Author: James O'Connor

Shifting the conversation on mental health with Mary Albertoli

Welcome to episode #285 of dHarmic Evolution

Mary Albertoli is a former clinical social worker who is on a mission to execute actionable solutions to help individuals struggling with mental health problems.

She has a Degree in Social Work from Columbia University and has practiced for 12 years, specializing in counseling children, adolescents, and young adults suffering from mental illness.

Even though she left the counseling profession, Mary kept up with the news and statistics in the industry. With shocking numbers of a 56% jump in suicide rates, coupled with school shootings and drug overdoses, Mary knew that something had to be done in order to help the youth population from continuing on the path of self-destruction.

Having worked with both individuals and group session clients between the age of 10-24, Mary knows first hand from experience that individuals in this age group don’t tend to open up a lot.

A lot of youth go through mental problems, but because this isn’t a popular topic in society, they end up feeling either disgraced or ashamed of these new feelings, and instead of talking things out, they instead act out.

Social media in current times has only acted to catalyze the rate at which young adults experience loneliness, depression, and social anxiety.

A lot of teenagers using social media end up experiencing ‘splintered identity’ A phenomenon in which teenagers report feeling very good and inspired about one post and feeling the total opposite in the next post.

This has made them disconnect from their true and authentic self, further isolating themselves, and going through more suffering.

Handling depression when growing up.

Growing up back in the day, it was very unpopular for guardians to help you through tough mental problems. A lot of these issues were merely swept under the carpet – as you’re told to ‘power through the pain’

This has proven to expose unhealed wounds of the past that need to be catered to. The pain that you powered through is the reason for your current suffering. And it can only be solved by having open and genuine conversations about your feelings surrounding the traumatic experience, and how it has affected you.

Mary was able to handle the mental pain and depression that she suffered as a child in her adult life.

Having faced the demons in her closet, Mary was inspired to help others accomplish the same. And this is the inspiration behind ‘The Shift’ – A platform where individuals can connect with counselors, peers, and other individuals, to share issues they’re going through without the fear of feeling judged or condemned.

Mary now hopes that the platform can evolve to be a diverse tool with resources that help all demographics in working through their mental problems.

In conclusion, remember to always live in the present moment, because nothing is more important than life itself. Be loving, kindful, and generous to your neighbor, especially in these fraudulent times, because we’re all going through something, and the only way out, is by supporting each other.

Text hello to the crisis hotline 741741 and a counselor will discreetly attend to you.

Quotes

“It’s easy to think that you’re alone in life when you’re isolated, this coupled with the pandemic facto is why so many people are going through depression right now. And when humans suffer, they only isolate more.” – Mary on the quiet loop of depression

“A lot of young adults are embarrassed by their mental issues because this isn’t something they’re accustomed to. The shift is about changing the conversation so that these individuals can know that they’re not alone, and what they’re going through is normal.”

“The important thing to remember is that nothing is permanent, things change, and they’re still changing on a daily basis. Something better will eventually come – How to cope with the current pandemic”

“I love being in service to other people because it helps me discover myself even more. The mental path that I’ve journeyed through life is successful because I can openly share what I’m going through without feeling alone.” – Mary on why she loves volunteering”

Timestamps

02:48 The shift
05:47 The effects of social media on the youth
08:19 Tools used in the shift
11:13 Finding ways to handle and release stress
13:47 How we’ve come to where we are
16:26 What Mary and her team are doing to help people
18:19 Mary’s defining moment for creating the shift
24:17 Making the difference
25:29 How volunteering has fulfilled Mary’s life
27:50 Experience working with different kids
31:26 The future of the shift

Connect with Mary Albertoli

Website – www.shifttheshow.com

Facebook – www.facebook.com/theshiftseriesofficial/

Instagram – www.instagram.com/theshift_series/

LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/company/theshiftseriesofficial

YouTube – www.youtube.com/channel/UCVFfUOd7grD8dhdik4Sl0Wg

Mentions

Nadia Sarmova
Adrienne Finch
Maureen (Mo) Isern
Kitty Overton

As always, thanks a lot for being a part of the dHarmic evolution podcast, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and connect with us on social media.

Follow our Podcast on Facebook Twitter Instagram

You can also see the show on The James O’Connor Agency YouTube channel and join our community on dHarmic Evolution Community Facebook Group

Mary Albertoli

September 11th 2001, where were you on that day?

Welcome to episode #285 of dHarmic Evolution

Chances are that you know of someone who was in some way affected by the 9/11 terror attacks launched by Al Qaeda in 2001.

Where were you on that day? I for one, remember in complete detail all the events for that day.

I was at a seminar in a hotel conference hall that was filled to the brim with people.

I’m not very sure what the person in charge was teaching about, but I clearly remember someone walking in and began doing a play by play of what was happening in downtown Manhattan.

It all felt so surreal. With 2,977 dead, 25,000 injured, September 11th, 2001 was undoubtedly a horrible nightmare for almost all Americans and our allies and friends throughout the world.

Remembering the survivors.

We have details of the first responders and witnesses over what happened on that day. We, however, don’t have as many details from the families on how the experience was for them.

What has been able to help us understand these scenes from the victims’ perspective are the phone calls that were made between the people trapped in the building and their families.

