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Andrew Huang - Website: http://www.songstowearpantsto.com/, Twitter: @andrewismusic

It’s the day after the most romantic day of the year and I thought we could all use a little reminder to cherish our loved ones every day of the year.  This month’s Ruly Mix artist, Andrew Huang, has provided a great song inspired by the day he married his wife.  It is also a great, sunny upbeat track that reminds those of us in winter climates right now that warmer days are coming soon.

Read on for more about Andrew and his music.

What is your musical background? When did you begin playing/writing music? What instruments do you play?

From almost as early as I can remember, I was playing and listening to classical music. Radio pop started to creep in as I approached the age of 10, and soon after discovering the bass guitar at 12 my mind was opened to the worlds of rock, jazz and hip-hop.

I have a bit of formal training in piano, guitar, bass and theory, but am completely self-taught in terms of writing and recording and all of the other instruments I play. “What instruments do you play” is a difficult question for me to answer because while I’m comfortable in my own way on many instruments – for instance, banjo, ukulele, mandolin, drums, glockenspiel, melodica – for all I know I could be doing everything all wrong!

At 15 I decided that writing and recording songs was going to be the most important thing in my life, and since then have dedicated most of my free time to honing those crafts.

What inspires you generally when you are writing music?

Inspiration can come from anywhere. A major theme in my songs is love, but many also touch on political, religious or societal issues that I’ve heard about through the news or that have affected my life in some way. I like to write songs about both the real people in my life and fictional characters and stories I dream up; about large and loft ideas as well as the mundane things we all experience.

An extra tap into inspiration that is uniquely mine is a hilarious website I’ve been running for several years, where visitors are daily suggesting song ideas to me. The majority of them are not that inspiring, but some have induced me to write songs – that I end up liking a fair bit – about the strangest things, from robots in love to energy drinks to sea anemones to brushing your teeth. It’s worth a visit: http://songstowearpantsto.com

Tell us about September 6th. What were you thinking about when you composed this?

September 6th is my anniversary. I started writing the song a few months before getting married and finished it a few months after. It’s the sappiest thing ever, but simply put the song is a celebration of the life and love I have with my wife. I actually wrote the whole song just about our wedding day, but realized later that it will apply to every September 6th that ever comes around for us – particularly the line “I always knew we’d make it this far.” The first half of the song is kind of cute and talks about how much we enjoy being together, and the second half is a rejoicing explosion of singing, latin percussion, bouncy guitar and two drum kits.

This month’s theme is about obsessive compulsive disorder and its relationship to excessive tidiness. Do you classify yourself as a neat-freak? How much chaos and disorder can you/do you tolerate in your own life?

I’m pretty on top of keeping things in my environment clean and neat, though I don’t think anyone would call it excessive. When I get immersed in my work, my studio degrades into more and more disarray, but I always get everything tidied and organized again before beginning another project. I might be a compulsive hand-washer though…

Click the picture below to play or right-click to download Andrew’s track, “September 6.” (If the picture is not working for you, you can also download by clicking here.)

To respect the rights of the musician, please comply with the simple Ruly License terms below.

Ruly License: You may download and play any Ruly Mix song for your own personal use so long as you keep the voiceover tags intact indicating the name of the artist and that the song came from beruly.com. Businesses may also download this song to play as background music in their establishments so long as the voiceover tags remain intact. Any other uses of the song (such as in videos, etc.) must be pre-approved by the musician. Questions about license permissions can be addressed to info@beruly.com.

If you enjoy this mix, please comment, give a “like” on Facebook and share this link with others!

Previous Ruly Mix artists: Ben Harris, George Vlad, Samuel Pushpak, Danny Stewart-Smith (“Maintain Focus”), Danny Stewart-Smith (“The Flow”), Danny Stewart-Smith (“Insights”), Danny Stewart-Smith feat. Evin Gibson, Joe Hanley, Jamie Smith, Rajiv Agarwal

. . . . Ben Harris . . . . . http://www.fsrecording.com

‘Tis the season! Whether you are joyfully shopping and putting up decorations or feeling a little tired and overwhelmed, you will get a great boost from today’s Ruly Mix track from composer Ben Harris! I asked Ben for some modern holiday music and he came through with a wonderful tune called “Pushing Forward” that is inspirational and motivating but not necessarily aligned with any particularly “holiday.” It also makes a great New Year’s soundtrack with its positive vibe.

