the spirit of song project profile picture

the spirit of song project

About Me

itunes, Songs of Hope

Introducing the Spirit of Song Project. This is a vehicle through which I release and perform my own song based music. It..s all about simplicity, accessibility and authenticity. The live side of the project varies according to the event. Many solo gigs on piano and guitar to fund my travels and recording projects...Aotearoa Aroha..The song became a journey.. the journey became the song.. It began after the Parihaka peace festival in Taranaki. Tihikura, the organizer of the jam zone at the festival was the first collaborator on this song in the days following the festival. A massive affirmation, and a huge blessing upon the song. From that point I realized the potential of this song to connect and unite the people in a recorded medium, transcending time and place, under a musical expression of Aroha. The song grew wings of its own and took me for the ride of my life.. Having been rejected for funding, I traveled the country regardless, with portable recording and video gear to realize this vision. I lived, when on the road, in an old lpg van, and financed the project with busking and little acoustic gigs along the way, open to whatever came. I traveled as far south as Dunedin, Queenstown and Haast, and as far north as Cape Rianga. At every stage along the way, the good will of people carried the project forward. Massive aroha and respect to all the collaborators . They are: Tihikura (Parihaka festival organizer - BV..s), Rihari Singleton (Phoenix Foundation - Drum kit), Ryan Prebble (Safari, Sparticus R - acoustic guitar, BV..s), John Grenell (BV..s), Mea Grenell (Harriet and the Matches - BV..s), Luke Bowman (Sambassadors .. bass), James Coyle, (Hikoikoi Reserve .. piano), Charlotte Squire, (BV..s), Iain Hickling (Original Tommy band.. BV..s). Much love and respect to Rio Hemopo for his blessing on the bass line days before he split to the UK, and Unity Pacific for their belief and support. Aroha to all who let me film them being themselves, and all who aligned with the cause, helped me on the wayThe album's title is "Songs of Hope", and in a climate dominated by sex and violence in the media and proffit NOW in the business sector, it pretty much makes exactly the statement I wanna make in the world... Nuff said. !00% independent as... wish I could share it all with u all direct on line, but hey, if you like this stuff, know that there's a 13 track debut CD full of songs of hope, with a full lyric booklet and heaps of beautiful pics, and two divx videos, in stores and online now. The songs are written and recorded by me, and collaborated on with others. Back to basics... The Spirit of Song. Kia Kaha, and vibin much Aroha to and from the universe!!! Bless Bless Bless!! AJ

itunes, songs of hope


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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 29/06/2006
Band Website: evolvingrhythms.com
Band Members: Just about to split to the islands again... Round two! First thing that happened when I got back to Aotearoa last time was I fournd myself in a hui at Waitangi... after,I shot this... Scenes from E Tu anti anti terrorist gig in Wellington... Yesterday matt arrived just before I launched into a bit of drum kit practice... he shot this... For Malia. At the end of a magical Easter break spent with my beautiful companion, friend, lover and partner Malia, I watched as she fell about 50 meters to her death from the top of a giant tree we had climbed together. (her idea... nutcase. yup) In our last moments together we had spoken about the freedom of unconditional love. I’d told her that I didn’t want to limit or restrict her in any way. I’d told her that I loved her exactly as she was. Then she fell.The pieces move. The Sun keeps on rising. She's with me all the time now... How many have without a doubt such a strong and immediate soul mate connection with an angel...? And so much inspiration and reason to practice connection with spirit? I still trust her as I trust myself. She is an adventurer, a free spirit, a joy and an absolute angel. Everything is an adventure with her, and an opportunity for awe and laughter. She constantly encourages me and others to live more.Her love and generosity of spirit, her intelligence and inclusiveness are an inspiration, and remain the indestructable essence of life. My guide.May the grace and love which you showed me grow still stronger and deeper in me, that any and all in this realm may bear witness to the indestructable, all embracing transcendance of perfect love. Twin souls transcending dimensions, with new dances to learn... And we are learning...A clip from the week spent at Tui community multi arts symposium. Recorded on location, and all footage from the week spent there, working with school groups, mentoring the arts. Such a blessing!! Aroha Massive!! Heres da low fi mix of da Aroha Vid... Massive love and respect to all who gave of themselves for this one... What a journey. A joy to be able to offer it back in this way.... Bit of audio latency in da upload / streaming... just immagine it's in time!! Ha!!! AROHANUI!! aj. .. width="425" height="350" ..
Influences: Here's a new song. Written in the jaws of a massive cactus trip shortly after Malias death, as I rode round and round in circles on her skateboard... recorded in Brunswic heads, as I spend days working on the boat which will sail me to the islands... recorded on the camera mic... remember - content not production quality!! hehe. Aroha! From AJ and Malia. A clip from an "album in 10 days" project with Mea Grenell (aroha vid)... The albums called Kapowhai, and was recorded in ten days in and around Wellington, with a documentary shot of the whole process... Produced by Sonic Revelations. Contact mea at [email protected] for more info... .. width="425" height="350" ..
Sounds Like: some tripped out dude with a wild love for music and a crazy idea that he could just take off into people with a drum and pretty much create whatever experience he felt like having for himself and anyone who freely chose to taste it too, choosing hope and tasting love and heartbreak on a paper thin astral realm whilst walking the dream... telling what he found there... or something like that...
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Malia and AJ part 2

And what could he do except tell all of his love for her?   Her beautiful energy. Her grace. Her acceptance. Her divine example. Her love. And how could he remember her and not cry till he thou...
Posted by on Wed, 04 Jul 2007 19:30:00 GMT

the story of Malia and AJ

My AngelMy love. My Natural Goddess, beautiful gelfling child. Malia. You came into my life complete, without any need, without any lack. Full of fun and laughter, joy and love. With a will to open...
Posted by on Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:05:00 GMT

Miracle

This track came from the original "Tommy" band... recording our last ablum 18mths ago (yet to be released), one night we jammed by a bonfire on a beach, and this riff came out. I loved it, so rallied ...
Posted by on Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:16:00 GMT

aroha

For as long as I can remember, I have felt privileged to live in Aotearoa, and have used my time here to manifest music and art. I believe Aotearoa to be an oasis, rich in natural inspiration, opportu...
Posted by on Fri, 01 Sep 2006 01:47:00 GMT

home again!

Wow what a journey. Just returned to Welli after the Northern leg of the Aroha mission. Such an incredible land we share. My journey was full of newness, full of adventure, full of kindness from stran...
Posted by on Sun, 30 Jul 2006 20:44:00 GMT