dHarmic Evolution

Biography: MTV Europe Music Awards Nominee (Best Worldwide Act) & Vh1 Top 10 artist Oliver Sean's music can best be described as 'Feel Good Acoustic Rock with Soul'. The Singer/Songwriter thrived in the Goa, Dubai and the UK cultures as they acted as the backdrop to his youth, and the inspiration for his music. His discography with W.O.A. Entertainment began in 1999 with his single ‘There She Is Again’. Oliver Sean's media clippings have formed a career of their own. Since his career was launched in his teens, Oliver's press clippings exceed several hundred features, snippets, and reviews in significant print and broadcast mediums. His brand of music is known for its pop influence with contemporary undertones. His debut album was nominated for 'International Album of the Year' by AVMax in 2003/04 along with albums by John Mayer, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and Third Eye Blind. Oliver Sean's eclectic global music style is the trademark for his brand and is as exotic as his Portuguese Goan Lineage. A self-taught musician, Oliver plays guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums. However, it is his distinctive percussive guitar and powerfully seductive voice, which is his footprint on the music industry. His track record of being a hit songwriter is just one of his many assets defining him as a pillar in the music community. Oliver Sean is a member of the Recording Academy and a Voting Member for the prestigious Grammy Awards. As a Record Producer and Filmmaker, Oliver Sean has composed music for the French Government (Massif Region Tourism Campaign) & Goa Government (Republic Day Parade). He has also composed the soundtrack as a music director for a Bollywood Feature Film and the title track for a Regional Goan Feature Film. The singer-songwriter is actively producing music for films and artists around the world and is a successful filmmaker with several music videos that he has Directed and Produced, regularly featured on Vh1 & MTV and also hosts his own nationally distributed radio show The WOAFM99 Radio Show. Oliver Sean and his International Band are actively touring and performing worldwide and the Singer-Songwriter has recently launched his 4th studio album ‘Devil in Blue Jeans’   “I think every artist should be in a cover band for a while, to help you hone in on your skills, it really worked for me” - Oliver Sean Welcome back to the dHarmic evolution podcast. This month, we’ll be having a re-run of some of the top podcasts that I feel would be an injustice to air once. Our first re-run is my interview with music artist, Oliver Sean is a London based Portuguese singer/songwriter from Goa, India. He performs a unique genre of music which is known for its pop influence with contemporary undertones. Sean has recently featured as MTV Europe Music Awards Nominee (Best Worldwide Act) & VH1 Top 10. Growing up, Sean had different music and artists that influenced him, from blues, rock music, 80s pop to punk and pop bands. His passion and practice of music began at an early age in Goa, but it wasn’t until when he moved to London that he get his first break. At only 19 years of age, Sean packed his bag and guitar, got a plane ticket to London and started doing different gigs in pubs and clubs. He would eventually land a Showcasetv gig on Skytv UK which later on snowballed his way into more affluent performances, such as one with MTV as a VH1. His love for business, marketing, and management have seen Sean become a self-producing artist and overseeing the producing of several music videos, films, and soundtracks. Sean also hosts his own show The WOAFM99 Radio Show. Sean’s company works closely with Viacom, VH1, MTV and independent artists. Because Sean’s Record label organizes a lot of major tours, a lot of the independent artists love to tag along and make music videos. At first, Sean only used to be in front of the camera, you know, just giving his tips and ideas, his passion and dedication for it grew and before he knew it, he was a full-time producer for the music videos. This role, later on, grew to direct music videos as well, and later on cinematography. Timestamps [08:53] Listen to come for me by Oliver Sean [12:05] Sean’s idols growing up [14:00] Sean’s studio and performance experiences [18:35] Listen to Walk up and Kiss you by Oliver Sean [24:18] The production process [30:12] Listen to Devil in Blue Jeans by Oliver Sean [34:12] Sean’s production gear [36:58] Leveraging the power of social media [39:20] Listen to New York [44:09] Transitioning to filmmaking Follow Oliver: Website

