The debut album that is guarantee to make you "shine."
“I just wanted to make a genuine album that the listener would enjoy,” says Hans Stockenberger talking about his first solo studio album “Shine”. Hans recorded “Shine” at the famous Sugarhill Studios, the oldest operating studio in Texas, over a 5 month period and worked side by side with Grammy winning studio Engineer, Andy Bradley (Beyonce, Willie Nelson) to craft a full bodied folk-rock experience. From beginning to end, this 10 song album is a journey into personal relations and the metaphysical. From old Southern-Firewater blues like “Ain’t Good Enough” to the smoky unrequited ballad of “Close Your Eyes” and artistic rebellion against Immigration Laws in “On the Fence”, this album blends poetry and rock musicality into a coexistence of artistic defiance and the search for the aesthetic.

The album invokes music and ideas as far flung as the artist himself. Having lived in the South, the Northeast, and even Saudi Arabia, Hans Stockenberger paints a picture from his experience around the world and “Shine” burns brightly with the promise of hope and his experience in Rock/Jazz/Operatic studies provides the strength needed in his voice to carry the album. Listeners will enjoy the musical and poetical quality this album has to offer and they will be reminded to continue to shine."

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Step Light is a six piece band boasting smooth vocals, powerful, engaging guitar and one of the most enthusiastic and talented rhythm sections in Boston. Conceived and formed in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in December of 1998, the band got its start playing in American compounds before moving to Boston the next year. Since then, Step Light has developed a widespread and loyal fan base in Boston with their highly danceable grooves and natural ability to interact with the crowd. Known for their creative, original songs as well as innovative covers of a classic or two, Step Light delivers an upbeat sound influenced by sources as exotic and far-flung as the members themselves. Drawing on everything from summer nights in the Middle East to joyrides on the East Coast, Step Light's first album, Molly's Adventures in the World of Whoa showcases the polished talent of six veteran musicians.

We have grown up listening to the beatles and toad the wet sprocket. It led us to the grunge years with Pearl Jam and Nirvana. We moved on to the sophistication of Sting, Pink Floyd and U2. We all have these influences in us. As happy as Bob Marley and as sad as Tori Amos. All these musicians of course can be heard in our music slightly. But they gave us the sprit and drive behind our writing styles.

We had a tough yet magical child hood. We moved around a lot and it has given us color and darkness. We are moved by the pain of life and the utter happiness that life can give as well.

The lead singer, song writer and guitarist is Nevin, the oldest of the 3 brothers. Nader the second oldest is the drummer and Michael the youngest, is also a co song writer, singer and guitarist.

"Bass (pronounced like the fish) weaves beautifully balanced melodies into his songs. A master of the soft touch and unexpected shift into a melancholy minor key, his music is undeniably captivating". - US Magazine

Bass and the band have released two previous recordings, "Tester" in 2000 which is a seven song demo and a full length record "Down on Sunday" ,released in April 2004. "Down on Sunday" is a collection of songs that range from personal situations to political and sociological ideas. With musicians that come from all over the map in their playing styles, the result is a blend of music that incorporates groove and melody to create songs that speak to the listener and linger long after they're heard. They are currently putting the finishing touches on a new record, untitled as of yet, but claim they are totally pumped on it!!

Sterling Waite and The Bedouin Band is an acoustic rock trio based out of Manhattan College in New York City. Starting in the Fall of 2004, the trio has played countless shows in the metro area, and will be spreading their influences past NYC this summer. With the finesse of Dave Matthews and the gruff swagger of Tom Petty, Sterling Waite releases a performance that is unique, yet reminiscent of 90's alt rock. Backed by the precise, yet jam-band based groove of Alex and Dan Burke, the performance this trio delivers is not to be missed.

Spearheading the Nocturnalight Movement,a movement of positivity and social awareness,the two man crew Rah-Ohms brings a new outlook to hip hop while staying true to its elements. With razor sharp lyrics delivered over electrifying beats, this debut release will undoubtably be seen as a classic. If you love the essence of hip hop and conscious music, this is the album for you.

Jeff is a man of many talents who has squandered most of them. He has lived 59 years against all odds, thanks primarily to the good sense of his wife of 36 years, Diane, and their daughters Rachel and Nell. He is an author, speaker, and frequent world traveler, who was raised in Saudi Arabia from age 6 to 18. He attended high school in Beirut, Lebanon.

He wrote these 12 songs at different times in his life. Each song tells a different story. The title track is produced in two versions: the general version (Track One) and a special version for the ?ramco Brats with whom he grew up. Jeff coaxed Liz Berlin of Rusted Root fame into doing lead vocal for ?o Shame, a song inspired by a young mother? struggle to resolve her failing marriage.

Korel Tunador, keyboardist and guitarist for the Goo Goo Dolls, sings ?hurchill, a sort of paint-by-numbers protest song. Jeff himself sings all the other songs, which range from a Celtic sea chantey about an Italian volcano, to the folk-rock anthem ?oodchuck Farm. ?opper? Bar resurrects the late great Topper Carew, one of the first African-American TV producers for PBS, and ?he Ballad of Rockhead and Ruby tells the fictional story of redemption of an escaped convict and the woman he loves.

Several of the songs feature the Goo Goo Dolls Mike Malinin on drums, and there are also appearances by other instrumentalists and back-up singers.

Jeff promises two things: there are songs here you will fall in love with, and there are songs you will never want to hear again. For each person, that will mean different songs. He wants to hear from you, so visit his website and tell him what you think.

With the voice of an angel and in the words of a friend, this is Natalie's debut album.