Technology still hadn’t evolved as much as it has today, and phones played a very crucial role in how the events of that day played out.

For example, The united airlines’ flight 93 which was also hijacked by Al Qaeda terrorists, and was initially intended to blast into the Capitol building crashed into a field in Pennsylvania when the passengers and crew tried to regain control of it after getting phone calls from their family members over what had just occurred in New York.

The value of family

Looking back at the whole incident, and also through the phone calls that were made on that day. One can’t help but appreciate the value of family.

Unfortunately, so many of us take our families for granted, up until it’s too late, and we no longer have the time or resources to be with them.

Be grateful for the family you have. So many people out there would give anything to be with their loved ones who have been taken away from them. If you’re one of the lucky few who still has a family by your side, then be with them before it’s too late for you too.

The Tribute in Light

The two columns which are lit up every year on September 11 from the ground upwards (replicating the structure of the Twin Towers that were destroyed) won’t be projected this year.

Commonly known as the tribute in light, the event has been canceled this year, following concerns brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead of the projections, the National September 11 museum is planning to host an alternative event that will involve buildings across the city illuminating their structures with blue lights.

Timestamps

02:42 Moment of silence for the 9/11 attacks
03:52 How I spent my day on 9/11
05:21 Remembering the first responders
06:35 What the 9/11 survivors experienced.
09:09 Flight 93
10:53 Appreciate the value of family
13:09 The annual blue lights ceremony
21:09 Listen to Speak to me

Selected links

The New York Times – 9/11 Light Tribute to Take Different Shape
History.com – Flight 93
Reel Truth History Documentaries – 9/11: Phone Calls from People Trapped in the Towers | 911 Documentary
NY Mag – 9/11 by the Numbers

Speak to Me by James Kevin O’Connor

As always, thanks a lot for being a part of the dHarmic evolution podcast, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and connect with us on social media.

Follow our Podcast on Facebook Twitter Instagram

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Labor Day With 2020 Vision, A Pandemic Lesson

Welcome to episode #284 of dHarmic Evolution

Labor day is celebrated on the first Monday of September and we all have the U.S Labor movement to thank for it.

This years’ Labor day celebration falls on September 7th for both the US and Canada.

However, most countries celebrate Labor Day on the 1st of May.

The history of labor day.

There are two versions explaining how Labor day began.

Version A

The first version is set in September 1882 by the Knights of Labor, who were at the time, one of the most important labor organizations in America.

This organization held a public parade on September 5th every year to honor workers.

With time, the Central Labor Union secretary Mathew Maguire proposed that the holiday be held on the 1st Monday of September to honor the epic public demonstrations held annually.

Version B

In the second version, labor day was proposed to the Central Labor Union by Peter McGuire, the Vice President of The American Federation of Labor in 1882.

He suggested it be held on the 1st Monday of September stating that the date is perfect because the weather is great during that time, and also, this falls between the July 4th celebrations and Thanksgiving.

The Haymarket Affair.

In May 1886, a time in which most American workers toiled for up to 20 hours a day, thousands of the laborers protested countrywide in different cities to demand an 8-hour workday.

The protesters were attacked by the police in Chicago, which resulted in tons of injuries and the death of six protesters.

Another peaceful protest was planned and the Chicago police once again showed up to man-handle the demonstraters.

An unidentified person exploded a bomb that killed an officer, causing the police to open fire. This resulted in a quagmire which led to the death of a dozen workers and police officers.

Labor day vs May day.

Communists and socialists across the globe decided to go with May 1st as the day to mark the Haymarket affair.

A conference was held in 1904 to make the 8-hour day the standard worldwide. This is what came to be known as Labor Day or International worker’s day.

Effects of the pandemic

The pandemic had different impacts on individuals. While some people are happy about the opportunity to design a new lifestyle for themselves, others are stressing over the new normal, and can barely keep up with reality.

A lot of individuals have developed counterintuitive habits in order to replace their usual habits. And this has proven to be very stressful.

I think what’s important is that we take time to communicate, connect, and bond with our families.

Family is something that a lot of us usually take for granted, oftentimes until it’s too late and we’re in trouble, or realize that we can longer be with them despite their vital roles in our lives.

Winding up, I’d love to advise you on embracing these difficult times with open arms, and taking the time to reassess your life, in order to develop healthy habits to handle life; like spending time in nature or being in service to others.

More about this on DE265 – What are you doing at home

It’s understandable that a lot of people are suffering during this time. Taking a lesson from Paul in the bible, it’s vital that we learn to develop the spirit of perseverance. Enduring through the pain is what leads to growth and progress in life.

TIMESTAMPS

03:55 Trains and labor

05:22 The end of summer and start of Labor day

06:03 The meaning of labor day

08:04 Labor day history

09:55 The Haymarket affair

10:42 The Pullman strike

13:30 Labor day vs mayday

15:46 Other related stories

17:56 How has the pandemic affected your family?

21:37 The importance of family

23:42 Working on your music career

25:09 Getting through your days with advice from my depression manual.

31:46 Advice from Paul in the bible

34:28 Perseverance

36:21 Listen to Connected.

Download Depression Fighters Ebook here!

