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Turn On Digital Music to Ease Stress On The Road
May 23, 2013 by Jessica Festa
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For those who are afraid of flying, new research shows music may be your cure. Digital music service Spotify recently commissioned a study that was carried out by anxiety psychologist Dr. Becky Spelman from the Private Therapy Clinic in London. It investigated the type of music that best helps calm the nerves of nervous flyers.
What Dr. Spelman found that was that breathing in time to music with a low bpm, at a controlled and reduced pace, is proven to lower heart rate and blood pressure, which in turn reduces anxiety. Moreover, listening to songs that stimulate both sides of the brain while using headphones with your eyes closed can be very relaxing, especially when the music is harmonious and emotive.
Explains Dr. Spelman, “Travel anxiety is caused by irrational thoughts where the threat is exaggerated and inappropriate. Music that stimulates both the logical left and emotional right sides of the brain is said to stimulate the limbic system, which processes negative memories and emotions, which in turn helps people think in a more balanced, rational way suppressing anxiety.”
To relieve you of having to do any research on your own,… Read more…
Breadmaking & Musical Tradition in Lithuania’s Rumšiškės
May 15, 2013 by Renee Blodgett
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I love instruments, especially ones I haven’t seen or heard before. In rural Lithuania when I ventured to Eastern Europe in April, I was mesmorized by the soothing sound of the Kanklės, which is a Lithuanian plucked string musical instrument from the zither family. The instrument is similar in construction and origin to the Latvian Kokle, Russian Gusli, Estonian Kannen and Finnish Kantele.
On a misty day where rain finally presented itself, I found myself in a rural village named Miciunai, where pastures went on for miles and green was plentiful. Farmland. Birch trees. Windmills. Nearby there’s a museum in a small cottage called Rumšiškės, which is about 20 kilometers from Kaunas, and in between the capital city of Vilnius and Kaunas.
With a sweet voice and dressed in traditional clothing, Lithuanian born Lorita sang softly as she played her Kanklės. Lorita’s main mission of course was not to dive deep into Lithuanian music history but to teach us about breadmaking.
Being the musician that I am, I had to learn more about this unusual musical instrument which looked like it came from another century. Apparently there are three basic regional types of kanklės, although there are… Read more…
Feeling the Timeless Connection of Music at Holland’s Intents Festival
May 15, 2013 by Brook Bentley
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Intents Festival is celebrating its’ 10th anniversary this June in Oisterwijk, Netherlands. Intents Festival is focused on the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) Scene. The two day festival will be broken down into Harder Styles and Dance Oriented Styles such as house, 90’s dance, and happy hardcore.
The vision of Intents Festival is to create a fantastic experience where you long to remain and will forever look back on with amazing memories, overall an Intents experience.
Music has been a common denominator between people for centuries. It blurs boundaries of language, allows people to share passion and expression, as well as creates unforgettable memories. The journey through the Intents Festival will take you through time and ultimately show you its’ theme—Music is Timeless.
Soak in the mood, let go, and dance the night away.
Photo Credit: intentsfestival.nl
Dine at Lithuania’s Žemaičiai & Eat Boar Stew in an Ancient Catacomb
May 10, 2013 by Renee Blodgett
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On my last night in Lithuania, I was treated to a very authentic experience at the bottom of a cavern in a tucked away room reserved for our party of 15. Žemaičiai Restaurant, located on Vokieciu g. in Vilinius, is a traditional Lithuanian restaurant, buried inside an ancient catacomb. Numerous rooms stem off, creating smaller more private rooms with only two or three tables to somewhat larger rooms with five or six. The floors are made of stone, with uneven, largely original blocks as your main walkway through the unusual, yet inviting old world structure.
The ancient cavern wasn’t the only thing old world about the place; the dishes in all their authentic glory were broad with influences from Russia, Scandinavia, Lithuania, Estonia and even Poland.
