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Ian Maksin Shares New Track ‘AMOR RENATUS (REBIRTH OF LOVE)’ And Announces New Album and Tour Dates

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Ian Maksin is a cellist, composer, and vocalist who sings in over 30 languages.  He has created his own unique musical Metaverse by blending classical, jazz, and world music and by drawing inspiration from very diverse and eclectic musical sources, taking the listener along on this magical journey beyond space and time. 

AMOR RENATUS (REBIRTH OF LOVE), his brand-new single, will be released along with a music video in advance of his upcoming North American tour and upcoming 12-track album of the same name (slated for release on October 10). This recording is the ideal representation of what Ian Maksin can do: music with veritable healing properties that demonstrates well his passion for his craft and his effortless ability to capture the same boundless energy that he exhibits live on stage.

Speaking on the new single and the forthcoming album, Ian Maksin shares, “AMOR RENATUS’’ is a reflection on the tragic ongoing events in Ukraine. It delves deep into the darkest recesses of the human soul, unearthing a myriad of feelings universal to all wars: grief, indignation, fear, and despair. As the journey continues, the music guides the listener through a path to redemption and a spiritual transformation, allowing them to ultimately find peace, comfort, and empowerment.  As artists, we are fortunate to have music as the most powerful means of emotional healing and be able to offer it as medicine for the soul to the listener as well.”

AMOR RENATUS is scored for the cello, enhanced by the use of the loop pedal, and is powerfully transformed into a virtual orchestra by the use of other electronics. The addition of various percussion instruments on several tracks, ranging from the deep, heart-like tones of the Mongolian frame drum to the trance-inducing grooves of the West African djembe, also adds to the magical and state-altering properties of the music of the album. In this album, Maksin has taken his distinct musical language and style to yet another level by drawing musical influence from a variety of sources. These include J.S. Bach, Mozart, Astor Piazzolla, and folk music from different parts of the world from the Middle East to the Balkans.

The album opens with a Prologue which in turn consists of four compositions:  Alis Doloris (Wings of Sorrow) Intro, Alis Doloris, Nostalgia, and In Tenebris (In the Dark) which prepare the listener for the centerpiece of the album – the Requiem. The first and third movements of the latter, Requiem Aeternum and Dies Irae have some recognizable allusions to Mozart’s Requiem, but with an underlying feel of Tango Nuevo and a poignant solo cello part, which at times sounds almost like a guitar solo by Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour.  The second movement, Tuba Mirum, starts off with a Middle Eastern drum groove, with the cello solo coming in seemingly sounding like a Balkan trumpet solo, leading to an apocalyptic culmination. The closing movement of the Requiem portion of the album – Lux Aeterna, is merely a serene and solemn milonga, almost reminiscent of Astor Piazzolla. On the back end of the Requiem, there are four more tracks grouped as the EpilogueAmor Renatus (Rebirth of Love) intro, Amor Renatus, Ortus Solis (Sunrise), and Urbs Aurum (City of Gold), which are meant to take the listener back to light and love on a path of spiritual transformation. 

Tracklist

PROLOGUE

  1. Alis Doloris (Wings of Sorrow) Intro
  2. Alis Doloris (Wings of Sorrow)
  3. Nostalgia
  4. In Tenebris (In the Dark)

REQUIEM

  1. Requiem Aeternum
  2. Tuba Mirum
  3. Dies Irae
  4. Lux Aeterna

EPILOGUE

  1. Amor Renatus (Rebirth of Love) (Intro)
  2. Amor Renatus (Rebirth of Love)
  3. Ortus Solis (Sunrise)

POSTLUDE

  1. Urbs Aurum (City of Gold)

A portion of the proceeds from the concert tour and album sales will be directed to For Wellbeing a non-profit organization that provides humanitarian aid in the regions of Ukraine most affected by war.  Maksin has been supporting this charitable organization since March 2022 as part of his Cello for Peace tour of over 200 concerts in North America and Europe. 

Artist BIO:

Ian Maksin, a luminary in the world of classical and world music, unveils an extraordinary musical journey that defies convention and transcends borders. Born in the USSR and raised in a multicultural family, Maksin’s musical odyssey is a testament to the power of diverse influences and unwavering dedication to the art of the cello.

From the tender age of three, Maksin exhibited a prodigious talent for music, embarking on his musical odyssey by mastering the guitar and piano. At the age of six, he commenced his love affair with the cello while attending the prestigious Leningrad School for Gifted Children. His unrelenting pursuit of musical excellence eventually led him to the hallowed halls of the Manhattan School of Music in New York City at the tender age of 16.

After honing his craft in the classical genre and serving with distinction for three years as a member of the New World Symphony in Miami, Maksin boldly embarked on his own musical career. Over the past decade, he has released a series of critically acclaimed albums featuring original compositions and taken his mesmerizing talents to stages worldwide, performing over 150 concerts annually across five continents.