Selected Links and Mentions

Labor Day – September 7, 2020

10 Labor Day quotes to help us honor the workers

Why Not Wearing White Became A Fashion Rule After Labor Day

Mulan Will Be Added To Disney On Labor Day Weekend

8 Labor Day Activities To Enjoy Summer’s Final Fling

As always, thanks a lot for being a part of the dHarmic evolution podcast, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and connect with us on social media.

Follow our Podcast on Facebook Twitter Instagram

You can also see the show on The James O’Connor Agency YouTube channel and join our community on dHarmic Evolution Community Facebook Group

The Best Interviews -George Hillman, Cynthia Brando, Azalea, Emily Zuzik

DE Artist Spotlight #1 George Hillman, Cynthia Brando, Azalea, Emily Zuzik

Spotlight Series Number 1

In this episode, I’ll be featuring the previous interviews I’ve had with;

George Hillman
Cynthia Brando
Azalea
Emily Zuzik

If you have been a music freak and a die heart fan of George Hillman, Cynthia Brando, Azalea and Emily Zuzik, this article is for you. These are some of the most popular artists in the music industry with songs hitting millions of views within a span of time.

George Hillman is a New Jersey-based musician, sound producer, and engineer.

Cynthia Brando is a Los Angeles based songwriter, singer with a unique voice.

Azalea is a Canadian/Australian husband and wife collaborative. The way these artists, Benjamin and Mia Hackett blend their voices together, is absolutely unique and popular.

Emily Zuzik is a Los Angeles-based music songwriter, singer, model, and actor.

Let’s explore our new series ‘The Dharmic Evolution Spotlight Series,’ sharing tidbits from the various interviews taken so far. We are going to start with the most recent ones and then will go all the way 5 years back when the show started.

Spotlight Series Number 1

This episode features the interviews we’ve had with George Hillman, Cynthia Brando, Azalea, Emily Zuzik, the popular and globally recognized artists.

Interview with George Hillman

Hailing from New Jersey, George Hillman is a Christian artist, producer, and sound engineer.

George Hillman had a very spirited conversation and shared his amazing experience for song production, Christian living, and the changing church culture.

Hillman’s song featuring on this episode is ‘In God We Trust’

You can listen to George Hillman’s full interview here:

DE279 George Hillman: Songwriter, Musician, Engineer, Pastor, & God’s Grace

What Cynthia Brando Says

We had the pleasure of having Cynthia on the show twice. In her last interview with us, she talked about a much-debated issue of depression from an artist’s point of view, and why so many singers/songwriters experience mental problems. It was a great counseling session too with Cynthia Brando!

Cynthia loves traveling across different states, venues, festivals, and has been a popular street performer too.

Cynthia’s song featured on the episode is ‘The changing skies of my life’

You can listen to Cynthia Brando’s full interview here:

DE274 Cynthia Brando, Why Artists Are Prone To Sadness, Depression, and Suicide.

Azalea shows us the beautiful and dynamic mix of Australian and Canadian

‘Azalea’ is the musical duo of Benjamin and Mia Hackett.

The show we have featured them in shares an amazing roller coaster story of how they had to cancel their ship performance gigs due to the COVID crisis.

Benjamin and Mia Hackett from Azalea got into how they’ve adapted to the crisis, and how they’ve taken the current pandemic as an opportunity to connect more to explore new music ventures.

Azalea’s song featured on the episode is ‘Your Lullaby’

You can listen to the Azalea’s full interview here:

DE264 Azalea, Australia & Canada combine beauty and Art, then steal your heart!

Emily Zuzik talks about her collaboration moves

When we talk about Emily Zuzik, a diversified and skilled artist comes into our minds.

Emily Zuzik is a renowned singer, songwriter, guitarist, actress, and model.

In the show, she revealed her collaboration and the personal connections behind the ‘Torch and Trouble album’, her popular production.

Emily Zuzik also shared a great experience of networking that has helped her grow and learn while still being a performer in LA.

Emily’s song featured on the show is ‘Alone’

https://dharmicevolution.com/old-blog/de260-emily-zuzik-a-brave-rocker-releasing-her-latest-torch-trouble/

Conclusion

So, this is all for today’s thrilling episode sharing the interesting glimpses of some of my best interviews with great artists like George Hillman, Cynthia Brando, Azalea, and Emily Zuzik.

I am so grateful to my followers out there who remember to share, subscribe, and review the show from different platforms.

Timestamps

03:00 The DE Spotlight series; Number one

04:09 George Hillman

05:39 Listen to George Hillman’s ‘In God we Trust’

11:03 Cynthia Brando

13:04 Listen to Cynthia Brando’s ‘The changing skies of my life’

17:23 Azalea

25:46 Listen to Azalea’s ‘Your Lullaby’

31:12 Emily Zuzik

36:04 Listen to Emily Zuzik’s ‘Alone’

45:13 & Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor

Thank you all for being a part of the dHarmic evolution podcast, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and connect with us on social media.

Follow our Podcast on Facebook Twitter Instagram

Quick Memory Test!

Can you answer the following about your favorite artists George Hillman, Cynthia Brando, Azalea duo, and Emily Zuzik?

