Artist Spotlight: SOTIW - "Sketches of the Inner World"
I first learned of Michael Joseph in 2005 with his release of "O-Glepi" which is a hauntingly beautiful set of 12 tracks. Michael combined his talents on both flute and acoustic guitar. The result is a peaceful journey that I continue to enjoy 3 years later.
Michael and Derek Mortland have created SOTIW (pronounced So too), "Sketches in Time". This music is best described as a New Age, Eclectic, World and fusion Jazz, and it has no boundaries.
It all works flawlessly from the first note of the first track, right to the end of the CD. When you have finished this journey you will feel invigorated, and craving for more!
We are pleased to present SOTIW, "Sketches in Time" …!
The start of a new music era- the warm melting tone of Native American flute taken where it has never gone before; with elements of New Age, Eclectic, World, and fusion jazz, It's music for the world we don't see- music which comes from a spiritual place; a musical manifestation based around "Sketches of the Inner World," presented by two talented musicians who write together instinctually in their new project release, SOTIW (So too) - Sketches in Time; A depth of creativity stemming from 20 years of working together with unique fluidity and equal virtuosity. Strong solidarity with set melodies and improvisational guitar chops a project strength which attracted Brian Lucey, recorded The California Guitar Trio, to perform professional mixing and mastering on this project- further maximizing artistic vision.
Michael Joseph, known for tapping into a diverse sound and culture, implemented in past release "O-Glepi" (2005) was strongly affected by the exploration of his Blackfoot ancestral roots and traditional Native American music- especially the flute. Further influenced by Pan American roots and the songs of his grandfathers, Joseph's musical compositions are said to offer a "tranquil homage to the past" (RJ Lannan, NAR) with flute that is "...hauntingly beautiful and sad at the same time" (Unsigned Magazine, 2005); an emotional feel brought to this new project especially on the opening track "The River Runs Deep."
Derek Mortland, whose life was changed dramatically due to a paralyzing semi-pro motorcycle accident in 1997; relearned guitar and broke through new musical barriers, as explained in an article from the "The Columbus Dispatch," March 2001, "I sustained a spinal cord injury and head injury," he explained. "I had to totally re-learn how to do many things we generally take for granted." Since has performed in festivals around the world through the Artists with Disabilities Network, and grown in ways which seldom occur without the ability to look at life from a different perspective. In 2002, he released his debut album, "Medicine Wheel," dedicated to those who had helped him along the way, and to the accident that eventually directed him toward meditation and greater spiritual awareness. As a guitarist, Derek presents musical challenges; with odd time signatures (not as prevalent on SOTIW) and key changes, the jazz fusion based guitar lends a strong melody to this project.
Michael Joseph and Derek Mortland were brought together musically through the under-promoted talented bands of their metal music past, kept together by both spiritual and musical trials. The flute contribution on "Sketches in Time" is played with the "soft, crooning melody" as introduced in "O-Glepi's" Traditional Flute track, a piece said to represents Joseph's best effort on the work; However, Sketches in Time utilizes more of a melancholy flute effort; The combination of Acoustic guitar with this flute allows Mortland to continually broaden his playing with compositions created with contrast elements such as tempo, key and intensity; Partially due to the key of the flute being locked in, Derek works within modulation of major and minor keys, he furthermore tunes his 12-string to harmony's instead of notes- leading to more of a jazz feel with richer chord placement on many of the tracks. The end result is a true continuation of former releases with that "feeling of spiritual calm ...evoking a sense of peace, grace and beauty"( Gina Morris, EOM) that Michael Joseph brought to "O-Glepi," and the "intense, full-sounding and fast-moving exotic touches and dissonance" (Joe Blundo, The Columbus Dispatch) displayed in Mortland's "Medicine Wheel." Together these artists work to bridge the conscious realm with the unconscious and ethereal -to explore a musical world with no boundaries "leading listeners along a path of reflection, introspection, and heartfelt discovery" (Shari Veleba, Author of "It's Okay to Cry").
Michael Joseph and his music; is a representation of one of the cultural cross-sections of America. It is a mixed descent ranging from; Native American, the farmers of Kentucky, and the hills of West Virginia. Never consciously decided to bring out these roots in his music; as he has learned, our roots are inevitable. By embracing these roots, you help keep your ancestors alive.
