Synthesizers are the focus here. No samplers meaning no acoustic instruments or sounds that began as a ârealâ sound with the exception of the drum samples and vocals.The goal: use hundreds of tiny monosynth-type sounds to create complex sounds.

18 MP3 Songs in this album (104:29) !
Related styles: Electronic: Synthpop, Solo Male Artist

People who are interested in Analog Synthesizers Depeche Mode John Foxx should consider this download.


Details:
NOTE: If you purchase the physical CDs, you get 2 CDs plus a third virtual disc - one hour of multiambient music, plus a full color 16 page booklet including lyrics, and song information. Ohama music can also be purchased at iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, Rhapsody, Zune, Thumbplay, Last.fm, Spotify, Shockhound, Nokia, Tradebit, GreatIndieMusic, MediaNet and 2,500 music retailers across the globe

I love synthesizers.

When I set out to record âEarthâ, I had some very specific ideas about the sound.

idea 1 - No reverb: Back in âthe dayâ, high production values translated to âplate reverbâ.
Now everyone has reverb. Itâs overused in my opinion. I didnât cut it back. I eliminated it.

idea 2 - No samples: I used no acoustic instruments or sounds that began as a ârealâ
sound with the exception of the drum samples and vocals.

idea 3 - No drum or rhythm loops: Drumswere programmed the old fashioned way. If you
donât know what the âold fashioned wayâ means, these notes are not meant for you!

idea 4 - No arpeggiators: Sometimes something that sounds like an arpeggiator is actually something being played.

idea 5 - No quantizing: Although quantizing has become quite sophisticated with options
such as pre-programmed human feels or variable randomization I used as much live performance as possible.

idea 6 - No complex effects-laden organic sound-track-ish synth sounds: The intention was to use only tiny monosynth-type sounds and layer them to get a sound. Some songs have nearly 100 tracks.

idea 7 - No headphone monitoring to record vocals: All the vocals were done with
speakers blasting right in front of me. I was quite surprised at how little leakage there was
and Iâll probably never use headphones again to record a vocal.

idea 8 - Use the first take as often as possible: The first take often has a feel that all subsequent takes do not have. One could argue that the first take always has a different feel. On âEarthâ Defâs rap was done in a single take and we only did one take because it was intended to be a guide vocal. It turned out to be the only vocal we recorded. The long synthesizer solo is also a single first-take and although I did tweak it in my sequencer it is essentially as originally performed.

These 8 ideas were only guidelines and I did make exceptions. For example the multiAmbient tracks use reverb, including the track âreBirthâ. However, no artificial reverbs were added to the drum samples or vocals although you may hear room tone.

CREDITS: DISC 1 = EARTH recorded March 27, 2010 to Sept 22, 2010

1.HELLO
written by Tona W. Ohama
Ohama: vocals/synthesizers/drum machines
Nebulous: synthesizers
Russ Magee: synthesizers

2.ISOLATED
written by Tona W. Ohama
Ohama: vocals/synthesizers/drum machines
Christopher Nash: synthesizers

3.HEYWHAT!?
written by Tona W. Ohama/Johannes Halbertsma
Ohama: vocals/synthesizers/drum machines
Nebulous: synthesizers
Teatro +: vocals

4.ABYSS
written by Tona W. Ohama
Ohama: vocals/synthesizers/drum machines
Mia Blackwell: vocals

5.OMG
written by Tona W. Ohama
Ohama: vocals/synthesizers/drum machines
Teatro +: vocals

6. EARTH
written by Tona W. Ohama/Def Method
Ohama: vocals/synthesizers/drum machines
Def Method: vocals

7. REBIRTH
written by Tona W. Ohama
Ohama: synthesizers

8.EARTH edit
written by Tona W. Ohama/Def Method
Ohama: vocals/synthesizers/drum machines
Def Method: vocals

DISC 2 = HISTORY remastered selections from the past (**includes new material recorded 2010)

9. MIDNITE NEWS (1982)
written by Tona W. Ohama
Ohama: vocals, Yamaha CS-40M, Korg KR-55
originally released 1982 âmidnite newsâ

10. MYTIME (1982) 5:14
written by Tona W. Ohama
Ohama: vocals, Yamaha CS-40M, Korg KR-55
originally released 1982 âmidnite newsâ