- - Who is George Hillman?
  - Answer: Hailing from New Jersey, George Hillman is a Christian artist, producer, and sound engineer.
  - What kind of music does Cynthia Brando?
  - Answer: Cynthia Brando’s music is mostly Americana because it is a mix of rock, blues, folk, and country.
  - Where to listen to Azalea’s music?
  - Answer: You can listen to Azalea’s music at https://azalea.bandcamp.com/track/your-lullaby
  - Where to listen to a podcast with Emily Zuzik?
  - Answer: You can listen to the podcast with Emily Zuzik at https://dharmicevolution.com/old-blog/de260-emily-zuzik-a-brave-rocker-releasing-her-latest-torch-trouble/

282 Jake Brown and Music, All Genres, Celebrating Book #50, “Behind the Boards”

I’m joined by the dynamic Jake brown on the show today. A man who has written amazing books about the music business, and everything that goes into music writing and production. His books span across all genres, ranging from Country, RnB, Hip Hop, and Pop.

Celebrating his 50th and latest book on the show with me, Jake Brown’s ‘ Behind the Boards’ features behind the scenes stories of country music’s most notable artists, running from Tim McGraw, Clint Black, Vince Gill, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and so many more.

Jake moved into Nashville in 2003 with only two books published at the time. Nashville has been more than a home for him, as it has sparked the inspiration behind his multiple book series. It was here that Jake started focusing on writing his books based on the interviews he booked with songwriters like Jack Douglas, Eddie Kramer, and Bob Ezrin.
In the span of 8 years, Jake was able to write 18 books.
Jake was driven into depression mode when his dog Hanover died. Focused on how to best cheer himself up, Jake started writing his Behind the boards Nashville series.
He began contacting Country song producers and writing the Nashville Songwriter. It was during his book series that Jake began interviewing and learning from songwriters and producers like Dave Cobb, Paul Waley, Shane McNally, Ross Copperman, Zach Crowl, Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, and Nobert Putman.

Different types of Country Song producers.
While interviewing songwriters, producers, and singers. Jake noticed there are basically two types of country song producers.
Track producers – These are producers who play all the instruments and work on the entire track in the home studios.
Old School producers – these are producers who take a more traditional vibe of getting the entire band together for a weekend solely focused on producing music at the studio.
Old school producers can go as far as knocking out a couple of number one hits in an afternoon. Jake tells the story of how Darius Rucker’s friend and Brad Paisley’s producer, Frank Rogers worked on a single album in one afternoon which went on to knock out a couple of number one hits in Nashville.

There’s a blend of both unique, short, and long-term relationships between singers, songwriters and producers in Nashville, and Country music as a whole. Jake, for one, has interviewed singer-producer duos that have a 10 – 30 year bond of working together.
In his latest book, Jake also dives into interesting stories of individuals that started off trying to become singers, only to end up working and enjoying songwriting and production. And also how singers, songwriters, and producers build connections that end up being lifetime relationships from the most unlikely of scenarios, with one, in particular, being between Taylor Swift and Nathan Chapman.
With over 300 number one hits included in his book and interviews, Jake dives into the behind the scenes backstories of Country’s biggest stars in the last 20 – 30 years. How vulnerable they were when first starting out and how they’ve been able to grow, adapt, and overcome over time to become the superstars they are today.

Music production is a diverse process and works differently for every producer. It could be a long process of listening to thousands of different songs and picking just 30. Or, it could be an overnight sensation of writing, drafting, and producing number one hits in just one night.

The future of music.
With technology being the driving force over so many industries today, Music has also been majorly affected, both positively and negatively by both technology and the internet.
Streaming, Jake says, is the future of music. With 70% of record sales for weekly billboards coming from online streams and downloads, there’s no denying the revenue powerhouse that the internet has proven to be.

Ringtones used to be a proven phenomenon in providing revenue for singers, but those days are all but gone.

There’s also a trend of 360 types of deals where labels now get a piece of the live show revenues, a phenomenon that wasn’t present in the past.

If you want to know more about the diverse and changing art in music production, you can hop over to YouTube, where Jake has over 100 hundred videos where through the countless interviews, he gives a broader outlook of how hits are produced and distributed.

Timestamps
03:58 How Jake started writing his book series
05:16 Working with different producers
08:09 What Jake’s books entail
10:40 The diverse art of music production
15:15 How the music industry is taking shape
20:26 The business aspect of music production
24:30 Easy E and the Hip Hop side of music
25:51 What Jake hopes you’ll get from the book
27:27 Jake’s backstory and how it’s connected to his production career.
31:41How music in the 70s and 80s was produced
34:48 Support community for different musicians
35:20 the underappreciated value of sound engineers
40:40 The growth of home studios
43:22 What’s next for Jake Brown?
46: 58 Listen to “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor

Quotes
It takes you on an entertainment roller coaster and still acts as a reference guide. The main role of my book series is to give you a 3D outlook into how country music is produced behind the scenes.

The most important role of a songwriter in Nashville is to reflect the life of the audience through the music and lyrics. That’s why so many songwriters in Nashville talk about getting their ideas while driving to work or during their everyday conversations.

Through the interviews done, you get an amazing combination of the different ways that records come alive. And ultimately, the more music you listen to, the more educated you become.

Connect with Jake Brown.