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Today’s show is all about thanksgiving, how we should spend it, and how we can all make a difference in someone's experience that will have a long-lasting impact?  [01:28] The history of Thanksgiving  [8:22] My encouragement on how you can spend your Thanksgiving.  [8:45] My inspiration for spending Thanksgiving this year. Tony Robbin’s story.  [23:13] Listen to Here to Share and Care  [3:36] Top places to spend Thanksgiving.       1. The Sagamore Resort, Adirondacks, New York. Holding court for over a century on picturesque Lake George in the Adirondacks, the 133-year old Sagamore Resort offers guests a Donald Ross-designed 18-hole golf course, hiking, tennis, and spa (as well as fishing and swimming during the summers). You better be prim and proper for this extravaganza!  2. Congress Hall, Cape May, New Jersey. America's oldest seaside resort (opened in 1816 and celebrating its 200th anniversary this year) It offers seasonal activities like gingerbread house building and hosts a special Thanksgiving buffet, as well as a sit-down meal, at its Blue Pig Tavern.  3. For the next one, we head out West, Park City Utah, Montage, Deer Valley. They offer a slew of family-focused events over Thanksgiving weekend. You can take part in flag football on the grand lawn, learn archery at the resort's annual turkey-themed turkey shoot lesson, enjoy a Thanksgiving buffet at the Apex restaurant, and cap it off with a family photo overlooking the Wasatch Mountains. To celebrate the lead-up to Christmas, offerings include cookie decorating classes, holiday mug decorating, gingerbread house unveiling and their fifth Annual Christmas tree lighting on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.                                                          …………………………………………..  But what about the ones who don’t have the means to go to places like these? The ones who are stuck in soup kitchens or the lost who sleep in airports, subways, streets, and prisons.  Perhaps this Thanksgiving you should open your depression fighter’s manual and go-to strategy no. 3, and get out there and help somebody!   [9:52] Feeding America  Robbins has now partnered up with Feeding America. A nationwide food network of banks that aims to eliminate food insecurity by helping people or communities that don’t have enough food.  Statistics: According to US-DA, there are more than 37 million people who struggle with hunger. These are really shocking statistics considering we’re one of the richest countries in the world.  Food insecurity numbers in different states  California – 5,401,00 (114,00 homeless)  New York – 2,67200 (80,000 homeless)  Minnesota – 568,000 (8300 homeless)  N. Dakota – 60,000 (1,300 homeless)  New Mexico – 358,00 (2700 homeless)  Illinois - 1,700,000 (13,000 homeless)  New Jersey – 1,000,00 (11,600 homeless)  These numbers are all crazy! I mean what happened to us?  If we can change the dynamics of holidays a little bit, to include those that aren’t as lucky as we are, then this will result in happier and more meaningful holidays for all of us.  [18:26] Professor Scott Geller.     

Michael was born in the Ironbound section of Newark NJ in 1958. Born of Italian descent, and one of six children. He graduated from East Side High School in 1976. After high school, he mainly worked in his father’s restaurant until he sold it in 1986. Although he was part of a very close and loving family, he seemed to always feel like something was amiss inside. His mother and father afforded him every opportunity to get ahead in life, but he always seemed to make the wrong decision. This continued to happen until June of 1987, which is when it seemed like his life went in a completely different direction. To Michael, it seemed that way because although his life got better on the material plane, he still did not have a sense of completeness within. Quotes from Michael [03:35] The reason why a person gets addicted to anything, is because the inward tells you to reach out for something. You need something to fill your void. [10:45] We’re all addicts, we just use different things. Society only addresses the ones that are devastating. [11:18] If you can’t just be with yourself, without needing to reach for something, that’s the question. Why? [12:02] You become distracted by the distractions that distract you. [14:17] The thought is energy. It comes into your head, and what you do with it from there determines your life. [16:20] The labels that we apply to things, destroy us. They keep us entrapped in our suffering. That’s what the conditioned mind is. [24:33] It’s your own conditioning that limits you. Your own mind tells you to do something, and the same mind, questions why it was done. [28:36] The more that you can spend your life in the present moment, the more at peace you’re going to be. [33:25] The older you get, the more conditioning you have, and the more of a puppet you become, and society is the puppeteer. [36:00] Your body is always in the present moment, your mind is all over the place. When you develop your body as an anchor, you put yourself in harmony with life, with universal energy. Timestamps. [14:58] How Michael embarked on his book writing. [18:13] Michael’s experience and lessons learned while promoting his book. [21:24] Michael’s experience with a fan Do you