Beginning at age twelve on guitar; Michael's musical influences began in a typical pre-teen sense with both a Hard Rock and Punk Rock edge; On the contrary, he had also developed an atypical appreciation for Classical, "some" Jazz, traditional Blues, and Country/ Bluegrass.
At the age fifteen, Michael played Bass in a band called Armageddon A.D.; He later journeyed as either guitarist or bassist with various harder edged groups like; Restless Breed, Speed of Fright, Throat, and Soulscrape/ Overjoy. By age twenty-six, he began to lean towards the acoustic side of music; at that time, he had also started to explore both his Blackfoot ancestral roots and traditional Native American music- especially the flute.
While exploring this side of his lineage, a befriended ceremonial leader taught him to drum and sing along side singers from the Rosebud Reservation; consequently, this area of his musical development was practiced in a traditional Lakota way. The experience helped to enable an outpouring of music. An example is the song "Rosebud", from his current release, it stems from these experiences.
The outpouring of ancestral influences in his music, again, was not entirely limited to his American Indian roots; also contributing, is his exposure to Bluegrass and "Old-time Banjo picking". As a child he was recounted stories of his grandfather playing banjo-along side accordion, harmonica, and fiddle players. Later, he too found himself playing alongside one of those individuals- as did his grandfather- in those early years. During these sessions in the back of a Native American shop; the song titled, "Ancestor's Song" had "seemingly" flowed out of him- transcending over a ten year period.
Michael now resources a variety of musical talents; acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, traditional flute and drums, Native American traditional back-drop vocals, and various other musical accompaniments; These talents, along with Michael's musical influences, supports a strong, unique medley of style; Along with the "vision" of combining both spirituality and growth to his unique playing style.
Michael's music is, therefore, a direct reflection of a culture that bridges much of society and the typical roots of American music; along with the member's that have brought us today's influential sound.
In short; as so humbly articulated in a recent interview with Michael Joseph, "If music is truly from the heart, it should have the ability to move you." It is in search to invoke this very cord; that truly inspires the diverse sound and culture implemented in the current release "O-Glepi".
"I want my music to take each listener on a special journey. I think my approach with acoustic does that…especially in a solo, 'live' environment," Derek says. In 2002, he released his debut CD, "Medicine Wheel," dedicated to those who have helped him along the way, and to the accident that eventually directed him toward meditation and greater spiritual awareness.
Derek Mortland's musical life began at an early age on various toy instruments. His parents gave him his first guitar at age 12. As the years swiftly went by, he explored many styles of music which primarily included the electric guitar before finding his passion: the 12-string acoustic.
While he has always built on his parents' love of jazz and classical music, his inspiration for today's compositions come deep from his soul and spirit. His guitar has become a musical voice, providing a backdrop for his life's experience. "(The acoustic) really takes you to a different place and plane than where an electric instrument can," Derek says. "There's just more soul there."
In the 1990s, Derek tapped into his thrill-seeking, competitive nature and competed semi-professionally in motorcycle road racing. His success led him to be ranked 11th in the nation in this sport in 1996.
But in 1997, at a St. Louis speedway, the quickest stop came when Derek survived a paralyzing crash that changed his life. With a sustained spinal cord and head injury he had to totally re-learn how to do many things we generally take for granted- including the way he played guitar. With a re-adjusted torso balance, simply holding the instrument became a major test of creativity and fine tuning. Tony Cooper, a guitar-playing physical therapist, took extra interest in helping Derek develop positioning and seating that better stabilized his ability to play.
"Tony would strap me in my chair and give me the guitar. We would un-strap and re-strap as we looked to find the most comfortable and efficient position for playing. Thank God I don't have to use those straps anymore!"
Since Derek's accident, he has performed in festivals around the world through the Artists with Disabilities Network, and grown in ways which seldom occur without the ability to look at life from a different perspective.
In time, Derek reclaimed, redeveloped and redefined his own, unique and distinctive sound. He started to play around with alternative and specialized, non-traditional tunings. Derek credits Guitarist Richard Leo Johnson for showing him the "Gershwin" tuning and for his advice on composition. Through his music and musical compositions, Derek seeks to build a bridge to the timeless, mystical, and ethereal side that lives deep inside all of us, but that has hidden itself away in our modern, fast paced world. The fast paced world he left behind.
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