Website – www.jakebrownbooks.com
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX5XPxueMyMXzaSbBrcAWgw/videos
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Nashville-Songwriter-Stories-Country-Greatest/dp/1940363179

Selected links and mentions.

Tim McGraw
Clint Black
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
Vince Gill
Dave Cobb
Brad Paisley
Shane McAnally
Ross Copperman
Zach Crowell
Darius Rucker
Frank Rogers
Tony Brown
Taylor Swift
Miranda Lambert
Kenny Chesney
Robert Putnam

Jake Brown

DE281 MK Burnell, “More Music Please” The Hudson Valley’s newest podcast

Joining me on the show all the way from the beautiful Hudson Valley is MK Burnell.

Burnell was formerly the host of a show that aired at Radio Woodstock. She’s also the founder of ‘Locally Grown’, a program at Radio Woodstock that helps feature and promote independent and emerging artists from the Hudson Valley.

She was dropped as part of the budget cuts that Radio Woodstock was trying to implement due to Covid19. Instead of throwing in the towel and regretting how things turned out, Burnell took her laying off as an opportunity to set up her own recording studio at home and start a podcast.

More Music Please – Quarantine Beat is the name of her new podcast, where Burnell interviews professionals from across the music industry about anything they’d love to discuss.
She enjoys performing with different bands, hiking, practicing the trumpet, and learning new languages.

Performing with Different bands.

Burnell is currently a member of 4 different bands. These include Uncle Dad – An all-female group that consists of four ladies. They all have different songwriting techniques, all of which mash-up really great to produce funky songs.

Local Freak – Burnell’s longest-running band project. They perform a mix of covers and originals. They also love dancing and having a good time.

Cold Flair Repair – A local Hudson Valley band that consists of Andy Gladding, Dave Chapman, Chris Machia, and Brad Kelly where they enjoy playing yacht rock and funky soul.

Trailer Swift – Self evocative, Trailer Swift is a band where Burnell and the band members enjoy doing Taylor Swift covers while wearing torn up flannel.

International Relations
Originally an International Relations major at SUNY New Paltz, Burnell found her purpose in working with indie artists.
Burnell majored in IR while at college as she had an interest in learning more about the world and was optimistic about traveling around the world while working.

She’s however very grateful for having gotten the opportunity to work with and learn from different artists while working as a radio host.

Locally Grown.
When she started working at Radio Woodstock 5 years ago, Burnell bugged the radio station to let her do her own show where she’d host local-grown talent.

When granted the opportunity, Burnell began to feature local bands, some of which she had the pleasure of working and performing with when starting out as a young indie artist.
Burnell saw Locally Grown as an opportunity to give back to the community that had once supported her. Locally Grown was also Burnell’s way of improving Radio Woodstock’s brand of featuring and promoting local and independent music.

Starting a new podcast.
Burnell has always had an interest in podcasts. She loves listening to them and always dreamt of starting one. The only obstacle at the time was lack of time and mental energy – because of her full-time work as a music director and radio host.

After losing her job when Corona struck, Burnell jumped at the opportunity of starting her new podcast.

She’s really enjoyed the experience of podcasting so far and loves that she can conduct interviews in her own style and without a time limit – this of course, in contrast to working as a radio host. For instance, in her very first interview with John Ferrara, the duo discussed Midnight gospel – an animated web series featured on Netflix.

Burnell is grateful for the opportunity she got to work at Radio Woodstock, however, she’s found the experience of going fully independent very exciting and hopes to continue being in control of her own projects and ditching the 9-5.

Timestamps
02:58 Enjoying nature
05:04 Practicing with the steel mace
06:42 Different bands that Burnell has worked with
10:24 The gig scene in Hudson Valley
11:34 Experience studying IR
14:46 Burnell’s early music experience
18:22 Reminiscing the good old music
20:02 Locally grown
22:34 Burnell’s new podcast
27:31 Focusing on her podcast
28:52 How I produce my shows
33:11 Burnell’s aspirations.
38:20 Listen to Connected.

Quotes
I learned a lot while studying IR. Having focused on South American politics, I found it very interesting how America meddled with so much of the South American political framework, and its contribution to their political, social, and economic instability.

Music has and will always evolve at a very fast pace. And I love that it does. I love connecting to all genres of music, including next-generation music which I don’t naturally feel attracted to.

Links and mentions.
Blondie
Joan Baez
Brian Wilson
Led Zeppelin
Steely Dan
Timothy Schmidt
Donald Fagan
John Ferrara

The Midnight Gospel
Steel Mace Training
Radio Woodstock

Connect with MK Burnell
Podcast
More Music Please Podcast
Facebook
@moremusic.podcast
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5rVtdgA9yCWP75y0Z_NUBw/featured?disable_polymer=1
Email
moremusicpodcast@gmail.com

The Song “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor

As always, thanks a lot for being a part of the dHarmic evolution podcast, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and connect with us on social media.

Follow our Podcast on Facebook Twitter Instagram

You can also see the show on The James O’Connor Agency YouTube channel and join our community on dHarmic Evolution Community Facebook Group

MK Burnell

DE280 Anatomy of A Song – The Process, From Idea To Finished Product

Anatomy of A Song - The Process, From Idea To Finished Product - dHarmic Evolution Podcast

Today’s show is going to be a little different as I focus on the process that goes into producing my songs. I’m sure you’ll all find the episode very insightful and entertaining, more so if you’re an artist.

