Announcing our newest CD,
"...and Love Rages On!"

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AOMUSIC 4 HAITI campaign
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"We began production on this album just after the release of Twirl in 2009. It features children's choral ensembles from China, South Africa and the Republic of Georgia. The brilliant harmonic textures, melodies and rhythmic energy in these songs carry a message of rejuvenating freshness and spirit. It is our hope that the great paradigm of change, transforming the planet finds us all steeped in music, filled  with promise, joy and unity."

Our Commitment and Gratitude,

AOMUSIC

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ABOUT AOMUSIC

AO [èi-o]   n. ancient polynesian word;  1. pure light;   2. all colors;  3. daytime

AOMUSIC is an extraordinary pan-cultural musical experience, produced, composed and performed by three international recording artists—Richard Gannaway, Jay Oliver and Miriam Stockley.

AOMUSIC is vibrant, cinematic and intoxicatingly rhythmic—described by critics as "astonishing" (see reviews). The immediate freshness of this sound is vitalizing—a true universal expression, unlike anything ever produced. Key ingredients in AOMUSIC's unique expression are deep rhythmic textures, powerful vocal ensembles from children throughout the world and the dynamic multi-layered vocal tracks of Miriam Stockley. Refrain lyrics are often a variety of ancient languages or carefully crafted phonetics, chosen for their shape. The impression is fresh and exotic from any place on the earth... AOMUSIC was invited to compose theme music for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Give Kids the World, and are featured in the 2011 promotional trailer for Project Peace On Earth.

 

THE FOUR TENANTS OF AOMUSIC

 

Youth - the vibrant, unguarded human presence and easiest example of beauty, hyper-intelligence and naturally occurring brotherhood

The present cycle of change and its simple need for lightheartedness and tolerance

The singularity of Music, Color, Shape and Movement

The understanding that any natural system, unobstructed, is UNITY, is MUSIC, is LOVE

 

PRIMARY ARTISTS

Richard Gannaway (vocals, stringed instruments)

Richard is the founder and vision behind AOMUSIC. You can read excerpts from his two-books '...and Love Rages On! (Riding the White Water of Our Evolution)' and 'Drops and Sparks (Proof that Love Created the Universe)', explaining in detail the insights for what inspires AOMUSIC. Richard travels the world, expanding the vision of AOMUSIC and its extraordinary cast of children, who are the centerpiece of each album.

Jay Oliver (keyboards, synths, samples)

Most of the recorded textures (winds, bowed instruments, drums, cymbals, shakers, sticks, bells, rattles, etc.) and layers of world indigeny that define AOMUSIC's extraordinary rhythmic feel are performed by Jay. He is a co-composer and helped to develop the original sound of AOMUSIC. Jay is one of the most legendary keyboardists in the world today. He and colleague, William Lenihan have created a very interesting project SmartWav.

Miriam Stockley (vocals)

Miriam is a powerful vocal ensemble and also contributes as co-composer. She is renowned for her work on the acclaimed Adiemus project 'Songs of Sanctuary'. Miriam's South African upbringing is what she attributes to the incredible youthful spirit of her tracks. Rod Houison (Miriam's husband, co-producer and engineer) is a well established sound engineer from the UK. He records and co-produces all Miriam's vocal tracks.

 

BIOGRAPHY

Richard Gannaway and Jay Oliver grew up in St. Louis, MO. They met in 1988 and moved to the Los Angeles area in 1989. They began working on the AOMUSIC project in 1996. Gannaway toured Western Europe and Canada extensively as leader of the rock group 'Tiger and the Helix' before founding the vision of AOMUSIC. Oliver's former credits include; Sheryl Crow, The Eagles, Celine Dion, Jimmy Buffett, Bonnie Raitt, Wynona Judd, Glenn Fry, Joe Walsh, Chick Corea and Dave Weckl.

In 2000, Gannaway and Oliver produced the acclaimed 'Grow Wild' CD as the first AOMUSIC song collection. They released it as a test market on NPR radio across North America with excellent reviews.

In 2001, AOMUSIC teamed up with Frank Mayor of Global Entertainment Media. Frank brought the group to China and introduced them to CRC (China Record Company). Through that encounter, AOMUSIC was invited to compose theme music for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The song 'On Jai Ya' was written and produced for that purpose and features Miriam Stockley's first recording with AOMUSIC. Frank also brought the group to Indonesia and introduced them to the gamelon tradition.

 

In 2004 Gannaway and Oliver were invited to Sandeep Chowta's studio in Mumbai. Sandeep is a well-established film score composer in that region, and is a contributing member of the AOMUSIC production team. Sandeep spent a portion of his early childhood in Africa until his family returned to Bangalore, where we performed the first ever AOMUSIC concert. Sandeep recently assumed post as head of Columbia Records India.

Miriam Stockley co-composes with Richard and Jay. She officially joined AOMUSIC in 2006, and fortifies the AOMUSIC choral ensembles or sings them exclusively with her own "vocalese" overdubs. Miriam grew up in South Africa before moving to the U.K., where she met husband/engineer Rod Houison. She has worked with such names as Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, Freddie Mercury and George Michael. Her Film soundtrack credits include, Lord of The Rings - The Fellowship of The Ring and Great Expectations. Miriam has been on stage or in the studio since the age of eleven. Miriam has two brilliant solo albums ("Eternal" & "Second Nature") that can be acquired through her website.

AOMUSIC's 2009 CD release 'Twirl', charted #5 internationally in its genre.

In 2010 "Gaiya Lo Mane" from the "Twirl" album was chosen as theme music for the Give Kids the World Foundation.

In 2011 AOMUSIC was elected musical ambassadors for "Project Peace on Earth", and their music is featured in the PPOE promotional trailer.

With the 2011 release of '...and Love Rages On!', AOMUSIC aligned with HavServe - one of the many charities under the GlobalGiving umbrella. This alliance was established to build sustainable villages and schools for children displaced by the Haiti earthquake.

 

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