Music Nation is a Music Video Competition for Independent Artists

I would like to introduce a new genre of music that I'm calling "Ambient Metal". Elliott Randall (guitarist for Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers; studio guitarist extraordinaire, solo artist) wrote that Ambient-Metal is "absolutely beautiful"; a compliment that was unsolicited albeit greatly appreciated considering that his playing is one of my early influences as I developed as a guitarist. "Ambient Metal" sounds like the love child of Randy Rhoads and Enya grown up and traveling the world, soaking up the influences of different musical genres and cultures and in a perpetual state of flux: Melodic at hyperspeeds and slow bluesy bends, intense and yet tranquil, relaxing one minute and raging the next. It moves at the speed of emotion; it is a deliberate oxymoron, it is fire and water, and a combination of heaven and hell that touches all of those that inhabit that halfway point between the two, it is the tonal expression of being human when words are not enough . . . the essence of my humanity. I play lead guitar in several groups; on three of the songs that I've posted (Journey to Palestine, Chasing the Santa Anna Winds/Firestorm & Casa Grande) I wrote, produced and played guitar, bass & keyboards. I can play just about any style of music and because I have a very good ear I sit in with other artists or bands (without rehearsal) to play guitar leads and to fill in the "holes" between the vocal lines. The other two songs posted (Tears Are Falling & Shaky Ground) are both with one of my bands: Lightstreet. Lightstreet plays both covers and originals and melds genres of music in different and sometimes unusual ways. I play music fromt the heart and I love to listen to other musicians who put emotion into their music. If you watch someone playing live you can usually tell by their facial expressions where their music is coming from: Does it look like they're just passing the time or is every note an outlet of emotion? I've made a lot of friends on this site and I wish all of you, old and new, the best of luck. Although most of us will never see that million dollar royalty check, our music will be heard.