InsideOutMusic are pleased to announce their signing of legendary Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess for a brand-new solo album to be released later in 2024. This announcement coincides with an exciting new collaboration between Jordan and Moises, an immersive AI-powered creation tool for musicians.
Jordan is currently putting the finishing touches to the album, which features renowned drummer Darby Todd (Devin Townsend, The Darkness) as well as classically trained vocalist Joe Payne (voted Best Male Vocalist two years running in the Prog Magazine Readers’ Poll) and is expected to release it in September 2024.
Jordan comments on the signing and forthcoming album: “I knew I was going to have some time off after the last Dream Theater tour ended. Enough time to, hopefully, complete a new solo album. I wanted this album to push me to evolve a new compositional perspective. So, this album is my inaugural voyage into crafting a solo album with a dedicated vocalist in mind. Joe Payne’s vocals inspired me from the first time I heard him and drummer, Darby Todd, has infused each track with his distinctive style. I’m also stepping into uncharted instrumental territory, playing guitar on a few tracks. Another first, my daughter, Ariana, has penned all the lyrics for this album. We’ve worked closely together, ensuring that each lyric weaves a story and allows Joe’s beautiful voice to soar. Proud Dad here. All around this album is a testament to collaboration and personal growth.”
InsideOutMusic label-head Thomas Waber adds: “Having worked alongside Jordan with Dream Theater for several years now, we are extremely pleased to be releasing his forthcoming new solo album. Jordan is an artist always at the cutting edge of technology, and we look forward to exploring that with his new music.”
As mentioned, this announcement coincides with an exciting new collaboration between Jordan Rudess & Moises under an ongoing series titled ‘Moises Jam Sessions’. From today, users of the platform can hear the first taste of brand new music in the form of the track ‘Embers’. Fans can use the app to remix the song, using the apps AI-powered tools like stem separation. As Jordan comments:
“My passion for pushing boundaries in music and technology has always been fierce. It’s this very passion that brought me to the incredible team at Moises. Their groundbreaking tools have become the cornerstone of my musical journey, powering my performances on stage and my in-studio explorations.”
The track features Jordan alongside the aforementioned Darby Todd & Joe Payne, as well as a guest guitar solo by Bastian Martinez. Fans can expect to hear the track hit streaming services next month, and can follow Jordan on streaming services at this link: https://forms.sonymusicfans.com/campaign/de_jordanrudess_artistfollow/
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More information on Jordan Rudess:
Renowned as the “Best Keyboardist of All Time” by Music Radar Magazine, Jordan Rudess stands out as the extraordinary keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist for the platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning progressive rock band, Dream Theater. Embarking on his musical journey as a classical prodigy, Jordan initiated his studies at the illustrious Juilliard School of Music at the age of 9, laying the foundation for a career marked by a distinctive fusion of classical and rock influences.
Beyond his role in Dream Theater and the power group, Liquid Tension Experiment, Jordan’s musical prowess has resonated across a diverse spectrum of collaborations. From Deep Purple and David Bowie to Steven Wilson and Jan Hammer, he has left an indelible mark on the industry. Notable projects such as LMR (his side venture with Tony Levin and Marco Minneman), Steven Wilson’s Blackfield, guest appearances with Deep Purple and the Dixie Dregs and collaborations with artists like Enrique Iglesias, the Paul Winter Consort, Annie Haslam, and many others, underscore the breadth of his musical reach.
Venturing into the realm of cutting-edge technology, Jordan has emerged as a pioneer with a focus on state-of-the-art keyboard controllers and music apps. As the owner of the highly successful iOS app development company, Wizdom Music, he has spearheaded the creation of award-winning apps, including GeoShred, MorphWiz, SampleWiz, Vythm, Polywave, Jam with Jordan and SampleWiz 2. GeoShred, Wizdom Music’s latest triumph, was a collaborative effort with moForte, founding members of Stanford University’s Sondius team. Rudess is currently working on an AI interactive project as Visiting Artist at MIT’s Media Lab in the Responsive Environments group.
A new force of progressive metal has emerged – Whom Gods Destroy, a formidable new group formed by keyboardist Derek Sherinian, guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, and vocalist Dino Jelusick. Along with the potent rhythm section of bassist Yas Nomura and drummer Bruno Valverde, Whom Gods Destroy have recently signed a worldwide deal with InsideOutMusic.
Sherinian and Bumblefoot have built upon the creative link they developed as two of the key elements of supergroup Sons of Apollo and now set their sights on a new path with Whom Gods Destroy, who are getting ready to present the musical odyssey that is their debut opus, ‘Insanium’, to be released in March 2024.
Bumblefoot explains how Whom Gods Destroy got started: “Derek & I began writing new music in 2020. Soon after, Dino joined, followed by Yas and Bruno. We’d share ideas, and each record parts, building and rebuilding songs, and by June ’23 the album was finished. The songs all went through a lot of changes, developing…you can definitely hear what each person brings to the music – when it adds up, it’s a mix of melody and intense heavy prog.”