Read on for more about Ben and his music.

1) What is your musical background? When did you begin playing/writing music? What instruments do you play?

My musical training began as a child singing with the radio. I continued to learn music at home and in school. I started piano lessons at age 12 and taught myself guitar and bass at 15. I began writing music while in high school with aspirations of becoming a rock star. I sang in the choir, played bass in the jazz band, and played in multiple garage bands. In college I studied music, played in more bands, and realized that I didn’t want to be a rock star anymore. I wanted to do the less visible side of music such as composing, engineering, arranging, and producing. I have made a career in that less visible side and I still sing, play piano, keyboards, guitar, bass, percussion, and of course I play pretty mean MIDI drums on the keyboard.

2) What inspires you when you are writing music?

The groove inspires me most of the time, just finding that hypnotizing rhythm or melody that you want to play over and over. But what inspires me the most are the rare magical musical moments. The times when a passage of music pierces you and reminds you of a buried memory or makes you close your eyes to take it in. The times when repeating the part too many times seems to cheapen it, as if it where a sacred gift. That is what inspires me.

3) Tell us about “Pushing Forward.” What were you thinking about when you composed this?

I composed the original riff for Pushing Forward while in high school and then recorded it in college, so I was probably thinking about girls. Pushing Forward has one of those hypnotizing grooves and I remember just playing it over and over losing track of time while writing and recording it.

4) What “holidays” are you celebrating this December, if any? Do you have a favorite holiday tradition?

I am celebrating Christmas and New Years with my family. One of my favorite traditions is singing Christmas music. I purchased a Christmas fake book a few years ago that has made me the life of every Christmas party since. Everybody looks through the book for his or her favorite Christmas songs and then I accompany the singing on a piano or guitar. I just wish I had ten copies of the book so everyone could sing the same words.

Click the picture below to play or right-click to download Ben’s track, “Pushing Forward.” (If the picture is not working for you, you can also download by clicking here.)

To respect the rights of the musician, please comply with the simple Ruly License terms below.

Ruly License: You may download and play any Ruly Mix song for your own personal use so long as you keep the voiceover tags intact indicating the name of the artist and that the song came from beruly.com. Businesses may also download this song to play as background music in their establishments so long as the voiceover tags remain intact. Any other uses of the song (such as in videos, etc.) must be pre-approved by the musician. Questions about license permissions can be addressed to info@beruly.com.

If you enjoy this mix, please comment, give a “like” on Facebook and share this link with others!

Have a great weekend!

Previous Ruly Mix artists: George Vlad, Samuel Pushpak, Danny Stewart-Smith (“Maintain Focus”), Danny Stewart-Smith (“The Flow”), Danny Stewart-Smith (“Insights”), Danny Stewart-Smith feat. Evin Gibson, Joe Hanley, Jamie Smith, Rajiv Agarwal

. . . . . George Vlad . . . . . http://myspace.com/aexzm

Overwhelmed? Need a lift? How about something to challenge your thinking and creativity? I have just the treat for you today . . . another great Ruly Mix!

Today’s mix comes from Romanian composer George Vlad. When I first contacted George to discuss doing a mix for me, he wrote back . . .

“[U]pbeat is not quite my genre. For the last few years I have been concentrating on game music and sound effects, mainly from the horror, suspense or action categories. This lead me to experiment on how to convey intense feelings of fear, shock or whatever comes with a game of those types.” [emphasis added]

Could “intense feelings of fear” work for the Ruly Mix? Hmmm….it got me thinking about how much fear is a motivator for all kinds of behaviors. Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of imperfection, fear of embarrassment, fear of change, fear of pain . . .sound familiar? The demons in our lives so often come internally rather than externally. So, in contemplation of Halloween, I thought George’s music would have a lot to say to all of us and it also makes an excellent soundtrack for a spooky weekend.

