It's Those Men

Both of Those Men Answer Our Questions

Those Men are a UK based prog art pop group. They are both quit insane, which is why I love them so much. Kindred spirits. You can find them here https://thosemen.co.uk

If you had to name one song from any genre that really speaks to you, which one would it be and why?

Mark
'The Rain Song' by Led Zep as it is musically perfect with poetic moving lyrics

Martin
'I am the Walrus' by The Beatles. Its ability to become almost visual, its groove and a voice that comes from another place.

Are you a Mulder or Scully? Do you believe aliens have visited planet earth and if so what do you think they think about mankind?

Mark
I'd probably be more an Inspector Clouseau.

Martin
Mulder. Logic has its place but is by no means at all the total picture. Science and the 'other stuff' should rent a cottage away somewhere and have a good old chat.

Mark
I think they visited us a few thousand years ago and probably thought we were a bit primitive so they might have given us a few tips.

Martin
I think that we will all be witness to this soon. 'They've found stars in the hole in the sun'. It feels as if everything is moving towards an unblanketing of these 'alien' questions . A bit like when Graham Chapman used to come into the Python sketches and stop them , saying it was getting too silly. It depends how 'logical' They are. They may admire our ability to be illogical. Opposites attract and all that.

What was the happiest day of your life and why?

Mark
26th July 1982. I bought my first bass.

Martin
I think I was about 15. I remember one day feeling everything opening up. As if a painting I knew well suddenly expanded and presented itself with a myriad more nuances. That day fed into all the others after such as daughter birth and partner joy.

If “God” (whatever your idea is on that) were stood before you now, what one question would you ask him/her and why?

Mark
If there is a God I'd ask it if it did create humans then why do we never learn fully from our mistakes?

Martin
When are we returning to purity please God? I'd like to know so I can spend my time up until then living out of it.

As an expressive artist in the music industry, how does the state of the planet make you feel?

Mark
As a non driver and passionate recycler I'm very angry and worried about the state of the planet.

Martin
There is so much to write about resulting from the confusions and delights we all create. The interplays and fluxing of emotions and moods seem to manifest in some of the most peculiar ways. Every day something I or we do never ceases to amaze me. Mother Earth is the playground we act it out in. We need to keep an eye on that .

Do you think as a person of some influence that there is a duty on us to help influence humanity for the better?

Mark
Yes, absolutely and at every opportunity.

Martin
Self reflection is the way forward for me. Get your own house in order. A life long task but one worth starting at any time. When you can see ,feel and witness your own faults there seems to be a positively pervasive influence springing out of this. Not sanctimonious or lecturing. Just happening.

If you were stood before the leaders of the world, what would you say to them?

Mark
Please type Thomas Malthus into Wikipedia

Martin
Do you have a look inside yourself before you make your work decisions? I would also ask them what the power and responsibility feels like in their work life.

And finally my last question is in fact one written by Freddie Mercury in the song “Is This the World We Created”?

Mark
We didn't create it but we seem to be very good at hastening its and therefore our own demise.

Martin
Yes in terms of how we live out our destinies but no in terms of the Earth's physical soul. We are puny in comparison to that.

Those Men have a new album out on 22nd April! 

Pre-Save it here https://orcd.co/thosemen_fecundness

The Duke of the Kingdom of Atlantis Speaks

Like The Stars

So, just like in the book (Minds Behind the Music) where we asked over 80 music stars the same ten questions, we've decided to ask those same questions of indie music stars too. Why? Because it's fun, that's why.

We start with a colourful character. A man who I personally have a lot of time for. My friend and brother in spirit, mAncient.

Bio

Haakon Rian Mancient Ueland is a Norwegian-born living Buddha. He makes music, works with healing and coaching, and though he dislikes the term “influencer”, he can be a stubborn biatch that knows how to use his network when the cause is important.

He lives with his dog, Trollheads Nessi, in Ed, a small town in Sweden.

"The Sigil of Archangel Gabriel, the Hammer of Tor, and a wedding band"

He recently became State Minister of Arts, Culture and Science & Duke in the Kingdom of Atlantis; a sovereign decentralised kingdom (www.kingdom-of-atlantis.com), and is an ambassador of GGA (www.globalgoodwillambassadors.org)

His church is online on www.earthhouse.church, and he is a proud participant in the first MBtM’s charity albums (video at the top).

He is a child welfare worker, which is a specialised type of social worker, and a celibate monk.

His socials are here: https://linktr.ee/mancient where you also find a link to his book, “The Glass Onion - Making of a Buddha”. And his music!

If you could be any other musician past or present, which one would it be and why?
Wow… tough question! I would want to be an amalgam. I want to have Bobby McFerrin’s and Lady Gaga’s voices - with a dash of Freddie Mercury, the stage presence and “total artist ability” of Bowie and Madonna, and Beethoven & Theodorakis compositional abilities. Oh … and the deep bass notes of Martti Talvela … now, there is warm growl! I want to move like Jagger & Beyonce, to write lyrics like Kari Jobe, Bono & Lauren Daigle, and be able to be fully in the moment like the two kings; Elvis and MJ.

