“Music has taken me on a spiritual journey... Music is the healer because it brings joy, excitement, love, compassion, and wisdom to our world.”
- Jackie Bristow, singer-songwriter

JOHN BIRD is an author, editor, researcher, and writer from Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada. His book "The Spirituality of Music" (2008) is available from Wood Lake Books, local bookstores, and Amazon.com. John Bird is an award-winning journalist with over twenty-five years experience as a writer with The United Church Observer and The Catholic Register, and as editor of Anglican Magazine, Catalyst (Citizens for Public Justice), and the book "Nation To Nation: Aboriginal Sovereignty and the Future of Canada" (2002) available from Irwing Publications. John is also founding member of the Ontario band SwingBridge. He now lives in Iqaluit, Nunavut, where he plays with The Road to Nowhere Band, sings in the Iqaluit Community Choir, and is always happy to jam with whoever will have him. Website: www.woodlakebooks.com
Interview: April 5th 2010 Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
Photo: John Bird

“Music is about heart. The pulse of our own hearts and rhythm of the life that beats in the heart of every living thing.” - John Bird, author of "The Spirituality of Music"

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J S KINGFISHER is an author, composer, and instrumentalist living in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. He is the creator of "Muzoracle: The Tarot of Music", "The Musician's Dice", and "Muzundrum: The Game of Musicians". J S Kingfisher is also the founder of the Philomuse, which publishes his own works as well as those of other artists, including pianist John Steiner. Jeff is currently at work on numerous recording and performance projects, and an upcoming book on cosmology and music theory. Website: www.jskingfisher.net
Interview: April 9th 2010 Sierra Nevada, California, United States
Photo: J S Kingfisher / JSKingfisher.net

“[Music] is not a metaphor: it is a direct expression of our vibrating universe.” - J S Kingfisher, creator of "Muzoracle: The Tarot of Music"

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APOLOGETIX is a Christian parody band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their albums "Isn't Wasn't Ain't" (1993), "Radical History Tour" (1994), "Ticked" (1997), "Jesus Christ MorningStar" (1998), "Biblical Graffiti" (1999), "Spoofernatural" (2000), "Keep The Change" (2001), "Grace Period" (2002), "Adam Up" (2003), "New & Used Hits" (2004), "Apol-AcoustiX" (2005), "Hits: The Road" (2005), "Wordplay" (2006), "Chosen Ones" (2007), "Future Tense" (2008), "Recovery" (2009), and "The Boys Aren't Backin' Down" (2009) are all independently released and available from ApologetiX. J. Jackson is the lead vocalist, parody writer, and one of the founding members of ApologetiX. Website: www.apologetix.com
Interview (J. Jackson): November 18th 2009 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Photo: ApologetiX / ApologetiX.com

“I believe music was originally created for man to worship God, but I believe God has also given it to humans to convey and create various emotions and moods.” - J. Jackson, vocalist in ApologetiX

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AUGUST BURNS RED are a Christian metalcore band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. "Looks Fragile After All [EP & DVD]" (2004) was available from CI Records, "Thrill Seeker" (2005), "Messengers" (2007), "Lost Messengers: The Outtakes [EP]" (2009), and "Constellations" (2009) are all available from Solid State Records. August Burns Red's main influences include Between The Buried and Me, Misery Signals, and Hopesfall. They have also toured with All That Remains, Enter Shikari, Iwrestledabearonce, and Blessthefall. MySpace: www.myspace.com/augustburnsred and Website: www.augustburnsred.com
Interview arranged by Tim Brennan, Director of Label Operations, Ferret Music
Interview (Matt Greiner): September 25th 2009 Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
Photo: Parker Young / AugustBurnsRed.com

“I'm convinced that God has intentions of music being prayer without words.” - Matt Greiner, drummer in August Burns Red

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BLACKLODGE are an industrial black metal band from Grenoble, France. "Login : Satan [1st Level Initiation = Chamber Of Darkness]" (2003) is available from Blazing Productions, "SolarKult [2nd Level Initiation = Chamber Of Illumination]" (2006), and "T/ME [3rd Level Initiation = Chamber Of Downfall]" (2010) are available both from End All Life Productions. Blacklodge's key lyrical themes often refer to drugs, mysticism, and Satanism. Saint Vincent, guitarist and vocalist in Blacklodge, has also been involved in black metal bands Vorkreist, The Arrival of Satan, and Merrimack. MySpaces: www.myspace.com/loginsatan, www.myspace.com/darknessdealer, Websites: www.loginsatan.org and www.darknessdealer.com
Interview (Saint Vincent): August 14th 2009 Grenoble, France
Photo: Saint Vincent / LoginSatan.org

