‘ugly bags of mostly water’

We were called ‘ugly bags of mostly water’ in a Star Trek episode (‘Home Soil’)* and this aptly describes what unifies us as a species. Without water, we all die. Regardless of skin color, flag or theology and in spite of borders, barriers and bigotry. Water unites us. I use this metaphor to represent my belief that our species can choose to see beyond that which divides us. A bonus is at the end when I put forth my best Jean-Luc Picard impersonation…Happy listening to all my global brother and sister water bags!

https://soundcloud.com/rejyna/born-here-autochthonous

Born Here
(Autochthonous Anthem)

Bringing you water, bringing the water,
bringing your water, bring me water
Everyone’s water, you are of water,
I am of water, we are water

You wanna take it out
You wanna break it out
You wanna shake it out
and stake it out and make it out

You gotta bring it in,
you gotta get the win,
you gotta take the spin
and break the wind
and save your skin

Say that you are gonna, say that you wanna,
say that you shoulda, coulda, oughta
Say that you mean it, say that you swear it,
say that you care and you dare to be there for it

Why look outside
when the truth is inside
in a place where hope cannot hide,
cannot steal, cannot lie
Borders collide, battle cries,
sides take sides,
minds devise the divide to demise
realized in the tear of a child’s eye

You see it, yes you do,
a chance to follow through,
it’s right in front of you,
beside of you, you know it’s true
You see a better day,
you feel, you share, you play,
you separate the colors
from the shades of dreary gray

(Spoken) We are born here, we all are born here on this planet. Among us are no aliens, no immigrants, no refugees – we are all humans from one earth – borders are not organic – each person is one-hundred percent autochthonous.

Download the entire CD at: http://cdbaby.com/rejyna3

c. Rejyna Douglass-Whitman (BMI)
Published by W.E./Citadel of Cynosure Productions (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized duplication, repurposing, exhibition or performance is prohibited by US and international copyright laws.

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Soil

Persia, Zoroaster, Shahnameh: An Obscure Cradle of Society

Persia: imperative and pertinent precursor to modern society. We often buy into modern propaganda about bad things in faraway lands – but it’s tragic that such a diverse, expansive, and influential part of humanity’s past is so grossly ignored. Did you know that Iran (Persia) is one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth? Did you know that Persian Zoroastrianism predates and influenced monotheistic religions that came after it, like Judaism, Gnosticism, Christianity and Islam?

Please read The Book of Kings (Shahnameh) and discover 1) how much of Persian culture is intertwined in yours and 2) the lyrical inspiration for my song casting you as a traveling musician in one of the richest, most colorful and prolific cradles of the human experiment.

From my new CD, IDIO:  Click Here to Play on SoundCloud

Gitano en Shahnameh

Shahnameh, Book of Kings, poem sings,
free will brings hope or disaster
Shahnameh, in that day, they would say,
choice persuades now and hereafter

Truth or a lie, each path chosen
We’re just passersby in this life
Strive, multiply, to the future be true,
follow hope, follow light
In your days, help the poor, open doors,
stop the wars now and forever
When you play, what you say, show a way,
guiding stray spirits together

Truth unifies, each word chosen
Imply, verify, exemplify, demystify
To the lowest be kind, purify, testify

Love the land, take a stand, lend a hand,
understand all that is noble
Find a true attitude, don’t exclude,
end the feud our family is global

Truth or a lie, each path chosen
We’re just passersby in this life
Strive, multiply, to the future be true,
follow love, follow light

Somewhere out there, on a border,
there are refugees seeking asylum
from persecution, destitution,
retribution for failed revolution…

Truth unifies – Demystify –

Somewhere inside a conscience denied,
actions forged into cold lies and resides
with obliteration, annihilation,
suffocation and cruel subjugation

Truth unifies, each word chosen
Imply, verify, exemplify, demystify
To the lowest be kind, purify
Edify –

Download the entire CD at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/rejyna3

c. Rejyna Douglass-Whitman  (BMI)

Published by W.E./Citadel of Cynosure Productions (BMI). All Rights Reserved.  Unauthorized duplication, repurposing, exhibition or performance is prohibited by US and international copyright laws.

Synthetic to Organic: Citadel guitarist takes you from distant space to the desert sands!

Citadel guitarist/vocalist Rejyna, offers two more fresh songs from her new CD, IDIO.
‘Mandolian Mirage’ is a mando-laced folk-rock piece that transforms you into a nomad, blissfully roaming the desert sands.  ‘Galactic Projectories’ is an android-voiced rock anthem casting you as the last organic human to narrowly escape from assimilation by thrusting yourself into deep space.

