Carmen Rizzo "Looking Through Leaves" new album is now out. Featuring collaborations from Grant Lee Phillips, Shana Halligan, Kate Havnevik, Rosy & January Thompson. To purchase click here.
-Writing & Producing for the new Papillion project for actress Natalie Mendoza & hit record producer Glen Ballard.
-Finishing off the Gudrun album now in LA I was in Vienna this summer making.
My album #3 most added to the CMJ Radio Electronic music chart when it came out, & still top 20!
Electronic musician & two-time GRAMMY Nominee Producer-Remixer & Artist Carmen Rizzo has had a very eclectic career. From co writing and programming on Seal’s classic Seal 2 album to producing, co-writing on Paul Oakenfold’s Bunka album, remixing BT, Tiesto, collaborating with Jem, Esthero & Tuvan Throat singers Huun Huur Tu, to co founding the World Music act Niyaz & Lal Meri to working with Coldplay, Morissette, KD Lang, Ryuichi Sakamoto & Pete Townshend of The Who. More...
Time has not been on my side lately with all this traveling, but the 3 days I have been in town I have been getting a lot done on my album titled “Looking through leaves”. I worked with Valente Bertelli putting some wonderful background vocals on the track I did with Shana from Bittersweet. Today The master Grant Lee Phillips comes in. Almost there..:)
My monthly residency radio show Mo’Glo, can be heard the first Friday of every month on WNYE 91.5 FM from midnight to 1 a.m. Brought to by taste maker station KEXP. You can listen here.
If your in Toronto come out for our last Huun Huur Tu/ Carmen Rizzo show of our winter tour. Mod Club 722 College Street
Toronto, ON M6G 1C4 (416) 588-4663
I’m back in LA after a few shows in the mid west. I am rushing to set up my studio downtown which I absolutely love to get back to finishing my album which is almost done. One more show with Huun Huur Tu on our winter tour, this Friday 3/5 in Toronto at The Mod Club. Picture’s of my studio to come soon…
Had a great show w/ Huun Huur Tu in Chicago at The School of Folk Theater, and Madison WI at The Stroughton Opera House built in 1901, but time to head west..:) Last show of this tour March 5th Toronto, Canada. Mod Club.
After almost 12 wonderful years, today is the last day in my recording studio in Hollywood. I make the move tomorrow to my new digs downtown Los Angeles in the wonderful 1914 Springs Arts Tower. The emotions and memories have been flowing the last few days thinking of the wonderful moments and great music that was made in that room. Everyone form Chris Martin of Coldplay, Pete Townsend of The Who, Billy Corgin, Paul Oakenfold, Alanis Morissette, Esthero, Nelly Furtado, Ben Stiller, Jessica Biel, Michael Apted, Grant Lee Phillips, Margaret Cho, Kate Havnevik, Dave Stewart, BT, Junkie XL, Jason Bentley, AR Rahman, Jem, Perry Farrell to mention only a few, I can not even remember the people I have made music with in that studio. I am grateful for the time spent there but am looking forward to a new beginning and a space to create in….6381 Hollywood Blvd. Suite 775. R.I.P.
This was taken at the studios of KEXP in Seattle with host Darek Mazzone & Huun Huur Tu. We then performed at The Triple Door that night. Just love that city!
Huun Huur Tu and I finished rehearsing yesterday for our 6 city tour of North America and were welcomed by a lovely rainbow towering over Hollywood. This was taken from the roof top of my studio.
My monthly residency radio show Mo’Glo, can be heard the first Friday of every month on WNYE 91.5 FM from midnight to 1 a.m. Brought to by taste maker station KEXP.
My Electrofone Music label has a new release this week, Gabriel Johnson-”Fra_ctured”. Think Squarepusher meets Jon Hassell. Love this album! Check it out here.
My favorite controller in the studio and on the road is The Lemur made by Jazz Mutant. I am the featured artist of the month. Just love my Lemur! You can check out the interview here.
Come join me in this wonderful event that I am Djing along with many amazing performances. “An Evening Of Higher Consciousness Event”. It brings together music luminaries and social activists associated with The Gyalwang Drukpa, the head of the Buddhist Drukpa lineage. The Drukpa lineage emphasizes active engagement and community service. The Gyalwang Drukpa has advanced peace, gender equality and education for decades through humanitarian efforts. This event aims to bring awareness to His work across the globe. Taking place during Grammy week on Thursday, January 28 in Los Angeles at Club Lingerie (6507 Sunset Blvd.) Check out there website here.
I will be touring the Eternal album I collaborated with Huun Huur Tu on this Feb/March in North America. Would love to see you if were roll through your city. You can buy tickets here.
The Kobe Bryant/ Nike event w/ George Lopez hosting was a blast, I really had a wonderful time, the band sounding amazing and everyone was pleased. Here is a picture of George with me and my son Carlo.
Preparing music for the Kobe Bryant/Nike event this weekend in Hollywood. George Lopez is the host, I am the musical director. Can’t wait! The link for the event is HERE.