Working with powerhouse vocalist Dino Jelusick, as well as Yas Nomura and Bruno Valverde, they knew they were building something special, says Bumblefoot. “These guys are all just mind-blowing…! I’ve known Dino for a few years, we did a collab song a few years ago…his voice is just magic. He’s one of the greatest singers out there. Bruno & Yas are downright frightening, there’s no limit to what they can do, WTF…! And all great guys to hang with.”
Sherinian agrees, “All three of these musicians are super talented with great energy. I think Dino is the real deal. Ron and I knew that we could do something great with him.”
Jelusick expresses his excitement as well, “What I love about this band is that it doesn’t have any limits. It came together back in 2020 when we started talking about it. Yas and I started working separately not knowing we were both asked to do this. Bruno was the last piece of this puzzle and I’m glad the recommendation came from me. Love this line-up. Derek and Ron are wizards.”
While a first single by Whom Gods Destroy will be launched alongside its promotional performance video clip in January, you can already check out various teaser clips and introductory snippets on the band’s social media outlets. So, make sure to follow the band online and stay tuned for a lot more activity as well as further updates on Whom Gods Destroy and “Insanium” coming soon…
WHOM GODS DESTROY line-up: (From left to right on photo Greg Vorobiov) Bruno Valverde – Drums Yas Nomura – Bass Dino Jelusick – Vocals Derek Sherinian – Keyboards Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal – Guitars
Ten years in the making, the day is finally here. the long-awaited new album from Moon Safari, Himlabacken Vol. 2. is officially out. Their 5th studio album is being heralded as one of the best in the group’s already outstanding discography.
“A veritable pomp-rock-meets-melodic masterclass.” – Classic Rock
“Moon Safari have exceeded any and all expectations with Himlabacken Vol.2.” – The Prog Report
“With ‘Himlabacken Vol. 2’, Moon Safari have delivered the most wonderfully uplifting collection of songs I have heard this year.” – Progradar
“Arguably their best release yet” – Sonic Perspectives
“An absolute stone-cold masterpiece, 10/10!” – The Prog Corner
The band share this message about the album’s release: “It’s been a decade! A decade of real highs and lows. There was a 50/50 chance that this album wouldn’t exist, and a 50/50 chance that Moon Safari wouldn’t persist. Yet here we are, with an album that satisfies almost all of our musical dreams. And hopefully yours too.
What eventually tipped the scales was love, pure and simple. The love we put into the music and didn’t want to abandon. The love between the members (that we sometimes have to remind ourselves about). And, above all, the love you’ve showed us over the last 10 years.
You’re the reason we kept going. This album is now yours! HAPPY RELEASE DAY!
CHEERS / MOON SAFARI”
Track Listing: 1. 198X (Heaven Hill) (3:55) 2. Between the Devil and Me (10:38) 3. Emma, Come On (3:19) 4. A Lifetime to Learn How to Love (8:28) 5. Beyond the Blue (2:12) 6. Blood Moon (5:44) 7. Teen Angel Meets the Apocalypse (21:03) 8. Forever, For You (10:08) 9. Epilog (3:22)
Moon Safari is: Petter Sandström – Lead and Backing vocals, Acoustic Guitar Simon Åkesson – Lead and Backing Vocals, Piano, Organ, moog. Pontus Åkesson – Lead and Backing Vocals, Electric and Acoustic Guitar Sebastian Åkesson – Backing Vocals, assorted keys, percussion. Mikael Israelsson – Backing Vocals, Drums, percussion, keyboards, piano Johan Westerlund – Lead and Backing Vocals, Bass Guitar
Special guest performance by Jamison Smeltz – saxophone on “Forever, For You”
The award-winning progressive rock band Big Big Train will release their 15thstudio album ‘The Likes Of Us’ on March 1st, 2024. The album is the internationally-based group’s first full collection of songs since the unexpected passing of long-serving lead vocalist David Longdon in late 2021. Besides marking the debut of new frontman Alberto Bravin, a former member of the Italian band Premiata Forneria Marconi, ‘The Likes Of Us’ also heralds the beginning of a new relationship with InsideOutMusic, the group having self-released their music for almost two decades.
The band comments: “We are delighted to announce the release of ‘The Likes Of Us’. After the events of the last few years, this is a particularly important album for us, both as a band and individually. We’re very proud of the new songs, which we recorded principally in a studio in Italy. Working together in one room brought additional inspiration, real energy and a clear sense of purpose. We’re thrilled with the results.”
To coincide with this announcement, the band have launched the first single from the album, a track titled ‘Oblivion’ which the band were seen performing on their UK and European tour in August and September 2023. The video was filmed by Tim Sidwell of Toward Infinity at Urban Recording Studio in Trieste, and you can watch the clip here:
‘The Likes Of Us’ will be released on several different formats, including for the first time as Dolby Atmos mixed by The Pineapple Thief’s Bruce Soord, while the stereo mixes were undertaken by the band’s regular engineer Rob Aubrey together with Alberto Bravin. The Dolby Atmos mix will come as part of the Limited CD & Blu-ray Mediabook edition that also contains the album as 5.1 Surround Sound & 24-bit high-resolution stereo. The album will also be available as a Gatefold 180g 2LP (available in black, sky blue, olive green and orange formats), Standard CD Jewelcase and Digital Album. The stunning artwork was created by the band’s longstanding collaborator Sarah Louise Ewing, with layouts by Steve Vantsis.
