New tune: “flow like so” – mesmerizing accordion & electronica

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We’re busy preparing for our shows in August so I gave the band a break from recording this month. I still wanted to publish a video so I put the finishing touches on a tune I composed in 2022. “flow like so” is a synth-soaked ambient piece with accordion. I built the mesmerizing, relaxing, chill video with footage from the Penticton, BC dam and channel.

Accordions belong anywhere in any genre, even flow. No musical borders. That’s my contention and I’m sticking with it. 🙂

For music nerds, the time signature is 7/4. The accordion is my musette tuned Weltmeister Achat. The synths sounds are all in GarageBand (the free Apple app) which just goes to show that possibilities are endless if you have a creative streak and like to play with sonic landscapes.

For a hi-fi audio file of “flow like so” visit our BandCamp: https://themadmaggies.bandcamp.com/track/flow-like-so

New Tune: a “Fanfare” for Summer

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Summer is here in all its glory.

Enjoy this jubilant, complex, lively flourish of the Mad Ms’ brass & reeds, in other words a “Fanfare”.

The Mad Ms horn players are stellar! Not to mention a big part of what makes our ensemble so distinctive.

For those who look under the hood of musical compositions, this is a five-part, hybrid contrapuntal piece somewhere between a canon and a fugue.

For those who simply enjoy the bold force of wind instruments and brass with percussion accents, this will delight.

I wrestled with this piece on and off for over five years to get it right. The counterpoint is satisfying. 🙂

You’ll notice how much fun I was having with “particle effects” in the video.

Like and subscribe to our YouTube channel — it’s an easy, free way to support us.

Mags

New Tune & Video for May: California Love – variation for Harp with guest Roxanne Oliva

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As I was writing California Love, I kept “hearing” a harp version. I asked fab multi-instrumentalist and longtime friend Roxanne Oliva if she’d like to do it and happily she said yes.

She recorded her tracks at her home studio, playing her Celtic harp, a 22 string Stoney End. She sent the tracks to me and I added parts. Next step was to Wally Sound for mixing and mastering mix. The result is a lovely instrumental, a movie soundtrack.

To listen and/or download a hi-fi version, go to our BandCamp.

I had oodles of fun playing with the theme of “hearts coming together” in the music video.


 

newspaper photo clipping of Rox and MagsRoxanne and I have known each other since the mid 1980s, having met at Sonoma State University. We performed together in Mixed Company, a mixed-media theater company I formed with choreographer/director Diana Keener. (I must say, the shows we produced were waaaay before their time.)

We have criss-crossed in the musical world ever since.

I particularly love that neither one of has stopped making music. Can’t keep a dedicated artist down!
Check out Roxanne’s BandCamp.

April Tune: “Opal” — Oh! Oh! Oh!

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“Opal” is an upbeat, catchy, pop/rock/dance love song.

All Mad Ms added their artistry and Wally Sound added his studio magic. Music, lyrics and video by yours madly.
Dare I say it? “This tune is a gem.”

Enjoy a hi-fi version on our BandCamp

Enjoy our official and decidedly “psychedelic rock” video.

Speaking of rocks, did you know that opals are mineraloids? If a gemstone has a crystalline structure, it’s a mineral. If it doesn’t have crystallinity, it is classified as a mineraloid. Amber and obsidian are other examples of mineraloids.

Opal is the birthstone for October, which happens to be my birth month. I’ve always found them fascinating, especially fire opals.

Now there’s some groovy / roll your own light show imagery. 🙂

Those in Glass Houses

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Back when Phillip Glass was quite popular, I quipped that anyone could compose like he did. Well, if one throws stones …

Here is my composition “Those in Glass Houses” in which I mix some of my distinct sounds with some of my Glass-like passages.

It’s a pleasant, relaxing piece. 🙂

For downloadable version on our BandCamp:

On our YouTube channel:

The expression people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones is first found in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde, written in 1385: “Who that hath an hed of verre, Fro cast of stones war hym in the werre!”. Source

New Mad Maggies’ Video “Hold On, Let Go”

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I gathered up a few musician friends to record some of my tunes on February 14, 2004. What was a one album project turned into a crazy 20 year musical ride. Wow!

We’re celebrating with a new tune: Hold On, Let Go

Available for download on our BandCamp

Enjoy the very danceable rhythm — a line dance shuffle, perhaps.
And, the chorus is just asking for you to singalong. Go for it!

One of the most valuable skills in life is knowing when to take chances and stay in the fray and knowing when the smart move is to walk away.

That hint of free will feels good in this crazy game of life.

Meanwhile, it’s not time for me to “let go” just yet.
I have quite a few tunes in the hopper. 😉

View on YouTube.

We’re booking some nice shows in August. So stay tuned.
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Subscribe to our YouTube channel

New Video: Out of Proportion

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Here’s my next “Mags’ Jazz” piece — storytelling and music inspired by Ken Nordine’s “Word Jazz” style.

In “Out of Proportion“, a shopping mishap leads a woman to discover that clothes don’t make the woman…or the man.

And naturally, there is accordion.

Enjoy the video on our YouTube channel.

Please hit the like button and subscribe to our channel. That’s a super easy way to support us.

Music & Lyrics by M. Martin
Musicians:
Maggie “Mags” Martin: composer, vocals, accordion, & synths
Gary “GDub” Wium: bass

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NEW VIDEO: Actual Factual

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I’ve been creating some pieces loosely inspired by Ken Nordine’s Word Jazz – narration over background music.

Nordine is one of my early, big influences. He told tales and made commentary on the world with a fabulous, mellifluous voice over the sounds of cool jazz by the Fred Katz group.

I listened to the albums over and over and over when I was a kid.

First up is “Actual Factual”, a laid-back groove in which I have something to say about disinformation. Of course, there is accordion.

Enjoy the video on our YouTube channel. Please hit the like button and subscribe to our channel. That’s a super easy way to support us.

Listen to the audio file on our BandCamp.

Video: Dead Air – a rock/pop tune with dub stylings

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Dead Air is a rock/pop tune with vintage dub stylings. The lyrics describe that feeling when you finally leave for good.

Try singing along. It is very satisfying.

The fab noir-inspired illustrations are by multi-talented artist Wendy Pires (Instagram: @_wkpires)

Watch the new video on our YouTube channel.

For a high quality audio file, go to our BandCamp.

Mixed and mastered by Wally Sound at the Wally Sound, Oakland, California.

Featuring:
Johny Blood: tuba
Ian Luke: drums
Maggie “Mags” Martin: accordionist, vocals, composer, bass & synths
Mark Nemoyten: trumpet
Gary “GDub” Wium: guitar

the Mad Ms project: However Improbable

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“However Improbable” is a confection of ska, border polka, country, dance and brass band. The tune, written by yours madly, is a perfect example of the Mad Maggies “Hard to Describe, Easy to Love” style.

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

-– Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, stated by Sherlock Holmes

Watch the video However Improbable on our YouTube channel.

The video features fantastic, detailed illustrations by Montreal artist Daniel Fiorito.

For a high quality audio file, go to our BandCamp.

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