NAIADES. Is. Here!
Naiades: Pronounced Nay-AAH-dees, though it can also be NAY-ah-dees.
Cover by Chrissie Zullo.
"When I was a teenager, one of the things I loved about getting a new album was that it came with a big cover, often with a lyric sheet, and I would just sit and read over the lyrics and the artwork while listening to the music. It was an overall experience. It was a journey. These records, some of them I have now 20+ years later, and the smell of them, holding them, it takes me back to those times. I love that...
In this current age of instant gratification, audio and visual input overload at every turn, and the ability to download anything you want within the blink of an eye - the idea of waiting for anything seems so strange. So I ask you to take a little walk with me to an earlier time, when you wait for a new release, and you sit down, put the music on, and take the journey with me!"
Read more on my thoughts HERE.
So here goes! Accompanying the music will be a 32 page hardcover board book which is 7" wide by 8" tall, full of artwork made just for the music. I have some of the most amazing comic and pop culture artists helping me create a gorgeous atmosphere for NAIADES.
ARTIST ROSTER (*Exclusive Artwork just for NAIADES):
*Bernie Wrightson (Swamp Thing, Creepshow)
*James O'Barr (The Crow)
*Bill Sienkiewicz (Elektra: Assassin, The New Mutants)
Miran Kim (X-Files, Deadtime Stories)
*Kelley Jones (Batman, Sandman)
*Nat Jones (Death Dealer, 30 Days of Night)
*Menton3 (Silent Hill, Monocyte)
*Chrissie Zullo (Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love)
*Andrew Mangum (Grimm Fairy Tales, American Wasteland)
*David Ocampo (Freelance Artist and Colorist with Andrew Mangum)
Milx (Silver Surfer, Wake the Dead)
*Jordie Bellaire (Colorist for Hellraiser, Planet of the Apes)
*Don Bishop (Traditional Artist)
*Cathy Ashworth (Traditional Artist)
Jim Neely (Anafae)
*Lee Kelly (Abstract Artist)
*Daniele Serra (Fade to Black, Teenage Timberwolves)
This is a dream come true for me to have so many legendary artists involved! I've sent out rough mixes and lyrics to some of them for inspiration and received the most amazing artwork. The book is so beautiful, it will be worth the wait!
I don't think I need to say this, but I am also very excited about the new album as far as the music! The songs stretch from classical and ambient to acoustic and harder rock. Paul Mercer and his producer Bruce Bennett are working on a gutwrenching classical song entitled "LureinLay". There is also a purely tribal drums and vocal piece entitled "Scylla and Charybdis" where I really have fun with multiple vocals. I even have a couple near punk rock-like tunes due to the help of my wonderful beau, Steve Niles. Steve was in Gray Matter back in the day, one of the first Dischord bands, so he's been writing riffs with me. We knew each other when we were just kids in the punk rock scene, and I love how things have come back full circle for us! One epic piece, EndBegin, is an electro-tribal work that blasts into a thunderous storm of vocals and timpanies. Chad Blinman is mixing and mastering the album, as well as adding live drums to a couple songs.
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