Need music for your next movie or YouTube video?

If you are looking for free, legal music for your next video production or YouTube movie, look no further than www.fumbata.com.

As an independent producer, I am always looking for ways to spread the word, and I'd love to hear my music synched your next video. The music on www.fumbata.com is naturally cinematic. There are many different styles, tempos, and moods to choose from. And the best part? It's all completely free. Just download the MP3s and use them. All tracks are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, so as long as you aren't making commercial work, you are completely free to use the music however you want.

The same goes to you commercial producers, excepting the "free" part. But don't feel left out! You are also more than welcome to use these tracks for commercial works: my licensing fees are very reasonable, and clearances are simple and immediate. I'm even available for contract work.

Happy filming!

Food, Inc.

Food, Inc. is a beautifully made, though-provoking movie about the food production industry.

This is no Micheal-Moore schlock-fest. It's a highly polished review of some of the atrocities committed by the people that make our food. And by the "people who make our food", I'm not talking about the hard-working farmers, low-wage workers and illegal immigrants that actually make our food, but the four to six powerful corporations that have those workers, our government, and us securely under their thumbs.

It's definitely an important movie, one that every American should see. And don't worry: it's not all doom-and-gloom. Although it presents us with (yet another) shocking and disheartening issue to worry about, it also shows us the solution.

Simply by choosing organic, natural foods more often, we can send a clear message to the food industry, and eat healthier, yummier food in the process! What's to lose? The only downside I can see is that organic food usually costs more. But consider this: for every 25 cents that you pay extra now, you're probably saving yourself thousands on future healthcare and prescription drugs to combat the damage that you are doing to your body by eating non-organic food!

Reco: Cornelius

Cornelius is a Japanese guitarist/producer that makes beautiful music. He uses clean, minimal sounds and has a glorious way of looking at music. Many of his songs feature delayed bleeps and percussive sounds, with layered vocal harmonies that build up almost mathematically.

His first album is a psychedelic romp that sounds like the Beach Boys experimenting with a sampler, and his albums become progressively more subtle and melodic after that. This video is Cornelius at his best, from his latest album, Sensuous.

Reco: Giovanca

Giovanca Ostiana is a soul singer from Amsterdam. She's enjoyed mild success here in the Netherlands, but this will probably be a nice surprise for you non-Dutchies. Her music is an uplifting, jazzy take on that new-soul-that-sounds-like-old-soul thing.

We saw her perform last year at the Amsterdam Roots festival, and she was every bit as warm and lovely live as she is on the album. Great band, too. Her second single, "Joyride", is the one that's been stuck in my head all day, but I also love her first single, "On My Way". The very nice video is by local Amsterdam photographer Yamandu. I like his style, and I swear I'm gonna hire him first opportunity I get.

ADE NEXT

A few weeks back, I attended the Amsterdam Dance Event NEXT conference. The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) is the world's premier dance music conference, a 4 day conference and performance festival that attracts all the biggest names in the dance scene. ADE NEXT is their platform for new talent, and takes place on the last day of the conference.

I attended a few workshops to learn more about the ins and outs of the music biz, and had 2 one-on-one review sessions with A&R reps. They both gave me good reviews, and confirmed what I already knew: that the most suitable commercial application for my music is synching to film and TV, and not really suitable for mainstream dance floors/DJs.

The best part of the day was ironically the part I was most nervous about: the Demolition Room. At the end of the day, a panel of 5 industry heavyweights (Moderator: Dave Clarke (GB) With: Hidde Pluymert (Melkweg, NL), Stacey Pullen (US), Jonty Skrufff (Skrufff Media & Skrufff.com, DE) and Tommie Sunshine (Brooklyn Fire, US), pictured above) auditioned demo CDs that the attending producers submitted earlier in the day. Their favorite track would win a prize package including studio time and a bad-ass custom bike.

They had pre-selected about 12 demos. As they cued up the first one, Dave Clarke asked if the producer was in the crowd of about 200 people. No one answered, and as he proceeded to critique the track, Clarke sneered, "you'll probably be here if we decide we like it". Now I was really nervous. Lo and behold, my CD was next up! I cautiously identified myself and answered a few questions, and they played the track "Ghost". I thought it sounded like shit over that sound system - too much high end - but to my surprise the entire panel liked it and gave it high reviews!

After going through the rest of the other CDs, 2-3 of which I would have voted for over my own, they announced the 4 finalists, and I was one of them! I'll be honest, I didn't go there expecting or even wanting to win anything, but now that bike was looking awfully nice. They gave each of the finalists another listen, and mine got another round of favorable head nods, but in the end they chose one of the other tracks, all of which were quite deserving.

I left with some new contacts and a good feeling in my heart. I have a better idea of where I fit into the music world, and the whole experience re-confirmed that I'm exactly where I want to be. See you at ADE NEXT year.

Fumbata.com is green!

I just found out that www.Fumbata.com is 100% powered by wind power. How cool.