live a life that you’ve always wanted and you’re still not happy? Are you not getting the most out of your life? Then it’s time for you to look within and find out why. Joining us in the studio today is the author of It’s Monday Only in your Mind, Michael Cupo. [01:56] The story behind the book, It’s Monday Only in your Mind. Michael had addiction problems when he was young. He was, however, able to conquer his addictions when he was 28; got a job, got married, and even started a family. It was 13 years later though, that the real change happened. Although Michael’s life was going on just fine, Perfect job, perfect family, perfect life. He couldn’t help but think of how he was going to be there for his kids. This act of unselfishness is what caused the chain reaction leading to Michael’s deep reflections and thoughts about his life. [8:07] Conquering his alcohol and drug addiction. Describing it as one of the most pivotal moments of his life, Michael’s eldest brother died as a result of addiction. At the time, Michael was only 26 and knee-deep in drug and alcohol addiction. The death of their eldest son broke Michael’s parents, who gave Michael the ultimatum of either straightening up or getting out. This began Michael’s 2-year process of quitting his addictions. [23:32] The conditioned mind. What Michael presents, is the next step in the evolutionary process. When you don’t need to reach for anything and you’re o.k with who you are, just the way you are, just as it is. You’re not looking to change what’s happening in the present moment. It’s your own conditioning that limits you. Your own mind tells you to do something, and the same mind, questions why it was done. Once you’re able to start looking at yourself and understanding that it’s you, that it’s your own mind that’s the enemy, it’s when you start to understand the conditioned mind and you no longer blame the world. [32:30] The rat race The beginning stages of why humanity has developed the way it has is because, from the moment you’re born, you’re given a name. It’s your attachment to that name that the problem begins. You spend the rest of your life identifying the name with jobs, marital status, social status, likes, dislikes, this, and that, and in the process, you fail to understand. You miss the process. You fail to understand what humanity’s existence is all about. As your attachments increase every day, you lose your true essence, you lose who you truly are in the process. And you start looking more outside yourself for the answers. It’s nobody's fault, of course, it just how humanity and society have designed itself. Website:  

Quotes from Amanie [4:05] People love to see things as beautiful and leave it at that, but don’t really know what’s going on inside. [14:24] No matter what happens so long as you’re passionate, So long as you have faith in God, So long as you believe it’s the right thing, it will happen. Timestamps [4:54] The inspiration behind the song You Will Never Know. [6:06] Listen to “you will never know” [15:20] Find out more about the South Sudanese Culture [17:50] Listen to “everything” [21:50] Amanie’s production process [24:23] Amanie’s amazing production crew [26:48] Amanie’s Favourite part in music production [29:00] Performances [32:10] Listen to” Peacemaker” [35:48] The inspiration towards writing Peacemaker [44:15] Sneak peek to Amanie’s next album. [46:30] Listen to “The Hills” [56:53] Listen to “Eritrean Eyes” Joining us in the studio for a second time is South-Sudanese born, and Toronto based, singer/songwriter Amanie Illfated. Amanie immigrated alongside her family from South Sudan to Saskatchewan in 1992 as refugees from the war-torn nation. At only the tender age of 16, she left her family to pursue her music career dream. [3:39] Find out more about Amanie’s new album. It all started off as a simple metaphor. When people look at the planet Saturn, all they see is this beautiful planet with an amazing shape and wonderful rings around it, but deep inside, if you really look at what Saturn is made of, it’s all toxic. There’s a lot of turmoil and storms going on inside it. People love to see things as beautiful and leave it at that, but don’t really know what’s going on inside. So, all the songs in her album represent a different aspect of turmoil inside, but it’s done in a beautiful way. [10:35] Following her dreams At only a young and tender age of 16, Amanie decided to leave home to follow her musical career dream. Asked how she got her stunning confidence and self-belief Amanie says she has three individuals that she looks up to. The first is her father, the sheer determination and courage that he had to take them from a war-torn South-Sudan nation all the way to Canada is nothing short of inspirational. With him, there always seemed to be a solution to every problem he faced. The other person is her uncle, a former South-Sudanese soldier who died in 2016. He approached all issues in life armed with nothing but