Drake OranwoodI want to thank everyone who has helped us support the JCC Therapeutic Nursery through this project. This preschool provides early intervention to bright children with special needs, including our son. All proceeds from the album are being donated to the Nursery.
This track from the album was inspired by our experiences coming to terms with parenthood playing out differently than we had expected it to. If this piece touches you, I invite you to share it.
For those who wanted to be at the release concert but couldn’t, we were able to take video. Sadly, the camera only picked up the first half of the concert, but at least we can share that part…
So I want to take a few minutes today to get down my recollections from the release concert Saturday night, before it fades. I’ll be sharing pictures and video probably later in the week for those who couldn’t be there…but I want to take a breath and step back and let my work be out there for people to enjoy if they wish, and get out of the way.
Last night was amazing. We had some twenty thirty people in the house for the release party for Hidden Gold, and I got to perform the album in its entirety with a backing band. More thoughts, and photos and video, will follow. Initial sales of the album, at the event and online, are promising.
For now, I’m going to wish you all a happy Father’s Day, and spend some time with my family as well as my chosen family. I feel like a piece of metal that spent hours in the forge. It’s not a bad thing, but I am super tired. I wish everyone a happy Father’s Day, and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
It is on sale now, and the first orders are in. Buy it here. (Please share the link, and like the Drake Oranwood Facebook page, to spread the word!)
Hidden Gold goes on sale tomorrow. We’re actually at that point. The release party is all set, we have rehearsed. Time to drop the last song that I promised.
About five seconds after I finished writing “Tam Lin of the Elves” (actually, probably before I finished writing it), I knew whose voice I wanted for the Faerie Queen. There was really never any question who was my first choice, a voice that could hold beauty and chilling menace in perfect balance. And when I asked her, she didn’t hesitate. Getting to record her vocals in my basement was one of the highlights of the process of making the album. It was kind of a one-hour master class in studio performance.
It is with great delight that I share this song, with Heather Dale’s vocals on it.
As promised, a new song is now available for you to hear. Episode 3 of The Knowne World Bardcast is now online (and available on iTunes and SoundCloud). It’s “Kingdom Anthems Part II”, but Gideon had space for a bonus track: “The Bastard’s Tale”!
Four days. Four days left until we release Hidden Gold. There does seem to be interest, which does my little bard’s heart good.
Know this: You’ll get the chance to hear two more songs from the album between now and Saturday, and they are two that get requested. One of them should be available within the next 24 hours.
Until then, in case you haven’t heard them yet (or want to again), here are the ones that are already released.
#albumselfie
A reminder, for anyone following this, that there will be a release party and concert at our house in Paramus, NJ Saturday night, June 20, starting at 7 pm to celebrate the release. We’ll have CD’s for sale, and I’ll be performing the album all the way through with a live band one time only! I’m very excited that my teacher, Mistress Zsof, is coming all the way out from the Midrealm to be part of this. (She will be singing with me!)
If you plan to come, we can give you the address. Contact me via email at drakethebard@gmail.com, or if you’re on Facebook or G+, you can indicate you’re interested in the event:
We’d love to see you there if you’re available.
Drake Oranwood