RelaxPansion Concert: Summer Solstice Gala Evening

We gather together to get there ... A RelaxPansion Concert w/Donna De Lory, Mikey Pauker, Shylah Ray Sunshine, James Marienthal ... under the stars on the longest day of the year ... with a Festival Vibe ... at Jackson Well Springs outdoors on the back meadow stage! 

about the Artists on this Super Awesome Bill:

*** Donna De Lory is a singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist whose radiant voice and expansive musical vision encompass pop, world music, electronica and devotional mantras. In the pop realm, she’s perhaps best known for her work with Madonna as a backup singer and dancer, seen in the documentary film Truth or Dare and on Madonna’s Who’s That Girl, Blonde Ambition, Girlie Show, Drowned World, Reinvention and Confession tours. But De Lory’s own music has topped the Billboard Dance Chart several times, and her voice has been heard on landmark albums by artists such as Bette Midler, Leonard Cohen, Belinda Carlisle, Carly Simon and Selena. She's also sung on soundtracks for feature films like A League of Their Own, Smallfoot and The Switch.
    At the same time, De Lory is one of the world’s foremost singers of devotional mantras & songs of spiritual inspiration. Throughout the 2000s, she released a string of evocative, eclectic, beautifully-produced albums that have captured the hearts of listeners in mindfulness, wellness meditation, yoga communities and beyond. Her music is heard by over 100,000 Spotify listeners a month and has garnered more than 10 million streams across several digital platforms.
    Born to a life of music, DeLory is the daughter of the late, Grammy-winning pianist and “Wichita Lineman” producer, Al De Lory—a valued member of Phil Spector’s legendary Wrecking Crew session ensemble. Her grandfather played in the studio orchestra at Warner Bros. for films including Casablanca and Gone With The Wind. The singer has paid homage to her late father and mother on albums such as The Unchanging and Here in Heaven, drawing inspiration from her dad’s Latin jazz roots and a dazzling palette of global grooves and electronic atmospheres.
    De Lory made her debut as a session singer at the age of eight. During her teen years, she spent time honing her craft on Nashville’s Music Row before returning to her native L.A. to become a first-call session singer. De Lory’s vocal performance on a song demo for what would become Madonna’s 1986 hit “Open Your Heart,” caught the ear of the pop icon, who promptly engaged Donna as a singer and dancer for numerous historic world tours as well as albums such as Like a Prayer, Erotica, Ray of Light, Bedtime Stories and Evita.
    In 1993, De Lory made her debut as a solo artist with a self-titled album on MCA/Universal Records, hitting #1 in Japan with the single, “Praying for Love,” and landing in the US top 10 dance chart with “Just a Dream.”
But the singer’s adventurous spirit was pulling her in other directions—deep into world music & spiritual life. She struck out on her own as an independent artist with 2000’s Bliss, co-produced by Game of Thrones cellist Cameron Stone. The album’s single, “On and On,’ remixed by Junior Vasquez, became a Billboard Top 10 Dance hit in 2000. And in 2003, De Lory collaborated with electronic music producer Mac Quayle on the 9/11 tribute track “The Hurting.”
    Other aspects of Bliss pointed toward the more spiritual direction De Lory would take on now-classic records like The Lover and the Beloved, Sky is Open and Sanctuary, which became the soundtrack for the burgeoning yoga/mindfulness movement. By turns ethereal, danceable and heartfelt, her impeccably-produced recordings are complemented by transcendently beautiful music videos for tracks like “Piano Man,” “Listen” and “Heaven-Atom Smith Remix,” which have over one million views on YouTube.
Prolific, innovative and always inspiring, Donna De Lory’s most recent single is “Diamond in the Sun,” the lead track for a forthcoming new EP that will be followed by a new album of music for yoga and meditation. In a time of global crisis, chaos and uncertainty, her music carries a heartfelt message of unity, strength and hope.
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*** Mikey Pauker (pronounced pow-ker) is a folk/world artist from San Rafael, California. His new album, ASCENSION, is an invitation to listen to the call of our inner wilderness and to greet our darkness with understanding and an open heart. It was recorded in raw, live instrumental sessions — a departure from Mikey’s more electronic past recordings — under the guidance of Grammy-nominated producer Warren Huart (The Fray, Trevor Hall, Matisyahu). With songs like “Say Yes” and “I AM”, listeners are elevated with catchy melodic hooks and reggae/rock beats. The “RISE Vulnerable Rally” music video swept the world touching the hearts of over 1 million viewers this past year.
    Growing up in Orange County, Mikey’s early experiences at underground shows exposed him to the intense, primal energy of live music, as well as the strong community bonds that form in an authentic and close-knit scene. Inspired by teachers who blend yoga and mystical practices he went to study in Jerusalem, soaking up the hidden teachings of his ancestral lineage. These spiritual dimensions guided his artistic development as he explored ecstatic music festivals and mystical religious traditions. His music implores us all to look within, sit with our darkness, and transform it into light. Mikey’s sound blends elements of folk, reggae, and hip-hop, incorporating English and Hebrew roots into his devotional songwriting. Mikey’s music draws from influences such as early Bob Marley, Van Morrison, and The Police, and listeners will immediately identify his style to the likes of Michael Franti, Trevor Hall and artists such as Mike Love and Stick Figure.
    This past year Mikey has supported Rebelution, Stephen Marley, Matisyahu, Dovavon Frankenreiter, The Polish Ambassador, Mike Love, and Stop Light Observations. Notable performance highlights include Red Rocks, Suwanne Hullaween, Electric Forest, Beloved, Bhakti Fest, Enchanted Forest, and Chant 4 Change on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. ========

