanaw" (Initiation of an Adolescent Boy into Manhood) In a coming-of-age ceremony, a young adolescent boy of about twelve would have to go into the woods by himself to hunt, sometimes facing a large predatory animal such as a wolf or a bear. The song starts with the boy’s journey; the haunting calls of wolves a reminder of the danger he faces. In the middle of his journey, the boy is startled by his greatest fear, an adult bear, and must do battle with his nemesis. The boy comes away from the battle victorious, with the death cry of the bear both haunting and liberating. The boy returns to his tribe with a newly found respect for these great animals, and a new strength. The proven young man would choose the name of a bird or animal that he admired or respected, completing “huskanaw”.
"Mattaponi anir Nenowa" (I Come from Mattaponi) The Mattaponi tribe is one of the few remaining tribes of the great Powhatan nation that the English colonists encountered when they came ashore to launch the Jamestown settlement in 1607. The heritage of this tribe can be traced back to Chief Powhatan and his daughter Pocahontas, still one of the earliest and most well known stories of the first encounters between Native Americans and the English settlers. The song finishes out with a sample from a traditional piece called "Grand Entry", with special thanks going to Lionel Custalow for the use of that loop.
"Knee-hag-gons" is kind of a commune with the past: The peaceful existance of the Native American people in the Americas around the tribal community center centuries before Europeans even knew about the American continents. "Knee-hag-gons" is Algonquin for "Our Home". This song conveys the inner-peace and happiness of the Native American home during a time that was less complicated; a time when taking care of the environment and living in harmony with nature was of primary importance.
After a tour of the Southwest, I returned fascinated by some of the sights that I visited in the day. One was at the Palatki Ruins in Sedona, Arizona, where I saw for the first time a Native American "Spirit Hole". Unlike European culture, the souls of the dead do not ascend into heaven or descend into the bowels of the earth, they go sideways into openings in the rocks. "Released to the Great Spirit" is my sonic impression of the legend of the Spirit Hole.
"Journey to Palestine / Renaissance" (from my first CD) is melange of the sounds of the Middle East with the Ambient-Metal concept. Since Palestine is sacred to three of the world's main religions, the ending of the song is a sonic metaphor for a spiritual rebirth or "Renaissance" of the individual making the journey. While writing, I envisioned this as the soundtrack for an epic film about Palestine.
"Chasing the Santa Anna Winds / Firestorm" (from my first CD) is my musical impression of the fires that have ravaged Southern California. The Santa Anna winds start out innocuous enough (like the song) and end in a menacing march through the hills of Southern California.
While I'm almost forced to categorize my music, I hate to put myself into a box of expectations. Rock, metal, blues, fusion, jazz and acoustic: I would like to be all of these and none of these. I feel that music expresses a range of human emotions that cannot be limited by categories. I want to continue to explore and assimilate the music of other cultures as I have Native American and Middle Eastern music.
In the future, expect any additional music to be rock, metal, blues, fusion, jazz, acoustic & so much more: Expect the unexpected. As with the Native American project, I want to mix these genres with music from other cultures to create something that is truly different.
Special thanks: I would like to send out special thanks to Todd A. Judge, MPSE, an LA sound engineer who moved to Virginia to do sound and music for Colonial Williamsburg's film production division and to raise his kids. I had a crash course on Pro Tools, editing, and finalizing a sound recording; Todd taught me all the nuances and tricks that he has learned over the years as an editor and engineer. Congratulations on the Emmy, Todd!
Here's the link to my music on itunes:
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Sorry I am late with the New Year congrats.. Had a blast on our road trip. It has taken me 3 days to get my ass back down on earth. It was fun, every wet rainy mile of it. Even water getting into the unmentionables. Have a great 2010. I know I am, as I met some wonderful people here, including you. What ever you do, where ever you are. I hope all your resolutions come through for you. ROCK ON 2010... TC Jacki
A FRIEND..... Someone who makes U happy when U're blue...
And keeps U company wherever U go....
Someone who's there when things go wrong....
To give U courage and keep U strong.....
If U're tired, weak and weary....
He is a refuge of comfort and sympathy....
And if U're weighed down by great despair....
His presence makes everything else easier...
His wisdom to help, his laughters to cheer...
Indeed he's the one whatever U'd call...
A companion, guide and counselor - one and all...... Cheers to a NEW YEAR and another chance for us to get it right.
hey, just stopping by to say hi - hope you're doing well.
I've got my new single 'Dancing On The Kitchen Tiles" on my page at the moment, as well as a couple of new live videos. I'd love to know what you think.
Just spreading some love your way - I hope you enjoyed Christmas! PS: the song Feel Good, should make you feel good! :o) Kevin
I got some camo guitar straps, guitar stand, huge exercise gymnastic mat, vitamins/Amino Acids, valves tighten on my dirtbike, high heel black boots ;-)
To much that I don't deserve!
NEW Christmas pics posted that were made by a MYSPACE friend :-D
Plus! Thank you to all our troops! NEW BLOG and pics posted on my site of the troops and care packages I sent out. http://www.heather-williams.com/blog/
A friend said to me Jacki "I think you have been watching too many action movies." I said "yeah I think your right" lol. Have a kick ass Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year. I be off soon on a 5 day bike tour. So it won't only be a kick ass but a sore ass for me. Have fun. TC Jacki
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