I was happy to be working over the New Years weekend with long time friend Grant Lee Phillips on the new Margaret Cho album. Grant has been writing with Margaret for her new album. She has many super cool collaborators ranging from Jon Brian, Tegan and Sara, Fiona Apple, to mention a few. Margaret is wonderful and of course working with Grant is always a treat. She can sing, she is funny (Of course) and the music is great!
Well I finally had a chance to block some time a side over the holiday break to put some valuable time into writing and recording my album. I am hoping on finishing late January. Jem will be singing in the few weeks I am happy to announce as well as one of surprise I will announce later. The album is turning into more of a instrumental album which is what I wanted as well as much darker musically then my other two albums. Happy New Years to all and am anxious to start 2010!
Well, visiting Taiwan was a wonderful experience. I must say hard to get into the Xmas spirt around here, but traveling always inspires me. Anxious to get home to celebrate Xmas and get back in the studio and create. Everything and everyone was wonderful. Not sure what I will miss more, dumplings for breakfast, my bath tub on the 37th floor with all windows overlooking the city, or just knowing that not everywhere want’s to be like the west. Thank you for your hospitality and thank you Samantha James for bringing me here.
Well all is good in Taipei, Samantha James & I arrived around 7 am on Thursday a long flight 14 hours, but EVA Air is nice. Promoters here now how to take care of you, we were surprised that they greeted us at the airport, a fancy BMW drove us to the hotel which is a 5 stars, amazing place and the buffet is out of this world! The weather is wet & raining and a bit cold, but looks very tropical even though the hotel is downtown very close to Taipei 101 the tallest building in the world.. Samantha has a dear friend here named Jimmy who has been out “tour guide” and side kick, words can not describe him, I will post pictures and you will see, a great guy…! I went shopping and explored to find these deals I have been told are hear were nowhere to be found, only to really find nothing. Even though many electronics are made here, there not cheap, the same for clothes. I hope to hit the night markets before I leave to find something special. Tonight is the first show, more blogs to come…
The new Carmen Rizzo & Huun Huur Tu Ambient Mix tape is now out exclusively on Itunes. This is a seamless 25 minutes of a lush ambient mix of the Eternal album I made that really takes you through a beautiful journey. Perfect for Yoga, driving, or any reason to just escape. Hope you enjoy it.
The New York Times raved about the UnCharted 2 game and the music. Amazing how much impact this game has had. Very proud to be apart of it all, and glad my song is getting so much attention.
“Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, developed by Naughty Dog and published recently by Sony for its PlayStation 3 console, is a major step forward for gaming. Uncharted 2 is perhaps the best-looking game on any system, and no game yet has provided a more genuinely cinematic entertainment experience.” “The overall sound design, from the soundtrack to the Foley effects, is fabulous.’
The Sony Playstation video game Uncharted 2 is now out which includes the song “The Road to Shambhala” which I wrote and performed for the closing theme. The song is in the game and on the soundtrack which peaked this week at #14 on the Itunes Soundtrack chart. Very proud of this piece.
The Time Magazine article review of my Huun Huur Tu & Carmen Rizzo album ‘Eternal” is now out. I feel very honored to have such a great review, and in Time of all places. Who would ever know that this album which I am so proud of would have such a life span….Grateful!
Today was my last day in Moscow, so grateful for Tatyana, who showed me around by foot in the cold and rain. We explored for miles and went to the Kremlin, The Red Square and many other places. I am glad I got to experience Moscow this way and to add a wonderful prestigious performance and the other 2 weeks I was here I saw the more “real” Russia spending it in Ural region in a town called Perm. I hope the new photos show the dynamic former Soviet Union and the deep history it has, Moscow is a very special place. I will miss it and this 5 star hotel as well!!
Had a wonderful show last night, the music hall is an amazing place. Afterwards had a nice long dinner with good conversation in old town Moscow. Today is my day off, I leave Tuesday morning very early. I was hoping on using these BMW bicycles they offer people who are staying at my hotel as it was sunny yesterday but rain has arrived and so has the cold…I don’t want to leave this hotel, it’s a 5 star hotel that I was told my room is $800 a night! Caviar for breakfast and anything else you want is there at your leisure! I will site see a bit today going to The Kremlin, Red Square and hopefully a museum. Jet leg finally kicked in a bit this morning at 6:30am..not even sure what day it is…feeling very grateful for all of these experiences…Russia has been good to me
Finally arrived in Russia, 12 hours to Frankfurt then 3 hours to Moscow. As soon as the plane landed a woman doctor came on the plane and had to inspect every passenger for illnesses, she pointed this inferred gun in your ear, to every person….Last month when I was here they never did this. Sasha could not pick me up at the airport as the big football game was taking place in Moscow, Russia vs. Germany… he sent his assistant who I had never met. Customs was a breeze thank god, no payola this time, I finally found her in the crowd…Took the train to city center which was a breeze, arrived at the Swissotel , OMG this place is sick!! One of the perks coming here for one gig was a 5 star hotel, amazing! The 33rd floor has a bar lounge that over looks all of Moscow, the hotel is located between the Moscow River and the Vodootvodny Channel right in the center of town, spectacular views. We then had some classic Georgian food in town, which was great. The show is tomorrow at the International House of Music (Moscow’s Lincoln Center). More pictures and details to come…
