Hanging Out With The Zombies!

On Wednesday, October 7th, I had the privilege to meet Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone of the psychedelic pop legends The Zombies while attending their exclusive "BackStory" event at AOL studios in New York. 

A video of the entire interview and Q&A session can be viewed here: http://www.aol.com/build/519140017/ 

FIRST PSYCHEDELIC ROCK ALBUM BY AURA BLAZE RELEASED ON 46th ANNIVERSARY OF WOODSTOCK

Ring the bells! Sound the horns! The debut Aura Blaze full-length is here! 10 tracks of blissful, hallucinogenic vibes to carry you well beyond the far corners of consciousness... 

Album Trailer Released

Debut Album to be Released on 46th Anniversary of Woodstock's Opening Day, August 15

Hello to one and all! I am pleased to announce that on August 15, the date marking the 46^th anniversary of the opening day of Woodstock, I will be independently releasing the Aura Blaze debut full-length as a digital download.

Though I had originally intended to work with a label in bringing this album to fruition, ideally on vinyl, it has since been made apparent to me by the labels I have been in contact with that, despite the genuine interest and market potential that many of them see for what I have to offer with this release, they do in fact require that their acts tour regularly before they decide to extend a record deal offer.

As most of you are aware, Aura Blaze is a solo studio project managed entirely by myself, Rhode Rachel. Though assembling a live Aura Blaze lineup is indeed a goal of mine on the horizon for the future, touring is not a possibility at this point in time. Forming a live band entails the channeling of very specific energies, all of which I am currently directing towards recording and production, what with my main priority being not only the release of the debut but the recording and production for the second Aura Blaze album which is already well underway.

With this taken into account, and not least my desire to retain the rights to the master recordings, I have decided that rather than waiting indefinitely for a label to get this album off the ground it would make the most sense for me to handle releasing it myself, digitally.

For the purist audiophiles out there, please note that I still intent to release the album on vinyl but I do not have a precise timetable as to when this will happen as there are a number of factors involved that will require my full attention and due diligence.

Thank you all for your patience and your continued support. I am thoroughly excited to finally share these songs with you!

-R

New Song "Sub-Earthen Patchwork Torus" Preview Available for Streaming

"Sub-Earthen Patchwork Torus" will be featured on the debut Aura Blaze album, the production of which is 100% complete. The final and most crucial step that now remains is finding a reputable label to work with who can actualize its release.

If you represent a label and would be interested in hearing the album and discussing the possibility of release, please contact Rhode at: aurablazemusic@gmail.com

"A Glass of Tears Half Empty" Selected for Reddit's /r/psychedelicrock Unsigned Mixtape Vol. 3

FREE DOWNLOAD: http://www.brownnoiseunit.com/stories/reddit-psych-rock-indie-and-unsigned-mixtape-vol-3/

During the last few months the moderators over at Reddit's /r/psychedelicrock forum have been hard at work listening to hundreds of submissions and assembling the third installment of the "Music of /R/Psychedelicrock" mixtape series. 

Released online for free last Thursday, this powerful compilation consists of fifteen upcoming psychedelic rock acts from across the world. The tracklist is as follows:

1. The Peace Pipers - "Carmen's Secret Garden"
2. The California Death - "Wake"
3. Cloud Mammoth - "Ghost"
4. Lejonslaktet  - "Väderkvarn"
5. Loud Lord - "Innerspace"
6. The Electric Circus - "You Know I Know"
7. The English Language - "Sister Satan"
8. Aura Blaze - "A Glass of Tears Half Empty"
9. The Halfways - "I've Got Less Important Things to Do"
10. Helen Kelter Skelter - "10 Helouisa"
11. Mute Swan - "Feel How it Sees"
12. The Karma Repair Kit - "Holy Operator"
13. Inner Outlaws - "The Mark"
14. The Astral Planes - "Separate Me"
15. J. Kill & Mr. Mule - "Maanantai"

To read more about each band and to download the album for FREE, please click here

"A Glass of Tears Half Empty" Music Video Released

Subscribe to the official Aura Blaze Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/aurablazemusic

Studio Update — March 15, 2015: Mastering

The final phase of the production process has commenced as all tracks have been sent out to the mastering house. 

I am honored to have the privilege of working with a person whom I would undoubtedly consider one of the most talented engineers in the industry, Heba Kadry of Timeless Mastering. Based in Brooklyn, NY, Heba has utilized her incredible skills putting the finishing touches on albums by such highly-acclaimed acts as The Mars Volta, Wooden Shjips, Moon Duo, White Hills, Surfer Blood, Nothing, Future Island and Liturgy.

The initial two masters sound absolutely brilliant, extrapolating upon the atmospheres I have established in my mixes with a higher degree of brightness and punch, wider stereo imaging, and an all-encompassing aura of vitality and liveliness that had been lacking in the unmastered versions. Judging from the quality of these tracks, I have no doubt in my mind that the rest of the album will become something far better than I could have hoped for.

—R

Studio Update — February 14, 2015: Final Editing Sessions

Hello, one and all! I first want to thank those of you who have been inquiring about the completion of the album and the timetable as to when it will be available. I do not have any specific dates to offer just yet but I am estimating, though there are a number of factors involved that can and likely will influence this estimation, that the album will be released this spring, around mid-May. 

During the last few weeks I have been taking a closer look at each song, fixing a few vocal lines here and there as needed (EQ, delay, reverb settings and so forth) and making edits to a number of instrument tracks that I believed would benefit from the extra attention. It certainly has proved to be a worthwhile effort as the album is sounding fantastic. 

I will keep this update brief as there is not much to say other than the fact that all of the final edits and extra samples/effects/panning etc. have been performed to the fullest of my abilities and I am very happy with the results. All of the tracking, both instrumental and vocal, has been done for almost a month and with these last few mixing corrections and modifications comes the close to my end of the production process. 

I will now be sending these tracks off to a very reputable mastering house to have the full potential of this work be brought to life. Be on the lookout for an update regarding this very soon. 

Thank you for your patience and your continued interest in this project of mine. I cannot wait to share it with you.

—R