The photos above and below are part of a transformation that I’m helping promote. I work with ThingLink but I’m also a musician. And a lucky one that I get to pioneer something I feel is truly new, innovative and important.

Like lots of indie musicians, I’m always looking for new ways to promote and share information about my music. In this case, I’m promoting my debut CD, Sacred Love.

Now this is a post about images but I get to be the star too — so check out the photo below. I’m bronzed like Hans Solo in Star Trek.

You’ll notice small dots inside the image. They are called ThingLinks: in-image links from inside this photo to any place I choose. The tags act like channels to information I want to share. The tags are easy to set up with a description (250 characters) and URL. In this case, I set up ThingLinks to my blog, my latest press release, my Twitter and Facebook pages, to my photographer’s website, and there’s a surprise.

There is a Sound Player embedded in this image. Click on the play button and my song, Edge of Eternal, plays.

That is cool!

So for musicians like me, that photo – which I was only able to observe before – has become something more than a beautiful composite by photographer Mario Covic. It’s now an information wallet I can share throughout my social network.

Here are some things I can do with Thinglinked images that help me socialize me images:

• Announce my ThingLinked photo to friends and fans on Facebook and Twitter, and email a link. Fans can do the same. If ‘m lucky, I made a new fan. Thanks to this ThingLinked photo.
• Embed a photo with ThingLinks… in my other blogs and websites. The links stay in the image. And fans can share it, too.
• Allow readers to add their OWN ThingLinks to the image. I wonder where fans would place links.
• Receive stats from ThingLink (as part of a free account) on how many people are interacting with my images with views, hovers and clicks.

Try hovering your mouse over the image and I put links into – and see what comes up.

After you sign up at ThingLink.com, you add three lines of code to your blog or website page. ThingLink works on websites and blogging platforms. If you’re hosting a WordPress site, there is a beta ThingLink plug-in that you can download via WordPress.

Have fun and share your stories.

It is the highest joy
To feel the taste of life

Shambhu’s music is very expressive. It easily plunges you into an exciting world. In general, Shambhu’s guitar solo is weightless and deeply meditative. It is free from pain and suffering. His music inspires you to open your heart and to hear the vibrations of love and compassion. It gives a rest for your soul and helps to achieve clearness for your mind.

“Sacred Love” is the debut album by Shambhu. It was produced by legendary Windham Hill Records founder and Grammy winner Will Ackerman. Many first class musicians have participated on the recording of this release. As a result “Sacred Love” is a multicolored carpet which imbues with the aromas of various cultures and musical traditions.

The debut album by Shambhu has the unique, mesmeric flavor of the music of India. And at the same time it is a really western born project. Cello, violin and other parts of traditional instruments bring tenderness and a classical charm to “Sacred Love”.

One wants to listen to these fine tunes very attentively in order to not to miss each nuance. Shambhu’s music is penetrated by many subtle details and when you listen to the composition “Imagine” you, without effort, are able to recognize the thoughtful and slightly ringing guitar of Will Ackerman. His touching soul manner of performing cannot be confused with anybody else.

In conclusion I’d like to say that “Sacred Love” has a perfect sound design. Its sounding is pure and exquisite. When I listened to the album of Shambhu one thought appeared in my mind again and again: how could I live without this wonderful music all the time before?

Serge Kozlovsky
http://sergekozlovsky.com

Excerpted From O’Dwyers Public Relations Report

For Tech PR Pro, Album is Decades in Making
By Greg Hazley

Technology PR veteran Neil Vineberg worked some of the tech sector’s most hallowed accounts during his 30 years in the business. But always  on the periphery of his professional efforts at agencies like Middleberg Euro RSCG, GolinHarris and Dentsu was a deep connection with music.

So one could say Vineberg’s October debut album, “Sacred Love – Feel the Journey,” was decades in the making and the fulfillment of a project that was on his back burner through the 1980s, ’90s and ’00s, amid more pressing concerns in the revved up world of tech publicity.

But when business slowed a bit in early 2010, Vineberg, who has taken the spiritual name of “Shambhu,” saw his first real opportunity to publish his original works — instrumental tunes that feature a jazzy,  New Age sound supported by a menagerie of instruments and skilled players.

“I’ve really had this music project on the shelf since I was 21,” he said.

The result is a 12-track journey that Vineberg calls a “spiritual” and “uplifting” journey. He says the album is an attempt at storytelling through music, only a slight departure, he says, from his years spent crafting narratives for clients through news and other PR tactics. Years of studying meditation, as well as music, also helped produce the landscape of “Sacred Love,” he said.