confidence and faith in God. Her aunt, who also moved to Canada 13 years ago, with four kids on her own is her other source of inspiration. Somehow, she always figured out how to make ends meet, all by herself. Even though she didn’t have anything, she always seemed to pull everything together. This is where Amanie got a lot of her confidence from, that no matter what happens, so long as you’re passionate, so long as you have faith in God, so long as you believe it’s the right thing to do, it will happen. [38:33] Amanie’s favorite things to do. Some of the top things Amanie enjoys doing is attending festivals, cooking, running, yoga. Yoga is one of Amanie’s top things to do, as it helps her calm and clears her mind. As an artist, with everything going on, the emails, the preparations, the performances etc, yoga is her way to escape it all and find a bit of bliss. 1 – 2 hours of yoga. *Listen to Amanie’s first visit to our show in the episode  

Today’s guest on the dHarmic evolution podcast is an emerging, independent singer/songwriter, from the San Francisco bay area. She calls her genre Timely Americana (She’s inspired to write for the particular time that we live in). Her songs address issues such as; preservation of the natural world, homelessness, the political landscape, friendship and loss, and love of country. So, without further ado, strap up your seat belts, cause we’re taking a ride with Kate Magdalena. Timestamps [5:10] Listen to A Larger Dance by Kate Magdalena. [9:55] Is the West a better place for artists to develop? [1:54] Kate gets into her recently released a full album. [21:31] Listen to Take me to the church by Kate [25:12] The story behind Take me to church [26:51] A bit of spiritual talk [31:05] Listen to New Earth by Kate Magdalena [34:55] A little inside tips on how to record with a better voice [40:11] Kate’s ritual [46:49] Listen to Kate’s Streets of Anytown [52:10] Kate’s experience writing and filming the Streets of Anytown [2:27] Kate’s new album Kate explains the inspiration and background of some of the songs that she’s written. Included in her album are a couple of songs about saving the earth; One is called New Earth. A fantasy, visionary song about the kingdom of God, how the earth should be like it was in the beginning, and how it will be restored. The second is Long Live the Woods. Poetry inspired by Gerald Manly Hopkins, an English Christian poet from the 90s who wrote beautiful love poetry to God. [12:50] Kate’s journey towards her Music Career Never really considered herself an artist for the better part of her life, Kate’s focus was mostly on her studies and the world as she grew up. She spent her twenties in pursuit of spirituality and working various publication jobs for corporations. Eventually, she ended up being a teacher, a career she very much enjoyed due to her love for children. Despite her love for singing and music, Kate had no idea how to approach the music industry. And especially without the internet at the time, it all seemed pretty impossible. In the end, she had no option but to keep singing just as a hobby. But it all kept coming back. Kate found herself gravitating towards poetry (a niche she actually has a graduate degree in) and she began setting some of it towards music. Despite working with a couple of bands in the early 2000s, she felt that she didn’t have enough knowledge on the music career as a whole, and this motivated her to go back to school and study music. Afterward, she spent the next 6 years of teaching music. Later on, she went to Seminary after having a conversion experience in 2009. It wasn’t, however, until 2010, when everything globally was just crazy, is when Kate began to write. 2 years later she had written her full album. [17:15] Kate’s View on Songwriting Despite taking a songwriting course and dropping it. Kate has never really studied songwriting. In her opinion, it’s a creative process of going within and allowing the spirit to move. She also believes that it’s a God-given talent, and gives total credit to God for the gift. Kate’s creativity and passion for writing began with poetry. With time though, Kate’s love for writing poetry slowly fade away, it lost meaning to her and she slowly found herself transitioning to songwriting. [18:17] Kate’s icons while growing up To begin with, Kate’s opinion on music is that the voice is literally formed through the ear. It’s formed through listening to the music. As a child, some of the great musicians that inspired her to sing the way she does, include; Julie Andrews, Mary Travers, Joni Mitchell, and Barbara Streisand. Quotes: [1:00:21] We’re living in biblical times, we need to keep our eyes open to see what is occurring, but we should not be afraid. [17:27] Songwriting is a God-given creative talent that involves going within and allowing the spirit to move Follow Kate: *Sign up to her email list to get a free download for her new song, New Earth and also be a part of Kate’s family. Website