In May 2023, six members of Big Big Train left their homes in England (bassist Gregory Spawton, guitarist Dave Foster and violinist Clare Lindley), the United States (drummer Nick D’Virgilio), Sweden (guitarist/keyboardist Rikard Sjöblom) and Norway (keyboardist Oskar Holldorff) to gather for a week in lead vocalist Alberto Bravin’s home town of Trieste in north eastern Italy. They convened at Urban Recording, a studio recommended by Alberto, to lay down the basic tracks for the band’s new studio album ‘The Likes Of Us’. Being face to face in a room, as opposed to emailing sound files, the intimacy of the process generated moments of inspiration that would otherwise have gone unheard.
The process would prove emotional. “There were some tears; I cried a few of my own,” recalls D’Virgilio. “There are many reasons to explain why we hadn’t worked that way in quite a while, but the process brought out the best in everybody.”
“These were stories from our lives and we have a deep, personal connection with them,” Spawton remembers. “If there was blood on the tracks, we did everything possible to let that sink into the music.”
On the group’s most recent tour, two selections from ‘The Likes Of Us’ – first single ‘Oblivion’ and ‘Love Is The Light’ – were introduced to an ecstatic audience response. During a tidal wave of rebirth and celebration for Big Big Train, Alberto Bravin was accepted as one of the family. Indeed, the chemistry of the band’s latest line-up has delivered mouth-watering results. “We’ve got a great mix of people that want to be here and go the extra mile to do something very special,” D’Virgilio concludes. “There’s a big world of talented musicians out there, and luckily some of them want to hang out with us.”
ALBERTO BRAVIN – Lead vocals, guitar, keyboards NICK D’VIRGILIO – Drums, percussion, vocals, 12-string acoustic guitar, vocals DAVE FOSTER – Guitars OSKAR HOLLDORFF – Keyboards, vocals CLARE LINDLEY – Violin, vocals RIKARD SJÖBLOM – Guitars, keyboards, vocals GREGORY SPAWTON – Bass guitar, bass pedals, 12-string acoustic guitar, Mellotron
Swedish progressive rockers, Moon Safari recently announced their long-awaited new album Himlabacken Vol. 2.Ten years in the making, their 5th studio album will be released on December 6th through Marquee Inc. in Japan and worldwide on December 8th through the band’s own Blomljud Records Inc.
Moon Safari are now pleased to share the video for album’s second single “Emma, Come On.” You can see video here:
The band had this to say about the track: ”Do people still have posters of their favourite artists or movie stars on the walls in their room? This song is about celebrity worshipping, the slightly unhealthy kind. All dressed up in swirling moogs and guitars, as if Genesis in the mid ‘80’s kept one foot in their past and didn’t care for airplay. Which celebrity poster did you hang on your bedroom wall?”
About the making of the album: “It took us ten years, for a million different reasons. But we’re not dead yet. We return with what we know is a worthy comeback album, filled with our own special brand of symphonic rock cultivated over 20 years as an antidote to the long, dark winters of northern Sweden, with those trademark vocal group-inspired harmonies, uplifting melodies and soulful romantic lyrics that our fans have come to expect. With the addition of ex. Black Bonzo drummer Mikael Israelsson to the band we’ve totally revamped and boosted the low end of our sound, tightened it up, and that attitude shift is felt through our entire arrangements.Tying it all together is the mix by the great Rich Mouser. He’s been the go-to guy for the big boys in the genre for many years, and now we understand why. The mix is clear and punchy, booming and never flat. It just sounds expensive, and we couldn’t be happier. You’ll get almost 70 minutes of this heady brew, spread over nine tracks, with zero fillers. And of course there’s the obligatory epic. The whole thing is a banger, and we’re immensely proud of it.”
Track Listing: 1. 198X (Heaven Hill) (3:55) 2. Between the Devil and Me (10:38) 3. Emma, Come On (3:19) 4. A Lifetime to Learn How to Love (8:28) 5. Beyond the Blue (2:12) 6. Blood Moon (5:44) 7. Teen Angel Meets the Apocalypse (21:03) 8. Forever, For You (10:08) 9. Epilog (3:22)
Moon Safari is: Petter Sandström – Lead and Backing vocals, Acoustic Guitar Simon Åkesson – Lead and Backing Vocals, Piano, Organ, moog. Pontus Åkesson – Lead and Backing Vocals, Electric and Acoustic Guitar Sebastian Åkesson – Backing Vocals, assorted keys, percussion. Mikael Israelsson – Backing Vocals, Drums, percussion, keyboards, piano Johan Westerlund – Lead and Backing Vocals, Bass Guitar
Special guest performance by Jamison Smeltz – saxophone on “Forever, For You”
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