*** Shylah Ray Sunshine is an award-nominated influential vocalist, musician, mother and Soul Voice Singing coach. An Algonquin native of Canada, a move to California transpired creativity after years of singing karaoke, open mics, world travel and the birth of her first daughter at home. She began writing & sharing her music in the Los Angeles area, which led her to rapid success by composing a range of music that would be featured in film, documentaries and social media platforms to be recognized.
Blending unique styles of Neo Soul, R&B, Reggae, Blues and Hip-hop, Shylah has inspired audiences with her gospel-like voice and ultra-moving lyrics. Her hit single “Existence” has achieved placement in dozens of advertisements and was nominated for a Hollywood Music in Media award (Best Song with Message/Social Impact). Shylah is self-taught vocally, on piano, percussion and a student of traditional African drumming, with a keen sense of rhyrthm and is known as a wildly authentic performer and entertainer. The demand for her musical presence and impressive repertoire grows as she keeps reaching new levels of creative stardom, with a new album on the way feat. LA top producers & collaborations. She also starred in the classical Broadway musical theatre production RENT & has a partnering relationship w/UK Record Label & Agency 101bpm (https://www.101bpm.com) for ad placement, Radio, TV & commercials.
    After years of demand, Shylah has been offering her Soul Voice Singing sessions, a voice empowerment program, which offers Singing lessons and Songwriting Sessions to those of all ages and levels of experience. She offers her services in person and online, having relationships with clients all over the globe. Her musical projects have fueled many singles, collaborations, live performances and the recent release of her first full length album “Into the Wild”, Shylah Ray inspires and uplifts her audience, fans and followers by using her passion, power and never-ending pleasure of singing and performing. With a new album underway, expect a more in-depth look into the world of an evolving woman, mother and musician whose creative journey will only keep you wanting more and getting what you asked for. Stay tuned… ========

*** James Marienthal founded Silver Wave Records in 1986 with the mission of presenting quality innovative music to the world while being a positive force in people’s lives. Silver Wave helped lead the way in bringing New Age and Contemporary Native American music to a worldwide audience. His Grammy award winning catalog includes artists such as Peter Kater & R. Carlos Nakai, Mary Youngblood, Joanne Shenandoah, Robert Mirabal, and many more.
re: James' flute playing: "About 25 years ago, I was hiking in a canyon in Arizona carrying one of my first Native American style flutes. I was alone, or so I thought, & spent the afternoon playing the flute with inspiration from the stunning views of the canyon as well as its reverberant echoes. At the end of the day, as I was walking back to the trailhead, someone saw me with my flute and said: “You made a lot of people happy today”. That was deeply heartwarming and inspiring and launched me into a lifelong journey of playing music in nature and gradually finding a wider audience. ** MYSTERIES OF THE NIGHT
James' first full length recording project was inspired by an opportunity to play music inside one of the most unique sound chambers in the world. He first visited THE TANK in 2013, before it was open to the public and had what was a rare privilege at the time to spend two hours alone making sounds, chanting, playing flute, with uninterrupted time to explore the amazing reverberation present in this massive dark steel container. He learned to listen deeply to its swirling sounds and natural overtones, to feel its vibration in his whole body, and to slowly and patiently have a musical conversation that few people had ever experienced. Years later, when modern recording equipment was installed there, my first album was born

At Last! Advance tickets $30 in person at The Music Coop in downtown Ashland or online via BrightStar Events: info via Lloyd Barde Productions: 541.488.8282