The song I’ll be analyzing is Drill Down.
Drill Down is a song featured in my Geography of the Soul album, which I released in 2014.

How I draft my songs.
Having been blessed with creative songwriting skills, I usually try to focus on including at least 10-15 songs per album.

The album featured songs are as a result of more incomplete songs that I draft over a long period of time.

I love the process of not trying to finish a song on the first go.
Songs featured in the Geography of the soul album, for example, are a result of 50-70 mostly incomplete riffs, ideas, poetry, titles, and ideas.

I feel that it’s important to grace the music writing process with time. The more time you give yourself to draft a song, the better the final version.

I go over the rough version of my songs over and over again, up until I feel that the final content is mature enough to be produced.
Titles are very important at the start of the writing process. You can start off from a great title and build your song around it.
For example, the title Drill Down inspired my chorus in the song.
The pre-chorus and chorus are about building a relationship based on genuine and open communication about who you are trying to uncover.

Demos are also very vital when producing. Personally, I love seeking help through honest communication with my colleagues and producers. I trust them to provide me with authentic and trustworthy comments about what they think of my lyrics and performance.

Even more important when performing your demos, remember to give it your very best in the studio. As a matter of fact, don’t ever produce a demo unless you’re on your A-game on that particular day. Because once you’ve produced a great demo, then you’ll most definitely produce an even better song.

Timestamps
01:20 Working with Libsyn and Amazon
03:03 How I draft my album songs
06:12 Song titles
07:35 Analysing the Drill Down chorus
08:43 How I perform my demos
12:21 Listen to the demo version of Drill Down.
17:07 Preparing your files for the producer.
18:33 Comments about “Drill Down”.
21:53 Teamwork during production
22:36 Why .wav files are better than .mp3 files
26:06 Listen to Drill Down

Selected links and mentions.
Libsyn
Amazon
Reverbnation
Kim Copeland
Mike White Presents
Steven Tyler
Drill Down by James Kevin O’Connor

DE279 George Hillman, Songwriter, Musician, Engineer, Pastor, & God’s Grace

George Hillman, Songwriter, Musician, Engineer, Pastor, & God’s Grace - dHarmic Evolution Podcast

George Hillman all the way from New Jersey is our guest today. Since 1994, George has been recording and performing his unique style of Christian music that’s a blend of pop-rock and RnB. George is a producer and has helped engineer, and produce songs for local, regional, and widely known Christian artists, such as singer-songwriter, Gary Oliver, guitarist Mike Deasey of The Wrecking Crew Fame, Jason Alvarez, and Daniel M Stutz.
George is also a pastor at a Bloomfield, New Jersey Ministry.

If you’ve been blessed to hear one of his songs, then you can certainly agree that there’s an uncompromising spiritual element that’s present in every song that he’s performed.
I was really compelled to have George on the show after I listened to his song ‘In God We Trust’.

How George became a Pastor.

It was never in George’s plan to walk in the path of being a shepherd of God’s flock.

While growing up with a love and passion for music, George started a Bible Study Group in his local church. With the church experiencing immense growth as a result of the Bible Study started by George, the church pastor decided to ordain him.
As a pastor, George has a particular liking for people who struggle with being in terms of the church principles, because he also went through a similar experience while growing up.

Life-changing moment.

As a band playing in his local church. George as a youth was going through a phase where he felt disconnected to the church.
After performing at a retreat center in Upstate New York with his band, a young rebellious George walked off stage to relax and cool his thoughts down. He veered off and found himself in a quiet library in Upstate, New York.

While at the library, George was drawn towards a particular book in the library – The Halley’s Bible Handbook.

On the cover page, the handbook had instructions directing the reader to turn to Page 83, the most important page in the book.
After flipping to the page, George found himself in a verse by verse teaching section, with related case study examples. A reading experience that completely changed his understanding of the bible and its teachings.

Fast Forward to a couple of years later, and George transferred to a church where verse by verse teaching was the mode of preaching. He’s been using this method of bible study ever since.

Church Culture.

Part of what George struggles with in life is the modern church culture, where many churches make people dependent on them.
Churches are building an addiction where the congregants can only worship and find peace in the church buildings. This complex culture is in contrast with early churches started by the Acts of the Apostles who had a more simple and straightforward approach of defining a church as the congregants, rather than the building and tools inside the building.

As Christians, we should question the kind of relationship we want to build with God and focus more on how we can strengthen our bond between us and Him.

In times like these, it’s even more important to put our trust in God because of the greatness that he’s done for us since the dawn of creation. Gratitude is the key to being happy and fulfilled in life. Be grateful and give thanks to the little or big that God has provided for you.