Both cuts are from Rejyna’s new CD, IDIO, available at cdbaby.com/cd/rejyna3   Rejyna is a live-looping artist who uses pedals and effects with her voice, guitar, synth guitar and drums to create lush songs that sound like a full ensemble.  Her work in the band Citadel gives her a prog-metal and folk-world edge that slices nicely thru her solo presentation featuring a diverse palette of song stylings.

GALACTIC PROJECTORIES
Click Here To Listen on ReverbNation
Click Here To Listen on SoundCloud
LYRICS:

“Imagine you are the only human who is not sync’d to the galactic mainframe.  It’s against the law to be an ‘organic’ – to be without cyber implants, nanotech plasma pumps and A.I. i/o – – – and you’re on the run…”

Long are the days
in the dark on the run
Star upon star
rendering dawns with no suns

Outlawed and betrayed
and bountied and shunned
Off-grid genetic codes,
the damage is done –

Gaze into the null of the void
Swim in the slicing silence of space,
last of your kind, last hope for your race

Beyond the stars, beyond the sky
Beyond the earth, beyond the light

Cascading nebula rainbows of light
Outside space, between fire and ice
Endless horizon line, light-speed wave ride
Surfing and sailing anomaly tides

Cold ironsides with arrays of pulse guns
Laser guides, crew AI, replicant sons
Solitude, servitude, sterile and sanctified
Frantic and fraught, fretting with compromise

Wake in a state of delusional dreams
Nothing perceived is as it would seem
Studied and probed, abducted, displayed
Galactic projectories or cerebral charade?

Beyond the stars…

MANDOLIAN MIRAGE
Click Here To Listen on ReverbNation
Click Here To Listen on SoundCloud
LYRICS:

Sand fills the day’s horizon line,
there’s not much time
until the colder nights arrive
and white Winter stars align, a sign…

Enticed mandolian mirage,
safe passage through the tempest

The sky, the silence
The day, no shade
The night wind violently
etches furrows in my face

Gitano gently luring
sweet sounds surround
a solemn sunset in the sands

See what you are
in echoes of an army of guitars
Mirrors from sand,
silvered glass in the nomads land

Dance, dance
Renounce the silence with your hands
Sing, play
Our voices amend night into day

The mind, the vision
The heart in hand
Reflection enduring
Slake essence alluring

The sky, the silence
The day, no shade
The night wind violently
erases footsteps without a trace

Enticed mandolian mirage,
dream salve soothes chafe and chaff
and strums reflect like water flowing…

TECH TIDBITS: All music recorded using multiple memory slots on one Digitech JamMan Solo, vocals sung thru a DigiTech Vocalist Live Pro, loops stitched and massaged in SoundForge.  No midi guitars or synths were used on these songs.  All musical sounds are acoustic guitars (Ovation and Yamaha) thru the Boss GT3 effects board, and drums are played on a Yamaha DD55.  No tape machines, virtual multi tracks or DAW’s were harmed (nor used) in the making of these recordings – this is indie DIY…enjoy.

From the CD, IDIO, by Rejyna

Warning: Live Loops Ahead…

http://cdbaby.com/cd/rejyna3

c. Rejyna Douglass-Whitman  (BMI)

Published by W.E./Citadel of Cynosure Productions (BMI). All Rights Reserved.  Unauthorized duplication, repurposing, exhibition or performance is prohibited by US and international copyright laws.  Citadel is a registered US Tradename, used herein with exclusive permission.

Rejyna tours annually every October as part of the LoopFest concert circuit from Seattle to Long Beach and beyond.  A prolific poet, artist, composer and producer, she also works in the film and print industries and performs regularly in and around Los Angeles.
http://facebook.com/rejynamusic
http://reverbnation.com/rejyna
http://soundcloud.com/rejyna
http://twitter/rejyna
http://youtube.com/rejyna

‘Common Voice’ from the new IDIO CD!

