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Monday 21 December 2020

The One World Music Radio Top 30 Tracks of 2020 Written by Steve Sheppard

 

 

2020 has probably been one of the hardest years for us collectively to endure, thank goodness for music the panacea to cure most ills, most musicians have been ultra-creative this year during the many and ongoing lockdowns due to the global pandemic, ones likely to stretch well into 2021 too, but this has given a plethora of opportunities for artists, even me, to create new music, whilst we sit at home and stare at the freedom of clouds, and the rise of nature.

I have had time therefore, to create a top 30 of tracks officially for One World Music Radio, ones that have been heard on the station during the year and now are to be recognised as the media outlets top 30 listing, so let’s get this underway.

#30: Jim Ottaway with “Diamonds in the Rain” from the album “When Eternity Touches Time”

#29: Lissa Kathe with “By Nature” from the album “Harp Dreaming”

#28: Lynn Tredeau & Joseph L Young with their single “Broken Dreams”

#27: Michael Whalen with “A Metaphysical Morning” from the album “Sacred Spaces”

#26: Michelle Qureshi with “Shores of Atlantis” from the album “Within”

#25: Andrew Colyer with “Strings in the Ocean” from the album “Mists of Time”

#24: Rodrigo Rodriguez with his single “The Enlightened Face Of Buddha”

#23: Jon Durant with “Tributaries” from the album “Soul Of A River”

#22: Joey Curtin with the single “From the Beginning”

#21: Anaya with “Cathedral” from the album “Secrets”

#20: Bernward Koch with “Lavender Fields” from the album “Becoming”

#19: Jaimie Black with “Violet Flame” from the album “Season Of the Witch”

#18: Holland Phillips with “Our Sweeter Days” from his album “A Momentary Pause”

#17: Hiroki Okano with “Mother River” from the album “Peace On Earth”

#16: Dulce Joya with “Yes it’s You” from the album “Devotion”

#15: Andy Rogers with “Skylark Above The Dunes” from the album “When the Land Meets the Sea”

#14: Prem Vidu with “Holy Devine Mother” from the album “Encounter: Medicine Songs from Ma”

#13: Pam Asberry with her single “Floating”

#12: Kirsten Agresta Copely with “Winterbone” from the album “Around The Sun”

#11: KeithTim Anderson with his single “Evermore”

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#10: Joseph Sullinger with “Drawn by The Wind”, released as a single from one of the most accomplished acoustic guitarists in the business, technically brilliant, creatively colourful.

#9: Samer Fanek with “Just Like The Wind” released firstly as a single, Fanek has time on his side to become one of the greats on piano, his flair, passion and musical interpretations will open many doors wide for him in 2021.

#8: Tayu with “Shores Of Atlantis” from the album “Incantation”, featuring the talents of guitarist Mark Barnwell, our surprise album this year on OWMR, but what a stunner, for one I hope to see more of Tayu in 2021.

#7: Vin Downes with “Oak Lane” from the album “Good Light To Go By”. Downes is an artist who you know always releases a quality album when the time comes, there is never a weak track and here is a performer that has all the abilities to reach the peak of the acoustic guitar world in 2021 with his emotive and memorable compositions.

#6: Wayne Bethanis with “The Return Of The Cherokee” released as single and utilising the talents on flute of the brilliant Marcus Sjöwall. Bethanis followed up his mega hit “Tribes Of The City” with another classy moment of genius, I see even bigger things for Bethanis in 2021.

#5: Chasm with “The Silence Between The Words” from the album “Wood, Wind and Skin”. This was one of those songs from an album that became so addictive in 2020, it is one of those magical songs that just has something about it, the construct of the minor and major elements with a wistful sense of refection made this song for me truly special.

#4: The Song Gardeners with “Love Flows”, one of many splendid singles from the new age band, but one that seemed to resonate the most with the station. It was a timely release, when we all needed to see the love flow as well, but the creative genius of this band leaves me to think that 2021 could potentially be huge for them.