Read on for more about George and his music.

1) What is your musical background? When did you begin playing/writing music? What instruments do you play?

I studied music theory in elementary school, where I also played my first instrument, the recorder. My then- music teacher really helped widen my musical horizons, and guided me through my first steps in exploring Baroque and Classical music. Until I graduated from high school, I did quite a lot of listening. I was attending classical music concerts, but I also went to jazz and electronic music events.

I think it was around the age of 18 when I really became interested in composing music. I had been DJing for a while, and I suddenly felt that I had so much to express and couldn’t do it just as a DJ. Therefore, I got my hands on various Digital Audio Workstations and a keyboard and I started learning how to use them. Then I began composing electronic music, mostly drum&bass and breakbeat. Over time, I widened my production horizons, composing ambient, trip hop, IDM, and even breakcore. It was during last year that I started to get involved in videogame music, and since then I have been honing my orchestral arranging skills.

As for instruments, I play the MIDI keyboard, which, in turn, is able to control a wide variety of instruments, from percussion to brass or strings.

2) What inspires you when you are writing music?

I find that I am inspired by anything aesthetically pleasing, such as taking a walk through the woods, admiring a complex painting or reading an interesting book. Moreover, it is not always a conscious process. It is rather an urge that grows inside me when performing these activities, to the point where I find myself playing something in my head until I can express it through music.

3) Tell us about “Cat’s Eyes.” What were you thinking about when you composed this?

I composed the first version of this song in the summer of 2006. All I wanted was to compose something of a happy careless nature, but as I was working on it, I noticed that my cat was watching me from under the bed. I could only see its eyes, hence the name. The whole picture looked slightly evil, and I tried to capture that with my music: a happy careless creature that sometimes can look a little scary.
Doing this remix for the Ruly blog was really exciting. If composing the first version took me only one night, remixing it took me more than two weeks. I had never tried to remix my older songs, and I had the opportunity to compare my present knowledge and technique with what I knew back then. I have to say I learnt quite a lot in the mean time.

Click the picture below to play or right-click to download George’s track, “Cat’s Eyes.” (If the picture is not working for you, you can also download by clicking here.)

To respect the rights of the musician, please comply with the simple Ruly License terms below.

Ruly License: You may download and play any Ruly Mix song for your own personal use so long as you keep the voiceover tags intact indicating the name of the artist and that the song came from beruly.com. Businesses may also download this song to play as background music in their establishments so long as the voiceover tags remain intact. Any other uses of the song (such as in videos, etc.) must be pre-approved by the musician. Questions about license permissions can be addressed to info@beruly.com.

If you enjoy this mix, please comment, give a “like” on Facebook and share this link with others!

Have a great weekend!

Previous Ruly Mix artists: Samuel Pushpak, Danny Stewart-Smith (“Maintain Focus”), Danny Stewart-Smith (“The Flow”), Danny Stewart-Smith (“Insights”), Danny Stewart-Smith feat. Evin Gibson, Joe Hanley, Jamie Smith, Rajiv Agarwal

. . . . . Samuel Pushpak . . . . . . myspace.com/samuelpushpak

Just in time for your weekend, the Ruly Mix is back! After a brief hiatus, yet again, you can download for free a great, upbeat track to energize, uplift and motivate you to achieve your organizational goals.

A recent New York Times blog post attempts to explain the reasons why music is such a powerful motivator, particularly for exercise.

‘Humans and songbirds’ are the only creatures ‘that automatically feel the beat’ of a song, . . .It’s not simply that music motivates you and you run faster. It may be that, instead, your body first responds to the beat, even before your mind joins in; your heart rate and breathing increase and the resulting biochemical reactions join with the music to exhilarate and motivate you to move even faster.

–Gretchen Reynolds, “Phys Ed: Does Music Make You Exercise Harder?” The New York Times Well Blog, August 25, 2010

This month’s track comes from composer Samuel Pushpak and is a great soundtrack for our discussion of communication. Read on for more about Samuel and his music.

What is your musical background? When did you begin playing/writing music? What instruments do you play?