The Questions

If you had to name one song from any genre that really speaks to you, which one would it be and why?
The first song I remember hearing. “My Sweet Lord”. It touched me like a … feather to my soul. I believe I was two or three?


Are you a Mulder or Scully? Do you believe aliens have visited planet earth and if so what do you think they think about mankind?
Initially? Mulder. I want to believe. Then Scully sets in … with her clear head and scientific mindset.

But yes … I believe that aliens have visited us, and that they walk among us today. They go under different names. Some come in animal form. Each one have a purpose, and collectively it is to lift Humanity.

What was the happiest day of your life and why?
May 9’th 1994. February 2’nd, 1999. August 29’th, 2003.
The birthdates of my three children.

If “God” (whatever your idea is on that) were stood before you now, what one question would you ask him/her and why?
“When you sang the universe into existence, what key was it in?”

As an expressive artist in the music industry, how does the state of the planet make you feel?
Honestly? It brings me down, if i don't shield myself sufficiently. And that is in spite of all the wonderful sentient beings doing so much to help us.

Let me quote a man of wisdom:
“We’re talking about a species that permits 1.7 billion of its members to go their entire lives without a drop of clean water; that seems not to be bothered by the fact that 1.6 billion still do not have electricity; that looks the other way as 2.6 billion exist without indoor toilets; that allows over 650 of its children to die of starvation every hour. There has been armed conflict somewhere on this planet for 92% of recorded history. One member of our species commits suicide every 40 seconds. In 2017, just under 465,000 of us were murdered. Add the numbers in these statistics and you get a pretty good idea of how well our species is doing as a civilization. And if you think our ideas about God have little to do with all of this, think again. 80% of civil law in most of the countries of Europe and the West is based on Canon Law. In other words, the teachings of a religion.” (Neale Donald Walsch. The God Solution: The Power of Pure Love (p. 5). Phoenix Books. Kindle Edition).

Do you think as a person of some influence that there is a duty on us to help influence humanity for the better?
Yes.

What one cause would you say you feel most associated with and why? Whether it’s equality, poverty, politics, the environment or other?
I guess I could chose “all the above and more”. But my prime cause is simple: to make tomorrow’s world better for our children in all ways. And with "children" I don't only mean the human species ... we are the shepherds of Mother Gaia.

If you were stood before the leaders of the world, what would you say to them?

“Dear friends. I want to take you back to the moment you decided that you wanted to devote your life to politics.

When I look at your faces, I know that you came to the position you are, in not from a place of greed. Not from a hunger for power or to hurt the planet.
You came from love.

Now, please consider … what is the single thing you can do tomorrow that will truly help out planet?

Happy 22. Now, go out and do it.”

And finally my last question is in fact one written by Freddie Mercury in the song “Is This the World We Created”:
If there's a God in the sky, looking down
What can he think of what we've done
To the world that He created?
You Can Do Better!

We Are Not Alone...

The Coherent Alliance - “Forest Child” preview

A review by mAncient

Sometimes you can tell.

Tell that there is a story behind the song.

‘cause - let’s face it … there are some songs that seem to be made by an algorithm rather than a human being.

TCA (Twitter: @coherent_music) creates electronica. And here is the story behind his, as yet unreleased, track (premieres on www.radio-dark-tunnel.net on NYE - 22:00-00:00 CEST, and later the same day on his YouTube).

What will you get to hear?

ASMR is a fascinating thing. “Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response” - aka “Brain Message”, it comes in different forms. The tingly, pleasant feeling you get with specific sounds and frequencies - or the horrible feel of a shovel scraping tarmac.

The intro of Forest Child, with the LoFi-sounding treble combined with a thunder blast, sets the song up perfectly. Then a vocal line drives through your body. Makes your fingers want to dance.

Actually, that goes for the whole track. I am typing this in beat with the rhythm, and my fingers are searching for the keys of my Yamaha.

This is so complex, yet so seamless. Spiritual voices that soar, perfectly placed arpeggios, a bass that grates and moves … wow.

Since I can’t share the song, here is the story behind Anthony’s track. And if you get chills reading this, just wait until you hear “Forest Child”!

"I was woken up by a brilliant white light shining through my window when I was 9 years old...

I ran to the window and witnessed a giant orb of light moving seamlessly through the dense forest that was behind my house.

I knew instantly that this was some kind of profound event, because the forest was so thick that it was difficult even for a person to walk through easily, let alone a vehicle.

I watched the orb come to a stand still in a nearby field, and after about 10 seconds the orb vanished and everything went pitch dark again.

I went back to sleep and what followed were what I can only describe as lucid dreams of the event replaying over and over, each time revealing more details that I did not quite understand. In the dreams, I was visiting the field that the object was sitting in...

So the next day I went to investigate. What followed from that day on were many mysterious events and experiences that some find difficult to believe. You will be able to find out more about this event and what followed on my website soon”.

Here is his website: https://thecoherentalliance.carrd.co

The Coherent Alliance is also a part of the Minds Behind the Music-movement.

