jillian goldin

Where has Jillian been since her last post, you ask?  Like a mad scientist, I disappeared into the laboratory for a while to work on my masterful new creation!  It's true.  I locked myself away from the world - shunning food and almost all forms of human contact (with the obvious exception of our one-and-only zircon) - in order to bring you....

Through Sand and Snow - holiday album preorders!

    The holiday season is filled with a special kind of magic:
    trees glisten with freshly fallen snow, families are reunited
    for the traditions of gift-giving and mealtime stories, and
    age-old carols imbue the air.  But how often do we have
    the chance to steep our thoughts in solitude?

    Through Sand and Snow brings the listener on a nighttime
    journey through the aura of mystery and awe that
    Christmas so quietly inspires in our hearts.  A vast nature
    surrounds us in these colder months, longing to be
explored...  Sometimes, it is only after we have that our own homes feel even warmer.

Release Date: November 25th, 2008
Preorders Available: TODAY, here at JillianGoldin.com!
Price: $9.99
Songs Included:

    * Prelude
    * I Wonder As I Wander
    * What Child Is This?  (a.k.a. Greensleeves)
    * God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
    * Walking In the Air  (from the classic animated film "The Snowman")
    * Silent Night

...Woo hoo!  So what are you waiting for?  Go hear the previews on my music page, and ensure that you are among the first to receive the new album!  :D

Now for some more good news: in anticipation of the holiday season, I have set up  all sorts of discounts and specials offers for both CD releases.  With every copy of Through Sand and Snow that you preorder, you'll also receive a complimentary gift card featuring the winter song "Walking In the Air."  You can pass it on to a loved one... or even send it out with your holiday cards this year, for that extra special touch.  It's a beautiful winter song (non-demoninational), so anyone can enjoy it!

This gift card offer also applies if you preorder Through Sand and Snow with a copy of Origins, in the 2-CD Combo Pack deal.  :>

And finally, both CDs are now set up to offer discounts in bulk - so you will automatically get 2-4 dollars off each additional CD that you buy!

I know how hectic the holiday season can be, and that is largely why I was inspired to start this project in the first place.  For Andrew and I, it has been a whirlwind of music-making, track-mixing, and hair-splitting... But the result?  A breath of fresh (albeit cold) air.  :>

The results are in from the official Origins Remix Contest, sponsored by audioMIDI and Sweetwater.com.  I got so many amazing submissions that I couldn't live with only offering prizes to the three top-winning tracks... so there are more added.  Info on all the giveaways are below.  Congratulations to everyone who entered.  I am both honored and impressed by your entries, and hope you continue to enjoy them as much as I do.


The Winners...

The Secret Guards of Kalé

***1st Place*** (And Grand Prize Winner):
Another Soundscape (Mattias Häggström Gerdt)

Another Soundscape turned my somewhat mysterious, groovy original piece into an in-your-face, funky, fantastical electro-pop extravaganza! The remix doesn't just make you want to dance; it makes you want do it LIKE A ROBOT. Catchy to the point of infectiousness, Matthias' efforts are having me seriously considering the possibility of a future music video. Can't you see it? Little dancing robots, building your new house? Putting sugar cubes in your coffee? Making the world a happy place?

**Tied Runners-Up**:
ChRoNiC (Dan Petrie)
Bronx Rican (José E. Felix)

ChRoNic came out of nowhere for me, but something tells me we will be hearing a lot more from him! His Kalé club mix is unique in that he basically placed my vocals in an entirely original context... And it's honestly as well done as anything I've heard in professional venues. Don't be surprised if you hear it in one, too, because I plan on seriously pursuing the possibility of an electronic label release if he's up for it.

The title for José's "Move Aside" mix says it all. When I listen to this Kalé mix, I actually feel a little cooler than I really am. (Is that wrong? ) A totally chill out interpretation that will have you tapping your toes and wiggling in your seat, it's hard to imagine this one ever getting old. Jazz organ, electric piano, funky sinewavs, and some of the coolest vocal processing I've ever heard!

*Very Honorable Mention*:
Mark Carpenter

Mark Carpenter's remix is something of an "enhanced" version of my own style... and it's something I could even imagine on a future album release. World percussion, pizzicato strings, and a syncopation of the original rhythm that really gets you in the groove.


Red July

***1st Place*** (And overall 2nd Place Winner):
Nathan Rich

Nathan Rich may be a newcomer to me, but he certainly doesn't sound like a newcomer to music production! With a great flow and a very polished sound, he brilliantly the rearranged Red July's chorus rhythm and chopped the original instrumental parts. Top that off with heavy, varied percussion, haunting bells, and an ending that will send shivers up your spine... and we have ourselves a winner!

**Runner-Up**:
Malcos (Stephen Malcolm-Howell)

Malcos' Red July remix is an extremely strong second in my mind, turning the song into a sultry RnB track that may very well put you in the mood for love. His silky smooth voice blends so well with mine that you might almost miss his amazing new harmonies... I just keep wondering why we haven't actively collaborated yet! (Shall we change that?)