11. JULIE IS A TV SET (1983) 5:05
written by Tona W. Ohama/Johannes Halbertsma
Ohama: vocals, Korg Poly-Six, Oberheim OB-Xa,
Roland SVC-350Vocoder
originally released 1983 âohamaâ

12. OF WHALES (1984) 3:50
written by Tona W. Ohama
Ohama: Oberheim OB-Xa, DSX, DMX, Yamaha DX-7,
analog tape effects (broken glass, car tires, water)
originally released 1984 âI fear what I might hearâ

13. WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME? (1984)
written by Tona W. Ohama
Ohama: Oberheim OB-Xa, DSX, DMX, Yamaha DX-7,
analog tape effects (air wrenches, metal barrel, gas chain
saws, siren, metal door, subway trains)
Dave Albiston: Cassette Letter vocals
originally released 1984 âI fear what I might hearâ

14. THE DRUM(1985) 3:52
written by Tona W. Ohama
Ohama: Oberheim OB-Xa, DSX, DMX
Sequential Circuits Drumtraks
originally released 1985 âSNX Compilation - The
Entomology of Tomorrows Popular Musicâ

15. **LONELY HEART DANCE(1986/2010)
written by Tona W. Ohama/Dania
Ohama: vocals (recorded 2010), Emulator II,
Yamaha DX-7, Oberheim Matrix 1000, Casio CZ-101
Dania: vocals
Smoth: oscillator (recorded 2010)
originally released 1986 âLove Only Lasts Awhileâ

16. RACHEL'S DREAM (1994)
written by Tona W. Ohama
Ohama: Vocals, Korg Wavestation A/D, T1, M1R,
Kawai K1r, Oberheim Matrix 1000, Alesis D4,
Sample Cell (door, guns, arrows, knives, vox, bombs)
originally released 1994 âon the edge of the dream...â

17. DISCIPLINE IS FREEDOM(1994)
written by Tona W. Ohama
Ohama: Korg Wavestation A/D, T1, M1R,
Oberheim Matrix 1000, Alesis D4, Emu Proteus,
originally released 1994 âon the edge of the dream...â

18. **THE CALL(2006/2010)
written by Tona W. Ohama/Carla Neyrinck
Ohama: vocals/MOTU Modulo (recorded 2010)
Christopher Nash: Reason, Oberheim DMX,
Yamaha CS6x,Technics 1200 turntables
Alanna Clarke: vocals (recorded 2010)
Broken Paws: ebow guitar (recorded 2010)
originally released 2006 âohama box setâ

DISC 0 = MULTIAMBIENT
one hour of music available only on the physical CDs. details on disc

SOME QUICK OHAMA FACTS
Tona Walt Ohama was born and raised on a potato farm in the
western prairies of Canada in a small town called Rainier. (population 50)

1975 - His first synthesizer was an A.R.P Axxe.

Throughout the 80s Ohama performed live using analog tape for backing tracks
and would let the tape spool out onto the floor into the audience making them part of the show.

1985 - Nominated âBest Canadian Independent Artistâ Toronto CASBY/U-Know Awards.

1994 - Released âedge of the dream...â , the soundtrack to his solo show.
âEdgeâ was a series of large-scale music concerts in a planetarium
incorporating live perfomance, synthesizers, drum machines, sequencers,
3D visuals, 360 degree images, computerized videos, starfields and laser lights.

Throughout the 90s he worked on over 30 animated film soundtracks.

2006 - Released 10-disc limited edition retrospective box set
which included an actual piece of his recording studio. (500 units)

1984/2009 - âI fear what I might hearâ was released on vinyl
in 1984 and charted on many campus radio stations.
It went straight to #1 on more than one campus radio station, including CJSR.
25 years later it was once again #1 on the CJSR chart. (week ending Apr 14, 2009)
The album was not re-released, re-mixed or promoted.

2010 - His original vinyl recordings are collectorâs items. The 7â vinyl single
âJulie is A TV Setâ from 1983 sells for over $150 US.

Ohama is a recording artist and does not perform live.

Although he possesses a BSc. in Civil Engineering and still has an interest
in structures and mathematics, he has never worked a day as an engineer.
To relax he enjoys painting, listening to music and washing dishes.