Art by Esoterica Art Agency 

Haakon Rian Mancient Ueland (@mancient_com om Twitter) is a Buddha. This was his Bodhisattva vow: https://songwhip.com/mancient/c-@-shangrila
He can be quite dense at times. According to his daughter Anna.

T'Pau Time

Carol Decker Speaks to Minds

No, Carol Decker is not a Vulcan elder from Star Trek. She is in fact the gorgeous red-head lead singer from T’Pau the band. She’s quite mad, which is why I love her so much. T’Pau had their first big international hit with “Heart and Soul” and followed up with the massive “China in Your Hands”. The album, “Bridge of Spies”, reached number one and in fact went quadruple platinum. See, I can spell. It was a cold March morning when Carol Decker put a spell on me.


If you could be any other musician past or present, which one would it be and why?
I'd be Debbie Harry. She was stunning & sexy but never came across as any man's plaything or a helpless little woman, She fronted her band and was perceived as a strong leader and absolutely essential focal point. I believe that our sexuality is part of our humanity and don't have a problem with a good looking person making that gift part of what sells the band a long with of course credible music and a great voice. Debbie was a big influence on me.

Note: 99.99% of red blooded males have to agree with me when I say Carol Decker is just as hot as Debbie Harry.

Like Debbie, I too was in my late 20’s when i got my break and 30 when 'China in Your Hand' was at number one, but only in my dreams am I that cool!!

If you had to name one song from any genre that really speaks to you, which one would it be and why?
This is hard one as on a different day I might pick another song, but today I pick 'Running Down a Dream' by Tom Petty. The relentless drums, the super cool guitar lick. It’s one of those songs that gets you bopping, you can't not tap your foot! I like the space in the song. There are big chunks with no vocal, but the instrumentation still keeps you hooked. I’ve never been able to write a song like this as I'm not a player, I’m a singer, so I fill a song with words. I always play air drums to this song especially the outro, that just sails on into infinity. I imagine it still playing in the ether after the fade. May I add I was particularly gutted when he died, It was huge loss to music.

Are you a Mulder or Scully? Do you believe aliens have visited planet earth and if so what do you think they think about mankind?
NEVER really watched it! And I know that's like saying I've never seen star wars!!!

Read the rest of the interview and 80 more music stars in the new book, Minds Behind the Music. More HERE

In a Blaze of Glory

Blaze Bayley – Iron Maiden, Wolfsbane, Blaze Bayley Band

Leader of the band, Blaze and the Blaze Bayley Band, he now also performs solo. But Mr. Bayley was also the lead singer of rock band, Wolfsbane, for ten years and lead singer of some small rock band called Iron Maiden that you’ve probably never heard of. So just like a highly bread canine, he has pedigree. Blaze managed to stop screeching over the noise of crashing guitars just long enough to answer my questions.

If you could be any other musician past or present, which one would it be and why?
That is one of the most difficult questions ever in the history of music. I have tried for many years to be happy where I am and with what I have got.

I realised how many great moments I trivialised and did not appreciate. I let things slip by me while me and my ambition looked at the top of the mountain. Now I celebrate every small success and try to squeeze the juice out of the moments. So my choice can only be superficial. I believe that in most cases, great art comes from pain. I do not want the pain and challenges of those musicians I have come to admire but I will take the fluffy nice bits.

Bill Withers for his voice and songs. James brown for his impossible achievements and innovation. Elvis Presley for his influence on popular music and his voice. But the artist whose journey I would be most interested in taking would be Jimmy Page. With Led Zeppelin he created a sound that became the expression of my teenage soul and the sound of my adult passion. The modern equivalent of the Greek god Apollo with all his powers, but with command of demons and electricity as well as the sun and music.

If you had to name one song from any genre that really speaks to you, which one would it be and why?
That question is literally insane. No one who loves music will willingly name one song. It is a wicked question. Songs that bring memories of my first kiss. Songs I clung to as my broken heart tried to heal. Songs that filled me with a dark power that raised me to my aching feet and made me try once more to master my own voice and destroy any predetermined destiny. It cannot be done. But… there is one that takes me to a beginning . A song that changed my life and set me on a path that I still tread. Black Sabbath. Children of the sea. Written in 1979 by Tony Iommi and Ronnie James Dio. Released in April 1980 as part of the Heaven and Hell album. That song.

Are you a Mulder or Scully? Do you believe aliens have visited planet earth and if so what do you think they think about mankind?
I am Scully. They took me away and experimented on me in a laboratory on a train. Aliens are not responsible for any of the technology available on earth. Aliens are time travelling humans. Humanity right now is the most advanced intelligence in this universe. We will be gently side-lined by the silicone and diamond and quantum life forms that are gestating in our phones. The satellites we choke our space with will give the self destructive nature of humanity every assistance in destroying itself. I will be standing on a desolate world looking at Fox Mulder saying… “I told you it wouldn’t be aliens!”

Taken from the book, Minds Behind the Music with over 80 music stars! More here Minds Behind the Music