Timestamps

03:50 How George knew about DE
04:48 About George’s ministry
05:37 How Geoge became a pastor
08:03 Listen to ‘Hold On’ by George Hillman
13:00 Growing up with a love for music
16:13 Reminiscing the quadraphonic
17:48 How George came up with ‘The Greatest of these’
19:05 Listen to ‘Greatest of these’ by George Hillman
23:23 What instruments George uses to play the Greatest of these
25:52 George’s journey to becoming a pastor
31:49 Listen to In ‘God we Trust’ by George Hillman
38:36 We all need God in these times
40:04 Staying off Facebook and politics.
44: 54 Struggling with modern church culture
50:33 Listen to “Living ain’t life” by George Hillman
55:06 How George Composes his music
58:43 Mixing and mastering a song to perfection
1:05:28 George’s partying advice.
1:07:58 Listen to “Connected”

Quotes.

I was fascinated by the craft of making music. I’d spend hours listening to the stereo and my curiosity to understand how music is made is what drove me towards being an artist.

Engineering music is part of the magical process of producing great music. It starts when you write the lyrics alongside the vibe that you want your chords to communicate. Engineering is what ends the process, and helps get your message across.

As Christians, it’s important we understand that loving God isn’t enough. We should also stretch our love to other people, despite their beliefs or background.

Verse by verse teaching was a game-changer for me. It helped me as a Christian to have a clear and better understanding of the bible and its teachings.

The fact of the matter is that we all need God and His grace. I find it very wonderful that He has made Himself available to each and every one of us when we need him. And that’s what inspired me to write the song “In God We Trust”.

Ministry is every single thing you do as a Christian musician. So get into a relationship with God and let your whole life and music be inspired by Him.

Selected Links and Mentions.

Simple Faith church
Quadraphonic: The forgotten surround sound of the 70s
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
REAPER | Audio Production Without Limits
Pro Tools – Music Software – Avid

Connect with George Hillman

Website
www.georgehillman.com
Facebook
@GeorgeHillmanMusic
Twitter
@GeoHillmanMusic
Instagram
@georgehillman

George Hillman

DE278 The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, What Can You Do?

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, What Can You Do? - dHarmic Evolution Podcast

Starting off today’s show with the magical sounds of a tropical beach in the South of Thailand.

With today’s focus on the Great Pacific Garbage patch, my question to you is, how long do you think we have before it all goes away?

As a species, we are undoubtedly behind the destruction of countless marine and land plants and animals.

We’re only getting worse by the day. Like the other day, I witnessed a lady come out from a car and throw a cigarette she was smoking on the ground and stepped on it.

The mere fact that she did everything like it was normal is simply astonishing. This is what we’ve become as a species.

In today’s show I highlight the enormous amount of trash we are dumping in the oceans and how it is negatively impacting the marine ecosystem, in hope that we can change our attitude and save the oceans, sea’s, and ultimately, our precious planet!

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Also known as The Pacific Trash Vortex, The Great Pacific Garbage Patch spans waters from the west coast of North America to Japan.

It consists of The Western Garbage Patch in Japan and The Eastern Garbage Patch that’s between Hawaii and California.

The entire Great Pacific Garbage Patch is bounded by the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre – a circular storm pattern that’s formed by the pacific ocean currents.
The center of the Gyre tends to be very calm and stable.

The circular motion of the gyre draws the debris into the calm center, where it becomes trapped to form the garbage patches.

The pacific garbage patch is Made up of microplastics that can’t be seen by the naked eye. The microplastic is mixed with other debris like fishing gear and shoes.

70% of the marine debris in the Pacific garbage patch usually ends up sinking to the bottom of the ocean.
54% of the marine debris comes from land-based activities in North America, while 20% is as a result of offshore oil rigs and large cargo ships that dump or lose litter directly into the ocean.

The first trash vortex was discovered by Charles Moore. A sailor who was sailing from Hawaii to California after competing in a yachting race. Charles alongside his crew took note of the vortex when their ship was surrounded by millions of plastic pieces.

Plastics make up the majority of the ocean debris majorly because of two reasons:
a. Plastic is durable and low cost. Making it popular with manufacturers of consumer products
b. Plastic doesn’t biodegrade. It only breaks into smaller pieces and becomes a part of the ocean ecosystem

Dangers of the ocean debris

Sea animals like seals and turtles sometimes confuse the microplastics for food and eat them. Which ends up killing them.
Sea animals get entangled in the nets found in pacific garbage patches and die.

The patch blocks sunlight from reaching plankton and algae in the ocean. This disrupts the food chain as sea animals such as turtles and fish we depend on, end up dying.

Plastics absorb pollutants such as PCBs from the seawater. This is later passed on to animals that feed on the small pieces of plastic.

Because the garbage is far off from any coastline. No country wants to take responsibility or fund the cleanup projects.
According to scientists and explorers, the best way everyone can be involved in the clean up is by limiting or eliminating our use of disposable plastics and substituting with biodegradable resources.

A lot of the global conglomerates are only profit-driven, and that’s why plastic is such a commonly used resource. The only way this stops is if you as a person, decide to take action. Take responsibility and live your daily life in pursuit of a cleaner and healthier planet.