Opening with an acoustic jaunt, “Together,” and closing with the seven-minute, ethereal epic “Humility,” Vineberg’s songs conjure sonic landscapes and showcase tight, melodic guitar riffs, pleasantly meandering flute, as well as sax, cello, violin and other instruments. An executive who spent a lifetime writing and honing publicity didn’t make a lyrical album; he lets the layers of sound convey the message on “Sacred Love.”

“I know I’m doing this at the most unlikely age, but I think music can bridge social misunderstandings and bring people together,” he said. “So why not now.”

The album is on iTunes here:

Calm all thought and quiet sound and stop movement

and just breathe slowly and close your eyes

and feel Love Love Love of Love itself.

And just be. Be grateful ….for having been …..

a Happy start of 2011.

~Shambhu

Photo by Mario Covic

Shambhu in Sedona

Had a great audience for a wonderful concert in Sedona on December 18th that I played at the home of artist Trea Christoper Grey and entrepreneur Kimall Christiansen.

Trea’s amazing art is featured in a collection of music, writing and art called Worlds of Good Fortune. The spirit of love and divine connection are richly conveyed throughout the collection which is so artfully executed. It’s a truly transcendent work that carries a healing vibration and reflects light.

Trea, Shambhu and Kimall

Check out Worlds of Good Fortune and pick out a Deck for Guided Inspiration, a Greeting Card, an Altar Card or Scarf, that will delight and inspire your life.

Shambhu and Mia

Thanks to Trea and Kimall for hosting me and the concert at their home. Thanks to photographer, harpist and healer Mia Margaret Angelica who also hosted my stay.

And to all the beautiful friends and healers who attended, thanks for your love and healing.

When you integrate one proficient acoustic guitarist with select vocalists and instrumentalists, along with the skillful production talents of Windham Hill Records founder and Grammy Winner Will Ackerman, the final product might expectedly be a top rated album compiled by dedicated music professionals that virtually everyone would love and appreciate.

Shambhu is the proficient guitarist clearly asserting in his website news pages that his first album has truly been a “ labor of love “ while composing, performing and co-producing with Will Ackerman, along with his time spent working beside other top music professionals. This I can believe since at the end of the day, Shambhu and his insightful selection of collaborating musicians has paid off rather handsomely, and by their collective time spent together, have helped convert this debut release into a commodity of premium value.

Read more

On his stunning debut CD, Shambhu performs music of the heart, in an exquisite fusion of contemporary instrumental and indo-jazz that listeners will find healing, soulful and abundantly enjoyable. Shambhu’s mastery of the guitar and compositional elegance enables full-bodied expressions of nuance and subtlety while engaging audiences in deep spirit. “Sacred Love” offers an endless panorama of luminous music that pours from Shambhu’s guitar and creative vision, lifting us with billows of heartfelt, spacious and ever so inviting inspiration. This is a masterful, melodic and magical expression overflowing with exquisite compositions played to perfection with guest appearances by today’s finest musicians.  The songs transport me to places I have only dreamed of — this tuneful journey has left me spellbound!

Shambhu’s guitar playing is exquisite, powerful and delicate at the same time, while redefining a new standard for instrumental music. It’s a pioneering work that captures the whole contemporary music sound – where it has come from, where it is now, and what’s possible. It includes heart, vision, dazzling playing, and endless imagery. People often think of instrumental music as something that dwells in the background. Shambhu’s music invites full-on, soulful listening and continually draws you in deeper and deeper, revealing your own core. Shambhu collaborated on the CD with the legendary Grammy Award winners Will Ackerman (co-producer and Windham Hill founder) and Corin Nelsen (recording and mix engineer). Musicians featured on the CD include: Tony Levin on bass (Peter Gabriel), George Brooks on sax (John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain, Larry Coryell), Ravichandra Kulur on flute (Ravi and Anoushka Shankar), cellist Eugene Friesen (Paul Winter Consort), Jeff Haynes on percussion (Pat Metheny), Celso Alberti on drums (Stevie Winwood), Premik Tubbs on flute (John McLaughlin and Santana), Todd Boston on sarod, Jeff Oster on flugelhorn, vocalists Noah Wilding and Claytoven Richardson, as well as other amazing artists.