My music sounds a bit ambient and ethnic. I started learning piano 6 years ago and I have been writing and recording new music for the past 3 years. I play keyboards and acoustic guitar.  I was influenced a lot by the modern day Digital Audio Workstations and I got obsessed with them and I used to spend a lot of time experimenting and it eventually lead me to write some original stuff. But there are still lots of areas in which my compositions have to be polished. I’ll have to work in those areas.

What inspires you when you are writing music generally?

Nature, Human Feelings and the music of A.R.Rahman.

What were you thinking about when you composed this mix for beruly.com?

“Hello Love” is about those few minutes you wait even after waiting for a whole night. It’s about the struggle to overcome the mind with heart, to just wish that this day would be as bright as the morning star.  A picture is worth a thousand words. Here is a wonderful photograph by Michael Costa that inspired me to write and record this song.

What languages do you speak? Do you always write your music in English?

I speak Telugu, English and Hindi. I’ve written music in all the three languages. Currently I’m working on a contemporary Christian album in Telugu.

What does music communicate that you can’t get from just written or spoken words and pictures?

Feelings! Music conveys those pure, natural feelings. Nothing influences and inspires more than music.

Click the picture below to play or right-click to download Samuel’s track, “Hello Love.” (If the picture is not working for you, you can also download by clicking here.)

To respect the rights of the musician, please comply with the simple Ruly License terms below.

Ruly License: You may download and play any Ruly Mix song for your own personal use so long as you keep the voiceover tags intact indicating the name of the artist and that the song came from beruly.com. Businesses may also download this song to play as background music in their establishments so long as the voiceover tags remain intact. Any other uses of the song (such as in videos, etc.) must be pre-approved by the musician. Questions about license permissions can be addressed to info@beruly.com.

I love the romance and positive energy in Samuel’s song!  It reminds me of all the good things in my life.  I hope it similarly inspires you.

If you enjoy this mix, please comment, give a “like” on Facebook or share this link with others!

Have a great weekend!

Previous Ruly Mix artists: Danny Stewart-Smith (“Maintain Focus”), Danny Stewart-Smith (“The Flow”), Danny Stewart-Smith (“Insights”), Danny Stewart-Smith feat. Evin Gibson, Joe Hanley, Jamie Smith, Rajiv Agarwal

Kick your energy level for the weekend into high gear with this month’s awesome mix from New York City-based composer Joe Hanley! Joe’s mix is called “High Score” which times perfectly with the start of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver this weekend.

When I listen to Joe’s mix, I am transported back to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. It is the only Olympics I have ever attended in person and it was an amazing experience. At that Olympics, I attended several events including the men’s ski jump event where Harry Potter (actually doppelganger Simon Ammann from Switzerland) won the gold!

I also can proudly say I was there when the American men (Ross Powers, Danny Kass and JJ Thomas) swept the medals in men’s snowboarding half-pipe. Snowboarding is a great event where everyone, including a mere geeky spectator like myself, gets to feel “cool” for a moment. They play incredible music as the athletes come down the pipe doing impossible moves that have great names like, “air,” “grab,” and “McTwist.” Everyone should have a moment in their lives like that to feel genuinely cool.

Joe’s music captures that feeling of “cool” and it sounds like an Olympic snowboarding song to me. I hope it gives you the same lift! Here’s a little more about Joe and his music.

Joe Hanley joehanleymusic.com

What is your musical background?

I’ve been playing and composing for 20 years. My primary instruments are keyboards and vocals, and I have a basic background in guitar as well.

What inspires you when you are writing music?

My initial inspiration for any song differs depending on the context that I’m writing in. If the music I’m composing is for a specific client, they usually have style and mood requests that will inspire my first ideas. Most of the time ideas come when I’m doing something else like walking, driving or in the shower. Those slight distractions really seem to take my thoughts out of the process and allow my intuition to take over.

What were you thinking about when you composed this mix for beruly.com?

For this mix I was inspired by dance music and wanted to combine a hard hitting dance floor aesthetic with my somewhat quirky and peculiar tastes.

Is there such a thing as perfection in music? What compositions or musicians do you consider “perfect”?