“Music is magic. Through the manipulation of the rules of sacred geometry, music builds a chronology (rhythm) of frequencies (melodies) ...” - Saint Vincent, guitarist and vocalist in Blacklodge

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JACKIE BRISTOW is a singer-songwriter from Gore, New Zealand. "Thirsty" (2002) is available from Liberation Music, "Crazy Love" (2007) is available from Craving Records, and "Freedom" (2010) is available from Ode Records. Jackie's music is soulful acoustic pop with beautiful melodies and lyrical hooks. Her live performances have supported the likes of Madeleine Peyroux, Phoebe Snow, Jimmy Webb, Art Garfunkel, Daniel Lanois and many more. She now divides her time between Sydney, Australia and her home in Austin, Texas where she performs regularly at the One World Theatre. Jackie Bristow has also performed pre-concert shows for Rodney Crowell, Richie Havens, Ricky Skaggs, and Jerry Jeff Walker. MySpace: www.myspace.com/jackiebristow and Website: www.jackiebristow.com
Interview: May 12th 2010 Auckland, New Zealand
Photo: Jackie Bristow / JackieBristow.com

“Music has taken me on a spiritual journey... Music is the healer because it brings joy, excitement, love, compassion, and wisdom to our world.” - Jackie Bristow, singer-songwriter

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ANDREW FORREST is a composer and musician living in Nelson, New Zealand. His albums "Starseed" (1997), "Alpha-Omega" (1998), "Alchemy" (2002), and "Infinite Octaves" (2009) are all available from Alchemy Arts and Andrew Forrest Music. Andrew creates cinematic ambient soundscapes of deep space and manifests this into sound through his music. He is continuing to compose and record more music, with a new release expected towards the end of 2010. Website: www.andrewforrest.co.nz
Interview: April 13th 2010 Nelson, New Zealand
Photo: Andrew Forrest / AndrewForrest.co.nz

“Throughout history, sound and music have been a window into other worlds; a universal medium to journey inwardly to other more refined dimensions.” - Andrew Forrest, composer and musician

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KARIE HILLERY is a singer-songwriter from Boulder Creek, California. Her albums "Let Down Your Walls" (1986), "Mixed-Up" (1992), "Transitions" (1995), "Bridge The Distance" (1999), "To Your Heart" (2002), "Light The Way" (2007), "Peace Instead" (2007), and "Solstice Peace" (2008) are all available from One World Records. Karie's original "pozmic" is positive music where smooth-jazz meets spiritual pop-rock. Her songs bring a smile to the face, a tear to the eye, and soulful touch to the heart. Website: www.karie.com
Interview: December 1st 2009 Boulder Creek, California, United States
Photo: Karie Hillery / Karie.com

“Music 'speaks' a language all its own. It’s a language of and to the heart, a spiritual connection between heart, mind, and 'Spirit'.” - Karie Hillery, singer-songwriter

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KONZAROSS is a one-man project (Bass and Vocals) producing psychedelic and dark melodic music from Egypt. Khaled Sallam founded Konzaross in February 1997, and has developed his own style that he refers to as "state of Mind Music". His albums "The End Is The Beginning Of Pain" (1999), "Konzaross (Self-Titled)" (1999), "When The Dawnlight Break [EP]" (2005), "The Depression Of The Untitled Part" (2007), and DVD photo clip "Vision Of The Buried Sorrow" (2009), and DVD video clip and short documentary movie "The Deep Secret Of The Forgotten Mind" (2010) are all independently released and available from Konzaross. Website: www.konzaross.tk
Interview (Khaled Sallam): April 21st 2010 Egypt
Photo: Khaled Sallam / Konzaross.tk

“Music is the feeding of spiritual feelings from the musician to the listener.” - Khaled Sallam, bassist and vocalist in Konzaross

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DYLAN STOREY is a singer-songwriter from Auckland, New Zealand. The Dylan Storey Band's "Up In The Rough" (2005), and "Bones" (2006) were both independently released, and "Out Of The Soup" (2009) is available from Border Music. Dylan's music is a cross-pollination of psychedelic-blues and country-rock. Dylan has recently played support for The Mountain Goats and his fluctuating live band line-up, called The Maxwell Division, often features the musical talents of Bond Street Bridge and Reb Fountain. Website: www.dylanstoreymusic.com
Interview: May 10th 2010 Auckland, New Zealand
Photo: Dylan Storey / DylanStoreyMusic.com

“Music could facilitate access to a more primal state of being, with rhythmic and melodic patterns inducing certain emotional states.” - Dylan Storey, singer-songwriter

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