Citadel band member, Rejyna, has uploaded a 2nd song from her new CD, IDIO, titled ‘Common Voice’

Hear the song here:
Soundcloud:  https://soundcloud.com/rejyna/common-voice-go-easy
ReverbNation:  http://www.reverbnation.com/rejyna/song/22180153-common-voice

Rejyna notes, “this is a fun song to play and the words hold a lot of meaning for me.  We have choices and freedoms that many do not and the lyrics to this song remind me to stay active, stay vigilant, stay alert and above all – add my common voice to the cry for liberty for all – and of course, the guitarist in me loves playing the shred leads between acoustic rhythms – and playing the drums and having the looper repeat what I play is something that appeases the novice drummer in me…”

01 – Common Voice (Go Easy)
There was a time
when the common voice among us
had no chance to dare a king
Dreams and wondering
were smothered into suffered silence
subjugated by imperial strings 

Now’s the time
for the common voice among us
to challenge netharias kings
Songs and sidewalk speeches
struggle to abate the silence,
to stay the liberated from surrendering 

Do we see it’s all all right? 
Do we see it’s all of light?

Still the surf and the noble
share a common threat
as our homeworld
suffers from neglect –

Easy, go easy
Say you want to love
Say you are for love

Right now, shout it out,
roundabout, all around the world.
Write it down, right it out,
your mind light can shine now.

Make your rhyme outside time
Speak your mind
to eyes blinded by the fright
Use, lose, abuse
or choose to unite
There are no second chances
to roll the liberty dice…

Music recorded using multiple memory slots on one JamMan Solo, Vocals sung thru an SM57 DigiTech Vocalist Live pro and tracked on a DigiTech GNX4, loops stitched and massaged in SoundForge.

Rejyna: IDIO ~ http://cdbaby.com/cd/rejyna3

From the CD, IDIO, by Rejyna
http://cdbaby.com/cd/rejyna3
c. Rejyna Douglass-Whitman  (BMI)

Published by W.E./Citadel of Cynosure Productions (BMI). All Rights Reserved.  Unauthorized duplication, repurposing, exhibition or performance is prohibited by US and international copyright laws.

“Looking For You” from the new CD, IDIO

Just Uploaded to ReverbNation, now you can listen to the full song “Looking For You”
from the new CD ‘IDIO’ by Citadel guitarist/vocalist, Rejyna.  

“This song is one of those that just came to me when using the looper to record a song idea.  The chord change is simple, maybe even danceable, which is kind of a new thing for me.  It is the treatments and loop layering that I got creative with on the DigiTech JamMan and then even more in SoundForge.  The lyrics are some of my simplest but maybe some of my most direct.  It’s is certainly fun to perform this one with my live looping rig.”  [Rejyna]

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE SONG IN A NEW WINDOW ON REVERBNATION

IDIO by Rejyna

Looking For You

I am the one who’s been looking for you
all of this time, all of this time…

Hide and I will find you
When and where and why

Try to memorize your eyes
The likeness of your smile

Where you go I follow
Here and there and now

All your life, you’re waiting
Love and peace and song

You are all I see
so why can’t you see me?

I am the one
who’s been looking for you
all of this time, all of this time…

All Music, Lyrics, Performance
c. Rejyna Douglass-Whitman

From the CD, IDIO, by Rejyna
http://cdbaby.com/cd/rejyna3

Published by W.E./Citadel of Cynosure Productions (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized duplication, repurposing, exhibition or performance is prohibited by US and international copyright laws.
http://rejyna.com

Download the song from Reverbnation for $1.29 (50% goes to charity) or download the whole 16-song CD for $10 at http://cdbaby.com/cd/rejyna3

Rejyna at Y2K13 International Live Loop Fest | Looptober Tour 2013

Rejyna’s Looptober Tour Live from the Y2K13 International Live Loop Fest, Treasures Roadhouse, Watsonville, CA

Video cameras by Jazmyn Whitman and George Wiltshire. Edited by Jazmyn Whitman for Jazmyn Marie Media Services.

Thanks to Rick Walker and the Walker Family, all the volunteers at the Festival and Bourn Archer and Crew at Treasures Roadhouse.

Special Thanks To Rejyna’s Looptober Tour Kickstarter Backers:
Jim Ussery ~ Jazmyn Whitman ~ p ~ Creighton Freeman ~ Eric Clemens ~ Casey Piller ~ Paula Shepherd ~ Joy Greenberg ~ Midi Maniac ~ Lara Shema ~ Adrienne Gray ~ Joe Rollin Porter ~ Stephen Briggs ~ Ted Killian ~ Rhondalynn Brown ~ Billy Zenn ~ Marji Whitman ~ Mark Hosselton ~ Linda Harris ~ Christina Buck ~ Eric Ahlteen ~ Jeff Dalrymple ~ Rita Jones ~ Robert Wiese ~ Amy Lee ~ Ralph Denick ~ Marc Newton ~ Sherry Price ~ Bruce Peecher Jr.