A local DJ, an all male musical trio and a local TV personality joined our group and before we even had a chance to get to know each other, I was mesmorized by the preparation and making of a Borsch-like soup which was becoming a reality before our eyes on a rustic wooden table next to the one where we would eventually dine, a room which became ours… Read more…
Vine: A Fabulous Way to Share Short Video on Your Phone
May 4, 2013 by Hoover and Voyno
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Vine is here, and although it’s not perfect, it’s probably the biggest thing to happen to social media since Instagram. We called it last time, saying that Instagram was going to be huge so trust us and just go download Vine app for your phone.
SO WHAT IS IT? Vine is the best way to share short video. It’s 6 seconds of whatever you like. It’s embedable, it’s muted by default, and Twitter is behind Vine. Who else is going to get video right? Facebook? I don’t think so.
“But wait!” you say, “What about YouTube?” It’s true, Vine is no YouTube replacement, it’s simply the evolution of documenting your life’s experience. Now instead of still life, or only sound, you’re bringing them together in Vine.
So why should you use Vine?
- Twitter owns and runs Vine…Meaning it’s not going anywhere for a while.
- Vine is new and has not hit a saturation point…Meaning you can get followers engaged in your content if you post engaging content
- It’s an easy way to bring video into your world especially if you’ve been weary to try video before.
- It’s Fun.
Style Up With a WOODCHUCK Skin On a Beats by Dre Headset
May 2, 2013 by Renee Blodgett
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My Bose headsets finally died. Frankly, while they were noise cancelling and did keep the hum at bay on long flights, they were bulky to pack and not durable for the long haul given how easily one of the ear cups fell off.
I investigated a few other options at CES and while I checked out the popular sellers, I was more keen on some of the lesser known brands, like House of Marley (am dying to test out their new over the ear and on ear headphones: Rise Up & Stir it Up are my two top favorites so far on first glance).
Sure, I was impressed by Parrot’s very sleek all black headset which if Nicholas will send me a pair, I’ll gladly put it to the test. But what about unique and interesting design? You see, for some of us, design matters.
I came across a unique pair of headsets kinda by accident. I was having a business meeting at the top of the Ritz Carlton when the WOODCHUCK guys overheard our conversation. We started chatting and they showed me their product, which proved to be interesting timing since I was about to embark on two back… Read more…
San Francisco’s ‘How Weird’ Festival Features 10 Stages, Electronic Music & Color
April 30, 2013 by Tom Foremski
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San Francisco’s How Weird street fair is always fun and difficult to categorize. Here’s how it describes itself: http://howweird.org/
The How Weird Street Faire is a world-class music festival, featuring a wide range of electronic dance music. There will be 10 stages of great music, art, and sound systems from Symbiosis, Muti Music, Groove Garden, Enchanted Forest, Opel, Opulent Temple, World Famous Productions, Basscraft Soundsystem, Urge Productions, Pink Mammoth, SF House Music, Temple Nightclub, SWAG, Pulse SF, Space Shaping, PK Sound, The Boombox Affair, Party Babas, Red Marines, Psycircle, Happy Camp, and more.
Here’s some photos of the festival from past years:
Curb Your Appetite at the 4th Annual Rock, Ribs & Ridges Festival
April 29, 2013 by Brook Bentley
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It’s another two-day celebration of great music, finger-lickin’ barbeque and great times to be had. You will want to come early and stay late. Fire up the mountain as the legendary Charlie Daniels headlines this fourth annual celebration of good music and mouthwatering BBQ June 8-9, 2013 at The Hidden Valley Club ski resort in Vernon, New Jersey.
Two days of Southern Rock and Southern Cooking with 9 bands headed by Charlie Daniels, Marshall Tucker and the Outlaws will be in force at the 4th Annual Rock, Ribs & Ridges Festival.
Attendees can also enjoy delicious barbecue served up by top regional chefs who are competing in a juried rib cook-off for the coveted titles of Best Ribs, Best Sauce and People’s Choice.