Maksin’s musical odyssey extends far beyond the boundaries of classical tradition. A true global citizen and passionate linguist, he has cultivated his vast repertoire through extensive travel, jam sessions, and collaborations with musicians from diverse cultures around the world. His original compositions and instrumental works effortlessly weave together elements of ethnic music, drawing inspiration from various sources around the globe.

Reflecting on his remarkable journey, Ian Maksin shared, “At some point, I realized that music is much more than mere entertainment. Music is one of the most powerful and unifying forces in the world, capable of healing, inspiring, bringing people together, and bringing peace among them. I believe that cello will save the world.”

Notable Highlights:

Ian Maksin has graced the stage with some of the most iconic names in the music industry, including opening for Sting and Dominic Miller in Chicago in 2010 and 2012. He embarked on a tour with the legendary Andrea Bocelli in 2012 and has collaborated with luminaries such as Barry Gibb, P. Diddy, Snoop Dogg, and Gloria Estefan. Since 2015, Maksin has enraptured audiences worldwide as both a solo artist and as the frontman of the enthralling Zaria Band, delivering over 100 performances in 20+ countries annually. In 2022, he embarked on a transformative journey as part of the Cello for Peace Tour, where he performed over 100 concerts (and ongoing) in support of Ukraine, generously donating the proceeds to humanitarian charities.

TOUR DATES

September 29: Phoenix AZ

September 30: Sedona AZ

October 1: Tucson AZ

October 10: Kelowna, BC

October 13: Vancouver BC

October 14: Portland OR

October 15: Seattle WA

October 19: Detroit MI

October 21: Cleveland OH

October 28: Boston MA

November 2: Washington DC

November 4: Philadelphia PA 

November 5: New York, NY

November 8: Toronto ON

November 9: Ottawa ON

November 10: Quebec QC

November 12: Montreal QC

November 18: San Francisco CA

November 19:  Los Angeles CA

December 3:  Chicago IL

More dates in North America and worldwide TBA

 TICKETS & ADDITIONAL INFO: ianmaksin.com/tour

We Speak Music

Happy Mondays Co-Founder Gaz Whelan releases new Yogi-G and the Family Tree track ‘Shine On (Brother)’

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As near to a new Happy Mondays record ever likely to happen, prepare for ‘Show Me The Truth’ by Yogi-G and The Family Tree.

First up, new single ‘Shine On (Brother)’ ft. Queen Vee & Chris Barton

Yogi-G and The Family Tree have unveiled their powerful new single Shine On (Brother), featuring Queen Vee and Chris Barton which has dropped ahead of the band’s eagerly awaited album Show Me The Truth out May 23rd. Led by Gaz Whelan—co-founder, Ivor Novello winning songwriter and drummer of the legendary Happy Mondays—this project blends his iconic Madchester groove with fresh, infectious energy, delivering music that’s both raw and transcendent, and also features the irrepressible vocals of Rowetta making the sounds of 1990 come alive again in glorious fashion.

Gaz’s influences mainly stem from John Lydon, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. A more cerebral character than bandmates Shaun, Bez and co. but still a major proponent of that larger-than-life Mancunian braggadocious swagger that have paved the way for a whole subculture of British indie pop bands like The Stone Roses, Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, The Charlatans, Primal Scream, Badly Drawn Boy et al.

With a working title of ‘A Record Collection in One Album’, the newly titled and as yet unreleased album Show Me The Truth is a genre-free zone, a collision of moods and styles that dovetails Whelan’s ragged, dark lyrical musings with soulful vocals and African rhythms.

It’s the aural equivalent of lying in a warm bath in the middle of a snowstorm—where spaghetti western strings stretch from heaven, rubbing up against filthy electric guitars and punk gospel rhythm and rhyme. A hidden optimism weaves through its DNA, offering soul salvation for the cynical, a safe haven from an ever-insane world.

As Gaz explains, “Yogi-G and The Family Tree are not hippies, we give a fuller human experience that is more devolved from the punk experience, where you never quite know if you’re going to get a hug or a headbutt. Life is filled with peace and love but equally excitement and pain.”

Started in Toronto and finished in Warrington, the album was born out of frustration and creative restlessness, as Gaz further explains, “I got fed up waiting around to try to agree to write a new Mondays album. When it became apparent, we couldn’t agree, I decided to do my own. I think it’s bloody great and the support has been outstanding and for all the good ones we’ve lost along the way like Gil Scott Heron, Tony Wilson and more recently my bandmate Paul Ryder, this is for them and for all those who just love to get off on good music.”

Yogi-G and The Family Tree’s new single ‘Shine On (Brother)’ is out now ahead of the band’s debut album ‘Show Me The Truth’ on May 23rd.

The band will play Wax & Beans in Bury on 17th May.

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