Thanks To Those In Attendance, the Amazing International Community of Live Looping Artists (AICLLA), Rick Walker and Chris Wedertz, Bill Walker and Nancy Levan, Noah Peterson, Stephen Briggs, Hans Lindauer, Tim Minarchi, Amy Lee (ANI), John Connell, Maha Jumale Taitano, Kari Betush.

Extra special Loops of Love to my mom-n-daugher roadcrew: Marji and Jazmyn Whitman

Please support the Y2K Loopfest at http://y2kloopfest.com and Treasures Roadhouse @ http://treasuresroadhouse.com

More Info:
http://rejyna.com
http://cdbaby.com/artist/rejyna

Tweets by rejyna

http://facebook.com/rejynamusic
http://youtube.com/rejyna

Gear Geekery:
Audio-Technica ATM73a mic to Digitech Vocalist Live Pro to Yamaha MG82cx board – routed to looper thru board FX send –

Yamaha APX500II (or Ovation Balladeer) guitar to Boss GT3 to Yamaha MG82cx board – routed to looper thru board FX send –

Yamaha DD-55 electronic drums to Yamaha MG82cx board – routed to looper thru board FX send –

A single DigiTech JamMan Solo looper is used in this performance. The JamMan solo looper output is routed back into the MG82cx and sent to an ATM M3 IEM, and to the house board, as a premixed feed.

SETLIST:
By Design (Many Struggles)
In Wonder
Dreamworld
Happy Hands

All material written, arranged and performed by Rejyna. All Material is c. Rejyna and W.E./Citadel of Cynosure Productions (BMI) All Rights Reserved, Posted by Authors and Content Owners.

Booking Contact: citadel_1@msn.com

Citadel’s Rejyna at Romancing the Bean | Burbank Ladies Night Out

Every last Friday of the Month is Ladies Night Out in Burbank!  Featuring Live Music, Food Trucks, Discounts, Wine & Cheese, Henna, Local Artisans and More!

Rejyna performs a set from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. featuring her original songs and unique versions of her favorite cover songs.  Using state-of-the-art electronics, Rejyna creates ‘song paintings’ layered live while-you-watch.  Nothing is pre-recorded.  Using guitar, her voice and electronic percussion with harmonizers, loopers and effects, Rejyna creates the sound of a full band.  Her show is full of complex musical parts and four-part vocal harmonies and covers styles from folk to rock and beyond.  Rejyna is also part of the band, Citadel, who has been performing and recording since 1980.  She is a laid-back professional with a personable, humorous approach to inspiring and entertaining audiences and other performers.  She has also hosted various open mic nights in Ohio and California and enjoys encouraging new performers, both young and old, to get in on the fun of playing music and writing songs.  She teaches guitar and computer programs and enjoys working in print, film and video.

ROMANCING THE BEAN  3413 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, California 91505 – (818) 845-2326

Here’s one of Rejyna’s songs ‘Many Struggles (By Design) performed at the Y2K13 International Live Looping Fest:

Here’s Rejyna’s version of ‘Old Fashioned-Love Song’ (by Paul WIlliams) using a midi guitar:

Here’s one of Rejyna’s original instrumental songs, ‘Happy Hands’:

Form More Info:
http://rejyna.com
http://cdbaby.com/artist/rejyna
http://romancingthebeancafe.com
http://ladiesnightoutburbank.com for more info.

Photo by Jazmyn Whitman – https://www.facebook.com/jazmynmariemedia

Rejyna Pho-King Valentines Show!

Citadel’s Rejyna Pho-King Awesome Valentines Show!  

Rock-Folk-Metal-Prog via Solo Voice, Guitar and eDrums:

“Using my voice, acoustic guitar, e-drums and some fun effects with live looping, I’ll serve up some soft and loud, folkish-rockish-prog-esque songs (with sprinkles of metal garnish) while you enjoy the excellent food and beverages at Pho-King. 

Wanna be my valentine? Can I persuade you with some live loops of love? Just give me a chance to win you over.  Or, better yet, bring your valentine date, or celebrate your ‘solo freedom’ while I solo it up on stage.

Great smoothies, sandwiches and soups with vegan, tofu, and meat options.”

No Cover ~ All Ages ~ Good music, nice people, plenty of free parking, safe location!

http://www.reverbnation.com/rejyna
http://facebook.com/rejynamusic
http://rejyna.com/

“Many Struggles” by Rejyna at Treasures Roadhouse for the Y2K13 International Live Looping Festival.