Realizing Your Vision!

Welcome to our latest on-line edition of Theta Sounds! We hope your new year is shaping up just the way you envisioned it. If not, may we suggest writing that vision down, posting it on a location where you can't help but see it, and working towards getting a little bit closer to that vision every day. If you have any trouble doing this on your own, try doing this with a friend/creative partner--someone you can bounce ideas off of, or at the very least, mutually keep each other focused on the goal. Speaking of realizing one's vision, since our last issue we've had several clients doing just that. Why even our resident composer / producer / engineer got to shine once again with The Snow Queen - ballet redefined. More on that later. First, a word from Worfy, one of our two resident felines...

WORFY in her TENT-MOBILE

"I really like my new Tent-Mobile. It has all the comforts of home--privacy, warmth, food (well, maybe not the food). As you can see, I've just pulled up to my scratching box and after a good shredding, I'll be back on the road (rug) again! "Pssst... Don't tell my sister, Slinky, I'm in here. I want to surprise her. "Oh, S-l-i-n-k-y..."

Vocalessence by Amy!
After nearly two years, Amy's long-awaited Vocalessence CD was released with a pair of intimate performances here at Theta Sound. During the second chorus of her rendition of That's Amore, the audience was encouraged to sing along. And with the supplied lyric sheets (and love in the air) they did just that.

A couple of months later, Amy staged a special concert at at her high school alma mater, El Camino Real in Woodland Hills. For two of her numbers, including the timely We Need More, members of the El Camino Real Camerata Vocal Ensemble joined her on stage. It was certainly a memorable evening and all in attendance left with a fresh long-stem rose and a special thank you card signed by Amy. To hear selections from this exciting new album, click here.

Chairmen of the Chord After much rumor and speculation, Initial Public Offering, the new CD from acclaimed a cappella quartet Chairmen of the Chord has just gone public! In these turbulent financial times, this CD is one sure-fire investment that pays dividends every time you listen to it. The album incudes ten barbershop quartet classics, a couple of patriotic gems and a contemporary rendition of a Rodgers and Hammerstein classic. If you are interested in purchasing your "share (CD)" before construction is completed on their "corporate offices (web site)," contact Ray Korns, Chief Baritone Officer here.

Studio Notes...

Singer/Songwriter Nikki Moses returned to Theta Sound to record five of her latest originals. The live vocal/acoustic guitar sessions captured the fire and passion of Nikki's universe for others to experience on CD.

Composer David Troy Francis (at the piano) and Playwright Robert Schrock (behind David) who have teamed up to create Dogs - the Musical, have been in several times with various solo and ensemble singers recording the clever songs for this entertaining production.

Up and coming singer/songwriter Hana-li* Winters working with veteran studio/stage performer/writer Raven Kane Campbell (shown here with their new Theta Sound Mug Club mugs) recorded three original songs and two covers for Hana-li*'s first demo. Demo or not, most everyone agrees, this sounds good enough to buy!

Over the years Peter Rubissow has been in our studio several times recording his original songs. But Peter also leads another life--as an executive in his family's winemaking company. Rubissow-Sargent Winery is unique in that the grapes are grown in Napa, California, the wine is made in Berkeley and Peter lives in Southern California! Peter sent us two radio segements that featured Rubissow-Sargent and had us edit and convert them into streaming audio files for their web site. For a look behind the art and science of making exceptional wines, listen to these fascinating radio interviews here.

Pianist Tali Tadmor recorded several solo pieces for her catalog and a few weeks later teamed up with violinist Limor Toren to record a live recital in front of a Theta Sound Studio audience of invited guests. Tali was recently accepted to USC's prestigious music school program.

Poet/singer/songwriter Steve Petersen (shown loading up boxes of CDs) recently completed his debut album at Theta Sound. Entitled I Just Wanna Be In Love, the album is a mixture of loves that went right, loves that went wrong, loves that could have been, love of one's country and other surprises. Steve opened for Eric Burdon and The Animals on New Years Eve at the famous Coach House! If you Just Wanna Hear Some Music click here!

