Diego has found several ways to channel his unique approach into the music universe. As a Producer for Spectrasonics, he’s one of the principal sound designers for the multi Award winning virtual instruments Atmosphere™, Stylus™ RMX and the new Power Synth
Omnisphere®. For this epic project, he built several custom instruments and created musically playable sounds out of ordinary objects like light bulbs, pieces of furnitures, a washing machine, a clothes drying rack, a typewriter, and many others imaginative contraptions. Take a look at these videos below. I can’t get enough of this guy. Amazing!

Its amazing how both kids and adults will let loose in a costume store while testing out all the interesting wigs, accessories and suffocating plastic masks. It makes playing “dress up” cool as opposed to what you would look like if you just walked around your house dressed as Harry Potter or Dracula. 

 

-Lori

   
Jenkees’ Youtube videos are equally as notable for his laid-back demeanor and always-friendly introduction, “Hello, YouTubes!” Jenkees typically explains the piece in the video either at the beginning or end of the video a he offers sincere motivational text and tips to others who have a passion for music.

Jenkees’s popularity grew significiantly after he was Dugg on Digg.com in March 2007.  His fans grew in number yet again after he was mentioned in a column by ESPN.com Page 2 writer Bill Simmons.  I guarantee you’re going to love Ronald Jenkees.  Although there’s some speculation that his persona is at least a partical act to gain attention for his music, I don’t pay attention to that.  Maybe his “character” drew me to his music, but I wouldn’t still be a fan if he did not continuously pump out synthetic masterpieces without fail.  Check out Ronald Jenkees.  He’s the man. 

-Lori

Tiffany and I met through Twitter a few months back. We’re both energetic, creative, empowered people but we also share a special bond; we both have Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythmetosus.) That’s actually how I found Tiffany on Twitter, by searching for other people who were talking about life with Lupus. I found out about Lupus a few years ago through my step-mother who also has the disease but its amazing how many people are unaware of what Lupus is and how it affects people. I feel extremely lucky to feel as good as I do because some people suffer daily and even die from Lupus-related complications. Still, when people find out I have Lupus I feel like I need to explain what it is because there is hardly any education about this condition. This is why I love Tiffany and appreciate all of her positive energy she puts out into the world in hopes of educating people about Lupus and raising funds for a cure!

Tiffany is also the founder of “Friends Against Lupus.” If you want to learn more about Lupus, how you can help raise money to find a cure or to simply read some incredibly inspiring words that give you that extra lift we all need throughout the day, add FAL on facebook!

Lupus is what’s known as an “invisible disability” because you can’t tell if someone suffers from it just by looking at them. Odds are, you probably know somebody with Lupus. A BIG thank you to Tiffany and a giant Lupie hug to all the Lucious Lavender Butterflies out there.

-Lori

A few weeks ago I was driving in the car with my little brother and he starts singing the hook to “Beamer, Benz or Bentley” (well, kind of)  What I heard was “Be my incidentally!  Be my incidentally!”  Its funny how kids will sing lyrics that don’t make any sense.  What am I saying…half the lyrics in mainstream music today don’t make much sense.  I remember when I was a little kid I used to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and I loved singing, dancing and karate kicking to the theme music.  Problem was, I kept saying “herums in a hap shell” instead of “heroes in a half shell!” 

It got me thinking of all the music we know and love…or think we know.  Sometimes its the lead singer who’s hard to understand.  Case in point: FALL OUT BOY!  When I first saw “Sugar We’re Going Down” on MTV years ago I remember liking the song but really having no idea what the hook was all about.  We’re going down down in an illy around?  Whaaat? This FOB tune is another jam that has some hilarious miscontrued linguistics.

And how about Sean Paul?  I dig Sean Paul, but half the time I can’t make out what he’s saying through his thick accent.  Sometimes half the fun is making up funny lyrics to songs from artists like him.  “Jordee ahn Rebecca!”

What songs have you been slaughtering lately? I still sing the wrong lyrics to Nirvana’s “All Apologies” because its reminds me of being a little kid in the 90’s and listening to Nirvana, RHCP, Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins with my hippie older cousins. “Oh no, ezoweeaahhh!” I don’t care if it IS “All we know is all we are”…I’m singing ezoweeaaahh.

-Lori

But now that we’re all back to the grind, I wanted to share with you an amazing non-profit I just discovered; Sing For Hope. Founded by opera singers with a desire to lift their voices for social change, Sing for Hope is a charitable organization that mobilizes more than 600 professional artists – from classical musicians to photographers to Broadway performers – in volunteer service programs that benefit schools, hospitals, and communities.

Sing for Hope is dedicated to bringing the healing power of art to those who need it most, and in today’s world, that feels more urgent than ever. This is an INCREDIBLE non-profit that CAVATA fully supports and endorses. Keep up the great work!

www.singforhope.org

-Lori

To celebrate the release of our first collaboration, 20% of every purchase to support music and art programs in public schools.

*FREE* domestic shipping for this item!

*FREE* vintage-inspired, hand-numbered limited print! (first 30 orders)

-Lori

GET HIM TO THE GREEK: 

Let me preface this by saying I took my younger cousin to go see this movie not taking into consideration how inappropriate most of the subject matter would be.  My bad…but back to my review!  We all know the basic formula behind a Judd Apatow comedy pretty well and there are very few departures from it in GHTTG.  Although I wouldn’t jump to conclusions and say this overly-used formula made for a terrible movie, because it definitely did not, the only real suprise we see is a shockingly funny performance by P.Diddy.  Really?  Yeah. 

GHTTG is a spin-off of the 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall which is an absolute gut-buster in my book so I can see how it must have been somewhat difficult to live up to its predecessor.  Russell Brand, with whom I have a love/hate relationship with, reprises his scene-stealing, vain rocker character, Aldous Snow, who is now a crashed and burned-out version of the pretentiously sober yoga-addict we saw in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.  Although this would potentially open up a window of opportunity to further develop Brand’s character, it feels like he is repeating most of the schtick we already saw in FSM and its not until the very end of the movie when we see Aldous evolve.  I suppose because Aldous is, in fact, a one-dimensional person its almost expected he is portrayed the way he is until his relationship with music industry intern, Aaron, (Jonah Hill) develops. 

Although GHTTG is a bit on the predictable side, it does have plenty of raunchy bodily function humor, overtly sexual dialogue and hilarious one-liners that, in my opinion, make for the most memorable comedies.  I wouldn’t say Get Him To The Greek is on the same playing field as Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall or even 40 Year Old Virgin but its definitely worth seeing and will probably be one of the best comedies to come out this summer.  Don’t expect to be crying with laughter but you’ll definitely enjoy this spin-off if you dug Aldous Snow in FSM.  If not, go see Toy Story 3.  The toys are aliiiive! 

GET HIM TO THE GREEK: 3/5 stars

-Lori

-Lori