Timestamps.
01:13 About The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
03:24 What causes garbage in the ocean
05:37 The two major garbage patches
07:05 How the North Pacific Gyre is formed
09:44 What the pacific patch is really composed of
11:04 How the trash vortex was first discovered
12:51 Why plastic is the majority of debris in the ocean
13:46 Harmful effects of marine debris
16:57 Patching up the patch
23:28 How you can make a difference
27:41 Listen to connected

Selected links and Mentions.
The Cornish beaches where Lego keeps washing up
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Marine debris
Ocean Trash: 5.25 Trillion Pieces and Counting, but Big Questions Remain
North Pacific Gyre
Meet Captain Charles Moore
DE276 Humpback Comeback!
Connected by James O’Connor

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

DE277 Brad Lambert, Building Relationships First, Business Will Then Follow

Brad Lambert, Building Relationships First, Business Will Then Follow - dHarmic Evolution Podcast

Joining me on the show today is producer, talent manager, and international speaker Brad Lambert.

Brad was born and raised in Pittsburgh. So it was no surprise when he started off his career working with The Steelers by helping their athletes in marketing and branding themselves.

Passionate and self-driven for success, Brad moved to LA. This proved to be the highlight for his career as he worked with the legendary Robert Downey Jr and team, then, on to some of the biggest Hollywood brands, including Disney, Marvel, and Sony Pictures.

Brad has also been a part of the marketing campaigns of two-hit movies; Avengers End Game and Spiderman: Far From Home.

Brad in a Nutshell

Brad is only motivated to work on things that he’s passionate about. And although it’s a straightforward approach, the path toward his inspirational success has been characterized by hard discipline and commitment.

This is what led Brad into working in the Sports and Film industries.

Business and Connection Building

Brad started working with The Steelers while in senior high school.
He did whatever he could to add value to the lives and business aspects of his clients (The Steelers athletes).

This ranged from social media management, brand building, PR, and online marketing.

His main goal through all this was to establish his clients’ brands to ensure maximum exposure for entrepreneurial and career success.

What motivated Brad at the time up to date, is the relationship and connection side of the business.

He enjoyed getting to know the personal and social lives of the athletes he worked with.

The relationship aspect, Brad advises, is the most important factor behind the success of anything. From business to careers, family, and friendships. Building genuine and trustworthy relationships is the key to a firm and unshakable foundation.

Once you’ve established a great relationship, it will automatically spill over to your general reputation and track record. Everything else will fall into place without much effort.

Progress: Moving to LA

Having received a call and provided an opportunity to work in Hollywood. Brad jumped on board without any second thoughts.
Because he didn’t have any background in Film School. Brad had to work twice as hard as the other producers and marketers in Hollywood. But he had no problem with this since he’s always loved new challenges and anything that required him to jump out of his comfort zone.

Looking back at all of it now, Brad is grateful for the time he spent working to produce and market Hollywood films.

Everything involved in the production aspects; research, coverage, creativity hacking, and teamwork, have all helped in shaping him to be the success he is today.

It’s this experience that shaped Brad’s belief in the spirit of synergy and collaboration for inclusive success. Lifting each other up is the only way we all win.

Adapting to the COVID Environment.

Like everyone else’s lifestyle, Brad’s daily routine has massively been affected by the pandemic.
But instead of complaining or sitting back to wait for things to change, Brad has decided to take control and do the things that he can to ensure progress.

He’s currently working on different projects to ensure easy continuity once this COVID storm has settled.
Brad has also taken the opportunity to work on growing himself. He’s been reading, watching Ted Talks, learning new skills, and speaking on podcasts. His main focus is to come out on the other side better than he currently is.

Although habits are hard to break. Just like Brad, taking it one step at a time is the way to go.

Focus on the good, and the most you can do with the resources you have. This is the way we all come out of the current crisis as winners.

Timestamps

03:21 How Brad launched his career while in high school
06:07 Brad’s experience working with The Steelers.
07:43 Building the foundation of his marketing business
08:48 Business tips to starting a business
13:55 Transitioning from sports to the film industry
16:52 Experience working in Hollywood projects.
20:41 Brad’s personal life philosophy and character building.
24:41 Growing and succeeding in the COVID environment.
30:00 Making the most with the little you have
33:37 Pivoting from the 9-5 to going independent
36:57 Making better people instead of millionaires
38:01 Brad’s work habits and routines.
46:03 Building genuine relationships for success
53:05 Listen to Connected.

Quotes

I did a lot of work for people which I never got paid for. Because it’s never been about business for me. Adding value and building relationships was my aim at the time. – Brad about working with some of The Steelers athletes while in high school.

All my success has come from building genuine relationships. Through these relationships, I’ve been able to build a foundation which I then leverage to transition into the money side of things.

Life is all about who you know. And when opportunities are presented to you by these people, you have to jump on that train.

Always challenge yourself. If things are beginning to get easy for you, then it’s time to focus on a different niche to ensure growth and overall success. I personally never say no to any opportunity, even if it’s something I’m not very familiar with.

We’re not together as we were in the past. If we change this and we all stick together and support each other, then the world will be a much better place.

Selected Links and Mentions

Terry Bradshaw
Lynn Swann
Willie Parker
Lawrence Timmins
Robert Downey jr.
Scooter Braun
Gary Vee

Connect with Brad

Website
www.bradrlambert.com
Instagram
@bradrlambert
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_Yy3DCc3WUjBqSbz-PPGJA/featured?view_as=subscriber

The Song “Connected” by James Kevin O’Connor

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Brad Lambert