Ambient Music

    Different Skies is an electronic space music festival, a workshop for artists in these and related experimental music genres, a working vacation, an intensive and rewarding creative environment, and many more things. I began Different Skies in 2003 with the assistance of Tucson musician and radio show host Doug Wellington, as an opportunity that rarely presents itself in the rarefied world of space music: a chance for members of our community to get together for an extended period of time in a controlled and isolated environment, to network and learn from one another, form new professional alliances and new friendships, and to create and perform an evening of entirely original new music for an enthusiastic audience.

   Electronic music, which features the synthesizer and computer as prominently as it does traditional amplified and acoustic instruments, is traditionally viewed as a lonely art form, created by musicians working alone in small studios. Opportunities to build community among these musicians are rare, and I have experimented with them for many years. Team Metlay, with its biennial gatherings of musicians from 1990 to 1998 and eventual trilogy of CD releases, was a good first step...but only a first step. The second step was to find a place which was inspiring and welcoming to visiting musicians, where rehearsals could be both relaxed and energetic, with a fixed goal in mind while allowing for flexibility of scheduling on a day to day basis. Arcosanti, with its wonderful admixture of futuristic architecture and art-colony sensibility, seemed a perfect choice.

   Artists and Arcosanti residents alike approached last year's Different Skies with some trepidation; it was, after all, an untried idea that required the cooperation of over a dozen artists who'd never met before, working with a community that had never met them or heard much of their music. Fortunately, we'd made good choices with respect to the invited artists and their musical styles, and the Arcosanti community proved welcoming and supportive, leading to an exceptional experience for all concerned. It was a measure of our success that all but two of last year's artists have returned for this year's show. We're back again for an encore, with artists old and new, a new palette of ideas, and a lot of energy and drive to create beauty for you. We plan to have a lot of fun tonight, and we hope you do too. We'll see you in the Amphitheater!

Mike Metlay, Founder and Coordinator, Different Skies

My Husband and I are great fans of many kinds of music. I cannot say I have one particular style I favor. For me it's the particular song I like not the style. Celtic and Native American sounds are what I lean towards. I have many favorites and when I met and married my husband he introduced me to even more ambient artists that I have enjoyed listening to immensely. Rus is himself a musician and creates wonderful ambient music under the moniker "Una Voce". He is a talented drummer and guitar player as well as creating beautiful soundscaping with synthesizer's. His CDs are available and you can inquire about them by sending an e-mail to: paintswithsound@hotmail.com or visiting his web site at www.una-voce.net His latest is a collaberation with Indian Astrologer Chandra Jade Shankar who provided chanting on the cd is called "Hearts of Darkness". Jade devotes his chanting to the Indian Goddess Kali. It's gotten rave reviews and can be purchased through Rus's web site by contacting him by email.
During the week of October 4th - 10th in 2004 Rus spent a week (by invitation) with all the other participants of the ambient electronic music workshop and performance called Different Skies held at Arcosanti in Arizona. This was The 2nd year for Different Skies and Rus was proud to have been invited to perform with this extremely diverse and talented musicians. I will include below a better description of what Different Skies is all about by Mike Metlay. There is also a list of the 2004 performers and a little bit about them. The 2005 event was just as exciting and we look forward to this Septembers 2006 performance on the 16th at 7:30 PM and invite anyone who wishes to see the performance this year to come. It would be great to arrive before the sun goes down and take a tour of the unique and intriguing community of Arcosante. As time goes by I am sure there will be more photos added to the Different Skies website so check back often. I was truly impressed with music and talent and couldn't have been prouder of my husband as he played with them on-stage. I have the privilege of listening to his creations from start to finish at home from his music studio and it's a wonderful backdrop for my own digital art creation. He really belonged on-stage with this diverse group and I am so glad he had the opportunity to participate last year and be invited back each year. This year he is also designing the poster for the event.
These were taken by Giles Reaves. 2004 (Right: Pic one: "All Together") (Below right: "Overview" ) Note: Rus's gear includes all items on the left side of the "Overview" photo and it all fits inside a Pontiac Grand Prix! (Below:"Rus" on guitar)
	More photos can be seen on his site at: http://www.touchxtone.com
Below are the ones I was able to get at the actual show. There were some wild visuals on a big screen behind everyone and the auto focus on the digital camera didn't know how to handle it. Most of my shots were a bit to blurry to use so I'll include links later from others who got better pictures then I did. (Below left: Rus on guitar) (below right: Playing his homemade didgeridoo)
	(Above: Rus surrounded by his gear playing his homemade didgeridoo) (Left: Rus on guitar as part of a group ensemble with all 18 performers jamming together!
Sunday post (2004 event) when Rus got back he told me that 3 of the participants (Pictured left to right: Giles Reaves, Greg Waltzer, Rus Foster, James Lacey ) were going to be heading home flying out from Phoenix airport and we had been invited to join them there for a quick dinner and last chance to chat. I was able to meet them and compliment their work and look forward to listening to to their CDs that all performers shared with each other. After the 2005 show I got to stay the night with Rus at Arcosante and have breakfast with everyone before they headed home before catching a ride home with some participants heading for the Airport. Rus brings alot of stuff and his poor Grand Prix was stuffed to the gills. I am sure the Different Skies show will continue to grow and evolve and draw a larger and larger audience as they discover the beauty and quality of this music genre that encompasses such a wide spectrum. With a backdrop as stunning as the architecture that is Arcosanti this annual workshop and performances can only get better. I can't wait for the 2006 even this September!
About Different Skies Different Skies is an electronic space music festival, a workshop for artists in these and related experimental music genres, a working vacation, an intensive and rewarding creative environment, and many more things. I began Different Skies in 2003 with the assistance of Tucson musician and radio show host Doug Wellington, as an opportunity that rarely presents itself in the rarefied world of space music: a chance for members of our community to get together for an extended period of time in a controlled and isolated environment, to network and learn from one another, form new professional alliances and new friendships, and to create and perform an evening of entirely original new music for an enthusiastic audience. Electronic music, which features the synthesizer and computer as prominently as it does traditional amplified and acoustic instruments, is traditionally viewed as a lonely art form, created by musicians working alone in small studios. Opportunities to build community among these musicians are rare, and I have experimented with them for many years. Team Metlay, with its biennial gatherings of musicians from 1990 to 1998 and eventual trilogy of CD releases, was a good first step...but only a first step. The second step was to find a place which was inspiring and welcoming to visiting musicians, where rehearsals could be both relaxed and energetic, with a fixed goal in mind while allowing for flexibility of scheduling on a day to day basis. Arcosanti, with its wonderful admixture of futuristic architecture and art-colony sensibility, seemed a perfect choice. Artists and Arcosanti residents alike approached last year's Different Skies with some trepidation; it was, after all, an untried idea that required the cooperation of over a dozen artists who'd never met before, working with a community that had never met them or heard much of their music. Fortunately, we'd made good choices with respect to the invited artists and their musical styles, and the Arcosanti community proved welcoming and supportive, leading to an exceptional experience for all concerned. It was a measure of our success that all but two of last year's artists have returned for this year's show. We're back again for an encore, with artists old and new, a new palette of ideas, and a lot of energy and drive to create beauty for you. We plan to have a lot of fun tonight, and we hope you do too. We'll see you in the Amphitheater! Mike Metlay, Founder and Coordinator, Different Skies