Music is such a subjective art form, so no matter how perfect you may think a song is, there will always be someone else who doesn’t. I don’t believe perfection exists in any aspect of life, but I do believe it’s smart to always strive for your “best” in anything you do.

With that said, I do have a few musicians and compositions that I personally believe couldn’t get any better:

1. George Gershwin – His 3 Preludes.

2. Debussy – “The Girl with the Flaxen Hair” – wrote this for his wife before he went off to war. If there ever was a situation that could bring out the best in a composer, this would be it.

3. Radiohead – Every song off of “OK Computer”

Ready to listen to Joe’s mix?  Click the picture below to play or right-click to download. (If the picture is not working for you, you can also download by clicking here.) 

If you like what you hear, please comment and feel free to share the song with others. To respect the rights of the musician, please comply with the simple Ruly License terms below.

Ruly License: You may download and play any Ruly Mix song for your own personal use so long as you keep the voiceover tags intact indicating the name of the artist and that the song came from beruly.com. Businesses may also download this song to play as background music in their establishments so long as the voiceover tags remain intact. Any other uses of the song (such as in videos, etc.) must be pre-approved by the musician. Questions about license permissions can be addressed to info@beruly.com.

Wishing you a perfect weekend!

Previous Ruly Mix artists:  Jamie Smith, Rajiv Agarwal

Just in time to jazz up your weekend . . . the Ruly Mix!   Download for free a great track to give you the boost of energy you need to accomplish something difficult or keep you in a positive mood! This month’s featured artist is Jamie Smith from Edinburgh, Scotland.

When I was choosing the song for this month, Jamie’s sample came on and my little ones instantly started dancing all over the place. When the sample was over, I heard the sweetest little chorus, “Play it again! Play it again!” That was the only test I needed to know that Jamie belonged in the Ruly Mix.

The other thing that is simply delightful to me about Jamie’s music is that it is completely unexpected. While you might be thinking we are going to be treated to a bagpipe solo or something akin to Celtic music, you are going to be a bit surprised to hear some totally groovy jazz! Yes, Scottish jazz! Who knew?

Here’s a little more about Jamie and his music:

Jamie Smith http://donbrae.co.uk

How long have you been playing/composing music and how did you get into jazz?

I’ve been playing and writing music since I was about 6 or 7. Like last month’s composer Rajiv, I started out on a Casio keyboard and shortly thereafter graduated to a battered old upright piano, much to the annoyance of neighbors. I studied classical music for a good few years before switching to jazz. I’d always been familiar with the Great American Songbook, and that material was my introduction to jazz and improvisation. Various family members play and sing, and there were lead sheets and songbooks around the house that I would play through and improvise on. I eventually got around to really studying how jazz harmony worked and how to go about improvising properly (I’m still working on it!). There’s actually quite a vibrant jazz scene here in Scotland, with annual festivals in all the major cities. Jam sessions are well attended and one of the music colleges has recently began running the country’s first full-time jazz degree.

What instruments do you play?

I play jazz and funk keyboards, ranging from acoustic and electric piano to Clavinet and organ. I did used to play flugelhorn, which is a brass instrument, but sadly don’t have the time to dedicate to that anymore.

What inspires you when you are writing music?

On one level it’s the creative challenge that inspires me. I always like to try out new things, whether it’s expanding my harmonic knowledge or writing in a new style. Inspiration also comes from the hope that people might enjoy listening to what you’ve created. If someone, after a hard day, listens to a bit of your music to relax and feel better, then you’ve done your job.

What were you thinking about when you composed this mix for beruly.com?

I really just tried to write something that Ruly readers would find catchy, lively and entertaining. I hope they enjoy it (my fingers are crossed)! It also amused me to think what my fellow jazzers would make of the bass and drum solos.

What goals have you set for yourself for 2010?

My main goal for 2010 is to work hard and continue making music – all the while trying to be more sociable and get out from in front of the piano now and again. The year’s got off to a great start with the chance to create something for Ruly. It’s been fun – thanks for the opportunity!

Intrigued?  Can’t wait to hear the song?  Wait no longer!  Click the picture below to play or right-click to download. (If the picture is not working for you, you can also download by clicking here.)