'Jaden' formed out of the UK in the late spring of 2007 as an equal partnership between Daniel Thorlby and Jay Anderson. Their second song, 'The Night,' was always a fan favorite which received constant fan requests for the 'official' version! 'Paisaci' was played in nightclubs, and the band liked it enough to remix it and shoot a video. The band presents here, for your listening pleasure, their debut album "Cry for a Reason."

Temple of Life began in the dusty, desert city of Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. What began as a deep friendship between three middle-school friends turned into Temple of Life, but it would be years before the band would grow into what it is today.

Nomi and Michael met in the third grade at Dhahran Academy, a school serving the expatriate community in the area. The two boys became fast friends and eventually befriended Basam Hadai when they were all in the 6th grade. The boys shared more than just age and a common expatriate experience--they quickly realized they shared a deep passion for music, as well. Nomi grew up listening to the sounds of his traditional sub-continental heritage (he is originally from Pakistan), with artists such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Junoon. Basam came from a family full of talented musicians, father was a singer in a band, late uncle a very talented pianist, and brother, a sound engineer and electronic music producer. Michael had grown up watching his two older brothers' passionate embrace of bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. He learned much from his oldest brother, Nevin, whose haunting guitar melodies and rich, emotion-filled voice gave Michael the drive to explore his own musicality. As the boys delved deeper into their musical identities, Temple of Life slowly began to take shape.

In their 7th-grade year at Dhahran Academy, the band performed together for the first time in front of an audience at their junior high talent show. As word of the band spread, its popularity grew among the close-knit expatriate community in which they lived. Temple of Life was featured in the country's largest English-language daily newspaper, the Arab News, and was even interviewed by CNN's Christiane Amanpour in a segment about the lives of expatriates in Saudi Arabia.

The band split up after their high school graduation in 2004, much to the sadness of the three members. Nomi and Basam ended up in different Canadian cities, while Michael joined his brothers in Southern California. They never dreamed they would play together again. Michael focused on learning as much as he could about music from his brothers, while Nomi and Basam concentrated on their university studies.

Three years after they had gone their separate ways, Michael's decision to enroll at a university in Toronto, Canada changed everything. With Nomi already in Toronto and Basam only a drive away in the city of Montreal, the boys realized they could once again play together. They discovered that their separate personal lives and time away from the band had given them the experience and growth they needed to re-create Temple of Life with a fresh and more mature sound.

And so, the story of Temple of Life began with a trio of young boys brought together by a love of music, a deep friendship, and the experience of being outsiders in a foreign country. What seemed like an end to the band was in reality only a beginning, and the band's ambition, talent, and promise ensure that the road to the future is long and filled with success.

-- written by Anastasia Gill

Skateboarding was born in the streets by youth who wanted a different way to interpret their concrete filled, man-made environment. It was their tool that defied convention and created a movement that had no rules, regulations, contests or winners. There are a million other ways to cross from point A to point B with most being more practical or acceptable but we choose a skateboard because it makes us smile. The aim of Smile is to portray this aspect of skateboarding, specifically the attraction to creatively reevaluate your surroundings in a positive way.

This is the story of teaching skateboarding to one of the poorest neighborhoods in Bangalore, India.
Directed by Nathan Gray, DH?5
37 min. + extras

Forty page photo-journalism style book covering the Smile project. Includes excerpts and poems from Nathan's journal as well as quotes from the children, alongside vivid color photographs. All proceeds go to helping support the Deepika school. www.diss.org.in

It all started one hot summer day in Amman, Jordan, a skater landed a sick trick in front of his crew... ?hat trick was sour, man?.. not too much is sweet in the war plagued Middle East, but that doesn? stop life, and life is better than sweet... it's SOUR.

Already familiar with images of war and destruction from the media, this film asks the real question... ?hat does an instrument of peace look like? Filmed during the Lebanon/Israel War of 2006, SOUR features a youthful ensemble of top Arab and Israeli skate talent, including Idan ?ziz Abra, Noam Jimmi Beer, Tzahi Einat, Udi Hasson, Mohammed Kahil, Omar Nash, Saif Qaisi, Hamzeh Zahran, and Mohammed Zakaria.

In essence this is a film about doing the things you love with people you?e not supposed to like.

Directed by Nathan Gray and Produced by Sean Scarritt. DH?5 52 min.

A portion of the proceeds from this film help support, The Way, a non-profit organization based in Palestine. www.theway.org.ps

For the Hashemite Zion Alchemy art show this photo of the Jordan Skaters is fused with a shot of Tzahi layered with Retna's artwork

Shot in the Sinai Peninsula this digital print is scanned from the original medium format negative and signed by Nathan Gray

The original poster from the Hashemite Zion Alchemy show which previewed the film along with an exhibition of urban art from the Sour Crew and a live performance by Resonant Sun, an Original Jewish Gangster featured in the Sour soundtrack

Shot of soldiers in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia that does an instrument of peace look like?

Shot at the border between Aqaba, Jordan and Eilat, Israel during the very first border crossing this photo depicts how Udi "got free visas just for doing some nose manuals." Original photo was taken with a medium format camera using ISO 100 black and white film.

Shot of Tzahi Einat doing a smith grind in Jerusalem

This photo of Tzahi, Jimmi, and Omar was taken in Amman, Jordan by Mohammed Kahil while the Israeli? were in the capital and everyone was busy skating together.

This shot of the Arab skaters in Amman, Jordan is juxtaposed with a quote from Ali Abu-Awwad, a Palestinian peace activist who lost his brother in the conflict. All proceeds from this print go to Ali? non-profit organization, The Way. www.theway.org.ps

Shot at the border between Aqaba, Jordan and Eilat, Israel during the very first border crossing this photo depicts how Udi ?ot free visas just for doing some nose manuals. Original photo was taken with a medium format camera using ISO 100 black and white film.