sneak peek

Spotted on Twitter: this post from earMUSIC which offers a preview (including Trevor's contribution) of Outlanders' upcoming single "Closer To The Sky."  It sounds like maybe Trevor's stems have been isolated in the playback we are hearing.

https://twitter.com/earMUSICedel/status/1459203011398492168

social media axe-tion

Spotted on Twitter: my thanks to the Westone Guitars account for retweeting my entry from 2014 on Trevor's endorsement of Westone-Alvarez - I appreciate it!

https://twitter.com/Westone_Guitars/status/1455188146451255305

And for those who crave more technical details regarding Trevor's signature model, here is a thread at the Westone forums from 2011 where head designer Tom Presley answers questions about that guitar in its various permutations.

https://westone.forumotion.com/t2288-tom-presley-qa-on-trevor-rabin-signature-models

update: Outlanders single release

As published on the PROG website today, the first single from the Outlanders project (which I reported on last week), will be released on November 26th.  The song "Closer To The Sky" features Trevor on guitar (engineering and producing his own work on the track).  It appears, however, instead of an album release there will be a series of eight singles released over the next year-and-a-half.

On the Outlanders website, Tarja explains the creation of the track.

This song was meant for one of my rock releases one day, when I sat down to write the first ideas with Erik Nyholm in Finland many years ago. Erik had been involved on my rock albums as a song writer before and after, but here was something in this particular song that made me think I must leave it for other time. The song changed name at least 3 times during its creative process and had different lyrics and moods.

Only recently I finished writing the dark, but hopeful lyrics and rest of the music for it. It fits perfectly as an opener for Outlanders, because of its catchy melody, wishful lyrics and the mood it captures. We knew that we needed an extraordinary guitar player. A rock soul with a progressive mind that could imagine the song being part of a movie soundtrack. We had only one name in mind: Trevor Rabin did just an outstanding job with his edgy, incredible guitar sound. He made the song reach another level and for that I am deeply grateful. It only happens when the players soul is involved and that really was the case here. Trevor is unique and truly a gentleman.

A new collaboration...?

Spotted on Twitter: it appears Trevor has guested on a new project from former Nightwish vocalist Tarja Turunen and musician/producer Torsten Stenzel (one half of the EDM duo York) called Outlanders, due to release their debut album in a little over a month.  It looks to be a classical/EDM/rock crossover.

According to the duo's socials this release has quite the cast of musicians.  Besides Trevor, also featured are guitarist greats Al DiMeola, Vernon Reid, Joe Satriani, Bumblefoot, Walter Giardino, Steve Rothery, Marty Friedman, and Jennifer Batten, as well as New Age/progressive rock legend Mike Oldfield.

The release is slated for the last full week of November, so look out for it around the 24th or 25th.

https://www.ear-music.net/outlanders/

Media Watch: how to be a Million-Air

The 2021 BMI London Awards ceremony was held (virtually) yesterday and Trevor was once again among those awarded the Million-Air award, for "Owner of a Lonely Heart" which has now surpassed six million US radio plays.  That particular category within the Million-Air award slate for songs in the BMI repertoire also featured five other songs from Elton John, Seal, Cutting Crew, Roxette, and Ed Sheeran.

https://www.bmi.com/award-shows/london-2021/

The Secret Discography: more jazz-funk goodness

One of a series which examines Trevor’s musical career in South Africa.

Spotted on Instagram: yet another side project from 1976, possibly featuring the same line-up as on the You And Me release (also from '76).  I'm assuming the name comes from the Los Angeles-based '70s era soccer team (football to the rest of the world, that is).  If you page through the entire photo set you'll hear excerpts from one of the songs on side one as well as "Rumble in the Jungle" which was written by Trevor.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CU0PFIUsPhY/

welcome to the New Girl

Some might have been aware of Kyly posting on her Instagram page back in May that she and Ryan were expecting, and yesterday became the proud parents of beautiful Rio (and I'm sure she'll be dancing on the sand by her toddler years).  Congrats to Kyly & Ryan, Trevor & Shelley, and Jayne & Myles.  We know she'll be raised with love and music and all good things.