I have known Will Ackerman since the early Windham Hill days in 1980.  Throughout his own masterful catalog, time-honored compositions and innovative releases (such as “Passage” or “Hearing Voices”) he has provided a level of artistry and excellence that sets him apart. His production work, notably over the past decade, has helped numerous fine artists who had not yet found their musical voice discover the path to the best work of their career. With Shambhu, he encountered an artist that already knew his way.

Will’s comments: “It’s utterly true that I love that this music, while truly spiritual, allows for unfettered joy as well as contemplation. There is a brilliant range to Shambhu’s music; moments when the mood is achingly tender and meditative and times when the music just grooves. Not relegating himself simply to introspection, Shambhu creates music which embraces and celebrates all aspects of life which ultimately feels very profound to me.”

That is part of why I feel “Sacred Love” may well be the best project Will has been involved in, which is not to be said or taken lightly.

Each song is its own journey and sound painting with unique colors, shades, rhythms and vistas from Shambhu’s inner experience. The songs flow with a fresh weaving of acoustic, world, and Indian musical styles and grooves. The earth rhythms make you want to dance, and the celestial melodies are elevators into a heavenly realm. The beauty of nature is expressed in ways that are everywhere evident. Shambhu is a Sanskrit name meaning “Source of Happiness”. He has performed over the years with Carlos Santana, Narada Michael Walden, Premik Tubbs, and played on Whitney Houston’s multi-platinum album, “Whitney.” He studied meditation for three decades with the renowned mystic Sri Chinmoy. Blessed and inspired by the contributions of an amazing assemblage of brilliant musicians, the songs show themselves over time, some immediately, others in surprising, unplanned ways.  It’s a “soul-elevating journey through music into the deep recesses of your heart.”

I am certain you’ll agree the results are a musical playground and landscape for superb and spacious listening: peaceful, moving, and shining with bright light and illumination from start to finish. “Sacred Love” is one of the best CDs of the year (or any year!)”.

Webisode 2 – Shambhu (guitar)

Webisode 5 – Eugene Friesen (cello)

Webisode 8 – Jill Haley  (English horn)

We were finishing day 3 at Imaginary Road Studios. Producer Will Ackerman and I had previously agreed on 5 or 6 songs that we would record for Sacred Love. These opening days were dedicated to recording guitar only.

My sole objective was conveying the “essence” of my spirit in those guitar tracks…and hopefully the soulfulness of those  performances would inspire and shape those of the many brilliant artists who would later join.

It might have been the haunting, repeating motif of the melody or minimalist approach to the composition. I played Will a demo of the tune from my iPhone and after only a few seconds, he said “Lets do it.”

“Wow. Fun,” was my internal dialogue. We moved into the studio and I repeatedly played the song with Will sitting on the floor mapping the song in sections: 1, 2, Question 3, Answer 3, etc. Some songs had 20+ sections. This one was simpler.

Will and Corin Nelsen used that map as a checklist to ensure the integrity of my performance ensuring that each section of a song was as ‘perfect’ as we could get it in terms of sound, execution, soulfulness, and honesty.

While recording and and usually while performing music, I shut my eyes, dive deep within, let go and sort of jump into the spirit-flow. For a moment while recording Edge of Eternal, I opened my eyes and peered through the thick glass separating the control room and studio, and time stopped for an instant – slow motion – and I see Will feeling the sound of the music. I was happy to see that and returned to the performance.

For me, working with Will and Corin was a Ph.D production course. And while my first experience of the studio was as a temple, I also started to see it as a university with great mentors.

I learned increasingly more with each of the amazing artists who graced the studio – one by one – laying down stellar performances on these songs. Some times Will was in the production chair. Other times, I was. And we jammed it out. And creatively this was a beautiful sharing among all of us.

Midway into Edge of Eternal, Will asked me if he could add Noah Wilding on vocals. He was hearing  voices. It took me years to realize that when you’re surrounded by people who do great work, let them be creative. Get out of the way. Will wanted a half hour and I said, go for it.  I took a break on a few overdubs, and Noah came in and layered her haunting voice over several tracks. Corin added some warm long reverb for effect. And wow – we are creating live which is how I like to create. The voice and guitars together sounded like Heaven on Earth.

Nature is spontaneous. Nature is not written down. I like music that feels and sounds like nature, and I really don’t want any mind in it. I just want heartfelt spontaneous flow. Because I feel that’s the best pathway through music for spirit to flow and light to shine.

And so it was on Edge of Eternal which was later elevated into cosmic dimensions by the maestro Eugene Friesen on cello and the brilliant Jill Haley on English horn.

Listen at iTunes.

Listen