#3: Roger Eno & Brian Eno with “Obsidian” from the album “Mixing Colours”. Here we have true mastery from the duo, that shouldn’t really be a surprise of course, but this track with its mysterious and unreal organ sounds created for me one of the most ambient pieces of music I have heard for decades, filled with soft reflective textures and great colour and mood.

#2: Kevin Kendle with “Laniakea” from the album “Deep Skies 6: Laniakea”. It was a long time in the waiting room for this one, but boy was it worth it as Kendle brings us his best Deep Skies album since “Deep Skies 2: Lagoon Of Eternity”, the title track here was filled with a deepness of power and grace, a rich mood filled melody would gift us one of the best space styled tracks of the year, and see the UK artist at the top of his game.

#1: Cadence Spalding with “Trust In Love”, a single earlier on in the year, but one of those pieces of music you could see being played at the end of a concert with people raising their lighters or is it mobile phones now, above their heads in salute of this absolute anthem. Spalding is lyrically perfect, compositionally sublime, likened to Enya yes, but in my view warmer, and my prediction to be the break our star of 2021.

So there you go folks, be ready from the new awards season which starts in January 2021, as we will see for the first time all of One World Music Radio’s awards given on the same night, in a huge evening of award giving, in the meantime, light is just around the corner, keep the faith and trust in love. 


Monday 14 December 2020

A Winter's Journey Home By Emma Thacker

 A Winter's Journey Home

By Emma Thacker


Stepping out into a darkened afternoon

As seasons turn darkness comes too soon.

Street lamps sparkle upon the frosted road

Weighed down by its icy load.

 

As the wind bites bitterly upon my ear

I contemplate the death of this year,

While I listen to the winds mournful sound

And tread with care on this frosted ground.

 

Then in awe I see such sights

The glow and warmth of Christmas lights.

They push me onwards and make me smile

For I shall be home soon, in a while.

 

And I glance up at the smiling moon

And know that I shall be home soon.

And as I hide further into my scarf

And tread with care on this frosted path.


Though cold outside I glow within

As one year departs another soon begins.

I think of my love waiting in at home

I will never again feel alone.

 

As the street lamps reflect, they dance away

On this darkened cold, crisp winters day

And the wind plays its music through bare branches

I watch as orange lamplight dances.

 

I feel a change upon the air

Stop and listen, stand and stare.

I think of all I'll do next year

And in happiness I shed a tear.

 

But first I must make this journey home

All by myself but not alone.

I gaze up towards the smiling moon

And know that I shall be home soon

Yes, I know I'll be home soon.

A Winter's Journey Home

 

Stepping out into a darkened afternoon

As seasons turn darkness comes too soon.

Street lamps sparkle upon the frosted road

Weighed down by its icy load.

 

As the wind bites bitterly upon my ear

I contemplate the death of this year,

While I listen to the winds mournful sound

And tread with care on this frosted ground.

 

Then in awe I see such sights

The glow and warmth of Christmas lights.

They push me onwards and make me smile

For I shall be home soon, in a while.

 

And I glance up at the smiling moon

And know that I shall be home soon.

And as I hide further into my scarf

And tread with care on this frosted path,

 

Though cold outside I glow within

As one year departs another soon begins.

I think of my love waiting in at home

I will never again feel alone.

 

As the street lamps reflect, they dance away

On this darkened cold, crisp winters day

And the wind plays its music through bare branches

I watch as orange lamplight dances.

 

I feel a change upon the air

Stop and listen, stand and stare.

I think of all I'll do next year

And in happiness I shed a tear.

 

But first I must make this journey home

All by myself but not alone.

I gaze up towards the smiling moon

And know that I shall be home soon

Yes, I know I'll be home soon.


If you would like to watch the video of the poem created to music by Kevin Kendle, then please follow this link: https://youtu.be/Hr4tey-JUTk

 

Follow Emma on Facebook too, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/MagicPumpkinPoetry


Sunday 13 December 2020

Channelling by Lia Scallon

 


Channelling is the term used for the process of bringing through information or energy from other realms and a Channel is the term used for the person who delivers those messages.