Studio vocalist extraordinaire (and new Mug Club Inductee) Randy Crenshaw brought samples from his massive library of television and album work to Theta Sound for compilation (and distillation) onto a single vocal reel CD. The project entitled Vocals Galore features character and musical genre vocals in virtually all styles. On a TV trivia note, sometimes when you hear Homer Simpson sing, it's really Randy Crenshaw!

If you caught Sisu Raiken's latest one-woman show, Trimming the Fat from Opera (for which we edited her backing tracks), then you had the pleasure of participating in one of the most innovative productions in years! For those of you who missed the show, Sisu plans to reprise the evening this summer so stay tuned... Singing coach and Industry Showcase producer Valerie Fahren has introduced several of her students to the art of recording by bringing them to Theta Sound to record their first demos. Since our last issue, young vocal talent Jessie Willner put vocals to a Josie and the Pussycats medley, Chelsea Alden recorded With You and Complicated for her debut CD and Rachel Reinhart recorded There's Got to Be a Way and You Were Loved for her first demo. All of these girls have what it takes to reach the stars and we wish them success on their journey!

Producer Ariella Kapelner, president of Living & Education, Inc., recently released her company's first title, Yoka Reeder - On Raising Children. This 3-video set, edited and co-produced by Randy Tobin, features internationally acclaimed teacher and lecturer, Yoka Reeder, giving three parenting seminars based on the writings and technology of author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard. A sample video clip and more information is available here (select the Products page).

Part of what makes Theta Sound unique is our series of intimate live Coffee House performances. Kicking off the first such Coffee House of the year was none other than singer/songwriter deluxe Jon Batson. With every song a story that kept the audience enthralled throughout the evening, Jon touched us all with his down-home style. Catch a listen to some of Jon's albums here.

International Singer for Human Rights, Andrik Schapers, recently returned to the United States after several concert appearances in Europe in support of Human Rights. Before returning to Europe, Mr. Schapers recorded Lead On America, a new song co-written and produced by Randall Michael Tobin, that commemorates and celebrates the attributes that established America and what makes this country great. It is especially important during these times of possible conflict, that America needs to draw on her heritage of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and those who authored those documents for today's answers. It is hoped that Lead On America will increase the ethics and responsiblility of politicians and individuals alike. For more information on how you as an artist can help make Human Rights a global reality click here.

No sooner had singer/songwriter Randy Barach (aka Lennon Scott) gotten his latest CD release Casa Alegre off the ground, he is already busy writing and recording new songs for his next album. In the meantime you can check out Randy's music here.

Opera singer Michele Patzakis (featured in our September 2002 issue) returned to finish up her CD of popular arias and was last seen winging her way to New York via Montreal.

Composer's Corner
	As we mentioned earlier, our resident composer / songwriter / producer Randall Michael Tobin has been busy creating original soundtracks for Author Services Inc. -- headquarters for the popular weekly live readings/radio programs based on the pulp fiction works of L. Ron Hubbard. Since our last issue, Randall has scored and cued soundtracks for The Big Cats, A Can of Vacuum and most recently, Johnny the Town Tamer.
And on a different note, for the fifth enchanting year, The Snow Queen - ballet redefined played to sold out audiences at the Glendale College Theatre. Many reported it was the highlight of their holiday season. Directed and choreographed by Erin Holt with a truly inspired cast performing to the original music of Randall Michael Tobin, this production continues to set the pace for a new annual holiday treat! For musical samples of Randall's works (and lots more) click here.

We hope you enjoyed this issue of Theta Sounds On-line. Feel free to forward this issue to friends, family and any aspiring artists you know who could utilize our services. If you are new to Theta Sounds and want to see any of the issues you missed, click on any of these links July '02, Sept '02. If you would like to be removed from this newsletter list just send us an e-mail here. For more studio info, please visit our web site at ThetaSound.com.