If you like what you hear, please feel free to share the song with others. To respect the rights of the musician, please comply with the simple Ruly License terms below.

Ruly License: You may download and play any Ruly Mix song for your own personal use so long as you keep the voiceover tags intact indicating the name of the artist and that the song came from beruly.com. Businesses may also download this song to play as background music in their establishments so long as the voiceover tags remain intact. Any other uses of the song (such as in videos, etc.) must be pre-approved by the musician. Questions about license permissions can be addressed to info@beruly.com.

If you love Jamie’s music, please post a comment and share this link with others!  Please know that all the Ruly Mix musicians love to get feedback on the songs.  Even a quick comment like “Cool!” or “Love it!” is tremendously appreciated.  Plus, this month anyone posting a comment can get a Ruly thank you note if you email your address to me at info@beruly.com.

Wishing you a hip weekend!

Previous Ruly Mix artists:  Rajiv Agarwal

It’s the season of giving and today, readers of beruly.com get a special treat . . . a free song! Yes, FREE! Ruly is launching a new monthly feature . . . the Ruly Mix! Each month, you can download for free an upbeat, motivational song. 

Music is one of the greatest motivational techniques. With the right song in your head, you can find energy you didn’t know you had, push yourself harder and feel more positive. 

Rajiv Agarwal Beingisbliss@gmail.com

This month’s song comes from New Zealand-based composer Rajiv Agarwal of Spectral Audio. I asked Rajiv to introduce himself and the song.

How long have you been playing/composing music?

I have been composing music since 15 years now. It all started with my small Casio keyboard which my brother got me as a gift when I was just 7. I used to spend hours fiddling with it. From then on it was a long journey of learning and hard labour before I could finally start composing music commercially.

What instruments do you play?

I have been playing the keyboards ever since I was 8 years old. Later on in life I tried my hand on the Indian bamboo flute. Quite a tough instrument I should say. It took me 6 months just to learn how to blow air correctly to get the rounded sound!! No wonder I left it midway! So yes keyboard is all I play.

What inspires you when you are writing music?

My inspiration is life in its ever changing kaleidoscope of transformation.  The different sound synthesis helps me capture those ever changing patterns into something concrete and perceivable, something which I and my audience can relate to instantly.

What were you thinking about when you composed this mix for beruly.com?

Energy!! That was a paramount thought in my head. Energy to pursue things we want to but fail to do. Energy for things which are important, but lie back in the corner, dusty and forgotten. I wanted the song to help people get up and get going. I spent many hours figuring out a melody line which was motivational without being pushy.

What are the holidays like in New Zealand at this time of year?

This is the summer time here, so all kinds of flowers are blooming everywhere. People are shopping mad for Christmas, and those who have finished shopping are tying ropes on their feet heading towards the bridges for a kiwi bungy jump.  The roads are full of boats and kayaks (I find that really amusing) as people head off to different beaches. It’s fun time!!

Click the picture below to play Rajiv’s song or right-click to download.

As long as you are downloading the song from beruly.com, you can be assured that the file does not have viruses or other malevolent features. It really is just a song. (If you download the file from somewhere else, I cannot vouch for its safety.)

If you like what you hear, please feel free to share the song with others. To respect the rights of the musician, please comply with the simple Ruly License terms below.

Ruly License: You may download and play this song for your own personal use so long as you keep the voiceover tags intact indicating the name of the artist and that the song came from beruly.com. Businesses may also download this song to play as background music in their establishments so long as the voiceover tags remain intact. Any other uses of the song (such as in videos, etc.) must be pre-approved by the artist. Questions about license permissions can be addressed to info@beruly.com.

I hope that you will use this music to inspire you to do something you didn’t think was possible. Your goal can be large or small and could be something as simple as getting through your weekly commute with a smile, decorating, cleaning, exercising, spicing up a boring workday or dancing around the house with your loved ones.  If you are feeling a bit down or worn out this holiday season, I hope that this song will help pick you up a bit.

Enjoy your weekend!  If you love the song, Rajiv and I would appreciate it if you would post a comment!