•  AOMUSIC  is  a  pan-cultural  music  project,  produced,  composed  &  performed  by  a  co-op  of  four  international  recording  artists  (Richard Gannaway,  Jay Oliver,  Miriam Stockley,  Sandeep Chowta)...

 

 

 

ABOUT AOMUSIC

 

 

 

 

 

AOMUSIC is truly music for a new eon. Cinematic and intoxicatingly rhythmic, it has been described by critics as "astonishing" and “like nothing you’ve ever heard.”  Their music is influenced by the works of Peter Gabriel, Afro Celt Sound System, Deep Forest, Adiemus, Solas, Imogen Heap, Sting, Varttina, and Karunesh.

 

Read on to learn more about:

-       THE HISTORY OF AOMUSIC

-       WHO IS AOMUSIC

-        WHAT IS AOMUSIC

 

 

THE HISTORY OF AOMUSIC

 

AOMUSIC is comprised of Richard Gannaway, Jay Oliver, Miriam Stockley and engineer Rod Houison.  Key contributing artists include Sandeep Chowta, Andy Georges, George Bernardo, Doug Lunn, and various children’s choirs throughout the world.  In 2009, AOMUSIC releases TWIRL, an exhilarating new album featuring the signature vocal style of Miriam Stockley, heard on the acclaimed Adiemus project, produced by Karl Jenkins.

Gannaway & Oliver grew up in St. Louis, MO, where they were both involved in the regional music scene.  Gannaway moved to Los Angeles in 1987 as a composer and convinced Oliver to move there in 1989, where they both expanded their musical careers.  In 1996, they began working on the AOMUSIC project, which resulted in the critically acclaimed release of their GROW WILD album in 2000.   

Gannaway and Oliver toured the world to refine the vision of AOMUSIC, expanding their musical recipe for a “universal” sound.  The result, is the 2009 release of their new song collection, TWIRL.  Their intriguing journeys continue and will be produced as film documentaries.

 

GROW WILD’s success in 2001 led to teaming up with Frank Mayor of Artists International Management, who introduced them to China Record Company (CRC). Over the next few years, Gannaway and Oliver spent increasing amounts of time in China, Indonesia and India, learning local musical traditions and recording Chinese and Indian children’s choirs for their new compositions.

 

In 2005, AOMUSIC was invited to Sandeep Chowta's studio in Mumbai where they rehearsed, then performed, the first ever AOMUSIC concert in Bangalore, India; a forthcoming concert is planned for the fall of 2009 in Tbilisi, Georgia.  Chowta is a well-known film score producer and has become a recent member of the AOMUSIC production team.

 

AOMUSIC was invited to compose music for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.  For that purpose, Gannaway and Oliver decided to incorporate, internationally acclaimed recording artist, Miriam Stockley.  Gannaway shares, “We loved Miriam’s work on Adiemus, and used her sound as a benchmark when recording children’s ensembles for our song refrains.”  Stockley lent her talents to the song, “On Jai Ya”, which was submitted to the Beijing Olympic committee.  Eventually, “On Jai Ya” became the opening track for TWIRL, a captivating introduction to this energetic album, accented by children’s vocal ensembles from Asia.  The positive collaboration with Stockley blossomed into work on additional tracks, which resulted in AOMUSIC’s expansion to include Stockley and engineer Rod Houison as musical partners.

 

AOMUSIC’s highly anticipated second album, TWIRL, releases nationally on February 17, 2009.  It delivers the dynamic vibrancy of children’s choral refrains and creative phonetics that cross language barriers.  Being at once, universal, indigenous and mystical, it defies definition and embodies AOMUSIC’s message of Unity.  It reaches beyond borders to present a rich, imaginative musical landscape that naturally brings forth a sense of unity and celebration within each of us.

 

When listening to TWIRL, one realizes that AOMUSIC is more than a producer of a new world sound.  Their music is a celebration of life and a guiding light toward oneness.  Its message is simply "unity,” but its method is far from simple: it endeavors to present the four components of beauty -- music, color, form & movement -- in each song.

 

Upon finalizing TWIRL, AOMUSIC continues to scan the world for rich musical diversity, honing their ability to connect with our natural yearning for Unity.

 

 

 

 

WHO IS AOMUSIC

 

 

 PRIMARY ARTISTS, COMPOSERS AND PRODUCERS

·      Richard Gannaway (stringed instruments, vocals) is a primary artist, producer and the founder of AOMUSIC.  Gannaway toured Western Europe & Canada extensively as leader of the group, Tiger & the Helix before founding the AOMUSIC vision. Richard has written a manuscript entitled,"Drops & Sparks (The Method of AO)" , explaining in detail the insights for what inspires AOMUSIC, full of prose & fascinating observations of the intimate relationship between light, harmony & orientation...