*Very Honorable Mention*:
Uriel (Uriel Yehezkel)

I've loved Uriel's interpretation of "Red July" since I first heard it. Epic orchestral work befitting of a film score, he expanded upon the original chords with interesting string parts and percussive flourishes that get your heart pounding.


Avalon

***1st Place*** (And overall 3rd Place Winner):
Rayza (Hayden Petrie)

How could you not feel good listening to this one? Rayza did a fantastic job turning "Avalon" into an uplifting trance anthem with all new chords and a really powerful chorus. The context in which he placed my high-octave vocalise and flute parts perfectly complements his new synth solo. It's timeless, it's fun, and who knows... It could be the next Euro club hit! I love it.

**Runner-Up**:
Illoper

Illoper is somewhat of an enigma to me at the moment - he didn't even give his real name or website when submitting his remix - but he clearly had awesome ideas for "Avalon"! Using what I assume is some really skilled auto-tuning, he re-harmonized my melodies and harmonies creatively and effectively. Epic choruses contrasting with some more reflective sections, the result is a bittersweet Pop song... and it sounds great!


Prizes

All three first-place song winners will receive:

• My upcoming vocal sample library (valued at $99), produced by Impact Soundworks. The product will feature a wide range of detailed, multisampled recordings covering both straight tone and vibrato singing, multiple vowels and consonants, phrases, and special effects!
• Origins, signed with a personal message of your choice
• A copy of my soon-to-be-released music video for the song "Hajime," in high-resolution on DVD
• Promotion (of both the remix and its creator) on my website, MySpace, and newsletter

One overall grand prize winner will also be the recipient of a $75 gift certificate generously provided by audioMIDI.com, a favorite music gear shop of zircon and myself. With a great selection of unique music gear, excellent customer service and a never-ending supply of blowout items, rebates, and B-stocks, audioMIDI is among the best music equipment retailers on the net.



And one overall second place winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Sweetwater.com, another great retailer of music equipment. They have a very wide selection of more traditional instruments and equipment, plus a highly-trained staff of "Sales Engineers" to answer your questions!

Runners-Up for each song will receive:

• Origins, signed with a personal message of your choice
• Credit for a free download of the Holiday EP I will be releasing this winter
• Another free download of any of zircon's four albums (courtesy of him!)
• Promotion on my website, MySpace, and newsletter

Honorable Mentions will receive:

• A free download of Origins
• Credit for a free download of the Holiday EP I will be releasing this winter
• Links from my website, MySpace, and newsletter

Hey, thanks to all who came to the PartyLine on Tuesday.  :D  Before I get to the Origins Remix Contest information, I just wanted to share one bit of news with you. iNewAge.com has just named me Best Futuristic New Age Singer, and described my work as "better than Enya." Pretty nifty!  Anywho...

------

You have stumbled upon the Origins Remix Contest, sponsored by audioMIDI and Sweetwater.com! This is a competition open to all musicians, producers, and performers who are interested in arranging any of the following three songs from my debut New Age/World album, Origins:

• Red July
• The Secret Guards of Kalé
• Avalon

You are free to use as much or as little of the audio material provided for each song, as long as the final result is still recognizable as being derivative of the original work. While use of my vocal parts is obviously encouraged, instrumental submissions will also be accepted. Any and all genres are welcomed, from electronica to acoustic!

Files: http://www.soundtempest.net/jill/contest/
Deadline: September 1st, 2008 at noon EST

All completed remixes must be sent to mail@jilliangoldin.com by the above date and time. Submissions should be in MP3 format only, encoded at 192 kbps or higher. You may enter as many remixes as you want! Just don't kill yourself. ^-^

I will evaluate the remixes based on the following criteria:

• Creativity
• Production & sound quality
• Overall musicality

Within one week of the contest deadline, three winning entries will be announced: one for each song. Of those three, there will also be one grand prize and one second place winner! (Note: in the event that any one song receives a disproportionately low number of submissions, multiple winners could result for the same original track.)

All three winners will receive:

• My upcoming vocal sample library (valued at $99), produced by Impact Soundworks. The product will feature a wide range of detailed, multisampled recordings covering both straight tone and vibrato singing, multiple vowels and consonants, phrases, and special effects!
• Origins, signed with a personal message of your choice
• A copy of my soon-to-be-released music video for the song "Hajime," in high-resolution on DVD
• Promotion (of both the remix and its creator) on my website, MySpace, and newsletter

The grand prize winner will also be the recipient of a $75 gift certificate generously provided by audioMIDI.com, a favorite music gear shop of zircon and myself. With a great selection of unique music gear, excellent customer service and a never-ending supply of blowout items, rebates, and B-stocks, audioMIDI is among the best music equipment retailers on the net.



And the second place winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Sweetwater.com, another great retailer of music equipment. They have a very wide selection of more traditional instruments and equipment, plus a highly-trained staff of "Sales Engineers" to answer your questions!



ALL contest entries will be considered for future Jillian Goldin releases! Other prizes may be added as well, so check back regularly for updates. Can't wait to see what you come up with... Have fun!