There are different types of channelling and different ways in which an individual can be used as a channel. Some channelling for example comes through automatic writing or the creation of music; others may tone or speak the information presented in the moment.

There are also different levels on which the channelling takes place. A full trance channel is someone who loses consciousness of present time and may become the sacred vessel, as it were, for the other-dimensional energy to come through. These people usually have no recall of what took place, the information being recorded by others present.

Edward Cayce, the famous ‘Sleeping Prophet’, was such a trance channel. Cayce is considered a modern day seer – a visionary who brought through information on ancient civilisations such as Egypt and Atlantis as well prophecies for the future, many of which have come true. He was also a powerful instrument of healing for hundreds of people all around the globe. When in the state of trance, he appeared to literally visit the patient in their location. He would give specific information about their condition with suggestions for the course of treatment, which were often at odds with current medical opinion or their existing treatment. Time and again his diagnosis was proven correct and people were miraculously healed.

A ‘conscious channel’ is someone who remains more present in the three dimensional reality while they are channelling. They seem to exist, for that moment, in two realms – the open vehicle for the energy coming through whilst still aware of their current surroundings.

Lia is a conscious channel. As the beautiful melodies and Light Language of the Sounds of Sirius flow through her, she is still largely conscious and present.

“It is hard to explain in words”, says Lia. “Part of me seems to be separate from my physical body and in a different dimensional reality, and yet I am aware of my surroundings enough to be able to move around albeit mostly with eyes closed. The purity and gentleness of the energy pouring through me for the person or group present, is often so powerful that tears flow down my face throughout. It feels like an infinite river of pure love flowing through me, towards the receiver.

Very often it is the presence of the Divine Mother that I feel coming through me. I see her holding the person in her arms with complete unconditional compassion and understanding. She comes to nurture them, to soothe them, and to awaken remembrance within them of the beautiful Being they truly are. I feel it an enormous privilege to be the vehicle for such pure Love, which seems to touch people to their very soul”.


Much valuable information has come from other realms in the form of automatic writing. Messages and books can seem to write themselves, as the information flows through the channel’s pen. A particular Spirit Being or group of Beings will often be the voice within the material, bringing a strong message of love and support for humanity and advice on how to raise one’s consciousness.

Paramount for those who have a facility for channelling, is the need to be aware of the nature of the energy that is coming through. There is always choice and at all times one should ask if the energy is ‘of the Light’. If it is not it must be commanded to leave, and it is a law of Spirit that it must do so. Care and integrity must be observed, as even the most experienced of channels may be a target of obstructive energies.

We are living in an exciting time in the history of this planet. We have entered a New Age, and humanity as a whole is shifting in consciousness. There are many Teachers and Ascended Beings in higher dimensional realms who wish to offer assistance with this process. They come with the reassurance that we are not alone in this Universe. Incarnating onto the Earth plane has meant until now, a state of unconsciousness or forgetfulness of where we came from – a state of separateness from all other things – a state of limitation.

Many channelled messages tell us that a new dawn is upon us, and that the ‘illusion’ of separation is now coming to an end. We are moving towards the realisation that we are indeed part of the All That Is.

  • It is most important to always use your own personal discernment when dealing with channelled material. It should resonate deep within you, as a truth of your soul.

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Lia Scallon For almost 20 years, the unique, otherworldly vocals of award-winning Composer/Singer Lia Scallon, have been transporting listeners to that sanctuary within the heart, where they can connect with their own wisdom and ability to heal. Lia’s music defies easy definition. The power of her sacred songs and accompanying ‘Language of Light’, belongs to the realm of Spirit. Many say the music reaches deep into their soul, triggering remembrance of their life’s purpose. Inspirational and transformative, yet profoundly soothing to body, mind and spirit, it could be said that the ‘Sounds of Sirius’ are calling you ‘home’. Lia’s three most recent albums – Crystal KeysThe Luminous Pearl, and Song of the Sidhehave all received worldwide recognition, and been honoured with multiple awards.