 

·      Jay Oliver (keyboards, synth samples) is a primary artist, producer.  Most of the recorded textures (winds, bowed instruments, drums, cymbals, shakers, sticks, bells, rattles, etc.) & layers of world indigeny that define AOMUSIC's extraordinary rhythmic feel are performed by Jay Oliver via synths, samples & keys. Oliver's former credits include: Sheryl Crow, The Eagles, Celine Dion, Jimmy Buffett, Bonnie Raitt, Wynona Judd, Glenn Fry, Joe Walsh, Chick Corea & Dave Weckl.

·      Miriam Stockley of the U.K. is a primary artist and has recently joined as a powerful vocal ensemble, also contributing as co-composer.  Miriam's South African upbringing is what she attributes to the incredible youthful spirit of her tracks.  Miriam grew up in South Africa before moving to the U.K. where she met husband/engineer, Rod Houison. Her Film soundtrack credits include, Lord of The Rings - The Fellowship of The Ring & Great Expectations...  Miriam has two brilliant solo albums ("Eternal" & "Second Nature")...

·      Rod Houison (Miriam's husband & engineer) overdubs & co-produces all Miriam's vocal tracks. Miriam Stockley & Rod Houison officially joined the AO sound in 2006.

·      Film score composer & producer, Sandeep Chowta of Mumbai, India is a supporting member of the AOMUSIC production team, and through his resources we have access to fantastic talent & musical traditions throughout that region.

 

 

 

 

 

 REGULAR CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

·     Andy Georges is a contributing artist (stringed instruments) & occasional co-composer.

·      Other contributing artists are: George Bernardo (percussion), Doug Lunn (bass) & various children’s choral ensembles throughout the world, most notably the China Record Company Children’s Choir, and the William Joseph International Academy for Performing Arts Children’s Choir.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S CHORAL ENSEMBLES 

Various children’s choral ensembles throughout the world are the centerpiece for the sound of AOMUSIC... They sing refrains in a variety of languages or made-up phonetics, carefully chosen for their "shape"... Miriam Stockley fortifies these tracks with added vocals or sings them exclusively with her own overdubs... Some of the international choirs we've been honored to work with include:

·     The CRC Children's Choir (Beijing, P.R.C.) These children recorded several AOMUSIC tracks at CRC studios in Beijing during production of theme music for the 2008 Summer Olympics and are featured in two songs ("On Jai Ya" & "Zhaia") from the new AOMUSIC CD release, "Twirl"... They are hand picked from provinces throughout China & are experienced recording artists...

·     William Joseph International Academy for Performing Arts (Bangalore, India) This choral ensemble has over 100 children & in 2004, they rehearsed & performed in the first ever AOMUSIC concert at the Bangalore Habba Festival... Sandeep & William Joseph are old classmates & we certainly will be performing with these kids in future concerts there... 

 

 

 

GUEST ARTISTS

 

·     Sowmya Raoh (Mumbai, India) - vocals ...Sowmya is among the many young artists Sandeep dicovered, produced & recorded on his long list of Bollywood soundtrack hit singles... He invited Sowmya to the studio during the Mumbai sessions in 2004... She is featured, singing solo on the verses of "Obayo" from the new "Twirl" collection...

·     Kimba Arem (Boulder, CO) - didgeridoo ...Richard & Jay met Kimba at the 2007 Sound Healing Concert in San Francisco... She was playing a crystal didge & it was unlike anything we'd ever heard... Kimba tours internationally and uses her talent as a means to transform & heal... She & her didge are featured in the songs, "Tayeh Kayoh" & "Yei Ha" from the new "Twirl" CD...

 

 

 

 

WHAT IS AOMUSIC

 

 

 

 

AO [éi-o] n. ancient Polynesian word;
   1. pure light; 2. all colors

 

 

AOMUSIC is a pan-cultural acoustic fusion of musical texture from around the globe.  It is a commonwealth of spirit and celebration.

 

A key ingredient in AOMUSIC's unique expression is powerful vocal ensembles, sung by children throughout the world... Refrain lyrics are often a variety of ancient languages or carefully crafted phonetics, chosen for their "shape."

 

The object is not to hold allegiance to any particular region, so the impression is fresh & exotic from any place on the earth.

 

AOMUSIC is the spirit, color and timbre of global oneness. 

 

 

DISCOGRAPHY

LP "TWIRL" tracks include:
On Jai Ya
Tayeh Kayoh
Drops & Sparks
Obayo
Yei Ha
Na Ha Ye
Kaya Kayeh
Zhaia
Shamaniya
Cahaya

LP "Grow Wild" tracks include:
Chameleon Makebelieve
Haumea
Grow Wild
Helios
Amerika
Aumakua
Little Dove's Reel
Gaia
Those Eyes
Mother
AO Reprise

 

Genre:  World / New Age

 

 

 

http://aomusic.com

 

 

 

Youth - the vibrant, unguarded human presence & easiest example of beauty, hyper-intelligence & naturally occurring brotherhood

The present cycle of change & its simple need for lightheartedness & tolerance

The singularity of Music, Color, Shape & Movement

The overwhelming evidence that any natural system, unobstructed, is UNITY is MUSIC is LOVE